SAHIWAL: A new book claims to present evidence that Baba Farid’s verses have existed even before the birth of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, and his writings were later incorporated into the Guru Granth Sahib, — the religious book of Sikhism.

A Shahmukhi version of the book, Shri Guru Granth Sahib Walay Sheikh Farid Di Bhaal, was launched at a ceremony in the Baba Farid Shrine in Pakpattan city on Saturday.

The ceremony was hosted by civil society organisation Sanjh and attended by Punjabi scholars, writers, Punjabi activists and critics who highlighted the Punjabi poetry and philosophy of Baba Farid.

The original book was written in the Gurmukhi script, while Prof Zubair Ahmed converted it into the Shahmukhi script and it was published with the same title by Kitab Tirinjan, Lahore.

Book by Prof Pritam Singh shares manuscripts in Hindi, Persian, other languages containing Farid’s poetry predating Guru Nanak’s birth

Author Prof Pritam Singh, who had served for three decades as the Baba Farid Chair at the Punjab University, Chandigarh, India, was also present during the ceremony. Baba Farid is said to have passed away in 1265, while Guru Nanak Dev Ji passed away in 1539, leaving a gap of nearly 300 years. To counter the assumption that the verses in the Granth were written by successors, Prof Singh claims to present manuscripts in Hindi, Persian, and other local languages containing Baba Farid’s Punjabi poetry predating Guru Nanak’s birth.

During the ceremony, Sanjh Chairman Masood Khalid spoke on the importance and relevance of the book, while Prof Zubair Ahmed discussed the challenges faced during its preparation and publication.

Punjabi fiction writer Nain Sukh, twice recipient of the Dhahan Award, reflected on the contemporary relevance of Baba Farid’s poetry and the importance of the book.

Prof Kalyan Singh Kalyan commented on the research methodology, and Prof Tarunjit Singh Botalia of the Ohio State University, USA highlighted similarities between the works of Baba Farid and Baba Nanak.

Dr Saeed Bhutta highlighted the Punjabi literary history of 700 years and the role of Dr Pritam Singh in collecting Baba Farid’s verses from the Granth and getting it translated.

Pakpattan Deputy Commissioner Asif Raza also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2026