Tarn Taran city’s historic Adda Bazaar, which leads to Sri Darbar Sahib, is one of the oldest and busiest markets in the city. Its hustle and bustle is not limited to the city alone; people from more than 190 villages of the district come here for their daily needs. But in one corner of this crowded market lies a quiet source of peace and knowledge, one that today’s younger generation may not even know about. This is the Bhai Mohan Singh Vaid Memorial Library.
Nearly three and a half decades old, this library was established in memory of the great writer, social reformer and book lover Bhai Mohan Singh Vaid (1881-1936). In today’s digital age, students from schools and colleges may pass by this building without knowing it exists, but for literature lovers from Tarn Taran’s rural areas, it remains an important centre of knowledge.
Around 770 Members, Mostly Rural Readers
The library’s caretaker, 67-year-old Didar Singh, a retired PSPCL employee, says the library currently has around 770 members. Surprisingly, most of them are not from the city, but from nearby villages. According to records, the library has members from 43 villages of the district, including Kazikot.
Didar Singh says, “Villages often do not have library facilities, which is why rural readers who love books come to this library.” He also says that although the response from city students is lower than expected, there is visible enthusiasm among rural schools. Recently, 25 students and 3 teachers from Baba Basta Singh High School in Rasulpur village visited the library and showed serious interest in becoming members.
More Than 8,000 Books in the Library
Another retired teacher, Jaswinder Singh, who has been serving the library for the past 15 years, says the library has a collection of more than 8,000 books. These include writings by Sikh historians, religious texts, biographies and works of noted writers such as Bhagat Puran Singh, Raghbir Singh Bir, Sohan Singh Seetal, Bhai Vir Singh and Sant Sewa Singh Rampur. The library also has a section of English books, though Punjabi literature remains the most in demand among local readers.
A regular reader of the library says this historic institution urgently needs preservation and upgradation. According to her, “Many young people from villages, especially government school students from ordinary families, want to read but do not have the resources.” She has demanded better seating arrangements in the library, especially for girls, and expansion of the facility. Connecting young people with book culture, she says, is the best path for their personal and professional growth.
Who Was Bhai Mohan Singh Vaid?
Bhai Mohan Singh Vaid was born on 7 March 1881 in Tarn Taran. He learned Ayurveda from his father, Bhai Jaimal Singh, and became a skilled vaid. Although he did not receive formal higher education, his deep curiosity made him a scholar of Sikh history, politics, economics and psychology.
During his lifetime, he wrote nearly 200 tracts and books. He also translated several Western classics into Punjabi so that Punjabi readers could become familiar with world literature. A large part of his rare books and magazines was donated by his descendants to Punjabi University, Patiala, where it remains an important resource in North India.
Establishment and Present Condition of the Library
Bhai Mohan Singh Vaid passed away on 3 October 1936. His son Sukhbir Singh started this library in 1992 in a two-room space. Today, it is looked after by Bhai Mohan Singh Vaid’s granddaughter, Dr. Surinder Kaur Narula, who lives in the UK.
Bhai Mohan Singh Vaid Memorial Library is not merely a collection of books. It is a flame of knowledge in the rural belt of Tarn Taran, one that has continued to burn for the past three decades. What is needed now is attention from the government and social organisations, so that it can be developed into a modern library and Punjab’s youth can once again be connected with the culture of books.
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