He started Sachkhoj Academy which provides platform for independent researchers of Gurbani to perform unbiased research, and learning to use the Adi Granth dictionary lexical resource for the exegesis.[4]
Early life and education
He was born at Manupur-Goslan, Khanna, Punjab to Bhagwan Singh and Harnam Kaur. At Khanna, he had his primary education and matriculated from AS High School in 1954. In 1956, he completed his Intermediate with Hindi as his major.[4]
Life and works at Buddha Dal
He belongs to a Nihang family. His paternal uncles (Taya and Chacha) and first cousin served as Nihang in Budha Dal. His taya was jathedar of Budha Dal, Samrala Circle. Among others, Dharam Singh used to have discussions on Banis in Das Granthi with his coeval nephew.[7]
In 1960, Dharam Singh began to participate in religious gatherings called Jorh Melas, with Budha Dal. In 1962, he enrolled as a Nihang in Budha Dal at Hola Mohalla function in Anandpur Sahib, after Akhand Path of Dasam Granth.
He served as a secretary in the Dal, which was under command of Akali Chet Singh, and used to manage ledgers and other paper work, being among the most formally educated in the Dal during that time. In 1965, he participated in Path Antar Masla and Pothi Mangal conventions along with Buddha Dal representations and offered various suggestions on both topics[8]
Gurbani research and Sachkhoj Academy
He continued his research of Gurbani, led by the guidance in it such as, ਏਨਾ ਅਖਰਾ ਮਹਿ ਜੋ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਿਰਿ ਲੇਖੁ ਨ ਹੋਈ ॥੨॥(Adi Granth, 432) and ਬਿਦਿਆ ਸੋਧੈ ਤਤੁ ਲਹੈ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਇ॥ (Adi Granth, 938): he concluded that Gurbani is self-contained and that it provides its own explanations by itself. That the exposition of Gurbani can only be conducted best taking the ‘formless being’ as focal point, and not like the way the subject has been treated in the previous Expositions.
From 1970-92, he had discourses with people of various religious affiliations like Yogis, Bairagis, Kabirpanthis, Muslims, Pundits etc., during his stay in Garhmukteshwar, (Uttar Pradesh). In 1992, he returned to Khanna and started Gurmat classes on request of Bhai Iqbal Singh of Missionary College after their mutual discussions. In 1994, Sachkhoj Academy came into being.[4]
On request of SGPC, he had written various research articles which were published in Gurmat Prakash and also various magazines in Sikh world. Following are list of articles, taken from 50 Year History of Gurmat Prakash:[9]
