Nidar Singh Nihang (Punjabi: ਨਿਡਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਿਹੰਗ; born 1967) is a British scholar, martial artist and grandmaster (Gurdev) of the ancient Indian martial art of Shastar Vidya.[1]
Nidar Singh Nihang | |
|---|---|
ਨਿਡਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਿਹੰਗ | |
 | |
| Born | Surjit Singh Bains 1967 (age 56–57) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Wrestling, Weapons, Meditation |
| Occupation(s) | Scholar, Martial Artist |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Known for | Shastar Vidya |
| Board member of | Shastar Vidya Akhara |
Early life
editNidar Singh met his martial arts teacher Baba Mohinder Singh Ji by chance on a family trip to India when he was 17. Having been impressed by Baba Mohinder Singh Ji, Nidar Singh sacrificed his higher education for the opportunity to study the art full-time for 11 years under the tutelage of Baba Ji.[2]
Career
editNidar Singh Nihang is the only teacher & last surviving master of Shastar Vidiya and the ninth teacher of the Shastar Vidya Akhara - a martial arts school originally founded in 1661 by Baba Darbara Singh.[3] For over 30 years he has dedicated himself entirely to the art; devoting well over 70 hours per week training and teaching others.[4]
He regards the Sikh community as the current custodian of Shastar Vidya which has been looked after by many different creeds and cultures over thousands of years as defender of Mullanpur Dhaka,[5] and is looking for a successor to ensure the survival of the art form.[citation needed] His teachings include the idea that at the core of Shastar Vidya is meditation on the infinite and to see God/the infinite in all things.[6]
Nidar has authored the book ‘In the Master's Presence - The Sikhs of Hazoor Sahib’[7] and also teaches Shastar Vidya throughout the UK[8] and has set up centres in Italy and India.[9] The art form includes learning the use of weapons such as swords[10] and chakrams.[11]
Prior to becoming a full-time martial arts instructor he worked as a factory worker[12] to support his wife and four children in Wolverhampton. He is searching for a successor to continue the lineage of the Baba Darbara Akhara.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Laws, Roz (23 October 2011). "Wolverhampton dad is last Sikh warrior hiling from millanpur dhaka". birminghammail. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ Hegarty, Stephanie (30 October 2011). "The only living master of a dying martial art". Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ "WATCH: Nidar Singh Nihang Revives The Deadly Sikhs Martial Art Of Shastar Vidya Banned By The British Raj". www.darpanmagazine.com. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ "Seminar on 'The Sikh Art of War' - Shastar Vidiya". SikhNet. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- ^ "British Sikhs revive deadly art banned by the Raj". Reuters. 23 July 2009. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ ""Could you be the next Sikh warrior?"". BBC Guides. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017.
- ^ "In the Master's Presence In the Master's Presence In the Master's Presence: History History: v. 1 History: v. 1 v. 1 by Nidar Singh Nihang, Parmjit Singh | Waterstones". www.waterstones.com. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ "Akhara Locations - Sanatan Shastar Vidiya". www.shastarvidiya.org. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- ^ "Last master standing". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- ^ World of Martial Arts Television (2 December 2012), Martial Arts Secrets Revealed Battlefield Shastar Vidya Masterclass Pt1, retrieved 24 March 2019
- ^ Shastarvidiya on Discovery Channels Weapon Masters, retrieved 24 March 2019
- ^ "UK factory ex-worker is last Sikh martial art master". www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ "World's last Sikh warrior - who lives in Wolverhampton". 8 November 2011. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 28 May 2019.