Chooraamani Mahakavi Bhai Santokh Singh Ji, was born in village Nur Di Sarai which is now known as Kila Kavi Santokh Singh Ji on 22nd September 1788 C.E. Kavi Ji’s parent’s names were Bhai Deva Singh Ji and Mata Raaj Kaur Ji. Kavi Ji started their Vidhya (literary training) with their father Bhai Deva Singh Ji. Then with the recommendation of Bhai Raam Singh Ji Amritsar, they became the student of the famous leader of the Giani Samparda (traditional lineage of scholars from the time of Guru Gobind Singh Ji) and Granthi Sahib of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib, Bhai Sant Singh Ji Giani. Kavi Ji from their childhood, was very intelligent and learnt very quickly. In a very short period, they mastered Sikh literature and historic Granths. Alongside this, they also learnt Sanskrit and Braj Bhasha. In the space of ten years, under the guidance of the great Bhai Sant Singh Ji Giani and in the educational atmosphere of Amritsar, Kavi Ji developed into an excellent poet. They became adept in writing Hindi, Sanskrit, Braj Bhasha and Panjabi poetry.

After gaining the blessings of their Vidhya Guru, Bhai Sant Singh Ji, Kavi Ji went to Banaras to delve into the Sanskrit language even further. In the same way that Guru Gobind Singh Ji sent five Gursikhs to Banaras to receive Sanskrit Vidhya, Kavi Ji headed for Kanshi (Banaras) at the age of 20 . Kavi Ji left for Banaras in 1856 Bikrami (1799 C.E.) and stayed there for five years learning the six Shastras (philosophies). Kavi Ji had already studied Sanskrit in Amritsar and was an expert in writing Sanskrit and Braj Bhasha poetry. For this reason, Kavi Ji greatly impressed the Pandits of Banaras. During that period, it was a common saying that if one was to be adept in Sanskrit, they must memorise their Vidhya. There were many Granths to memorise such as Nirukat Nrighantu, Naam Mala, Medni, Halayudh, Anekaarth, Kriya Kosh etc. but it was the ‘Amar Kosh’ ( a very hefty Sanskrit encyclopedia/dictionary) which Kavi Ji preferred. To make this volume accessible to those who did not read Sanskrit, Kavi Ji started the momentous task of translating it into Braj Bhasha. In 1870 Bikrami (1812 C.E.) Kavi Ji left Kanshi and arrived in Village Booria. 

Booria was on the riverbank of Jamuna River, and was under the command of Raja Bhagwan Singh of the Bhangi Misl at the time. With the help of Sardar Diaal Singh, Kavi Ji became the court poet of Raja Bhagwan Singh. Residing in the Diaalgarh area of Booria, Kavi Ji became busy in completing their already commenced project of translating Amar Kosh and completed this by 1878 Bikrami (1820 C.E.). 

It was after completing the Amar Kosh, that Kavi Santokh Singh Ji decided that there was a need for a complete and detailed biographical version of the Sikh Guru’s history. After returning to Amritsar, Kavi Ji decided to start with the history of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Combining a number of earlier sources, primarily from the Janamsakhi tradition, Kavi Ji started to write the history of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the form of poetry. 

In the beginning, I searched in various ways, in places such as Sri Amritsar Sahib

Writing down whatever I could find from various places and that which was pleasing to the mind when I heard it (i.e. Sakhis from various Gianis from the traditional lineages in Amritsar)

I selected those writings in which the praises of the Guru were found. In the same way, that when churning milk, the butter is taken out and the leftover is discarded (i.e. that which Kavi Ji deemed to be not in the glory of the Guru he left aside).

Taking all this information I had gathered, I wrote this as poetry that would be pleasing to the mind of the Sikhs of the Satguru.

- Sri Gur Nanak Parkash, Utraradh, Chapter 57

After much effort, and with the blessings of the Guru Sahibaan, Kavi Ji completed Sri Gur Nanak Parkash Granth on Kattak Sudi 15 1880 Bikrami (1824 C.E.) at Sri Amritsar Sahib. After completing the Sri Nanak Parkash Granth and with the blessings of their teacher Bhai Sant Singh Ji, Kavi Ji was sent to Maharaja Karam Singh of Patiala and became a court poet. At that time, the Sikh Rajas had interest in keeping great poets in their courts similar to how Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s kept a minimum of 52 poets in their Darbar at Sri Anandpur Sahib. 

Bhai Laal Singh,  a descendent of Bhai Bhagtu Ji, resided in Kainthal and was also fond of keeping many poets in his court. When Laal Singh’s younger son Udai Singh sat on the throne, his mother Mata Sahib Kaur requested him to bring Kavi Ji to Kainthal from Patiala, after hearing the many praises of Kavi Ji. 

With the permission of Raja Karam Singh, Kavi Ji left for Kainthal where he was received with much respect. It was around this time in 1882 Bikrami (1824 C.E.), that Kavi Ji completed the Garab Ganjani Teeka (Garab = ego, Ganjan = to destroy) of Sri Jap Ji Sahib. This teeka (translation) of Sri Jap Ji Sahib was written to destroy the ego of Swami Anandghan who had also written a Jap Ji Sahib Teeka but had slandered Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Alongside Gurbani and Gur-Itihaas, Raja Udai Singh was very interested in the knowledge of the Upanishads, Vedant and Yoga. Upon his request, Kavi Ji completed the Aatam Puran (based on the Upanishads) in 1886 Bikrami (1828 C.E.) and by the end of 1891 Bikrami (1833 C.E.), they had completed a translation of the Balmiki Ramayana. The King was so impressed by his translation, that he gave Kavi Ji the village of Mothli as a reward. 

Perhaps soon after settling in Kainthal, Kavi Ji had a haveli, a large house/mansion, built and this is where he produced his Magnum Opus, Sri Gurpartap Surya Prakash Granth. Whilst living at the Haveli, Kavi Ji had a great desire to write the complete history of the Guru Sahibaan. Kavi Ji writes at the start of the Sri Gurpartap Suraj Prakash Granth: 

First I had written the history of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in poetic stanzas. I had the desire of my heart to write the history of the other 9 Gurus, but after completing  Sri Nanak Parkash I was not able to (i.e. this is something Kavi Ji only had a chance to do after). 

- Sri Gurpartap Suraj Granth, Raas 1, Ansu 5

Kavi Ji writes how difficult it was to collect the sources for writing the Guru’s history:

The history of the great Guru Sahibaan cannot be found in this world in one place, it must be searched for in many different places.

Gold is found by sieving the sand over and over, those who want to find the gold eventually find it. 

In the same way I will search and sieve out the history of the Guru Sahibaan available in this world and write it all down.

In order to make my speech fruitful, I am writing the supreme glory of the Satgurus.

- Sri Gurpartap Suraj Granth, Raas 1, Ansu 5

So that history, which was located in different places and written in different Granths, was very difficult to find. But with the help of Raja Uday Singh and the  Kainthal Darbar (court), much material was brought together. Raja Uday Singh sent his men to far off places like Afghanistan to obtain whatever manuscripts they could. Kavi Ji themselves, write that they travelled to many places themselves to obtain information and see the historical Asthaans to portray an accurate representation when describing them in the Granth.

Maharishi Vyaas Ji organised the great epic of the Mahabharat in 18 large sections with further dividing sections. But Kavi Ji went a step further by divinding the history of the Ten Guru Sahibaan  likening it to the sun. The Gurus are like the sun (suraj) emanating parkash (light – giving peace and comfort to all, and eradicating darkness),  Kavi Ji divided his epic history into 12 Raas (corresponding to the signs of the zodiac), 6 Ruth (seasons), 2 Ayan (ascending and descending nodes). This Granth was named, the Sri Gurpartap Suraj Parkash Granth, meaning that Granth in which the glory of the Gurus is shining forth.  Each chapter of this Granth is known as ‘Ansu’, which means ray i.e. each chapter is like the rays of the sun.  Kavi Ji has written this history in such a way, that the events of Guru Ji’s life appears in front of the eyes like a film. Those who listen to the Katha of this Granth get transported to the scene of the Sakhi (historical episode).  

After the effort of around twenty years, Sri Gurpartap Suraj Granth was almost complete when Raja Udai Singh passed away on 14th March 1843 C.E, at the age of 35 years old, and without anheir. From 1833 – 1843 C.E. there was peace in the kingdom of Kainthal, due to which Kavi Ji had continuously worked on writing Sri Gurpartap Suraj Granth without any disturbance. Kavi Ji was near to completing the history of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji when Raja Udai Singh died and the British saw their chance to annex Kainthal into their empire. Kavi Ji writes that during that time, the British started to loot and plunder Kainthal, however with the grace of the Guru, he remained unharmed and was able to work on the Granth. Three months after this incident of unrest in Kainthal, Kavi Ji completed his magnum opus, as written at the end of the Granth:

In the month of Saavan (Saavan is the months july-august, and the year was 1843 C.E.), this Granth was completed. With the grace of the Supreme Creator, I was saved from many different obstacles. 

Kavi ji left this world on 21st October 1843 C.E. Kavi Ji was 56 years old when ascended to Sachkhand after a bout of illness, only a short period after completing Sri Gurpartap Suraj Granth.

A photograph of the haveli taken in the 1920s by Bhai Vir Singh.

The doorway has, what appears to be, a finely carved 'Chaukath' or door-frame. Compared to much of the haveli, this section is still is better condition.

Much of the building has lost the floors and roof, only the walls remain standing.

Photogrammetry is being used to help map the damage to the building. This helps to plan and implement appropriate structural solutions.