Gurmukh Singh Musafir, poet and politician, was born on 15 January 1899 at Adhval, in Campbellpore district, now in Pakistan. His father's name was Sardar Sujan Singh. Gurmukh Singh attended the village primary school and went to the city of Rawalpindi to pass the middle school examination. He trained as a junior vernacular teacher and in 1918, took up appointment at Khalsa High School, Kallar, where Master Tara Singh, who later became famous as an eminent political leader, had been the headmaster during 1914-16. His four years there as a teacher earned him the epithet Giani, 'Musafir' being the nom de plume he had adopted. Young Gurmukh Singh had heen much affected by the massacres at Jallianvala Bagh (13 April 1919) and Nankana Sahib (20 February 1921). In 1922, he gave up teaching to plunge into the Akali agitation for liberation of the gurdwaras. He composed poetry full of Sikh nationalistic fervour and recited it with gusto at Sikh Divans. For taking part in the Guru Ka Bagh agitation in 1922, he uderwent imprisonment. Side by side with his involvement in religious reformation, he started taking interest in political scene and courted arrest in 1930. The same year he was appointed Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht, central seat of temporal authority for the Sikhs. He held this office from 12 March 1930 to 5 March 1931. He also served for a time as secretary of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee as well as general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal. He went to jail again in 1939-41 and 1942-45. He became president of the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee in 1949. He was also a member of the All lndia Congress Working Committee. He was elected a member of the Lok Sabha successively in 1952, 1957 and 1962. He did not complete his last term in the Lok Sabha and resigned in 1966 to take over as Chief Minister of the trifurcated state of the Punjab. On 28 March 1968, he re-entered Parliament, this time as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

An active politician throughout his life, Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir also won renown as a poet and writer. His published works include nine collections of poems— Sabar de Baan, Prem Baan, Jivan Pandh, Musafarian, Tutte Khamb, Kaav Sunéhé, Sahaj Seti, Vakkhra Vakkra Katra Katra and Dur Néré; eight of short stories Vakkhri Duniya, Ahiane de Bol, Kandhan Bol Paian, Satai Janvari, Allah Vale, Gutar, Sabh Achcha, and Sasta Tamasha; and four biographical works - Vekhia Sunia Gandhi, Vekhia Sunya Nehru, Baghi Jarnail and Vihvin Sadi dé Shahid. He represented Indian writers at International conferences at Stockholm in 1954, and at Tokyo in 1961. He was posthumously honoured with Padma Vibhushan, the second highest national award of India.

He had a striking presence with a flowing white beard setting off his statuesque, glowing face, Gurmukh Singh Musafir was well-known for his joie de vivre, his style and humour. He had a huge capacity for laughter.

He fully enjoyed his life and had mastered the art of being happy. He got on well with people of all ages and occupations. He was genial, humble, and utterly guileless. He was above malice. He did not believe in intrigue. In politics, the highest positions came to him, but he did not manoeuvre for any. He was ambitious yet he was from the beginning assured of his direction and identity. This was the secret of his strength — and success.

Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir died in Delhi on 18 January 1976.