In 1812, Sir John Malcolm, a Lieutenant General in the British Army wrote A Sketch of the Sikhs , commonly believed to be the first account of the Sikhs written by a non-Sikh. In truth, soldiers, travellers, diplomats, missionaries and scholars had provided accounts for many years before. Drawing on this difficult-to-access material, the editors of this volume have compiled a unique source that offers a fascinating insight into the early developments in Sikh history. From the first ever written accounts of the Sikhs by Persian chroniclers of the Moghul Emperor to the travel diary of an Englishwoman, this volume contains material invaluable to those studying the evolution of the Sikh religion as well as to those interested in learning more about this major religion. It also provides an unparalleled look into the growth and solidification of the religious practices of Sikhs. At a time when the misunderstanding of the Sikh religion and those who practise it has reached new and deadly heights, this volume hopes to introduce a wider audience to the roots of its culture. For more detailed information, including examples of illustrations, and selected extracts, go to www.sicques.com

Some of the most far-reaching events in Sikh history have centred on Hazoor Sahib ('Master's Presence'), the final resting place of the tenth Sikh Guru - who had spent much of his life battling against the oppressive policies of the Mughal Empire

Sikhs in Europe are neglected in the study of religions and migrant groups: previous studies have focused on the history, culture and religious practices of Sikhs in North America and the UK, but few have focused on Sikhs in continental Europe. This book fills this gap, presenting new data and analyses of Sikhs in eleven European countries; examining the broader European presence of Sikhs in new and old host countries. Focusing on patterns of migration, transmission of traditions, identity construction and cultural representations from the perspective of local Sikh communities, this book explores important patterns of settlement, institution building and cultural transmission among European Sikhs.

The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies innovatively combines the ways in which scholars from fields as diverse as philosophy, psychology, religious studies, literary studies, history, sociology, anthropology, political science, and economics have integrated the study of Sikhism within a wide range of critical and postcolonial perspectives on the nature of religion, violence, gender, ethno-nationalism, and revisionist historiography. A number of essays within this collection also provide a more practical dimension, written by artists and practitioners of the tradition. The handbook is divided into eight thematic sections that explore different 'expressions' of Sikhism. Historical, literary, ideological, institutional, and artistic expressions are considered in turn, followed by discussion of Sikhs in the Diaspora, and of caste and gender in the Panth. Each section begins with an essay by a prominent scholar in the field, providing an overview of the topic. Further essays provide detail and further treat the fluid, multivocal nature of both the Sikh past and the present. The handbook concludes with a section considering future directions in Sikh Studies.

From its founding in 1588, the Golden Temple has come to symbolise the epitome of Sikh architecture as well as the undying love of its devotees. The complex that developed around it was the Sikhs' very own 'Vatican City'. In its heyday in the early 1800s it was also highly regarded as a centre of learning and a beacon for those in search of spiritual and educational enlightenment. Around it developed a bustling multicultural town that became a prominent stop on the Silk Route and a major commercial hub of north western India. This unique volume highlights the temple's unparalleled beauty and changing fortunes during a golden era of peace, prosperity and patronage. Its vast collection of paintings, sketches, lithographs and photographs have been painstakingly sourced from archives around the world. They are complemented by intriguing quotes from 70 eyewitness accounts, ranging from the earliest discovered in 1808 - a report by a one-legged British spy - right up to that of an awestruck Hollywood heartthrob, Lew Ayres, in search of the exotic and esoteric in 1959.

In Sikh Evolution to Revolution, Mohindra S Chowdhry bares his ideas on the Sikh revolution and how against all odds, his Sikh ancestors transformed into a formidable force that dismantled the most powerful empire in India.

Heirs of the Land book represents the History of the Sikhs in a true spirit before the Mankind; and emboldens and encourage especially the Heirs of the Great Punjab, the Sikhs, to study their history, its people, and places those that had been ignored not only by the Indian and Pakistan States sponsored so-called Historians, but also, who are trying hard to dilute the Sikh Revolution of the SatGuru Nnak Sahib. Therefore, the author shall die in peace if this work inspires the historians to look at Harappa Civilisation and the Sikh-Revolution in its true inceptions. SatGuru Granth Sahib, the Living Guru of the Sikhs in the Globe proclaimed that the soul dwells in the body and imbue with SatGuru’s Shabad (the Ambrosial Nectar). We should purify our body in the contemplation of the SatGuru’s Shabad and eradicate Doubt Dubida duibDw; the Almighty Lord Giver of Peace Himself bestows His Mercy, Kirpa ikRpw, unites us with Himself: kwieAw ibrKu pMKI ivic vwsw] AMimRqu cugih gur sbid invwsw] (1068-17) KAA-I-AA BIRKHU PAnKHEE VICHI WAASAA. AnMRITU CHUGAHI GUR SABADI NIWAASAA. The body is the tree; the bird of the soul dwells within it. It drinks in the Ambrosial Nectar, resting in the Word of the SatGuru’s Shabad. aufih n mUly n Awvih n jwhI inj Gir vwsw pwieAw]13] kwieAw soDih sbdu vIcwrih] UDDAHI NA MOOLAY NA AAVAHI NA JAAHEE NIJ GHARI WAASAA PAA-I-AA.13. KAA-I-AA SODHAHI SABADU VEECHAARAHI. It never flies away, and it does not come or go; it dwells within the home of its own self. ||13|| Purify the body and contemplate the Shabad. moh TgaurI Brmu invwrih] Awpy ik®pw kry suKdwqw Awpy myil imlwieAw]14] (1068-19) MOH THAG-UREE BHARAMU NIVAARAHI. AAPAY KrIPAA KARAY SUKHDAATAA AAPAY MAYLI MILAA-I-AA. Remove the poisonous drug of emotional attachment and eradicate doubt. The Giver of peace Himself bestows His Mercy and unites us in Union with Himself. ||14|| SatGuru Amardas Sahib 3rd Nanak, Rag Maru, SGGS. p. 1068.

Published to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Sikh Brotherhood, this is a collection of over 100 images depicting Sikh prowess in war - photographs covering the last 150 years, together with early prints and paintings.

'A glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological, historical, geographical and discursive.' Hobson-Jobson is a unique work of maverick scholarship. Compiled in 1886 by two India enthusiasts, it documents the words and phrases that entered English from Arabic, Persian, Indian, and Chinese sources - and vice versa. Described by Salman Rushdie as 'the legendary dictionary of British India' it shows how words of Indian origin were absorbed into the English language and records not only the vocabulary but the culture of the Raj. Illustrative quotations from a wide range of travel texts, histories, memoirs, and novels create a canon of English writing about India. The definitions frequently slip into anecdote, reminiscence, and digression, and they offer intriguing insights into Victorian attitudes to India and its people and customs. With its delight in language, etymology, and puns, Hobson-Jobson has fascinated generations of writers from Rudyard Kipling to Tom Stoppard and Amitav Ghosh. This selected edition retains the range and idiosyncrasy of the original, and includes fascinating information on the glossary's creation and its significance for the English language. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.