Five hundred years ago, Guru Nanak founded the Sikh faith in India. The Sikhs defied the caste system; rejected the authority of Hindu priests; forbade magic and idolatry; and promoted the equality of men and women -- beliefs that incurred the wrath of both Hindus and Muslims. In the centuries that followed, three of Nanak's nine successors met violent ends, and his people continued to battle hostile regimes. The conflict has raged into our own time: in 1984 the Golden Temple of Amritsar -- the holy shrine of the Sikhs--was destroyed by the Indian Army. In retaliation, Sikh bodyguards assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Now, Patwant Singh gives us the compelling story of the Sikhs -- their origins, traditions and beliefs, and more recent history. He shows how a movement based on tenets of compassion and humaneness transformed itself, of necessity, into a community that values bravery and military prowess as well as spirituality. We learn how Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Guru, welded the Sikhs into a brotherhood, with each man bearing the surname Singh, or "Lion," and abiding by a distinctive code of dress and conduct. He tells of Banda the Brave's daring conquests, which sowed the seeds of a Sikh state, and how the enlightened ruler Ranjit Singh fulfilled this promise by founding a Sikh empire. The author examines how, through the centuries, the Sikh soldier became an exemplar of discipline and courage and explains how Sikhs -- now numbering nearly 20 million worldwide -- have come to be known for their commitment to education, their business acumen, and their enterprising spirit. Finally, Singh concludes that it would be a grave error to alienate an energetic and vital community like the Sikhs if modern India is to realize its full potential. He urges India's leaders to learn from the past and to "honour the social contract with Indians of every background and persuasion."

The Sikhs

History

SINGH, Patwant

Asia

Random House Publishing Group

Of dreams and demons: an Indian memoir

Duckworth

. *******PAPERBACK COPY*****1999, clean bright copy

John Murray

Ranjit Singh has been largely written out of accounts of India's past by British historians, yet he was one of the most powerful and charismatic figures in Indian history. He unified the warring chiefdoms of the Punjab into an extraordinary northern empire, built up a formidable army, kept the British in check to the south of his realm, and closed the Khyber Pass through which plunderers had poured into India for centuries. His consummate humanity was unique among empire-builders. He gave employment to defeated foes, honored faiths other than his own, and included Hindus and Muslims among his ministers. A colorful character, he was inspired by the principles of peaceful coexistence uniquely articulated by the Sikh Gurus, firm in upholding the rights of others, and unabashed in exercising his own. The authors of this first full-length biography in English make use of a variety of eyewitness accounts, from reports by Maratha spies at the Lahore Durbar to British parliamentary papers and travel accounts. The story ends with the controversial Anglo-Sikh Wars following Ranjit's death, which saw the fall of his empire in the hands of his successors whose internecine conflict was exploited by the British. Coinciding with the 300th anniversary of the consecration of the Sikh holy scriptures, this book honors a vital figure in Sikh history.

Empire of the Sikhs: The Life and Times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Biographies & Memoirs

Rai, Jyoti M.

Historical

Peter Owen Publishers

The definitive biography of Ranjit Singh, contemporary of Napoleon and one of the most powerful and charismatic Indian rulers of his age
Ranjit Singh has been largely written out of accounts of the subcontinent's past by recent Western historians, yet he had an impact that lasts to this day. He unified the warring chiefdoms of the Punjab into an extraordinary northern Empire of the Sikhs, built up a formidable modern army, kept the British in check to the south of his realm, and closed the Khyber Pass through which plunderers had for centuries poured into India. Unique among empire builders, he was humane and just, gave employment to defeated foes, honored religious faiths other than his own, and included Hindus and Muslims among his ministers. In person he was a colorful character whose his court was renowned for its splendor; he had 20 wives, kept a regiment of "Amazons," and possessed a stable of thousands of horses. The authors make use of a variety of eyewitness accounts from Indian and European sources, from reports of Maratha spies at the Lahore Durbar to British parliamentary papers and travel accounts. The story includes the range of the maharaja's military achievements and ends with an account of the controversial period of the Anglo-Sikh Wars following his death, which saw the fall of his empire while in the hands of his successors.

Empire of the Sikhs: Revised edition

In this challenging, widely documented book, the distinguished Indian writer Patwant Singh examines US interventions in Asia from the Korean War to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and its aftermath. He demonstrates graphically how US administrations have preferred juntas rather than elected governments; how the US economy is overwhelmingly geared to war; how the violence of America’s actions abroad has been accompanied by erosion of civil liberties at home; how, in short, in the last 50 years the ideals of America’s founding fathers have been turned upside-down.Patwant Singh is one of India’s leading writers on international affairs. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, the United Kingdom’s Independent and elsewhere.

World According to Washington

Politics & Social Sciences

Politics & Government

UGI Perspectives

The World According to Washington: An Asian View

In this challenging, widely documented book, the distinguished Indian writer Patwant Singh examines US interventions in Asia from the Korean War to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and its aftermath. He demonstrates graphically how US administrations have preferred juntas rather than elected governments; how the US economy is overwhelmingly geared to war; how the violence of America’s actions abroad has been accompanied by erosion of civil liberties at home; how, in short, in the last 50 years the ideals of America’s founding fathers have been turned upside-down.
Patwant Singh is one of India’s leading writers on international affairs. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, the United Kingdom’s Independent and elsewhere.

Americas

Common Courage Press

Of Dreams and Demons: A Memoir of Modern India

Kodansha USA Inc

Gurdwaras in India and around the world

Himalayan Books

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