Sikh Ideology Polity And Social Order

This book is the fourth 'incarnation' of essays published in 1972. A slightly revised edition appeared in 1982, and an enlarged one in 1996. The present edition is much enlarged and thoroughly revised. In many of these essays the author has analysed contemporary works of history and literature and all other essays are based strictly on contemporary evidence. In the volume as a whole Sikh ideology, polity and social order are seen from various perspectives to illumine their inter-relationship in all its richness and complexity. A variety of sources in Punjabi, Persian and English are used in these essays with reference to the 'received wisdom'. The volume, thus, is likely to provide the best introduction to the pre-colonial Sikh tradition for young researchers. The professional historians may find it useful for comparison in the light of their own understanding. The general reader would find it interesting especially as it brings out the essential significance of several contemporary works of literature. Indispensable for the teachers and students of Sikh history, this book has equal relevance for scholars of social sciences, religion and literature.

The Sikhs And Their Polity Have Attracted Good Deal Of Attention As A Result Of Recent Developments In Panjab And Some Of The Basic Formulations Are Being Questioned. In A Period Of Turmoil Both The Rulers And The Ruled Seem To Have Forgotten Their Duties. The Author, Who Has Based His Work On Original Sources Such As The Adi Granth, The Dasam Granth, Varan Bhai Gurdas And Other Contemporary Sources, Has Deve¬Loped Answers To Some Of The Problems Relating To Sikh Polity By Quoting The Authority Of The Sikh Gurus Themselves.The Major Focus Of The Present Work Is On The Political Philosophy Of The Sikh Gurus As Conceived By Guru Nanak And Developed By The Successive Gurus. The Author Asserts That Guru Nanak Clearly Understood The Political Milieu And Reacted To The Politics Of Oppression Whether It Was From The Ruling Elite Or Vested Priestly Interests. The Guru Had Clearly Laid The Foundation Of A Viable Political Alternative By Giving A Distinct Political Ideology And Creating A Model Society, In Which There Were Neither The Suppressors Nor The Suppressed. In The Present Context It Will Be Relevant To Point Out That While The Sikh Gurus Clearly Condemned Political Oppression They Also Emphasised The Use Of Moral Force As A Major Weapon To Fight Politi¬Cal Opponents. Paradoxical As It May Sound, Guru Gobind Singh Suggested A Code Of Ethics Even In The Conduct Of Wars.

This Book Demonstrates That Historiography Is A Dynamic Process. The Five Major Sikh Writers Analysed In The Book Present Differences Of Factual Detail, Objectives And Approach. With Its Multiple Perspectives On The Khalsa, This Book Introduces The Subject In A Manner That No Single Perspective Can Do. It Should Be Of Interest To Those Concerned With The Sikh Tradition And Its Study, And Also To Those Concerned With Other Religious Traditions.

Articles on Sikh doctrines and polity.

First published in 1986, Sikh Separatism is a comprehensive study of the emergence of Sikh unrest in India. The appearance of Sikh fundamentalism and separatism is not a sudden development. They are both shown to have deep social and historical roots linked to the growth of contemporary Sikh identity, community and organization. The genesis of Sikh communal consciousness and organization lies in a social and religious reform movement among Sikhs from the 1870s to the 1920s. This movement is believed to have moulded Sikh perceptions of their political interests and resulted in the establishment of an institutional framework which has served as an arena and a base for Sikh separatism. The development of this reform movement and its motivations, the strategies and tactics employed by the reformers and its profound political implications are examined. This book will be of interest to students of political science, international relations, and South Asian studies.

These Pathbreaking Essays By Historians, Geographers, Economists And Scholars In Sikh Religion And Punjabi Literature Cover The Whole Span Of Sikh History And Nearly All Its Important Aspects. The Study Covers Sikhism And The Martial And Political Culture Of The Khalsa. Sikh Patronage Of Painting, Journalism, Demographic Change, And Spatial Dispersal Along With The Diaspora Have Also Been Dealt With In This Volume. Contributors Who Have Made This Volume Possible As A Tribute To Professor Indu Banga Include J.S. Grewal, Iqtidar Alam Khan, Joginder Singh, Darshan Singh Tatla, Shinder Singh Thandi, And Gurinder Singh Mann Among Many Others.

Contents: Introduction, Sikhism, The Development of Sikhism As a Distinct Religion, Sikh Tradition: Competing Organisations and Ideology, The Sikh Gurus, The Religion and Social Organisation of the Sikhs, Women in Sikhism, Gender and the Sikh Panth, Sikh Code of Conduct, The Concept of Hukam in Sikhism and Religious Experience, Sikh Politics in India, Unity of God The Sikh Point of View, Sikh Saints, Sikhism and Other Religious, Sikhism in the 21st Century.