Author: Sangat Singh
Foreword/Introduction: Prof. Noel Q King
Publisher: Singh Brothers
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 638
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8172052758
Description
The author cautions against distortion and falsification of history, and induction of Brahminical, narrow, sectarianism in Sikhism, as warned by Guru Gobind Singh.
This work presents an account of extermination of Buddhism from land of its birth. Thereafter the author analyses the account of the Sikhs from Guru Nanak Dev to the present day. He goes into the process of development of Sikhism during the Guru period and after - for another half a century or so, the Singh Sabha movement and its afterflow till 1925. He lays emphasis on universal humanism of Guru Nanak, striking at Varnashramdharma, with inbuilt inequalities of Brahminism. Adi Granth is true representative of heterodoxy of faiths that prevailed in India, and constituted the basic source of Indian secularism notwithstanding semantics of M K Gandhi - the greatest ideologue of Hinduism in 20th century.
The author also dilates on the process of infiltration at first by Handalis, Minas, Brahmins down to post-Ranjit Singh era and loss of Sikh political power in 1849, and the 20th century onslaught at the hands of Bania-Brahmin pseudo secularists. He presents a picture of shortfall in Sikh leadership, eventually leading to their ouster from the national mainstream at the time of framing of the Constitution in 1949 and terrible days of 1984 and after.
The widespread apostasy, rise of Sant-Babas, induction of Bhayyas to reduce the Sikhs to a minority in Punjab, fulmination of Hindutava forces underpinned by Congress, and again the inadequacy of Sikh leadership are major factors in the current scenario that will determine the course of Sikh history in 21st century.
A chapter on Sikh Diaspora constitutes the epitome of the work. It surveys the Sikh scenario with special reference to the Sikh situation in Britain and North America, and its possible potentialities.
This work will serve as a loadstar to the historiography of 21st century, and will emerge as a classic one on Sikh history.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:
This is one of the most outstanding works done on Sikh History.
-Spokesman, Chandigarh
Sikh History will always remember his services.
-Sant Sipahi, Amritsar
Definitive history of the Sikhs.
-The Hindustan Times, New Delhi
A lucid picture of the treatment meted out to the Sikh community in the annals of Indian history.
-The Hindu, Madras
Here is an attempt at understanding Sikh pysche.
-Studies in Sikhism and Comparative Religion, New Delhi
As a study of history, it is impressive.
-Outlook, New Delhi
His thesis needs to be taken seriously because this is how a majority of educated Sikhs explain their present predicament. It is a good example of the self-image of a community.
-Khushwant Singh in Syndicated Columns in the Hindustan Times
This inspiring portrayal vividly depicts the onslaught of Brahminical forces to undermine and subvert the Sikh movement throughout history.
-The Sikh Courier Int., London
The reading of this book provides illuminating experience to the students of Sikh history.
-The World Sikh News, Stockton, CA, USA
Sangat Singh's book has encyclopedic dimensions. He has tried to list, analyze and interpret every major event affecting the evolution of Sikhism.
-The Sunday Tribune, Chandigarh:
The reading of this book provides illuminating experience to the students of Sikh history.
-The World Sikh News, Stockton, CA, USA
It is recommended that this book be on the shelf of every student of Sikh history and Sikhism.
-The Sikhs: Past and Present, Edmonton, ALTA, Canada
Contents
Map of Punjab
Forward
Preface
BOOK ONE: INTRODUCTION
The Sikh Problem
BOOK TWO: SIKHISM IN MEDIEVAL HISTORY
Evolution of the Sikh Panth (1469-1708)
Factors in Rise and Fall of the Sikh Power (1708-1849)
BOOK THREE: THE SIKHS UNDER THE BRITISH
Search for Identity (1849-1925)
The Sikhs and Indian Independence (1925-1947)
BOOK FOUR: THE SIKHS IN INDEPENDENT INDIA - I
(Search for a Place Under the Sun)
The Formative Phase (1947-1950)
Nehru's Negativism (1950-1964)
Achievement and Frustration (1964-1975)
BOOK FIVE: THE SIKHS IN INDEPENDENT INDIA - II
(Facing Genocide)
Indira's Sikh War (1975-1984)
Nights of Long Knives I (1984-1988)
Nights of Long Knives II (1988-1994)
The Sikhs in 2002
BOOK SIX: THE SIKHS IN THE WORLD
The Sikh Diaspora
BOOK SEVEN: LOOKING BEYOND
Future of the Sikhs
Index