Author: Patwant Singh
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 1999
Language: English
Pages: 312
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8172233450
Description
A stirring story of how a movement of peace transformed itself, of necessity, into a community which placed military values alongside spiritual, the Sikh soldier becoming the envy of every nation's army.
When Guru Nanak founded the Sikh faith just over 500 years ago after centuries of continuous warfare in northern India, he sought a more humane direction for the subcontinent. But Sikhism, which grew out of Hindu compassion and Islamic brotherhood, provoked the wrath of both Hindus and Muslims. Three of the nine Gurus who succeeded Nanak met violent ends, and the Sikhs have seen much death and destruction since, upto the violence to the Golden Temple in 1984.
That tragedy was the spur to this book, which has been written in the belief that there is need for people in the western countries of the Sikh Diaspora to know something of Sikh history, traditions and more recent events.
Contents
Illustrations
Maps
Acknowledgements
Preface
Prologue
CHAPTER I
The Gurus of the Faith (1469 - 1708)
CHAPTER II
Retribution and Consolidation (1708 - 1799)
CHAPTER III
Empire of the Sikhs (1801 - 1839)
CHAPTER IV
Grievous Betrayals (1839 - 1849)
CHAPTER V
From Annexation to Partition (1849 - 1947)
CHAPTER VI
Violence and Venality (1947 to the present)
Notes
Further Reading
Index