The Sikhs by Patwant Singh
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. From the Hardcover edition.
Patwant Singh (1925-2009) was one of India's leading writers on Indian history, politics, international affairs, and the environment. His recent books include The Sikhs and The World According to Washington.Jyoti M. Rai is an internationally renowned numismatist who has built up one of the most impressive collections of Sikh coins anywhere in the world. She also possesses a large archive of rare books and documents relating to 18th- and 19th-century Sikh history.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780385502061 |
| ISBN 10 | 0385502060 |
| Title | The Sikhs |
| Author | Patwant Singh |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc |
| Year published | 2001-07-17 |
| Number of pages | 320 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |