Arts Of The Sikh Kingdoms

This authoritative and sumptuous study of the cultural heritage of the Sikhs is published to coincide with the major exhibition at theV&A in March 1999. In 1801 Ranjit Singh was proclaimed the first Sikh Maharaja of the Panjab, the 'land of the five rivers', at Lahore. The magnificent illustrations include jewellery and gemstones from his treasury and the paintings, luxurious textiles, gold-decorated weapons and armour of his reign. The book also tells the little-known story of the continuing tradition of the later Sikh kingdoms after the Annexation of the Panjab by the British in 1849, as well as the beguiling friendship between the deposed Maharaja Dalip Singh and Queen Victoria. The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms is published to coincide with the 300th anniversary of a pivotal event in Sikh history, when Guru Gobind Singh (the last of the ten Sikh Gurus) initiated five of his followers to create the Khalsa, or 'Order of the Pure'. Following this, men adopted the name Singh (lion) and the women Kaur (princess), a tradition which, along with customs such as the wearing of turbans, remains to this day.