A History of the Sikhs, Volume 1 - 1469-1839 2nd Edition  (English, Paperback, KHUSHWANT SINGH)

Widely regarded as a veritable compilation, Khushwant Singh's A History Of The Sikhs 1469-1839 (Volume -1) is based on precise and meticulous research of original documents in Gurmukhi, Persian and English which tell the story of the Sikh faith.

Summary Of The Book

Khushwant Singh steps out of his raconteur shoes and adopts the role of a historian in this book, A History Of The Sikhs 1469-1839 (Volume -1), artfully bringing to life the history of Sikhism, spanning the social, political and religious factors over 500 years which led to its formation, and its sacred scriptures in the Granth Sahib. This riveting publication highlights the significant role that Sikhs have played in the formation of India and the critical role that Guru Gobind Singh played in the formation of the Khalsa, all the while retaining their unique cultural entity and forming one of the most prosperous communities of India.

The age old clash between Hinduism and Islam is one of the reasons Sikhism was born. There was an urgent requirement to resolve the conflict between the two. The book is primarily divided into three sections, the first discusses Punjab and the birth of Sikhism, which includes chapters like Birth of Sikhism and From the Pacifist Sikh to the Militant Khalsa. The second speaks about the Agrarian uprising, which has chapters on the Persecution of the Sikhs and the Reorganisation of the Khalsa Army, The rise and fall of Banda Bahadur, and From the Indus to the Ganges. The last section revolves around monarchy and imperialism in Punjab, which talks about the Maharajah of Punjab, Consolidation of Punjab, Across the Himalayas to Tibet and Europeanisation of the Army.

Factual accounts of Sikhism, from its outset through its augmentation right to its establishment as one of India’s most popular religions have been narrated by Singh in this publication.

About Khushwant Singh

An Indo-Anglian novelist, Khushwant Singh was known for his quick wit and his love for poetry and journalism. His works range from witty political commentary and contemporary mockery to outstanding translations of Sikh religious texts and Urdu poetry. He has authored Tragedy of Punjab, Uncertain Liaisons; Sex, Strife and Togetherness in Urban India, Not a Nice Man to Know: The Best of Khushwant Singh, Agnostic Khushwant Singh, There is no GOD, and Train to Pakistan.

Khushwant Singh was born in Hadali, a village in Sargodha, erstwhile Punjab, in 1915. After procuring a law degree from England, he returned to India. From 1980 through 1986, Singh was an active member of the Rajya Sabha and was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1974 for his services to the country. However, he returned the award in 1984 in protest against the siege of the Golden Temple by the Indian Army.

In 2007, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in India. Having worked as the editor of several literary and news magazines through 1970-80, Singh has edited Yojana, The Illustrated Weekly of India, and two other major Indian newspapers, The National Herald and the Hindustan Times. He has a son, Rahul, and a daughter, Mala. Having published over 40 books, Khushwant Singh is definitely going down in literary history as one of the finest journalists, narrators, novelists and historians India has known.