The authorize retired public servant of the government of India. He has worked in the field of policy planning and strategic studies in various departments of the government and has done various studies on China, Pakistan and Iran, The author claims to have firsthand knowledge of internal decision making process of the government and had connections with various intelligence agencies of India, Dr. Singh approached various individuals and organizations in North America but no one dared to publish this work as it was/is highly critical of the Brahminical manipulations and penned policies of the government of India, in uprooting the Sikhism from the face of India.
This book puts 500 years of Sikh history and the role played by various Sikhs leaders in shaping the history in a constructive and/or destructive context. The information is presented in a very concentrated form and the reader needs some background information on Sikhism and Sikh personal order to get most out of this book, But for the student of Sikh history reading this book will be a very illuminating experience. The information displayed in the book is well researched, authentic and supported by very extensive bibliography. This work shows that throughout history, Brahmanism has been an ardent enemy of Sikhism and has tried its best to damage the Sikh cause at every turn by means of treachery, bribery and in the last 30 years by force. The bane of the Sikh Panth, right from the Gurus’ period, has been the target of a persistent and premeditated onslaught of the crafty Brahminical Hindus. This has been underpinned and supported by State power and opposition from within the Panth itself.
The book is very well written and the author has been extremely bold in ‘calling a spade a spade.’ The author has rightfully criticized and brought to focus the undemocratic, corrupt, unethical and gross misuse of power by the federal and provincial governments of India and individuals, in order to target, suppress and mistreat a group of people the Sikhs, It will be interesting to see whether or not this book will be sanctioned by the government for sale in India, as well as its impact/affect upon the future of the author, who plans to reside in India. It is recommended that this book be on the shelf of every student of Sikh history and Sikhism.
The book is divided into six parts and made up of 12.chapters, Starting with introduction the author declares that Sikhism at present stands at the same crossroad, where Buddhism was at the beginning of the ninth century. It tells of how the Sikhs, the “third party at the time of Indian independence have been reduced to a nonexistent role. In the second part of the book, “Evolution of the Sikh Panth” the author: explains the fundamentals of the Sikh philosophy of Guru Nanak, its reinforcement by sight Gurus and it crystallization in the form of the Khalsa by tenth Guru Gobind Singh. This chapter is useful for a new student of Sikhism to aid understanding the teachings of the Sikh Gurus and Guru Granth Sahib. Though many contemporary and traditional Sikh and non-Sikh scholars have constantly tried to separate the philosophy of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh, the author has made it very clear that the Sikhism of the Guru Nanak is no different than the Khalsa concept of Guru Gobind Singh.
“This part of the book also describes the political positions of the Sikhs after the assassination of Guru Gobind Singh in 1708 and the annexation of the Punjab by the Britishers in April, 1849. The author analyses various factors which led to the rise and fall of the Sikh power. He walks readers through the braveries of the Sikhs during pre and post Banda Singh period and the cruelties of the Mughal rulers, The capture of Lahore in 1799. Marked the beginning of the rise of the Sikh monarchy. While the author praises the four decades of Sikh rule of Maharajah Ranjit Singh but he also accuses him of going astray from Sikhism and allowing himself to be surrounded by greedy, selfish and unfaithful, the Purbia Brahmins who stabbed the Sikh Generals, Princes and Ranis of Maharajah, causing Sikh kingdom to fall like a ripe fruit into the lap of the Britishers.
In the third past, 43 pages tell the story of the Sikhs between 1849-1925, after the loss of political power. There ‘was a sharp decrease in the Sikh population in Punjab, as opportunity converts reverted to Hinduism at an alarming rate. The Sikhs found themselves leaderless, there was a moral ci marked by a state of confusion politically, religiously, socially and culturally, The Sikhs seemed to be losing their sense of community and identity. With no defined boundaries in terms of religious worship, beliefs and everyday life, Sikhism and Hinduism seemed overlapping. It was stressed that the old Khalsa, the followers of Guru Nanak would hold their ground while those of Guru Gobind Singh styled “the Singhs and lions” would lose it, Publication of literature reinforcing Sikh practices during the Singh Sabha Movement as. Well as publication of the famous tract “Hum Hindu Nahin” (We Are Not Hindus) in 1899 by Bhai Kahn Singh and many sacrifices made by Sikhs to take control of the Sikh shrines from the Pujaris and Mahants marked the highlight of this period. Revival of Sikhism and emergence of the Chief Khalsa Diwan and the Akali Dal, helped to organize the Sikhs to fight for their basic rights. Enactment of the Gurdwara Act in 1925 and passing of the control of the Sikhs shrines and religious places to the elected body of the Sikhs the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee brought to fruition the Sikh efforts to assert their identity.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 24, 1995
