Recent Debates in Sikh Studies : An Assessment

Contents: Preface. I. Foundation of Sikhism and the Sikh Community: 1. The Life of Guru Nanak. 2. The Faith of Guru Nanak. 3. Evolution and Transformation of the Sikh Panth. 4. The Khalsa Rahit and Doctrines. II. Identity and Social Order: 5. The Early Sikh Identity. 6. The Khalsa Identity. 7. Equality, Caste and Gender. III. Interpreting the Singh Sabha Movement: 8. Ham Hindu Nahin. 9. The Issue of Martydrom. IV. The Sacred Texts: 10. The Kartarpur Pothi. 11. The Guru Granth and the Dasam Granth. V. Methodology for Religious/Studies: 12. The Historical Method and Sikh Studies. Index.

Sikh studies in recent decades have been marked by a prolonged controversy involving most of the basic issues related to the Sikh tradition: the life of Guru Nanak and the Janamsakhis, the teachings of Guru Nank, the nature of his faith, and his status in the history of religion, evolution of the Sikh community and its politicization, the Khalsa rahit and the doctrines of Guru Panth and Guru Granth, the history of the Dasam Granth, its status, and its importance in the life of the Sikhs, the Sikh tradition of martyrdom, the Sikh and Khalsa identity, tension between the ideal of equality and the presence of caste and gender distinctions in the Sikh social order, and the making of the Sikh scripture known as Guru Granth Sahib.

The author’s comments and his perspective based on his extensive study of Sikh history and literature, meaningfully moderate between the opposing views held by the Western academia and the Sikh intelligentsia. As a results, this volume becomes an exceptionally insightful introduction to the Sikh tradition. It is indispensable for all readers and scholars interested in Sikh studies. (Jacket)