Kids Corner

Books

Best Reads

A SELECTION OF RECOMMENDED READINGS ON SIKHS & SIKHI

 

The following list is a work-in-progress. It is not meant to be exhaustive, or to develop into a full-fledged bibliography. We are merely providing a small selection, in order to give the reader a sampling and a taste, or whet the appetite ... which will lead one, we hope, further afield into one's own research on the wealth of material that exists out there. 

We intend to update this list regularly.

 

ART

Sikh Portraits by European Artists, by F.S. Aijazuddin, Sotheby, London, 1979, ISBN 0-85667-059-6 

Sikh Art & Literature, edited by Kerry Brown, Routledge, London, 1999, ISBN 0-415-20288-4

Amrita Sher-Gil, by Vivan Sundaram, Marg Publications, Bombay, 1972 

Popular Sikh Art, by W.H. McLeod, Oxford UP, Delhi, 1991, ISBN 0-195-62791-1 

Past-Modern: Paintings by The Singh Twins, by Amrit & Rabindra Kaur Singh, National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, 2002 

Twin Perspectives, by Amrit & Rabindra Kaur Singh, Twin Studio, Liverpool, U.K., 1999, ISBN 0-9535111-0-3 

New Insights Into Sikh Art, edited by Kavita Singh, Marg, Mumbai, 2003, ISBN 81-8502-660-1 

 

BIOGRAPHY 

Garland Around My Neck: The Story of Puran Singh of Pingalwara, by Patwant Singh & Harinder Kaur Sekhon, DTF Pub. & Distrib., Birmingham, U.K. (with UBS Pub. Distrib., New Delhi), 2001, ISBN 1-901363-40-6 

Arjan Singh: Marshal of The Indian Air Force, by Roopinder Singh, Rupa, New Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-71679-382 

The Four Quarters of the Night, by Tara Singh Bains, McGill-Queen's UP, 2003, ISBN 0-77351-266-7

The Real Ranjit Singh, by Fakir Syed Waheeduddin, Punjabi University, Patiala, 2001, 81-7380-778-7 

 

CHILDREN

Nanak: The Guru, by Arpana Caur and Mala Kaur Dayal, Rupa, New Delhi, 2005 

Bindu's Wedding, written & illustrated by Amrit & Rabindra Kaur Singh

Style of the Lion: The Sikhs, by Jasprit & Teresa Singh, Akal Publications, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 1998, ISBN 0-9660942-0-4 

The Boy With Long Hair, written & illustrated by Pushpinder Singh, Sikh Foundation, Palo Alto, CA, USA, 1999 

Guru Nanak: His Life & Teachings, by Roopinder Singh, Rupa, New Delhi, 2004 

The Guru's Word & Illustrated Sikh History, by Santokh Singh, Spiritual Awakening, Princeton (Ont., Canada), 2000, ISBN 1-89547-126-5 

 

COFFEE TABLE

The Duleep Singhs, by Peter Bance, Sutton, U.K., 2004, ISBN 0-7509-3488-3 

The Sikhs in Britain, by Peter Bance, Sutton, U.K., 2007, ISBN 0-7509-4511-0 

I See No Stranger: Early Sikh Art and Devotion, by B.N. Goswamy & Caron Smith, Grantha, New Jersey, USA, ISBN 1-890206-05-9 

Piety and Splendour: Sikh Heritage in Art, edited by B.N. Goswamy, National Museum, New Delhi, 2000, ISBN 81-85832-09 

Maharaja Ranjit Singh: Lord of the Five Rivers, by Jean-Marie Lafont, Oxford UP, New Delhi, 2002, ISBN 0-195-66111-7 

Warrior Saints, by Amandeep Singh Madra & Parmjit Singh, I.B. Tauris, London, 1999, ISBN 1-860-64490-0 

The Illustrated History of The Sikhs, by Khushwant Singh, Oxford UP, New Delhi, 2006, ISBN 0-195-67747-1 

The Sikhs, Text by Khushwant Singh, Photography by Raghu Rai, Lustre Press, 1984 

The Great Glory: Sikhism, Photography by Malkiat Singh, Text by Sandeep Goswami, Rupa & Co., New Delhi, 2006, ISBN 8-129-10936-1 

Anandpur: The City of Bliss, by Mohinder Singh, UBS Pub. Distrib./National Institute of Panjab Studies, New Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7476-374-0  

The Golden Temple, by Mohinder Singh, UBS Pub. Distrib./National Institute of Panjab Studies, New Delhi, 2005, ISBN 81-7476-371-6  

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, by Mohinder Singh and Rishi Singh, UBS Pub. Distrib./National Institute of Panjab Studies, New Delhi, 2002, ISBN 81-7476-372-4 

The Golden Temple, by Patwant Singh, Time Books, New Delhi, 1988 

Becoming Canadians: Pioneer Sikhs in Their Own Words, by Sarjeet Singh Jagpal, Harbour, Vancouver, 1994, ISBN 1-550-17108-9  

The Arts of The Sikh Kingdoms, edited by Susan Stronge, V & A Publications, London, 1999, ISBN 8-517-72261-8 

 

DIASPORA

Punjabis in New Zealand, by W.H. McLeod, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 1986 

 

DICTIONARY

English-Punjabi Dictionary, Punjabi University

Punjabi-English Dictionary, Punjabi University

The Punjabi Dictionary: Roman-Punjabi-English, by Bhai Maya Singh, National Book Shop, Delhi, 2003, ISBN 81-7116-328-9 

Dictionary of Guru Granth Sahib, by Surindar Singh Kohli, Singh Brothers, Amritsar, 2005 

 

ENCYCLOPAEDIA

Historical Dictionary of Sikhism, by W.H. McLeod, Scarecrow Press, Lanham, MD, USA, 2005, ISBN 0-810-85088-5 

The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism, Editor-in-Chief: Harbans Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala, 2002, ISBN 81-7380-1002 

Mahaan Kosh: Guru Shabad Ratnaagar, by Bhai Kahn Singh, National Book Shop, Delhi, 2005, ISBN 81-7116-280-0 

A Conceptual Encylopaedia of Guru Granth Sahib, by Surindar Singh Kohli, Manohar, New Delhi, 1992

 

ESSAYS

Thoughts of Bhai Ardaman Singh, Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh, 1999 

Sikhs & Sikhism: A View With a Bias, by I.J. Singh, Centennial Foundation, Guelph, Canada, 1998, ISBN 1-894232-00-3 

The Sikh Way: A Pilgrim's Progress, by I.J. Singh, Centennial Foundation, Guelph, Canada, 2001, ISBN 1-894232-09-7 

Being & Becoming A Sikh, by I.J. Singh, Centennial Foundation, Guelph, Canada, 2003, ISBN 1-894232-10-0 

The World According to Sikhi, by I.J. Singh, Centennial Foundation, Guelph, Canada, 2006, ISBN 1-894232-11-9 

Me Judice, by Kapur Singh, Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh, Amritsar, 2003 ISBN 81-7601-536-9 

Parasaraprasna, by Kapur Singh, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 2001, ISBN 81-7770-014-6 

Sikhism for Modern Man, by Kapur Singh, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 2006, ISBN 81-7770-002-2 

The Turban and The Sword of The Sikhs, by Trilochan Singh, Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh, Amritsar, 2001, ISBN 81-7601-4915 

 

FICTION

Can You Hear the Nightbird Call?, by Anita Rau Badami, Vintage Canada, Toronto, 2007, ISBN 0-676-97605-2 

English Lessons and Other Stories, by Shauna Singh Baldwin, Goose Lane, Fredericton, NB, Canada, 1999, ISBN 0-864-92273-6  

What the Body Remembers, by Shauna Singh Baldwin, Talese, New York, 1999, ISBN 0-385-49604-4 

Sacred Games, by Vikram Chandra, Harper Collins, New York, 2007, ISBN 0-06-113035-4 

Seventeen Tomatoes: Tales from Kashmir, by Jaspreet Singh, Vehicule Press, Montreal, 2004, ISBN 1-55065-188-9 

Train to Pakistan,  by Khushwant Singh. Photographs by Margaret Bourke-White. Roli Books Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, 2007. Illustrated Edition. ISBN-13: 978-81-7436-444-9.

 

FOLKLORE

Tales of The Punjab, by Flora Annie Steel, Oxford UP, New York, 2002, ISBN 0-19579-789-2 

 

GURU GRANTH SAHIB

The Making of Sikh Scripture, by Gurinder Singh Mann, Oxford UP, New York, 2001, ISBN 0-195-13024-3 

 

HISTORY

History of the Sikhs, by J.D. Cunningham, Satvic Media, Amritsar, 2002, ISBN 81-87526-04-1 

History of the Sikhs, (6 vols.) by Hari Ram Gupta, Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi, 2000, ISBN 81-215-0540-2

The Coins of The Sikhs, by Hans Herrli,  Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi, 2004, ISBN 81-215-1132-1  

The Sikh Religion, (6 vols.) by Max Arthur Macauliffe, S. Chand, Delhi, 1963 

The Sikhs: History, Religion & Society, by W.H. McLeod, Columbia UP, New York, 1989, ISBN 0-231-06814-7 

The Heritage of the Sikhs, by Harbans Singh, Manohar, New Delhi, 1999, ISBN 81-7304-064-8 

A History of The Sikhs, (2 vols.) by Khushwant Singh, Oxford UP, New Delhi, 1999, ISBN 019-567308-5

The Sikhs, by Patwant Singh, Knopf, New York, 2000, ISBN 0-375-40728-6

Sikh Coinage: Symbol of Sikh Sovereignty, by Surinder Singh, Manohar, New Delhi, 2004, ISBN 81-7304-533-X  

A Short History of The Sikhs, by Teja Singh & Ganda Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala, 1999, ISBN 81-7380-007-3 

 

LANGUAGE 

An Introduction to the Sacred Language of the Sikhs, by Christopher Shackle, School of Oriental & African Studies, London, 1983 

 

MAGAZINES & JOURNALS

Journal of Punjab Studies (semi-annual), edited by Gurinder Singh Mann, University of California, Santa Barbara, http://www.global.ucsb.edu/punjab/journal.html   

Nishaan (quarterly), The Nagaara Trust, New Delhi, http://www.nishaan.in/

Sikh Formations (semi-annual), edited by Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, Taylor & Francis, U.K., http://www.tandf.co.uk/

The Sikh Review (monthly), The Sikh Cultural Centre, Kolkata, http://www.sikhreview.org/

 

NINETEEN-EIGHTY-FOUR

Twenty Years of Impunity: The November 1984 Pogroms of Sikhs in India, by Jaskaran Kaur, Nectar Publishing, U.K., 2004, ISBN 0-9548412-0-4  

Soft Target: How the Indian Intelligence Service Penetrated Canada, by Zuhair Kashmeri & Brian McAndrew, Lorimer, Canada, 1989, 151 pp. ISBN-10: 1550282212 , ISBN-13: 978-1550282214.

Black Laws: 1984-85, People's Union for Civil Liberties, Delhi, 1985

Truth About the Punjab Tragedy, Sikh Cultural Centre, Calcutta, 1984

 

PARTITION

The Other Side of Silence: Voices from the Partition of India, by Urvashi Butalia, Duke UP, Durham, NC, USA, 2000, ISBN 0-822-32457-1 

 

POETRY

Red Silk: An Anthology of South Asian Canadian Women Poets, edited by Rishma Dunlop & Priscila Uppal, Mansfield Press, Toronto, 2004, ISBN 1-894469-16-X  

The Bride of the Sky, by Puran Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala, 1995, ISBN 81-7380-185-1  

Sisters of the Spinning Wheel, by  Puran Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala, 1994 

The Temple Tulips, by Puran Singh, Punjabi University, Patiala, 2001, ISBN 81-7380-661-6 

 

RELIGION

Sikhism, by W. Owen Cole, Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1994, ISBN 0-340-61109-X 

Sikh Ceremonies, by Sir Jogendra Singh, Lahore Book Shop, Ludhiana, 1999

The Spirit Born People, by Puran Singh, Singh Brothers, Amritsar, 2002, ISBN 81-7205-195-6 

The Ten Masters, by Puran Singh, Singh Brothers, Amritsar, 2004, ISBN 81-7205-148-4 

 

TRANSLATIONS: GURU GRANTH SAHIB

[All translations currently available, in our humble opinion, leave something to be desired. However, we're hereby listing all complete versions, because they nevertheless assist immensely in research.]

 

5 vol., by Darshan Singh, Sikh UP, Belgium, ISBN 2-930247-12-6 

4 vol., by Gopal Singh, Gur Das Kapur & Sons, Delhi, 1962 

4 vol., by Gurbachan Singh Talib, Punjabi University, Patiala, 1984 

4 vol., by Kartar Singh Duggal, Hemkunt, New Delhi, 2004, ISBN 81-7010-332-0 

8 vol., by Manmohan Singh, SGPC, Amritsar, 1962 

4 vol., by Pritam Singh Chahil, (3rd edition), B. Chattar Singh Jiwan Singh, Amritsar, 2002 

 

TRANSLATIONS: GURBANI SELECTIONS

The Name of My Beloved: Verses of the Sikh Gurus, by Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, Penguin, New Delhi, 1995, ISBN 0-14-100765-6 

Textual Sources For the Study of Sikhism, by W.H. McLeod, Univ. Chicago Press, Chicago, 1990, ISBN 0-226-56085-6 

The Sacred Writings of the Sikhs, by Tirlochan Singh, et al., Orient Longman, New Delhi, 2000, ISBN 81-250-1790-9 

Aasa di Vaar, by Ujagar Singh Bawa, Washington Sikh Center (WSC), Gaithersburg, MD, USA 1993, ISBN 0-942-24508-3 

Jaap Sahib & Sawayyay, by Ujagar Singh Bawa, Washington Sikh Center, Gaithersburg, MD, USA 1993, ISBN 0-942-24509-1 

Sukhmani Sahib, by Ujagar Singh Bawa, Washington Sikh Center, Gaithersburg, MD, USA, 1990, ISBN 0-942-24505-9 

 

TRAVEL

Walking With the Gurus: Historical Gurdwaras of Punjab, Good Earth Publications, New Delhi, 2004, ISBN 81-87780-23-1

Historical Sikh Shrines in Pakistan, by Iqbal Qaiser, Punjab History Board, Lahore, 1998

 

 

We invite our readers to make their own suggestions for additions to this list by posting comments on this page, and providing a brief explanation to support each recommendation. Please limit each comment to no more than two suggestions; and please keep the comments very brief. Due consideration will be given to all suggestions. But, a caveat: we cannot guarantee that the recommendations will indeed be included in the finalized lists; nor will any explanation be offered for including or excluding any entry.  

Conversation about this article

1: Tejwant (U.S.A.), August 31, 2007, 2:11 PM.

" The Spirit Born People", by Puran Singh

2: Pritam Singh Grewal (Canada), September 01, 2007, 4:09 AM.

Book suggestions: 1. "Sehjay Rachio Khalsa" by Harinder Singh Mehboob, Singh Brothers Amritsar. 2. "Politics of Genocide(Punjab 1984-1998)" by Inderjit Singh Jaijee, Ajanta Publications Delhi.

3: Dr. Kanwal Deep Singh Kukreja (Halifax, Canada), September 01, 2007, 11:24 AM.

Excellent venture and much appreciated and needed. PUNJABI LOKEDHARA-VISHAV KOSH, VOL 1-8, by Dr. Sohinder Singh Wanjara Bedi, (PUNJABI FOLKLORE ENCYCLOPEDIA), National Book Shop, Delhi, ISBN. 81-7116-114-4 (SET). This one of a kind, erudite, labor of love by the author is a treasure house of the basis of what forms our identity. Set of 8 books. (My request is to Sikh and Punjabi scholars all over the world to attempt an English version in association with the author or his estate)

4: Dr. Jagjeet Kaur Sirha (Harrow, U.K.), September 03, 2007, 1:38 AM.

Book suggestions: Sikh Religion and the Sikh People by Dr. S.S. Kapoor. Guru Granth Sahib Advanced Studies, (2 vol) by Dr. S.S. Kapoor.

5: Gurminder Bhullar (Toronto, Canada), September 03, 2007, 9:52 PM.

Fighting for Faith and Nation, by Cynthia Keppley Mahmood.

6: Satvir Kaur (Boston, U.S.A.), September 05, 2007, 9:33 AM.

"Garland Around My Neck" - biography of Bhagat Puran Singh.

7: Roopinder Singh (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada), September 06, 2007, 4:25 PM.

Osho's "True Name" - a discourse on Japji Sahib.

8: Chintan Singh (San Jose, California, U.S.A.), October 01, 2007, 3:02 PM.

1. Gurdwaras in India and Around the World, by Patwant Singh. 2. The Sikhs, by Patwant Singh. 3. The Ideal Man: Guru Gobind Singh, by Dr. Sukhbir Singh Kapoor, World Sikh University, London

9: iPard (U.K.), October 21, 2007, 6:45 PM.

If you're interested in Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Sarkar-e-Khalsa, then "Maharaja Ranjit Singh : Lord of the Five Rivers" by Jean-Marie Lafont is the book for you.

10: A.P.S. (U.K.), December 22, 2007, 11:07 AM.

"Look We Have Coming to Dover!", by Daljit Nagra.

11: Samar Sodhi (New Delhi, India), April 16, 2008, 11:06 AM.

"Bandaginama" by Raghbir Singh 'Bir'.

12: Jaideep Sarin (India), May 30, 2008, 10:39 PM.

"Sikhs Unlimited", by Khushwant Singh.

13: Singhdicate (Toronto, Canada), July 07, 2008, 7:30 PM.

Honigberger, John Martin, Thirty-Five Years In The East, 1852 1st. Ed.: Physican to the Court of Lahore gives a play-by-play account of the last years of the Sikh Raj ... full of amusing anecdotes.

14: Ramandeep (U.S.A.), July 09, 2008, 10:30 AM.

"Philosophy of Guru Granth Sahib" by Dr. Devinder Singh Sekhon is an excellent book that deals with topics covered in the Guru Granth that are relevant to our youth. A book that explains issues for teenagers and youth in such a creative manner that though it is religious in nature, the teachings are not preachy but explanatory with quotes from the Guru Granth to substantiate the explanations.

15: Bawa Preet Ranjan Singh (New Delhi, India), September 11, 2008, 4:30 PM.

"Ardaas Shakti" & "Sarab Rog ka Aukhad Naam", by Raghbir Singh 'Bir'

16: Jaswinder Singh Rekhi (Chandigarh, Punjab), January 15, 2009, 9:07 AM.

You are doing the best thing for Sikhs.

17: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), February 12, 2009, 4:49 PM.

Great Collection. It would really help if you added the links to the reviews if one exists for the books, both at sikhchic.com or other reliable portals. Also, if you could title and tag this section so it shows up on Search Engines when one looks for keywords such as Sikh Books or Reviews or Recommendations; that would be great.

18: J. Singh (United Kingdom), March 09, 2009, 5:19 PM.

The book that has changed the lives of so many Sikh youth - 'The Autobiography of Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh'. I would also recommend - 'Amrit Kee Hai?' and 'Rungley Sajjan'.

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