The Sikh Reference Book

When I published my first book, I faced problem with finding material about several points. Earlier, I had gone through several encyclopaedias and reference books. These encyclopaedias had a little material about Sikhism and most of that was either incorrect or lop-sided. Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha's Mahan Kosh is a great work but it was compiled in 1925, more than 70 years earlier. Besides, there are several factual mistakes in that work. It needs revision.

In 1980. I decided to compile a comprehensive Reference Book on Sikhism. I had a planning to write some entries about the Sikh philosophy, the historical Sikh shrines and about 500 Sikh personalities. In those days 1 received a letter from Professor Harbans Singh to write a few entries for The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism. At first I thought that I should abandon my plan as an encyclopaedia was already being prepared and there was no need of another such work. But, as it is a part of my personality that once I decide to do some work, I don't try to escape. I have never accepted my defeat, not have I ever surrendered. So, I continued my work. In 1991, I had finished major part of this work. But more and more material became available to me, hence the publication was delayed.

I had completed a part of my work while I was at Chandigarh and Amritsar. In July 1983, I moved to England where I collected a lot of material from the India Office Records (the British Library) at Blackfriars, London. In October 1984, I moved to Norway and in March 1993 to Denmark. I had only a few books with me. I had to order hundreds of books about the Sikh philosophy, the Sikh history as well as biographies of the Sikh personalities etc. from Amritsar, Jullundur, Ludhiana, Delhi etc. Moreover, it was really difficult job to find material from these sources. Data, in different books, clashed with each other. It was a hard job to separate chaff from grain. When I had finished the first reading of proofs, the first volume of The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism (editor: Professor Harbans Singh) too had come out. I don't know whether I have succeeded or not, but I have tried to do my work sincerely and honestly. I know there will be several mistakes. I had my limitations, I was staying in Norway and Denmark, getting material from my own library, and, producing 'one man's show'. I promise that I will improve the next edition as much as feasible.

I had a problem with computer programme too. In my poor computer, I did not have suitable symbols to spell Punjabi words. So I could not give perfect spellings but I have tried to do the best possible. I have used Aa for T for 3 and e, Tth for 8, Dd for 3. Ddh for a Rh for a etc. I wish to switch to perfect spellings in the forthcoming editions.

With this I present this book to the scholars and to common readers. I hope it will be welcomed.

**Contents and Sample Pages**