By Dr Kirpal Singh,
Published by Principal Iqbal Singh Memorial Trust,
Pages : 76; Price : Rs. 70/-
Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Eternal Guru of the Sikhs, besides being their Scripture, is veritably a repository of Divine Will and wisdom. It is a treasury of historical and scientific data of our wondrous universe. The Adi Granth was compiled and installed in the Golden Temple by Guru Arjun Dev in 1604. Unlike other scriptures, the Adi Guru Granth contains writings of 32 Bhagats of all denominations including Muslims. This is the only scripture that has the status of Eternal Guru.
Dr Kirpal Singh is a renowned historian in the field of Punjab and Sikh historical research. The genesis of the book is the lecture delivered by him in the series organised by the Principal Iqbal Singh Memorial Trust, Ludhiana / Patiala in 1998. The learned Doctor has brought out some historical and social aspects pertaining to the period of the first five Gurus from 1469 to 1604.
This book, apart from an exhaustive introduction, is divided into three chapters :
I. As a source of Political History
II. As a source of Social History
III. Tribes and Social Elite
In Chapter I and the Introduction, conditions prevailing in India during the 15th and 16th centuries are brought out. There was a virtual collapse of law and order, and degeneration of moral values. The invaders treated the local population harshly and brutally. The Gurus likened rulers of that time to ravenous lions, their officials to dogs and the subjects to blind sheep. The qazis and pundits were exploiting the illiterate and helpless people. The truth had been eclipsed and falsehood stalked :
"The age is a knife, kings are butchers;
Justice has taken wings and fled.
In this completely black night of falsehood
The moon of truth is never seen to rise."
Adi Granth, p. 145
The conditions in India today are no different. Dr Kirpal Singh has rightly said that, "The Sikh Scripture taught the lessons of coexistence and tolerance which are so essential not only in the religious sphere, but also in the strife-torn national and international spheres." Its teachings are relevant for all times.
The political history in this Chapter has been divided into two periods of Sultanate and Moghul. The Sultanate period ended in 1526 when Babar defeated the last Lodhi king in the first battle of Panipat. The role of revenue officials such as dewan, qanoogo and the system of revenue collection are explained with quotations from Gurbani. Revenue was collected in kind and deposited in the modikhanas (store houses) and was distributed to the employees and soldiers and sold to the public. Guru Nanak had worked in one of the modikhanas in Sultanpur Lodhi. The revenue administration was mainly manned by Hindus. Mention is made of cow tax, river toll tax and jazia.
Court cases were decided according to the Muslim Law by the qazis. Persecution of Bhagat Nam Dev (1270-1350) and Bhagat Kabir (1398-1518) are mentioned in Gurbani.
Details of political events such as the four invasions of Babar from 1519 to 1524 and the first battle of Panipat in 1526 are given. The sack of Saidpur is connected with the first invasion of Babar where his soldiers committed atrocities on the natives. Here, Guru Nanak and his companion Bhai Mardana were also made prisoners. Guru Nanak had lamented :
"God brought Khurasan under His protection.
And brought terror to Hindustan."
Babar's rule ended after the flight of Humayun who was defeated by Sher Shah Suri. Guru Nanak's prophecy uttered nineteen years earlier, "In seventy eight, they (the Moghals) came and in ninety seven will depart. Another hero shall some day arise," came to fulfilment.
In the first battle of Panipat on 20th April, 1526, Babar used artillery, whereas the opposing forces' main thrust was by elephants. It was for the first time that artillery guns were used in the Indian sub-continent.
Guru Arjun Dev has also referred to the intended attack on him by Sulhi Khan, a government official, and his death in a smouldering brick kiln.
Guru Amar Das' missionary visit to Kurukshetra and Hardwar is mentioned. Awed by the gracious personality of the Guru, usual pilgrimage tax was not levied on him and his followers. Attracting huge crowds, the Guru explained to them the importance of doing good deeds and remembrance of God and the futility of ritual bathing at the holy places.
In the Second Chapter dealing with social history, the subjects discussed based on Gurbani are the status of women, polygamy, sati, caste system, social disparities, sports and amusements, catching of animals and birds, wrestling and even kite flying. A few quotations are given :
1."The women have become weak and submissive while men have become tyrants."
2."Nanak, if they love not their husband, why should they burn themselves in fire."
3."Khatri, Brahmin, Shudar and Vaish, all are equally entitled to Divine instruction."
4."Impelled by the relish of lust, the elephant is captured."
5."Stretching out its hands, O my silly soul,
monkey takes handful of corn (and he is caught)......
It is made to dance at the door of every house."
The Adi Granth contains nine odes or Vars which refer to the 16th and 17th centuries' warriors.
The Third Chapter deals with Tribes and Social Elite. In the tribe category, Mughals, Pathans, Turks, Hindus, Bhattis, Jats, Gujjars and Banjaras are mentioned. The elite section includes Mehar, Maluk and Chaudhary. The role of tribes and elites is defined with relevant quotations.
Seventeen Bhatts met Guru Arjan Dev and offered their verses in praise of the first five Gurus. These are included in the Adi Granth under the title Bhattan de Swayye.
All the chapters are supported by comprehensive references. Chapter I alone contains 143 footnotes, which shows that Dr Kirpal Singh has written this book after considerable research and hard labour.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib is an ocean full of precious pearls, gems and rubies — "Gur sagar ratni bharpure." Apart from imparting spiritual knowledge for becoming a sachiara — Truth incarnate, it is a mine of worldly information. Dr Kirpal Singh has dived deep into this ocean and has brought out the political events and the social conditions prevailing in medieval India. He has further authenticated these with cross reference to history of that period. It is indeed a notable contribution for which the Sikhs in particular should be grateful. It may be mentioned that the Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi, has awarded him Senior Fellowship for the in-depth study of the Adi Guru Granth from the historical point of view.
A very useful book for Sikh institutions and scholars.
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