By Dr S S Kapoor
Published by Hemkunt Press, A-78 Naraina Ind. Area-I, New Delhi 110 028, 1999
ISBN 81-7010-294-4
Pages : 234; Price : Rs. 250/-


The book under review is actually a collection of 23 articles by various authors on some aspects of Guru Gobind Singh's life and teachings, and is presumably cashing in on the favourable mood of the reading public on the occasion of the 300th anniversary celebrations of the creation of the Khalsa.

The first article by Dr S S Kapoor is headed Saint-Soldier — A Perfect Human Being and proceeds to compare the creeds and philosophies expounded by Abraham (Judaism), Zoroaster (800 BC), Confucius (circa 500 BC), Lao Tzu (600 BC), the Shinto writings, Vedanta, Upanishads, Bhagwad Gita, Mahavir, the Buddha, Jesus Christ and Mohammed with those of Adi Granth and Dasam Granth. It turns out to be an essay on comparative religions of the world, with some emphasis on the principles of equality of mankind and the need for the qualities of justice and righteousness in one's character. The effort put in by Guru Gobind Singh in the creation of the distinct personality of the Khalsa is hardly mentioned in this lengthy essay.

In the article headed Brotherhood of Humankind by Justice Mota Singh, the writer builds up his theme extremely well, and then studies the problems faced by overseas Sikhs, particularly their children, in their gradual orientation towards Western customs and practices, and consequent erosion of their Punjabi cultural and religious values. Once again, hardly a word about the concept of Khalsa and its creation.

Colonel Dalwinder Singh Grewal in his article Khalsa Concept of Empowering People — A Historical Perspective portrays the dramatic ceremony of the selection of the `Five Beloved Ones' at Anandpur and enumerates the qualities of fearlessness, sacrifice, leadership, morality and discipline that the Guru wanted to instil in his ideal — the Khalsa. The buildup of this ideal is then traced from Guru Nanak through the following eight Gurus. (It is a pity that the printing suffers from so many errors in the later pages). The idea of the empowerment of the Panj Piaras to take on the duties of the Guru is well developed by the writer.

Creation and Objectives of the Khalsa of 1699 by Dr Kuldip Singh is an excellent essay on this subject, tracing the task from its inception by Guru Nanak, through all his followers and culminating in the creation of the Khalsa. The needs of the times are also pointed out, how human values had sunk very low, and how the masses had fallen into a fatalistic stupor of despondency. The higher caste Rajas had proved false and deceitful and quite hostile to the Guru's proposals for equality and justice. The account of the Vaisakhi of 1699 is made authentic with a quotation from the Persian historian Ghulam Mohi-ud-din.

The subject `Creation of the Khalsa' is treated from different viewpoints by a dozen more writers with varying degrees of proficiency.

The next noteworthy contribution is by Dr Manmohan Singh The Doctrines of Sikhism, but reading it can be quite tiresome because of the large number of printing omissions and errors.

Dalip Inder Singh in his Sikhism — A Unique Religion gives an excellent account of the distinctive features of Sikhism and of its institutions and ceremonies, for the general information of non-Sikhs.

Contributions from past writers are inserted at the end of the collection. All in all it can be labelled a souvenir publication on the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa, with a wide range in the standard of writing (as expected), sadly in need of improved editing and printing, and it could also do well with some elimination of irrelevant and repetitive matter.