Hair Power
By Sarup Singh Alag
Published by Sarup Singh Alag, 593-Sukh Sehj Bhavan, Urban Estate-2,
Focal Point, Ludhiana 141010, 1996


Sponsor and free distributor :
Sardar Parminder Singh, Guru Nanak Goodwill Mission
5037-Durie Road, Mississauga, Toronto, Ont., Canada
Pages : 221

Sarup Singh Alag's Hair Power is a storehouse of information on human hair and its importance, as would be seen from the titles of various chapters : Consider the Hair the special of all, Some valuable Opinions on the Hair, Idioms and Proverbs on the Importance of Hair, Gurus' Gurbani and the Hair, Significance of the turban, Violation of the Sanctity of hair, Importance of Hair in Different Religions, Hair as Cables of Information, Hair means Affinity with God, Guru Gobind Singh : Bestower of Sanctity to Hair.

It is a pity that the importance of unshorn hair in modern times is limited to followers of the Sikh faith, but a study of ancient history and traditions shows that unshorn long hair was valued in almost all earlier societies and religions. Holy men of ancient India, rishis, avtars and saints, all had long hair. Prophets of Judaism, Christianity and Islam also had long hair. Great men, even of recent times, like Tagore, Bernard Shaw, Leo Tolstoy and many other donned long hair. The author has given background of Indian, English, Irish, Dutch, Russian, Egyptian and many other cultures and religions that valued hair and considered cutting even a single hair off a social aberration, and even stigma in some instances.

The Sikh Gurus commended life according to Hukam (God's Will), and it was a natural corollary that hair should be respected as a part of the human body. Apart from that it is a symbol of adherence to certain principles and way of life adopted by the Sikhs and gives a distinctive personality. There are numerous examples from history, right from Bhai Taru Singh, of Sikhs laying down their lives for the love of hair gifted to them by the Guru. Unshorn hair is the foremost part of the 5 ks adopted by a Sikh during amrit ceremony.

The author quotes a lot of facts based on scientific research on the nature of hair, its role on providing protection to the human brain and nutrition to the body in general, and its role in maintaining the body healthy and in keeping human equipoise. There is need to do further research to understand that role in detail. Nature must have a certain definite aim in growing it again and again after being cut or shaved repeatedly.

There is no denying the fact that hair adds certain overall grace and strength to the human body : to the female, beauty; to the male appearances of strength, courage and certain dignity. Statistics only prove that. Why Sikhs participated and gave their lives in larger proportion in the freedom struggle and why Punjab has made tremendous strides in agriculture and other fields, could not be explained otherwise. Hair is an important part of the life of a saint-soldier, and some even claim that they serve as antenna to receive spiritual and cosmic rays for a divine and healthy life.

The development of the subject in this book changes from scientific approach to opinions, sometimes proverbs and stories and anecdotes, and sometimes appeals to your belief and faith. On the whole, it is a good compilation of various facets of information on the importance and power of hair and makes an interesting reading.

The book is in bold print, on good paper and well-bound. A number of forewords are given in the beginning and a number of opinions / short reviews in the end.