UJARO DEEPA(Punjabi) By (Professor) Darshan Singh Khalsa
Sikh Foundation, New Delhi, India, 2001.
Pages : 184


As inherent in its title this slim book seeks to light the lamp of gurbani on the path of the seeker. Sikhs need no introduction to the author. He served a controversial stint as the Jathedar of the Akal Takht (1986-90) through some very troubling times for Sikhs. More importantly there is hardly a Punjabi-speaking Sikh who has not been entranced by his keertan, which is noted by his very convincing and uniquely gurbani-laced development of even the most controversial themes. But all his presentations are only in Punjabi, and there is now a new generation of Sikhs being brought up and raised in the diaspora whose Punjabi is limited to conversational simplicities. They cannot possibly follow his intricate citations from gurbani.

This is his first book written when knee replacement surgery sidelined him for a few months. This book, too, is in Punjabi so I will not attempt a formal review. But in this brief note I will attempt to provide a little of its flavor primarily because his essays in this book are easier to follow, even by those whose command of Punjabi cannot adequately tame the pace and complexity of his reasoning during keertan.

A wide range of topics is encompassed. They vary from an inspired essay on the idea, notion and meaning of gurdwara to another that looks at the human body not as something false, not something to be mortified or rejected, but as something that is the embodiment of truth and of dharma and to be used to purposeful ends. In an essay on "Khalsa - Akal Purkh Ki Fauj" Professor Darshan Singh neatly dissects the concepts of Akal Purkh, Fauj and the nature of an army's discipline, and then challenges his readers to a newer understanding of the expression. There are 20 essays in this vein followed by brief commentaries on the proposed Nankshahi Calendar, World Sikh Council, the nexus between BJP and the Akali leadership in India, and the role of the notorious Rashtriya Sikh Sangat This last body, it must be pointed out, has active chapters in the United States as well and some Sikhs who actively collaborate with its antiSikh designs.

Each topic is briefly covered. Each essay is considerable shorter than it would normally be during a typical exposition in keertan by Professor Darshan Singh, but the style is similar. Justice is done to each topic. In these written essays gurbani citations also carry page references from the cited sources that are of great help to the readers.

Gurtej Singh, the National Professor of Sikhism, provides a nice introduction to the book. Although published and printed in India, the book is excellently produced. It has none of the unaesthetic and awkward glitches that are the hallmarks of the run of the mill book produced in India. It is, in fact, luxuriously done and even carries a small picture of the author on each page. I realize that, to a degree, writing a book is somewhat of an ego trip but I found this latter adornment to be an unnecessary massage for it; I am not sure that the author is to be blamed for it, he certainly doesn't need it. It takes attention away from the scholarship of Professor Darshan Singh and distracts the reader.

An immensely enjoyable, thoughtful, readable and insightful book.


Dr. Inder Jit Singh is Professor & Co-ordinator in Anatomy, New York University. Among other publications, he is the author of two books: 'Sikhs and Sikhism: A View With a Bias' and 'The Sikhs Way: A Pilgrims Progress'.

I.J. Singh is on the editorial advisory board of 'The Sikh Review', Calcutta and 'The Encyclopedia of Sikhism', Punjabi University, Patiala.