Includes bibliographical references (pages 274-287) and index.
Contents:
List of tables and figures -- List of appendices -- Preface -- Part I. Introductory -- 1. New Perspectives and sources -- 2. The Mughal State and the Sikh Panth -- Part II. The Pre-Khalsa Decades -- 3. From birth to manhood (1666-85) -- 4. In battles and politics (1685-98) -- Part III. Institution of the Khalsa -- 5. Literary articulation (1685-98) -- 6. Socio-political import of courtly literature -- 7. The Baisakhi of 1699 -- Part IV. Direct Confrontation with the State -- 8. Ouster from Anandpur (1699-1704) -- 9. Negotiations with Aurangzeb (1705-7) -- 10. Failure of negotiations with Bahadur Shah (1707-8) -- 11. The last commandment -- 12. Political, social, and cultural legacies -- Chronology -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the author.
Summary:
The unifying theme in the life of Guru Gobind Singh was confrontation with the Mughals, which culminated in a struggle for political power. This fact is brought into sharp focus when we consider the Guru's life and legacy simultaneously in the context of the Mughal Empire, its feudatory states in the hills, and the Sikh movement. The creation of the Khalsa in 1699 as a political community with the aspiration to rule made conciliation or compromise with the Mughal state almost impossible. Their long struggle ended eventually in the declaration of Khalsa Raj in 1765. Using contemporary and near contemporary sources in Gurmukhi, Persian, and English, this book is a comprehensive study of this era of Sikh history. The volume elaborates on the life and legacy of Guru Gobind Singh and explores the ideological background of the institution of the Khalsa and its larger political context. The author, however, emphasizes that the legacy of the Khalsa was also social and cultural. This authoritative volume on the tenth Guru is a significant addition to the field of Sikh studies. -- publisher's website.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.