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History of the Sikhs #1-2
A History of the Sikhs. Two-Volume Set, Volumes I and II
The description for this book, A History of the Sikhs. Two-Volume Set, Volumes I and II, will be forthcoming.
843 pages, Paperback
Published January 21, 1984
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About the author
Khushwant Singh
298 books1,422 followersKhushwant Singh, (Punjabi: ਖ਼ੁਸ਼ਵੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ, Hindi: खुशवंत सिंह) born on 2 February 1915 in Hadali, Undivided India, (now a part of Pakistan), was a prominent Indian novelist and journalist. Singh's weekly column, "With Malice towards One and All", carried by several Indian newspapers, was among the most widely-read columns in the country.
An important post-colonial novelist writing in English, Singh is best known for his trenchant secularism, his humor, and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit.
An important post-colonial novelist writing in English, Singh is best known for his trenchant secularism, his humor, and an abiding love of poetry. His comparisons of social and behavioral characteristics of Westerners and Indians are laced with acid wit.
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August 14, 2025
The first volume of Khushwant Singh’s history of the Sikhs begins in the dim and distant past, giving you a flavor of the region’s politics and insight into the early influences. Most people forget that, when the Afghans and Persians entered the sub-continent, they did so through the Punjab, which explains much of the impact of these regions on the language and culture of Punjabis.
From there on, he moved to the era of the Sikh gurus. I did not know that the word ‘Sikh’ is a derivative of ‘shishya,’ which means ‘student.’ Khushwant Singh’s text gently takes the reader through the transformation of the Sikh gurus and Punjabi culture from being peaceable to almost warlike, at the end of Guru Gobind Singh’s life.
I’ve read about Banda Singh before, but did not realize the impact he made on the Mughal Empire, and how his attacks struck what many believe to be a fatal blow to the Empire. Neither was I aware of the marauding attacks on the caravans of Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah Abdali.
Khushwant Singh clearly explained the concept of the ‘misl,’ something many other writers could not explain clearly.
He then moved to a discussion on Sikh culture in the second half of the eighteenth century, and how Hindu influences sneaked into the culture, introducing discriminatory practices like casteism, which had been absent from Sikh culture.
The concluding part of the book ends with the rise and death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the man who unified Punjab and the misls.
After Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death, the British slowly began to make inroads into Punjab, as the fight for succession left the region unstable.
The text is clear, and the writing neutral. The book is accessible to anyone, and what makes it stand out is the unemotional yet precise tone. Khushwant Singh calls a spade a spade, without going into an emotional fit!
In the second volume of his history, Khushwant Singh takes us on a more complex journey. Following the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the conclusion of the Anglo-Sikh Wars, the Punjabis became ardent supporters of the British, siding with them during both the Great Uprising and the Anglo-Afghan Wars.
The Sikhs contributed most men to the British Army (from India) during the World Wars. However, the Sikhs began to oppose the British after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Sikh history from the early part of the twentieth century to the Partition is confused, with many Sikhs jockeying for power. The Sikhs were insecure about how the new Republic would treat them, considering their minority status.
Khushwant Singh clearly explains the difference between the Hindu perception of the Sikhs (as a branch of Hinduism) and the self-perception of the Sikhs (as a distinct people).
I detected some emotion when the author wrote about the post-Partition events, and detected two competing, intertwined strands. One, the shoddy way Indian politicians treated Punjabis, denying them their demands; and two, the self-serving behavior of Punjabi/Sikh politicians.
The book ends with Indira Gandhi’s assassination and the events leading to her killing. His explanations are clear.
What lies next for Punjab? No one knows.
This book is excellent and is a superb companion to the first volume.
From there on, he moved to the era of the Sikh gurus. I did not know that the word ‘Sikh’ is a derivative of ‘shishya,’ which means ‘student.’ Khushwant Singh’s text gently takes the reader through the transformation of the Sikh gurus and Punjabi culture from being peaceable to almost warlike, at the end of Guru Gobind Singh’s life.
I’ve read about Banda Singh before, but did not realize the impact he made on the Mughal Empire, and how his attacks struck what many believe to be a fatal blow to the Empire. Neither was I aware of the marauding attacks on the caravans of Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah Abdali.
Khushwant Singh clearly explained the concept of the ‘misl,’ something many other writers could not explain clearly.
He then moved to a discussion on Sikh culture in the second half of the eighteenth century, and how Hindu influences sneaked into the culture, introducing discriminatory practices like casteism, which had been absent from Sikh culture.
The concluding part of the book ends with the rise and death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the man who unified Punjab and the misls.
After Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death, the British slowly began to make inroads into Punjab, as the fight for succession left the region unstable.
The text is clear, and the writing neutral. The book is accessible to anyone, and what makes it stand out is the unemotional yet precise tone. Khushwant Singh calls a spade a spade, without going into an emotional fit!
In the second volume of his history, Khushwant Singh takes us on a more complex journey. Following the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the conclusion of the Anglo-Sikh Wars, the Punjabis became ardent supporters of the British, siding with them during both the Great Uprising and the Anglo-Afghan Wars.
The Sikhs contributed most men to the British Army (from India) during the World Wars. However, the Sikhs began to oppose the British after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
Sikh history from the early part of the twentieth century to the Partition is confused, with many Sikhs jockeying for power. The Sikhs were insecure about how the new Republic would treat them, considering their minority status.
Khushwant Singh clearly explains the difference between the Hindu perception of the Sikhs (as a branch of Hinduism) and the self-perception of the Sikhs (as a distinct people).
I detected some emotion when the author wrote about the post-Partition events, and detected two competing, intertwined strands. One, the shoddy way Indian politicians treated Punjabis, denying them their demands; and two, the self-serving behavior of Punjabi/Sikh politicians.
The book ends with Indira Gandhi’s assassination and the events leading to her killing. His explanations are clear.
What lies next for Punjab? No one knows.
This book is excellent and is a superb companion to the first volume.
Displaying 1 of 1 review