The book The Misl Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia. An Immortal Tale of Ideology and Identity of an Iconoclast is a remarkable and timely masterpiece. The book's core is steeped in Sikh history, narrating not only the story of Jassa Singh Ramgarhia but also the complex history of eighteenth century Punjab. Starting with the biography of Jassa Singh Ramgarhia who is today venerated for his courage, leadership and indomitable spirit that never yields, for whom challenges and obstacles only served to propel him to greater heights, Dr Surinder Kaur steers us towards the history of the entire Ramgarhia community to which this great leader belonged. She then goes on to trace the contribution and relationship of this great community to the Sikh Gurus, starting with the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, for whom they made musical instruments. Changing times lead to changing needs and this community showed their solidarity with the Gurus by making weapons for Guru Hargobind Sahib ji and Guru Gobind Singh ji thus supporting them in their wars for religious freedom and social justice. Having traced his lineage, Dr Surinder Kaur showcases the political scenario of Punjab after the martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadur effectively bringing out the pain and suffering of the Sikhs in this period of extreme tumult and persecution.
It is at this point in history that Jassa Singh Ramgarhia emerges as a great leader who along with other Sikh chiefs through his military acumen manages to establish a Sikh federation that later became the foundation on which Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the greatest Sikh sovereign established his kingdom.
The book The Misl Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia brings to light and showcases the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of this great legendary leader highlighting his actions and ideals that are timeless and universally inspiring. Besides his military genius, achievements and astute helmsmanship, the book also reveals Jassa Singh Ramgarhia as a patron of Guler art and the beautiful pictures in this art form that were painted during the short peaceful times in this era of wars and political turmoil are a testimony to his versatile personality.
Twenty-two-year-old Nanak Singh, who later became a powerful voice of Punjabi writing, joined the mass of peaceful protestors agitating against the Rowlatt Act. What then turned out to be was one of the most demonic atrocities perpetrated by the British Raj and a turning point in India's independence movement. It also becomes a life altering experience for Nanak Singh, who survived the massacre. Following the traumatic experience, Nanak Singh wrote Khooni Vaisakhi", a long poem in Punjabi. The poem was a scathing critique of the British Raj and was banned soon after its publication in May 1920. After sixty long years, it was rediscovered and has been translated into English for the first time by the author's grandson, Navdeep Suri. Writings like Khooni Vaisakhi are remarkable for the cultural catalysis they mobilize, even today it remains not only a poignant piece of protest literature but also a historical artefact and a resurrected witness to how Sikhs came together to stand up to colonization and oppression in one of India's darkest moments.
Writing and archiving experiences is fundamental to the preservation of any community. For the same reason, the book The Misl Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia: An Immortal Tale of Ideology and Identity of an Iconoclast is a significant addition to the stream of literature that can potentially generate cultural memory of solidarity and resilience in the Sikh community. The book's core, which is steeped in Sikh history narrating is not only the story of Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and the complex history of eighteenth century Punjab.It serves not just as historical writing but also a religious and reformist document that can metamorphosize the way Sikhs view themselves and the way Non-Sikhs came to imagine Sikhs.
The book discursively articulates the biography of Jassa Singh Ramgarhia who is venerated for his courage, leadership and an unyielding spirit. The author, Surinder Kaur, has provided a compelling portrayal of the "Tarkhan community' to which this great leader belonged. The book eventually traces the intersection of the "Tarkhan community' with Sikh Gurus, beginning with the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, for whom they made musical instruments. The book, while it attempts to chronicle the contributions of Sardar Ramgarhia, effortlessly blossoms into a kaleidoscope about the Sikh community and their inextricable connection with art and music, valour and fearlessness. The musical instruments give.
"Nanak Singh's Khooni Vaisakhi: The Poet and the Poem, Sikh Research Journal, Vol. VI, No.1, 2021).
way to weapons bearing testimony to the world's greatest revolutions where art and weapons have been intertwined as a symbol of "Deconstruction" and transformation.
Doing so, the author builds up the political scenario of Punjab after the martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadur, effectively revealing the intrepid and stoic spirit of the Sikh community in times of extreme unrest and turmoil. In keeping with the glorious Sikh tradition defined by the Sikh martyrs and exemplary display of courage, Jassa Singh Ramgarhia along with other Misl Sardars-emerged as a great warrior who managed to establish a Sikh confederation that later became the base on which Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the great Sikh ruler created his empire.
The book is rather unique as it serves not merely as a clinical narrative of an individual in the backdrop of political upheaval but is sprinkled with a generous dose of cultural and artistic interventions. References to Guler art and the beautiful pictures in this art form that were painted during the short peaceful interludes in this era of war and political turmoil, the emphasis on tasteful attires and kings who adopted his way of dressing wearing colourful turbans and flowing beards lends the book a distinct pictorial quality. The book is interspersed with several visuals, maps and detailed images of the coins minted during the Misl period.
Surinder Kaur's efforts towards preserving the cultural heritage of Punjab through such a gripping portrait are praiseworthy. The reference to the controversial poem Khooni Vasiakhi was not accidental or cursory. Much like Nanak Singh's poem, I hope this book calls to mind all the bloody revolutions that have scarred the Sikh past while reaffirming Sikh affinity with justice and change.
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