About The Book
Sikh history traces its origins to the late 15th century in Punjab, when Guru Nanak (1469-1539) founded Sikhism as a spiritual path emphasizing equality, devotion to one God, and rejection of caste distinctions. Over two centuries, ten Gurus shaped the faith, blending spiritual teachings with social reform. Guru Arjan compiled the Adi Granth, the sacred scripture, while Guru Hargobind introduced the concept of Miri-Piri, balancing temporal authority with spiritual leadership. In the 17th century, Sikhs faced persecution under Mughal rulers, particularly Aurangzeb. Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed for defending religious freedom, and his son, Guru Gobind Singh, created the Khalsa in 1699-a brotherhood of initiated Sikhs committed to faith and justice. After his death in 1708, the Guru Granth Sahib became the eternal Guru. In the 18th century, Sikhs organized into misls (confederacies) to defend themselves, eventually uniting under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who established a powerful Sikh Empire (1799-1839) centered in Lahore. After his death, the empire weakened, and the British annexed Punjab in 1849. During colonial rule, Sikhs contributed significantly to reform movements and the freedom struggle. Post-1947, Punjab became the heartland of Sikh culture and identity, with the Golden Temple at Amritsar remaining the spiritual nucleus of the community.
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