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Browse through the list below, of more than 480 items of literature on Sikhi. Click on "previous" or "forward" (in the bottom left and right corners of a page) to move between pages. Filter your selection using the Categories listed in the box below. Each book entry provides details of the book, such as its title, author, and the gurdwara library where it's located. Check the list regularly for new books added to it.
The list was started on 31 Jan 2025. Currently, only items held at the library at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall (category: SGSSS) are listed, and only those written primarily in English. In time, I hope to add books held at other local gurdwara libraries, and then books written in Punjabi. I hope other sewadars will compile similar lists so that, ultimately, anyone in any region of any country, will be able to see online what books on Sikhi are available to read at their local gurdwara libraries. To increase the likelihood and ease of the Sangat seeing what books are available locally, local gurdwaras need to cooperate and form a "hub and spoke" network in which the central gurdwara (the "hub") publishes an online list of books held at local gurdwaras (each a "spoke").
To send a message, please click here .
Abbreviations: AG = Adi Granth; GGS = Guru Granth Sahib; DG = Dasam Granth; NS = not stated

Categories (press Ctrl + or - to zoom in or out if fonts are too small)

27/4/2025

Sewadar (periodical)

Title: Sewadar (periodical)
Author surname(s): various
Author forename(s): various
Publisher: Ramgarhia Sabha, Southall
Pages: 34
ISBN: none
Publn date: 2008 (original publication date: 2008)
Location: shelf 4.2 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: A monthly publication of the Sabha, with articles in English. This edition looks at the life and compositions of guru Gobind Singh, martyrs, his child, Zorawar, and Tegh Bahadur. I guess the publication being 2008 is to remember his death in 1708.

19/4/2025

Martyrdom of the innocents and guru Gobind Singh's zafar namah

Title: Martyrdom of the innocents and guru Gobind Singh's zafar namah
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Teja
Publisher: Ajanta publications
Pages: 121
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1999 (original publication date: 1999)
Location: shelf 4.2 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The book is a "poetic work on the sacred Sikh scriptures and historical facts, relating to the martyrdom of the two innocent sons of the great Guru." There is also a section on the zafarnama and its interpretation by the author. The book is written in poetic style. It is all in English.

26/3/2025

Guru Tegh Bahadur divine poet, saviour & martyr

Title: Guru Tegh Bahadur divine poet, saviour & martyr
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Ranbir
Publisher: Chief Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar
Pages: 138
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1975 (original publication date: 1975)
Location: shelf 3.2 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The book is a biography of the guru and includes translations of his hymns. There is also a lot of material on his predecessors, plus material on his followers and the impact of his martyrdom.

26/3/2025

Guru Tegh Bahadur and the Persian chroniclers

Title: Guru Tegh Bahadur and the Persian chroniclers
Author surname(s): Singh Grewal
Author forename(s): Jagtar
Publisher: Guru Nanak Dev university, Amritsar
Pages: 138
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1976 (original publication date: 1976)
Location: shelf 3.2 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The author "carefully analyses the Persian writers of the period of Sikh rule for their treatment of the life and martyrdom of [the guru]" The book presents tables of Persian chronicles so their accounts may be compared. A section of the book "discusses the value of the collective evidence presented by the chroniclers on the [guruship]."

26/3/2025

Guru Tegh Bahadur the unique martyr

Title: Guru Tegh Bahadur the unique martyr
Author surname(s): Singh Gill
Author forename(s): Pritam
Publisher: New Academic Publishing Company
Pages: 124
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1975 (original publication date: 1975)
Location: shelf 3.2 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The book is "an attempt at consistent philosophy lying at the back of the historical events of the period involved. It traces the metaphysical thought currents that moved the people to action; it examines the tensions that worked in the minds of Mughal rulers, Hindus and Sikhs, that acted and reacted on one another; and it dilineates the effloroscence that appeared in the form of resurrection of the Sikh community and freedom of Hindus from the theocratic tyranny." "The book is purposely written in analytic form for clarifying the ideas lying behind the Martyrdom of [the guru]." There are also chapters on: comparing Sikhi to other Indian religions; martyrdom; fearlessness, then a bibliography.

25/3/2025

The Sikh martyrs

Title: The Sikh martyrs
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Sawan
Publisher: International institute of gurmat studies, USA
Pages: 82
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1997 (original publication date: NS)
Location: shelf 2.7 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: "This booklet contains brief life stories [15] of the Sikh martyrs uptill 1762. Each story is followed by a set of questions pertaining to it. The answers to all the questions are given at the end." There are around 200 Q&As. "[This booklet] is an effort to draw the attention of our coming generations to the foot-prints of our great ancestors" "I have deliberately avoided details, city names and dates to keep it simple and interesting to the young readers." The list includes the gurus, women martyrs, Sikh holocausts, and other Sikhs.

25/3/2025

Guru Arjan Dev Ji the apostle of peace

Title: Guru Arjan Dev Ji the apostle of peace
Author surname(s): Singh Sidhu
Author forename(s): G
Publisher: Sikh Missionary Society UK
Pages: 44
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1989 (original publication date: 1970)
Location: shelf 2.7 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: "This is the third edition of the book Guru Arjan, the apostle of peace, which was long overdue.[The author has] thoroughly revised it in order to bring it up-to-date in the light of new historical findings on some aspects of Guru Ji's life.". The biography describes his "character and philosophy" and includes text from mughals that led to his martyrdom.

21/3/2025

Guru Arjan's contribution, martyrdom and legacy

Title: Guru Arjan's contribution, martyrdom and legacy
Author surname(s): Singh Kapur and Singh
Author forename(s): Prithipal and Mohinder
Publisher: Singh Brothers
Pages: 238
ISBN: 8172054270
Publn date: 2009 (original publication date: 2009)
Location: shelf 2.5 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The book is a collection of essays "to highlight the contribution, martyrdom and legacy of Guru Arjan [delivered at a seminar in New Delhi, Sep 2006]" Most of the essays cover his life and times and some also look at the concept of martyrdom in Sikhi, GGS, the golden temple, and Sukhmani.

3/3/2025

The city of Amritsar: an introduction

Title: The city of Amritsar: an introduction
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Fauja
Publisher: Punjabi University, Patiala
Pages: 127
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1990 (original publication date: 1977)
Location: shelf 15.4 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The first edition is on shelf 13.7. The third edition is on shelf 15.3. This (second) edition is dated 1990. The aim is to give "an insight into the secrets of Amritsar's great charm and fascination as also into factors which have been at work to make it the premier city of Punjab…A larger work on the subject will follow shortly." Chapters include: the life of guru Amar Daas, the golden temple, compilation of GGS, akal Takht, heroes (martyrs) associated with Amritsar. Appendices describe Amritsar during the periods of the Misls and of Ranjit Singh, gardens and other notable developments in Amritsar, and a calendar of notable historical events in Amritsar from 1577 to 1969.

3/3/2025

The city of Amritsar: an introduction

Title: The city of Amritsar: an introduction
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Fauja
Publisher: Punjabi University, Patiala
Pages: 125
ISBN: 8173806361
Publn date: 2000 (original publication date: 1977)
Location: shelf 15.3 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The first edition is on shelf 13.7. This (THIRD) edition is dated 2000. The aim is to give "an insight into the secrets of Amritsar's great charm and fascination as also into factors which have been at work to make it the premier city of Punjab…A larger work on the subject will fiollow shortly." Chapters include: the life of guru Amar Daas, the golden temple, compilation of GGS, akal Takht, heroes (martyrs) associated with Amritsar. Appendices describe Amritsar during the periods of the Misls and of Ranjit Singh, gardens and other notable developments in Amritsar, and a calendar of notable historical events in Amritsar from 1577 to 1969.

26/2/2025

Sikhs the supreme: the Sikhs who reversed the tides of History and shaped India

Title: Sikhs the supreme: the Sikhs who reversed the tides of History and shaped India
Author surname(s): Singh Tuli
Author forename(s): Pritpal
Publisher: Sarabjit Singh and B Chattar Singh and Jiwan Singh
Pages: 264
ISBN: none
Publn date: 2010 (original publication date: 2010)
Location: shelf 13.7 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The book is a collation of clippings, taken in a period spanning 50 years, of stories of celebrated Sikhs who lived in a period spanning many centuries, from Guru Nanak to modern times. It includes an image of most, if not all, of those mentioned, followed by a short biography of their achievements and life.

26/2/2025

The city of Amritsar: an introduction

Title: The city of Amritsar: an introduction
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Fauja
Publisher: Punjabi university, Patiala
Pages: 130
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1977 (original publication date: 1977)
Location: shelf 13.7 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The aim is to give "an insight into the secrets of Amritsar's great charm and fascination as also into factors which have been at work to make it the premier city of Punjab…A larger work on the subject will follow shortly." Chapters include: the life of guru Amar Das, the golden temple, compilation of GGS, akal Takht, heroes (martyrs) associated with Amritsar. Appendices describe Amritsar during the periods of the Misls and of Ranjit Singh, gardens and other notable developments in Amritsar, and a calendar of notable historical events in Amritsar from 1577 to 1969.

17/2/2025

Warrior Saints: three centuries of the Sikh military tradition

Title: Warrior Saints: three centuries of the Sikh military tradition
Author surname(s): Singh Madra, and Singh
Author forename(s): Amandeep, and Parmjit
Publisher: IB Tauris publishers, in association with The Sikh Foundation
Pages: 182
ISBN: '1860644902
Publn date: 1999 (original publication date: 1999)
Location: shelf 10.4 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: Using photos spanning 150 years, the authors "trace the spiritual and ethical origins of the Sikh call-to-arms, from the martyrdom and conflict of the Mughal period…to the Afghan and Persian invasions." It also covers the rise of the Sikh kingdoms; the British Raj; the Anglo-Sikh wars, and the contribution of Sikhs in both World wars. It also includes quotes of the gurus and from allies and enemies of the Sikh soldiers.

10/2/2025

The sui generis martyrdom

Title: The sui generis martyrdom
Author: |Sukhbir Singh Kapoor; Mohinder Kaur Kapoor
Pages: 39
ISBN: '8170103444
Publisher: Hemkunt
Publn date: 2005 (original publication dated: 2005)
Language: English
Location: shelf 8.5 SGSSS library
Preface: no
Overview: The book provides a description of the times when Guru Goibind Singh left Anandpur, and key dates up to his death in 1708; maps of the places visitd by Guru Gobind Singh; a chapter on Mata Gujri; a chapters on Ajit Singh, Jujhar Singh and the battle of chamkaur and martyrdom od the other 2 sons.

5/2/2025

The Sikh martyrs

Title: The Sikh martyrs
Author: Lakshman Singh (Bhagat)
Pages: 198
ISBN: 8172053827
Publisher: Singh Brothers
Publn date: 2006 (original publication date: 1928)
Language: English
Location: shelf 6.6 SGSSS library
Preface: yes
Overview: The book describes the martyrdom of individuals and of people collectively. The text was originally written around 1919 and then published originally in 1928 by Ganesh & Co, Madras, and then published in English in 2006. Two introductions discuss the concept of martyrdom, including the concept of martyrdom in other religions. The introductions also describe the times of Nanak and mughal oppression.

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Read books on Sikhi

Categories (press Ctrl + or - to zoom in or out if fonts are too small)

Sewadar (periodical)

Martyrdom of the innocents and guru Gobind Singh's zafar namah

Guru Tegh Bahadur divine poet, saviour & martyr

Guru Tegh Bahadur and the Persian chroniclers

Guru Tegh Bahadur the unique martyr

The Sikh martyrs

Guru Arjan Dev Ji the apostle of peace

Guru Arjan's contribution, martyrdom and legacy

The city of Amritsar: an introduction

The city of Amritsar: an introduction

Sikhs the supreme: the Sikhs who reversed the tides of History and shaped India

The city of Amritsar: an introduction

Warrior Saints: three centuries of the Sikh military tradition

The sui generis martyrdom

The Sikh martyrs

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