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Of all elements, the most significant is the element of knowledge. (SGGS 152)

ਵਿਦਿਆ ਵੀਚਾਰੀ ਤਾਂ ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰੀ ॥ vidhiaa veechaaree taa(n) paraupakaaree || "Vidiaa veechaaree tan parupkaaree”. That education is good, which is used for the welfare of people. (Guru Nanak Dev Ji, 356)

Contemplate and reflect upon knowledge, and you will become a benefactor to others. (SGGS, 356)

"There is no good in science that won't help people, and there's no good in scholars isolated from people" (Al-Khawarizmi)

I've observed over time that the Sangat, generally-speaking, shows very little interest in books on Sikhi. On the other hand, many Sikhs (academics and ordinary folk) have written and published thousands of books on many aspects of Sikhi, and in Punjabi and in English.
Other websites with lists of books on Sikhi
Link (Sacha Sauda Gurmat Parchar Society, Canada)
Link Sikh pdf library
Link Books about the Panjab or Punjab
Link Manglacharan "dedicated to shedding light on the treasure trove of knowledge passed down by our ancestors, which has not yet been translated into English."
Link Courses by Sikhi University on Punjabi literature

click to watch video

Karamveer Singh appeals to Sikhs to have a library in their home to stimulate a passion for reading books to change their lives (click on the image to see and listen). Karamveer Singh says:
"There is a weakness in our community, we are not used to reading. We can have a bar [alcoholic drinks] in our homes, but we don't have libraries in our homes. If we had libraries and books, we would have a passion for reading.
But we don't have a passion for reading. Today we have a passion to buy big cars and build a bank balance. But I would like to request the community through this channel [Satluj TV], that where you have big houses, where you have expensive houses, build a room in one of those big houses, in the form of a library, where there are thoughts of precious scholars. And by reading those thoughts, we can make a change in our lives." Transcribed from Punjabi to English by TurboScribe.ai. Click on this link to view the full video interview by Satluj TV of Karamveer Singh.

Read books on Sikhi and Sikhism

Browse through the list below, of more than 550 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. 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)

25/7/2026

Sewadar (monthly)

SVariousTitle: Sewadar (monthly)
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Paramjit
Publisher: Ramgharia Sabha, Southall
Pages: 42
ISBN: none
Publn 1989 (original publication date: 1989)
Location: shelf 21.5 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: y
Overview: There are two editions on the shelf:
The Apr edition includes articles on: Sikh symbols; miri-pri; vaisakhi; nitnem recitations; simran; why celebrate vaisakhi; the teg; the story of guru Tegh Bahadur and Makhan Shah.
The Dec edition includes articles on: contributions of Sikh martyrs to Sikh religion; the young martyrs; so said the ninth master; gurdwara sis ganj sahib; sundri continued; heroes of Chamkaur; a poem about Ardas.

22/7/2026

Ardas simplified exposition

Title: Ardas simplified exposition
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Sewa
Publisher: Sewa Singh
Pages: 72
ISBN: none
Publn 2015 (original publication date: 2015)
Location: shelf 21.1 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: n
Overview: A detailed explanation of Ardas.

21/7/2026

Sikhism its ideals and institutions

Title: Sikhism its ideals and institutions
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Teja
Publisher: Khalsa Brothers, Amritsar
Pages: 142
ISBN: none
Publn 1970 (original publication date: 1938)
Location: shelf 20.6 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: y
Overview: A collection of personal essays on various aspects of Sikh history and Sikhi, including Ardas, Sikh Rites & ceremonies; Sikh organisation; Sikh sects. All in English.

7/7/2026

The Sikh prayer

Title: The Sikh prayer
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Teja
Publisher: SGPC
Pages: 15
ISBN: none
Publn ns (original publication date: ns)
Location: shelf 19.3 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: n
Overview: An explanation of Ardas and its composition and notes to explain it, including reference to guru Gobind Singh's compositions.

4/7/2026

A history of the Sikh people 1469-1978

Title: A history of the Sikh people 1469-1978
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Gopal
Publisher: World Sikh university press, New Delhi
Pages: 762
ISBN: n
Publn 1979 (original publication date: 1979)
Location: shelf 19.1 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: n
Overview: "A thick book covering a long time period." I cannot believe I wrote this description of this book. This is the first edition. The following text is about the second edn. The second edn (1988) is on shelf 27.1 or 27.2 and is an updated and revised version of first edn (1979). It was reprinted 2002. The books has many chaps on the gurus and their lessons and their lives and times. There is a section on the "socio-political conditions of India as depicted in the Adi Granth". The chap on Gurdas gives his views on the Sikh way of life. Subsequent chaps describe Sikh history and struggles and the sovereignty of Punjab and its demise as an empire. There is a chap on Ranjit Singh. There are chaps on: Anglo-Sikh wars; reviving Sikhi; the fight for freedom from the Brits and the transfer of power after independence. The decade 1978-88. Appendix 1 & 2: Akali Dal demands (1981); Appendix 3: Anandpur Sahib Resolution; Appendix 4: Opn Blue Star; Appendix 5: Sikh popln across India; Appendix 6: Rehat; Appendix 7: hukamnammas; Appendix 8: extracts from Bachittar Natak; Appendix 9: zafarname; Appendix 10: the meaning of 'raj karega Khalsa'; Appendix 11: Miri Piri; Appendix 12: Sikh congregational prayer in English (Ardas); Appendix 13: 1920 debate on Jallianwala Bagh in UK Parliament; Appendix 14: letters bween the author and others.

4/7/2026

Vaisakhi di pukaar

Title: Vaisakhi di pukaar
Author surname(s): ns
Author forename(s): ns
Publisher: ns
Pages: 15
ISBN: n
Publn ns (original publication date: ns)
Location: shelf 18.7 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: n
Overview: Just 1 article in English, that explains Vaisakhi, Khalsa ceremony, and the significance of the 5Ks. The back cover has the 'National anthem'

24/6/2026

Jap Sahib, Swayas and Ardas hymns in praise of God

Title: Jap Sahib, Swayas and Ardas hymns in praise of God
Author surname(s): Singh Kapoor
Author forename(s): Sukhbir
Publisher: Sterling Publishers
Pages: 168
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1995 (original publication date: 1995)
Location: shelf 5.5 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: y
Overview: "The 'Nit Nem' series [of which this is the third book] has been designed to give readers the theme, the literal meaning and the summary of all the hymns of the daily prayers…The Jap Sahib, the Swayas and the first section of the Ardas are the compositions of Guru Gobind Singh" At the end there is a dictionary of Jap Sahib.

24/6/2026

Journey into the Yond

Title: Journey into the Yond
Author surname(s): Singh Gill
Author forename(s): Rajinder
Publisher: The Central gurdwara Khalsa Jatha
Pages: 128
ISBN: none
Publn date: ns (original publication date: ns)
Location: shelf 5.5 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: y
Overview: A translation of Rehras, Sohila, and Ardas. Each is in gurmukhi, transliterated, then translated. Explanations are also provided.

22/6/2026

My daily prayer

Title: My daily prayer
Author surname(s): NS
Author forename(s): NS
Publisher: NS
Pages: 116
ISBN: none
Publn date: ns (original publication date: ns)
Location: shelf 5.3 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: y
Overview: A small book of hymns: Japji Sahib; Rahraas; Ardas; Sohila. Each is in punjabi and then transliterated (not translated) into English

16/6/2026

Anand Kaaraj Sikh marriage ceremony

Title: Anand Kaaraj Sikh marriage ceremony
Author surname(s): Singh Samra
Author forename(s): Sohan
Publisher: Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall
Pages: 16
ISBN: none
Publn date: NS (original publication date: NS)
Location: shelf 4.7 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The pamphlet describes the ceremony. It includes events before and during the ceremony, verses in gurmukhi with a translation that are said at specific stages of the ceremony, including Ardas.

27/4/2025

The saint-soldier guru Gobind Singh

Title: The saint-soldier guru Gobind Singh
Author surname(s): Singh Sidhu and Singh Sivia and Singh
Author forename(s): G and G and Kirpal
Publisher: Sikh Missionary Society UK
Pages: 70
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1985 (original publication date: 1974)
Location: shelf 4.3 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: This 1985 edition is a copy of the 1996 edition. "The life-sketch of Guru Gobind Singh presented in this book is a blue-print for such a man." The booklet covers the life and times of the guru and some of his compositions, his character; many words that characterise him; the congregational Sikh prayer in English; nitnem recitations; the Sikh anthem; and Sikh symbols (5Ks).

27/3/2025

Kirtan sohila

Title: Kirtan sohila
Author surname(s): Singh Wahiwala and Singh
Author forename(s): Ranjit and Kulwant
Publisher: Sikh Missionary Resource Centre, Birmingham
Pages: 28
ISBN: none
Publn date: NS (original publication date: NS)
Location: shelf 3.3 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The book explains the purpose of the hymn and also sets out in detail the steps of a Sikh funeral service. Text is in gurmukhi, transliteration and translation. Ardas is also stated, and in the same format.

20/2/2025

Miracles of Ardas: incredible power of faith

Title: Miracles of Ardas: incredible power of faith
Author surname(s): Singh Kohli
Author forename(s): Manmohan
Publisher: The Kalgidhar Trust, Baru Sahib
Pages: 168
ISBN: none
Publn date: 2003 (original publication date: 2003)
Location: shelf 11.1 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The book is a "personal story of miracles wrought by prayer, the personal experiences that make a prayer desirable in all circumstances, ages and traditions." "[the experiences described in the book] offer an insight to the nature of prayer that will be meaningful for the serious seeker of all religions and philosophies. Mohan's experiences are corroborated by many scientific experiements." The appendices explain Ardas and set out the text of Ardas in gurmukhi with transliteration and translation into English, plus explanations of its passages.

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