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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)

28/3/2025

Dictionary of mythological references in Guru Granth Sahib

Title: Dictionary of mythological references in Guru Granth Sahib
Author surname(s): Singh Kohli
Author forename(s): Surindar
Publisher: Singh Brothers, Amritsar
Pages: 168
ISBN: '8172050925
Publn date: 1999 (original publication date: 1993)
Location: shelf 3.4 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The contributors to the GGS had a common ideology but they "presented images drawn from their own visible and intellectual spheres...Sometimes the image is created by the use of myth…not as an article of belief, but just to explain some practice or belief...This book elaborates all these mythological references in an effecive manner and narrates their background in an interesting way."

27/3/2025

A critical study of Adi Granth

Title: A critical study of Adi Granth
Author surname(s): Singh Kohli
Author forename(s): Surindar
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi
Pages: 391
ISBN: '0842608544
Publn date: 1976 (original publication date: 1961)
Location: shelf 3.4 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The book refers to the AG but it means the GGS. It is a translatiion by Gopal Singh of the thesis by the author. The book covers subjects including: the contributors to the GGS; the language and style used in the GGS; imagery used in GGS; social and religious conditions depicted in GGS; symbols and rituals; philosophy and religion; ethics; religion enshrined in GGS. There is a Concluding chapter, then a bibliography.

24/3/2025

Guru Arjun Dev

Title: Guru Arjun Dev
Author surname(s): Ralhan
Author forename(s): OP
Publisher: Anmol publications
Pages: 243
ISBN: 8174886729
Publn date: 1998 (original publication date: 1998)
Location: shelf 2.6 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: This book is part of a series that provides "an account of their [gurus'] teachings, philosophies, travelogue, their sufferings and sacrifices for their country, their mythological and theological aspects, socio-economic reforms, their political contention and wars with the autocrcacy at their times and many more touching incidents of their lives, miracles which they manifested on several occasions" "These volumes are faithful and sincere narration of the political conditions, social conditions, religious fanaticity of the rulers" This book is about Arjan Dev only. Most of the book is taken up by his hymns, including Sukhmani. Three pages summarise his achievements. One-sixth covers his early career, foundatiion of Darbar Sahib, and his martyrdom.

13/2/2025

The Gursikh legacy

Title: The Gursikh legacy
Author: Harjinder Singh Lallie
Pages: 311
ISBN: '1901363015
Publisher: DTF Publishers
Publn date: 1997 (original publication date: 1997)
Language: English
Location: shelf 9.5 SGSSS library
Preface: yes
Overview: The book dispels controversial points by referring to the GGS (gurbani) for confirmation of their validity or falseness. The book is an introduction to Sikhi and assumes no prior knowledge of Sikhi. Its chapters provide biographies of the gurus. A one-page epilogue summarises the rise of Banda Singh Bahadur.

12/2/2025

Dictionary of mythological references in guru granth sahib

Title: Dictionary of mythological references in guru granth sahib
Author: Surindar Singh Kohli
Pages: 167
ISBN:'8172050925
Publisher: Singh Brothers
Publn date: 1993 (original publication date: 1993)
Language: English
Location: shelf 9.2 SGSSS library
Preface: yes
Overview: The book elaborates mythological references used by the contributors to the GGS. The use of myth was to explain practices and beliefs and not to confirm the contributors' belief in mythology. The book helps to explain the relevance and importance of references to myths used in GGS

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