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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)

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)

9/7/2026

Non-Sikhs' views: excellence of Sikhism (abridged form)

Title: Non-Sikhs' views: excellence of Sikhism (abridged form)
Author surname(s): Singh Alag
Author forename(s): Sarup
Publisher: Alag Shabad Yug International Charitable Trust
Pages: 132
ISBN: none
Publn 1998 (original publication date: ns)
Location: shelf 20.1 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: n
Overview: The book is an abridged version of a book of the same title held on another shelf. It is a collation of "comments, compliments, utterances…In a way this book is a document, preserving anything good done by the Sikhs serving humanity selflessly but in a spirit of self respect." The book describes stories of Sikh history from the time of Nanak onwards.

26/6/2026

Approaches to the study of religion

Title: Approaches to the study of religion
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Harbans
Publisher: Punjabi university, Patiala
Pages: 183
ISBN: none
Publn 1969 estd. (original publication date: 1969 estd.)
Location: shelf 16.6 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: y
Overview: The book is a collection of essays presented at a seminar in 1969 on how to study religion academically. Some of the authors are Sikhs and so it's possible some of their content will mention Sikhi but it is not obvious from the contents, except for one essay on the concept of Sewa.

26/6/2026

Tales of truth (Sikh martyrs)

Title: Tales of truth (Sikh martyrs)
Author surname(s): Singh Jagdev
Author forename(s): Santokh
Publisher: Sikh Missionary Resource Centre, Birmingham
Pages: 176
ISBN: 1872580068
Publn 2004 (original publication date: 1991)
Location: shelf 16.4 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: y
Overview: "This book is a collection of small incidents from the biographies of the Gurus, leading Sikhs and historic movements of the Sikhs…[that] bring out the salient features of the Sikh religion, namely Sewa, Simran and Kirat" There is a glossary at the end.

3/3/2025

Non-Sikhs' views: excellence of Sikhism

Title: Non-Sikhs' views: excellence of Sikhism
Author surname(s): Singh Alag
Author forename(s): Sarup
Publisher: Alag Shabad Yug International Charitable Trust
Pages: 272
ISBN: none
Publn date: 2012 (original publication date: NS)
Location: shelf 15.4 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The book is a collation of "comments, compliments, utterances…In a way this book is a document, preserving anything good done by the Sikhs serving humanity selflessly but in a spirit of self respect." The book describes many stories of Sikh history from the time of Nanak onwards, in India and abroad (e.g., the law about wearing helmets in the UK).

27/2/2025

Sewadar (monthly)

Title: Sewadar (monthly)
Author surname(s): various (Eds.)
Author forename(s): various
Publisher: Ramgarhia Sabha, Southall
Pages: 30
ISBN: none
Publn date: 2006 (original publication date: 2006)
Location: shelf 14.1 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: no
Overview: A monthly publication of the Sabha, with articles in English and some in Punjabi (without translation). This edition looks at Sewa and healthy living

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