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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

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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.

22/6/2026

Fatehnama and zafarnama

Title: Fatehnama and zafarnama
Author surname(s): Singh Duggal
Author forename(s): Devinder
Publisher: Institute of Sikh Studies, Jullundur
Pages: 160
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1980 (original publication date: 1980)
Location: shelf 5.4 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: y
Overview: The book is a translation of the "epistles of Guru Gobind Singh, called "Proclamation of total Conquest", Fatehnama, and "Notification of complete success and victory", Zafarnama. Part I describes the guru's life and times, and part II discusses the two compositions and then sets them both out in Persian text then with corresponding translations. There are many end notes..

27/4/2025

Thus spake the tenth master

Title: Thus spake the tenth master
Author surname(s): Singh
Author forename(s): Gopal
Publisher: Punjabi university, Patiala
Pages: 165; 168
ISBN: 8173807973
Publn date: 2002; 1978 (original publication date: NS; 1978)
Location: shelf 4.2; 4.3; 4.4 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The book is a translation of selected parts of the DG and the zafarnama. There are 2 indices. The 1978 edition is identical in content to the later (2002) edition on shelf 4.2.

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.

28/3/2025

Hymns from the Dasam Granth

Title: Hymns from the Dasam Granth
Author surname(s): Singh Mansukhani
Author forename(s): Gobind
Publisher: Hemkunt
Pages: 107
ISBN: 'none
Publn date: 1980 (original publication date: 1980)
Location: shelf 3.5 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: "The fifty hymns…[are on]: god; the holy name; false religion; transitory world; universal brotherhood; the Khalsa; yoga; himself [autobiographical]. There are also extracts from Zafarnama and Bachitra Natak. The booklet "has covered all the aspects of the Tenth Guru's personality and teaching...These hymns throw light mainly on the two aspects of the Guru's character. He was not only a Prohet but also a saint warrior." Hymns are presented in gurmukhi, transliterated then translated. Footnotes are provided for difficult words and concepts.

26/3/2025

Safarnama and zafarnama

Title: Safarnama and zafarnama
Author surname(s): Singh Nara
Author forename(s): Ishar
Publisher: Nara Publications
Pages: 329
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1985 (original publication date: 1985)
Location: shelf 3.2; 4.2 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: "Some portions of that Epistle of Victory [zafarnama] are reproduced in this book, along with their translation…An attempt has also been made to remove several historical inaccuracies and misunderstandings about the life and work of Guru Gobind Singh" This book is a translation by Joginder Singh into English, of Ishar Singh's book. "[Ishar Singh] has based his narratives mostly on "Suraj Prakash", written by Kavi Santockh Singh nearly one hundred years after the passing away of Guru Gobind Singh at Nanded." Santock Singh's account was based on the account by Bhai Ram Kuar (recorded by Bhai Sahib Singh-who had remained with Guru Gobind Singh almost till the end at Nanded) "additional footnotes have been added to explain important points "keeping in view the opinions of modern research scholars also." A glossary and bibliography are included.

24/2/2025

The epistle of victory

Title: The epistle of victory
Author surname(s): Singh Bedi
Author forename(s): Gursharn
Publisher: Gursharn Singh Bedi
Pages: 75
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1968 (original publication date: 1960)
Location: shelf 12.5 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: The book lists the writings of Guru Gobind Singh, compiled by Bhai Mani Singh. It provides a translation of the Zafarnama. The author says "I offer a translation in English verse of this sublime poiece of poetry." Appendices provide further compositions of Guru Gobind Singh and about him.

23/2/2025

Hymns from the dasam granth

Title: Hymns from the dasam granth
Author surname(s): Singh Mansukhani
Author forename(s): Gobind
Publisher: Hemkunt
Pages: 107
ISBN: none
Publn date: 1980 (original publication date: 1980)
Location: shelf 11.7 SGSSS library
Language: English
Preface: yes
Overview: This is an earlier edition of the book of the same title located on shelf 9.2. The earlier edition contains 50 hymns. They are presented in gurmukhi with a transliteration and translation into English. Footnotes provide additional information. The last section contains extracts from Bachitra Natak and Zafarnama. The book covers "all the aspects of the Tenth Guru's personality and teaching."

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