Sikh Channel Interviews: Sri Dasam Granth Sahib and British and the Sikhs.

Gurinder Singh Mann, Sikh scholar recorded two programmes at the Sikh Channel on 09/12/2012.
Interviewed by Rajinder Singh for the Ek Conscious Show.

The Sikh Soldiers and Guru Granth Sahib

THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918

The Sikhs fought under the British in both World War 1 and World World War 2. The contribution of the Sikhs in these campaign is a noted feature in British history.

Sikh Formations Book review: Sri Dasam Granth: Questions and Answers

Sri Dasam Granth Sahib: questions and answers

Gurinder Singh Mann & Kamalroop Singh, Archimedes Press, 2011.£8.99, ISBN 978-0-9568435-0-0

In Sri Dasam Granth Sahib: questions and answers, the authors Gurinder Singh Mann and Kamalroop Singh  seek to redress recent debates about not only the importance and relevancy of the Sri Dasam Granth Sahib  (SDGS) for the Sikh tradition, but they also entertain questions regarding its authenticity, authorship, as well  as the historical and contemporary position of this text for Sikh thought. The perspective of the book is  scholarly and grass roots, as both authors have spent time as active members of the Sikh community as well  as having pursued scholarly research of the SDGS at the postgraduate level.

British and the Sikhs: The Impact and Legacy of Colonial Dominance in the Punjab: Lecture report

The Punjab Research Group at University of Wolverhampton, UK: 4/11/2012. 

‘British and the Sikhs: The Impact and Legacy of Colonial Dominance in the Punjab.

I will be doing a talk on the British and the Sikhs at the Punjab Research Group meeting 3rd November 2012 at Wolverhampton University.

Shiromani Khalsa Panth Akali Buddha Dal Panjva Takht

Sahib Singh Baba Joginder Singh the acting head of the Baba Buddha Dal has been in the UK visiting the sangat. He presided over Amrit Sanchar in London over the weekend and many Sikhs became Khalsa.

Historical sources on Guru Granth Sahib and Sri Dasam Granth

This article was written for the Sikh Magazine Sant Sipahai and published in March 2010. 

Historical sources on Guru Granth Sahib and Sri Dasam Granth

Gurinder Singh Mann, Leicester, UK

For the Sikhs Guru Granth Sahib is the living embodiment of the Ten Gurus. The Granth contains the writings of the first Five Gurus of the Sikhs, the verses of the Ninth Guru, and one verse from the Tenth Guru. It also contains contributions from the Bhatts and Bhagats of India. Hence Guru Granth Sahib is a compilation of verses from many contributors but the common theme is that they all share the same vision of God. Sri Dasam Granth however differs in some respects in terms of tone and instructional value to that of the Guru Granth Sahib. Whilst this may seem like a problem to some; the Granth is complementary or moreover an extension of the themes in the Guru Granth Sahib. The sole writer of Sri Dasam Granth is none other than Guru Gobind Singh where he has written within it the dates and places of compilation.

Sikhs and the British: The Charter Act and the beginnings of the missionary movement.

Sikhs and the British: The Charter Act and the beginnings of the missionary movement.

Sikh Historian Gurinder Singh Mann, discusses the relatively unknown Charter Act which introduced the Christian missionary movement into India.

In my recent TV interview regarding the British and the Sikhs, I referred to the British Act of Parliament called the Charter Act of 1813. This relatively unknown piece of legislation gave the green light for Christian Missionaries to start their preaching in India. Whilst the British had been in India for many years under the guise of the East India Company, their work was restricted. Interestingly the East India Company did not want missionaries interfering in their politics of Trade and Commerce and thus thwarted any attempts for Christian Ministers to bring religion to the masses.

THIS SITE IS NOW CALLED www.sikhscholar.co.uk

I have decided to rename this site to www.sikhscholar.co.uk, my other work and sites which i have connections with can be seen at wwww.gsmann.com.

I was finding that people were getting in contact with me through my various projects so i decided to put the portfolio sites on one site.

Dr Leyden Project at the Panjab Research Group

 

British and the Sikhs: Interview with veteran Sikh historian Gurinder Singh Mann

The video of my interview on the Sikh Channel regarding various themes of Sikh history.

From the Granth of Guru Gobind Singh to how the British colonised the Punjab.



See pictures from the Interview here

Visit: the Ekconscious website: http://www.ekconsciousliving.com/

Ramgharia Dynasty: Bhai Hardas and Jassa Singh Ramgharia

Ramgharia Dynasty: Bhai Hardas and Jassa Singh Ramgharia. 

From the Tenth Guru to the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. 

Gurinder Singh Mann

Bhai Hardas (Haridas) was a resident of Sur Singh, a large village in the Lahore district (now Taran Taran); he became a close confidant of Guru Gobind Singh. He prepared an early recension of Guru Granth Sahib. This manuscript was dated 1682 AD and completed at Damdama at Anandpur Sahib. This was one of the earliest manuscripts which also contained the saloks of Guru Tegh Bahadur. It was kept at Sikh Reference Library, Manuscript No. 511, with the description, Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji de Likhari Bhai Hardas vali birh.

British and the Sikhs: The Akali Nihangs part 3

Sir John login and Duleep Singh, lady login with an introduction by colonel G. B. Malleson, c.s.i., London, W. H. Allen & co., 1890. pp, 144-145

In a series of letters written by Sir John Login to his wife Lady Login he narrates his role in the Anglo Sikh wars. These were collated posthumously by Lady Login. In one of his accounts he narrates how some Sikhs had fallen in battle with the British. It was the attempt by the British at capturing the fort of one

British and the Sikhs: The treaty of Duleep Singh and the surrender of the Koh-i-noor

One of the documents I discussed on the Sikh Channel Interview:

The following is the treaty between the British and the Lahore Government. Dated 29th March 1849. 

* It essentially made Duleep Singh a ward of the British.

* made the Lahore Government pay the expenses of the Anglo Sikh Wars and all the property of the Punjab was confiscated by the British.

* including the infamous Koh-i-noor:

Sri Takhat Harimandir Sahib Patna Sahib: A perspective of its History and Maryada

Essay written for Sant Sipahi magazine in 2008.
Publishing for the first time on the internet due to the discussion of Charles Wilkins visit to the Takht at Patna Sahib on Sikh Channel interview May 2012.

Gurinder Singh Mann: British and the Sikhs discussion on Sikh Channel.

I was on the Sikh Channel discussing the relationship between the British and the Sikhs.

Discussion with Rajinder Singh
Sikh Channel
London
May 2012

British and the Sikhs: The Akali Nihangs part 2

Sir Lepel Henry Griffin (20 July 1838 – 9 March 1908) was a British administrator and diplomat during the British Raj period in India. He wrote several books related to Panjab and the Sikhs including: The Punjab Chiefs, The Rajas of the Punjab and The Law of Inheritance to Sikh Chieftains.  He also wrote a book on Maharaja Ranjit Singh. An extract regarding the Akali Nihangs is reproduced below.

British and the Sikhs: The Akali Nihangs part 1

I will be posting up many accounts of the Sikhs and the British that I have collected in my research. The following is one showing the admiration of the Akali Nihangs by the British. I am working on a forthcoming project showing the importance of the Akali Nihangs in Sikh history. I started researching the Akali Nihangs as part of MA Thesis on the Sri Dasam Granth Sahib. See thesis

A Volunteer's Scramble Through Scinde, the Punjab, Hindostan, and the Himalayah Mountains, Hugo James, Published by W. Thacker and co., 1854

The Living Guru Granth Sahib exhibtion 2008

In 2008, the New Walk Museum, Leicester held an exhibition to commemorate the 300 years of Gurta Gadi celebrations.The Museum was the only one in the country which had a dedicated a Sikh exhibition to commemorate this auspicious occasion.

The museum showcased various exhibits from Sikh manuscripts to documentaries and there were also several lectures undertaken as part of the event. I undertook the lecture, Manuscripts, History and the Guru Granth Sahib. Click here

Restoring an Old manuscript of Guru Granth Sahib

Restoration project of an old Guru Granth Manuscript.
Sikh Lobby Group Quarterly meeting

Guru Panth Parkash Gurdwara
19 Ashford Road  Leicester LE2 6AA


01/04/2012

I undertook a brief talk regarding an old manuscript of Guru Granth Sahib which is in need of restoration.
I explained how and why we need to preserve our Heritage and why this manuscript needed restoring. I touched upon how manuscripts were brought over to the UK after the annexation of the Panjab.

The traditional view about the Sri Dasam Granth Sahib –‘The Global Vision of Guru Gobind Singh that is’.

A rejoinder to IJ Singh: 'Sikhi: The Global Vision That Was'

By Gurinder Singh Mann & Kamalroop Singh, UK, February 2012.

‘Sach kahon lun lehu sabhai, jin prem kio tin hi prabh paio’

‘I proclaim the truth, listen all, those who are absorbed in love realise the Lord’

This tukh from the Sikh nitnem always hits hard, it resounds in my mind at the crescendo of the prayer. It always resonates deeply, and it seems to that the Guru intended this to be the case. He emphasizes that true love is the only way for mankind’s emancipation. Without love and passion in our prayer, simran and seva, it is just empty ritual. In the words of the Sufis, it is love that is the Divine wine that fills up the cup. This verse by Guru Gobind Singh daily reveals to us the ultimate truth, and is specifically in the third nitnem bani the Tav-Prasad Svaiye, which is a part of the longer Sri Akal Ustati. In the rest of the composition he reiterates that without bhavana or heartfelt devotion all religious rituals, however elaborate and splendid, are nothing but mere illusions. What is surprising is that a composition that shows the universal nature of Sikh Dharam is now subject to a constant barrage of doubts and criticisms.

Guru Nanak Sikh Lecture 2011, Leicestershire

THE ANNUAL GURU NANAK LECTURE 

The Sikh Welfare and Cultural Society 

At County Hall, Leicestershire County Hall, Leicester.

A brief talk on 25th November 2011 on the Sri Dasam Granth Q and A book at the Guru Nanak Annual Lecture, County Hall , Leicestershire.The main lecture was undertaken by Sir Mota Singh QC retired Judge on Guru Nanak and diversity.