Sikh Historiography

A History of the Sikhs, Volume 2: 1839-1964 by Khushwant Singh; Princeton University Press; 395 pp, Rs 75.
THIS two-volume work of the noted man of letters, Khushwant Singh, constitutes an outstanding survey of Sikh history. It is a work of tremendous industry and diligence, and provides a comprehensive and eminently read- able account of the history of the Sikhs "from their inception to the present day". Supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, the publication is based on research in archives and libraries on the Indian subcontinent as well as in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. The author has drawn heavily on original sources not only in English but also in Gurmukhi and Persian. He has also effectively utilised information obtained in personal contacts with Sikh leaders and groups in India and abroad.