Sikh Heritage: Ethos & Relics
Monday, 24 December 2012
Sharing and learning about Sikh ethos from tangible elements of Sikh heritage
Ethos and Relics, which Bhayee Sikandar Singh and I have co-authored, has been reprinted many times. Critics have been kind to us, readers have bought the book in large numbers, what more could we ask for?
The book was released by Mrs Gursharan Kaur, wife of the then Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on December 24, 2012, at the Main Hall at the India International Centre, New Delhi. Rupa Publications India published the book.
Sikh Heritage: Ethos and Relics explores the culture and history of the Sikhs before focusing on the relics of the Gurus, some of which were items of their personal use. They are reverentially kept by the custodians of the families which were fortunate enough to have them bestowed upon them.
Important relics are housed at Bhai Rupa village and at Bagrian. The families of the Maharajas of Patiala and Nabha have significant collections, and there are also some relics kept at Bilga and Sursinghwala villages.
The custodians of the families cherish and hold these relics as sacred. They have generously allowed us to showcase their invaluable relics in this manner for the first time.
Sikh Heritage
Look Inside
Ethos and Relics explores the culture and history of the Sikhs before focusing on the relics of the Gurus, some of which were items of their personal use.
Celebrating the Book
The book was launched at Indian International Centre, Delhi, another at Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh. We spoke about it at the Sangrur Literary Festival , the Khushwant Singh LitFest, and multiple fora thereafter.
Readers' Comments
Reader's Comments
A landmark publication. It brings to the public unprecedented access to historical objects related to the history of the Sikh Gurus and the formation of the Sikh community. The publication of this book will change how we think about and visualise the Sikh past.
Dr ANNE MURPHY, University of British Columbia, Canada
A vital contribution to the Sikh world. Its visual representation and thoughtful contextualisation of relics, sites, and paintings animate memories of a glorious past. A work of profound historical and spiritual significance.
Prof NIKKI G KAUR SINGH, Colby College, ME, USA
A unique and very important document…detailed, beautifully illustrated, systematic, and intellectually rigorous—yet not at all like a typical museum catalogue of a public or private collection.
Dr. PAUL MICHAEL TAYLOR, Smithsonian Insitution, Washington DC, USA
Beautiful pictures of new and familiar objects are woven into a powerful narrative of the sick Sikh material heritage. Bhayee Sikandar Singh and Roopinder Singh make a formidable team, and the book they have created should be of great interest to both scholars and general readers.
Prof GURINDER SINGH MAAN, UC, Santa Barbara, USA
