Table Of Contents For 'Exploring Some Sikh Themes' By Pritam Singh

Foreword To Book 'Exploring  Some Sikh Themes' By Pritam Singh

The themes examined in this volume were selected sporadically, either to meet the demands of some academic and semi-academic bodies or to fulfil my own obligations as Chief Editor of the Journal of Sikh Studies at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. These are, therefore, not like the chapters of a book in which each preceding chapter prepares the ground for the succeeding chapter. All the themes discussed in this volume have an independent entity in each case; they are connected organically with neither the previous nor the following themes. The common string that binds them together is their intimate relation with Sikh studies. For me. therefore, each theme proved to be an exercise in independent exploration. It will be a matter of great satisfaction to me if my treatment of the themes can activate the latent spirit of exploration even among a fraction of my esteemed readers.

The last paper in this volume owes an explanation from the author. The South Asian Institute of Heidelberg University had invited me in 1985 to deliver two lectures. The themes given to me were 'The Growth of Consciousness of Sikh Identity' and 'Five Hundred Years of Sikh Literature'. After delivering the lectures to the Institute as I wanted to revise these in the light of the discussion that had followed the lectures. On my return, I prepared the final version of both the lectures and would have posted them the next day, but unfortunately, an electrical short-circuit fire destroyed both the lectures along with some other texts. Fortunately, a member of the Faculty of the Institute had preserved with him the first few pages of my lecture on Sikh Identity. The Institute published this incomplete lecture in the proceedings of its Bulletin. It is this unrevised remnant of my lecture which I have reproduced from the Institute's Bulletin. I seek the indulgence of my readers for including this incomplete paper in this volume.

As the contents of this volume are not meant for scholars only, I have purposely avoided the use of international phonetic symbols of writing for non-English words.

I will be failing in my duty if I do not thank my dear friend Er. Ranbir Singh Sachdeva, warmly, for going through the contents of this volume with utmost care and offering useful suggestions for improvement. Mr.R.S. Tak, another old friend, has also obliged me by going through the manuscript, like a trained proof reader. The thoroughness and diligence with which my friend Dr. S.N. Sewak had gone through the whole text twice and has suggested many valuable amendments has given extraordinary dimension to frienship. I have no words to thank him for his labour and love. I also thank my stenographer, S. Harvinder Singh, for all the labour and love. I also thank my stenographer, S. Harvinder Singh, for all the labour that he has put in. I also thank me dear friend Dr. J.S. Rahi for the final proof reading.

But for the persistent persuasion of Sardar Gursagar Singh of Singh Brothers, this volume may not have seen the light of day for a few years.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Pritam Singh

About The Author Of Book 'Exploring  Some Sikh Themes

Prof. Pritam Singh (b. 1918) is an eminent writer. After a distinguished teaching and research career of about 40 years, he retired from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar in 1980, as Professor of Guru Nanak Studies. He has authored over fifty books in Punjabi and English, which have brought him national and international recognition. For his contribution towards Punjabi Literature and Sikh Studies, various prestigious institutions have conferred upon him a member of honours. The President of India awarded him a Certificate of Honour in 2002 with life-long pension; Bhartiya Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi selected him as the best translator of the year 1994; Punjab Government gave him its highest literary award, Sahitya Shiromani in 1998; San Jose State University, San Jose, California, USA honoured him by enrolling him as Honorary Professor in 2003; Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad honoured him with Sahitya Mahopadhaya in 2002. His books for children have been translated into all Indian languages by National Book Trust, New Delhi.

Undeterred by age, Prof. Pritam Singh's prolific pen continues to produce scholarly literature as well as literature for children on regular basis.