Foreword To The Book 'The Maharajah Duleep Singh And The Government - A Narrative' By Surjit Singh Jeet

Undoubtedly, the present century has witnessed both a heightened awareness and a deep significance of Sikh ideology particularly on the eve of historic occasion of the Tercentenary of The Khalsa. We feel proud to having participated in its memorable celebrations and deliberations.

In the present scenario both Sikh religion and Sikh history have emerged as the areas of deep concern not only among Sikh masses but also in the international community who want to learn and read authentic and qualitative works on this important subject.

The present work: The Maharajah Duleep Singh And The Government - A Narrative is a rare book on Sikh history which was first published in June 1884 by some unknown author for private circulation. Evidently, it remained unnoticed by the historians and the researchers. Sh. S.S. Jeet, who is a devoted researcher, traced this book from abroad and approached me for its reproduction by our University. Guru Nanak Dev University undertook its publication as part of the Tercentenary celebrations to bring its historical data and information for use by the scholars as well as the general reader. The material presented in its Section B is a new and valuable addition.

At the present historic juncture, it is more befitting for a University to organise national/international seminars and to produce scholarly and valuable reading material for the international society. This University has successfully performed both these tasks.

There are a number of books by English historians concerning the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh but only few have been written on after the fall of his kingdom. This book contributes to the understanding of this part of the history of Punjab and will therefore become a very useful source material on this period of history as well as its background.

Sh. S.S. Jeet is a dedicated worker and has good acumen for historical research. He has his own rich collection also. Most humbly he is presenting this anonymous book to the reading public.  

Prof. Satinder Singh after thorough reading and checking, performed the laborious task of its vetting, correction of notes and index etc.

I hope the scholars as well as the general readers will be highly benefited by the reproduction of this book.

(H.S. Soch)

Vice-Chancellor