The British and the Sikhs by Gurinder Singh Mann
Book Review by Gurmeet Singh Sandhu
The author, Gurinder Singh Mann is an erudite historian, who has undertaken considerable research and has written books on Sikh history along with being a Director of the Sikh Museum initiative. The author has spent substantial amount of time and effort in researching and documenting the relationship between Sikhs and the British over 200 years: from 1700 to 1900. As per the title of the book, this work succinctly covers the exchange between two of the most formidable powers in North India during the period, however readers must realize that this work is by no means a detailed history of the Sikhs. The author has convincingly recounted this unexplored subject and has presented his findings using academic research and scholastic sources.
The author has examined various known and less researched sources on how the Sikhs came into contact with the British, possibly the 10th Master, Guru Gobind Singh may have been treated by a British doctor, after he was fatally wounded by Pathans at Nanded in 1708. The author has stated assorted references, which sheds light on how Sikhs, as early as 1700s may have come in contact with the British, even though it is not mentioned frequently by other historians.
Mr. Mann has included an eyewitness account on the execution of Sikh leader, Banda Singh Bahadur, how his men were eliminated in Delhi and the gruesome tortures inflicted on the brave leader during his last moments. The author has personally visited the site of the execution at Mehrauli in Delhi, where a historical wall is still extant, along with a desolate Gurdwara commemorating the martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadur. I was a native of Delhi and until a few years ago was unaware of the existence of this historical site and most of the inhabitants are still oblivious of this important landmark. I am sure, readers will visit this site after reading this book and perhaps this will create curiosity among the Sikhs to include the monument into mainstream Sikh historical memorials of Delhi.
The author has included woks by British writers such as Charles Wilkins, who visited Patna in 1781 and documented the religious proceedings along with customs of the Gurdwara Sahib, along with the recital of Guru Granth Sahib, the Ardas and distribution of Karha Prasad. This is probably one of the earliest descriptions of the ceremonies of a Gurdwara as narrated by foreign sources. He has also elucidated on the sensitive topic of Dasam Granth and since early on how it was also revered along with the Guru Granth Sahib. The author has given a vivid description of the Gurdwara at Patna, where Guru Gobind Singh was born, the scriptures, weapons and observances followed by the devotees.
The author has described how the British were inquisitive of the Sikh religion, customs and their sacred texts from early on, after their encounters with them. The earliest known translation of part of the Dasam Granth was completed by Dr. Leyden, which is rarely known by mainstream students of Sikh history. Dr Leyden was a proficient linguist and was able to translate parts of the Dasam Granth, years before Dr. Trumpp attempted to decipher the Guru Granth Sahib and made serious errors with the translation and misrepresented the importance of the Dasam Granth to the Sikh populace. Some of these misconceptions were introduced by people with vested interests and have unfortunately stayed on with the mainstream, down to the present times. Dr. Mann has done extensive research on Dasam Granth and has written a book on his research, which is highly recommended.
The author has highlighted the contribution of Sikh Misls, which is usually undermined and has been forgotten by most of the Sikhs. He has highlighted the important roles played by leaders such as: Nawab Kapur Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and most importantly by Sardar Bhagel Singh in establishing the foundation of Sikh Empire by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Some of these Misl leaders were in communication with the British and had signed treaties with them. Sardar Bhagel Singh’s contribution to establishment of historical Gurdwaras is outlined in the book and how he established diplomatic relationship with the Mughal Emperor. He has stated the facts on how the Sikhs occupied Delhi and it was unrealistic for them to maintain their presence at the time due to logistical difficulties and due to disunity among the leaders. The British however, were cautiously watching their moves in and around Delhi and if the Sikhs had played the right moves, they may have undertaken a major part in negotiating terms with the British instead of the Marathas.
The author has covered the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, how the British negotiated the treaty of 1809 with the Maharaja, which to an extent limited the expansion of his territories east of Satluj River; however, he was able to extend his boundaries till Khyber Pass and further up North. The British were able to extend their sway till Delhi and strengthen their hold over rest of India because of this treaty, while the Maharaja expanded the kingdom till the border of Afghanistan and included Kashmir, Leh and Ladakh into his realm. When the British finally defeated the Sikhs, after the Anglo-Sikh wars, they were able to seize these lands without spending much effort and resources. The hard lifting was done by the Sikhs and the British were able to rule these lands with minimal amount of struggle.
The author has written an extensive account of Nihang warriors as recorded by British missionaries and political agents, their customs, and fighting skills. There is a meticulous narration of a female Nihang warrior in a chapter. It describes the resistances offered by Nihangs and their animosity towards Christian missionaries, their penetration into Punjab and how they resisted their proselytization. Ultimately, these warriors were deprived of their traditional martial arts, unique customs and were marginalized by the mainstream Sikhs. There are accounts of how these warriors confronted the British since the time of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, till after Punjab was occupied by them. Their indefatigable courage has been documented in this book. The author has also highlighted the contribution of Sikhs in the British Indian Army, their role in foreign campaigns and how the British were able to use the martial prowess of the Khalsa for their expeditions starting as early as 1860s till World War II.
The author provides a comprehensive account on the Sikh relics that were appropriated by the British. Most of the people are aware of the Kohinoor Diamond, however there were many other historical items, artifacts, weapons, and scriptures that the British seized from the Lahore Kingdom and which are still preserved at various museums, palaces and private collections throughout the UK. It is interesting to note that the author has mentioned that not all of the items were ‘taken’ by the British, some of them were indeed given as presents to dignitaries visiting Punjab or Sis-Satluj kingdoms.
The book has been diligently researched and Dr. Mann has visited assorted sites mentioned in his work personally to give a tangible and intimate narrative. He has done excellent research by utilizing works from known and usually little known sources and has presented his findings in an interesting manner. This book is a first print and as with other texts, there are some minor lapses, which I am sure will be addressed by the author in subsequent prints. The book is lucid, researched, the information is brief, and if the reader desires to pursue his/her knowledge, he/she can refer to books or sources mentioned in the footnotes. This book is a good introduction for people aspiring to learn how the Sikhs interacted with the British and will definitely invoke their interest to read exhaustive books on Sikh history. I commend the author for his hard work, scholastic knowledge and dedication to Sikh history.
