Introductory - Global Sikh Studies

5
had as much potentiality of becoming a universal religion as Sikhism
had. The Radical Bhaktas did not even think of entering politics. But
their ideology all the same melted imperceptibly into the caste ideology
and lost its identity without making any significant social or political
contribution at any stage.
Thus, the main purpose of this book is to bring into focus the
revolutionary character of the Sikh movement, which cannot be done
by viewing it in isolation. The movement has to be judged, as all
movements should be, in the light of the broad historical perspective
of its contemporary times; and, in this case, especially in that of the
Indian social and political context of the medieval era.
I am very much obliged to S. Daljeet Singh, my brother-in-law;
S. Kishan Singh (ex-lecturer Dyal Singh College, New Delhi); Prof.
Bipan Chandra (Dean of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University,
New Delhi) and Shree B .D. Talib, my friend; for their valuable
suggestions and criticisms. It becomes necessary to make it clear that
the responsibility for the views expressed in this volume is entirely
mine, as some of the above mentioned gentlemen do not share my
approach to the subject in all its ramifications. I cannot sufficiently
express my obligation to S. Daljeet Singh, who took great pains in
helping me revise the manuscript, and to whom I owe a good deal of
my understanding of the Sikh view of life. Dr. Ganda Singh, the doyen
of Sikh historians, Pror. Pritam Singh (formerly Professor of Guru
Nanak Dev University, Amritsar) and S. Gurbax Singh (formerly
Assistant Director, Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University,
Patiala) have been very kind in providing me with some of the extracts
from Persian manuscripts given in Chapter xviii. Prof. Ram Singh
(formerly Reader, Punjab University, Chandigarh), Major General
Gurbakhsh Singh and S.B.S. Kumedan have kindly helped me in tracing
certain references.
I avail of this opportunity to express my gratitude to my wife,
which was overdue, as she has been extending her moral support to
me in all my undertakings solely for love's own sake.
July, 1980
Ghaziabad
JAGJIT SINGH