This book presents the oral testimony of Subhashini (1914–2003), the woman head of a well-known Arya Samaj institution devoted to women's education in rural north India. Subhashini's narrative unfolds a story, within a sea of stories, which has remained silent in the dominant historical discourse. Her memory evokes contrasting images of violence, martyrdom and Partition. Not 1947 but 1942—the year of her father's 'martyrdom'—is recalled as a violent rupture in her memory. Partition is a mo...

Based on a meticulous exploration of the primary sources and oral testimonies of the survivors and victims of 1919, V.N. Datta crafts a unique and first-hand narrative of the most violent event and its legacy in the history of modern India and provides a complex picture of the city of Amritsar, where he grew up. Jallianwala Bagh is a rigorous account of the causes, nature and impact of the carnage that shook the nation and irreparably wounded its collective consciousness. A pathbr...

LONGLISTED FOR THE SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE'Beautifully written, ridiculously erudite, warm and open-hearted' The Times'Compelling and poignant' Guardian'This is travel writing at its best' ObserverInternationally bestselling William Dalrymple takes us to the heart of an undiscovered India.A Buddhist monk takes up arms to resist the Chinese invasio...

This book will help you to appreciate one of the historic religions of the Indian subcontinent, to understand what it means to be a Sikh, especially the guru—disciple relationship, to recognize the key festivals of the Sikh year and the different aspects of Sikh worship and practice, and to avoid faux pas in conversation, in travelling, and in personal relationships.Access the world's religions with Simple Guides: Religions a series of concise, accessible introducti...

In 101 SELECTED SAYINGS OF MAHATMA GANDHI you will learn:The similarity between freedom and slavery.What makes the world blind.Who is to be considered religious.What is the greatness of humanity.Why you should monitor your thoughts and words.What an eye for an eye does.About the seven deadly sins.What the future depends on.If you have faith and ways to strengthen it.The best way to preac...

The Sikh religion has a following of over 20 million people worldwide. However,events such as the verbal and physical attacks on Sikhs just after September 11, where Sikhs were being mistaken for Muslims, suggest that the Sikh faith still remains mysterious to many. This Very Short Introduction introduces newcomers to the meaning of the Sikh religious tradition, its teachings, practices, rituals and festivals. Eleanor Nesbitt highlights and contextualizes the key threads in the hi...

This book is a comprehensive introduction to the Sikh faith. Ideal for those with little knowledge of the religion, it will give you a clear understanding of what Sikh's believe, and how they practise their faith. Covering all aspects, from the history of Sikhism, to Sikh ethics, to the practicalities of living a Sikh life, learn what it means to be Sikh today.NOT GOT MUCH TIME?One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.AUTHOR INSIGH...

Those seeking to lead a spiritual life inevitably face challenges in their pursuit of spirituality and practice. As spiritual development progresses, facing one's faults, failures, and unintentional mistakes become disconcerting – even for the most sincere seeker.One may then ask, "What are the benefits of the different types of religion? From the many religions of the world, which practices will accelerate my spiritual growth? In actuality, how to live exactly?"In the book...

In his Autobiography, Gandhi wrote, “What I want to achieve—what I have been striving and pining to achieve these thirty years—is self-realization, to see God face to face. . . . All that I do by way of speaking and writing, and all my ventures in the political field, are directed to this same end.” While hundreds of biographies and histories have been written about Gandhi (1869–1948), nearly all of them have focused on the political, social, or familial dimensions of his life....

In today's multicultural society we are increasingly likely to meet and become friends with people from different religious backgrounds, and to find ourselves attending an unfamiliar ceremony. When this happens, there can be few of us who know exactly what to expect, or are confident about how to behave. This chapter from Do I Kneel or Do I Bow? will tell you everything you need to understand and take part in a Sikh ceremony. Armed with this basic information, you will feel relaxe...

Sound and the faculty of hearing is probably the most critical of human links to the web of life. It is through the messages carried in sound waves that we can respond to the world around us and connect to higher consciousness."Sound Waves" is a collection of Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri's aphorisms and maxims that help us to reflect and discover the intricate connection between self and soul.ABOUT SHAYKH FADHLALLA HAERIAcknowledged as a ...

Sikhism traces its beginnings to Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469 and died in 1538 or 1539. With the life of Guru Nanak the account of the Sikh faith begins, all Sikhs acknowledging him as their founder. Sikhism has long been a little-understood religion and until recently they resided almost exclusively in northwest India. Today the total number of Sikhs is approximately twenty million worldwide. About a million live outside India, constituting a significant minority in the United Kingdom...