Book Review
Barrier, N. Gerald: The Sikhs and Their Literature (A Guide to Tracts, Books and Periodicals, 1849-191 9), 1970. ($7.00,153 pp.) Manohar Book Service 2, Daryaganj, Ansari Road Panna Bhawan, Delhi - 6 Sole distributors for U.S.A. South Asia Books P.O. Box 502 Columbia, Mo . 65201, U.S.A. By compiling this exhaustive and scholarly annoted bibliography through systematic research , Dr. Barrier has laid the foundation and has provided a model for future research in Sikh history and culture. For years to come this will serve as a basic reference book for research scholars. Dr. Barrier com piled this book not only through visiting libraries in India, Pakistan, and England, but by visiting historically known families in Punj ab who provided him with the materials wltich were not commonly available in libraries. He has brought to us many buried treasures. The book deals with one of the most ignored periods of Sikh history from 1849 to 1919. This was the period just after Maharaja Ranjit Singll's demise up to the emergence of a more stable Sikh cultural identity. This period is replete with the efforts of various Sikh leaders and scholars
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to maintain a separate Sikh identity at the same incorporating the spirit of universal brotherhood. Many socio-political movements germinated during this time such as Singh Sahha and Kuka Lehar, Chief Khalsa Divian Society and many tract societies. This is a fascinating period of Sikhs struggling to be Sikhs and not necessarily struggling against a political rul e. It is mostly an internal struggle, wltich at times is perpetuated by other religious movements in the Punjab. The interplay of these religious movements is brough t alive in this short volume. Dr. Barrier displays a remarkable skill in the organization of the book. He presents his bibliographical references in the alive context of historical perspective. The book opens with an introduction to the "Sikh Resurgence" during this period. The next four sections present listings of annotated bibliography Sikh publications by author, anonymous Sikh publications, Sikh institutional publications, and Sikh periodicals. Three appendices provide information on "Depositories of Sikh Printed Documents," "A Note on Sikh Proscribed Material," and "Selected Bibliography on Sikh History and Literature." Ii m e
The reviewer wishes tI,at similar works may be published for other periods of Sikh history, which will facilitate more scholarly topical research in depth . R.
K. Janmeja Singh