By Santokh Singh Bains | Opinion |
Dr. I. J. Singh (Dr. Inderjit Singh) – an amazing mentor, intellectual, educator, visionary, and author – is no more amongst us, but his six amazing books will undoubtedly continue to inspire Sikhs (particularly Sikhs residing in the Western countries) for many years to come.
A brief description of his six excellent books (collections of his captivating essays) may be provided as follows:
Sikhs and Sikhism: A View with a Bias
This book was published by Manohar Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi, in 1994, and, thereafter, reprinted in 1995, 1997, and 2004. The second edition of the book was published by The Centennial Foundation, Canada.
Prof. N. Gerald Barrier (Professor of History at the University of Missouri, USA) had written an interesting and informative Introduction for this notable book.
SEE ALSO: Dr. I.J. Singh: The scholar who gave Sikhi a modern voice
While challenging various traditional assumptions, the learned author had written about what it really means to be a Sikh, significance of the Sikh observances, and a dialogue between Sikhism and other major world religions.
Though every essay in this marvelous book appears to be quite important, the essay titled “What is a Head Worth?” is probably the most significant one. This essay concludes with the following sentences: “Three hundred years later, once again the Guru wants your head. Many will slip away, just as they did three hundred years ago. Many more will look away, just as they did then. The question is: How are you going to answer the call?”
The Sikh Way: A Pilgrim’s Progress
This distinguished book was published in 2001 and its publication was made possible due to the support of AIM Funds Management Inc. (the lead sponsor) and some other sponsors.
According to Dr. I. J. Singh himself, “The essays in this book are meanderings – a pilgrimage – through the rich tapestry of Sikh religion.” The topics run “from those that stem from history and tradition to those that seem to have emerged more recently as we interact with different people and their religions across the world.”
There are 21 interesting chapters in the book. The learned author has adopted a broader view of the Sikh traditions. He has expressed his liberal views on a wide array of issues concerning Sikhs and Sikhi. Several essays in the book would be of special interest to students as well as teachers of comparative religion.
Like Dr. I. J. Singh’s earlier book (Sikhs and Sikhism: A View With a Bias), this second book also easily became a bestseller.
Being & Becoming a Sikh
This 175-page book contains several essays on the unique theme of “being and becoming a Sikh.” The author makes a clear distinction between the two because the former may be a Sikh merely due to his birth in a Sikh family.
The author’s “ponderings are in the main analytic, while remaining descriptive and even somewhat prescriptive at the same time.” He has endeavoured “to minimize the prescriptive element lest it become too preachy.”
The book focuses on identity, belonging, and what it really means to live as a Sikh in the Western world. While exploring the taboos and challenges which the Sikh diaspora faces, the knowledgeable author encourages the book’s readers to think critically, ask valid questions, and engage deeply with Gurbani.
The World According to Sikhi
Published in 2006, this brilliant anthology consists of 25 unique essays. “These are stand-alone essays, not sequential chapters in a book…” To see and nurture the “connection between the universe within and the world outside remains to me (the author) the key to understanding Sikhi. How to explore it, how best to describe the process is the very ambitious goal of these essays.”
“Dr. I. J. Singh once again takes us along on a personal journey as he dips into the rich wellsprings of Sikh thought and applies them to the challenges we face today. His methodology is alluring: a scientist by profession, he looks at social and spiritual questions with a discerning and discriminating eye.”
The author depicts Sikhism (he prefers to use the word ‘Sikhi’) as a vibrant path of universal and timeless relevance. While rejecting a dogmatic code of conduct, the book tracks the personal and intellectual progression of the author as a serious spiritual seeker.
Sikhs Today: Ideas & Opinions
This anthology, which was published in 2012, covers contemporary societal issues and connects them to historical doctrines.Viewpoints on important matters from both Eastern and Western cultures have been included in the book.
“Dr. Singh bridges the issues that divide people of different faiths, framing a hopeful dialogue between modern secular issues – such as human rights, gender equality, and technology – and timeless religious values. He presents vignettes from Sikh teaching to demonstrate how they resonate with liberal, humanistic thinking.”
Traditional Sikh teachings have been explained in the context of the realities of modern life in the Western world. Avoiding confrontational or dogmatic approach, Dr. I. J. Singh has adopted a positive and unbiased approach.
“It is the type of book that warrants reading, rereading, and sharing. It serves as a necessary educational tool to demystify Sikh identity in an era of growing global connectivity and moral ambiguity.” The book may prove helpful in understanding the universal applications of the Sikh wisdom in a complex and globalized world.
Sikhi: The Journey & The Destination
This superb book, the sixth and last collection of Dr. I. J. Singh’s essays, was published in 2018 by Nishaan Nagaara, New Delhi, in association with Chardi Kalaa Foundation, USA.
This 300-page book has 36 brilliant essays on diverse topics of Sikh interest. While the first essay in the book is titled “Living in Punj-Lish/Eng-Jabi?”, the last essay is titled “What Sikhism says about Gender, Sex & Related Issues.” The 36 essays cover a wide territory covering various aspects of Sikh history, politics, culture, religion, and practice.
While a few essays in this book are rather longish, and written in the academic style, most of the essays are quite suitable for common readers.
Steering readers away from blind orthodoxy, the book clearly translates the eternal principles of Sikhi into a practical and ethical framework. It “lavishes upon the reader a diverse smorgasbord of themes relating to Sikh life in the modern diaspora. It is not a rigid manual or a catechism, but rather an invitation for readers to reflect on how foundational Sikh values adapt to contemporary, everyday challenges.”
Libraries and Sikh Individuals
Libraries managed by gurdwara management committees and important Sikh institutions should come forward to buy the six amazing books. The Sikh individuals (particularly those living in the Western countries) would also do well to purchase these outstanding books for themselves and also for presenting them to their Sikh and non-Sikh relatives, friends and acquaintances.
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Santokh Singh Bains is a Chicago based writer and free lance journalist. His debut book titled Sikhs, Sikhism and the World was published in 2019. He can be reached at santokhbains713@gmail.com
* This is the opinion of the writers, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.
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