Guru Gobind Singh : Saints of India/edited by S.R. Bakshi and Sangh Mittra. New Delhi, Criterion Pub., 2002, x, 299 p., $39. ISBN 81-7938-013-0. [Encyclopaedia of Saints of India]

Contents: Preface. 1. Birth and childhood. 2. Sacrifice of the father. 3. A new literary metaphor. 4. At Anandpur Sahib. 5. A new order. 6. Blending with the Khalsa. 7. Republicanism in religion. 8. The moment of creation. 9. Anandpur evacuated. 10. "Sparrows" meet "Hawks". 11. Repose at Damdama. 12. Role in the national movement. 13. Victory by Akal’s favour. 14. Guru departs for the South. 15. Banda Bahadur. 16. As a man and scholar. 17. Guru and the disciple. 18. On human piety. 19. Confidence and bravery. 20. The light is out. 21. Epilogue. 22. Thus spake Guru Gobind Singh. 23. Chronology of Guru Gobind Singh. Index.

"Guru Gobind Singh was the last Guru of the Sikhs who always preached piety, simple life, dedication to noble causes, truth and fearlessness. The great sacrifice of Guru Teg Bahadur generated the spirit of sacrifice in his mind and heart. He led a disciplined life and opposed violence and injustice along with the cooperation and support of his dedicated workers. The founder of the ‘Khalsa’ brought about the sense of confidence and bravery among the Sikhs. The theme has deep bearing, in twenty-three chapters, on his ideology-based on socio-economic, religious and political philosophy. People gathered in thousands to listen to his religious discourses.

"This work would be useful for teachers, research scholars, students and all those who would be interested in the religious ideology of Guru Gobind Singh." (jacket)

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