Military System of the Sikhs/edited by Raj Kumar. New Delhi,
Commonwealth, 2004, vii, 313 p., ISBN 81-7169-860-3.
Military System of the Sikhs/edited by Raj Kumar. New Delhi,
Commonwealth, 2004, vii, 313 p., ISBN 81-7169-860-3.
Contents: Preface.1. Introduction. 2. The origin and growth of the Sikhs. 3. Early Sikh encounters. 4. Military system of the Sikhs. 5. The Khalsa Army. 6. Ranjit Singh's Army. 7. European military officers of Lahore Durbar. 8. The artillery of the Sikhs. 9. The Sikh artillery in battle. 10. The void. 11. The Sikh wars. 12. The first Sikh War--1845-46. 13. Battle of Ferozeshah--21 and 22 December 1845. 14. Battle of Aliwal--28 January 1846. 15. Battle of Sobraon--10 February 1846. 16. Battle of Chillianwalla--4 December 1848--13 January, 1849. 17. The battle of Gujarat--21 February 1849. 18. Conclusion. Appendices.
"Guru Nanak laid the foundation of a new religion in the fifteenth century. They called themselves Sikhs or disciples. They were essentially a religious body till Muhammedan persecution gradually transformed them into a militant sect. Guru Gobind finally transformed the Sikhs from a religious to a military body.
Aim of this compilation work is to examine why, when and how Sikhs became a nation of soldiers. What was their military system?
In the course of preparation of this work we have consulted and where necessary used a number of primary and secondary sources." (jacket)