This book is the fourth 'incarnation' of essays published in 1972. A slightly revised edition appeared in 1982, and an enlarged one in 1996. The present edition is much enlarged and thoroughly revised. In many of these essays the author has analysed contemporary works of history and literature and all other essays are based strictly on contemporary evidence. In the volume as a whole Sikh ideology, polity and social order are seen from various perspectives to illumine their inter-relationship in all its richness and complexity. A variety of sources in Punjabi, Persian and English are used in these essays with reference to the 'received wisdom'. The volume, thus, is likely to provide the best introduction to the pre-colonial Sikh tradition for young researchers. The professional historians may find it useful for comparison in the light of their own understanding.

The general reader would find it interesting especially as it brings out the essential significance of several contemporary works of literature. Indispensable for the teachers and students of Sikh history, this book has equal relevance for scholars of social sciences, religion and literature.