editorial articles reviews news & views - Institute of Sikh Studies
editorial articles reviews news & views - Institute of Sikh Studies
editorial articles reviews news & views - Institute of Sikh Studies
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104<br />
ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : APRIL-JUNE 2005 / 537 NS<br />
to the studies.<br />
ASSAMESE STUDIES<br />
Punjab and Assam are the two Indian states, besides Jammu and<br />
Kashmir, which are ‘storm centres’. Buranji literature preserves Assam<br />
identity but contains few references about Punjab and <strong>Sikh</strong> history.<br />
Assamese literature mentions Guru Nanak’s visit to Kamrup along<br />
with Mardana. The story <strong>of</strong> Nur Shah through her magic spell<br />
converting Mardana into sheep and Guru bringing him back to human<br />
form is mentioned. Banikanta Kakati, Lakshminath Bezbarua,<br />
Harichandra Bhattacharya, Shashikanta Gogoi, Dhaniram Datta, Phula<br />
Singh Chhetri (an Assamese <strong>Sikh</strong>) are among the Assamese authors<br />
covered in the survey. The last author ‘provided a distinct regional<br />
flavour to Assamese <strong>Sikh</strong> studies. Jayanti, a literary magazine, evaluates<br />
Maharaja Ranjit Singh as a ‘Nationalist hero’ whereas an anonymous<br />
writer holds him responsible for the ‘fall <strong>of</strong> empire’. Arunodoi published<br />
from Sibsagar by American Baptist Mission, has a special link with<br />
<strong>Sikh</strong> studies. Gurdwara reforms movement by the Akalis, resignation<br />
<strong>of</strong> Maharaja Ripudaman Singh, ruler <strong>of</strong> Nabha, and a few <strong>Sikh</strong>s ready<br />
to die to protect the integrity <strong>of</strong> Assam, find mention. There is a<br />
rumour that a <strong>Sikh</strong> Battalion courted death fighting for the Ahom<br />
king to defend the freedom <strong>of</strong> Assam. Bezbarua had high regard for<br />
Guru Nanak, but was critical <strong>of</strong> Ranjit Singh! Assamese <strong>Sikh</strong>s keep<br />
kesh and wear turban with some modification. <strong>Sikh</strong>s have married<br />
Assamese girls, and are absorbed in that milieu. While returning from<br />
Assam as a Captain in 1960, my Taxi driver Inder Singh told me in<br />
chaste Punjabi that he had married an Assamese girl, and had settled<br />
there for more than two decades.<br />
ORIYA SIKHS<br />
The author starts with history. Guru Nanak in his eastern Udasi<br />
came to Puri, and composed his famous shabad, Gagan mai thal in<br />
Dhanasri raag. He passed through Cuttack, where Dantan Sahib<br />
Gurdwara is situated. There is also a locality called Guru Nanak Dihi.<br />
Guru Nanak lives in Oriya folk tradition also. In the seventeenth<br />
century, <strong>Sikh</strong>s came to Patna as traders, and later the city became a<br />
pilgrimage center as birth place <strong>of</strong> Guru Gobind Singh. Harimandir<br />
here is one <strong>of</strong> the five takhts. ‘Na Anka’, the famine, decimated one