Jan-March 2006 - Institute of Sikh Studies

108ABSTRACTS OF SIKH STUDIES : JAN-MARCH 2006 / 537-38 NSSO SAID GURU ANGAD DEVA REVIEW BY HARDIT SINGH *Author : Professor Dr Harnam Singh ShanPublisher : Punjab Govt, Public Relations Dept, ChandigarhPrice : Not mentioned; Pages : 132The book, So Said Guru Angad Dev, by Dr Harnam Singh Shan, awell-known scholar and theologian on Sikhism, is indeed, as captionedby the author, A Dictionary of the Thought of the Second Prophet-Preceptorof the Sikhs. It has been published by the Government of Punjab incommemoration of the birth-quincentenary of Guru Anand Dev ji(1504-1552).It contains foreword by Captain Amarinder Singh, Chief Ministerof Punjab, who has highlighted the achievements and contributionsof the Guru in regard to the recording of the Janam-Sakhi of GuruNanak Dev ji (1469-1539); fashioning and formalising the Gurmukhiscript, introducing sports (Mal-Akhaara) for physical fitness along withthe spiritual advancement of community, and strengthening GuruNanak’s tradition of the maintaining Sikhism as the faith of thedevoted householders. Guru Nanak Dev ji on appointing Guru AngedDev ji as his successor, had particularly asked him “Purkha Panth karna”,to establish a Panth of saint-soldiers. Guru Angad Dev himselfdisplayed this saint-soldier spirit when be admonished the Mughalemperor Humayun (1530-1556) on his fleeing like a coward to Iranafter his defeat by Sher Shah Suri (1540-1554).In this small but nicely produced book of 132 pages, its learnedauthor has brought out the holy personality of Guru Angad Dev Ji, allhis sayings (original in Gurmukhi with their English translation and* Brig (retd), # 1380, Sector 33-C, Chandigarh