Meet the authors of In the Master’s Presence and get your hands on a signed copy of the book by attending any one of a series of events taking place at Waterstone’s branches in Canary Wharf, Trafalgar Square and Bluewater West beginning in April.  [Find out more...]

AUTHOR EVENTS - APRIL 2009

Marvel at the remarkable battlefield techniques of the ancient Khalsa and delve into the fascinating story of the Anglo-Sikh encounter, illustrated with rare images from the archives, at a series of events taking place in April at venues in Hounslow, Southall, Northampton and Leicester. [Find out more...]

The rare work of art, which dates from c. 1805, shows Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), the diminutive but powerful Sikh king, in conference with a Maratha chief, Holkar Rao.

Defeated by the British at Delhi in 1804, Rao fled north to Amritsar, the holy city of the Sikhs, to raise support for his fight against British expansion in India. Ranjit Singh refused to join him, and instead signed a treaty of “perpetual friendship” with the Honourable East India Company, the first of its kind between two of the most ambitious empires in the subcontinent at the turn of the 19th century.

Rise of the one-eyed king of Lahore

A military genius who had lost the use of his left eye after contracting small-pox as a child, Ranjit Singh rose from obscurity to carve out a kingdom covering much of modern-day Pakistan and northern India. His Punjab State served as a vitally important buffer between the fractious Afghan tribes in the north-west and the expansionist British to the south.

Napoleon’s victories in Europe gave rise to fears of a French invasion of India through Afghanistan, persuading the British pushed for a more substantial alliance with the Sikh king. Maharaja Ranjit Singh ratified the Treaty of Amritsar on 25 April 1809, exactly two hundred years ago to the month. Having secured his southern frontier, he pursued his conquests to the north-west unhampered.

Like Alexander the Great before him, Ranjit Singh had an insatiable appetite for conquest. Combining the sheer force of brute power and a deeply intuitive political acumen, he remains one of the few people in the world to have successfully quelled the Afghans and seized their prize assets and territories; these included the famed Koh-i-noor diamond and the rich state of Peshawar. Following his death in 1839, the kingdom he had painstakingly built collapsed as subsequent heirs were assassinated in a brutal civil war. Instability and political intrigue in the region ensued, leading to two wars between the Sikhs and the British for control of Punjab. Two narrow victories fell to the British, giving them the mandate in 1849 to annex Punjab to their Indian territories. Five years later, Ranjit Singh’s sole-surviving son, Duleep Singh, was exiled from his homeland and sent to the United Kingdom to live out the remainder of his life as a country squire. Besides becoming an instant favourite with Queen Victoria, he was also the first person of Sikh origin to settle in this country.

A rare find

The painting was re-discovered in the collections of the British Museum during the research for a new book on early Sikh tradition titled In the Master’s Presence: The Sikhs of Hazoor Sahib (Kashi House, 2009). It shows a seated Ranjit Singh armed with sword and shield in side profile, with his blind eye hidden away from view. The discovery was made by Paramdip Khera, Research Assistant in the department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum: ‘The British Museum is very proud to be the guardian of such an important painting. Though our collection of Sikh material is small it is wonderful to have such significant objects which reflect Sikh culture as part of this world collection.’

Despite the presence of Persian inscriptions, the identification of the figures has only recently received proper scrutiny. It has long been assumed that the central figure, who is clearly one-eyed and attended to by a courtier, was the great Ranjit Singh. However, a careful reading of the inscriptions revealed that the main character was actually the Maratha chief, Holkar Rao, who was also, remarkably, blind in one eye. Ranjit Singh was correctly identified as the smaller figure to the left dressed entirely in red. Co-author of In the Master’s Presence, Parmjit Singh, who was responsible for identifying the sitters in the painting, was quick to realise its significance: ‘This painting, long misidentified, is the most important find of its kind. It is the earliest portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh known to exist anywhere in the world. Furthermore, the event captured by the artist represents the very origins of the Anglo-Sikh relationship that lives on today in Britain’s 350,000 strong Sikh community.’ The painting can be viewed online through the British Museum’s Collections Online database - www.britishmuseum/research.aspx.

On the basis of the discovery, the British Museum will lend the painting to the V&A for their forthcoming exhibition Maharaja: the Splendour of India’s Royal Courts, which opens in October 2009. Another painting which will also be on display shows the Sikh king holding court. It was recently sold by Christie’s in London to a private collector for £137,000.

Kashi is Varanasi, in Indian myth the “city of light” - an allusion to the city’s historical status as a centre of learning, literature and culture. What most people don’t known is that a second Kashi was founded in Punjab by Guru Gobind Singh in 1706. Drawing inspiration from the Guru’s scholarly legacy, Kashi House was founded exactly three centuries later in 2006.

Kashi House is an independent, not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to preserving the heritage of Punjab and the Sikhs by publishing fine quality books. As a social enterprise, all profits generated from trading are retained in the company for future growth. The payout is in the form of social dividends – the dissemination of knowledge and instilling a sense of pride in future generations of Sikhs and Punjabis.

What is our aim?

Our goal is to discover, preserve and treasure our precious heritage. We have high standards - every title we release must astonish, enrapture and inspire readers of all ages. We are especially dedicated to fostering a sense of place, identity and confidence in the next generation. We are passionate, motivated and determined to leverage our skills, knowledge and networks to give them the best.

Who are we?

We are British-born Sikhs who have been investigating our identity, history and heritage since the early 1990s.

Today, we are considered authorities in our field of study. Our effectiveness stems from a combination of a powerful scholarly foundation augmented by many years of wide-ranging professional experience in the private sector.

We are committed to creating books that are beautifully crafted, offer great value for money and earn your respect. We have a passion for sharing knowledge that nourishes the intellect, challenges norms, and surprises with its hidden histories. We go to great lengths to delve into archives around the world to discover the most arresting imagery imaginable. We pride ourselves on capturing culture and bringing it to life through fabulous design and innovative spirit.

We believe we are uniquely placed to succeed in our mission. There is no other team in the world today that can match the quality and breadth of our output in our area of expertise.

The beginning of something big

To achieve its goal, Kashi House has devised an ambitious publishing programme comprising a range of exciting new future titles. We will be revealing more over the coming months.

In The Master’s Presence is also a wonderful story, well told, full of colourful characters, spies, intrigue, and warfare, all played out in two very different parts of India: the plains of Punjab in the north and the Muslim state of Hyderabad to the south. It is though, fundamentally, the tale of survival, often against all the odds, of a people, their way of life, the preservation of a settlement and the protection of a shrine. 

Sometimes in the forefront and sometimes just a silent presence in the narrative, the thread which weaves its way throughout is of the Akali Nihangs, who were originally the backbone of Guru Gobind Singh’s army. Before his death he gave them, his beloved warriors, specific instructions to carry on the traditions and uphold the way of life which he had taught; that of Degh (cauldron), Tegh (sword), Fateh (victory), to nurture and defend until victory is achieved. Akali Nihangs were recognisable for their tenacity and also for their striking appearance. They were beyond fear, revered for their lifestyle and what they represented. 

In the middle of this abundantly and beautifully illustrated book, you’ll find a lithograph from the British Library, our national library in London. The scene is a gathering of the great and the good, recorded in their sumptuous glory for posterity as they sat watching an evening’s entertainment at the palace of Raja Chandu Lal. This Sikh devotee, who served as the finance minister of Hyderabad State, was the chief patron of Hazoor Sahib long before Maharaja Ranjit Singh turned his attention in the 1830s to the tenth Guru’s final resting place. Glancing along the rows of faces, it is easy to form a view about who they are and what they did. But there, silently casting his eyes over the scene, seemingly incongruously, is an Akali Nihang warrior in full dress, armed with a matchlock and steel mace. Who is he, why is he here, what is he, and what does he stand for? To ignore such questions is to leave history incomplete. The strength of In The Master’s Presence is that it answers these questions in a clear, concise and well-written way.

It is plainly clear that this book has been written by a man who lives this tradition and understands it from its source. Nidar Singh Nihang has dedicated his life to preserving these Sikh martial traditions, and lecturing and teaching about them extensively. He is also one of the most highly acclaimed contributors to the Asian Art course run annually at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Nidar Singh Nihang is an imposing figure, who looks as though he’s just sauntered out of some eighteenth-century military camp in the middle of a Punjab that no longer exists. He is the embodiment of the spirit of what he writes about in his book. He brings it to life, makes history happen in this moment. Parmjit Singh’s tireless research holds the book together and his previous book, the wonderful Warrior Saints: Three Centuries of the Sikh Military Tradition is already a collectors’ item. 

Throughout these last 300 years, the Nihangs have been true to their Master’s word. I have spent many days with them over the years and been deeply touched by how they live in total service and dedication to defending this very sacred way of life. Each carries the bearing of great inner strength, a quality until then I had barely seen in any one human, let alone in each member of an entire community. Their caring was not personal; the foundation of all their actions is love and devotion to something greater than themselves. There was nothing forced in their lives, which is what made it so powerful. They know what they stand for and that they will stand for it until the end of their days. This uncompromising stance we can thank for the preservation of the shrine in Hazoor Sahib, and for a way of life that would still be recognised to this day by Guru Gobind Singh himself. 

Another one of the illustrations which caught my attention was a nineteenth-century painting of a Sukhei Singh using a wooden pestle and mortar to make the “drink of martyrs” or shaheedi degh - one can almost hear that rhythmic grinding of spices. You can still see this enacted by modern Nihangs to this day in any one of their encampments located across Punjab. Someone else who has captured exactly the same scene is Nick Fleming, a photographer who spent time living with these nomadic warriors (see  www.nickfleming.com). This continuity of history, the coherence between what is in Nidar Singh Nihang and Parmjit Singh’s book and what Nick sees in his photographs, testifies to the verity of this tradition.

In the Master’s Presence is a substantial piece of work, both weighty enough for the scholar, and light-hearted enough for the interested individual. You need to feel it, hold it and most of all look through and read it to recognise its very special place in the annals of Sikh and Indian History. 

About the writer

Guru Kaur is a Teacher, Mentor, Spiritual Advisor, Work & Life Consultant. She is also a Minister of Sikh Dharma and has lived in rural Punjab to study, experience and enjoy its rich heritage.

           

Over the coming months, the authors of In the Master’s Presence will be signing copies and talking about their superbly illustrated book covering 300 years of Sikh history at select branches of one of the leading booksellers in the UK.

Waterstone’s are offering £10 off the recommended retail price for anybody buying a copy on the day. (See below for branch details and timings.)

Expert swordsman Nidar Singh Nihang and historian Parmjit Singh will be joined by acclaimed photographer Nick Fleming (www.nickfleming.com) who will be sharing his unique experience of living life as a nomadic Sikh warrior in the northern India state of Punjab. 

Canary Wharf (Cabot Place East)
Date & time: Friday 24 April, 12-2pm
Address: Cabot Place East, London E14 4QT
Tel: 020 7513 0060

Trafalgar Square
Date & time: Sunday 3 May, 12-3pm
Address: The Grand Building, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5EJ
Telephone: 020 7839 4411

Bluewater West
Date & time: Saturday 6 June, 12-3pm
Address: West Village, Greenhithe, Bluewater DA9 9SE
Tel: 01322 624 831

Ilford
Date & time: Saturday 11 July, 12-3pm
Address: 158-160 High Road, Ilford IG1 1LL
Tel: 020 8478 8428

For more details visit www.waterstones.com (Events).

Nidar Singh Nihang,  author of In the Master’s Presence: The Sikhs of Hazoor Sahib, will be demonstrating Shastar Vidya to martial artists from around the world at this year’s Martial Arts Festival to be held in Leicester. 

Northampton, 19 April
Baba Sukha Singh: Foremost Amongst Warriors

A remarkable demonstration of Shastar Vidya by the world’s foremost expert, Nidar Singh Nihang.

To those in the know, the 18th-century Khalsa’s greatest swordsman was the legendary Baba Sukha Singh of Mari Kambo. This venerable warrior was not only a master of Shastar Vidya, India’s ancient art of war, but also the unsung hero who single-handedly saved the Sikhs during their struggle for survival.

Nidar Singh Nihang, the sole-surviving master of Shastar Vidya and Sukha Singh’s successor as the 9th gurdev (teacher) of the Baba Darbara Singh Akhara, is guaranteed to enthral as he demonstrates the incredible battlefield techniques employed by Sukha Singh, who ranks as one of the greatest Indian warriors of all time.

The evening will close with a Q&A session followed by a book signing of Nidar Singh’s debut book, In the Master’s Presence: The Sikhs of Hazoor Sahib. 

Venue 

Address: Ramgarhia Board Northampton Sikh Temple and Community Centre, 2 Craven Street, Northampton NN1 3EZ
Date & time: Sunday 19 April 2009, 2.30pm
Contact: Rajdeep Singh (07932 661301)

Free entry.

Kashi House: the beginning of something big…

Learn more about this exciting new venture that is leading the way in book publishing for Punjabi and Sikh audiences. [Find out more...] 

A must-have Sikh history book

“World class scholarship and research“, “like watching an epic Franco Zeffirelli production” and “a must-have Sikh history book” are just some of the comments made about Kashi House’s debut title In the Master’s Presence: The Sikhs of Hazoor Sahib. Take advantage of our special launch offer today and order your copy of this acclaimed new book. [Get your copy now...]

Uncovering the hidden history of the Sikhs

Guru Kaur uncovers the secrets of the tenth Sikh Guru’s final resting place in her review of In the Master’s Presence. [Find out more...]

Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s earliest known portrait published for first time

A rare, two-hundred-year-old portrait of one of the most important figures in Anglo-Sikh history has been discovered in the collections of one of London’s premiere museums and published in a new book by Kashi House. [Find out more...]

Waterstone’s book signings

Meet the authors of In the Master’s Presence and get your hands on a signed copy of the book by attending any one of a series of events taking place at Waterstone’s branches in Canary Wharf, Trafalgar Square and Bluewater West beginning in April.  [Find out more...]

Author events

Marvel at the remarkable battlefield techniques of the ancient Khalsa and delve into the fascinating story of the Anglo-Sikh encounter, illustrated with rare images from the archives, at a series of events taking place in April at venues in Hounslow, Southall, Northampton and Leicester. [Find out more...]

Facebook

If you want to keep up to speed with what’s happening at Kashi House but can’t wait for the next e-newsletter, why not join our Facebook group? [Join now...]

Best wishes,

Kashi House
www.kashihouse.com
newsletter@kashihouse.com

He is a founding member of the UK Punjab Heritage Association (www.ukpha.org), an apolitical heritage organisation founded in 2001 to preserve, promote and increase awareness of Punjab’s cultural heritage. In 2003, he made the decision to put his career as a chartered accountant on hold in order to intensively research the heritage of Punjab and the Sikhs.

He has lectured extensively on Sikh art and heritage and has contributed to several television documentaries, radio programmes, exhibitions and publications on the subject. In 2005, he was honoured by the Sikh Centennial Foundation for his work in this field. The following year, he was presented with the Punjabi Cultural Award by the Punjabis in Britain All-Party Parliamentary Group, in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of Punjabi culture in Britain.

He is currently working with Nidar Singh Nihang on a multi-volume, official history of the Buddha Dal, the ancient warrior-order of the Akali-Nihang Sikhs.

Nidar Singh Nihang, a British-born Sikh, is the sole-surviving master of India’s lost art of war known as shastar vidya (”science of weapons”). This traditional system of armed and unarmed combat traces its roots back thousands of years. Indian warriors through the ages have strived to master its vast repertoire of devastating battlefield techniques, and to hone their minds with its paradoxical philosophy. Driven underground during the days of the British Raj, this secretive martial art has teetered on the brink of extinction ever since.

Through twenty-five years of intense study and demanding physical training, Nidar Singh he has managed to preserve an art that was on the brink of extinction only a few decades ago. He is the ninth gurdev (teacher) of the Baba Darbara Singh Shastar Vidya Akhara, founded in the 17th century to teach Sikh warriors the battlefield arts.

He has conducted extensive field research in India, focusing on the history, philosophy and way of life of the four traditional Sikh orders: the Akali-Nihangs, Udasis, Nirmalas and Sewapanthis (see www.shastarvidiya.org and www.sarbloh.info).

He has also lectured across the world on the Sikh martial tradition and has contributed to several Discovery Channel documentaries, radio programmes and publications on the subject.

In his determination to preserve what experts regard as one of the last surviving branches of Sikh classical knowledge, Nidar Singh is currently preparing an extensive series of books uncovering the history, philosophy and science of shastar vidya.

THE SIKHS of HAZOOR SAHIB • VOL 1

by nidar singh nihang & parmjit singh

RRP £45.00

Select your price

UK (next working day) £29.99 EU (4 - 8 days) £30.99 USA (7 - 14 days) £32.99 Rest of World (7 - 14 days) £34.99

For bulk orders of more than 10 copies,
please contact info@kashihouse.com
for shipping costs.
Before placing your order make sure
you have read and agree to our
Terms & Conditions of Sale & Purchase.

Book design by Juga Singh
Pages: Prelims, 330 pages with index
Illustrations: 160 colour and b&w
Dimensions: 290 mm x 220 mm
Format: Hardcover and jacket
ISBN: 978-0-9560168-0-5
Publication date: January 2009

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

This superbly illustrated landmark work explains the story of one of the last bastions of early Sikh tradition - an exotic world that has all but disappeared.

Using rare pictures and documents, UK-based scholars Nidar Singh Nihang and Parmjit Singh have explored the history of the Sikhs of ‘Hazoor Sahib’– the shrine in the Deccan, India, far from the traditional Sikh homeland of the Punjab – where in 1708 Guru Gobind Singh, a warrior-poet who spent much of his life battling against the oppressive policies of the Mughal Empire, found his last resting place.

This is the first of a two-volume work examining the history and traditions of the shrine Hazoor Sahib (which means ‘Master’s Presence’), revered as the fourth Sikh takht or throne of temporal and spiritual authority.

The story spans three centuries from the very first modest structure built over the ashes of Guru Gobind Singh to the “insensitive destruction” of its unique built heritage in the name of modernisation and beautification.

The authors have drawn upon a wealth of written materials and oral tradition to evoke a vivid and often startling account of the empires, events and characters, including maharajas, warriors, emperors, nizams, politicians and policemen, which are intertwined with the sense of mystery and reverence that has surrounded the memory of the tenth Sikh Guru.

Published to mark the 300th anniversary of the passing of spiritual authority to the Sikh scriptures, In the Master’s Presence brilliantly brings this all but lost world to life with over 150 illustrations of paintings, photographs, documents, portraits and artefacts from archive and private collections all over the world.

In the Master’s Presence, Volume 2: Traditions available October 2009.