Sikh Art and Literature

258 Pages·1999·9.849 MB·English

by  Kerry Brown

Sikh Art and Literature
Sikh ArtandLiterature traverses the SOO-year history of a religion that dawned with
the modern age in a land that was a thoroughfare of invading armies, ideas and
religions and arts of East and West. The poetry of the scriptures, the illustrated life
stories of Guru Nanak, the early paintings from various artistic schools and regions,
the dazzling treasuries of the Sikh kingdoms, the romantic artworks of visiting
European dignitaries, and the serenity of Sikh sacred architecture all provide door
ways to this heroic and revolutionary faith.
Essays by art curators, historians and collectors, and scholars of literature and reli
gion are illustrated with some of the earliest and finest Sikh paintings. Sikh
modernism and mysticism are explored in essays on the holy Guru Granth Sahib, the
translations and writings of the British Raj convert M.A. Macauliffe, the fathers of
modern Punjabi literature, BhaiVirSingh and Puran Singh; andthetwentieth-century
fiction writers Bhai Mohan Singh-Vaid and Khushwant Singh. Excerpts from journals
of visitors to the court of the diminutive Ranjit Singh and new translations of early
twentieth-century poetry add depth and originality to this beautiful and accessible
introduction to the art, literature, beliefs and history of the Sikhs.
Sikh ArtandLiterature is acolorful, heartfelt and informative introduction to Sikh
culture. Anyone interested in gaining a full understanding of Sikh faith and culture
will be drawn to and enchanted by this book.
Contributors: Narinder Singh Kapany, Kerry Brown, Gursharan Singh Sidhu, Robert
J. Del Bonta, Susan Strange, Henry J. Walker, Gobind Singh Mansukhani, Harbans
Lal, Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, Surjit Singh Dulai, Ardaman Singh, Nirvikar Singh
and Abdul Jabbar.
Kerry Brown is the director of programs for the Sikh Foundation. She has been a
writer and editor in religious publishing for fourteen years.
The Sikh Foundation was founded in 1967 to promote the heritage and future of
Sikh faith and culture. Its sponsorships and collaborations include academic chairs,
courses and conferences, international art exhibitions, books, films and videos.
Sikh Art and Literature
EDITED BY KERRY BROWN
London and New York
In collaboration with the Sikh Foundation
First published 1999
by Routledge
2ParkSquare, Milton Park, Abingdon, axon, OX144RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
270 Madison Ave, NewYork NY 10016
Transferred to Digital Printing 2010
© 1999The Sikh Foundation
Typeset in Bembo by The Florence Group, Stoodleigh, Devon
All rights reserved. No part ofthis book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British
Library
LibraryofCongress Cataloging in Publication Data
Sikh art and literature I edited by Kerry Brown.
p. em.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Art, Sikh. 2. Art, Hindu - India - Punjab. 3. Sikh
literature. I. Brown, Kerry.
N8199.S544S55 1999
700'.88'2946-dc21 98-41124
CIP
ISBN 0-415-20288-4 (hbk)
ISBN 0-415-20289-2 (pbk)
Publisher's Note
Thepublisherhasgonetogreatlengthstoensurethequalityofthis reprint
butpointsoutthatsomeimperfectionsintheoriginal maybeapparent.
Contents
List of Illustrations vii
List of Contributors xiii
Art Foreword xv
Literature Foreword xvii
Acknowledgments xix
Introdudion
NARINDER SINGH KAPANY and KERRY BROWN
Part I ART
1 From Gurus to Kings
Early and court painting 29
GURSHARAN SINGH SIDHU
2 An Illustrated Life
Guru Nanak in narrative art 52
ROBERT J. DEL BONTA
3 The Sikh Treasury
The Sikh kingdom and the British Raj 72
SUSAN STRaNGE
4 Golden Temple, Marble Forum
Form and meaning in sacred architecture 89
HENRY J. WALKER
Part II LITERATURE
5 The Unstruck Melody
Musical mysticism in the Scripture 117
GOBIND SINGH MANSUKHANI
v
CONTENTS
6 The Western Gateway to Sikhism
The life and works of Max Arthur Macauliffe 129
HARBANS LAL
7 Poetry Urges Poetry
From the Guru Granth to Bhai Vir Singh 143
NIKKY-GUNINDER KAUR SINGH
8 Critical Ecstasy
The modern poetry of Puran Singh 155
SURJIT SINGH DULAI
9 Old Culture, New Knowledge
The writings of Bhai Mohan Singh Vaid 172
ARDAMAN SINGH and NIRVIKAR SINGH
10 A Mirror to Our Faces
The short stories of Khushwant Singh 181
ABDUL JABBAR
Appendix I
The Ten Sikh Gurus 197
Appendix /I
Contributors to the Guru Granth Sahib 198
Appendix /II
Music and Structure of the Guru Granth Sahib 200
Appendix IV
Collections of Sikh Art 202
Glossary 204
Further reading 206
The Sikh Foundation 210
Index 212
vi
Illustrations
Plates
The color plate section lies between pages 114-15
1 'Guru Nanak', Lucknow or Faizabad, c. 1770
2 'Guru Nanak', by Sobha Singh, 1969
3 'The Ten Gurus', early nineteenth century
4 'Guru Hargobind Singh on Terrace with Attendant', Punjab Plains,
1750
5 'Guru Tegh Bahadur', 1670, Mughal school
6 'Guru Gobind Singh on Horseback with his Attendants', c. 1830
7 'Assembly of Sikh Generals on a Terrace', Punjab, c. 1830
8 'Young Maharaja Ranjit Singh', Company style, nineteenth century
9 'Sikh Marriage Ceremony', Company miniature style,
nineteenth century
10 The Last Supper - Dedicated to Cha Cha Baldave: A Brave and
Noble Soul', by Amrit K. D. Kaur, 1994/5
11 'Where Many Streams Meet', Arpana Caur, 1997
12 'Guru Gobind Singh on Horseback', artist of Gu1er-Kangra schools,
early nineteenth century
13 'Ranjit Singh Equestrienne in Saffron Robes', Punjab, c. 1830
14 'Ranjit Singh in Darbar [Durbar]', by Hasan al Din, Punjab, first half
of nineteenth century
15 'Maharaja Ranjit Singh with Hira Singh', Lahore, c. 1830
16 'Raja Ranbi(Singh of Jammu', c. 1840
17 'Raja and Retinue Hunting Wild Boar', Mandi-Guler artist,
c. 1830
18 Medal of Ranjit Singh's court, back and front, mid-nineteenth
century
19 'Dalip Singh and Rani Jindan', mid-nineteenth century
20 'Bhai Vir Singh', Lahore, c. 1850
21 'Guru Nanak Dev', by N.[athdwara] artist Pannalal Gopilal, c. 1930s
22 'Guru Gobind Singh', by N.[athdwara] artist Pannalal Gopilal, c. 1930s
vii
ILLUSTRATIONS
23 'Bhai Bala recites Janam Sakhi to Guru Angad and Paira Mokha',
Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set, late nineteenth century
24 'Bhai Mardana, Guru Nanak, Sirichand, Bhai Bala and Lakmichand',
Janam Sakhi, Kashmiri Manuscript, early nineteenth century
25 'Guru Nanak at School with His Teacher, Jai Ram', Janam Sakhi,
Unbound Set
26 'Guru Nanak and Rai Bulag', Janam Sakhi, Kashmiri Manuscript
27 'Guru Nanak and Rai Bulag', Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set
28 'Guru Nanak and Bhai Bala at the Modi Khana [Granary]',
Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set
29 'Guru Nanak's Wedding Procession', Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set
30 'Guru Nanak's Marriage - Departure of the Dholi', Janam Sakhi,
Unbound Set
31 'Guru Nanak's Wedding Reception', Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set
32 'The Wedding of Guru Nanak', Janam Sakhi, Kashmiri Manuscript
33 'Baba Nanak and Nirankara', Janam Sakhi, Kashmiri Manuscript
34 'Guru Nanak Meets Raj Dev Lut of the Demons', Janam Sakhi,
Unbound Set
35 'Guru Nanak's Meeting with Gorakhnath', Janam Sakhi,
Unbound Set
36 'Maharaja Shere Singh (Present Sovereign of the Sikhs)', by
Emily Eden, from Portraits ofthe Princes & People ofIndia, 1844
37 'Portrait of Maharaja Duleep Singh', by William Beechey,
mid-nineteenth century
38 The Throne of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, early nineteenth century
39 Emerald cup set with rubies in gold, eighteenth century
40 The Golden Temple
41 Circumambulating the Golden Temp'e
42 'The Golden Temple, Amritsar', by Amritsar artist, nineteenth
century
Figures
1 'Guru Nanak', Lucknow or Faizabad, c. 1770 (detail of Plate 1) 5
2 'Guru Nanak Meets Raj Dev Lut of the Demons', Janam Sakhi,
Unbound Set (detail of Plate 34) 6
3 'Guru Hargobind Singh on Terrace with Attendant', Punjab Pla'ins,
1750 (detail of Plate 4) 9
4 'Guru Gobind Singh on Horseback with his Attendants', c. 1830
(detail of Plate 6) 10
viii
ILLUSTRATIONS
5 'Dancing Girls', by W.G. Osborne from The Court and Camp of
Runjeet Sing, 1840 12
6 'Maharaja Ranjit Singh', by Emily Eden, from Portraits of the
Princes & People ofIndia 13
7 'Private Native Durbar', by W.G. Osborne from The Court and
Camp ofRunjeet Sing 14
8 'Assembly of Sikh Generals on a Terrace', Punjab, c. 1830 (detail of
Plate 7) 14
9 Sikh helmet, nineteenth century 15
10 'Young Maharaja Ranjit Singh', Company style (detail of Plate 8) 15
11 'Sikh Marriage Ceremony', nineteenth century, Company miniature
style (detail of Plate 9) 16
12 'Raja Karam Singh of Patiala', 1813-45, eastern Punjab plains,
c. 1840 18
13 'Maharaja of Nabha', late nineteenth century 18
14 'Entrance to the Holy Temple at Umritsar, from the Gate of the
Kutwallee', by a lady from Original Sketches ofthe Punjab, 1854 19
15 'Une Rue de Lahore, Mars 1842', by Alexis Soltykoff, Voyages
dans l'lnde, 1851 20
16 'Guru Gobind Singh on the Ramparts of his Fort with Cannon',
popular Sikh print, 1936-57 21
17 'The last Supper - Dedicated to Cha Cha Baldave: A Brave and
Noble Soul', by Amrit K.D. Kaur, 1994/5 (detail of Plate 10) 22
18 '1984', Arpana Caur, 1985 23
19 'Guru Gobind Singh on Horseback', artist of Guler-Kangra schools,
early nineteenth century (detail of Plate 12) 30
20 'Guru Nanak's Visit to Mecca', Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set,
nineteenth century 32
21 'Ranjit Singh Equestrienne in Saffron Robes', Punjab, c. 1830
(detail of Plate 13) 36
22 'The Shalimar Gardens, Lahore', by W.G. Osborne from The Court
and Camp ofRunjeet Sing 37
23 'View of the Shesh Mahal or Palace of Glass', by a lady from
Original Sketches ofthe Punjab, 1854 38
24 'Officers of Ranjit Singh's Ghorcharras [Cavalry]', Lahore,
mid-nineteenth century 38
25 'Members of Ranjit Singh's Ghorcharras', lahore, mid-nineteenth
century 39
26 'Akali Leader', Lahore, mid-nineteenth century 40
27 Chakra (flatsteel quoit), Punjab, perhaps lahore, nineteenth century 41
ix
ILLUSTRATIONS
28 'An Emaciated Band of Akalis', Lahore, mid-nineteenth
century 42
29 'Schir Singh [Sher Singh] revenant d'une revue de troupes aux
environs d'Umritsar, Mars 1842', by Alexis Soltykoff, Voyages
dans/7nde 42
30 'Ranjit Singh in Darbar [Durbar]', by Hasan al Din, Punjab, first half
of nineteenth century (detail of Plate 14) 44
31 'Maharaja Ranjit Singh with Hira Singh', lahore, c. 1830
(detail of Plate 15) 44
32 'Raja and Retinue Hunting Wild Boar', Mandi-Guler artist, c. 1830
(details of Plate 17) 46/47
33 'Raja Kharak Singh', c. 1850 48
34 'Dalip Singh and Rani Jindan', c. 1840 (detail of Plate 19) 48
35 'Bhai Vir Singh', lahore, c. 1850 (detail of Plate 20) 49
36 'Guru Nanak Visiting his Sister Bibi Nanaki', Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set 53
37 'Guru Nanak at School with His Teacher, Jai Ram', Janam Sakhi,
Unbound Set (detail of Plate 25) 55
38 'Guru Nanak and Rai Bulag', Janam Sakhi, Kashmiri Manuscript
(detaiI of Plate 26) 56
39 'Guru Nanak and Rai Bulag', Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set
(detail of Plate 27) 56
40 'Guru Nanak and Bhai Bala at the Modi Khana [Granary]', Janam Sakhi,
Unbound Set (detail of Plate 28) 57
41 'Guru Nanak's Wedding Procession', Janam Sakhi, Unbou.nd Set
(detail of Plate 29) 57
42 'Guru Nanak's Marriage - Departure of the DhoJi', Janam Sakhi,
Unbound Set (detail of Plate 30) 57
43 'Guru Nanak's Wedding Ceremony', Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set 58
44 'Guru Nanak's Wedding Reception', Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set
(detail of Plate 31) 58
45 'Guru Nanak and Bhai Bala with their Feet towards Mecca',
Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set 60
46 'Guru Nanak with his Feet towards Mecca', Janam Sakhi, Kashmiri
Manuscript 60
47 'Guru Nanak and the Sorceresses', Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set 62
48 'Guru Nanak and the Sorceresses', Janam Sakhi, Kashmiri Man~script 62
49 'Guru Nanak's Meeting with Gorakhnath', Janam Sakhi, Unbound Set
(detail of Plate 35) 64
50 'Guru Nanak's Meeting with Emperor Babur', Janam Sakhi,
Unbound Set 64
x