Preface To 'An Advanced Book Of Religious Studies' By Gurbachan Singh Talib

This book is intended to be a continuation of the textbook in Religious Studies for B.A. TDC Part I, already published. The present book takes up certain topics and their extensions which have not been covered in the earlier book. While Zoroastrianism and Islam were not touched upon in the previous volume, in the case of Buddhism information pertaining to certain aspects and development has been included which should give to the readers an extended perspective of developments in this religious system. The spread of Buddhism in Asia and a study of Buddhist Art and Culture and the developments in Sikh religion from the demise of Guru Gobind Singh uptill the period of the Gurdwara Reform Movement have been dealt with at some length in the present book. The information particularly in respect of Buddhism is detailed and the student may be advised mainly to concentrate on the more salient features of its spread. In the case of Sikhism an attempt has been made to give a connected view of its religio-political developments over about two centuries. In the case of the Sikhs in the Punjab, religious and political developments are inextricably related and one cannot be divorced from the other. It is not so much any doctrinal developments in this period that occupied the first place, as the liberation struggle of the people of the Punjab, pioneered by the Sikhs, and after the fall of the Sikh Kingdom the movements in social reform and education. These aspects have been highlighted. The reader will notice that two personalities have been particularly brought into focus-Banda Bahadur and Bhai Mani Singh. These two are indeed very splendid personalities and they have contributed a great deal to the formulation of the Sikh ethos. Other events are martyrdom of the Sahibzadas at Sirhind and the rise of the Singh Sabha Movement and the Shiromani Akali Dal.

Islam and Zoroastrianism could not admit of very detailed treatment as in the case of these two faiths, the basic doctrinal information which had not been given in the earlier book had to be provided. It is earnestly hoped that the young students will benefit greatly from these accounts. There appears also to be a need for the Indian language version of this book which I hope will soon be on the way.

I have to acknowledge thankfully the labours of my colleagues who have written out the different chapters, as well as of Dr K. R. Sundararajan who looked through a good part of the proofs.