The Life And Ideals Of Guru Gobind Singh - Book By Surinder Singh Kohli

Preface To 'The Life And Ideals Of Guru Gobind Singh' By Surinder Singh Kohli

This work on the Life and Ideals of Guru Gobind Singh is a work of different kind from several earlier endeavours on the subject. This work is directly based on Original Sources, which have been translated by the author. The work has been divided into four parts. The first part contains the life of the Guru. After a general survey of his life, his own autobiography has been translated, which forms part of the Bachittar N atak from Section II to Section XIII. It covers his previous life immediately before his birth in this world and also his life as Guru Gobind Singh up to AD 1696. The re­maining period of his life upto his death in AD 1708 is covered by the biography of his court-poet Sainapat entitled Sri Gur Sobha, which is considered an authentic work on his life. In order to give a glimpse of this work, a brief description of each chapter has been appended.

The second part includes thirty-seven anecdotes from the life of the Guru, which have been translated from the old Sikh Chroni­cles namely Sau Sakhi and Parchian Bhai Sewa Dass. These Chronicles not only depict the significant incidents from the life of the Guru, but also present the ideals preached by him. The third part contains the injunctions of the Guru for the Sikhs, which have been translated from the Rahatnamas. The injunctions constitute the discipline ordained by the Guru. The fourth part contains an introductory note about the poetic works of the Guru alongwith the translation of the prominent compositions of the Guru. These compositions include the Sikh Prayers and the Epistles of Victory of historical importance.

Thus this work is a!singular contribution of its own kind depict­ing the Life and Ideals of Guru Gobind Singh, the founder of the Khalsa, basing them on Original Sources. I am confident that it wiJI be received warmly by the Sikhs throughout the world.

Chandigarh                                                                   Surindar Singh Kohli

13 April, 1986.