Preface Of The Book 'Creative Harmony - Life of Guru Ram Das Ji' By Dr. Harbans Lal Agnihotri , Chand R. Agnihotri

Contemplated a decade and a half back, the present series of volumes on Sikh Gurus had their genesis in the need, poignantly felt by us, to reaffirm our commitment to the ideals enshrined in Gurbani and the composite culture of Panjab and to reach out to the people who are not fully conversant with Panjabi language and the legacy of the Gurus. As such, the present book on the life and poetical compositions of Guru Ram Das is not a dissertation tailored to a specific topic or frame of references; nor is it routine biography detailing facts or events in a soulless manner.

First of its kind in English, the present full-length study is a labour of love, undertaken over the years, that modestly seeks to reconcile the biographical details of the Fourth Master with his soulful compositions as recorded in the Granth Sahib. Efforts have been made to add the transliteration of the original hymns which follows the analytical explanation of the text in English. The pattern affords the readers, unacquainted with the Gurmukhi script, a direct access to the Bani in its original form.

Creative Harmony is a part of bigger project that modestly, though rationally, seeks to transmit the universal message of the Gurus to the readers in the language and idiom they understand.

We thankfully acknowledge our indebtedness to the scholars whose learned treatises sharpened our insight. The bond of shared perceptions is eternally gratifying.

We are deeply beholden to Professor Darshan Singh Maini for his encouragement and inspiration. May his tribe increase !

We would like to thank S. Kirpal, President, Chief Khalsa Dewan, Amritsar; S. Kulbir Singh Suri (Nanak Singh Pustak Mala, Amritsar) and Shri S. N. Malik (Hisar) for their help and sustained interest in the project.

Our thanks are due to Sarvshri Sandeep Kumar Agnihotri and Munish Agnihotri of Gopal Prakashan, Hisar, for their efforts to bring out the book impressively and expeditiously.

Suggestions for further improvement of the book will be gratefully acknowledged.

Table of Contents of the Book 'Creative Harmony - Life of Guru Ram Das Ji' By Dr. Harbans Lal Agnihotri , Chand R. Agnihotri