This collection of representative essays covers a wide range of issues that define the contours of contemporary Sikh studies and is a major contribution to the field. Each essay explores a dimension of what constitutes modern Sikhism — the central concerns of a Sikh identity as well as the realities of the Sikh diaspora. The analyses highlight central Sikh concepts, symbols and practices as they evolved over time, the enduring importance of the teachings of the Gurus and their relation to contemporary influences on Sikhism. The essays explore the conscious codification of Sikh precepts during the Singh Sabha period and the relationship between religion and ideology as embodied in modern politico-religious formations like the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee. The doctrinal issues involving the authority of texts like the Dasam Granth and debates over authorship are also explored. In this context, the discipline also recognizes the need for a methodology equipped with tools that approach historical sources carefully, as in the instance of poetic writings in Persian. This multidimensional volume highlights the contributions of the leading Sikh studies scholar W.H. McLeod and brings together both authorities in the discipline and young scholars including Pashaura Singh, N. Gerald Barrier, Nikki-Guninder Kaur Singh, Louis E. Fenech, Robin Reinhart, Tony Ballantyne, Doris Jakobsh, Arthur Helweg, and Darshan S. Tatla. It will be useful to scholars, students, and the general reader interested in issues related to the history of Sikhism and questions of identity formation of communities.
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