Front Cover – Warrior Saints: Four Centuries of Sikh Military History Vol 1
The first edition of Warrior Saints: Three Centuries of the Sikh Military Tradition, published in 1999 was a monumental success. It was launched after a related exhibition, The Art of the Sikh Kingdoms shown in the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum, in London. Like other British Sikhs, It was the first time I’d been able to fathom, through the power of image, eyewitness accounts and photography the magnificent military heritage of my forefathers. Let me be clear Warrior Saints was unprecedented: It brought childhood stories of Sikh chivalry narrated by my late grandparents to life. Regrettably I gave my copy away and was unable to procure another version until now. Nearly fourteen years on, the newly revised edition published by Kashi House (based over two volumes), is redolent with the ‘warrior ethos’ of the first, but brimming with lots of new revelations and this edition offers ninety illustrations. Reading this volume makes the reader contemplate some important questions. What was it that gave Sikhs a stoical constitution to fight tyranny against the odds? How is the transformation of Sikhism into the ‘sword arm’ of India relevant in the context of modernity?
This book takes you on a journey beginning with the origins of Sikhism from Guru Nanak to Gobind Singh, to the cosmopolitan empire of the wily one-eyed Maharaja Ranjit Singh, through to the treacherous Anglo-Sikh wars, leading to the eventual annexation of the Punjab. The first thing to point out cannot be discovered in the book. Many of the researchers, enthusiasts and writers at Kashi House who have worked tirelessly on this volume, have sacrificed their professional careers in doing so. In previous incarnations, some have worked for big auditors whilst others have served Parliamentarians. I find this instantly humbling, giving the work an entirely new perspective. The geeks amongst us will have immediately picked up on the fact that the latest offering has been retitled, providing readers with another century of history – also Sikh Military ‘Tradition’ has been changed to Sikh Military ‘History.’
This is down to the fact that the earlier Gurus have now been covered in much more detail, highlighting for example Guru Nanak’s stand against Islamism and skillfully weaving this narrative into the subsequent militarisation of the fledgling community by later Gurus. One of the most startling images, which for me is both equally inspirational and macabre is titled: ‘Indomitable Khalsa: Sikhs Clash With The Mughal Army.’ Here we see soldiers of Guru Gobind Singh picking up their decapitated heads in the frenzy of battle, as a last act of defiance against the unrelenting enemy. The image epitomises the unflinching self-belief in standing up for righteousness and of course represents the ultimate sacrifice, martyrdom. The portrayal here of resolute opposition to tyranny will no doubt resonate amongst many, Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike.
There’s a wonderful account of Baghel Singh’s unopposed marched to Delhi in 1783, gaining a settlement with the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II. Here we learn of how the emperor’s wives (begams) intrigued with Sikh women, arrange an introduction. According to accounts, the countenance of some Sikh women was not dissimilar to the Nihangs (coming from the Persian word crocodile) or warriors. The authors tell us ‘Their appearance and masculine demeanor left the begams astounded.’ For me, this is the first revelation, when the authors talk of Warrior Saints they are not just referring to men. Adopting hawkish habits under persecution was ubiquitous amongst the sexes, women often being the backbone of the Khalsa or brotherhood of the pure.
What I really enjoyed was the detailed historical accounts that illuminate otherwise obscure facets of history. For example Ranjit Singh’s passage from boy to ruler was far from straightforward. He survived an assassination attempt at his father’s funeral, thanks to the intervention of an influential descendant of Guru Nanak, Sahib Singh Bedi. Through the eyewitness accounts of Fakir Aziz-ud-din, Ranjit Singh’s foreign minister, we learn of the lack of reverence Phula Singh, the mighty Akali (timeless) warrior, had for the Maharaja, when he shouts from his balcony ‘O you one-eyed man, who gave you that buffalo to ride on?’ making reference to the Maharaja’s elephant passage under his balcony. Only to hear the humble retort ‘your honor it’s a gift from you.’ What’s fascinating is the way in which these legendary personalities are brought to life. You get a palpable sense of the pugnacious demeanor of Phula Singh, whilst getting a feel for the politically astute nature of Ranjit Singh, who needed the unruly Akali-Nihungs as elite troops for the Empire’s most dangerous military expeditions. Phula Singh’s heroic death in the face of insurmountable odds is also dramatically captured in verse.
Something else that stood out was a magnificent painting of the renowned General Hari Singh ‘Nalwa’ on an elephant with his army in the Punjab Hills. We learn about how he first meets Ranjit Singh, the reason he was given the epithet ‘Nalwa’ and how he spent years subduing the intractable Pashtuns, whilst tackling the jihadist Sayyid Ahmed Shah. The authors inform of us of how Hari Singh remarkably fought a tiger bare handed. Needless to say, it’s hard for many of us to imagine a man wrestling a tiger, overpowering the big cat, then killing it. The closest I can get to this is in the movie Gladiator – but even Russell Crowe manages to avoid such a mauling encounter within the walls of the Coliseum. Remarkably, we also learn of European soldiers, some mercenaries, who took employment in Ranjit Singh’s army. Images of Alexander Haughton Campbell Gardner the Scottish-American ‘Akali’ in Sikh regalia stand out, but other notable historical characters include General Jean Francois Allard (a former solider in Napolean’s army) and the Italian Jean Baptiste Ventura. You get a feel of the cosmopolitan nature of the Sikh empire, as well as its equal opportunities employment policy.
As with all Empires, the emergence and rise are inevitably followed by decay, decline and eventual downfall. The authors detail the strategic importance of Ranjit’s Empire, a convenient buffer between British and Afghan interests, and the eventual betrayal from within, at critical moments during the Anglo-Sikh wars. What was poignant was the correspondence between Lord Hardinge (the Governor of India) and the response from the British Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel. The British had come close to defeat during the battle of Ferozeshah.
‘Your loss has been very severe. It demonstrates the extent of the danger, and the necessity for unparalleled exertion. We are astonished at the numbers, the power of combination, the skill and courage of the enemy.’
On a recent interview on BBC Asian Network, one of the authors Parmjit Singh, describes Warrior Saints as an “epic story” and “far grittier” than the original. He summarised with the headline “Victorians subvert the world’s youngest religion.” Indeed, the book delves into British exploits in the Indian subcontinent, in the spirit of such books as Soldier Sahibs written by Indian born historian Charles Allen. For me, it embodies much more. This work not only champions Sikh history, it also adeptly avoids getting drawn into any messy political controversies. For example at no point are there parallels drawn between the historic battles against Islamic totalitarianism or jihadists, to the clash of civilisations we now see made reference to in the modern world. Nor do we see a bemoaning reflection of how the British usurped the Sikh Kingdoms through guile and treachery amongst Sikh ranks. Warrior Saints is quintessentially a wonderful preservation of a rich heritage and celebration of a proud military tradition, spanning four centuries. We learn how ordinary people achieved extra-ordinary things and how some within a persecuted nation, subjugated by foreign invaders, meteorically emerged from saddle to sovereignty.
Hardeep Singh is a freelance journalist and broadcaster and the Press Secretary for the Network of Sikh Organisations.
