Introduction to Sikhi

A Special Studies Course at University of California, Berkeley

Spring 2007

Lecture 1

"Sikh Studies: A Hermeneutics in Process"

Reading:

- Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, “The Repetition of Past Imperialisms: Hegel, Historical Difference, and the Theorization of Indic Religions,” in History of Religions 44.4. Chicago: The University of Chicago, 2005.

- Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair, “The emergence of ‘Sikh Theology’: Reassessing the passage of ideas from Trumpp to Bhai Vir Singh,” in Bulletin of SOAS 68.2 (2005)

- Kim Knott, Insider/Outsider Perspectives, in John R. Hinnells, ed., The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion, 2005.

Lecture 2

"The Creator and Creation"

Reading:

- Bhandari, Gurdip Singh, Guru Nanak's Concept of Creation, Ph.D. Thesis, Punjabi Deptt., Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Lecture 3

"Concept of Human"

Reading:

- Wazir Singh, Humanism of Guru Nanak, Ess Ess Publications, Delhi-52, 1977.

- Jaswant Singh Neki, “Concept of Man According to Sikhism,” in the Sikh Review, Calcutta.

Lecture 4

"The Expressions: Language, Literature, Myth, History, Art, Music, and Violence"

Reading:

- Lecture Notes in the classroom

Lecture 5

"(i) The Self and Individuality, (ii) Ardas: De-personalization of the Personal Quest"

Reading:

- Puran Singh, “A Unique Prayer of the Soul - Ardas (Prayer of the Khalsa),” in Spirit of the Sikh Part II, Vol. 2, Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala.

- Puran Singh, Spirit Born People, Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala.

Lecture 6

"The Guru”

Reading:

-

Lecture 7

"Shabad, Body, and the Human Experience"

Reading:

- Puran Singh, “The Guru’s Word,” in Spirit of the Sikh, Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala.

- Gurbhagat Singh, “The Message of Sri Guru Granth Sahib,” in Sikhism and Postmodern Thought, Ajanta Publications, Delhi: 1999.

Lecture 8

"(i) Seva, Naam and Haumai, (ii) Hukam, Nadari, and Activism"

Reading:

- Pritam Singh Gill, Concepts of Sikhism, New Academic Publishing Co., Jullundur, 1979.

Lecture 9

"The Spiritual versus the Religious”

Reading:

- Puran Singh, Spirit of the Sikh, 3 Vols., Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala.

- Gurbhagat Singh, Sikhism and Postmodern Thought, Ajanta Publications, Delhi: 1999.

- John Caputo, The Prayers and Tears of Jacques Derrida: Religion Without Religion. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1997.

- Richard King, Mysticism and Spirituality, in John R. Hinnells, ed., The Routledge Companion to the Study of Religion, 2005.

Lecture 10

"Discipline and Punishment: A Discussion on Sikh Rahit Maryada"

Reading:

- Sikh Rahit Maryada: The Code of Sikh Conduct and Conventions, Dharam Parchar Committee, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar.

- Lecture Notes in Classroom

Lecture 11

"Being and Nitnem”

Reading:

- Lecture Notes in the classroom

Lecture 12

"The Sikhs and Sikhi: Encounters with Yoga, Vedanta, Islam, and Sufism"

Reading:

- Lecture Notes in the classroom

Lecture 13

“The Sikhs and Sikhi: Encountering the West and Hindutva”

Reading:

- Navdeep Singh Mandair, “(EN)Gendered Sikhism: The iconolatry of manliness in the making of Sikh identity,” Sikh Formations: Religion, Culture, Theory, Volume 1, Number 1 / June 2005, Routledge.

- Richard King, Orientalism and Modern Myth of “Hinduism”, Numen, Vol. 46, No. 2. (1999), pp. 146-185

- Lecture Notes in the classroom

Lecture 14

"The Sikhs and Sikhi: Exploring the Inner Crises"

Reading:

- Lecture Notes in the classroom

Lecture 15

“Conclusion”

Bibliography

Bedi, Gursharan Singh, The Epistle of Victory (An English Translation of Guru Gobind Singh's Zafarnama in verse), G.S. Bedi Harbans Singh Road, Amritsar, 1961.
Bhandari, Gurdip Singh, Guru Nanak's Concept of Creation, Ph.D. Thesis, Punjabi Deptt., Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Cole, W. Owen and Piara Singh Sambhi. A Popular Dictionary of Sikhism. Calcutta: Rupa Paperback, 1990.
Darshan Singh, The Religion of Guru Nanak, Lyall Book Depot, Ludhiana, 1970.
Dhillon, G.S. Researches in Sikh Religion and History. Chandigarh: Sumeet Prakashan, 1989.
Ganda Singh, A Select Bibliography of The Sikh And Sikhism, S.G.P.C., Amritsar, 1965.
----, (ed.). The Panjab Past And Present, Vol. III, 1969 and Vol. XI! ! I1--1, April 1979, Deptt. of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala.
Gill, Pritam Singh, Concepts of Sikhism, New Academic Publishing Co., Jullundur, 1979.
Gopal Singh, Sri Guru Granth Sahib (English Version), 4 vols., World Sikh University Press, 1978.
----, The Religion Of The Sikh, Asia Publishing House London, 1971.
----, Thus Spoke The Tenth Master, Punjabi University, Patiala, 1978.

Iqbal Singh. The Essence of Truth: Japji Sahib and Other Sikh Scriptures. New York: Allen, McMillan and Enderson, 1986.

Kanwarjit Singh. Political Philosphy of the Sikh Gurus. New Delhi: Atlantic, 1989.

Kapur Singh, Parasharprasna (The Baisakhi of Guru Gobind Singh), Hind Publishers Ltd., Jullundur, 1959.

----, Sikhism: An Oecumenical Religion. Chandigarh: Institute of Sikh Studies. 1993.

Kohli, Surinder Singh, A Critical Study of Adi Granth, The Punjabi Writers Cooperative Industrial Society Ltd., New Delhi, 1961.
----, Outlines of Sikh Thought, Punjabi Prakashak, New Delhi, 1966.
Macauliffe, MA, The Sikh Religion, six vols., S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 1978.
Manmohan Singh, Sri Guru Granth Sahib (English & Punjabi Translation), 8 vols., S.G.P.C. Amritsar, 198 1-82.

Patwant Singh. The Sikhs. New York: Knopf Press. 2000.
Puran Singh. Guru Gobind Singh: Reflections and Offerings, San Francisco, 1967.
Puran Singh, Spirit Born People, Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala.
----, Spirit of the Oriental Poetry, Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala.
----, Spirit of the Sikh, 3 Vols., Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala.
Sher Singh, Philosophy of Sikhism, Chardi Kala Publications, Ludhiana, 1966.
Talib, Gurbachan Singh, Sri Guru Granth Sahib (English Translation) Vol. I, Publication Bureau, Punjabi University, Patiala, 1984.
Wazir Singh, Humanism of Guru Nanak, Ess Ess Publications, Delhi-52, 1977.