Grewal J.S., Habib I. (eds.) Sikh History from Persian Sources: Translations of Major Texts

New Delhi: Tulika; Indian History Congress, 2001. — 228 p. — ISBN: 81-85229-17-1.This volume is a part of the research and publication programme of the Indian History Congress to commemorate the tercentenary of the Khalsa. It presents translations of all major Persian sources of the Sikh history up to 1765, when Sikh power was established over the Punjab. These Sources offer details that are not otherwise available, and richly supplement the information presented in the Punjabi (Gurmukhi) traditions. Yet, until now, most of the Persian texts translated here have not been available in English; the translations given here thus meet a long-felt need, These are freshly made, with much care exercised to preserve accuracy and provide adequate annotation. Of the two editors, Professor J.S. Grewal has contributed an introduction critically assessing the value of these texts for reconstructing Sikh history. Professor Irfan Habib, on his part, has organized the work of translation, having himself rendered a number of the texts into English for this volume.
Papers presented at sixtieth session of Indian History Congress at Calicut University on December 29, 1999.J.S. Grewal, formely Professor of History and then Vice-Chancellor, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and Director, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, is an eminent historian of the Sikhs, and of medieval and modern Indian history in general. His numerous works include Guru Nanak in History (1969) and Sikhs of the Punjab (1990).
Irfan Habib, formerly Professor of History at the Aligarh Muslim University, is a well-known historian and author of The Agrarian System of Mughal India (1963; revised edn 1999), An Atlas of the Mughal Empire (1982), and Essays in Indian History: Towards a Marxist Perception (1995). He is General Editor of the People's History of India series and has authored/co-authored the following monographs in the series: Prehistory, The Indus Civilization, The Vedic Age (with Vijay Kumar Thakur), Mauryan India (with Vivekanand Jha), Indian Economy, 1858–1914.Preface / Shireen Moosvi.
Introduction / J.S.Grewal.
Translators' Note.
Akbar Meets Guru Arjan — From Abu'l Fazl, Akbarnama / translated by Shireen Moosvi.
Guru Arjan's Martyrdom, 1606 — From Jahangir, Tuzuk-i Jahangiri / translated by Shireen Moosvi.
Sikhism and the Sikhs, 1645–46 — From 'Mobad', Dabistan-i Mazahib / translated by Irfan Habib.
A Visit to the Tomb of Guru Nanak, before 1647 — From Surat Singh, Tazkira Pir Hassu Teli / translated by S. Ali Nadeem Rezavi.
The Sikhs and Their History, 1696 — From Sujan Rai Bhandari, Khulasatu't Tawarikh / translated by Iqbal Husain.
Documents on the Sikhs and Guru Gobind Singh — From Ahkan-i 'Alamgiri, 1703–07 / translated by Irfan Habib.
The Martial Exploit and Tragic End of a "Son" of Guru Gobind Singh, 1708 — From 'Abdu'r Rasul, Nairang-i Zamana / translated by Irfan Habib.
Guru Gobind Singh — Notice by Bhimsen, 1708 / translated by Irfan Habib.
Guru Gobind Singh and the Sikhs of the Khalsa — Reports from Bahadur Shah's Court, 1707–12 / translated by Irfan Habib.
Guru Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh, and the Revolt Under Banda Bahadur, 1709–10 & 1713–16 — From Muhammad Qasim "'Ibrat", 'Ibratnama / translated by Irfan Habib.
Banda Bahadur's Rebellion, 1710–16 — From Mirza Muhammad, 'Ibratnama / translated by Iqbal Husain.
Banda Bahadur's Rebellion, 1710–16 — From Muhammad Hadi Kamwar Khan, Tazkiratu 's Salatin Chaghata / translated by S. Nadeem A. Rezavi.
Banda Bahadur and his Followers — From Khafi Khan, Muntakhabu'l Lubab / translated by Majida Bano.
Banda Bahadur and his Followers — From Muhammad Shafi' "Warid", Mir'at-i Waridat / translated by Irfan Habib.
Guru Gobind Singh and his Family, after his Death to 1759–60 — From Chaturman, Chahar Gulshan / translated by Irfan Habib.
Re-emergence of Sikh Power in the Punjab, 1748–64 — From Tahmas Khan, Qissa-i Tahmas-i Miskin or Tahmas Nama / translated by Irfan Habib.
Re-emergence of Sikh Power in the Punjab — News Reports from Delhi, 1759–65 / translated by Irfan Habib.
Sikh Resistance to Ahmad Shah Abdali's Invasion of the Punjab 1764–65 / translated by Iqtidar Alam Khan.
An Account of the Sikhs, 1808 — From Ghulam 'Ali Khan, 'Imadu's Sa'adat / translated by Irfan Habib.
The Sikh Community, 1825 — From James Skinner, Tashrihu'l Aqwam / translated by Shireen Moosvi.