Singh - Hymns of the Sikh Gurus

But these scriptures do not only live on the printed page; they are also poetry set to music which lives as sacred sound in the everyday and special moments of the communitys life. Perhaps most striking is the fact that the scriptures of the Sikhs include writings of numerous non-Sikh saints. The Revelation was disseminated to the disciples in the language of the time and woven into the social, historic, political, folkloric, linguistic and mythological fabric of the day. Translation and interpretation of original religious scriptures into modern language is, thus, both a noble and a formidable task. In the words of Professor Puran Singh: The poetic patina of the verbal vocabulary of Guru Granth does not necessarily have equivalencies or correspondences in the cross vocabulary of the English language. Herein lies the biggest challenge for a translator.

One of the earliest efforts to translate the Sikh scriptures into English was made by M.A. Macauliffe in 1909 in his monumental and widely acclaimed volumes Sikh Religion. His adoration and admiration of the Sikhs and the Sikh scriptures are best expressed in his statement: All persons of discrimination acquainted with the Sikhs set a high value on them, but it appears that a knowledge throughout the world of the excellence of their religion would enhance even the present regard with which they are entertained. Other Western scholars have imbibed the beauty and spirituality of the Sikh scriptures. Arnold Toynbee, after being exposed to translation of the Adi Granth (Guru Granth), proclaimed: Mankinds religious future may be obscure, yet one thing can be foreseen: the living higher religions are going to influence each other more than before, in these days of increasing communication between all parts of the world and all branches of the human race. In this coming religious debate, the Sikh religion, and its scriptures, the Adi Granth, will have something of special value to say to the rest of the world (1960). Pearl S.

Buck studied the scriptures of great religions and came to this conclusion: Shri Guru Granth Sahib is a source book, an expression of mans loneliness, his aspiration, his longings, his cry to God and his hunger for communication with that Being. I have studied the scriptures of other great religions, but I do not find elsewhere the same power of appeal to the heart and mind as I find in these volumes (1960). While numerous translations of Sikh scriptures have been undertaken in the past, the need for a translation of key sections of the Sikh scriptures into the language of today has been widely recognized. Dr Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, a young Sikh scholar of wisdom, dedication and zeal, has aptly undertaken this challenge. Daughter of the world-class Sikh scholar and intellectual giant, Professor Harbans Singh, she has absorbed the beauty and spirituality of the Sikh scriptures from the cradle and developed her scholarly talents in the Western world. This publication is a testament to Nikky-Guninder Singhs love and adoration of the Sikh scriptures and her desire to share her ecstasy with Sikhs and non-Sikhs in the Western world.

University and public libraries and, indeed, every Sikh household in the West should place this book on their shelves, and it should be required reading for all Sikh youth. The International Sacred Literature Trust deserves to be specially commended for their commitment to the publication of translations of scriptures of various religions into modern and easily comprehensible language. Without the deep dedication, infinite persuasive powers and untiring efforts of the Executive Director, Kerry Brown, none of this would have been possible. Nor indeed without the commitment, efforts and scholarly precision of Dr W. Owen Cole, an old friend of the Sikh faith and a consulting editor with the ISLT. Narinder Singh KapanyChairman, The Sikh Foundation15 June 1995