The Story Of The Sikhs
The Story of the Sikhs is a podcast that explores the history and faith of the Sikh people through narrative storytelling. Hosted by author Sarbpreet Singh, it covers the origins, teachings, and major events of the Sikh tradition. The series aims to make Sikh history accessible to a broad audience by combining historical research with engaging storytelling. Each episode brings the colorful past of the Sikh faith to life.
Episodes
(1) A Prophet Emerges
As Babar, the founder of the Mughal dynasty overruns northern India, he encounters a holy man who fearlessly confronts him and chides him for his cruelty. The name of the holy man is Guru Nanak, who is on the path to establishing a new world religion, Sikhism. The story shifts to the childhood of young Nanak, a precocious lad of spiritual bent who fearlessly challenges inequality and superstition.
(2) The Wanderers
With his faithful companion, Mardana the minstrel in tow, Nanak sets out on a series of journeys that will last for decades and will bring him to wondrous places as he develops bold new ideas and creates the institutions which will ensure their propagation and survival. Nanak fearlessly confronts superstition and ritualism as he travels to the storied places of worship of his time.
(3) The Darb Al Hajj
Nanak travels to the far reaches of the Eastern Himalayas, where he is hailed as Nanak Rimpoche, an emanation of the Buddhist sage Padmasambhava, the patron saint of Sikkim. After his return to his homeland, he dons the garb of a Muslim pilgrim and sets out on the ancient Indo-Egyptian trade route to journey to Mecca. This will be his last great journey and on his return he will establish the town
(4) The Passing of the Torch
Guru Nanak settles down in Kartarpur, initiating a period of institutional development that will last for almost two centuries. The task of giving shape to a new world religion has begun. As the time approaches for Guru Nanak to depart, he anoints one of his beloved followers, Angad as the next Guru, ensuring that the fledgling faith he has created will survive and thrive.
(5) The Sanctuary of the Homeless
Guru Angad nurtures the faith that his late master entrusted him with, giving the gift of music to his followers and creating a new script for the preservation of the sacred writings of the Sikhs. In the tradition of Guru Nanak, he chooses Amardas, his humblest and most faithful disciple to succeed him as the next Guru, bypassing his own sons.
(6) The Blood Of a Matriarch
Guru Amardas receives the Mughal Emperor Akbar who humbly seeks his blessings. Finding his son-in-law, Ramdas to be loyal, humble and worthy, Guru Amardas decides to anoint him as the next Guru. Pleased with the devotion of his daughter, Bibi Bhani, Guru Amardas makes a prophecy which will have far reaching consequences for the faith.
(7) The Rainbird
Guru Ramdas establishes Ramdaspur, which will go on to become Amritsar, the greatest center of the Sikh faith. Guru Ramdas is plagued by the ill-will that his oldest son, Prithi Chand harbors towards Arjan, his youngest. Because of his faithfulness and devotion, Arjan is exalted to succeed his father as Guru, much to his older brother’s chagrin.
(8) The Blessing
Guru Arjan establishes the Har Mandar Sahib, popularly known as The Golden Temple, which will become the most prominent place of worship for the Sikh faith and a symbol of its endurance. The Guru’s wife, Mata Ganga, distraught at being childless is sent to seek the blessing of Bhai Buddha, a venerable old Sikh, who has served the faith from the time of Guru Nanak.
(9) A Holy Book is Born
Guru Arjan, in his crowning achievement, creates the Guru Granth Sahib, the egalitarian scripture of the Sikhs, with contributions from the Sikh Gurus as well as enlightened souls from other faiths. Prithi Chand tries to convince the Emperor Akbar that Guru Arjan’s new scripture is blasphemous and disrespectful of Islam and Hinduism.
(10) The Cool Heart of the Inferno
From the tragic martyrdom of Guru Arjan rises a great institution that will forever define the character of Sikhs and Sikhism. The poignant story of Guru Arjan and his beloved disciple the Sufi saint Miyan Mir.
Bonus Episode 1 : Bhai Avtar Singh - an extraordinary Kirtaniya
Our very distinctive title music is an excerpt from a shabad or hymn, sung by the Bhai Avtar Singh, one of the most distinguished Sikh Ragis or minstrels of modern times. In this bonus episode of The Story of the Sikhs Sarbpreet Singh reminisces about the legend who touched so many hearts through his beautiful music and the extraordinary warmth of his personality.
Bonus Episode 2 : A Ramadan to remember
During the holy month of Ramadan a group of Muslims embody the values of the Sikh faith with a breathtaking act of solidarity and compassion.
Bonus Episode 3 When the Guru spoke to me
The Guru's Huqm or word, provides comfort on a difficult day.
Bonus Episode 4 : The Ballad of Spring
A musical feast that examines the singing of Raga Basant and other melodies of the spring in the Sikh Sacred Music tradition.
Bonus Episode 5 : Season 2 is coming
A sneak preview of Season 2
Bonus Episode 6 : A Sikh response to Christchurch
A reflection on the Christchurch mosque attacks
Bonus Episode 7 : The Camel Merchant of Philadelphia
The Camel Merchant of Philadelphia is writer/narrator Sarbpreet Singh's new book about the court of Maharajah Ranjit Singh. This episode is about the book and his recent tour of India.
(11) Sword of Piety Sword of Might
Hargobind, the young son of the late Guru Arjan ascends to the throne of Guru Nanak. His Sikhs are startled when he sets the traditional appurtenances of his station aside and dons twin swords. He creates the Akal Bunga which will go on to become an enduring symbol of Sikh sovereignty. The Guru is imprisoned by the Emperor Jahangir in Gwalior fort, from where he triumphantly emerges after freeing
(12) Immutable
The Guru returns to Amritsar after his exile in Gwalior and his family grows and flourishes. One of his young sons, Atal Rai, learns a difficult lesson about deference to the will of the divine.
(13) The Prodigal
The Guru nurtures a young Pathan named Painde Khan, a formidable warrior who becomes one of his favorites. There is a sharp confrontation between the Sikhs and the entourage of the Emperor Shah Jahan, when the Sikhs seize a magnificent hawk belonging to the Emperor. The Guru makes a rousing declaration of sovereignty, which leads to the first armed confrontation between the Sikhs and the Mughals.
(14) Ingrates and Apostates
Gur Hargobind names his young grandson, Har Rai successor, but his oldest grandson Dhir Mal rebels against him. The Guru’s family is once roiled by dissent and treachery. The seventh Guru, Har Rai attracts the attention of the Mughal court and sends his son Ram Rai there as his representative, only to be disappointed by his perfidy. His younger son, Harkrishan succeeds him, but dies young, enigmat
(15) Caste Mark and Sacred Thread
Tegh Bahadur, the youngest son of the late Guru Hargobind, is anointed the ninth Guru of the Sikhs in the face of competing claims by multiple pretenders to the throne of Guru Nanak. The Guru boldly confronts the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who has been forcing his non-Muslim subjects to convert to Islam on the pain of death.
(16) The Battle of Bhangani
The young Guru Gobind Rai reflects upon the martyrdom of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur. The lad prepares himself to meet his destiny and realize the grand vision of Guru Nanak. He is tested by powerful kings who surround him, driven to jealousy by his increasing power and fame.
(17) In the Guru's Court
Guru Gobind Rai sets up a magnificent court that is the catalyst of a renaissance in poetry, music and scholarship. He himself composes sublime poetry and his court is studded with accomplished poets, musicians and scholars.
(18) The Dasam Granth
The Dasam Granth, the book of the tenth master is completed. In addition to the devotional writings of Guru Gobind Singh, it contains translations of heroic Hindu epics from Sanskrit to Braj, designed to inspire a population beaten down by centuries of oppression.
(18e) The Dasam Granth extended version
An extended version of Episode 18 The Dasam Granth. It has complete recordings of all the shabads referenced and is a feast for lovers of Gurmat Sangeet (Sikh Sacred Music)
(19) The birth of The Khalsa
Guru Gobind Singh completes his divine mission by creating the Khalsa. At a gathering in Anandpur on the momentous Vaisakhi of 1699 the vision of Guru Nanak is fully realized as Guru Gobind Singh puts a final seal on the egalitarian faith that was created by the first Guru.
(20) Chamkaur, Sirhind, Muktsar : Tales of Valor
In a time treachery and deceit Guru Gobind Singh leads his Sikhs and his family out of the fortified city of Anandpur, where disaster strikes.
Bonus Episode 8 : Prabh Jio Tu Mero Sahib Data
The sanctuary of the Guru's word in a time of fear and anxiety. Tweet your favorite shabad @sarbpreetsingh to be featured on a subsequent episode.
Bonus Episode 9 : Bhagat Kabir unabashedly asks for what he needs
Bhagat Kabir 's beautiful relationship with God. Tweet your favorite shabad @sarbpreetsingh to be included in future episodes
Bonus Episode 10 : Rogan Te Ar Sogan Te Jal Jogan Te Bahu Bhant Bachavai
Rogan Te Ar Sogan Te Jal Jogan Te Bahu Bhant Bachavat - A soulful quatrain of praise in Raga Malkauns
Bonus Episode 11: A musical feast to mark Vaisakhi of 2020
A translation and four fabulous renditions of the Savaiyya, Jagat Jot Jape Nis Basur, which is a succinct and elegant definition of the Khalsa
Bonus Episode 12: The Jaap Sahib Part 1
The Jaap Sahib of Guru Gobind Singh Ji in translation Part 1
Bonus Episode 13: The Jaap Sahib Part 2
The Jaap Sahib of Guru Gobind Singh Ji in translation Part 2
Bonus Episode 14 : Sikhs for Black Lives
Why Black Lives Matter to Sikhs
Bonus Episode 15 : The Jaap Sahib Part 3
Recitation and English translation of the Jaap Shib (continued)
Bonus Episode 16 : Rejoice my heart, this blessed rain
A musical feast of shabads in various forms of Raga Malhar
Night of the Restless Spirits - Sarbpreet Singh's new collection of short fiction
NIGHT OF THE RESTLESS SPIRITS is a collection of heart-rending short stories that attempt to capture the 1984 massacre in all its complexity and contradictions. Sarbpreet Singh’s stories take the reader on a journey fraught with love and tinged with tragedy, frayed relationships, the breaking down of humanity and resilience in the face of absolute despair, blurring the lines between the personal a
(21) The Guru and the Sorcerer
Guru Gobind Singh, traveling South, meets a powerful sorcerer on the banks of the Godavari. The sorcerer, transformed by the encounter, becomes a beloved disciple of the Guru's and is given a mission.
(22) Cauldron, Sword and Victory
Guru Gobind Singh’s chosen deputy, the former sorcerer Banda Singh Bahadur has managed to amass an army, He is ready to bring Nawab Wazir Khan, who mercilessly murdered the Guru’s younger sons to justice.
(23) The Ashes of the Iron Fort
The might of the Mughal Empire descends on the Sikhs and a fierce battle is fought at Lohgarh. Banda Bahadur manages to escape but is besieged by powerful Mughal commanders at Gurdas Nangal, where he fights his last battle.
(24) A murder sparks a rebellion
Banda Singh Bahadur’s rebellion is over and Lahore is the hands of an oppressive ruler intent on destroying the Sikhs. It is a time when men who can ride, lead and wield a sword might make a reputation for themselves.
(25)The rise of Nawab Kapur Singh
Nawab Zakriya Khan of Lahore decides to extend an olive branch to the Sikhs. An emissary is sent with a title and land and the Sikhs get their own Nawab.
(26) Martyrdom, Desecration and Punishment
The respite for the Sikhs is very brief. Once again Nawab Zakriya Khan unleashes a reign of terror and new heroes rise in the face of terrible oppression.
(27) A Tale of Two Emperors
A new threat approaches from the West, which threatens the Mughal Empire and creates an opportunity for the Sikhs.
(28) The First Holocaust - Chhota Ghallughara
Bhai Taru Singh is tortured and put to death by Zakriya Khan. Thousands of Sikhs are slain by his deputy Lakhpat Rai. A new king, who will cast a long shadow on the homeland of the Sikhs, rises in the west.
(29) The Sickle of Mir Mannu
Mir Mannu, who takes command of Lahore, views the Sikhs as a threat. Ahmed Shah Abdali, returns to avenge his defeat. The Sikhs start growing in power as the Punjab stays turbulent
(30) Abdali and the Sikhs
Ahmed Shah Abdali invades Hindustan again and decimates the tottering Mughal Empire. The Afghans occupy Lahore and desecrate the Golden Temple. Baba Deep Singh falls while battling the Afghans in Amritsar. The Marathas enter Punjab and try to reassert Mughal control over the province. Ahmad Shah Abdali returns and breaks the back of Maratha power in a great battle fought at Panipat.
(31) Masters of the Punjab
Ahmad Shah Abdali returns to the Punjab, this time determined to destroy the Sikhs. Thousands are killed in the Wadda Ghallughara or the great holocaust, but the Sikhs, unbowed, stand up to him and end up the de-facto rulers of their homeland, the Punjab.
(32) The Road to Delhi
With the passing of Ahmad Shah Abdali and the utter collapse of the Mughal Empire, the Sikhs see unbounded opportunities to consolidate their power. New threats appear on the horizon as the Marathas rise again and the British East India Company turns its eyes towards Delhi.
(33) The Birth of a Lion
The story opens in the year 1774, when the mighty Mughal Empire, which had ruled the Indian subcontinent has crumbled, leaving the Punjab in chaos. Ahmad Shah Abdali the ruler of Afghanistan and the scourge of the Sikhs, who had wrested the Punjab from the Mughals has also passed away recently. The Sikhs, who are organized into twelve bands, known as The Misls, have stepped into the power vacuum a
(34) The Rupture
A squabble over plunder realized from an attack on the kingdom of Jammu creates a rupture between Maha Singh Shukerchakia and his mentor Jai Singh, the Kanhaiya patriarch. After Jai Singh insults his protégé and threatens him, Maha Singh conspires with Raja Sansar Chand and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia against the Kanhaiyas. Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, Baghel Singh and other Sikh chiefs launch raids across th
(35) The Reconciliation
Maha Singh Shukerchakia takes his six year old son Ranjit Singh with him on a successful expedition to Jammu, which yields great wealth, but disaster strikes and the child is stricken with smallpox. The boy recovers but the attack leaves him blind in one eye and scars his face permanently. As Ranjit Singh’s mother goes to Jwalamukhi to pray at the temple there for her son’s recovery, she gets an u
(36) The Rising Sons
Ghulam Qadir Rohilla returns to Delhi and blinds the Emperor Shah Alam, replacing him with his puppet. George Thomas becomes the commander of one of the four battalions of Sardhana, the kingdom of Begum Samru and also becomes her paramour. Ghulam Qadir is defeated and killed by the Marathas, who restore Shah Alam to the throne. Maha Singh lays siege to the fort of Sodhra, which is under the contro
(37) A Young Lion Comes Into His Own
The Afghan King Shah Zaman, the grandson of Ahmed Shah Abdali invades the Punjab providing an opportunity for the young Ranjit Singh to start building his reputation.
(38) The Grandsons
Shah Zaman, the grandson of Ahmad Shah Abdali, who had been the scourge of the Punjab for decades crosses the Indus again. As the Sikhs prepare to abandon their cities in the face of the Afghan juggernaut, Sardarni Sada Kaur persuades them to dig their heels in and resist. The young Ranjit Singh, the grandson of the legendary Sikh warrior Sardar Charat Singh Shukerchakia, challenges the Afghan Kin
(39) Lord of Lahore
The beleaguered citizens of Lahore, suffering under the misrule of the Bhangi triumvirate of Chait Singh, Mohr Singh and Sahib Singh, send a petition to the young Shukerchakia chief, Ranjit Singh. With the help of his visionary mother-in-law, Mata Sada Kaur, the leader of the Kanhaiya Misl, Ranjit Singh takes the capital of the Punjab.
(40) Afghans, Marathas, The British and The Sikhs - The Forces Gather
As the young Ranjit Singh settles in Lahore, the capital of the Punjab, which he has just captured, he has to contend with rival Muslim and SIkh chiefs, who resent his successes. Even as he deals with the immediate threats he takes note of significant events all over the subcontinent that present challenges and opportunities. There is great turmoil in Afghanistan as the king, Shah Zaman squares of
(41) A King is Crowned
In this episode, Ranjit Singh is crowned king of the Punjab; the venerable Sardar Sahib Singh Bedi presides over the coronation and daubs the young king’s forehead with saffron. As the young king tries to consolidate power, tumultuous events roil the subcontinent. To the West the grandsons of Ahmad Shah Abdali are locked in internecine warfare as they fight for the Afghan throne. Closer to home, t
Marsiya Kultar Da - The 1984 Delhi Massacre
My poem, Kultar's Mime, which was adapted for the stage by J.Mehr Kaur and presented worldwide, has now been translated to Punjabi. This episode is a reading of the translation, ਜਮਨਾ ਪਾਰ ਤੋਂ ਤਿਲਕ ਵਿਹਾਰ - ਮਰਸੀਆ ਕੁਲਤਾਰ ਦਾ, preceded by an introduction in which I talk about the genesis of the work.
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