Prof. Singh’s aim in reevaluating Sikhism’s history is to reject and dismiss “myths” that tend to destroy the cordial and concordant relations between Muslims and Sikhs. Take for example his strong denial of the popular story propagated by Brahmin historians (a story that is unfortunately believed by most Sikhs) that a Pathan mercenary under the order of Emperor Bahadur Shah
martyred Guru Gobind Singh. Prof. Singh utilized more than one-sixth of the total pages of his book, Life of Guru Gobind Singh to prove that the story is a “Hindu concoction” intended to sow discord among Muslims and Sikhs.
He analyzed the factual events surrounding the last eighty days prior to the assault of Guru Gobind Singh’s life to show the story as a total fabrication. Likewise, he also
narrated the harmonious, fraternal, and friendly relations between the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah and the Guru (Cf. Life of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, op.cit, pp. 312- 336).
Such gestures of fairness coming from a Sikh historian are indeed praiseworthy since there is no dearth of Sikh history books that exaggerate unhistorical polemics against the Mughal rulers. As I see it, Prof. Singh’s books set the tone of historical factualness and unbiased research by removing many unfounded and propagandistic misinformation
regarding the Sikh Gurus’ relationship with the Mughal
emperors.
Prof. Singh noted various conflicts between Muslims and
Sikhs and between the Gurus and the Mughal royalty. Nevertheless, he also emphasized that Muslims, particularly the Sufis and their disciples (i.e. the ordinary Muslims), reached out and helped the Gurus in performing pious activities, in proclaiming the.........more
