In The Master's Presence

Some of the most far-reaching events in Sikh history have centred on Hazoor Sahib ('Master's Presence'), the final resting place of the tenth Sikh Guru - who had spent much of his life battling against the oppressive policies of the Mughal Empire - in the Deccan region of Central India. Separated from the traditional Sikh heartlands of Punjab by hundreds of miles, the proud Sikhs of Hazoor Sahib steadfastly maintained ancient practices and manners that were largely lost to their northern compatriots, who had lost their fiercely independent nature after having come under British rule in the mid-19th century. Their fascinating story is told for the first time, based on rare written sources, archival images and a unique oral tradition, in this first of two volumes.