Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class History Book Solutions Chapter 2 Sources of the History of the Punjab Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
PSEB Solutions for Class 12 History Chapter 2 Sources of the History of the Punjab
Long Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
What five problems are faced by historians in understanding the history of Punjab?
Or
What are the main problems regarding the historical sources of Punjab?
Or
What five difficulties do we face regarding the historical sources of Punjab?
Or
What problems are faced by the students in composing the history of Punjab?
Answer:
Writing the history of Punjab the historians confront numerous problems in writing the history of Punjab. These problems are briefly described below :
1. Sikhs did not find time to write their own History: Punjab became an arena of wars in the 18th century. Anarchy was the order of the day. The Sikhs were fighting for their existence. They had to flee to the mountains and jungles leaving their homes. As a result, they could hardly find time to pen down their history.
2. Biased views of Muslim Historians: Most of the sources available to understand the history of Punjab are written in Persian by Muslim historians were: They were staunch Muslims. They considered the Sikhs their inveterate enemies. They willfully distorted the facts of Sikh history in a malicious manner. Therefore, their writings cannot be trusted.
3. Destruction of Historical Sources: Till the seventh decade of the 18th century, there was no peace, and anarchy prevailed in Punjab. The invasion of Na*dir Shah in 1739 A.D..aad subsequently eight invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali from 1747 to 1767 A.D. ruined the Punjab. How could the Sikhs preserve their sacred documents when even the lives of their families were at risk? A large number of their holy writings were lost.
4. Punjab, a part of Mughal Empire: Till 1752 A.D. Punjab formed a part of the Mughal empire. As a result, no history could be written apart from the history of India. The contemporary writers wrote largely on the Mughal emperors, but just not write about the political, social, religious, and economic conditions of Punjab. Therefore, a detailed account of the history of Punjab is not available from the works of contemporary historians.
5. Untapped Historical Sources: Many deeds of covenants, deeds of the grant, personal letters, Bhat Vahid, and religious documents of Sikh Misls and Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s times are still remained locked in the boxes of many Sikh families and feudal lords. These sources still remain unexplored.
Question 2.
Write a short note on Hukamnamas.
Answer:
Hukamnamas were the orders of the Sikh Gurus or of their family members which were issued to the Sikh Sangat or individuals from time to time. In most of these Hukamnamas, they were asked to bring rations for the community kitchen, money for the construction of religious places, horses and arms to be used in battles. In all 89 Hukamnamas have been compiled so far by Dr. Ganda Singh. Of these 34 Hukamnamas were issued by Guru Gobind Singh and 23 by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. The other Hukamnamas belong to Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Hargobind Sahib, Guru Har Rai, Guru Harkrishan, Mata Gujri, Mata Sundri, Mata Sahib Devan, Baba Gurditta Ji and Banda Bahadur. The Sikhs obeyed these Hukamnamas as orders from God. From these Hukamnamas we learn about the political, religious, literary, and economic history of the Punjab of the period of Sikh Gurus.
Question 3.
Mention briefly any five important historical sources related to the religious literature of the Sikhs.
Or
Give a brief account of five important sources based on religious literature of Punjab History.
Answer:
Religious literature of the Sikhs contributes much to the writing of the history of Punjab.
1. The Adi Granth Sahib Ji: The Adi Granth Sahib Ji is the most sacred and authentic scripture of Sikhism. Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled this great holy scripture in 1604 A.D. In it, the hymns of the first five Sikh Gurus and those of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, are compiled. In addition to it, the hymns of many Hindu Bhagats, Muslim Sufi Saints, Bhats, etc. were also included. Adi Granth Sahib Ji gives us the most valuable information regarding the political, religious, social, and economic life of the people of those days.
2. Dasam Granth Sahib Ji: Dasam Granth Sahib Ji is another holy scripture of Sikhism. It is a compilation of the writings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his court poets. This holy scripture was compiled by Bhai Mani Singh Ji in 1721 A.D. ‘Bachitar Natak’ and ‘Zafarnama’ are the most significant from the historical point of view.
3. Vars of Bhai Gurdas Ji: Bhai Gurdas Ji was the son of Bhai Datar Chand Bhalla, a brother of Guru Amar Das Ji. He was a contemporary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Guru Hargobind Ji. He composed 39 Vars. These Vars are considered the key to understanding Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Vars No. 1 and 11 are considered important from the historical point of view. The first Var contains a very detailed description of the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. In the eleventh Var, we get information of the important Sikhs and places connected with the first six Gurus.
4. Janam Sakhis: The stories relating to the birth and life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji are called Janam Sakhis. Many such Janam Sakhis were written in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They were written in the Punjabi language. Janam Sakhis of Puratan Janam Sakhis, Janam Sakhis of Meherban, Janam Sakhi of Bhai Bala Ji and Janam Sakhi of Bhai Mani Singh Ji were the most important Sakhis.
5. Hukamnamas: Hukamnamas were those orders or proclamations that were issued by the Sikh Gurus or by the members of their families to the Sikhs from time to time. In the majority of such Hukamnamas, demands were made to supply grains for the Langar (common kitchen), to donate money for building religious places, and to bring horses and arms for battles.
Question 4.
What is meant by Janam Sakhis? Explain briefly the four Janam Sakhis.
Or
What are the Janam Sakhis? Discuss the importance of different Janam Sakhis?
Answer:
The stories relating to the birth and life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji are called Janam Sakhis.
1. Puratan Janam Sakhi: This Janam Sakhi-was edited by Bhai Vir Singh in 1926 A.D. It is considered more reliable than other Janam Sakhis.
2. Janam Sakhi of Meharban: Meharban was the son of Prithi Chand, the elder brother of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. He was a great scholar. As he himself belonged to the Guru family, he gave a very detailed description of the Udasis of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is considered more reliable.
3. Janam Sakhi of Bhai Bala : This Janam Sakhi was written by Bhai Bala Ji. Many events denoted in this Janam Sakhi are imaginary and many others are historically incorrect. Thus this Janam Sakhi is regarded as the least authentic.
4. Janam Sakhi of Bhai Mani Singh: This Janam Sakhi, popularly known as ‘Gyan Ratnavali’, was written by Bhai Mani Singh Ji. This Janam Sakhi is very reliable due to many reasons. It contains no imaginary events. Thirdly, all events are recorded in a chronological manner.
Question 5.
What do you know about Vars of Bhai Gurdas Ji?
Or
Write a note on Bhai Gurdas Ji Bhalla.
Answer:
Bhai Gurdas Ji Bhalla (1551—1635 A.D.) was the son of Datar Chand Bhalla, the brother of Guru Amar Das. He was contemporary of third, fourth, fifth, and sixth Sikh Gurus. He was a top-class writer. He composed 39 Vars. These vars are written in Punjabi. In order to understand Guru Granth Sahib, the study of these Vars is very essential. That is why they are called a key to Guru Granth Sahib. We get useful information about the first six Gurus’ lives, teachings of Sikh religion, names of cities, and the lives of Saints and Bhaktas from these Vars. The first and eleventh Vars are considered important from the historical point of view. In the first Var, light is thrown on the Sikh history from first to 6th Guru. The eleventh Var gives information about the names of Sikhs related to the Gurus and their activities.
Question 6.
Write a note on the special features of Adi Granth Sahib.
Or
Give a brief description of Adi Granth Sahib and its historical importance.
Answer:
Guru Arjan Dev Ji used various sources for writing the Bani. The Bani of the first three Gurus—Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Angad Dev Ji, and Guru Amar Das Ji were with the eldest son of Guru Amar Das Ji i.e. Baba Mohan Ji. To compile the Bani, Guru Arjan Dev Ji first sent Bhai Gurdas Ji and then Baba Buddha Ji to Baba Mohan Ji but they were not successful in their objective. After this, Guru Sahib himself went from Amritsar to Goindwal Sahib barefooted. Impressed by the humility of Guru Ji, Baba Mohan Ji gave away the entire Bani to Guru Ji. Guru Arjan Dev Ji already had the Bani of Guru Ram Das Ji with him.
Guru Sahib included his own Bani in it. After this Guru Sahib called upon the devotees of Hindu Bhagats and Muslim Saints and asked them to recite the hymns of their saints correctly. The hymns of only those Bhagats and Saints were included in the Guru Granth Sahib which was similar to the Bani of the Gurus. The works of Kahna, Chhajju, Shah Hussain, and Pilu were rejected. The compilation of the Adi Granth Sahib Ji in 1604 A.D. is a great landmark In the history of the Sikhs. It provided the Sikhs with a unique religious scripture. No doubt Guru Granth Sahib is a religious scripture, yet it furnishes valuable information regarding the social, religious, political, and economic life of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Question 7.
Write a short note on Dasam Granth Sahib.
Or
What do you know about Dasam Granth Sahib?
Answer:
Dasam Granth Sahib is another holy scripture of the Sikhs. It is an anthology of the works of Guru Gobind Singh and his court poets. Bhai Mani Singh compiled Dasam Granth in 1721 A.D. The Dasam Granth Sahib was primarily compiled to awaken heroic sentiments among the Sikhs so as to enable them to fight against political injustice and religious intolerance. It is a collection of 18 works. Jaap Sahib, Akal Ustat, Chandi di Var, Chaubis Avtar, Shabad Hazare, Shastar Nama, Bachitar Natak, and Zafarnama are worthy of special mention. Bachelor Natak is Guru Gobind Singh’s autobiography.
It is a useful source giving us information about the ancient history of Bedi and Sodhi castes, the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, and the battles of Guru Gobind Singh against the Hill Chiefs and the Mughals. Guru Gobind Singh wrote the Zafarnama at Dina. It is a letter of Victory which Guru Gobind Singh addressed to Aurangzeb in Persian. In this letter, the Guru has daringly and fearlessly described the tyranny of Aurangzeb. It also refers to the treachery of his generals and the breaking of oaths taken on the Quran. Dasam Granth Sahib is, thus, an important source of the life and work of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Question 8.
Give a brief account of five historical sources written in 18th century in Punjabi.
1. Sri Gursobha: Sri Gursobha was written by Sainapat, a famous court poet of Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1741 A.D. He has given an eye-witness account of the events that took place from 1699 A.D. to 1708 A.D. about its historical value.
2. Sikhan Di Bhagat Mala : This work was written by Bhai Mani Singh Ji in the eighteenth century. It is also known as ‘Bhagat Ratnavali’. It provides valuable information about the lives of the Gurus, names of the prominent Sikhs, their castes and places of residence along with the social conditions of the time.
3. Bansavali Nama : It was written by Kesar Singh Chhibbar in 1780 A.D. It covers the history from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to the middle of the eighteenth century. It is more reliable as far as later history is concerned than that of the Guru’s period because the writer gives an eye-witness account of many such events.
4. Mehma Prakash: In fact, it comprises two books:
- Mehma Pvakash Vartik was written by Bawa Kirpal Singh in 1741 A.D. It describes the lives of the Sikh Gurus in brief.
- Mehma Prakash Kavita was written by Sarup Das Bhalla in 1776 A.D. It describes the lives of Sikh Gurus in detail.
5. Prachin Panth Prakash: It was written by Rattan Singh Bhangu in 1841 A.D. It provides very important information regarding the history from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to the eighteenth century.
Question 9.
Give a brief account of five important Persian sources of the history of Punjab.
Or
Give a brief mention of five important Persian sources which are essential for composing the History of Punjab.
Answer:
1. Ain-i-Akbari is written by Abul Fazl, a famous historian and courtier of Akbar. It is the main source of information regarding Akbar’s relations with the Sikh Gurus. Besides, this source, tells us about the political, religious, social, and economic conditions of Punjab.
2. Tuzak-i-Jahangiri is the autobiography of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. We get valuable information about the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji from it. By reading it, it becomes clear that Guru Ji was martyred for religious reasons.
3. Jang Nama is written by Qazi Nur Muhammad. He accompanied Ahmad Shah Abdali during the latter’s invasion of Punjab in 1764 A.D. In this work, he gave an eyewitness account of the warfare of the Sikhs and their character.
4. Umdat-ut-Tawarikh’s writer was Sohan Lai Suri, a courtier of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In it, he has written the history of Punjab from 1469 A.D. to 1849 A.D. It is a very trustworthy source about Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s period.
5. Zafar-Nama-i-Ranjit Singh. It is an important source related to the period of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It was written by Diwan Amar Nath. This work describes the eye-witness account of events of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign up to 1837 A.D.
Question 10.
Mention five important English sources which give information about the history of Punjab.
Answer:
1. The Court and Camp of Ranjit Singh: Capt. William Osborne wrote this book in 1840 A.D. He has given a detailed account of the grandeur of Maharaja’s court, his courtiers, and his military administration. His book is a very useful source from a historical point of view.
2. History of Punjab: Murray wrote this book in 1842 A.D. It has two parts. The history of the Sikhs has been written in detail in these parts. It is a significant source regarding Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his successors.
3. History of the Sikhs: Dr. Me Gregor wrote this book. It was written in 1846 A.D. and it has two parts. It provides useful information about the battles of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Sikhs against the English.
4. Punjab: This book was written in 1846 A.D. by Steinbach. He occupied a high post in the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Therefore, he has mentioned very important details about the army of the Maharaja in this book.
5. Sketch of the Sikhs: It was written in 1812 A.D. by Malcolm, a Colonel in the British army. He came to Punjab after Holkar IP 1805 A.D. He wrote very briefly about the history of the Sikhs and their institutions.
Question 11.
Write a short note on the historical importance of Records of the British Indian Government.
Or
Throw light on four important sources of information on Punjab History written in English.
Answer:
The records of the British Indian government provide the most important information regarding Sikh History from the beginning of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign from 1799 A.D. to the downfall of the Sikh Empire in 1849 A.D. The records of Delhi Residency and Ludhiana Residency are significant in particular for the history of Punjab. Among these, the records of Murrey, Ochterloney, Richmond, Me Gregor, Nicholson, Cunningham, Princep, and Broadfoot are of great historical value. These records are stored in the National Archives Department Delhi. These records throw valuable light on Anglo-Sikh relations, about the Kingdom of Ranjit Singh and his reign and the relations of the English with Afghanistan and Sind. Besides the letters written by Governor Generals to the British Government, to their friends and family members also provide valuable information regarding the important events of Punjab. Though these records are biasedly written, yet they constitute an important source of the History of Punjab.
Question 12.
Examine the importance of coins in the construction of the History of Punjab.
Answer:
The coins are of special importance in the construction of the history of Punjab. We find the coins of Mughals, Banda Singh Bahadur, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Ahmad Shah Abdali and Maharaja Ranjit Singh. These coins throw valuable light on the dates and other important facts about the different rulers. The coins of Banda Bahadur prove that he had great respect for Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The coins of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia tell us that he had occupied the territory of Ahmad Shah Abdali. The coins of Maharaja Ranjit Singh throw light on the fact that he was a very kind-hearted king and he was a great follower of Sikhism. As the facts provided by these coins are very trustworthy, so they help a lot in solving many problems related to the history of Punjab.
1. Difficulties Regarding the History of Punjab: The Janam Sakhis related to the Sikh Gurus have several inconsistencies in them—The Muslim writers who were fanatics and biased have distorted the facts of history—The Sikhs did not have any time for writing their own history during this period of anarchy—Moreover, whatever meager historical books had already been written were destroyed during the foreign invasions—Several historical sources were also destroyed during the partition of Punjab in 1947 A.D.
2. Kinds of Sources: The main sources related to the history of Punjab are as follows :
→ Religious literature of the Sikhs: The Adi Granth Sahib gives us the most authentic information of this period. It wags compiled by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in 1604 A.D.The Dasam Granth Sahib is a compilation of the works of the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, and the poets of his court, of these, the ‘Bachitar Natak’ and ‘Zafarnama’ are historically the most important.The 39 Vars written by Bhai Gurdas Ji give us important information about the lives of the first six Gurus and the famous pilgrimages. Among the Janam Sakhis based on the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the most important are Puratan Janam Sakhi, Meharban’s Janam Sakhi, Janam Sakhi of Bhai Bala, and Janam Sakhi of Bhai Mani Singh Ji.The Hukamnamas issued by the Sikh Gurus provide us with very valuable information about contemporary society Of these 34 Hukamnamas were issued by Guru Gobind Singh Ji and 23 Hukamnamas were issued by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
→ Historical and Semi-Historical works in Punjabi and Hindi: ‘Sri Gursobha’ gives us an eye-witness account of the events that took place from 1699 to 1708 A.D. Gursobha was written by Sainapat a famous court poet of Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1741 A.D. Sikhan Di Bhagatmala provides valuable information about the social condition of the periods of the Gurus. It was written by Bhai Mani Singh Ji ‘Bansavali Nama’ written by Kesar Singh Chhibbar describes the incidents from the Guru period to the middle of the 18th century ‘Gurpratap Suraj Granth’ written by Bhai Santokh Singh and ‘Prachin Panth Prakash’ written by Rattan Singh Bhangu has an important position in the construction of the history of Punjab.
3. Historical works in Persian: ‘Babarnama’ written by the Mughal emperor Babar gives us historical information about Punjab at the beginning of the 16th century.‘Ain-i-Akbari’ and ‘Akbarnama’ written by Abul Fazl gives us information about the relations of Akbar with the Sikh Gurus‘Dabistan-i- Mazahib’ written by Mubid Zulfiqar Ardistani gives us valuable information pertaining to the Sikh Gurus‘Khulasat-ut-Tawarikh’ written by Sujan Rai Bhandari, ‘Muntakhib-ut-Lubab’ written by Khafi Khan and ‘Jang Nama’ written by Qazi Nur Muhammad gives us information about the Punjab of the 18th century‘Umdat-ut-Tawarikh’ written by Sohan Lai Suri and ‘Char-Bagh-i- Punjab’ written by Ganesh Das Wadhera give us a detailed account of the incidents related to the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
4. Bhat Vahis: The Bhats used to write down all the important events with dates in their Vahis These give us useful information about the lives of the Sikh Gurus, their travels and battles.
5. Khalsa Darbar Records: These are the official records of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s time They were written in Persian and their number is more than 1 lakh—The Khalsa Darbar Records give useful information on the life and times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
6. Writings of Foreign Travellers and Europeans: The writings of foreign travelers and Europeans contribute greatly to the construction of the history of Punjab—Prominent among them are ‘A Journey from Bengal to England’ by George Forster, ‘Sketch of the Sikhs’ by Malcolm, ‘Origin of Sikh Power in the Punjab’ by H.T. Princep, ‘The Court and Camp of Ranjit SingJT by Captain William Osborne, ‘The Punjab’ by Steinbach, ‘History of the Sikhs’ by J.D. Cunningham.
7. Historical Buildings, Paintings, and Coins: The historical buildings, paintings, and coins of Punjab are also a very valuable source for tracing out the history of Punjab. The architecture of Khadur Sahib, Goindwal Sahib, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kartarpur, and Paonta Sahib, various forts, paintings in the Gurdwaras, and coins of Sikh leaders also throw ample light on the contemporary society.
Essay Type Questions:
Difficulties Regarding The History Of Punjab:
Question 1.
Explain the difficulties of the historians while constructing the history of Punjab.
Or
Or
Which difficulties are being faced by historians while composing the History of Punjab?
Answer:
Writing the history of Punjab has always remained a serious challenge for historians were: The historian confronts numerous problems in writing the history of Punjab. These problems are briefly described below :
1. Sikhs did not find time to write their own History: Punjab became an arena of wars in the 18th century. Anarchy was the order of the day. The Sikhs were fighting for their existence. They had to flee to the mountains and jungles leaving their homes. The government had put a price on their heads. The royal forces were always at their heels to hunt them. It was a time for the Sikhs to hold a sword rather than a pen in their hands. As a result, they could hardly find time to pen down their history.
2. Biased views of Muslim Historians: Most of the sources available to understand the history of Punjab are written in Persian by Muslim historians were: They were staunch Muslims. They considered the Sikhs their inveterate enemies. They willfully distorted the facts of Sikh history in a malicious manner. They described the Sikhs as brigands, dacoits, ruffians, and butchers. They described the teachings of the Sikh Gurus as anti-Islam. Therefore, their writings cannot be trusted.
3. Destruction of Historical Sources: Till the seventh decade of the 18th century, there was no peace, and anarchy prevailed in Punjab. Firstly, the Mughals and then the Afghans left no stone unturned to crush the Sikhs. The invasion of Nadir Shah in 1739 A.D. and subsequently eight invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali from 1747 to 1767 A.D. ruined the Punjab. How could the Sikhs preserve their sacred documents when even the lives of their families were at risk? A large number of their holy writings were lost. Thus, the Sikhs were deprived of their numerous invaluable works.
4. Punjab, a part of Mughal Empire: Till 1752 A.D. Punjab formed a, part of the Mughal empire. As a result, no history could be written apart from the history of India. The contemporary writers wrote largely on the Mughal emperors but just wrote about the political, social, religious, and economic conditions of Punjab. Therefore, a detailed account of the history of Punjab is not available from the works of contemporary historians.
5. Partition of Punjab: With the partition of India in 1947 A.D., Punjab too was bifurcated. As a sequel to it, Lahore, the capital of Punjab, the Punjab University, many historical buildings, and valuable books were left in Pakistan. Many historical sources were destroyed due to riots caused by partition vandalization. So, we had to remain deprived of many historical sources which could have proved extremely useful in the construction of the history of Punjab.
Main Sources of the History of the Punjab:
Question 2.
Describe briefly the important sources of Punjab.
Or
Describe the main sources of Punjab History.
Or
Examine the sources of the History of Punjab from 1469 to 1849 A.D.
Answer:
Many types of sources of the history of Punjab from 1469 to 1849 A.D. are available. These sources can be categorized into main two parts :
- Literary sources and
- Archaeological sources.
1. Literary Sources :
These sources consist of:
- Religious literature of the Sikhs.
- Historical and Semi-historical works written in Punjabi and Hindi.
- Historical works were written in Persian.
- Bhat Vahid.
- Khalsa Darbar Records.
- Writings of Foreign Travellers and Europeans.
2. Archaeological Sources:
These sources consist of :
- Buildings and Monuments.
- Coins and Pantings.
1. Literary Sources:
1. Religious Literature of the Sikhs: Religious literature of the Sikhs played an important. role in the making of the history of Punjab. Adi Granth Sahib Ji occupies the chief place among these sources. These. days it is called Guru Granth Sahib Ji. It was compiled by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in 1604 A.D. It reveals the priceless information on political, religious, social, and economic conditions of the Punjab of that time. The Dasam Granth Sahib Ji edited by Bhai Mani Singh Ji in 1721 A.D. holds second place. It is a compilation of the writings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his court poets. It consists of a total of 18 compositions. Bachelor Natak and Zafarnama are the most significant from the historical point of view. These books contain information about the life of Guru Gobin.d Singh Ji and relation between Mughals and Sikhs. Then come 39 Vars written by Bhai Gurdas Ji. These contain precious information about the lives of Sikh Gurus. Besides, Janam Sakhis of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Hukamnamas of Sikh Gurus provide valuable information about the history of Punjab.
2. Historial and Semi-Historial Sikh Literature: Sri Gursobha compiled by Sainapat plays a significant role in writing the history of Punjab. It gives eye witness account of the events that took place from 1699 to 1708 A.D. Besides, Sikhan Di Bhagat Mala written by Bhai Mani Singh Ji, Bansavali Nama written by Kesar Singh Chhibbar, Mehma Prakash Vartik written by Bawa Kirpal Singh, and Prachin Panth Prakash written by Rattan Singh Bhangu throw ample light on the history of Punjab.
3. Historical works were written in Persian: Persian compositions are mainly compiled by Muslims. These works do not contain any history about Punjab or Sikhs, but these have helped in writing the history of Punjab. Babarnama written by Babar, Ain-i-Akbari and Akbarnama written by Abul Fazl, Tuzak-i-Jahangiri written by Jahangir, Umdat-ut-Tawarikh written by Sohan Lai Suri, Twarikh- i-Punjab written by Bute Shah, Zafarnama-i-Ranjit Singh by Diwan Amarnath, and Ibratnama by Ala-ud-din Mufti is worth mentioning.
4. Bhat Vahid: Bhats used to write down important events with dates in their Vahid. These Bhat Vahis have reliable contributions in writing Punjab history. The complete description of many important incidents that happened in the lives of Guru Hargobind Ji to Guru Gobind Singh Ji is mentioned in these Bhat Vahid.
5. Khalsa Darbar Records: Offical records of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s time throw ample light on medieval Punjab. These are written in Persian. These are over one lakh in number. Sita Ram Kohli prepared a catalog of these records.
6. Writings of Foreign Travellers and Europeans: Foreign travelers to Punjab and Europeans have thrown ample light on the history of Punjab in their writings. A Journey from Bengal to England by George Foster, Sketch of Sikhs by Malcolm. Origin of Sikh Power in Punjab by H.T. Princep, The Court, and Camp of Ranjit Singh by Capt. William Osborne, History of Punjab by Murray are some significant works. History of the Sikhs written by J.D. Cunnigham is considered the most reliable and important source. It has details of incidents occurring from 1699 to 1846 A.D.
2. Archaeological Sources:
The historical buildings, monuments, coins, and paintings of Punjab also contribute to writing the history of Punjab. Towns like Khadur Sahib, Goindwal Sahib, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Kartarpur, Anandpur Sahib, etc. which were founded by Sikh Gurus, are worth mentioning religious cities of Punjab history. Besides the royal palaces and forts built by Sikhs of the 18th century throw light on the architecture of that time. Paintings related to the Sikh Gurus and others have been found which provide us information about the social and religious conditions of that time. Coins issued by different rulers of Punjab, Banda Singh Bahadur, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Mughal, and Sikh Chiefs reveal historical dates, religious beliefs, and economic conditions of that time. So these coins contribute an important role in writing the history of Punjab.
Religious Literature Of The Sikhs:
Question 3.
Evaluate the Sikh religious literature as a source of Punjab history.
Or
What is the contribution of the Sikh Gurmukhi Literature in the history of Punjab?
Or
Describe the significance of Adi Granth Sahib and Janam Sakhis as sources of Punjab history.
Answer:
Religious literature of the Sikhs contributes much to the writing of the history of Punjab.
1. The Adi Granth Sahib Ji: The Adi Granth Sahib Ji is the most sacred and authentic scripture of Sikhism. Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled this great holy scripture in 1604 A.D. In it the hymns of the first five Sikh Gurus and those of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, are compiled. In addition to it, the hymns of many Hindu Bhagats, Muslim Sufi Saints, Bhats, etc. were also included. Although the Adi Granth Sahib Ji or Guru Granth Sahib Ji was not compiled for any historical purpose, yet its thorough study gives us the most valuable information regarding the political, religious, social, and economic life of the people of those days. As this information is the most authentic, the Adi Granth Sahib Ji is a valuable source for the history of Punjab. Moreover, Adi Granth Ji is a priceless treasure of Indian spirituality, culture, literature, and languages. Dr. Indu Bhushan Banerjee aptly says, “It may be recalled the Bible of Sikhism and is admitted to be the greatest authority on Sikhism.”
2. Dasam Granth Sahib Ji: Dasam Granth Sahib Ji is another holy scripture of Sikhism. It is a compilation of the writings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his court poets. This holy scripture was compiled by Bhai Mani Singh Ji in 1721 A.D. The Dasam Granth Sahib was primarily compiled to awaken heroic sentiments among the Sikhs so as to enable them to fight against political injustice and religious intolerance. It is a work of 18 compositions of which ‘Jaap Sahib’, ‘Akal Ustat’, ‘Chandi Di Var’, ‘Chaubis Avtar’, ‘Shabad Hazare’, ‘Shastra Nama’, ‘Bachitar Natak’ and ‘Zafarnama’ are worth noting. ‘Bachelor Natak and ‘Zafarnama are the most significant from the historical point of view. ‘Bachelor Natak’ is the autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
It is a very important source of information about the ancient history of the Bedis and the Sodhi’s, martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, and the battles of Guru Gobind Singh Ji against the Hill Chiefs. ‘Zafarnama’ (letter of victory) was written by Guru Gobind Singh Ji at Dina. It is a letter written by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Persian. In this letter, Guru Gobind Singh Ji has described the cruelties of Aurangzeb, the treachery of Mughal commanders, and the breaking of oaths taken on the holy Quran in a very courageous and fearless manner. Dasam Granth Sahib Ji is thus an important source of the life and works of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
3. Vars of Bhai Gurdas Ji: Bhai Gurdas Ji was the son of Bhai Datar Chand Bhalla, a brother of Guru Amar Das Ji. He was a contemporary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Guru Hargobind Ji. He composed 39 Vars. These Vars are considered the key to understanding Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Vars No. 1 and 11 are considered important from the historical point of view. The first Var contains a very detailed description of the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Besides, we get a glimpse of Guru Angad Ji, Guru Amar Das Ji, Guru Ram Das Ji, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, and Guru Hargobind Ji’s life from this Var. In the eleventh Var, we get information of the important Sikhs and places connected with the first six Gurus.
4. Janam Sakhis: The stories relating to the birth and life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji are called Janam Sakhis. Many such Janam Sakhis were written in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They were written in the Punjabi language. They were compiled for the faithful and not for students of history. Though they are a mixture of facts and fiction, yet they provide valuable information about the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. A brief description of the important Janam Sakhis is as follows :
(a) Puratan Janam Sakhi: This Janam Sakhi was edited by Bhai Vir Singh in 1926 A.D. It is prepared by coordinating ‘two Janam Sakhis’—Wilayat Wali Janam Sakhi and Hafizabad Wali Janam Sakhi. This is the oldest Janam Sakhi. It is considered more reliable than other Janam Sakhis.
(b) Janam Sakhi of Meharban: Meharban was the son of Prithi Chand, the elder brother of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. He was a great scholar. As he himself belonged to the Guru family, he had a thorough and authentic knowledge of the stories about Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He gave a very detailed description of the Udasis of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his stay at Kartarpur. For a long time, this Janam Sakhi was not considered reliable because it was written by the son of Prithi Chand, a sworn opponent of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. However, the latest researches have proved beyond doubt that this Janam Sakhi is very dependable. First, it offers a more satisfactory chronology. Secondly, the names of persons and places mentioned in it are generally correct. Thirdly, there are a few miraculous stories.
(c) Janam Sakhi of Bhai Bala Ji : Bhai Bala Ji was a childhood companion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He accompanied Guru Nanak Dev Ji in some of his Udasis. It is said that this Janam Sakhi was written during the times of Guru Angad Dev Ji on the verbal details given by Bhai Bala Ji himself. But .this does not seem correct, as the events mentioned in this Janam Sakhi show, that it was written either in the time of Guru Gobind Singh Ji or afterward. Some historians even deny the very existence of Bhai Bala Ji. Many events denoted in this Janam Sakhi are imaginary and many others are historically incorrect. Thus, this Janam Sakhi is regarded as the least authentic.
(d) Janam Sakhi of Bhai Mani Singh Ji: This Janam Sakhi, popularly known as ‘Gyan Ratnavali’, was written by Bhai Mani Singh Ji, a devotee of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. It was written between 1675 A.D. and 1708 A.D. This Janam Sakhi is very reliable due to many reasons. First, it is written on the basis of the first Var of Bhai Gurdas Ji. Secondly, it contains no imaginary events. Thirdly, all events are recorded in a chronological manner. Fourthly, it avoids many errors of other Janam Sakhis.
5. Hukamnamas: Hukamnamas were those orders or proclamations that were issued by the Sikh Gurus or by the members of their families to the Sikhs from time to time. In the majority of such Hukamnamas, demands were made to supply grains for the Langar (common kitchen), to donate money for building religious places, and to bring horses and arms for battles. 89 Hukamnamas are available up to this day. Of these, 34 Hukamnamas were issued by Guru Gobind Singh Ji and 23 Hukamnamas were issued by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. These Hukamnamas provide very valuable information about the political, religious, economic, and literary history of the period of the great Gurus.
Historical And Semi-Historical Works It Punjabi And Hindi:
Question 4.
How far are Sikh Historical and Semi-Historical literature helpful in giving information about Punjab History?
Answer:
Many historical and semi-historical works were written in Punjabi and Hindi languages in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. These works throw ample light on the history of Punjab. Most prominent among them are mentioned below :
1. Sri Gursobha: Sri Gursobha was written by Sainapat, a famous court poet of Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1741 A.D. He has given an eye-witness account of the events that took place from 1699 A.D. to 1708 A.D. about its historical value.
2. Sikhan Di Bhagat Mala: This work was written by Bhai Mani Singh Ji in the eighteenth century. It is also known as ‘Bhagat Ratnavali’. It provides valuable information about the lives of the Gurus, names of the prominent Sikhs, their castes, and places of residence along with the social conditions of the time.
3. Bansavali Nama: It was written by Kesar Singh Chhibbar in 1780 A.D. It covers the history from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to the middle of the eighteenth century. It is more reliable as far as later history is concerned than that of the Guru’s period because the writer gives an eye-witness account of many such events.
4. Mehma Prakash: In fact, it comprises two” books —(a) Mehma Prakash Vartik (b) Mehma Prakash Kavita. (a) Mehma Prakash Vartik was written by Bawa Kirpal Singh in 1741 A.D. It describes the. lives of the Sikh Gurus, in brief, (b) Mehma Prakash Kavita was written by Sarup Das Bhalla in 1776 A.D. It describes the lives of Sikh Gurus in detail.
5. Gur Partap Suraj Granth: It is a comprehensive work. It was written by Bhai Santokh Singh. It has two parts :
- Nanak Prakash: It was written in 1823 A.D. It gives a graphic account of the life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji only.
- Suraj Prakash: It was written in 1843 A.D. It refers to the events that took place from the time of Guru Angad Dev Ji to Banda Singh Bahadur. Although the work is very comprehensive and detailed, it is less useful from a historical point of view.
6. Prachin Panth Prakash: It was written by Rattan Singh Bhangu in 1841 A.D. It provides very important information regarding the history from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to the eighteenth century. The foremost importance of this book lies in the fact that it gives the description of the facts in a systematic manner. Dr. Hari Ram Gupta aptly says,
“This work is the first attempt made by a Sikh to compile a Sikh history and is of supreme importance.”
7. Panth Prakash and Twarikh Guru Khalsa: Both these books were written by Giani Gian Singh. ‘Panth Prakash’ is written in a poetic form whereas ‘Twarikh Guru Khalsa’ is a prose work. Both these books narrate history from Guru Nanak Dev Ji till the end of the Sikh empire (1849 A.D.). From a historical point of view, Twarikh Guru Khalsa is more useful than Panth Prakash.
Short Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
What problems are faced by the students in composing the History of Punjab?
Or
Describe any three important problems being faced by the students in composing the history of Punjab.
Answer: We face several problems in respect of sources of the history of Punjab.
- The sources related to the period of the Gurus are quite insufficient
- The Muslim writers have deliberately not presented the Sikh history correctly.
- Several books of Sikh history were destroyed in the 18th century during the invasions of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali.
- Many sources of Punjab history are still lying without scrutiny.
Question 2.
Write a short note on Hukamnamas.
Answer:
Hukamnamas were the orders of the Sikh Gurus or of their family members. In most of these Hukamnamas, they were asked to bring ration, for ‘ community kitchen, money for the construction of religious places, horses and arms to be used in battles. In all 89 Hukamnamas have been compiled so far by Dr. Ganda Singh. Of these 34 Hukamnamas were issued by Guru Gobind Singh Ji and 23 by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. The Sikhs obeyed these Hukamnamas as orders from God.
Question 3.
Mention briefly any five important historical sources related to the religious literature of the Sikhs.
Answer:
- In the religious Sikh literature, Adi Granth Sahib occupies the highest place. Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled it in 1604 A.D. We get valuable information about the political, religious, social, and economic conditions of that time from Adi Granth Sahib Ji.
- Bhai Mani Singh Ji compiled Dasam Granth Sahib in 1721 A.D. It is a precious source of knowledge about Guru Gobind Singh JI’s life,
- Bhai Gurdas Ji wrote 39 Vars. These Vars are called the key to understanding Guru Granth Sahib,
- Gyan Ratnavali written by Bhai Gurdas Ji has presented historical facts in a sequence,
- Hukamnamas also provide us with knowledge about the Sikh Gurus and the contemporary social structure.
Question 4.
What is meant by Janam Sakhis? Explain briefly the three Janam Sakhis.
Or
What are the Janam Sakhis? Discuss the importance of different Janam Sakhis.
Or
Throw light on any three Janam Sakhis.
Answer:
The stories concerning the birth and life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji are called Janam Sakhis.
- Bhai Vir Singh edited Puratan Janam Sakhi in 1926 A.D. This is the oldest and the most trustworthy Janam Sakhi.
- The Janam Sakhi of Meharban was written by Meharban, the son of Prithi Chand. In it, he gave a detailed description of the Udasis of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
- Bhai Balaji’s Janam Sakhi. It is not trustworthy,
- Bhai Mani Singh Ji’s Janam-Sakhi. It is a very trustworthy source.
Question 5.
Write a short note on Janam Sakhi of Meharban.
Answer:
Meharban was the son of Prithi Chand, the elder brother of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. He gave a very detailed description of the Udasis of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and his stay at Kartarpur. It gives a more satisfactory chronology. Names of persons and places mentioned in it are generally correct. There are a few myths.
Question 6.
What do you know about Vars of Bhai Gurdas Ji?
Or
Write a note on Bhai Gurdas Bhalla.
Answer:
Bhai Gurdas Bhalla (1558-1635 A.D.) was the son of Datar Chand Bhalla, the brother of Guru Amar Das Ji. He was contemporary of third, fourth, fifth, and sixth Sikh Gurus. He was a top-class writer. He composed 39 Vars. These Vars are written in Punjabi. We get useful information about the first six Gurus’ lives, teachings of Sikh religion, names of cities, and the lives of Saints and Bhaktas from these Vars. The first and eleventh Vars are considered important from the historical point of view.
Question 7.
Describe the importance of Adi Granth Sahib Ji as a source of the History of Punjab.
Or
Write a note on Adi Granth Sahib Ji.
Or
Give a brief description of Adi Granth Sahib Ji and its historical importance.
Answer:
Adi Granth Sahib Ji is considered the supreme, sacred and authentic scripture of the Sikhs. Guru Arjan Dev Ji compiled Adi Granth Sahib Ji in 1604 A.D. The Bani of the first five Sikh Gurus and of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji is included in it. Besides, the Bani (hymns) of many Hindu Bhagats, Sufi Saints, Bhats, etc. are also included in it. We get valuable information about the political, religious, social, and economic life of that time by studying Adi Granth Sahib Ji.
Question 8.
Write a short note on Dasam Granth Sahib Ji.
Or
What do you know about Dasam Granth Sahib Ji?
Answer:
Dasam Granth Sahib Ji is a compilation of the works of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and his court poets. Bhai Mani Singh Ji compiled Dasam Granth Sahib Ji in 1721 A.D. It is a collection of 18 works. Jaap Sahib, Akal Ustat, Chandi di Var, Chaubis Avtar, Shabad Hazare, Shastarnama, Bachitar Natak, and Zafarnama are worthy of special mention. Bachelor Natak is Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s autobiography. Zafarnama is a letter of victory written by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to Aurangzeb.
Question 9.
What is the importance of Bachittar Natak in the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji?
Or
Write a short note on Bachittar Natak.
Or
Discuss Bachittar Natak.
Answer:
It is an autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. It explains the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. It also explains the creation of this world and History of Bedis and Sodhi’s and the battles of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In it, the objective of the life of Guru Gobind Singh Ji is also given. It throws light on the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
Question 10.
Give a brief account of five historical sources written in the 18th century in Punjabi.
Answer:
The five historical sources written in Punjabi in the 18th century are as follows :
- Sikhan Di Bhagatmala: This work was written by Bhai Mani Singh Ji in the eighteenth century. It provides valuable information about the lives of the Gurus, names of the prominent Sikhs, their castes, and places of residence.
- Bansavali Nama: It was written by Kesar Singh Chhibbar in 1780 A.D. It covers the historic middle of the eighteenth century.
- Mehma Prakash Kavita was written by Sarup Das Bhalla in 1776 A.D. It describes the lives of Sikh Gurus in detail.
- Prachin Panth Prakash. It was written by Ratna Singh Bhangu in 1841 A.D. It explains the history from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to mid 18th century.
- Sri Gursobha. It was written by Sainapat a court poet of Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1741 A.D. He explains the events that took place between the period 1699 A.D. to 1708 A.D.
Question 11.
Write a short note on Sri Gursobha.
Answer:
Sri Gursobha was written by the famous court poet Sainapat of Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1741 A.D. It has given an eye-witness account of the events from the creation of the Khalsa in 1699 A.D. to the death of Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1708 A.D. It gives a detailed account of the creation of Khalsa, the battles of the post-Khalsa period, how Zafarnama, was delivered by Bhai Daya Singh Ji, the meeting Guru Gobind Singh Ji with the new Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah in Agra, and about the death of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Question 12.
What do you know about the Sikhan Di Bhagatmala?
Answer:
It was written by Bhai Mani Singh Ji in the 18th century. It is also known as Gyan Ratnavali. It throws light about the lives of the Gurus, names of the prominent Sikhs, their castes, and their places of residence. It also provides valuable information about the social conditions of that time.
Question 13.
Write a short note on Bansavalinama.
Answer:
Bansavalinama was written by Kesar Singh Chhibbar in 1780 A.D. It covers the history from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to the middle of the eighteenth century. This work is divided into 14 chapters. The first 10 chapters are related to the Sikh Gurus. The rest 4 are related to the martyrdom of Sahibzadas, Banda Singh Bahadur, Mata Sundri Ji, and the Khalsa Panth.
Question 14.
Give a brief account of Prachin Panth Prakash.
Answer:
Prachin Panth Prakash was written by Rattan Singh Bhangu in 1841 A.D. It provides very important information regarding the history from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to the eighteenth century. The foremost importance of this book lies in the fact that it is the first history book ever written by a Sikh. Secondly, the description of the facts is systematic and correct.
Question 15.
Give a brief account of important Persian sources of the History of Punjab.
Or
Explain any three important Persian sources which are essential for composing the History of Punjab.
Answer:
- Ain-i-Akbari. It is the main source of information regarding Akbar’s relations with the Sikh Gurus. It is written by Abul Fazl.
- Tezak-i-Jahangiri is the autobiography of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. It explains the reasons which led to the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
- Qazi Nur Muhammad wrote Jang Nama. He gave an eye-witness account of warfare of the Sikhs and their character,
- Tarikh-i-Sikhan is written by Khushwat Rai. It describes the history of the Sikhs from Guru Nanak Dev Ji to 1811 A.D.
- Char-Bagh-i- Punjab is written by Ganesh Das Wadehra about the administration of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Question 16.
Write a short note on Char Bagh-i-Punjab.
Answer:
This work was written by Ganesh Das Wadehra in 1855 A.D. He served as a Qanungo under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The writer has narrated the history of Punjab from the ancient period to 1849 A.D. However, he has described the events relating to the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh as an eye-witness account in chronological order. He has taken special care about the authenticity of the facts.
Question 17.
Mention important English sources which give information about the History of Punjab.
Or
Throw light on three important sources of information on Punjab History written in English.
Answer:
- The Court and Camp of Ranjit Singh: In it Capt. William Osborne has thrown light on the grandeur of Maharaja’s court, his courtiers, and his military administration.
- History of the Sikhs: In this book, Dr. Mac Gregor provides useful information about the battles of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Sikhs against the English.
- The Punjab: In this book, Steinbach has given very important details about the army of the Maharaja.
- History of Punjab: Dr. Murray has given an account of the successors of Ranjit Singh.
- Sketch of the Sikhs : In this book, Malcolm has given a brief account of the Sikhs.
Question 18.
Write a short note on the historical importance of Records of the British Indian Government.
Answer:
The records of the British Indian government provide the most important information regarding the Sikh History from the beginning of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign from 1799 A.D. to the downfall of the Sikh Empire in 1849 A.D. These records throw valuable light on Anglo-Sikh relations, about the Kingdom of Ranjit Singh and his reign and “the relations of the English with Afghanistan and Sind.
Question 19.
Examine the importance of coins in the construction Of the History of Punjab.
Answer:
The coins are of special importance in the construction of the history of Punjab. We find the coins of Mughals, Banda Singh Bahadur, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, Ahmad Shah Abdali and Maharaja Ranjit Singh. These coins throw valuable light on the dates and other important facts about the different rulers. As the facts provided by these coins are very trustworthy, so they help a lot in solving many problems related to the history of Punjab.
Objective Type Questions:
Question 1.
Write anyone difficulty in the creation of the History of Punjab.
Answer:
The Punjabis were not much interested in writing History.
Question 2.
Name any one historical source of Punjab related to the Sikhs.
Or
Name any one source of the History of Punjab which is written in Gurmukhi script.
Answer:
Adi Granth Sahib Ji.
Question 3.
When was Adi Granth Sahib Ji compiled?
Answer:
In 1604 A.D.
Question 4.
Which Sikh Guru Sahib had compiled Adi Granth Sahib Ji?
Answer:
Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
Question 5.
What is the name of the main religious book (Granth Sahib) of the Sikhs?
Or
Which is the most famous Granth of Sikhs?
Or
Name the central scripture of the Sikhs.
Answer:
Adi Granth Sahib Ji or Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Question 6. When was Dasam Granth Sahib Ji compiled?
Answer:
In 1721 A.D.
Question 7.
Who compiled Dasam Granth Sahib Ji?
Answer:
Bhai Mani Singh Ji.
Question 8.
To which Guru is Dasam Granth Sahib related?
Or
Who is associated with Dasam Granth Sahib Ji?
Answer:
Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Question 9.
Name any one composition of Guru Gobind Singh Ji included in Dasam Granth Sahib Ji.
Answer:
Bachelor Natak.
Question 10.
Who composed Bachitar Natak?
Answer:
Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Question 11.
What is Bachitar Natak?
Answer:
Biography of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Question 12.
What is Zafarnama?
Answer:
Zafarnama is a letter of Guru Gobind Singh Ji written to Aurangzeb.
Question 13.
At which place did Guru Gobind Singh Ji write Zafarnama to Aurangzeb?
Answer:
Dina Kangar.
Question 14.
In which language Zafarnama was written?
Answer:
Persian.
Question 15.
Who was Bhai Gurdas Ji?
Answer:
He was the son of Guru Amar Das Ji’s brother Datar Chand Bhalla.
Question 16.
How many vars were composed by Bhai Gurdas Ji?
Answer:
39.
Question 17.
What is meant by Janam Sakhis?
Answer:
Janam Sakhis mean the episodes related to Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth and his life.
Question 18.
Write the name of anyone Janam Sakhi.
Answer:
Janam Sakhi of Bhai Mani Singh Ji.
Question 19.
Which is the most authentic Janam Sakhi?
Answer:
Puratan Janam Sakhi.
Question 20.
Who wrote Gyan Ratanavali?
Answer:
Bhai Mani Singh Ji.
Question 21.
Who was Bhai Bala Ji?
Answer:
A childhood companion of Bhai Mani Singh Ji.
Question 22.
What are the Hukamnamas?
Or
What is meant by Hukamnamas?
Answer:
Hukamnama means ‘an order’.
Question 23.
How many Hukamnamas issued by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji have been found?
Answer:
23.
Question 24.
Which Guru Sahib has issued the maximum Hukamnamas found so far?
Answer:
Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Question 25.
How many Hukamnamas of Guru Gobind Singh Ji have been found?
Answer:
34.
Question 26.
How many Hukamnamas have been found so far?
Answer:
89.
Question 27.
Who was Sainapat?
Answer:
A famous poet in the Darbar of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Question 28.
Who composed the book Sikhan Di Bhagatmala?
Answer:
Bhai Mani Singh Ji.
Question 29.
Who wrote Prachin Panth Parkash?
Answer:
Rattan Singh Bhangu wrote Prachin Panth Parkash.
Question 30.
When did Rattan Singh Bhangu write Panth Prakash?
Answer:
1841 A.D.
Question 31.
Who wrote Gur Partap Suraj Granth?
Answer:
Bhai Santokh Singh Ji.
Question 32.
Who wrote Bansawali Nama?
Answer:
Kesar Singh Chhibbar.
Question 33.
Who was the author of Tuzak-i-Babari?
Answer:
Babar.
Question 34.
Who was the most famous scholar in the court of Akbar?
Answer:
Abul Fazl.
Question 35.
Who wrote Ain-i-Akbari and Akbarnama?
Answer:
Abul Fazl.
Question 36.
Give the name of the autobiography of Jahangir.
Answer:
Tezak-i-Jahangiri.
Question 37.
Name the famous book written by Khafi Khan.
Answer:
Muntkhib-ul-Luba.
Question 38.
Who wrote the book ‘Jang Nama’?
Answer:
Qazi Nur Mohammad.
Question 39.
Name any two famous Persian sources related to the period of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s rule.
Answer:
Umdat-ut-Tawarikh.
Question 40.
Who was the court historian of Maharaja Ranjit Singh?
Or
Who wrote Umdat-ut-Tawarikh?
Answer:
Sohan Lai Suri.
Question 41.
Who wrote Zafar-Nama-i-Ranjit Singh?
Answer:
Diwan Amar Nath.
Question 42.
Who wrote Tawarikh-i-Punjab?
Answer:
Bute Shah.
Question 43.
Who wrote the book ‘Char-Bagh-i-Punjab’?
Answer:
Ganesh Das Wadehra.
Question 44.
Who wrote Tawarikh-i-Sikhan?
Answer:
Khushwaqat Rai.
Question 45.
Who discovered Bhat Vahis?
Answer:
Gyani Garza Singh Ji.
Question 46.
What were Bhat Vahis?
Answer:
The records compiled by Bhats.
Question 47.
Who compiled Khalsa Darbar Records?
Answer:
Sita Ram Kohli.
Question 48.
What information we get from Khalsa Darbar Records?
Answer:
About the life and times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Question 49.
In which language Khalsa Darbar Records were written?
Answer:
Persian language.
Question 50.
Name the famous work of J.D. Cunningham?
Answer:
History of the Sikhs.
Question 51.
Write the name of any one town founded by Sikh Gurus.
Answer:
Amritsar.
Question 52.
By whom were the first Sikh coins issued?
Answer:
Banda Singh Bahadur.
Question 53.
In whose names Banda Singh Bahadur issued his coins?
Answer:
Guru Nanakdev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Fill in the blanks:
1. The main source of history concerning the period of Gurus is ………………
Answer:
Janam Sakhis
2. The Adi Granth Sahib was compiled in ……………..
Answer:
1604 A.D.
3. Guru Granth Sahib was compiled by ………………
Answer:
Guru Arjan Dev Ji
4. ……………… compiled the Dasam Granth Sahib.
Answer:
Bhai Mani Singh Ji
5. Dasam Granth Sahib is related with ……………..
Answer:
Guru Gobind Singh Ji
6. ………………. is the autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Answer:
Bachitar Natak
7. A letter written by Guru Gobind Singh to Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb is called ………………
Answer:
Zafarnama
8. Bhai Gurdas Ji composed a total of ……………. Vars.
Answer:
39
9. The stories relating to the birth and life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji are called ………………
Answer:
Janam Sakhis
10. The Janam Sakhi was written by Bhai mani Singh Ji is known as ……………..
Answer:
Gyan Ratnawali
11. Hukamnamas means ……………..
Answer:
Proclamations
12. Gursobha was written by …………………
Answer:
Sainapat
13. ……………….. was written by Bhai Mani Singh Ji.
Answer:
Sikhan Di Bhagatmala
14. ………………. wrote Prachin Panth Prakash.
Answer:
Rattan Singh Bhangu
15. Twarikh Guru Khalsa was written by ………………
Answer:
Giani Gain Singh
16. Guru Partap Suraj Granth was written by ……………….
Answer:
Bhai Santokh Singh
17. Gyan Ratnawali was written by ………………
Answer:
Bhai Mani Singh Ji
18. Autobiography of the Mughal Emperor Babar is known as ……………….
Answer:
Tuzak-i-Babari
19. ………………. wrote both Ain-i-Akbari and Akbarnama.
Answer:
Abul Fazl
20. …………… is Jahangir’s autobiography.
Answer:
Tuzak-i-Jahangiri
21. Muntakhib-ul-labab was written by …………….
Answer:
Khafi Khan
22. ……………… was written by Qazi Nur Mohammad.
Answer:
Jang Nama
23. …………… was court historian of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Answer:
Sohan Lal Suri
24. Sohan Lai Suri wrote ……………
Answer:
Umdat-ut-Tawarikh
25. Buta Shah wrote …………….
Answer:
Tawarikh-i-Punjab
26. Zafarnama-i-Ranjit Singh was written by ………………….
Answer:
Diwan Amarnath
27. Ganesh Das Wadhera composed ……………..
Answer:
Char-Bagh-i-Punjab
28. ………………….. was the writer of The Court and Camp of Ranjit Singh.
Answer:
William Osborne
29. J.D. Cunningham wrote …………………
Answer:
History of the Sikhs
30. The first Sikh coins were issued by ……………….
Answer:
Banda Singh Bahadur
True or False:
1. The Adi Granth Sahib is considered as the most sacred and authentic scripture of Sikhism.
Answer:
True
2. Guru Arjan Sahib compiled, the great holy scripture the Adi Granth Sahib in 1604 A.D.
Answer:
True
3. Dasam Granth Sahib was compiled by Bhai Mani Singh Ji in 1721 A.D.
Answer:
True
4. The autobiography of Guru Gobind Singh Ji is called ‘Zafarnama’.
Answer:
False
5. Bhai Gurdas Ji composed 39 Vars.
Answer:
True
6. The stories relating to the birth and life of Guru Nanak Dev Ji are called ‘Janam Sakhis’.
Answer:
True
7. Puratan Janam Sakhi was edited by Bhai Vir Singh Ji in 1926 A.D.
Answer:
True
8. Janam Sakhi of Bhai Mani Singh Ji is also called ‘Gyan Ratnavali’.
Answer:
True
9. Hukamnamas were those orders that were issued by the Sikh Gurus or by the members of their families to the Sikh Sangat.
Answer:
True
10. Gursobha was written by Sainapat in 1741 A.D.
Answer:
True
11. Sikhan Di Bhagatmala was written by Bhai Mani Singh Ji.
Answer:
True
12. Gur Partap Suraj Granth was written by Bhai Santokh Singh.
Answer:
True
13. The writer of Panth Parkash was Giani Gian Singh.
Answer:
False
14. The autobiography of Babar is called Tuzak-i-Babari.
Answer:
True
15. The writer of Ain-i-Akbari and Akbamama was Abul Fazl.
Answer:
True
16. Tuzak-i-Jahangiri was the creation of Shah Jahan.
Answer:
False
17. Khulasat-ut-Tawarikh was written by Sujan Rai Bhandari.
Answer:
True
18. Jang Nama was written by Qazi Nur Mohammad.
Answer:
True
19. Umdat-ut-Tawarikh was written by Sohan Lai Suri.
Answer:
True
20. Diwan Amarnath wrote Zafarnama-i-Ranjit Singh.
Answer:
True
21. Ganesh Das Wadhera was the writer of Char Bagh-i-Punjab.
Answer:
True
22. Khalsa Darbar Records are written in Gurmukhi.
Answer:
False
23. Malcolm wrote Sketch of Sikhs.
Answer:
True
24. The Court and Camp of Ranjit Singh was written by Captain William Osborne.
Answer:
True
25. History of the Sikhs was written by J.D. Cunningham.
Answer:
True
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. When was Adi Granth Sahib Ji compiled?
(a) In 1601 A.D.
(b) In 1602 A.D.
(c) In 1604 A.D.
(d) In 1605 A.D.
Answer:
(c) In 1604 A.D.
2. Who compiled Adi Granth Sahib Ji?
(a) Guru Nanak Dev Ji
(b) Guru Angad Dev Ji
(c) Guru Arjan Dev Ji
(d) Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Answer:
(c) Guru Arjan Dev Ji
3. Who edited Dasam Granth Sahib Ji?
(a) Guru Gobind Singh Ji
(b) Bhai Mani Singh Ji
(c) Baba Deep Singh Ji
(d) Guru Arjan Dev ji.
Answer:
(b) Bhai Mani Singh Ji
4. To which Guru is Dasam Granth Sahib Ji related?
(a) First Guru
(b) Third Guru
(c) Fifth Guru
(d) Tenth Guru.
Answer:
(d) Tenth Guru.
5. Who wrote Zafarnama?
(a) Guru Nanak Dev Ji
(b) Guru Amar Dass Ji
(c) Guru Arjan Dev Ji
(d) Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Answer:
(d) Guru Gobind Singh Ji
6. Bachitar Natak is the autobiography of :
(a) Guru Nanak Dev Ji
(b) Guru Hargobind Ji
(c) Guru Gobind Singh Ji
(d) Banda Singh Bahadur.
Answer:
(c) Guru Gobind Singh Ji
7. How many Vars were composed by Bhai Gurdas Ji?
(a) 15
(b) 20
(c) 29
(d) 39.
Answer:
(d)
8. Who edited Puratan Janam Sakhi?
(a) Bhai Kaan Singh Nabha
(b) Bhai Veer Singh
(c) Bhai Mani Singh Ji
(d) Meharban.
Answer:
(b) Bhai Veer Singh
9. Who was the author of Gyan Ratanavali?
Or
Who wrote Gyan Ratanavali?
(a) Kesar Singh Chhibbar
(b) Bhai Mani Singh Ji
(c) Bhai Bala Ji
(d) Bhar Gurdas Ji.
Answer:
(b) Bhai Mani Singh Ji
10. Who was the writer of Meharban’s Janam Sakhi?
(a) Manohar Das
(b) Akhil Das
(c) Bhai Bala Ji
(d) Bhai Gurdas Ji
Answer:
(a) Manohar Das
11. What are the Hukamnamas?
(a) Letters of Sikh Gurus
(b) The most famous Janam Sakhi
(c) Orders of Mughal kings
(d) None of these.
Answer:
(a) Letters of Sikh Gurus
12. Who wrote Sri Gursobha?
(a) Bhai Mani Singh Ji
(b) Rattan Singh Bhangu
(c) Sainapat
(d) Giani Gian Singh
Answer:
(c) Sainapat
13. Who wrote Bansavalinama?
(a) Kesar Singh Chibbar
(b) Bhai Mani Singh Ji.
(c) Bhai Gurdas Ji
(d) Rattan Singh Bhangu.
Answer:
(a) Kesar Singh Chibbar
14.Who composed the book ‘Sikhan Di Bhagatmala’?
(a) Bhai Mani Singh Ji
(b) Bhai Daya Singh Ji
(c) Bhai Santokh Singh
(d) Rattan Singh Bhanghu.
Answer:
(a) Bhai Mani Singh Ji
15. Who wrote Gurpartap Suraj Granth?
(a) Saroop Das Bhaila
(b) Bhai Santokh Singh
(c) Rattan Singh Bhangu
(d) Giani Gian Singh.
Answer:
(b) Bhai Santokh Singh
16. When did Rattan Singh Bhangu compose Prachin Panth Prakash?
(a) In 1641 A.D.
(b) In 1741 A.D.
(c) In 1841 A.D.
(d) In 1849 A.D.
Answer:
(c) In 1841 A.D.
17. Who wrote Tawarikh-Guru Khalsa?
(a) Giani Gian Singh
(b) Bhai Santokh Singh
(c) Rattan Singh Bhangu
(d) Bhai Mani Singh Ji.
Answer:
(a) Giani Gian Singh
18. Tuzak-i-Babri was related with which ruler?
(a) Humayun
(b) Babar
(c) Jahangir
(d) Akbar
Answer:
(b) Babar
19. In which language Babar wrote Tuzak-i-Babari?
(a) Persian
(b) Turkish
(c) Urdu
(d) Arabian
Answer:
(b) Turkish
20. Who wrote Ain-i-Akbari and Akbarnama?
(a) Abul Fazl
(b) Sujjan Rai Bhandari
(c) Sohan Lai Suri
(d) Quzi-Nur-Mohammad
Answer:
(a) Abul Fazl
21. Who wrote Tuzak-i-Jahangiri?
(a) Babar
(b) Jahangir
(c) Shah Jahan
(d) Aurangzeb
Answer:
(b) Jahangir
22. Who wrote Khulasat-ut-Tawarikh?
(a) Sujjan Rai Bhandari
(b) Quzi Nur-Mohammad
(c) Khafi-Khan
(d) Sohan Lal Sur.
Answer:
(a) Sujjan Rai Bhandari
23. Name the famous book written by Khafi Khan.
(a) Dabistan-i-Majahib
(b) Jang Nama
(c) Khulasat-ut-Tawarikh
(d) Muntkhib-ul-Lubab
Answer:
(d) Muntkhib-ul-Lubab
24. Who wrote Jang Nama?
(a) Sohan Lai Suri
(b) Qazi Nur Mohammad
(c) Khafi Khan
(d) Abul Fazl.
Answer:
(b) Qazi Nur Mohammad
25. Which famous granth was written by court historian, Sohan Lai Suri of Maharaja Ranjit Singh?
(a) Umdat-ut-Tawarikh
(b) Tawarikh-i- Sikhan
(c) Tawarikh-i-Punjab
(d) Ibratnama.
Answer:
(a) Umdat-ut-Tawarikh
26. When did Khushwaqt Rai compose Tawarikh-i-Sikhan?
(a) In 1764 A.D.
(b) In 1784 A.D
(c) In 1811 A.D
(d) In 1821 A.D.
Answer:
(c) In 1811 A.D
27. Who wrote Tawarikh-i-Sikhan?
(a) Diwan Amarnath
(b) Khushwaqt Rai
(c) Sohan Lai Suri
(d) Bute Shah.
Answer:
(b) Khushwaqt Rai
28. Who wrote Zafarnama-i-Ranjit Singh?
(a) Sohan Lai Suri
(b) Diwan Amarnath.
(c) Allaudin Mufti
(d) Qazi-Nur-Mohammad.
Answer:
(b) Diwan Amarnath.
29. Name the famous- book of Ganesh Das Wadehra :
(a) Tawarikh-i-Punjab
(b) Tawarikh-i-Sikhan
(c) Char-Bagh-i-Punjab
(d) Ibratnama.
Answer:
(c) Char-Bagh-i-Punjab
30. In which language Khalsa Darbar Records were written?
(a) English
(b) Persian
(c) Urdu
(d) Punjabi
Answer:
(b) Persian
31. When did Malcolm compose Sketch of Sikhs?
(a) In 1802 A.D.
(b) In 1812 A.D.
(c) In 1822 A.D.
(d) In 1832 A.D.
Answer:
(b) In 1812 A.D.
32. Who wrote the famous book The Court and Camp of Ranjit Singh?
(a) H.T. Princep
(b) Wiliam Osborne
(c) Dr. Mac. Gregor
(d) J. D. Cunningham
Answer:
(b) Wiliam Osborne
33. Who was the writer of the History of the Sikhs?
(a) J.D. Cunningham
(b) Alexander Burns
(c) Dr. Muray
(d) Malcolm.
Answer:
(a) J.D. Cunningham
34. Who issued the first Sikh coins?
(a) Guru Gobind Singh Ji
(b) Banda Singh Bahadur
(c) Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
(d) Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Answer:
(b) Banda Singh Bahadur