Tracing the Historical Writings on Sikhism

This paper aims at tracing the changing contours of historiographic discourse on Sikhism. It underlines the initiation of modern Studies on Sikhism in the Western enterprise preceding annexation and the various developments explored through the Indian response during the early phase of twentieth century. It is explicated that the modern writings of history on Sikhs was shaped in the past century and half. The emerging outline of Sikh writings during the culmination of the eighteenth century gathered momentum during J.D Cunningham’s publication and writings on the history of Sikhs in 1849. Historical writings on Sikhs during the early stages of the colonial period distanced from the Cunningham writings or remained neutral in their perspectives resulting in the emergence of further misconceptions and stereotypes. Having traced the larger development one shift to the state of local historiography and then conclude with a comparative note with the site of historical writings on Sikhism in the historiography of Jammu and Kashmir which clearly points to the need of works on the history of Sikhism in the region of Jammu and Kashmir.