UK Deputy High Commissioner in Chandigarh Caroline Rowett recently released a book on the legendary 18th century spiritual and military warrior, Baba Deep Singh whose tales of valour permeate through the Sikh culture and history.
Published by Speaking Tiger Books, “Deep Singh Shaheed: The Man in the Legend”, is the first detailed biography of one of the foremost cultural icons of all time in Punjab – Baba Deep Singh Shaheed, one of the most revered heroes of Sikh history who transcends religious boundaries to resonate with Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike with a totemic appeal.
The author Harisimran Singh retired in the rank of Colonel after a full career of thirty-one years in the Indian Army, is an alumnus of The Lawrence School, Sanawar, and did his masters at King’s College, London, while on a sabbatical from the Army.
He said that this biography is based on many years of research spent examining a wide range of Persian, Punjabi and English sources alongside genealogical records, oral traditions and a thorough battlefield study,
This work tends to eschew hagiography to ground all research on this spiritual-cum-military leader whose life story interweaves through the turbulence of 18th-century Punjab, often referred to as the ‘heroic century’, he said.
After the release, author and former associate editor of The Tribune Roopinder Singh explored the nuances of Sikh history with the author along with Brigadier Sukhjit Singh [MVC (Retd)], Dr Harjeet Singh Gill (Professor Emeritus, JNU, New Delhi), Dr Iqbal Judge [Professor of English (Retd)], Chandigarh).
Several other experts joined online including Gordon Corrigan (MBE, Military Historian and author, UK), Tony McClenaghan (Military Historian and author, UK), Peter Stanley (Military Historian and author, Australia), Sqn Ldr RTS Chhina [MBE (Retd), Secretary and Editor, USI Centre for Military History and Conflict Studies, New Delhi.
In partial fulfilment of the master’s program, his dissertation focused on Frederic Manning and Henri Barbusse, two soldier writers of the Great War. Since retirement in 2011, he divides his time between Chandigarh, where he is settled, and Pahuwind, near Tarn Taran, his native village. Besides military history, he enjoys music and poetry as well as trekking in the mountains.
The book is available at all bookstores, www.
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