The Other Sikhs

Abstract

With changes in Punjab scenario and development of numerous Sikh settlements outside India, Sikh Studies have witnessed many twists and turns. In recent times, the Sikh past is critically studied not only in Punjab but has reached as far as the western coasts of the Atlantic. With the inclusion of diasporan Sikhs, there are interesting modifications in the nature and scope of Sikh Studies. Growing Sikh concentration from Shimla to Shillong outside Punjab suggests another boundary of research pointing out how the message of Sikhism has been interacting with the wider non-Sikh Indian milieu. It possibly introduces researchers to cultural diversities among Sikhs. While reviewing some of these issues, the article intends to focus on their methodology. Scholars engaged in tracking Sikh trails outside Punjab would look forward to varied textual and non-textual local materials. Punjabi sources are no doubt relevant, but historians are also expected to go beyond them and incorporate methodologies of other disciplines like sociology and anthropology for interrogating small Sikh groups at micro-level.