Sikhism
Sikh is a Punjabi word deriving from the Sanskrit, shishya, which means 'disciple'. A Sikh is any person who believes in one Immortal Being, the ten Gurus, the Guru Granth …
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The Panjab and the rise of Sikh power
Sikhism began in the Panjab, the land defined by the five rivers which flow across its plains and now divide India and Pakistan.
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Mughals & the Royal City of Lahore
The rulers of Lahore built highly decorative palaces and tombs. Local craftspeople were also renowned for making carpets and shawls.
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Hindu hill kingdoms
In the hills at the edge of the Panjab plains, isolated Hindu kingdoms nurtured strongly distinctive styles of painting.
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The court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh's court was one of the most magnificent in the whole of India.
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Military Sikhs
Sikhism began as a peaceful religion, and tolerance always remained one of the fundamental tenets. However, religious persecution led to the development of a martial ethos.
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The Sikh wars & the annexation of the Panjab
Watching the chaotic events in the Panjab after Ranjit Singh's death were the British. Conflict escalated to war.
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Maharaja Dalip Singh
After annexation, Dalip Singh was separated from his mother, Rani Jindan, regarded by the British as a dangerous influence on the young boy. He was given into the care of D…
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Continuing traditions in the Panjab 1849-1900
After the turmoil of annexation, peace gradually returned to the Panjab and the arts were able to flourish at their traditional centres, particularly in the smaller Sikh ki…
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Sikh historical photographs
The last one hundred and fifty years also coincide with the age of the development of photography. In 1849, on the eve of the Second Anglo Sikh War that ended the kingdom …
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Sikh objects from the V&A Collections
The V&A was founded in 1852 as the South Kensington Museum and later absorbed the collections of the Indian Museum, established by the East India Company in 1799.
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