Remnants of the Sikh Empire: Historical Sikh Monuments in India and Pakistan
Author: Bobby Singh Bansal Category: History, Politics & Current Affairs ISBN: 9789384544898 Binding: Hardback Dimensions: 230 x 150 mm Number of Pages: 268 + 16 colour pages
A fascinating chronicle that focuses on architectural gems of the Sikh Empire
Remnants of the Sikh Empire is a unique guide to the many important Sikh monuments located both in India and Pakistan. It catalogues numerous structures historically associated with the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh during the early nineteenth century. From Mughal to Sikh edifices, this book shines a spotlight on undiscovered masterpieces including forts, havelis (mansions), memorials and palaces across these countries, pictures of which have never been published before.
The author travelled extensively across remote regions along the Afghan‑Pakistan border with the assistance of the Pakistan Army in order to compile rare footage that documents these habitations. Some of the structures include strategic forts built in the tribal areas of Pakistan by the legendary Sikh hero Hari Singh Nalwa, the existence of which is completely unknown to the general public.
Not only does this volume narrate the aesthetic and strategic history behind these structures but it also sheds light on the rich cultural traditions associated with the powerful nobles and courtiers of the Lahore Durbar who reshaped the architectural landscape of Punjab and Kashmir in the nineteenth century. Remnants of the Sikh Empire catapults the reader into an unforgettable journey, retracing the rich heritage of the Punjab in these countries where numerous iconic monuments still stand testament to the power and influence of the Sikh Empire.
Bobby Singh Bansal
Bobby Singh Bansal is a writer, historian and documentary filmmaker. He is the author of The Lion’s Firanghis – Europeans at the Court of Lahore (2010), which charts the careers and lives of European mercenaries who served at the mighty Lahore Durbar in the early nineteenth century. His documentary films include The Sikhs of Kabul – A Forgotten Community (2012), which won an award at the Guanajuato Film Festival, Mexico, 2013. This was followed by The Road to Mandalay – The Burmese Sikhs in 2014. His new film The Legacy of the Sikh Empire will release in late 2015.