ABSTRACT:
The present paper focuses on the Sikh gurdwaras in Punjab from mid 19th to mid 20th century. The aim of the present paper is to identify the number and location of Sikh gurdwaras during the mid 19th to mid 20th century. The Punjab in the present study includes the areas of ‘east’ Punjab especially modern Punjab including present day Haryana. The whole area includes the eleven districts in the mid 19th century and sixteen district in the mid 20th century Punjab The paper is divided into three sections the first section deals with the number and location of gurdwaras in the mid 19th century Punjab. The second section provides similar information about the mid 20th century Punjab. The third section focusses on change in these sacred places and attempts to ascribe the factors responsible for this change. In the mid 19th century eighty five (85) sacred places of the Sikh can be identified in the region. The district Amritsar had the highest number of sacred places sixteen i;e 18%, while Karnal had the least number of two i;e 2% sacred place in the region. The position of sacred places had changed significantly by the mid 20th century. In the mid 20th century two hundred twenty eight (228) sacred places of the Sikhs can be identified in the region. The Patiala district had the maximum number of sacred places thirty three i;e 14%, while Mohindergarh had the least number of two i;e 0.8% sacred places in the region. The new feature of change in these sacred places was the total number of sacred places. There were a total of eighty five (85) sacred places in the mid 19th century but this had increase to two hundred twenty eight (228) by the mid 20th century. Out of them seventy seven of the earlier sacred places i;e 90% had continued to exist while eight sacred places i;e 9% had disappeared and massive one hundred fifty one (151) i;e 66% were newly emerged sacred spaces in the mid 20th century. The location and distribution of sacred places had also changed in the region. Political development, partition, mass movement of Hindus and Sikhs to east Punjab and of Muslims to west Punjab left a deep impact on the sacred places as well.
Cite this article:
Jasvir Singh. Sikh Gurdwaras: A study of the change in the Punjab (1850-1950). Research J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 8(1): January - March, 2017, 92-99. doi: 10.5958/2321-5828.2017.00014.6
Cite(Electronic):
Jasvir Singh. Sikh Gurdwaras: A study of the change in the Punjab (1850-1950). Research J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 8(1): January - March, 2017, 92-99. doi: 10.5958/2321-5828.2017.00014.6 Available on: https://www.rjhssonline.com/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2017-8-1-14