Welcome to the Sikh History podcast. This podcast series provides a fascinating look into the sparkling lives of the Sikhs from the 15th century to the present times, transporting us back to the times of our ancestors. This podcast provides a historic context to the evolution of the Sikh religion.

The history of the Sikhs starts in 1469 AD with the birth of Guru Nanak and can be divided into 3 major eras. We have the period of 1469 to about 1707 – which is characterized by the physical presence of the 10 Gurus. During this period, the rock solid foundation of Sikhism was laid. Sikh teachings were revolutionary in that they stressed on Ek Onkar, the monotheistic aspect of God, the equality of all men and women and advocacy for a casteless society, and the Sikh way of life that can be summarized as Naam Japna, or remembering God in our actions, the importance of Kirt Karni, or earning an honest living, and Vand Chakna, the practice of sharing with fellow humanity.

The second period of Sikh history is between 1707 and 1839 – from the short lived period of Banda Singh Bahadur to the end of the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. This era tested the resolve of the Sikhs to survive as an independent community, distinct from the prevailing society and its norms.

The third era comprises the lives of Sikhs since 1840 to the modern day, with a look at the partition of the Punjab between India and Pakistan in 1947, the Indian state sponsored anti-Sikh pogroms of 1984 and the emigration of Sikhs from the Punjab to all corners of the world, forming a truly global community, bound by a common history and the love of the Guru Granth Sahib.