When Sparrows Became Hawks: The Making of the Sikh Warrior Tradition, 1699-1799

This book delves into the origins and evolving nature of the Sikh warrior community, the Khalsa. It gathers historical data and research to discuss how the identity of the Khalsa evolved over time by placing the experience of peasant communities at the heart of its historical analysis, this book traces the multiple perspectives and debates that eventually coalesced to create a composite Khalsa culture by 1799. This approach incorporates and analyzes Sikh normative religious literature, including rahitnamas and gurbilas texts, created during this period by reading it in the larger context of sources such as news reports, court histories and other primary sources that show how actual practices were shaped in response to religious reforms. Recovering the agency of the peasants who dominated this community, this study demonstrates how a dynamic process of debates, collaboration, and conflict among Sikh peasants, scholars, and chiefs transformed Sikh practices and shaped a new martial c