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

By Purina Dhavan Published By Oxford University Press - India 2011, this is a first South Asia edition book.  It is a new hardcover book, shrink-wrapped and beautiful .  9.5" x 6" 245 pages. This is a well-written, academic look at the creation of the Khalsa with a focus on the development of the warrior identity during the Misl period.  I found it very readable and interesting.  And while I didn't always agree with Dr. Dhavan's conclusion, her arguments are respectful and well formed.  Definitely a book worth reading. As written on the book jacket:  "Challenging the commonly accepted belief that the distinctive rituals, ceremonies, and cultural practices associated with the Khalsa were formed during the lifetime of the Tenth and last Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, Purnima Dhavan reveals how such markers of Khalsa identity evolved slowly over the course of the eighteenth century. By focusing on the long-overlooked experiences of peasant communities, she traces the multiple perspectives and d