An outline of Sikh architectureby S.S. BhattiSo little has been written about Sikh architecture that it is difficult for anyone to believe that such a style of architecture exists at all. It is ironic that whereas the Sikhs are known the world over for their characteristic vigor, valor, versatility, above

NAINA SINGH, AKALI, eighteenth century Nihang warrior esteemed as much for his piety as for his valour. His special title to fame rests on the fact that he was the guardian of the celebrated Akali Phula Singh (1761-1823) whom he trained in the martial arts. Little is known about his

NIHAL SINGH THAKUR (1808-1895), Sikh theologian and musician, was born at Amritsar on 7 Phagun 1864 Bk/17 February 1808 to Bhai Mahal Singh and Mata Basi. Bhai Mahal Singh lived in the village of Sayyid ki Sarai in Gujjarkhan tahsil of Rawalpindi district, now in Pakistan, and had come to

BECHINT SINGH, BHAI (1872-1921), one of the Nankana Sahib martyrs, was the son of Bhai Sundar Singh and Mat Sahib Kaur, a peasant couple of the village of Pharala in Jalandhar district. The family migrated to Chakk No. 258 Pharala in the newly colonized district of Lyallpur in 1892.

DAMODARI, MATA (1597-1631), daughter of Narain Das, aJulka Khatri of the village of Dalla, 6 km southeast of Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala district of the Punjab, was married to Guru Hargobind (1595-1644) on 15 February 1605. She gave birth to a son, Baba Gurditta (b. 1613), and a daughter, Bibi

GURBAKHSH SINGH KALSIA (d. 1785), a leading figure in the Karor Singhia misi of the Sikhs, was a Sandhu Jatt, belonging to the village of Kalsia in Lahore district. He received Sikh initiatory rites at the hands of the revered Bhai Mani Singh at Amritsar in the time of

JAWAHAR SINGH, a native of Sarhali in Amritsar district of the Punjab, joined Bhai Maharaj Singh (d. 1856) at Dev Baiala soon after the second AngloSikh war. He was left behind at their camp at Chumbi in the interior of Jammu region, when Maharaj Singh with the main body

KESAR SINGH, BHAI (1875-1921), one of the Nankana Sahib martyrs, was the son of Bhai Mihari Singh and Mai Bhagan, farmers of moderate means of Bharokt village in Gujrariwala district, who later migrated to Sheikhupura district. He was a simple peasant with a large family of three sons and

MEHAR SINGH NIRMALA, a Sandhu Jatt belonging to the Nishananvali misi, became famous by display of bravery and courage in the latter half of the eighteenth century. He was one of the persons who figured in the partition of Sirhind territory after the town was captured by Sikhs in

PHUMMAN SINGH, BHAI, famous as a ragi or musician reciting Sikh hymns, was born in a Jatt Sikh family of Daudhar in present day Moga district of the Punjab in the sixties of the nineteenth century. He learnt to read Scripture and recite kirtan at the Dera or seminary established

SAVAN SINGH, a cousin of Dasaundha Singh and Sangat Singh of the Nishanavah misi, distinguished himself by his heroic deeds in the latter half of the eighteenth century. He participated in the partition of the territory of Sirhind which was captured by the Sikhs in January 1764. He appropriated

VADBHAG SINGH, SODHl (1716-61), a lineal descendant of Guru Hargobind (1595-1644) through the latter`s son, Baba Gurditta, and grandson, Dhir Mall, was born the son of Sodhi Ram Singh on 13 August 1716 at Kartarpur, in present day Jalandhar district of the Punjab. Vadbhag Singh became chief of Kartarpur