Colourful vignettes of Sikh way of life
Roopinder Singh

The Great Glory: Sikhism
by Sandeep Goswami.
Photographs by Malkiat Singh
Rupa. Pages 162. Rs 1950.

A visual feast, this coffee table book has vignettes that depict the glory of Sikhism. The photographer has picked rather a vast canvas, and as such much is expected from this book. Rare photographs of gurdwaras in Pakistan, and a very interesting set on the kar sewa, the de-silting of the Amrit Sarowar or the holy tank in Amritsar, specially stand out from among the images that also depict the exuberance and the joy-de-verve for which the Sikhs are known.

It is obviously a labour of love for Malkiat Singh, who culled a hundred-odd images from a collection of over 5,000 that he had clicked in four years that went into the making of the book. He has the eye of a painter, and it comes as no surprise that he has had formal training in the field.

Through these photographs, we share the exuberance of the crowds at the Quila Raipur rural sports extravaganza, the piety of the pilgrims at gurdwaras spread far and wide, the love and devotion to each other of an elderly couple comes out well in some black and white photographs at the beginning of the book. At times one feels that the book would have been enhanced by even tighter pruning of the visuals, but they are arresting, even as they address the familiar.

Sandeep Goswami has woven an account around the photographs. It is always tough to write for coffee table books, since writing does take a back seat when such volumes are perused. However, Goswami has done his task adequately well, and one hopes that this coffee table book will not only be seen but also read. That is will find a spot in many a home is quite obvious.

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