An Invisible Minority: The History, Society and Politics of Sikhs in Kashmir (1)

By: Komal JB Singh

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Synopsis: This book presents a groundbreaking study of the Kashmiri Sikh community, examining how identities are formed and negotiated across the intersections of religion, region, and nation. Combining deep ethnographic engagement with historical analysis, it examines Kashmir beyond the hegemonic boundaries of the Hindu-Muslim binary, by foregrounding an alternative discourse to see how majority–minority relations in a volatile region like Kashmir unfold, how the Sikh minority within the minorities is silenced in everyday discourses, and how all minorities are pushed to the margins. The author studies the themes of alienation, moments of solidarity, and cooperation between the various communities in Kashmir. This book traces the rich and often untold history of Sikhs in Kashmir from the visits of various Gurus, Maharaja Ranjit Singh rule to Singh Sabha Movement. It explores the traumatic history of partition, 1984 violence to Chittisinghpora Massacre. Thus, it traces a journey of faith, reform, and resilience.Numerically, Sikhs presently are the largest minority community living in Kashmir presently and therefore, crucial to any understanding of Kashmir. The book will be of use to students and researchers of history, Sikh studies, sociology, religion, minority studies, anthropology, and South Asian studies.