This document provides summaries of views on Sikhism from various non-Sikh scholars and leaders throughout history. Bertrand Russell said that if any humans survived a future world war, Sikhism would be the only religion to guide them. Max Arthur Macauliffe praised Sikh scriptures for their spiritual and moral messages promoting equality. Pearl Buck found the Guru Granth Sahib spoke powerfully to the human condition. Swami Vivekanand respected Guru Nanak for preaching a message of universal love and peace. Winston Churchill was grateful for the selfless service of Sikhs in both World Wars.

1. Non Sikh Genius views
SIKHISM
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2. Sat Sri Akaal
means
Timeless is True
Sikh’s Greetings praises the Creator

3. Bertrand Russell
(Philosopher, Mathematician 1872-1970)
If some lucky men survive the onslaught of the
third world war of atomic and hydrogen bombs,
then the Sikh religion will be the only means of
guiding them.
When asked, isn’t this religion capable of
guiding mankind before the third world war? He
said, ‘Yes it has the capability,

4. But…..
 Sikhs haven’t brought out in the broad daylight
the splendid doctrines of this religion, which has
come into existence for the benefit of the entire
mankind. This is their greatest sin and the Sikhs
cannot be freed of it.
Bertrand Russell
(Philosopher, Mathematician 1872-1970)

5. Max Arthur Macauliffe
"Unlike the scriptures of other creeds, they do not
contain love stories or accounts of wars waged for
selfish considerations. They contain sublime truths,
the study of which cannot but elevate the reader
spiritually, morally & socially.

6. There is not the least tinge of sectarianism in them.
They teach the highest & purest principle that serve
to bind man to man & inspire the believer with an
ambition to serve his fellow men, to sacrifice all &
die for their sake."
Max Arthur Macauliffe

7. He addresses the Western Society and claims to
bring Sikh religion from the East which is simple to
understand. There is no place to pretence &
hypocritical in this religion…..
Flesh, Alcohol Tobacco & other drugs are
prohibited in it…. It nor only teachers kindness, love,
honesty but also encourages its followers to accept
all human beings as one thus diminishing all racial
differences….
Max Arthur Macauliffe

8. Battles fought by Sikh Gurus were not against
any communalism and orthodoxy but they fought
for the betterment of society, to protect people
from tyranny & for the upliftment of their souls.
Max Arthur Macauliffe

9. It (Sikhism) prohibits idolatry, hypocrisy, caste
exclusiveness, con-cremation (Satti) of widows,
the immurement (confinement) of women (like
Muslims), the use of wine & other intoxicants,
tobacco smoking, infanticide, slander, pilgrimage
to the sacred rivers & tanks of the Hindus.
It inculcates loyalty, justice, impartiality, truth,
honesty & all the moral & domestic virtues to
holiest citizens of any country. "
Max Arthur Macauliffe

10. Pearl S. Buck Nobel Laureate,
‘Good Earth’
I have studied the scriptures of the great religions,
but I do not find elsewhere the same power of appeal
to the heart and mind as I find here in these volumes.
They are compact in spite of their length & are a
revelation of the concept of God to the recognition &
indeed the insistence upon the practical needs of the
human body.

11. Perhaps this sense of unity is the source of power I
find in these volumes.
They speak to a person of any religion or of none.
They speak for the human heart and the searching
mind.
Pearl S. Buck Nobel Laureate,
‘Good Earth’

12. There is something strangely modern about these
scriptures & this puzzled me until I learned that they
are in fact comparatively modern, compiled as late as
the 16th century when explorers were beginning to
discover the globe upon which we all live is a single
entity divided only by arbitrary lines of our making.
Pearl S. Buck Nobel Laureate,
‘Good Earth’

13. The hymns in Guru Granth are an expression of
man’s loneliness, his aspirations, his longings, his cry
to God & his hunger for communication with that
being.
It speaks to me of life & death; of time & eternity;
of temporal human body & its needs; of the mystic
human soul & its longing to be fulfilled; of God &
the indissoluble bond between them."
Pearl S. Buck Nobel Laureate,
‘Good Earth’

14. Arnold Toynbee, a historian
One of the prominent historians in the 20th
Century, Arnold has written 20 volumes on World
History. Arnold has given very high & prominent
place to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in Sikh History.
He calls Guru Ji as divinity of highest rank. He
gets emotional when he writes about Guru Sahib’s
contribution in the formation of Khalsa. Again &
again he emphasizes the fact that there can not be
any person like them.

15. When Western organizations and U.N.O. became
known to Sri Guru Granth Sahib’s teachings, they at
once decided to translate them into English and
other languages. The decided to publish a book
based on the principles and teachings of Sri Guru
Granth Sahib Ji.
Arnold Toynbee, a historian

16. “I, in the company of my Guru Swami Brahma
Nanda, while on a pilgrimage tour, reached Punjab.
There we met Swami Satya Nanda, Udaasi (a Hindu
ascetic).
He expounded Guru Nanak’s philosophy &
religiosity so eloquently that Swami Brahma Nanda
experienced spiritual bliss.
During the visit to the Golden temple in Amritsar his
soul was so impressed that he became Guru’s
devotee.
Swami Nitya Nand, author of Guru Gyan

17. After sojourn in Punjab we went to Hardwar. One
day I saw tears in his eyes, though he was
healthy.
When asked about it he answered, "I have sifted
sand all my life. The truth dwells in the house of
Guru Nanak.
I have to take another birth in that house then
only I will attain Mukti (salvation).
As he said that his spirit passed away.
Swami Nitya Nand, author of Guru Gyan

18. I too contemplate incessantly on Wahéguru
(wonderful God) as manifested by Guru Nanak.
For many years I practiced Yoga Aasnas taught by
Yogis, but the rapture and serenity I feel now was
never attained before.”
Swami Nitya Nand, author of Guru Gyan

19. Swami Nitya Nand used to practice Yoga in order to
attain God. But he couldn’t attain him with his yogic
lessons.
He writes at one place that when he meditated
according to the principles of Sri Guru Granth Sahib
Ji he was able to achieve God.
Swami Nitya Nand, author of Guru Gyan

20. He writes that as he remembered God as told in
Gurbani, he was able to attain spiritual peace which
yoga was not able to provide.
So this Swami criticizes yoga as a means to attain
God and spiritual peace.
He too becomes a follower of Guru Granth Sahib Ji
which is the ultimate source of delight for him. It
gives tranquility to his mind and soul.
Swami Nitya Nand, author of Guru Gyan

21. Sir Winston Churchill, former Prime
Minister of Britain
British people are highly indebted & obliged to
Sikhs for a long time. I know that within this
century we needed their help twice & they did help
us very well.
As a result of their timely help, we are today able
to live with honor, dignity & independence. In the
war, they fought & died for us, wearing the turbans.

22. At that time we were not adamant that they should
wear safety helmets because we knew that they are
not going to wear them anyways & we would be
deprived of their help.
At that time due to our miserable & poor situation,
we did not force it on them to wear safety helmets,
why should we force it now?
Rather, we should now respect their traditions &
by granting this legitimate concession, win their
applaud."
Sir Winston Churchill, former Prime
Minister of Britain

23. Charles Freer Andrews (C.F. Andrews),
Writer
An 1921, during the time of the incident of
Nankana Sahib, one God fearing man Andrews was
there whose name is mentioned in the Morcha of
Guru Ka Bagh.
He was immensely moved after viewing such a lot
of bloodshed. He told the D.C. of Lahore that we
have read about the crucification of Jesus Christ
which was the result of inhumanity & due to this
inhuman deed, the whole world of Christianity has
been denouncing the killers of Christ.

24. But today I watched about a million Christs in the
form of Sikhs being killed, slaughtered and charred
to death.
I was shocked as well as comforted by the fact
that there were no traces of fear and violence in
their sacrifices.
They were sacrificing their lives happily
following the path showed by their Gurus.
Charles Freer Andrews (C.F. Andrews),
Writer

25. General Bardwood
I will not be slightly worried or reluctant to leave
my wife & young daughter under protection of
any Sikh soldier.” (cited in Gurmat Prakash
Amritsar, Feb., 1997)

26. Sikhs are very brave.
(Maj. Gen. Fazal Muqeem Khan, author of book
"Pakistan's Crisis of Leadership")
The major reason for our defeat are Sikhs. We are
simply unable to do anything before them despite
our best efforts. They are very daring people & are
fond of martyrdom. They fight courageously & are
capable of defeating an army much bigger than
them.

27. Lord Mountbatten (India’s Last
British Viceroy)
Guru Nanak was a great poet, philosopher &
saint. His teachings are of universal application &
his message of love, service & sacrifices will
continue to inspire coming generations.
(Excerpt from speech in London on Guru Nanak’s
Quincentenary)

28. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(i) Sikh religion is a spiritual home for those who
desire to attain peace with respect.
(ii) Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is a spiritual guide for
me & I strongly feel that whatever is good for me, is
also beneficial for my brothers all over the world.
Guru Granth Sahib represents a casteless society.
A society where there is no racial discrimination or
difference of opinions. This was the reason that
under the influence of ‘Gurmat Prachar Conference’
held in 1935, Ambedkar wanted to convert himself
into a pure Sikh.

29. He also took personal interest in the opening of
Khalsa College, Bombay & also sent his two
nephews to Amritsar so that they could study in
Khalsa College, Amritsar.
This was all due to liberal attitude of Sikhism &
Ambedkar knew it very well.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

30. Nadir Shah Durani, King of Persia
When Nadir Shah couldn’t gain victory over Sikhs,
he became frustrated & asked Subedar of Lahore,
“Tell me, who are these Sikhs ?”
Subedar answered, “This is a group of hermits who
believe in bathing twice in the sacred lake of their
Guru and then become invisible. Where they
disappear, no one can make it out.”

31. All the answer bewildered Nadir Shah & after
contemplating for some time he said,
“Beware of these people, they are courageous people
& the day is not so far when they will conquer the
whole country”. (History of Golden Temple).
Nadir Shah Durani, King of Persia

32. Swami Brahma Nand
He writes, “Throughout my life I have been
wandering but wasn’t able to spend my life
according to the principles of Gursikhi as given in
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji which is the elixir of life.
Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the true & highest source
of redemption. It is useless to try to redeem
oneself from the other sources.

33. This awakening came to my mind only when I
visited Sri Harmandir Sahib & read the sacred
hymns from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In order to
born again”.
After saying these lines Swami Brahma Nand left
his worldly abode in front of Swami Satyanand so
that he can fulfill his dream of becoming Sikh in his
new birth. (From the book Giyan Prakash)
Swami Brahma Nand

34. Pandit Maddan Mohan Malwia
Pandit Ji studied Sikh religion thoroughly. He
addresses Hindu community & says,
“Each Hindu family should convert at least one
child into Singh, who can take care of this world
which is our family.” Pandit Ji was strong devotee of
Sant Attar Singh.
He was himself inspired by him & encouraged
others too take inspiration from Attar Singh. He
also made him to lay down a foundation stone for
Banaras Hindu University.

35. Swami Ram Tirath Dandi Sanyasi
Hindu Theologian, Sanskrit Scholar & Author (Supreme Scriptures, Sri Guru
Granth Sahib & Paramount Religion, Khalsa Panth)
In the Adi Granth there is no credo regarding
barbaric worship neither any importance for ritual
feast (to holy quakes) or sacrifices.
Similarly no regard is accorded to Vaishnava or
goddess worship because in the puranas it is said
that they both (Hindu Goddess & Vishnu, one of
Hindu god trinity) relish barbarous intakes i.e.
meat, alcohol, marijuana, hemp, tobacco, hashish,
cannabis etc.

36. In the end I want to mention Guru Granth Sahib’s
supremacy from the standpoint that this
preeminent Granth does not profess any demigod
or goddess to be the real God just as the (Hindu)
puranas have done.
Each purana’s author has made a God out of his
conceptual demigod.
Swami Ram Tirath Dandi Sanyasi
Hindu Theologian, Sanskrit Scholar & Author (Supreme Scriptures, Sri Guru
Granth Sahib & Paramount Religion, Khalsa Panth)

37. Swami Vivekanand
Swami Vivekanand has also expressed his views
about Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. He writes, “Guru
Nanak was born in the sacred land of India.
He gave a message of love and peace of the whole
world and preached the same through his teachings.
He was full of affection for everyone & his arms
were always outstretched as if to embrace the
whole world.
There was no difference between a Hindu & a
Muslim for him.

38. He was common Guru to all. He was the Guru of
all human race.
(Reference: The complete works of Swami Vivekanand Vol. III page 366)
The unequalled sacrifices made by Guru Gobind
Singh Ji for the sake of Nation & humanity always
used to prevail on Vivekanand’s mind.
Swami Vivekanand

39. The seedling that Guru Nanak Sahib planted,
the sapling that Guru Arjun Dev Sahib & Guru
Hargobind Sahib nourished with their blood &
bones.
Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib watered with his blood
Arya Samaji Lala Daulat Räé
(Sahib-é-kmäl Guru Gobind Singh)

40. Guru Gobind Singh Sahib nurtured with the
overflowing canals of blood of his 4 juvenile sons
[2 martyred in battle against Mogul & Hindu hordes
& 2 immured (wall built around them) & beheaded
by barbaric Muslim ruler of Sirhind], 5 cherished
Sikhs & thousands of devoted Sikh martyrs; into a
robust tree that bore fruit.
That fruit symbolizes socio-religious harmony,
piety monotheism & patriotism.
Daulat Räé
(Sahib-é-kmäl Guru Gobind Singh)

41. Waheguru ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru ji Ki Fateh
means
Pure belongs to God
God is always Victorious
Khalsa means “pure” Greeting
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