This book reconstructs the historical transition in undivided Panjab during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It shows that the assertion of Afghan and Mughal suzerainty faced sustained resistance from local elements particularly the autonomous tribes and hill chiefdoms. In central plains Dulla Bhatti mobilized the toilers of his ancestral domain and leading a relentless fight against Mughal oppression became an abiding symbol of resistance in the collective memory. The multicultural legacy of Panjab evolved through diverse strands of spirituality. The Jogis wedded to monastic discipline supernatural abilities and land grants gained acceptance through their exertions for social betterment. The Sabiris and Qadiris channelized mystical urges towards the technique of prime recitation. The popular verses of Shah Husain Baba Lal and Sultan Bahu proposed a loving relation with God. The legendary lovers perishing in the struggles against patriarchal forces promoted a merger of dissent with spirituality. In the city of Lahore the material pursuits and cultural life were visible in a mosaic of descriptions including episodes of social tension. The book understands the upliftment of depressed castes as a defining feature of Sikhism. It places egalitarian concern of the Sikh Gurus alongside the anticaste protest of Namdev Kabir and Ravidas. Owing to scriptural authority and congregational equality the members of depressed castes attained a numerical majority in the Sikh warrior bands that shook the foundations of the Mughal State. This book relies on evidence from Persian chronicles Mughal newsletters Sufi writings Sikh literature and Panjabi folklore. About the Author Surinder Singh has taught at the Department of History Panjab University Chandigarh. His books include The Making of Medieval Panjab: Politics Society and Culture c.1000c.1500. He has coedited Popular Literature and Premodern Societies in South Asia and Sufism in Punjab: Mystics Literature and Shrines.
