Macauliffe & Archer Illustrations

[Freed]

Gurfateh !

It's bonus time at work so it means I can indulge my triple passions of buying books, Shastars and Vinyl records - being a sensible married man (well almost sensible) - I can't just 'splurge' buy like I used to - got bills to pay !

Anyway enough of my domestic arrangements !! - I recently got my hands on a first edition of Max Arthur Macauliffe's 'The Sikh Religion' 1909 - I previously only had an Indian 'budget' copy with very poor reproductions of the illustrations.

I've also bought a copy of John Clark Archer's 'The Sikhs' from 1946 - it also has some wonderful photographs - In line with the great Sikh tradition of 'Vand ke Chhakna' I am sharing these books with all of you.

So for your enjoyment here are some of the illustrations - I've focussed on pictures of Sikh Built Heritage.

* From 'The Sikh Religion, It's Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors' - Max Arthur Macauliffe. Oxford 1909

Darbar Sahib at the start of the 20th Century

The view from the Baba Atal Tower - you can see the 'Bungay' around the parikarma, The gothic clock tower and the Minars of the Ramgarhia Bunga complete with domes.

Note the many trees and you can also see 'Guru Ka Bagh'

Guru Arjan's shrine

The Sri Takhat Sahib Akal Bunga

Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai Sahib

Fatehgarh Sahib

detail

Mukhtsar

Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded

Bhagat Namdev's Shrine at Ghuman (10 km west of Sri Hargobindpur in Gurdaspur district) - dates from the 14th century with parts built by Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and Sada Kaur

details

* From 'The Sikhs, in relation to Hindus, Moslems, Christians and Ahmadiyyas. A Study in Comparative Religion' - John Arthur Clark Archer. Princeton 1946

Entrance to Darbar Sahib c1930s - this entrance is now the main 'Ghanta Ghar' entrance

Darbar Sahib

The Darshani Deori

The famous 'Jhanda Bunga' - now demolished.

A Nihang Baba stood infront of the Akal Takht - the arch behind him is now where the Miri Peeri Nishan Sahibs were moved to, after the original Jhanda Bunga was demolished , to widen the parikarma.

The Akal Bunga / Akal Takat Sahib

The view through the Darshani Deori

[Freed]

Tarn Taran Sahib

The pavilion on the roof of Tarn Taran Sahib

And to finish some ਦੁਰਲਭ - (Durlab) extremely rare and fascinating pictures of the "Arjun Deva Mela, Lahore" - perhaps recording the last ever mela before partition.

The mela - in the background you can see the Shahi Qilla, The Samadh of Ranjit Singh and Gurdwara Dehra Sahib.

The mela - looking toward the River Ravi.

Outstanding and very poignant images - I hope you enjoyed them.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh !

Ranjit Singh Chohan (Freed)

[S1ngh]

Thank you Freed !

Congrats on holding some rare books !

Someday your collection will help our kaum a lot !!

[Techno_singh]

man you have some next level stuff, you sure your pc has not got some cob webs on it?

[sikhlionz]

a lot of lessons need to be learned from these photos.. thank you for sharing :TH:

[mann_kaum_layee_qurbaan]

wow!

awesome sewa bro

[SaRpAnCh]

Is that some sort of underground passage or subway kind of thing they're coming out of?