The Source Book On Sikhism

Restriction of Sikh Ph.D. Dissertations in North America (needs evaluation)

A lot of research has been going on in Western universities, e.g., Dr. Oberoi’s Ph.D.. from Australian National University in 1987; Dr. Gurinder Mann from Columbia in 1993, “Making of Sikh Scripture”; and Lou Fenech from Toronto in 1995, "Tradition of Sikh Martyrdom". All the above Ph.D. dissertations have been restricted from the public. Nobody is objecting to any research, but only motivated and unethical work needs attention. The experience of these so-called critical scholars has shown that prejudices have to be shed and caustic observations avoided; instead the only useful path would be that of dialogue and discussion proceeded by a detailed study of Sikh scripture. This is missing from their studies. For, no understanding of Sikh history can be rational or authentic, until the study of, both of Guru Granth Sahib and the history of the Guru Period. Otherwise, unidimensional studies cannot be obviously objective or valid, much less profound. If the future generation of the Sikhs read the wrong books, they will get the wrong answers. It is a great challenge for mainstream Sikh scholars in the 21st century to continue closely evaluating such research and respond to them in a proper perspective.