Reading academic’s popular new book on Sikhism
Added: (Mon Nov 28 2022)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
Retired Reading academic Dr Satwinder Singh has been rewarded for his first foray into religion by reaching number two in the book charts.
The 69-year-old son of refugees from Burma (now Myanmar) is highly regarded for his work at universities around the world, having published over 100 peer-reviewed research papers and book chapters.
But it is the professor’s accessible and enlightening study of Sikhism which has led to a string of five-star reviews and a charting in Amazon’s religion charts.
Professor Singh, who has lectured in India and the United Arab Emirates as well as closer to home in Reading and Brunel, began researching the origins and the principles of the Sikh religion almost four years ago.
On his retirement from lecturing in 2020, he has dedicated almost all of his time to writing Road to Nirvana: The Sikh Way.
Professor Singh said: “I consider this book to be an achievement as I was never trained in religious studies or philosophy.”
“These difficult areas of study are not my areas of specialisation”.
“A sustained effort of last three-to-four years has resulted in Road to Nirvana: The Sikh Way finally being published.”
One of the world’s newest religions – founded around 500 years ago by Guru Nanak - Sikhism is now practised by 25 million followers around the world.
The moral principles observed by Sikhs were preached by the ten Sikh Gurus of the 1500s.
Drawing on Sikh’s holy text Guru Granth Sahib as well as other sources, Professor Singh has produced a body of work which will appeal to newcomers, committed Sikhs, and researchers.
He explained: “Borrowing from Sikh moral principles, dictated in their scripture and by their Gurus, the book shows that we can all be happy in life by following some basic principles of life advocated by the Sikh way of life”.
“The book systematically lays bare these principles which touch personal, social, and community lives of individuals.
“Road to Nirvana: The Sikh Way tells us to be faithful, diligent, and conscientious to our duties in whichever settings - personal, family, or social, we are in.”
Road to Nirvana: The Sikh Way has been described as ‘a delight’, ‘a landmark’ and ‘an objective and well-articulated study’.
Reviewer Adam Lomond stated: “As a non-Sikh, I can now class myself as well informed.”
Professor Singh, who has visited more than 70 countries for work and pleasure, is currently writing his travel memoirs.
Travel Sermons and Autobiographical Notes of a Globe Trotting Indian will be published early next year.
For more details, visit Amazon and search for Satwinder Singh, where the paperback and Kindle formats of Road to Nirvana: The Sikh Way are both available.
Notes to the editor
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