In the history of Sikhism it has been firmly established that the Khatri caste played a significant role in the development of the medieval Sikh community. Moreover, the Khatris in the Mughal period grew into a prominent commercial and scribal caste. However it has never been considered why Sikhism, in the context of the Khatri’s medieval commercial expansion, attracted a large Khatri following. In this article I endeavour to explore the appeal of Sikhism to the medieval Khatri community by examining early Sikh thought on trade and commerce. In addition, I attempt to embed the influence of Sikhism within the development of the medieval Khatri merchant family. And consider how the growth of the Khatri merchant network resulted in the spread of Sikhism across Mughal north India.
DaleStephen Frederick. Indian Merchants and Eurasian Trade, 1600–1750, Cambridge, 1994.
8.
DhavanPurnima. When Sparrows Became Hawks: The Making of the Sikh Warrior Tradition, 1699–1799, New York, 2011.
9.
FenechLouis. The Darbar of the Sikh Gurus: The Court of God in the World of Men, New Delhi, 2008.
10.
GoldDaniel. ‘What the Merchant–Guru Sold: Social and Literary Types in Hindi Devotional Verse’, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 112(1), 1992, pp. 22–35.
11.
GuptaHari Ram. History of the Sikhs, Vol. 1, The Sikh Gurus, 1469–1708, New Delhi, 2000.
LeonardKaren. ‘Bankers in Hyderabad Politics’, Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 15(2), 1981, 177–201.
14.
MandairArvind-Pal S.Religion and the Specter of the West: Sikhism, India, Postcoloniality, and the Politics of Translation, New York, 2009.
15.
MannGurinder Singh. ‘Guru Nanak’s Life and Legacy: An Appraisal’, Journal of Punjab Studies, Vol. 17(1), 2010, pp. 3–44.
16.
McLeodW.H.Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion, Oxford, 1968.
17.
McLeodW.H.The Evolution of the Sikh Community, New Delhi, 1974.
18.
McLeodW.H.The Early Sikh Tradition, Oxford, 1980.
19.
McLeodW.H.Sikhs of the Khalsa: A History of the Khalsa Rahit, New Delhi, 2003.
20.
NathKashi‘Khatris’, Indian Antiquary, January1873, pp. 26–28.
21.
SchomerKarineMcLeodW.H., eds. Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, New Delhi, 1987.
22.
SethMoti LalA Brief Ethnological Survey of the Khattris, Agra, 1905.
23.
ShackleChristopher‘Approaches to the Persian Loans in the “Adi Granth”’, Bulletin of the School Oriental and African Studies, Vol. 41(1), 1978, pp. 73–96.
24.
SinghDarshan. ‘How did the Nirmalas Preach?’, Journal of Sikh Studies, Vol. 5(1), February1978, 147–51.
25.
SinghG.B.Gurmukhi Lipi Janam te Vikas, Simla, 1950.
26.
SinghPiar, ed., Shanbhu Nath Vali Janam Patri Babe Nanak ji ki: Prasidh nan Adi Sakhian, Patiala, 1969.
27.
SinghJagjit‘Sikh Militancy and the Jats’, in MannJasbir SinghSaraonHarbans Singh (eds), Advanced Studies in Sikhism, California, 1988, pp. 214–233.
28.
SinghGanda, ed. Hukumname: Guru Sahiban, Mata Sahiban, Banda Singh ate Khalsa ji de, Patiala, 1999.
29.
SinghSulakhan. Heterodoxy in the Sikh Tradition, Jalandhar, 1999.
30.
SyanHardip SinghSikh Militancy in the Seventeenth Century: Religious Violence in Mughal and Early Modern India, London, 2013.
31.
SyanHardip Singh‘Debating Revolution: Early Eighteenth Century Public Philosophy on the Formation of the Khalsa’, Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 48(4), July2014, pp. 1096–1133.
32.
VarmaHarnan DasAn Account of the Khatris as a Race of Ancient Kshatriyas: Fully Proving the High Origin of Khatris; Also Containing an Analysis of, Examination into, and Comments upon, the Opinions of Learned Scholars about the Khatris, Lahore, 1901.
