WELSHMAN’S ACCOUNT ON SIKHS – 1798 by Inderjeet Singh (Nottingham)

I would like to share with the readers of ‘Daily Sikh Updates’, a very interesting extract on

Sikhs from the book ‘The View of Hindoostan’ written by Thomas Pennant, published in

1798.

The Author

Thomas Pennant (1726-98) was a prolific author of natural history and topographical works

from Wales who travelled extensively to catalogue flora, fauna and antiquities of every sort.

He is considered as the greatest Welsh travel writer of his time and one of the best British

topographical authors.1

The Book

‘The view of Hindoostan’ was published posthumously in 1798 by his son David Pennant.

The volume 1 of this book relates to ‘Western Hindustan’ and on page 39 and 40 he gives a

short account on Sikhs. It is very intriguing to know how this British traveller viewed Sikhs in

late 18th century. The author describes Sikhs as ‘pure monotheists, and they ‘worship God

alone, without image or intermediation’. He goes further and says that ‘they may be called

the reformers of India’.

Later he talks about Sikh army which consisted wholly of cavalry and through ‘courage &

enterprize’ extended their kingdom over Lahore, Multan and western parts of Delhi. These

cities, at that time were also the names of provinces and are here referred as such.

Despite some errors, the account is a useful addition to other European accounts of 18th

century on Sikhs. I have producing the actual extract, so that readers can form their own

interpretation, with its original spelling. Some of the common words are spelled differently

but readers will be able to understand them.

Extract from the book

“The city of Lahore is next, about a hundred and fifty miles distant from Moultan. It is the

capital of the Seiks, a people which started up in the fifteenth century, under a Hindoo of

the name of Nanuck, born in 1470. They are a set of religionists, tolerant in matters of faith

like the Hindoos, but, unlike them, admit proselytes. They require conformity in certain

signs and ceremonies, but in other respects are pure monotheists; they worship God alone,

without image or intermediation. They may be called the reformers of India. They retain

also a calvinistical principle, and take an oath ever to oppose a monarchical government.

They eat any kind of meat excepting beef, for like the Hindoos they hold the ox in the

utmost veneration. Their general food is pork, probably because it is forbidden by the

Mahometans, whom they hold in abhorrence. Their army consists wholly of horse; they can

raise a hundred thousand cavalry, and make war in the most savage mode. They kept long

concealed or unnoticed, at length became formidable by their courage and enterprize, and

extended their conquests over Lahore, Moultan, and the western parts of Delhi.”2

Reference

1. The National Library of Wales

2. Thomas Pennant (1798): The View of Hindustan Vol 1 & 2. Printed by Henry Hughs,

London