In this landmark biography, Harbans Singh presents the extraordinary life and supreme sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Ninth Guru of the Sikhs. Revered as both mystic poet and martyr, the Guru combined humility, compassion, and moral courage at a moment of crisis in Indian history.
Drawing on a rich array of sources—early Punjabi chronicles such as the Gurbilas texts, Bansavalinama, Mahima Prakash and Santokh Singh’s Sri Gur Pratap Suraj Granth; Persian records; and above all the Guru’s own hymns preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib—Singh traces the Guru’s journey from his birth in Amritsar and contemplative years at Bakala to his wide travels in the east and his execution in Delhi in 1675. His martyrdom, undertaken to uphold freedom of conscience, tolerance and humanity, stands as a turning point in the moral and spiritual history of the Subcontinent.
At once scholarly and deeply humane, The Prophet-Martyr reveals a towering guide and leader whose hymns counsel detachment, surrender and deep faith, and whose sacrifice proclaimed the victory of truth over tyranny. Accompanied by masterful translations of the Guru’s hymns by Singh and his daughter, this biography remains an essential classic of a life that continues to inspire courage and devotion.