Written over the past four decades, this unique collection presents a comprehensive perspective on the Sikh tradition as a whole from the time of Guru Nanak to the present. The introduction provides a context for each essay in relation to the growing concerns in Sikh studies. All essays in the volume are based on primary sources, which are seen in the light of received wisdom and author's own understanding of historical methodology. Organized thematically the volume is divided into six sections - relevance of ideology, socio-political institutions, Sikh literature, norms of equality, new socio-cultural orientations, and cross-cultural debates.