Punjab/Lucknow: A comprehensive research paper by Jashandeep Singh, Department of Electrical Engineering, Bhai Gurdas Institute of Engineering & Technology, Sangrur, has presented a detailed comparative historical timeline of Sikh Gurus and Sikh generals alongside major global and regional powers spanning nearly four centuries—from Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469) to Maharaja Dalip Singh (1849).
The study compares the era of Sikh Gurus and later Sikh leadership with contemporaneous powers including the Mughal Empire, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Marathas, Peshwas, Nawabs of Bengal, Diwans of Mysore, French colonial forces, the British East India Company and British Crown rule. Researchers say the work is a valuable reference for Sikh scholars, historians and students of Indian history.
According to the paper, the timeline begins with Guru Nanak Dev Ji, whose life coincided with the early Mughal rulers Babur and Humayun and the arrival of the Portuguese in India. As successive Sikh Gurus guided the community, the subcontinent witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties, the entry of European trading companies and a series of decisive battles that reshaped India’s political landscape.
The research highlights how Sikh history developed parallel to major events such as the Battles of Panipat, Mughal succession wars, the emergence of Maratha power under Shivaji, the expansion of European trading companies, and the gradual consolidation of British authority after battles like Plassey (1757) and Buxar (1764).
A significant focus is placed on the period of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Banda Singh Bahadur, and later Sikh leaders such as Nawab Kapur Singh, Baba Deep Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia, when Sikh resistance and political organisation strengthened amid Mughal decline and growing European influence.
The paper also traces the rise of the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, his diplomatic engagement with the British through the Treaty of Amritsar (1809), and the military leadership of figures like Hari Singh Nalwa. The narrative concludes with the reign of Maharaja Dalip Singh and the Anglo-Sikh Wars, culminating in the British annexation of Punjab in 1849.
The author notes that this comparative approach helps readers understand who ruled where at the same time, which powers interacted or conflicted, and how Sikh leadership evolved in response to changing political realities. By placing Sikh history alongside global and Indian powers, the study offers a broader perspective on the strategic, spiritual and military journey of the Sikh community during one of the most transformative periods in South Asian history.
Scholars believe the research fills an important gap by presenting a single, structured timeline that connects Sikh history with wider world events, making it a useful academic resource for future historical analysis.
