Documenting Sikh Memory Across Borders

A Critical Appraisal of Dr. Dalvir Singh Pannu’s The Sikh Heritage: Beyond Borders

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In recent years, the study of Sikh heritage sites located in present-day Pakistan has garnered renewed scholarly interest. Dr. Dalvir Singh Pannu’s volume ?The Sikh Heritage: Beyond Borders’ makes a seminal contribution in this domain by meticulously documenting the 84 gurdwaras across six districts of West Punjab— Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Kasur, Lahore, and Narowal.

A practicing dental surgeon based in San Jose, California, Dr. Pannu is driven not by professional obligation but by a deep personal commitment to Sikh history. His private library comprises a significant collection of books on the subject, and his sustained engagement with Sikh historical sites reflects a level of dedication more often found in full-time scholars.

The strength of the volume lies in its interdisciplinary approach—combining historical texts, oral traditions, and high-resolution photography to reconstruct the landscape of Sikh memory across the Wagha-Atari border. Drawing upon sources such as Janamsakhis, Bhai Gurdas’s verses, and multiple hagiographical and historiographical accounts, Dr. Pannu presents detailed narratives of each site without privileging a singular interpretation. Notably, he refrains from imposing conclusions, opting instead to present multiple strands of evidence—sometimes conflicting—and allowing readers to engage critically with the material.