Detail from a Sikh steel helmet crafted in the Punjab.

Introduction

This online exhibition features significant historic books and manuscripts in multiple languages relating to Sikh heritage in India and in Manchester, from the 18th century to the present day. It forms part of the Sikh Heritage Project, a collaborative project between Manchester’s Sikh community and the University of Manchester Library, and highlights material from the Library (the John Rylands Research Institute and Library, Main Library and the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre) and Manchester Art Gallery. 
 
The John Rylands Research Institute and Library is home to a historic Sri Guru Granth Sahib, a sacred living embodiment of the Sikh Gurus, alongside collections of enduring cultural significance for the Sikh community. Our work with the Sikh community in Manchester is ongoing, as we continue to deepen our knowledge of our collections and facilitate access to cultural heritage.  
  
This exhibition, and the wider Sikh Heritage Project, would not be possible without the knowledge and guidance of our community consultant, Gurtek Singh. The contents of the exhibition are informed by his scholarship and enhanced by his engagement with the Sikh community in Manchester and beyond.

The exhibition has three main themes:  

Close up detail of sequin beadwork on the Rumalla used to cover the Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the John Rylands Research Institute and Library.

Religious Texts
Explore three sacred manuscripts housed at the Rylands, including a Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Plume made from heron feathers and decorated with iridescent beetle wing cases and bound with gold thread, attach onto a Sikh cavalry helmet.

The Sikh and British Empires
Uncover a range of visual, material and textual collections that capture the interplay between the two empires.

Community Engagement
Find out about the University of Manchester's ongoing work with the Sikh community in Manchester.

As part of the Sikh Heritage Project: 

  • Our Collection Care team are caring for the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the living Guru of the Sikhs.  
  • Our Imaging team are digitising material relating to Sikh heritage held in our collections, including the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.  
  • The AIU RACE Centre is creating a new collection focused on Sikh heritage, in the form of digitised community-held archives captured at the Sri Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara Educational and Cultural Centre. 
  • The University of Manchester Library is supporting events at local Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) in Manchester, taking collections out into the community. 
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