Rare Sikh Manuscripts and Western Translations Explored at 2nd Max Arthur Macauliffe Conference, Ireland

Western Translations of Sikh Scriptures – A Historical Perspective

In my lecture last month, I explored Sikh translations from a Western viewpoint, highlighting the contributions of scholars who attempted to interpret Sikh scriptures.

Dr. John Leyden’s Early Translations (1775-1811)

Dr. John Leyden, a Scottish linguist fluent in over 30 languages, played a pioneering role in translating Sikh texts. He provided English translations of the Prem Sumarag Granth and Sri Bachitra Natak. However, these translations remained undiscovered for nearly 200 years until I partially rediscovered them in 2006.

Ernest Trumpp’s Attempt and Controversial Approach (1828-1885)

Half a century later, German philologist Ernest Trumpp was commissioned by the British to translate the Guru Granth Sahib and Sri Dasam Granth Sahib. However, he failed in this endeavor. While he managed a partial translation of the Guru Granth Sahib, he could not comprehend the philosophical depth of Sri Dasam Granth Sahib. His work did bring attention to rare Sikh manuscripts, including the Colebrooke Janamsakhi, which I recently examined and presented during the conference.

Max Arthur Macauliffe’s Accurate Representation of Sikhism (1841-1913)

Recognizing Trumpp’s shortcomings, the British turned to Max Arthur Macauliffe, an administrator who dedicated himself to understanding Sikhism. He delivered lectures between 1880-1881 and played a key role during the Singh Sabha movement. His major contribution, The Sikh Religion in six volumes, corrected earlier misinterpretations. During my lecture, I showcased rare handwritten pages from his original work.

The Evolution of Sikh Translations Over a Century

This lecture explored how Sikh scriptures were translated over 100 years. While Leyden provided an early perspective, Trumpp’s work, despite its biases, introduced rare manuscripts. Macauliffe then corrected historical inaccuracies and made Sikh teachings more accessible.

This research will be published in the future. Read the full report of the 2nd Annual Max Arthur Macauliffe Conference. Also, visit the Dr. Leyden Translations website.

~ Gurinder Singh Mann
www.sikhscholar.co.uk