SIKHS

(from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘disciple’) were originally a religious sect in North-Western Hindu stan, founded by Nanak Shah (1469-1540) who taught them a pure religion of love to God and man. His succe or, Arjun-mai, published his writings in the Adi-granth, the first sacred book of the Sikhs. They then roused the enmity of Muhammedans and Brahmans by rejecting the Koran and the Vedas, and from peaceful believers the Sikhs became gradually valiant warriors under Har Govind, but Govind Singh really founded the Sikh State, abolished the system of castes, and gave all men equal rights. He wrote a book of his exploits, which also treated of religious subjects, and which is much venerated by the Sikhs. He died in 1768, and the Sikhs gradually yielded to their enemies, but after Nadir Shah’s return to Persia they formed into a number of communities. In 1792 Runjat Singh established himself as ruler over them, but after his death anarchy followed, and in 1845 the first Sikh war began, followed by a general revolt in 1848 but at Gujerat, in 1849, their power was broken, and the; Punjab was annexed to the British Empire in India. During the Mutiny the Sikhs displayed great loyalty to the British. They are full of courage and power of endurance. 1300 A.D. in England, when a law was pa ed com polling sterling articles to be stamped with a leopard's head. Further ‘marks’ were added, until eventually an ordinary piece of plate came to bear— (1) The maker's mark, i.e. the first letters of his Christian name and surname (2) the leopard's hSad.Jthe mark of the Goldsmiths’; Company the sovereign's mark, a lion (4) a letter denoting the; (3) year; duty. man, was born in 1814, and was educated in the Ecole Normale, Paris. He succeeded Cousin as Profe or of Philosophy in the Sorbonne, but lost the post in 1852 by refusing to take the oath of allegiance to Napoleon III. In 1855-56 he lectured in Belgium, but, in 1863, be was returned for the Chamber of Deputies. He opposed the war with Pru ia, and, after 1870, became a member of the provisional a government, and minister of education under Thiers from 1871 to 1873. In 1876 he became a leader of the Republicans, and was minister of the interior till 1877, Tvhen Mac-Mahon dismi ed him. He wrote “ His to ire de l’Ecole d’Alexandrie,” “ Le Devoir,” “ La Liberte de Conscience, ’’ “ L’Ecole,” “ Le Travail,” “ La Peme de Mort,” “ Le Gouvernement de M. Thiers,’’ etc. medical practitioner of his day, famous as the discoverer of the anaesthetic properties of chloroform) was bom in 1811. At the age of fifteen he went to Edinburgh University, and in 1830 he was licensed by the Royal College of Surgeons. In 1832 he became a istant to Profe or John Thomson, and soon after was elected a President of the Royal Medical Society. In 1835 he published a paper on “Diseases of the