A new publication, Sikh Heritage: A history of valour and devotion, was recently published by Roli Books to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founding prophet of Sikhism.

The book includes 229 colour photographs and an index of 64 photographs of Sikhism's historic Gurdwaras in India and outside of India. Other sections of the book focus on the life stories of Sikhism's ten gurus, the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple in Amritsar), the Five Takhats (thrones of spiritual authority), and the stories of Sikh maharajas.

According to co-author, Dr. Rishi Singh, it was a humbling experience to engage with several centuries of the Sikh history in compiling the text.

“(I) feel blessed to be able to contribute in words towards this amazing book that has come out so well," said Singh. "To see many decades of Sondeep Shankar’s work with the Sikh community along with my words is overwhelming.”

Sondeep Shankar, the book's contributing photographer and co-author, commented on the origins of the project.

“I began making several visits to Punjab especially Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib and Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar. I felt truly blessed that as more opportunities came my way, I photographed the Sikh community, their festivities, fairs, sports, their manuscripts, the Sikh regiment centre, Sikh relics, forts and palaces and rare relics and artifacts at Toshakhana of Golden Temple."

According to Shankar, the book seeks to raise awareness for the conservation of Sikhism's rich heritage.

Work for the book involved climbing to snow-clad Hemkund Sahib and not once but twice in the same year as well as traveling and exploring personal collections in Lahore, Lahore Fort Museum, Faqir Khana Museum in Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Panja Sahib in Pakistan and other Sikh sites spread all over India.

Sikh Heritage: A history of valour and devotion is available for purchase on Amazon.