List of converts to Sikhism

This is a list of converts to Sikhism.

From Christianity

*Max Arthur Macauliffe (1841-1913) - A senior British administrator who was posted in the Punjab, Macauliffe was a prolific scholar and author who converted to Sikhism in the 1860s. He was derided by his British employers for having "turned a Sikh". His personal assistant remarked in his memoirs that on his death bed, Macauliffe could be heard reciting the Sikh morning prayer, Japji, ten minutes before passing away. Macauliffe is held in high esteem among the Sikh communion, in particular the intelligentsia, for his monumental translation into English of the Sikh Scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib. At a lecture at the annual session of the Lahore Singh Sabha Macauliffe proclaimed that the Guru Granth was matchless as a book of holy teachings. [ [http://sikhchic.com/article-detail.php?id=207&cat=18 SikhChic] ] [ [http://www.nuigalway.ie/english/tadhg_foley.html National University of Ireland] ]

*Vic Briggs - Former blues musician who converted and took the name Vikram Singh Khalsa. Later he became the first non-subcontinental to perform kirtan at Harimandir Sahib. [ [http://www.sikhsangat.org/publish/article_1554.shtml Sikh Global News] ]

*Dr. Lonnie Smith - Jazz organist [ [http://www.drlonniesmith.com/home.htm Dr Lonnie Smith] ] [ [http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/002209.html Sepia Mutiny] ] [ [http://jazztimes.com/columnS_and_features/table_of_contents/article_excerpts/index.cfm?article_id=15242 Jazz Times] ] .

From Islam

*Kuldeep Manak - (born Latif Mohammed) Famous Punjabi singer who, after his conversion, released a number of Sikh devotional tracks. [ [http://www.desihits.com/artist/view/Kuldip%20Manak Kuldip Manak: The Official Artist Page at desihits.com] ]

*Peer Budhu Shah

* Alia Kaur - One of the sisters of Hasib Hussain, one of the four bombers involved in the London underground and bus bombings on 7 July 2005.

* Sant Lakhbir Singh - (born Karim Baksh) Born to devout Muslim parents, he converted to Sikhism in 1903.

From Hinduism

*Master Tara Singh - A prominent Sikh political and religious leader in the first half of the 20th century. [ [http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/person/mastertarasingh.htm All About Sikhs] ]

*Banda Bahadur, formerly Madho Das - Affectionately known within the Sikh tradition as 'the first monarch of the Sikh Kingdom', Banda Bahadur is said to have received Sikh baptism by the hand of the tenth Messiah of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh. [ [http://www.sikh-history.com/sikhhist/warriors/banda.html Sikh History] ]

*Professor Sahib Singh(1892-1977),A prolific scholar who translated Guru Granth Sahib into simple modern Punjabi and authored a number of books on the beliefs and history of Sikhism and Sikh Gurus. His initial name was Nathu Ram but during his youth he got baptised into Sikhism and changed his name to Sahib Singh.

*Bhagat Puran Singh(1904-1992), a great visionary, an accomplished environmentalist and the founder of the "All India Pingalwara Charitable Society". Being deeply influenced by the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, he converted to Sikhism.

*Swami Ram Tirath was a great Indian saint who inspired by the saloks of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, got converted to Sikhism and practised Sikh belief and practices all through the rest part of his life. He also wrote two books "Sarvottam Granth Sri Guru Granth Sahib"(The best-of-all holy books: Sri Guru Granth Sahib) and "Sarvottam panth Khalsa panth"(The best of all relegions: The relegion of the Khalsa,Sikhism) in which he pointed out the shortcomings of Hinduism and its revered holy books and the holiness and the eternal brilliance of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Sikhism. Both these books have been published by Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee.

From Buddhism

*Raja Shiv Nabh was the king of Ceylon(Sri Lanka) who during Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Udaasi(journey) of the South got influenced by his ideas and embraced Sikhism. He, during his reign, sent missionaries to all parts of the world to spread the message of peace and tolerance as preached by Guru Nanak.

References

ee also

* List of converts to Christianity
* List of converts to Judaism
* List of converts to Hinduism
* List of converts to Islam
* List of people by belief