Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, born in Nankana Sahib near Lahore into a Hindu merchant (Khatri) family of the Bedi clan.

Guru Nanak declared “There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim”, after experiencing the Divine, emphasizing the unity of humanity.

Guru Nanak begins his lengthy travels, covering 28,000 kms (17,500 miles) over 24 years, across India, South Asia and the Middle East.

Guru Nanak arrives in Mecca, visiting the Kabba, preaching about God’s omnipresence and the importance of virtuous action.

Guru Nanak settles a new city named Kartarpur, where a free communal kitchen (langar) was established and the community would gather for worship.

Guru Angad (1504-1552) is anointed as Guru, and he formalizes the Gurmukhi script and commissioning the life stories of Guru Nanak, called the Janamsakhis.

Guru Amardas (1479-1574) anointed as Guru, who established the Sikh community at Goindwal, preaching for the equality of all, and writing devotional poetry.

Guru Ramdas (1534-1581) anointed as Guru – was the architect and founder of the city of Amritsar, including its sacred pond (sarovar).

Akbar (1542-1605), the most tolerant of the Mughal Emperors, (reign 1556-1605), granted land for the Guru’s use where Amritsar is now located.

Guru Arjan (1563-1606) anointed Guru builds the Harimandar in Amritsar and assembles the Adi Granth, a compilation of the Gurus writings along with other Saints.

Harimandar Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple, completed in 1601. The Adi Granth was installed within the temple in 1604.

The Akal Takat (Throne of the Timeless) is established in Amritsar as an institution where temporal matters related to the community could be discussed.

Due to the growing popularity of Guru Arjan, Mughal Emperor Jahangir demands that he convert to Islam, when the Guru refuses, he is put to death.

Guru Hargobind (1595-1644), militarized the Sikh community, fighting back against the oppressive Mughal government.

Guru Harrai (1630-1661) is anointed Guru. An apt statesman, the Guru keeps peace during a politically unstable period while retaining his cavalry force.

Guru Harkrishan (1656-1664) anointed as Guru. At a young age he died of smallpox, visiting those infected to comfort them during their illness.

Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675) anointed Guru, traveling extensively throughout South Asia while writing poetry which would be included in the Guru Granth Sahib.

Guru Tegh Bahadur, advocating for religious freedom, was executed in Delhi by the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) anointed Guru. A poet, philosopher and a warrior, militarized the Sikh’s further to defend the population from oppression.

The Khalsa, a brotherhood of martial Sikhs, was created by Guru Gobind Singh with the five K’s established as their symbols.

Since the 8th century, invasions from Persian (Nadir Shah), central Asia (Mughals), and Afghanistan (Ahmad Shah Abdali) have decimated Punjab & North India.

The two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, aged 7 and 5, obtained martyrdom defiantly refusing to convert to Islam.

The eldest two sons of Guru Gobind Singh obtain martyrdom fighting heroically against the injust Mughal army at the Fort of Chamkaur.

Guru Gobind Singh bestows temporal (worldly and political) authority to the collective Khalsa community, instructing them to fight for freedom and justice.

Guru Gobind Singh anoints the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture, as the eternal Guru, to guide Sikhs following his passing.

Banda Bahadur (1670-1716) led a revolt in Punjab following the passing of Guru Gobind Singh, capturing the district of Sirhind.

Bhai Mani Singh (1644-1738), Sikh community leader and scholar, is executed by the Mughal Lahore Court under false pretexts.

THE SMALL AND LARGE MASSACRES Known as the small and large Ghallugharas (massacres), tens of thousands of Sikhs were killed during two violent campaigns by Mughal's and Afghan's.

Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Abdali desecrated the Harmandir, Baba Deep Singh (1682-1757) obtained martyrdom (shahīdī) in this battle, to evict the Afghans.

Birth of Sada Kaur, a seasoned general, she was the mentor and mother-in-law of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the wife of Gurbaksh Singh, the leader of the Kanhaiya misl.

A young Ranjit Singh, at the age of 12, takes control of the Shukarchakia Missal after his father (Maha Singh's) death.

Sikh principalities, known as missals, emerged and collectively recaptured and rebuilt the Harmandar Sahib.

Over the course of twenty years, Sikh warbands (missals) conquered various parcels of land in Punjab, building Gurdwaras in memory of the Sikh Gurus.

Ranjit Singh established a large kingdom that extended from Kabul in the west, Sutlej river in the east, Ladakh in the north and Rajasthan in the south.

Akal Takht custodian Akali Phula Singh awards a penalty to Maharaja Ranjit Singh for keeping a Muslim concubine – the Maharaja graciously accepted the punishment.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh adds gold plating to the exterior of the upper level of the Harmandir Sahib and marble to the interior and the walkways.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh dies and the infighting and deceit amongst his former confidants and his heirs, leads to the fall of the Sikh kingdom in 10 years.

Dalip Dingh, the son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, deposed and exiled to London, becomes the first Sikh immigrant to England. JINDAN. BAMBA COLLECTION.

Singh Sabha is founded in Amritsar, a reform movement dedicated to consolidating Sikh traditions and preaching a distinct Sikh tradition.

Bhai Vir Singh opens his first press, Wazir-i-Hind, with his friend Wazir Singh. This begins literary projects like the Khalsa Tract Society (1894), and then Khalsa ...read more

Twenty-one Sikh soldiers hold off tens of thousands of Afghan and Pashtun attackers, fighting to the last man heroically.

First Gurdwara's built in the UK (Putney, London) and USA (Stockton, California). Canada's first Gurdwara built in Golden, British Columbia in 1905. By 1908, ...read more

Anand Marriage Act passed by British rulers, reinforcing the Sikh’s own identity.

320,000 Sikhs served in World War 1 across multiple theatres of war, fighting in Flanders Field in France, across Europe, and in the Middle East.

British General Dyer ordered troops to fire at 20,000 peacefully protesting the Rowlatt Act. Thousands were killed and injured.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Akali Party are founded and the SIKH GURDWARA BILL (1925) is passed after many peaceful protests.

Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were accused of murder of an English police officer and were executed in Lahore. Their slogans ‘Inquilab zindabad’, was taken to heart by Indians

Over 300,000 Sikhs served in World War 2 - fighting for the Allied Forces in Europe, Africa, and South East Asia. The awards won by Sikhs credited their courage

Udham Singh shoots dead Sir Michel O’Dwyer, in London, who was the Lt. Governor of Punjab at the time of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Subhas Chandra Bose, a revolutionary anticolonial figure from Orissa, organizes a group of, largely Sikh, former prisoners of war FROM WW II released by Japan, to fight the British.