Book Details: The Punjab is the vast swath of land between Delhi and Peshawar on the one axis and between Kashmir and Sind on the other with no fixed boundaries. It is a land replete with tales of romance, celebrations of nature in its fecundity and challenges, heroes and battles, and above all a people rugged and resilient. It went through very turbulent times as the Mughal Empire crumbled after Emperor Aurangzeb (d 1707) until Ranjit Singh, (1799-1839) the Maharaja, gave parts of it some semblance of stability and prosperity. He ruled the Punjab for about 40 years and many consider that as its golden period. Samia Karamat has explored the history, culture and architecture of the Punjab during this period in a comprehensive and a holistic manner. She connects the evolution of the Sikh Faith with the contemporaneous developments in the political and social fabric and then weaves the developments in architecture into that mosaic. Architecture like all arts grows out of a particular culture and varies accordingly. The Gurdawara symbolized freedom from oppression, equality among the living, and encouraged people to focus around that symbol of human wisdom, the Guru Garanth Sahib, holiness personified. The form was dictated by the beliefs, tenets of the faith and a set of spaces were developed which in use, and aesthetics of space are unique. One such example is the hall provided for the holding of the Langar. The Sikh Langar was in sharp contrast to any in Hindu or Muslim faith and became an integral part of the architectural spaces of the Gurdawara. Through the act of eating together without any differentiation based on religion, cast, creed or race the Sikh Faith ordained the breaking of all taboos that divided humans. It is a unique example in the South Asian context, which is and continues to be riddled with divisions based on caste, color of skin etc. In its plan as well as the decoration, the Gurdawara stands unique and tall as a contribution to the human heritage. Samia Karamat has made a significant contribution to the understanding of the period of turbulence and the ultimate stability brought about by the sagacious Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The author has brought to our notice some of the lesser known Gurdawaras that were sadly neglected in the post Partition period. This is a contribution that will be lauded by all those who believe in tolerance and a harmonious living among all faiths and creeds.