Biographies of God and God-alike
By Navtej Sarna
Published by Viking,Penguin
By Malabika Majumdar

The Relevant part of the article is given below :

Interesting parallels can be drawn between the life of Muhammad and Guru Nanak, and also dismissed as being coincidental. Both were born to ordinary families and at a time when society was in transition. In Nanak’s time, the invasion of Babur and the defeat of Ibrahim Lodhi marked the period of political upheavals. Muhammad from birth witnessed in-fighting between warlords for sectarian control. But more important, in both periods social and moral degeneration had reached a level that badly needed redemption. Both seemed to carry their mystic ways without counter-productive cries inhibiting their search for the sublime.

Since Nanak dwelt as a mystic and poet in the mid-15th century, he was already carrying the spiritual legacy of Kabir, Ravidas and Dhanna. All three became famous for their attempted syncretism in Hindu and Muslim religions. Nanak too contributed towards religious oneness. So keen was his desire to see that one belief prevails that as a demonstrative effect he even redesigned his attire to encapsulate traits of a fakir and a Hindu recluse.

Nanak spent a great part of his life as a wandering mendicant or udasi, singing in praise of his Lord and gathering followers on his journey. As a monotheist, his ideas came closest to the Sufis that believed in the essential unity between the ultimate macrocosm and the minute microcosm. However, Nanak was not inattentive to the impending needs of moral transformation that was much required in the society. Apart from moral degradation, the hierarchies of birth, position and power that needlessly marginalized the weak in the society also pained him to end. These imminent reasons made him dwell on the idea of a new religion that could cement all forms of divergences in society.

Initiating the Sikh religion, Nanak taught his followers the monotheistic ideals of creation and sustenance. For him both God and his creation are real. The evolution and ascendance of the soul takes place through dharma, jnana, sarana, karma and sach. Man can attain the exalted values of being a jivanmukta, only after surrendering himself to God. The Guru acts as a midwife for man’s laboured journey on the spiritual path.

These biographies of Gods and Prophets make an interesting reading especially as an initial course to a particular religious philosophy. The books on Muhammad and Nanak fill in details of their life and times and hence makes for smoother reading. However, myths normally do not make good biography material. Realizing this, the author of Durga has attempted to pack in too many ideas in a limited space frame and hence the book appears a bit patchy in parts.