Sikh Regiment Dumped Over 'racism' Fears

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Sikh regiment dumped over 'racism' fears

By Sean Rayment, Sunday Telegraph

Last Updated: 12:35am BST 24/06/2007

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...24/nsikh124.xml

History of Sikh gallantry

Last Updated: 12:35am BST 24/06/2007

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...24/nsikh224.xml

[Guest Dancing Warrior]

I wonder what the thousands of our Braves who died in the trenches of Europe fighting a war for an enemy which occupied their home lands would have thought of this?, eventually even to be betrayed by them and to see the biggest exodus in human history.

The countless sacrifices cannot be measured, Yet The English education system whilst starts teaching our primary kids to college students about the peaceful faith of Islam and has Halal on the school menu, fails to educate them about the sacrifices of our people in their war machine and subsequent struggle for independence. Fails to mention the atrocities committed by the crown not even a hundred years ago, fails to mention the nearly three trillion (recorded) sterling they had drained from India at the turn of the 19th century the final amount can never be known and does not take in to account the priceless relics.

Our community is the most successful of any migrant group that has settled in the U.K, we reflect that in home ownership, education, business, taxes etc, yet our history and culture remain an enigma even to our own. In a way I’m glad this regiment does not come to pass, I think we’ve spilt enough blood for the Union Jack, for it and against it, and we should play no part in the occupation and suppression of foreign lands and their people.

[Harmeet_Singh 21]

During the Battle of Saragarhi, which took place on September 12 1897, a force of just 21 soldiers from the 36th Sikhs held off a force of 10,000 Afghans.

Each of the Sikh soldiers, who chose to die in battle rather than surrender, was posthumously awarded the Indian Order of Merit, a gallantry award equivalent to the Victoria Cross.

The Afghans later admitted they had lost 4,800 men during the engagement. When news of the heroism reached the House of Commons, MPs stood and applauded.

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A contemporary photo of Saragarhi taken by the relief column which arrived a day after the battle.

Saragarhi memorial

[Bored 7]

waheguruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!

[M_S_KHALSA 0]

fateh

* In view of the determination of the garrison to continue fighting and defending their position, the Afghans made them several tempting promises to obtain their surrender. The Sikhs ignored all such overtures.[5]

* For hours the fierce fighting continued, while the enemy suffered losses, the number of the defenders was shrinking too, and their stock of ammunition was also being depleted. Sepoy Gurumukh Singh was flashing every detail of the battle through heliographic signals.

* Meanwhile, the enemy set ablaze the area surrounding Saragarhi. Two of the enemy were then able to make a breach in the wall of the signalling post.

* In the final stages of the battle, hand-to-hand fighting ensued.

* The battle now approached too close to Sepoy Gurumukh Singh for him to continue signalling. He signalled to seek permission to close the heliograph. Permission to this effect was flashed back. He packed the heliograph equipment in its leather bag, took out his rifle and commenced firing on the intruding enemies, killing 20 of them [6], before he died fighting.

* The tribesmen set on fire the signalling post. Every defender of Saragarhi had laid down his life to the last man and to the last bullet.

The modern Sikh Regiment continues to celebrate the day of the Battle of Saragarhi each 12 September as the Regimental Battle Honours Day. To commemorate the men the British built two Saragarhi Gurudwaras. One in Amritsar very close to the main entrance of the Golden Temple, and another in Ferozepur Cantonment, which was the district that most of the men hailed from.

In British accounts of the campaign there is little or no mention of this battle, it is more recognised by the Indian Army and the Sikh regiment. In British accounts of the Tirah Campaign the mention if any is of George Findlater.

In the 1999 Kargil Conflict, the Sikh regiment went into action once again, this time against Pakistan. Two battalions of the Sikh regiment- 8 Sikh and 14 Sikh subsequently took part in fierce and bloody fighting along the razor sharp crags and peaks of the Kargil mountains. 8 Sikh took Tiger Hill, whereas 14 Sikh fought at ChorbatLa. Before the fighting began, Officers and men of the Sikh regiment had remembered Saragarhi and taken a vow to uphold the traditions of the Sikh martial heritage

THIS IS WHAT SIKHS DID FOR THE BRITISH WHAT DID THE BRITISH DO FOR THE SIKHS JUST BUILD A COUPLE OF GURDWARAS SIKHS GAVE LIVES FOR THEM.

FATEH

[Punjabi_Link 33]

I hope Sikhs learn their lesson about helping out the white man (British).

Anyway, I personally think that Punjabis (notice I said Punjabis, not Sikhs?) shouldn’t join some white man's army because we will be used as pawns.

There is no point of joining a white man's army and be sent to countries to kill poor colour people. (In most cases) There is no need for us minorities to do the dirty work for the white man. So when I read about this whole “Sikh regiment” thing, all I could do is laugh at fools who support this. Having a Sikh regiment in white man’s army is nothing but a big joke to me. I hope it never happens.

[S1ngh 2,405]

Punjabi Link.. i like some of your posts but i see this reply of urs very racist....

Majority of our forefathers do not just blindly support someone in our known history.. Our forefathers had Ankh, sardari and most important loyalty. Sikh joined British army during mutiny era (1850's) because our forefathers saw julam against British families from gujrat to Bombay (butchring). Then Sikhs went against them because of julam against innocent punjabis/indians (Gadar, Azad Hind force, Morchay, bhai randhir singh jee's kurbani and so on)... To sum it up our forefathers didn't helped them because they were goray in Skin or british.. they always go for what they believe is TRUTH in their eyes. Rest is upto this world whether they give them their hard earned credit or not.. They came to this world and did great deed and lived their life according to sikh asoool.. May God Bless them !!

[Punjabi_Link 33]

Punjabi Link.. i like some of your posts but i see this reply of urs very racist....

Majority of our forefathers do not just blindly support someone in our known history.. Our forefathers had Ankh, sardari and most important loyalty. Sikh joined British army during mutiny era (1850's) because our forefathers saw julam against British families from gujrat to Bombay (butchring). Then Sikhs went against them because of julam against innocent punjabis/indians (Gadar, Azad Hind force, Morchay, bhai randhir singh jee's kurbani and so on)... To sum it up our forefathers didn't helped them because they were goray in Skin or british.. they always go for what they believe is TRUTH in their eyes. Rest is upto this world whether they give them their hard earned credit or not.. They came to this world and did great deed and lived their life according to sikh asoool.. May God Bless them !!

Fair enough.

But do you honestly believe that today's British army is fighting for the truth? Be honest here.

[dalsingh101 454]

Punjabi Link.. i like some of your posts but i see this reply of urs very racist....

Majority of our forefathers do not just blindly support someone in our known history.. Our forefathers had Ankh, sardari and most important loyalty. Sikh joined British army during mutiny era (1850's) because our forefathers saw julam against British families from gujrat to Bombay (butchring). Then Sikhs went against them because of julam against innocent punjabis/indians (Gadar, Azad Hind force, Morchay, bhai randhir singh jee's kurbani and so on)... To sum it up our forefathers didn't helped them because they were goray in Skin or british.. they always go for what they believe is TRUTH in their eyes. Rest is upto this world whether they give them their hard earned credit or not.. They came to this world and did great deed and lived their life according to sikh asoool.. May God Bless them !!

That must be the most naive post I've read on this site.

[S1ngh 2,405]

Punjabi Link.. i like some of your posts but i see this reply of urs very racist....

Majority of our forefathers do not just blindly support someone in our known history.. Our forefathers had Ankh, sardari and most important loyalty. Sikh joined British army during mutiny era (1850's) because our forefathers saw julam against British families from gujrat to Bombay (butchring). Then Sikhs went against them because of julam against innocent punjabis/indians (Gadar, Azad Hind force, Morchay, bhai randhir singh jee's kurbani and so on)... To sum it up our forefathers didn't helped them because they were goray in Skin or british.. they always go for what they believe is TRUTH in their eyes. Rest is upto this world whether they give them their hard earned credit or not.. They came to this world and did great deed and lived their life according to sikh asoool.. May God Bless them !!

Fair enough.

But do you honestly believe that today's British army is fighting for the truth? Be honest here.

Being Soldier is very tough job.. One has to follow orders from top without any question. So yes, if a true sikh who is really true will only serve whom he see the top level as the real pro humanitarian etc.. I don't know about British but i can speak of my country that Pentagon is not fighting for the truth (as i see).

That must be the most naive post I've read on this site.

Lol whats naive about it? care to explain..

[singhalicious 3]

Someone should make a petition to support a Sikh regiment then people should be encouraged to join!

[Guest Dancing Warrior]

Punjabi Link.. i like some of your posts but i see this reply of urs very racist....

Majority of our forefathers do not just blindly support someone in our known history.. Our forefathers had Ankh, sardari and most important loyalty. Sikh joined British army during mutiny era (1850's) because our forefathers saw julam against British families from gujrat to Bombay (butchring). Then Sikhs went against them because of julam against innocent punjabis/indians (Gadar, Azad Hind force, Morchay, bhai randhir singh jee's kurbani and so on)... To sum it up our forefathers didn't helped them because they were goray in Skin or british.. they always go for what they believe is TRUTH in their eyes. Rest is upto this world whether they give them their hard earned credit or not.. They came to this world and did great deed and lived their life according to sikh asoool.. May God Bless them !!

Fair enough.

But do you honestly believe that today's British army is fighting for the truth? Be honest here.

Being Soldier is very tough job.. One has to follow orders from top without any question. So yes, if a true sikh who is really true will only serve whom he see the top level as the real pro humanitarian etc.. I don't know about British but i can speak of my country that Pentagon is not fighting for the truth (as i see).

That must be the most naive post I've read on this site.

Lol whats naive about it? care to explain..

I think it had more to do with the fact that they were rewarded and paid handsomely in the beginning . On another note, the men who fought for the British who are still alive are still fighting for an equal pension and recognition as their English counterparts amazingly the Sikhs/Indians who supported the Japanese were given full pension benefits despite the fact that they lost the war!

Can you please tell me the highest rank of an Indian officer during the war? How many ever despite their courage and bravery were ever promoted above NCOs, discrimination was rampant within the British Army. Indians were used as cannon fodder but with their gallant bravery they enchanted their Frangi officers. , The VC’s were only awarded to Indian troops after fierce protest of the commanding officers who fought alongside Sikh Indian troops.

Both my Grandfathers served in the British Army in Italy and France.

[KKV 0]

Atleast our Singh soldiers won't die :umm:

[S1ngh 2,405]

On my last visit to india, i met several war veterans.. one of the sikh veteran i met served in British army and him and his friends revolted against their rule of Helmets and they were punished in a very brutal way (they were left in jungles to fight off with Japanese).. his singh and his friends were captured by Japan and went thru many jails.. They later formed Azad Hind Force and served under Subash Chander Bose. He went thru many brutal battles in jungles of Burma and so on.. They were captured on their return to India.. Stripped off their ranks and were taken to court.. Gandhi and other leaders gave blank face to them and didn't helped them at all.. ON their own and with small outside help.. they were released without any credits given to them.. No pensions, no medals.. Nothing.. Most of the Azad hind force (against british) soldiers went thru that.. This singh who fought in world war II started getting pension in around 1983 after Indra Ghandi gave a green light but they really fought hard to get the pensions. So it wasn't easy for them.. I remember he mentioned to his superiors during their group revolt against british.. "16 ruppaey teh assey apna jaan veech dittey but assey dharam nahey vechna kaday veey." We sold our life for Rs16 a month but we will never compromise on our religion and its identity." (On issue of wearing hard helmet.)