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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-58535760

 

Wolverhampton Memorial to Sikh soldiers is unveiled

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1 day ago
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The sculpture
image captionThe sculpture comemorates the Battle of Saragarhi

A statue in tribute to 19th Century Sikh soldiers has been unveiled.

The 3m (10ft) tall sculpture, by artist Luke Perry, has been placed in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton.

It commemorates the Battle of Saragarhi, considered by some military historians as one of history's great last-stands.

Councillor Bhupinder Singh Gakhal, who helped develop the plans, said he hopes it will lead to more people knowing about the battle.

The statueIMAGE SOURCE,CITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL
image captionThe unveiling was also attended by three descendants of the battle's soldiers

During the battle on 12 September 1897, 21 Sikhs died defending a British army post from 10,000 Afghan tribesmen.

Sikhs make up almost 10% of Wolverhampton's population - almost 23,000 people.

Crowds at the unveilingIMAGE SOURCE,CITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL
image captionDozens of people turned out to see the unveiling in Well Lane, next to the Guru Nanak Gurdwara

The statue was commissioned by Guru Nanak Gurdwara whose members undertook a £100,000 fundraising programme for the monument.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal
image captionCouncillor Bhupinder Singh Gakhal has worked closely with the Gurdwara to develop plans for the memorial

City of Wolverhampton Council also contributed £35,000 towards the memorial after it agreed to transfer land for the statue to the Gurdwara on a 99 year lease.

Mr Gakhal, ward member for Wednesfield South, said: "After today I think the whole world will know what Saragarhi was and the contribution these men made."

The clay model of the statueIMAGE SOURCE,WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL
image captionA clay model of the statue was made before being cast in bronze

It was unveiled in Well Lane, near the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, on Sunday, the anniversary of the battle.

Luke Perry
image captionArtist Luke Perry designed the sculpture

"At the time in 1897, the whole of Britain knew about this, it was in all of the press and it was not just a Sikh or even at that point an Indian thing, it was a very British thing," he said.

"That has been lost over the years, but it has been reclaimed now."

 
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  • 2 weeks later...

Cross-party event held in UK Parliament to reflect on Anglo-Sikh history

Sikh.png This historic cross-party event was to reflect on Anglo-Sikh history and explore issues connected to British Sikhs today.

By: Pramod Thomas

A historic cross-party event was held in the UK Parliament to reflect on Anglo-Sikh history and to explore issues connected to British Sikhs, a statement has said.

Preet Kaur Gill MP, the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for British Sikhs hosted the reception on Monday (13) in Speaker’s House at the Palace of Westminster.

 

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP welcomed parliamentarians, guests and leaders of the Sikh community during the event.

Kaur Gill MP and principal adviser of the Sikh Federation (UK) Dabinderjit Singh OBE have reflected on key moments from throughout Anglo-Sikh history over the last 200 years.

“Sikh history is British history. To move forward it is important to acknowledge and understand the historic injustices and challenges Sikhs have faced while building on the great successes in Anglo-Sikh history over the past 200 years. That starts with open engagement and an honest reckoning with our country’s past,” said Kaur Gill MP.

“Across the globe, Governments should appreciate the enormous contribution Sikhs make to the world, working in collaboration with them to realise their ethos for the betterment of all.”

Coinciding with Saragarhi Day, which remembers the sacrifice of 21 Sikh soldiers in the battle of Saragarhi in 1897, as well as the 20th anniversary of 9/11, speakers touched on both the present day and historic contributions and challenges facing the Sikh community.

President of the first Sikh Gurdwara and the current secretary-general of the Sikh Council UK Gurpreet Singh Anand, Chair of the Sikh Women’s Alliance Balvinder Kaur Saund, foreign affairs select committee chair Tom Tugendhat MP, shadow secretary of state for Education Kate Green MP, parliamentary private secretary to the FCDO Joy Morrissey MP, MPs Martin Docherty-Hughes and Pat McFadden have also spoken during the event. 

Kaur Gill MP and Tugendhat MP have discussed the Hidden Heroes campaign which they have championed with We Too Built Britain, the statement added.

https://www.easterneye.biz/cross-party-event-held-in-uk-parliament-to-reflect-on-anglo-sikh-history/

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Can any Sikh answer this question. What is it that we want from Brits?

An apology? Recognition of their atrocities?

If we get this, then what then?

You cannot change the past but we can learn from it.

We cannot forget but if we keep mulling over these things, then how can we move forward?

We seem to be caught up in a vicious cycle.

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3 hours ago, MisterrSingh said:

I don't think the masses give a 5h*t about any of it, to be honest. 1984 is a distant memory; I doubt many of our people born and raised here even know of the historical relationship between us and the British. Don't underestimate the ignorance of the average person. The people on this forum are not representative of the wider Sikh NRI community.

I don't disagree with what you are saying.

However,

We are perpetuating this trauma and we are allowing the Brits to occupy our head space rent free.

We are going have to grow out of this and move forward.

Majority of the masses just want to get on with their lives and I am sure they aren't goin to be on the extremes of the bell curve. 

We are holding ourselves hostage, we are letting the anger and bitterness get the better of us. The Brits are not doing this, we are doing this to ourselves.

 

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9 hours ago, Ranjeet01 said:

I don't disagree with what you are saying.

However,

We are perpetuating this trauma and we are allowing the Brits to occupy our head space rent free.

We are going have to grow out of this and move forward.

Majority of the masses just want to get on with their lives and I am sure they aren't goin to be on the extremes of the bell curve. 

We are holding ourselves hostage, we are letting the anger and bitterness get the better of us. The Brits are not doing this, we are doing this to ourselves.

 

I think that you're simply an apologist. Always have been on here, and probably always will be in your life? 

These people HAVE fully colonised your head. To the point that they've even trained you to meekly take all their shyte without a whimper. And I suspect many of you from a particular background which has been in close contact with brits, have a legacy of brainwashing going on in your families that you're struggling to shake off? 

DzEEb86W0AAR6WK.jpg.30aa0f69992367bbf9272ca8fac416d6.jpg

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9 hours ago, Ranjeet01 said:

I don't disagree with what you are saying.

However,

We are perpetuating this trauma and we are allowing the Brits to occupy our head space rent free.

We are going have to grow out of this and move forward.

Majority of the masses just want to get on with their lives and I am sure they aren't goin to be on the extremes of the bell curve. 

We are holding ourselves hostage, we are letting the anger and bitterness get the better of us. The Brits are not doing this, we are doing this to ourselves.

 

 

32 minutes ago, dallysingh101 said:

I think that you're simply an apologist. Always have been on here, and probably always will be in your life? 

These people HAVE fully colonised your head. To the point that they've even trained you to meekly take all their shyte without a whimper. And I suspect many of you from a particular background which has been in close contact with brits, have a legacy of brainwashing going on in your families that you're struggling to shake off? 

DzEEb86W0AAR6WK.jpg.30aa0f69992367bbf9272ca8fac416d6.jpg

You have it all wrong. I am not apologising.

What I am saying is that I think we should refuse to be victims anymore. 

This woe is me, we was robbed is not healthy for us.

The correct question should be , " Yes x happened to us and y happened to us. What can we learn from this, what actions can we take so it never happens again"

We need to create action.

We are stuck in a cycle, it needs be broken.

 

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1 hour ago, Ranjeet01 said:

 

You have it all wrong. I am not apologising.

What I am saying is that I think we should refuse to be victims anymore. 

This woe is me, we was robbed is not healthy for us.

The correct question should be , " Yes x happened to us and y happened to us. What can we learn from this, what actions can we take so it never happens again"

We need to create action.

We are stuck in a cycle, it needs be broken.

 

Look, it's not about being a victim, it's the opposite, and I'm going to use straight forward 'street' language here to best make my point. To even attempt the above, you have to have the balls to "Call a c**t, a c**t." Especially in your own head and then when the time is right, openly.  

Recognise clear enemies. We haven't even got that far. And when do you think it's a good idea to confront the negative legacy of being colonised upon us? Now is the time (not later), when many other people are also doing similar.    And it's not even like it's history is it! Even in recent times they turne dtheir backs on us at partition leading to mass murder and rape, helped Indira plan the attack on Sant ji and the Akal Takhat and lied to us all about this. They covered up grooming of vulnerable Sikh females. They set up Jaggi Johal, and Waheguru knows what else these daints are doing behind the scenes now.   

And you still don't acknowledge that your own particular tribe/caste/jaat (whatever your calling it these days) were at the very epicentre of colonialist manipulation with deeply lasting impacts on their identity and self-perception.  

Knowing and responding to this isn't being a 'victim' it's confronting an oppressive, devious, manipulative insidious adversary, which is empowering and brave. And frankly I think you're the scared type and this dictates your behaviour. No one is asking you to do anything physical, but at least call a spade a spade.     

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