A 15-day exhibition honouring the military tradition of the Sikhs was inaugurated at Slough, town in Berkshire, England, on Sunday.
Organised by the Legacy of Valour Society, the Sikh Martial History Exhibition, covers centuries of history through the eyes of Sikh soldiers, reported Slough Express. The exhibition is open for public till August 12.
On display in the exhibition are material on Sikh solders’ sacrifices fighting alongside the British in World Wars, the Khalsa warrior spirit and the establishment of a Sikh kingdom in Punjab, reported Slough Express.
Excellent exhibition launch by #LegacyOfValourSociety #Berkshire at Khalsa Primary #Slough: well worth a visit for next 2 weeks. Within my speech, highlighted the bravery & sacrifices of generations over centuries, & efforts to commemorate with initiatives like @SikhWarMemorial pic.twitter.com/R9830aiPVm
— Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (@TanDhesi) July 29, 2018
The Legacy of Valour is a community heritage project funded by the local Punjabi community living in Reading and Wokingham, UK. The aim of the project is to facilitate the community to engage with its own proud history — learn, understand and highlight the contribution made by Sikhs and other Indian soldiers. The project will reflect on aftermath of the war and how it affected Indian social, political, military and economic evolution.
The exhibition at the Wexham Road school was opened for private viewing on Saturday and to the public on Sunday. Special guests on Saturday included Ravi Singh, founder of Slough-based charity Khalsa Aid and 107-year-old marathon runner Fauja Singh, according to Slough Express report.
United Kingdom’s first turbaned Sikh parliamentarian, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, also attended the exhibition, along with historians and armed forces members.
British Armed Forces Sikhs with Slough MP at Legacy of Valour exhibition launch at Khalsa Primary School. @TanDhesi #ShareWithPride pic.twitter.com/a0ZGCBKemP
— Sikhs For Sikhs (@SikhsForSikhs) July 30, 2018
“People were impressed in terms of the comprehensiveness of the exhibition,” society chairman Inderpal Singh Dhanjal was quoted by Slough Express as saying.
Inderpal said Sikh soldiers were laid to rest in 400 cemeteries in 35 countries after World War-1, and 280 cemeteries in 50 countries after the World War-2, but says the faith’s martial record is often overlooked in British and Indian schools. This exhibition is trying to redress that gap in the education systems, Inderpal said.
#BlessedtobeSikh
— Sikhs For Sikhs (@SikhsForSikhs) August 1, 2018
Gurpreet Singh - The First Turbaned Sikh sworn officer in Western Australia Police. pic.twitter.com/PvKPfnKEBN
#2 Many believe that Sikhs were the first among the martial races recruited by the British but it is not so. #SikhRegiment pic.twitter.com/4HsaGjLAIH
— Sikhs For Sikhs (@SikhsForSikhs) August 1, 2018
