200 Years of British - Sikh Relations

United Kingdom: Sikh letter to Gordon Brown expresses anguish with Govt. policies Affirms Sikh connection with Scottish, English and Welsh peoples Two hundred years of British-Sikh relations, has been marked with a striking letter to the British Prime Minister.

The six page letter from the Sikh Community Action Network (Slough), expresses Sikh anguish and opposition to British Government policies which are ‘socially sectarian’ and directly in conflict with ’community cohesion’. It describes current Government policies as ‘divisive, discriminatory and polarising’ against the Sikhs, English, Christian, Scottish, Welsh, Italian, Greek, Hindu, Jewish, Gujeraati and other communities. It says these policies as ‘socially destructive’.

The letter expresses Sikh appreciation of the many benefits life in Britain has provided for the 700,000 British Sikh population. It highlights the substantial military, social and economic contribution Sikhs have made to Britain. It speaks of the “proud and positive connection between the Panjaabi-Sikh, Scottish, English and Welsh peoples.”

It positively stresses the core values of citizenship of responsibility, self-initiative and social action which have driven the Sikh migrants and future generations in Britain. The letter further stresses how the British Government has failed to acknowledge and support the Sikh contribution to Britain, and has simply taken it for granted.

It speaks of the disproportionate and sectarian appeasement of voices within the Muslim population, and the complete marginalisation of Britain’s other communities – English, Scottish, Gujerati, Italian, Greek, Christian, Hindu, Jew, Welsh. “We need to see policies and action which decisively include and empower these diverse communities as part of a collective vision for Britain; rather than the divisive, sectarian and polarising policies of favouring one community over the rest.”

The Sikh Community Action Network says, the letter is designed to bring to the public fore, on this historic 200 year anniversary (25th April 2009), the need for the British government “to stop taking active, successful, forward moving communities for granted. These communities are the core of Britain and its social and economic strength. They are fed up with the slumpish and sectarian policies of a misguided and expedient government.”

Two hundreds years of British-Sikh relations occurred on 25th April 2009, representing the anniversary of the signing of the historic Treaty of Amritsar between the Sikh Government of Panjaab and the British Government in 1809. See www.anglo-sikh.blogspot.com

On the historic two-hundred year anniversary of British-Sikh relations, a Sikh group has written also written to Queen Elizabeth, requesting quantification of various Sikh national artefacts and sacred scriptures confiscated during the British Raaj.

In a three-page letter, the Sikh Community Action Network (Slough), celebrates the ‘rich and eventful’ British-Sikh relationship over 200 years, since the signing of the Treaty of Amritsar in 1809 between the Governments of Panjaab and Britain.

The letter states that: “Across the UK, within the custody of your royal family, royal castles, museums and government bodies, there is an immense range of unquantified and unidentified cultural property belonging to the Sikh nation.”

The letter requests attention to the diverse range of Sikh national property taken from Panjaab following its imperial conquest and subjugation by Britain in 1849. The letter refers to many sacred scriptures, swords and artefacts of various kinds being held within royal castles and royal venues, including Windsor Castle, the official residence of the Queen.

The letter seeks a full quantification of all Sikh national property confiscated and brought to Britain during the British Raaj, and access to these items by Sikh representatives.

The Sikh Community Action Networks, says: “This will be a major positive step, in taking forward British Sikh relations. We are confident that Queen Elizabeth will appreciate our desire for access to these national treasures, which define our history, spirituality, ethics and way of life.”

The letter, also, refers to the letters, diaries and writings of the first Sikh in Britain, Maharajah Duleep Singh. He was the child-king of Panjaab, deposed after the British conquest in 1849. In 1854, at the age of 5-6 years circa, he was brought to Britain as a subject of Queen, Victoria – Empress of India. He was nurtured as a royal gentleman, under the authority of Queen Victoria. He spent portions of his childhood and young years at Windsor Castle. His quest for his past, resulted in him returning to Panjaabi-Sikh culture and seeking to restore the independence of Panjaab. Over the course of his 55 year life, this first Sikh in Britain undertook many written communications with Queen Victoria directly and with the British Government Ministers, about his affairs as a ‘protectorate’ of Britain and his conflicting desire to return to Panjaab and restore his country’s independence. Many of these writings are contained within the archives and stores of Windsor Castles and other royal venues.