Sikhism in the United Kingdom

According to the 2001 census there are 336,000 Sikhs in the United Kingdom. Most have emigrated from Punjab (India), though there was a sizeable emigration from East Africa, notably Kenya. 56.1 per cent of all Sikhs are British-born. 73.1 per cent of Sikhs live in the South East, Greater London area and the West Midlands.

The first Sikh settler to United Kingdom

The first recorded Sikh settler in Britain was Maharaja Duleep Singh in 1854. Duleep Singh was the last ruler of the Sikh kingdom of Punjab. The Maharaja was dethroned after six years rule, and exiled to Britain in 1849 at the age of 14, after the Anglo-Sikh wars. There is a statue to the Maharaja at Butten Island, Thetford, Norfolk, near the Elveden Estate where he lived in Britain. The statue was unveiled by the Prince of Wales in 1999. Despite the early arrival of the Maharaja, the first Sikh Gurdwara (temple) was not established until 1911, at Putney in London.

The Sikh Immigrants to United Kingdom

The first large-scale Sikh migration came in the 1930s. It was mostly of men from the Punjab seeking work in British industry, which had a shortage of unskilled labour. Most of the new arrivals worked in industries like foundries and textiles. These new arrivals mostly settled in London, Birmingham and West Yorkshire. The first batch of Sikh migrants usually removed the outward religious symbols (turban, hair and beard) as racist prejudice in Britain would have kept them out of work. The first wave of Sikh immigrants to Britain were the soldier survivors of the World War I though most of them came afterwards from Punjab, after India became independent. They were followed by thousands of Sikhs from East Africa, where many had lived previously.

ikhs in the UK today

In recognition of Sikh contribution to the British society, Prime Minister Tony Blair paid them a glowing tribute on the occasion of the 2003 Vaisakhi celebration in London. Mr. Blair said, "I know that British Sikhs have made a great contribution to the economic, cultural and political life of the United Kingdom, and I firmly believe that your faith and culture have brought tremendous strengths and benefits to our society. Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales praised the Sikh community for "having served this country with great loyalty for hundreds of years, adding to the rich tapestry in Britain."

Sikhism in Britain is experiencing a revival in faith and following amongst its youth. Sikh organisations, most notably the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Southall, West London have contributed to this with the acquisition and funding of several educational centres and schools.

A recent survey conducted by a British newspaper of different ethnicities and their wealth showed that Sikhs had a remarkably high rate of house ownership at 82%. Overall, Sikhs were placed at number 1, above Jews and Christians who came second and third respectively. For a detailed account of Sikhs in Britain, see the most important and comprehnsive study of the community by Gurharpal Singh and Darshan Singh Tatla, "Sikhs in Britain: The Making of a Community" (London: Zed, 2006). This is by far the most significant objective study by established academics which challenges many of the accepted wisdoms about the community - its size, employment profile, family structure, politics - and presents its contemporary profile while discussing the major challenges facing British Sikhs today.

Places with a significant Sikh population

*Birmingham
*Bradford
*Coventry
*Derby
*Glasgow
*Kent
*Leeds
*Leicester
*London
*Wolverhampton

ee also

*

References

*See Gurharpal Singh and Darshan Singh Tatla, "Sikhs in Britain; The Making of a community" (London: Zed Press, 2006).

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1818/sikhhome.htm Sikhism in United Kingdom]
* [http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/Collections/Onlineresources/RWWC/themes/1301/1217 Reassessing what we collect website – Sikh London] History of Sikh London with objects and images