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Sikh bravery in military history
 IPOH: An exhibition of photographs of Sikh soldiers will offer
Malaysians a rare glimpse of their military contributions all over
the world from the late 19th century till the end of World War 2 in
1945.
Harchand Singh says the exhibition is an opportunity to learn about
the Sikhs' military contributions in this country and other parts of
the world Entitled "Exploring the Role of Sikh Soldiers -- Where Valour is a Tradition", the exhibition opens on Nov 24 at the Wadda
Gurdwara Sahib in Jalan Gurdwara.
The exhibition will have more than 200 black-and-white photographs
of Sikh soldiers in action in Malaya, Singapore, Indonesia, Burma
(now Myanmar), China, the Middle-East, and all over Africa and
Europe.
It is being held in conjunction with the 538th birthday of Satguru
Nanak Devji, the founder of the Sikh religion, on Nov 24.
Organiser Harchand Singh, the proprietor of Mega Sound Machine, said
all the photographs are from the archives of the Imperial War Museum
in London.
 He says it is a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to learn more about
the role the Sikhs have played in the world's military history.
"The gems of the three-day exhibition are six photographs of the
ruins after the Battle of Saragarhi on Sept 12, 1897 in the
North-West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan)," said Harchand.
The battle, recognised by the United Nations Educational Scientific
and Cultural Organisation as one of the greatest stories of
collective bravery in human history, pitted 21 Sikhs from the 4th
Battalion of the Sikh Regiment of British India against a ferocious
attack by more than 14,000 Afghan tribal forces.
All 21 Sikhs were killed defending their post.
The significance of the exhibition has not escaped historians like
Mohd Taib Mohamed, the vice-president of the Perak Heritage Society
and librarian of the Perak state secretariat.
He welcomes the display as an opportunity for Malaysians to learn
more about the bravery and gallantry of the Sikhs.
"Admittedly, there is not much material in our own archives on the
role played by Sikhs in the defence of Malaya, Singapore and other
parts of Asia.
"This should serve as an informative platform for all Malaysians to
learn more about the Sikhs and their martial contributions to this
country and elsewhere."
(Courtesy The New Straits Times)
7 November, 2007
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