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Coming
mainly from the State of Indian Punjab, they have a strong military
tradition and a history of migration to other parts of the world.
They
emerged in the 16th century as a reformist sect of Hinduism, led
by Guru Nanak. His teachings and those of their ensuing nine Gurus
(Prophets) are embodied in the holy book, The Granth Sahib.
The
earliest Sikhs who came in any noticeable numbers were battle-weary
soldiers who had survived the horrors of the First World War
in France. Instantly recognisable with their beard and turbans,
these Sikh immigrants hardly received a war heroes' welcome.
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| Our
Untold Stories |
The
original teachings, in which some Islamic influence can be detected,
attached many of the outward manifestations of Hinduism such as
idolatry and ostentatious prayer.
Congregational
worship at the Gurdwara is practised and a more liberal doctrine
rejects the caste system in favour of the concept of equality and
the brotherhood of man.
The
Tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh established Sikhs as a readily identifiable
group by introducing certain recognisable symbols based on the uniform
of the Sikh warriors.
These
include a beard, long hair (kas/uncut) secured by a comb and covered
by a turban and a metal bangk (kara) usually made of steel and worn
on the right wrist.
Drugs
and tobacco are forbidden as well as meat, fish and eggs.
The
experiences of the first wave of Sikh settlers who came to Britain
were markedly different from the Hindu and Muslim migrants. Many
had skills like carpentry, plumbing and electrical experience from
their work with in East Africa.
The
earliest Sikhs who came in any noticeable numbers were battle-weary
soldiers who had survived the horrors of the First World War in
France.
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| The
Golden Temple of Amritsar is the holiest shrine in Sikhism |
Instantly
recognisable with their beard and turbans, these Sikh immigrants
hardly received a war heroes' welcome. The fighting had taken its
toll on Britain and by the end of 1918, the country was gripped
by a major depression.
Recession,
coupled with racism, meant little or no hope of work for these pioneering
Punjabi Sikhs, who were forced to make ends meet by working as door-to-door
salesmen, peddling clothes and cheap household goods to unfriendly
housewives.
But
they persevered - some even took to working as fortune tellers -
and by the 1930s, many of Britain's ports and industrial cities
had a small but visible Sikh presence.
They
hoped to remain in Britain for a few years, save enough money
and then return to their families in India. But low pay and
other family pressures made them stay on permanently. They
then gradually sent for their wives and children to join them.
Many of these Sikh migrants were farmers or skilled craftsmen
from the rich, agricultural Punjab who arrived with just a change
of clothes in their suitcases.
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| Our
Untold Stories |
After
the Second World War ended in 1945, Britain experienced a rapid
industrial growth. This created a demand for labour and Britain
turned to the Empire for a cheap source of labour to fill the gap.
Many
Asians, especially from the state of Punjab, were willing to come
to Britain because partition of India in 1947 had created social
and economic problems.
In
the early 1950s and 1960s many Sikhs settled in the inner city areas
of the North and Midlands, in towns like Bradford, Leeds, Manchester
and Birmingham, and found jobs in textile and manufacturing industries.
The
work they did in factories and foundries was mostly night shifts
- low paid and monotonous. Early settlers were mainly male. They
hoped to remain in Britain for a few years, save enough money and
then return to their families in India. But
low pay and other family pressures made them stay on permanently.
They
then gradually sent for their wives and children to join them. Many
of these Sikh migrants were farmers or skilled craftsmen from the
rich, agricultural Punjab who arrived with just a change of clothes
in their suitcases.
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Punjabi
folk music and dance is now popular in Britain
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They
were later followed by several thousand Sikhs from East Africa who,
in spite of being better educated and skilled than their Punjabi
brethren, still had to contend with discrimination and accept jobs
driving buses or working as manual labourers.
All
these Sikh migrants shared one common goal - to earn and save as
much as they could and then return to their beloved homeland, to
build or buy a new family home or more land or simply to install
a tube-well on their existing land.
These
dreams could only come true by slaving away 12 hours a day, six,
maybe seven days a week and sharing a cramped, cold terraced house
with several other men. Meanwhile
the host community swung to the sounds of the Sixties.
All
these Sikh migrants shared one common goal - to earn and save
as much as they could and then return to their beloved homeland,
to build or buy a new family home or more land or simply to
install a tube-well on their existing land. These dreams could
only come true by slaving away 12 hours a day, six, maybe seven
days a week and sharing a cramped, cold terraced house with
several other men. Meanwhile the host community swung to the
sounds of the Sixties.
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| Our
Untold Stories |
The
majority of the Sikh families in Gloucestershire have moved into
this area from other cities.
From
such humble endeavours, many have risen to run their multiple market
stalls, shops or supermarkets and some have added their name to
the list of richest people in the United Kingdom.
Although
there is no Gurdwara place of worship for Sikhism in Gloucestershire,
the Sikhs follow their religion at home and sometimes visit nearby
cities to be part of the congregation.
The
Golden Temple in Amritsar (India) is the most holy shrine of Sikhism.
The Sikh community speaks the Punjabi language and they keep their
Punjabi culture in the forefront. Punjabi
folk dances and songs "Bhangra" and "Gidha" are very popular in
Britain. There are now well over 200 Gurdwaras in the UK with large
numbers of Sikhs in Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall, Southall, Wolverhampton,
Slough and Gravesend.
Many
Sikhs have also excelled in different professions. From humble working-class
roots, over a period of 40-odd years, the Sikh community has clearly
made its mark on British society and can proudly claim its offspring
as lawyers, scientists, doctors, engineers and accountants.
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