Silat Road Sikh Temple marks 100 years with prayer, music and festivities
The Silat Road Sikh temple, the third-oldest in Singapore, was completed in 1924, and is marking its centenary with activities that began on June 15 and will last until December
Founded by the first wave of Sikh immigrants brought to Singapore by the British in the 1800s, the Silat Road Sikh temple later gave shelter to families of Sikh soldiers killed in battle during WWII. The temple continued to house Sikh families until 1990, after which the grounds were rebuilt. Today, its doors are open to anyone.
This year, the temple or gurdwara - located off Jalan Bukit Merah opposite the sprawling grounds of the Singapore General Hospital - marked 100 years with two specially commissioned murals flanking its entrance. One depicts its beginnings, paying tribute to the Sikhs who served in the police force during Singapore’s early years. The other is a homage to the revered saint Bhai Maharaj Singh, a soldier and Sikh revolutionary who fought for India’s independence from the British Raj.
It was unveiled and signed by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on July 6, during the official launch of centennial celebrations. The event was also attended by Mr Tharman’s spouse Jane Itoggi, Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, and Workers’ Party chief and Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh.
Sikhs in Singapore - A Story Untold
Sat Sri Akal! Co-created by members of Singapore’s Sikh community and the Indian Heritage Centre, Sikhs in Singapore – A Story Untold is presented in 3 parts – Roots, which tells the story of the origins of Singapore’s Sikh community; Settlement, which brings together some exemplary narratives of Sikh migrants to Singapore; and Contemporary Perspectives which offers glimpses into the experiences of some contemporary Sikhs.
Sikhs are followers of Sikhism, a religion that originated in the Punjab region around the late 15th century. Located at the crossroads of east, west and South Asia, the Punjab has historically been home to diverse faiths and cultural traditions. Consequently, the Sikh identity is a distinct combination of faith and ethno-linguistic roots.
Today, there are over 25 million Sikhs around the world, of whom 3 million belong to the international Sikh diaspora. The British annexation of the Punjab in the mid-19th century gave birth to a global dispersion of the Sikhs. With the formation of the Sikh Police Contingent in 1881, many Sikhs arrived in Singapore to seek employment as policemen, and then onwards the Sikh community gradually grew in numbers. Over the last 120 years the profile of the community has evolved, and this exhibition chronicles some stories of Sikhs, young and old, from diverse walks of life.
Documentary in the works on the first Sikh in Singapore, freedom fighter Bhai Maharaj Singh
The 60- to 75-minute-long documentary entitled "Saint Soldier - Uncovering the Story of Singapore's First Sikh" is directed by Ms Upneet Kaur-Nagpal (above)
Unlike many other communities, the Sikhs in Singapore can trace the exact origin of their presence on the island to one man: freedom fighter Bhai Maharaj Singh.
The saint-soldier is the first Sikh in recorded history to step foot in Singapore, sent by the British in 1850 as a political prisoner.
To mark the nation's Bicentennial celebrations, a documentary detailing Bhai Maharaj Singh's life and influence is in the works, with a trailer released on Sunday (Sept 8) at the Blackbox in Fort Canning.
related:
Sikhs in Singapore
Since migrating from Punjab in the 19th century, Sikhs have established themselves solidly in Singapore over time. It is true that the majority of the first wave of immigrants were men who joined the Sikh police force during British colonial rule, but by the first quarter of the 20th century, they had assumed positions in businesses dealing with textiles, foods, electronics, and sporting goods.
Women from Punjab arrived in Singapore after their husbands had settled, first serving as custodians of Sikh craft and oral traditions, and subsequently becoming professionals who worked outside the home.
The organisers commissioned photographer Afiq Omar, to photograph 50 young Singaporean Sikh adults against local surroundings, to help the public better understand Sikhs and move beyond stereotypes. Visitors can listen to these young individuals talk about their lives and experiences in Singapore by scanning the photos on their phones.
The story of the Indian 'saint soldier' – perhaps the first Sikh in Singapore
Sikh guards, as memorialised in this statue at the Bukit Brown cemetery, were known in Singapore. But before them, there was Bhai Maharaj Singh
Unless you’re a religious devotee or history buff, the Silat Road Sikh Temple at Bukit Merah isn’t likely to come up on your radar of places to visit. But within its grounds lies the tombstone of one of Singapore’s most intriguing but lesser-known historical figures.
Described as a "freedom fighter" and “saint”, Bhai Maharaj Singh is said to be the first recorded Sikh person to have stepped foot in Singapore back in 1850, as a prisoner of the British for inciting revolution back in India.
And now, his colourful life is the subject of The Saint Soldier, a new documentary by Singaporean director Upneet Kaur-Nagpal, who was commissioned to make this film as part of a wider community driven project. Before its official launch in December, there will be a talk and a sneak peek screening of footage on Sep 8 at Fort Canning.
Sikh Advisory Board - 75 Years of Legacy: History and Contributions to Nation Building
Welcome to the Sikh Advisory Board (SAB) of Singapore. We are a respected non-profit organization founded in 1948, dedicated to safeguarding the interests, rights, and well-being of the Sikh community in Singapore. Over the years, we have fostered an enriched dialogue between the Sikh community and other groups, promoting social harmony and mutual understanding within the vibrant multi-racial society of Singapore.
Early years of the SAB in the Straits Settlement - The Sikh Advisory Board (SAB) was started by the British in 1915 to advise the colonial government on matters concerning Sikh religion, customs and general welfare of the Sikh community. Interestingly, in many official communications, the SAB was then referred to by the colonial government as a “Panchayat” (village council in Punjabi) – an indication that the authorities had every intention of having the SAB decide on the affairs of the “village” or community of Sikhs it had formed in the Straits Settlements on behalf of the British government. This point can be underscored by the SAB being formed only months after the 1915 Mutiny in Singapore, which had led to a serious review of how the Straits Settlement authorities managed the Indian immigrant communities here.
It is therefore unsurprising that Sergeant-Major Gurmukh Singh, the highest ranking Sikh policeman then, was appointed the Chairman of the Board, with Jawala Singh Dhothar, a clerk with the Singapore Harbour Board, as Secretary. All 10 members of the SAB then were nominated by the Governor of the Straits Settlements. It is also worth noting that meetings were conducted in Malay.
Sikhs in Singapore
Some of the first Sikhs in Singapore came from the Punjab region of India in the late 19th century, sailing from the port of Calcutta to join the Sikh Police Contingent under the colonial administration here at the time. But that's not the only story to tell.
From March 27 to September 30, uncover the lesser-known stories, and celebrate the rich heritage and culture of the Sikh community in Singapore with the Indian Heritage Centre's second community co-created exhibition: Sikhs in Singapore – A Story Untold. It's also the centre's first-ever exhibition on Sikh heritage.
The exhibition features more than 450 artefacts from over 50 local and international private collections, institutional collections, as well as Singapore’s National Collection. And they're all split into three parts to help you navigate with ease: Roots, which explores the origins of Singapore’s Sikh community; Settlement, which presents the narratives of Sikh migrants; and Contemporary Perspectives, which offers glimpses into the experiences of contemporary Sikhs, highlighting the ever-evolving Singaporean Sikh identity and the community’s contributions to the nation.
Sikhs In Singapore - A Story Untold
Sat Sri Akal! Co-created by members of Singapore’s Sikh community and the Indian Heritage Centre, Sikhs in Singapore – A Story Untold is presented in 3 parts – Roots, which tells the story of the origins of Singapore’s Sikh community; Settlement, which brings together some exemplary narratives of Sikh migrants to Singapore; and Contemporary Perspectives which offers glimpses into the experiences of some contemporary Sikhs.
Sikhs are followers of Sikhism, a religion that originated in the Punjab region around the late 15th century. Located at the crossroads of east, west and South Asia, the Punjab has historically been home to diverse faiths and cultural traditions. Consequently, the Sikh identity is a distinct combination of faith and ethno-linguistic roots.
Today, there are over 25 million Sikhs around the world, of whom 3 million belong to the international Sikh diaspora. The British annexation of the Punjab in the mid-19th century gave birth to a global dispersion of the Sikhs. With the formation of the Sikh Police Contingent in 1881, many Sikhs arrived in Singapore to seek employment as policemen, and then onwards the Sikh community gradually grew in numbers. Over the last 120 years the profile of the community has evolved, and this exhibition chronicles some stories of Sikhs, young and old, from diverse walks of life.
Sikh associations in Singapore to screen community documentary during Vesakhi Mela 2021
'Home Away from Home' traces the early history of the Sikhs in Singapore
The Young Sikh Association (YSA) is partnering with the Singapore Khalsa Association (SKA) this year for the annual Vesakhi Mela 2021. As part of the festivities, they are organising community screenings of the documentary film 'The Sikh Road'.
'The Sikh Road' was produced by the National University of Singapore Geography Department in collaboration with YSA intended as an educational resource for students reading the module GES1003: Changing Landscapes of Singapore.
'The Sikh Road' is scheduled to be screened from 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm tomorrow and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm on Sunday at the Civil Service Club, 60 Tessensohn Road, Singapore.
The Ten Principle Beliefs of the Sikh Religion
The Sikh religion is a monotheistic faith that is one of the youngest of the world's major religions. In terms of numbers of followers, it ranks as the ninth largest religion in the world, with followers numbering between 25 and 28 million.
Originating at the end of the 15th century CE in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, the faith is based on the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak, as well as those of ten succeeding gurus. Somewhat unique among the world's religions, Sikhism rejects the notion that any religion, even theirs, holds a monopoly on the ultimate spiritual truth.
The following ten beliefs will introduce you to the tenets of this important religion. Follow the links to learn more:
Who are Sikhs? What is Sikhism?
The Sikh community invites all people to join them in bringing about mutual understanding and deep respect for all people. Since Sept. 11th, Sikhs, like other Americans, have been grappling with grief and fear. But their fear is not only about another assault from outside. Many Sikhs have become victims of hate crimes because of their appearance. Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh American (Balbir Singh Sodhi), was killed on Sept.15 as a result of mistaken identity. Across America, the only people who wear turbans are followers of the Sikh religion. Sikhs are from Northern India (Punjab) and are neither Hindus nor Muslims.
The word Sikh (pronounced "sickh") means 'disciple' or 'learner.' The Sikh religion was founded in Northern India in the fifteenth century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and is distinct from Islam and Hinduism. Sikhism is monotheistic and stresses the equality of all men and women. Sikhs believe in three basic principles; meditating on the name of God (praying), earning a living by honest means as well as sharing the fruits of one’s labor with others. Sikhism rejects caste and class systems and emphasizes service to humanity.
Turbans are worn to cover our long hair and with respect to God. Learn to recognize a Sikh turban. Sikhs have unshorn hair, beards and moustaches. The Sikh faith teaches us the humanitarian principles of freedom, equality, and justice - the same principles this great democracy is founded on. There are about 25 million Sikhs in the world. Sikhs have been in the United States for over 100 years. Sikhism recognizes the universal truths that underlie all human endeavors, religions and belief systems. The universal nature of the Sikh way of life reaches out to people of all faiths and cultural backgrounds, encouraging us to see beyond our differences and to work together for world peace and harmony.
Sikhism
Sikhism, religion and philosophy founded in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent in the late 15th century. Its members are known as Sikhs. The Sikhs call their faith Gurmat (Punjabi: “the Way of the Guru”). According to Sikh tradition, Sikhism was established by Guru Nanak (1469–1539) and subsequently led by a succession of nine other Gurus. All 10 human Gurus, Sikhs believe, were inhabited by a single spirit. Upon the death of the 10th, Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), the spirit of the eternal Guru transferred itself to the sacred scripture of Sikhism, Guru Granth Sahib (“The Granth as the Guru”), also known as the Adi Granth (“First Volume”), which thereafter was regarded as the sole Guru. In the early 21st century there were nearly 25 million Sikhs worldwide, the great majority of them living in the Indian state of Punjab.
Sikh in Punjabi means “learner,” and those who joined the Sikh community, or Panth (“Path”), were people who sought spiritual guidance. Sikhs claim that their tradition has always been separate from Hinduism. Nevertheless, many Western scholars argue that in its earliest stage Sikhism was a movement within the Hindu tradition; Nanak, they point out, was raised a Hindu and eventually belonged to the Sant tradition of northern India, a movement associated with the great poet and mystic Kabir (1440–1518). The Sants, most of whom were poor, dispossessed, and illiterate, composed hymns of great beauty expressing their experience of the divine, which they saw in all things. Their tradition drew heavily on the Vaishnava bhakti (the devotional movement within the Hindu tradition that worships the god Vishnu), though there were important differences between the two. Like the followers of bhakti, the Sants believed that devotion to God is essential to liberation from the cycle of rebirth in which all human beings are trapped; unlike the followers of bhakti, however, the Sants maintained that God is nirgun (“without form”) and not sagun (“with form”). For the Sants, God can be neither incarnated nor represented in concrete terms.
Certain lesser influences also operated on the Sant movement. Chief among them was the Nath tradition, which comprised a cluster of sects, all claiming descent from the semilegendary teacher Gorakhnath and all promoting Hatha Yoga as the means of spiritual liberation. Although the Sants rejected the physical aspects of Hatha Yoga in favor of meditation techniques, they accepted the Naths’ concept of spiritual ascent to ultimate bliss. Some scholars have argued that the Sants were influenced by Islam through their contact with the Mughal rulers of India from the early 16th century, but there is in fact little indication of this, though Sufism (Islamic mysticism) may have had a marginal effect.
What is Sikhism?
Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak around 500 years ago in a place called the Punjab. This is an area which spans part of India and Pakistan in South Asia today.
Sikhs believe in one God who guides and protects them. They believe everyone is equal before God. Sikhs believe that your actions are important and you should lead a good life. They believe the way to do this is:
- Keep God in your heart and mind at all times
- Live honestly and work hard
- Treat everyone equally
- Be generous to those less fortunate than you
- Serve others
The Sikh place of worship is called a Gurdwara which means 'Gateway to the Guru'. A Gurdwara is any building where the Guru Granth Sahib is kept. In the UK, Sikhs usually go to the Gurdwara on Sundays. During the services they listen to teachings based on the Guru Granth Sahib. They also chant and say prayers from the gurus. These are called Keertan.
Who are the Sikhs and what are their beliefs?
In the Sikh tradition, a truly religious person is one who cultivates the spiritual self while also serving the communities around them – or a saint-soldier. The saint-soldier ideal applies to women and men alike.
In this spirit, Sikh women and men maintain five articles of faith, popularly known as the five Ks. These are: kes (long, uncut hair), kara (steel bracelet), kanga (wooden comb), kirpan (small sword) and kachera (soldier-shorts). Although little historical evidence exists to explain why these particular articles were chosen, the 5 Ks continue provide the community with a collective identity, binding together individuals on the basis of a shared belief and practice. As I understand, Sikhs cherish these articles of faith as gifts from their gurus.
Turbans are an important part of the Sikh identity. Both women and men may wear turbans. Like the articles of faith, Sikhs regard their turbans as gifts given by their beloved gurus, and its meaning is deeply personal. In South Asian culture, wearing a turban typically indicated one’s social status – kings and rulers once wore turbans. The Sikh gurus adopted the turban, in part, to remind Sikhs that all humans are sovereign, royal and ultimately equal.
Sikh Beliefs
Sikhs focus their lives around their relationship with God, and being a part of the Sikh community. The Sikh ideal combines action and belief. To live a good life a person should do good deeds as well as meditating on God.
Sikhs believe that human beings spend their time in a cycle of birth, life, and rebirth. They share this belief with followers of other Indian religious traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
The quality of each particular life depends on the law of Karma. Karma sets the quality of a life according to how well or badly a person behaved in their previous life. The only way out of this cycle, which all faiths regard as painful, is to achieve a total knowledge of and union with God.
Sikhism in Singapore
Central Sikh Temple
Singaporean Sikhs numbered 12,051 at the country's 2020 census, forming the country's sixth largest religious group at 0.35% of the population, but Sikhs form a religious minority in Singapore. Sikhism in Singapore has its roots in the military and policing forces of the British Empire. Currently, there are 12,000–15,000 Sikhs in Singapore. There are 7 gurdwaras along with a missionary society, a welfare society, two youth organizations and two sports clubs. Most Sikhs are from the Jat community.
The first Sikh to migrate to Singapore was Maharaj Singh in 1849; he was sent there as a political prisoner by the British Empire after the Second Anglo-Sikh War. Photograph of members of the Sikh Police Contingent in-front of Gurdwara Sahib Silat Road in 1931. The gurdwara is also known as Singapore Sikh Police Temple. Also pictured is the inspector/general of police.
Singapore was part of Malaya under British rule and Sikhs migrated there as policemen. Some Sikhs in Singapore are immigrants from India (mainly from the Punjab region in India). Others are the descendants of Sikh prisoners from British India who were sent to Singapore by the British Army for protesting, attacking or killing British Soldiers, attacks; assaults; and vandalism of British buildings and property. They lived in British prisons in Singapore. Sikh migration to Singapore was popularized by the demand of Sikh police officers and guards in British colonial Malaya. A substantial amount of Sikhs in Singapore are also descendants of Indian Sikh Businessmen who immigrated to Singapore.
