Remembrance Day: Memorial for Sikh soldiers vandalised less than one week after unveiling

[Gabbar Singh]

When I read the headline I thought this may have been the work of far right extremists but when you look at what’s actually written I think this was the work of somebody much closer to home.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">War memorial for Sikh soldiers vandalised less than one week after unveiling <a href="https://t.co/q4dEUonFTQ">https://t.co/q4dEUonFTQ</a></p>— The Independent (@Independent) <a href="https://twitter.com/Independent/status/1061283319478960128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A 10ft statue of a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sikh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sikh</a> soldier unveiled last week outside Smethwick Sikh gurdwara to commemorate the First World War was vandalised last night and had graffiti written over it - it’s been taken off now but this is what was written. Sepoy is how the British referred to soldiers <a href="https://t.co/YdYI8WPlwz">pic.twitter.com/YdYI8WPlwz</a></p>— Amardeep Bassey (@ambassey) <a href="https://twitter.com/ambassey/status/1060941579614076928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I wonder why Sikhs get a dedicated war memorial. I don't want to denigrate their contribution in the wars, but weren't soldiers conscripted from all communities of India, including Muslims from what is now Pakistan and Bangladesh?

 

[Gilly]

I wonder why Sikhs get a dedicated war memorial. I don't want to denigrate their contribution in the wars, but weren't soldiers conscripted from all communities of India, including Muslims from what is now Pakistan and Bangladesh?

bit of research

The memorial was commissioned by Sikh temple Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick to mark the sacrifices made by south Asian servicemen of all faiths.

 

[enkidu_]

Being a cannon fodder for those who have considered you as an inferior race and given you the tag of "martial races" for suppressing nativist revolts, hoooooow glorious.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

I wonder why Sikhs get a dedicated war memorial. I don't want to denigrate their contribution in the wars, but weren't soldiers conscripted from all communities of India, including Muslims from what is now Pakistan and Bangladesh?

There's a Muslim specific one in Woking.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-34792865

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

There's a Muslim specific one in Woking.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-34792865

Very nice. One day perhaps there will be a big budget movie focusing on the sepoy contribution to the war which would bring awareness to the wider public when they wear the poppy with pride.

 

[JaDed]

Very nice. One day perhaps there will be a big budget movie focusing on the sepoy contribution to the war which would bring awareness to the wider public when they wear the poppy with pride.

Even progressive directors like Nolan didn't care ,so unless some Desi Brit director helms a project unlikely to be happen.

 

[PakLFC]

bit of research

The memorial was commissioned by Sikh temple Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick to mark the sacrifices made by south Asian servicemen of all faiths.

If it is to mark all faiths then why is the statue of a Sikh soldier?

 

[Gilly]

If it is to mark all faiths then why is the statue of a Sikh soldier?

What should it have been?.

 

[PakLFC]

What should it have been?.

There should have been no religious symbols attached to the statue if it represented all faiths. It is a Sikh statue erected by the Sikh community, the turban proves this.

 

[Gilly]

There should have been no religious symbols attached to the statue if it represented all faiths. It is a Sikh statue erected by the Sikh community, the turban proves this.

What does religion have to do with it, its about people that served in the war. The stature represents everyone from South Asia, why does religion have to be something to fight about.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Being a cannon fodder for those who have considered you as an inferior race and given you the tag of "martial races" for suppressing nativist revolts, hoooooow glorious.

Did they fight with pride or was it more of a reluctance? Because some Asian or perhaps Sikhs who may have vandalised this statue may feel these people gave their life for nothing or were forced to so.

 

[PakLFC]

What does religion have to do with it, its about people that served in the war. The stature represents everyone from South Asia, why does religion have to be something to fight about.

How do you know that the monument all the people who died in the war? As a Sikh temple has erected it it's a tribute to their people. I do not want this monument to represent the Muslim's who died, we can build such things ourselves. Only governmental monuments represent people in general. As it is a statue with a man in a turban it does not represent me or many Muslim's who feel likewise.

 

[HEYY]

I wonder why Sikhs get a dedicated war memorial. I don't want to denigrate their contribution in the wars, but weren't soldiers conscripted from all communities of India, including Muslims from what is now Pakistan and Bangladesh?

Remember that Sikhs were very loyal to the Brits, one of the biggest reason they captured all of India was the betrayal by Sikhs against the Mughals and Maratha.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Remember that Sikhs were very loyal to the Brits, one of the biggest reason they captured all of India was the betrayal by Sikhs against the Mughals and Maratha.

The Sikh loyalty to the Brits endured for a long time to be fair. More than any other immigrant community from India/Pakistan, you are more likely to find them adopting British names. Everyone in the UK will know a Jimmy/Booby/Tommy or Ricky Singh. We British Pakistanis will end up being called Mo, Taz, Zak or Immy, basically abbreviations of the foreign name but Anglicised to make it easier to say for locals. Sikhs have been much more integrated in this respect, Although I have a feeling this has waned with the second generation.

 

[TM Riddle]

Remember that Sikhs were very loyal to the Brits, one of the biggest reason they captured all of India was the betrayal by Sikhs against the Mughals and Maratha.

Stop spouting horse dung when you have no idea about the subject being discussed. Last Anglo Sikh war occurred in 1849 and by that time Marathas and Mughals were firmly under British control.

 

[JaDed]

Stop spouting horse dung when you have no idea about the subject being discussed. Last Anglo Sikh war occurred in 1849 and by that time Marathas and Mughals were firmly under British control.

What you say is true but 1857 if anything the Sikhs fought for the Brits it could be because of mistrust towards thr Hindus due to the Anglo-Sikh wars and distrust of Mughals.

 

[TM Riddle]

What you say is true but 1857 if anything the Sikhs fought for the Brits it could be because of mistrust towards thr Hindus due to the Anglo-Sikh wars and distrust of Mughals.

No there were lot many factors at work and they certainly didn't help British defeat Marathas and Mughals.Marathas had been conquered as early as 1820 and
by 1857 Mughal empire had lost its relevance having been shrunken to areas surrounding Old Delhi.

Sikhs had nothing to do with all that. They were too busy in their expansionist activities in North West.