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"Sik" redirects here. For town in Kedah, Malaysia, see Sik, Kedah.
Sikhs
ਸਿੱਖ
The Nishan Sahib, flag of the Sikhs
Total population
25,000,000 (25 million)[1]
Regions with significant populations
 India      19,215,730[2]
Other significant population centers:
 United Kingdom336,179[3]
 Canada278,400[4]
 United States100,000[5]
East African Community100,000[citation needed]
 Malaysia100,000[6]
Middle East85,000
 Italy70,000[7]
 Thailand70,000[8]
 Australia50,000
 Hong Kong7,500
 Bangladesh23,300[citation needed]
 Pakistan20,000[9]
 Kuwait20,000[10]
10,000[11]‡
 France10,000[12]
 Singapore9,733[13]
 New Zealand9,507[14]
 Belgium5,000–6,000
   Nepal5,890[15]
 Germany5,000[16]
 Greece5,000
 Fiji4,674[17]
 Austria2,794[18]
 Afghanistan2,000[19]
 Japan2,000
 Ireland1,200[20]
Languages
Spoken & written script of holy Guru Granth Sahib:

Written language of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is: Gurmukhi, Sahiskriti and Sant Bhasha[21]
Spoken words: Punjabi, Bengali, Brij Bhasha and Persian[22]
Predominant spoken languages:

The vernacular language of the home nation in the Sikh diaspora, significantly including Punjabi, English, Hindi, Urdu, Swahili, Malaysian, and Thai
Religion
Sikhism
† Estimated figure as of 2004.
‡ Indonesian law does not recognize Sikhism, thus Sikhs are not allowed to identify themselves as such on their identity cards or birth or marriage certificates, Sikhs are therefore registered as Hindu.
Part of a series on
Sikhism
Khanda
Sikh gurus
Selected revered saints
Philosophy
Practices
Scripture
Places and Takhts
General topics
Sikhism and other religions

Sikh (English: [siːk] or [sɪk]; Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖ, sikkh, IPA: ['sɪk.kʰ]) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. The term has its origin in the Sanskrit "shishya", which means disciple or learner. Many male Sikhs can easily be recognized by their turbans, beards, or steel bracelets on their right wrists.[23]

The evolution of Sikhs began with the emergence of Guru Nanak as a religious leader and a social reformer during the fifteenth century in Punjab. Their identity was formalised and weilded into uniform practise by Guru Gobind Singh on march 30, 1699. The Latter baptised five persons from different social backgrounds to form the social brotherhood of the Khalsa. The first five, Pure Ones, then baptised Gobind Singh into the Khalsa fold.[24]

The Sikhs established a nation, under Ranjit Singh, in the nineteenth century in which they were preeminent. They were known for their military prowess, administrative capabilties, economic productivity and their adaptability to modern western technology and administration.[25]

The Sikhs comprise about two percent of India's billion population. The greater Punjab region is the historic homeland of Sikhism. Most Sikhs are from the Punjabi people and now come from the Punjab region of India, although significant communities exist around the world.

Philosophy

Main articles: Sikhism and Sikh Gurus

The core philosophy of the Sikh religion can be understood in the beginning hymn of the holy Guru Granth Sahib,

There is one supreme eternal reality; the truth; immanent in all things; creator of all things; immanent in creation. Without fear and without hatred; not subject to time; beyond birth and death; self-revealing. Known by the Guru’s grace.[26]

Guru Nanak, the founder of the faith, summed up the basis of Sikh lifestyle in three requirements: Naam Japo, Kirat Karni and Wand kay Shako, which means meditate on the holy name (Waheguru), work diligently and honestly and share one's fruits.[27]

The Sikhs revere Guru Granth Sahib as their supreme teacher, as it is a literal transcript of the teachings of the Sikh Gurus. The tenth Guru appointed Guru Granth Sahib as his successor. Compiled by the Sikh Gurus, and maintained in its original form, Sikhs revere Guru Granth Sahib as their supreme guide. Non-Sikhs can partake fully in Sikh prayer meetings and social functions. Their daily prayers include the well being of whole mankind.[28]

The concept of saint-soldier is a unique feature of Sikhism. Every Sikh is required to aspire to sainthood by his devotion to God and service to mankind, but also, according to the situation, to adopt the role of the soldier. A Sikh is also commanded, if necessary and circumstances allow, to lay his or her life down to protect the poor and weak, regardless of race, religion, sex or creed. The Sikhs look at the martyrdom of the 9th Guru for trying to protect Hindus from religious persecution, in Delhi, on 11 November 1675 AD, as an example to be followed.[29]

Sikhs are required not to renounce the world,[30] and aspire to live a modest life. Seva (service) is an integral part of Sikh worship, very easily observed in the Gurdwara. Visitors of any religious or socio-economic background are welcomed, where Langar (food for all) is always served.

The Sikhs also revere Bhaktas or Saints belonging to different social backgrounds. The work of these Bhagats is collected in Guru Granth Sahib, and is known as Bhagat-Bani (sacred word of bhagat) as against work of Sikh Gurus being known as Gur-Bani (sacred word of guru).

People revered by Sikhs also include:[31]

Early Sikh Scholars included Bhai Vir Singh and Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha

Five Ks

Main articles: Khalsa and Sahajdhari
File:CIMG0349.JPG
Kanga, Kara and Kirpan - three of the five articles of faith endowed to the Sikhs.

The Five Ks, or panj kakaar/kakke, are five articles of faith that all baptized Sikhs (Khalsa) are required to wear at all times, as commanded by the tenth Sikh Guru, who so ordered on the day of Baisakhi Amrit Sanskar in 1699. The symbols are worn for identification and representation of the ideals of Sikhism, such as honesty, equality, fidelity, meditating on God, and never bowing to tyranny.[32]

The five symbols are:-

History

Main article: History of Sikhism
A Sikh Empire warrior's battle helmet

Essentially Sikh history, with respect to Sikhs as a distinct political body, can be said to have began with the martyrdom of the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev in 1606. Sikh distinction was further enhanced by the establishment of the Sikh 'Pure' brotherhood or Khalsa (ਖਾਲਸਾ), by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.[33] This gives the Sikhs, as an organized political grouping, a history of around 400 years.

Generally Sikhs have had amicable relations with other religious communities. However, during the Islamic conquest of India (1556–1707), prominent Sikh Gurus were martyred by the ruling Mughals for opposing the Mughul's persecution of non-Islamic religious communities.[34] Subsequently, the Sikhs militarized to oppose Islamic hegemony. The emergence of the Sikh Empire under reign of the Sikh Maharajah Ranjit Singh was characterized by religious tolerance and pluralism with Christians, Muslims and Hindus in positions of power. The establishment of the Sikh Empire is commonly considered the zenith of Sikh political sovereignty,[35] during this time the Sikh Empire came to include Kashmir, Ladakh, and Peshawar. The Empire's secular administration integrated innovative military, economic and governmental reforms also influenced by the Nepoleonic model. Culturally amongst the achievements of the Empire was the establishment of the Imam Bakhsh Lahori school of painting, the discovery of Gandhara art, and the exploration of the Himalayas.[35]

A Sikh Empire war medal

The months leading up to the partition India in 1947, saw heavy conflict in the Punjab between Sikh and Muslim, which saw the effective ethnic cleansing of Sikhs from West Punjab which mirrored a similar ethnic cleansing of Muslims in East Punjab.[36]

The 1960s saw growing animosity and rioting between Sikhs and Hindus in India,[37] as the Sikhs agitated for the creation of a Sikh majority state, an undertaking which was promised to the Sikh leader Master Tara Singh by Nehru in return for Sikh political support during the negotiations for Indian Independence.[38] Sikhs obtained the Sikh majority state of Punjab on November 1, 1966.

Communal tensions between Sikhs and Hindus arose again in the late 1970s, fueled by Sikh claims of discrimination and marginalization by the Hindu dominated Indian National Congress ruling party and the "dictatorial" tactics adopted the then Indian Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.[39] Frank[39] argues that Gandhi's assumption of emergency powers in 1975 resulted in the weakening of the "legitimate and impartial machinery of government" and her increasing "paranoia" of opposing political groups led her to instigate a "despotic policy of playing castes, religions and political groups against each other for political advantage". As a reaction against these actions came the emergence of the Sikh leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale who vocalized Sikh sentiment for justice and advocated the creation of a Sikh homeland, Khalistan. This accelerated Punjab into a state of communal violence.[40] Gandhi's 1984 action to defeat Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale led to desecration of the Golden Temple in Operation Bluestar and ultimately led to Gandhi's assassination by her Sikh bodyguards.[40]

The Golden Temple is one of the oldest Sikh Gurudwara and houses Akal Takht

This resulted in an explosion of violence against the Sikh community in the Anti Sikh Riots which resulted in the massacre of thousands of Sikhs throughout India; Khushwant Singh described the actions as being a Sikh pogram in which he "felt like a refugee in my country. In fact, I felt like a Jew in Nazi Germany".[41] Since 1984, relations between Sikhs and Hindus have reached a rapprochement helped by growing economic prosperity; however in 2002 the claims of the popular right-wing Hindu organization the RSS, that "Sikhs are Hindus" angered Sikh sensibilities.[42] Many Sikhs still are campaigning for justice for victims of the violence and the political and economic needs of the Punjab espoused in the Khalistan movement.

In 1996 the Special Rapporteur for the Commission on Human Rights on freedom of religion or belief, Abdelfattah Amor (Tunisia, 1993–2004), visited India in order to compose a report on religious discrimination. In 1997,[43] Amor concluded, "it appears that the situation of the Sikhs in the religious field is satisfactory, but that difficulties are arising in the political (foreign interference, terrorism, etc.), economic (in particular with regard to sharing of water supplies) and even occupational fields. Information received from nongovernment (sic)sources indicates that discrimination does exist in certain sectors of the public administration; examples include the decline in the number of Sikhs in the police force and the absence of Sikhs in personal bodyguard units since the murder of Indira Gandhi".[44]

Distribution

Main article: Sikh diaspora
File:Indias Sikh Pop. Chart02.JPG
Chart showing India's total Sikh population and their percentage of the total Indian population.

Numbering approximately 23 million worldwide, Sikhs make up 0.39%[45] of the world population of which approximately 83% live in India. Of the Indian Sikh community 14.6 million, i.e. 76% of all Indian Sikhs, live in the northern Indian State of Punjab (India), where they form a majority 59.9% of the population. Substantial communities of Sikhs, i.e. greater than 200,000, live in the Indian States/Union territories of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttaranchal and Jammu and Kashmir.[46]

Sikh migration from the then British India began in earnest from the 2nd half of the 19th century when the British had completed their annexation of the Punjab.[36] The British Raj preferentially recruited Sikhs in the Indian Civil Service and, in particular, the British Indian Army, which led to migration of Sikhs to different parts of British India and the British Empire.[36] During the era of the British Raj, semiskilled Sikh artisans were also transported from the Punjab to British East Africa to help in the building of railways. After World War II, Sikhs emigrated from both India and Pakistan, most going to the United Kingdom but many also headed for North America. Some of the Sikhs who had settled in eastern Africa were expelled by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in 1972.[47] Subsequently the main 'push' factor for Sikh migration has been economic with significant Sikh communities now being found in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Malaysia, East Africa, Australasia and Thailand.

File:World Sikh Pop. Map 2004-02.JPG
Map showing world Sikh population areas and historical migration patterns (Est. 2004).[48]

Whilst the rate of Sikh migration from the Punjab has remained high, traditional patterns of Sikh migration, that favored English speaking countries, particularly the United Kingdom has changed in the past decade due to factors such as stricter immigration procedures. Moliner(2006)[49] states that as a consequence of the 'fact' that Sikh migration to the UK had "become virtually impossible since the late 1970s", Sikh migration patterns altered to continental Europe. Italy has now emerged as a fast growing area for Sikh migration,[50] with Reggio Emilia and the Vicenza province being areas of significant Sikh population clusters.[51] The Italian Sikhs are generally involved in areas of agriculture, agro-processing, machine tools and horticulture.[52]

Due primarily to socio-economic reasons, Indian Sikhs have the lowest adjusted decadal growth rate of any major religious group in India, at 16.9% per decade (est. 1991–2001).[53] Johnson and Barrett(2004) estimate that the global Sikh population increases annually by 392,633 Sikhs, i.e. by 1.7% p.a. on 2004 figures,[48] this growth rate takes into account factors such as births, deaths and conversions.

Representation

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney after delivering a speech to the Joint session of the United States Congress as Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert looks on.

Sikhs are represented in Indian politics, with the current Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and the Deputy Chairman of the Indian Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, all hailing from the community. The current Chief-minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, is a Sikh.Past Sikh politicians in India have included Dr. Gurdial Singh Dhillon, Speaker of the Parliament of India. Pratap Singh Kairon, Union minister, famous Sikh Indian independence movement leader and former Chief-minister of Punjab (India).

Prominent politicians of the Sikh Diaspora include the first Asian American to be elected as a full voting Member of United States Congress Dalip Singh Saund,[54] the former mayoress of Dunedin Sukhi Turner, the current UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Parmjit Dhanda MP[55] and the Canadian Shadow Social Development Minister Ruby Dhalla MP. Vic Dhillon, is a famous Sikh Canadian politician and current member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

The Sikh Regiment Battle Insignia

Sikhs make up 10–15% of all ranks in the Indian Army and 20% of its officers,[56] whilst Sikhs only forming 1.87% of the Indian population, which makes them over 10 times more likely to be a solider and officer in the Indian Army than the average Indian.[57] Most Sikh men in India are commonly referred to with the title of Sardar, which means commander in Persian and is a sign of military authority.The Sikh Regiment is the highest decorated regiment of the Indian Army,[58] with 73 Battle Honours, 14 Victoria Crosses,[59] 21 first class Indian Order of Merit (equivalent to the Victoria Cross),[60] 15 Theatre Honours and 5 COAS Unit Citations besides 2 Param Vir Chakras, 14 Maha Vir Chakras, 5 Kirti Chakras, 67 Vir Chakras and 1596 other gallantry awards.

File:Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh.jpg
Photo of Marshal of the Air Force of India Arjan Singh

The highest-ranking General in the history of the Indian Air Force is a Sikh Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh.[61] Advanced plans by the MOD to raise an Infantry UK Sikh Regiment were scrapped in June 2007 to the disappointment of the UK Sikh community and Prince Charles of Britain.[62]

Historically, most Indians have been farmers and even today (two-thirds) 66% of Indians are farmers.[63] Indian Sikhs are no different and have been predominately employed in the agro-business, India's 2001 census found that 39% of the working population of Punjab were employed in this sector (less than the Indian average).[64] The success, in the 1960s, of the Green Revolution, in which India went from "famine to plenty, from humiliation to dignity",[65] was based in the Sikh majority state of Punjab which became known as "the breadbasket of India".[66][67] The Sikh majority state of Punjab is also statistically the wealthiest (per capita) with the average Punjabi through, his hard work, enjoying the highest income in India, 3 times the national Indian average.[68] The Green Revolution centered upon Indian Punjabi Sikh farmers adapting their farming methods to more intensive and mechanized techniques; note this was aided by the electrification of Punjab, cooperative credit, consolidation of small holdings and the existing British Raj developed canal system.[69] Swedish political scientist, Ishtiaq Ahmad, states that a factor in the success of the Indian green revolution transformation was the "Sikh peasant cultivator, often the Jat, whose courage, perseverance, spirit of enterprise and muscle prowess proved crucial".[70] However not all aspects of the green revolution were beneficial, Shiva[71] argues that the green revolution essentially rendered the "negative and destructive impacts of science [i.e. the green revolution] on nature and society" invisible; thus having being separated from their material and political roots in the science system, when new forms of scarcity and social conflict arose they were linked not to traditional causes but to other social systems e.g. religion. Hence Vandana Shiva argues that the green revolution was a catalyst for communal Sikh and Hindu tensions; despite the growth in material affluence.

Photo of Professor Piara Singh Gill one of the chief nuclear scientists that worked on the Manhattan project.
File:Dr Narinder Singh Kapany.jpg
Photo of Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany the father of fibre optics

Sikhs feature in varied professions such as scientists, engineers and doctors; notable Sikhs include nuclear scientist Professor Piara Singh Gill who worked on the Manhattan project; optics scientist ("the father of fibre optics") Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany; physicist and science writer/broadcaster Simon Singh and agricultural scientist Professor Baldev Singh Dhillon.

In the sphere of business, the clothing retailers/brands of UK based New Look and Thai based JASPAL[72] were started by Sikhs. India's largest pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy Laboratories is headed by Sikhs.[73] UK Sikhs have the highest percentage of home ownership, at 82%, out of all UK religious/ethnic communities.[74] In Singapore, Kartar Singh Thakral has built up his family's trading business, Thakral Holdings/Corp,[75] into a commercial concern with total assets of close to $1.4 billion. Thakral is Singapore's 25th richest person. Bob Singh Dhillon is the first Indo-Canadian billionaire and a Sikh. Perhaps no Sikh diaspora group has had as much success as those who have migrated to North America; especially the Sikhs who have migrated to California’s fertile Central Valley. The farming skills of the Sikhs and their willingness to work hard, ensured that they rose from humble migrant labourers to become landowners who control much of agriculture in California. Today American Sikh agriculturists such as Harbhajan Singh Samra and Didar Singh Bains dominate Californian agriculture and are known colloquially as the "Okra" and "Peach" kings respectively.

Prominent Sikh intellectuals, sportsmen and artists include the veteran writer Khushwant Singh, England cricketer Monty Panesar, former 400 m world record holder Milkha Singh, and Harbhajan Singh, India's most successful off spin Cricket bowler, actors Parminder Nagra, Namrata Singh Gujral, Archie Panjabi and director Gurinder Chadha.

The Sikhs have migrated to most parts of the world and their vocations are as varied as their appearances. The Sikh community of the Indian subcontinent comprises many diverse sets of peoples as the Sikh Gurus preached for ethnic and social harmony. These include different ethnic peoples, tribal and socio-economic groups. Main groupings (i.e. over 1,000 members) include: Arain, Arora, Bairagi, Bania, Basith, Bawaria, Bazigar, Bhabra, Brahman, Chamar, Chhimba, Darzi, Dhobi, Gujar, Jatt, Jhinwar, Kahar, Kamboj, Khatri, Kumhar, Labana, Lohar, Mahtam, Mazhabi, Megh, Mirasi, Mochi, Nai, Rajput, Ramgharia, Saini, Sarera, Sikligar, Sonar, Sudh, Tarkhan and Zargar.[citation needed] In India, the Jatt ethnic grouping is by far the largest at a population of 11,855,000 followed by the Mazhabi at 2,701,000 with the Tarkhans totaling 1,091,000.

There has also emerged a specialized group of Sikhs calling themselves Akalis, which have existed since Maharaja Ranjit Singh's time. Under their leader General Akali Phula Singh, in the early 1800s, they won many battles for the Sikh Empire.

Sikhs in World War I & II and other Wars

French postcard depicting the arrival of 15th Sikh Regiment in France during World War I. The post card reads, "Gentlemen of India marching to chasten the German hooligans"

By the advent of World War I, Sikhs in the British Indian Army totaled over 100,000; i.e. 20% of the British Indian Army. In the 100 years to 1945, 14 Victoria Crosses were awarded to the Sikhs, a per capita record given the size of the Sikh Regiments.[76] Template:Quoter Across the world Sikhs are commemorated in Commonwealth cemeteries.[77]In 2002, the names of all Sikh VC and George Cross winners were commemorated by being inscribed on the pavilion monument of the Memorial Gates[78] on Constitution Hill next to Buckingham palace, London.[79] Lieutenant Colonel Chanan Singh Dhillon (retd), Punjabi Indian World War II hero & Veteran, and president of the ex-services league (Punjab & Chandigarh) was instrumental in campaigning for the memorials building.

The Battle of Saragarhi

The Battle of Saragarhi, and the Sikh officers and soldiers (British Empire Army) who fought in it, is considered one of the greatest stories of collective bravery in human history.[80] UNESCO has described the Battle of Saragarhi, September 12 1897, as one of eight stories of collective bravery.[81][82] The contingent of the twenty-one Sikhs from the 36th Sikhs was led by Havildar Ishar Singh, and held off an Afghan attack of 10,000 men. All 21 Sikh soldiers chose to fight to the death instead of surrendering.

File:Pd image of Saragarhi Tablet.jpg
Tablet commemorating the Battle of Saragarhi, raised by the British Empire.

In recognition of their supreme sacrifice, the British Parliament rose to pay them respect, and each one of them was awarded the Indian Order of Merit (equal to Victoria Cross). The battle has been ranked, in the West, as one of very few events in history of such bravery that it has been compared to the Battle of Thermopylae,[83] where a small Greek force faced a large Persian army of Xerxes (480 BC). School children in France are taught about The Battle of Saragarhi, as part of the official education syllabus for heroic valour.[84][85]

Saragarhi day

Main article: Saragarhi Day

Saragarhi Day, is a Sikh military commemoration day celebrated on 12 September every year annually to commemorate The Battle of Saragarhi. Sikh military personnel and Sikh non-military people commemorate the battle around the World every year on September 12th.

During the First World War, Sikh battalions fought in Egypt, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Gallipoli and France. Six battalions of the Sikh Regiment were raised in the World War II, and served at El Alamein and in Burma, Italy and Iraq, winning 27 battle honours.

Sikhs during the Indian Independence Movement

During the Indian Independence Struggle; Out of 2,175 Martyrs 1,557, (75 percent), were Sikhs,[86] out of 2,646 Indians sent to Andamans for life imprisonment 2,147,(80 percent), were Sikhs,[86] out of 127 Indians who were hanged 92, (80 percent), were Sikhs,[86] out of 20,000 who joined the INA under Bose 12000, (60 percent), were Sikhs.[86]

Sikhism in Western World

Due to the turbans Sikhs wear and the relative scarcity of Sikhs, there have been incidents of mistaking Sikhs in Western countries for Middle Eastern men and/or Muslims. This has negatively affected Sikhs living in the west especially with respect to the 9/11 terrorist attack and recent Iraq War conflict.[citation needed]

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, some people associated Sikhs with terrorists or members of the Taliban. A few days after the attack Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh man, was gunned down by a person who thought that the victim had ties to Al-Qaeda. CNN suggests that there has been an increase in hate-crimes against Sikh men in the United States and the UK.[87][88]

Sikhism as a faith has never actively sought converts, thus the Sikhs have remained a relatively homogeneous racial group. However, mainly due to the activities of Harbhajan Singh Yogi via his Kundalini Yoga focused 3HO (Happy, Healthy, Holy) Organization, Sikhism has witnessed a moderate growth in non-Indian adherents.[89] In 1998 it was estimated that these 3HO Sikhs, known colloquially as ‘gora’ (ਗੋਰਾ) or ‘white’ Sikhs, totaled 7,800[90] and were mainly centered around Española, New Mexico, and Los Angeles, California.

Distinguished Sikhs in the Modern Era

File:Udhamsingh 1.gif
Indian revolutionary Udham Singh aka Ram Mohammed Singh Azad.

Decorated Sikhs in the Military

File:Victoria Cross Medal Ribbon & Bar.jpg
The prestigious Victoria Cross, awarded for exceptional valour "in the face of the enemy".
View inside the shrine of Baba Harbhajan Singh

Baba Harbhajan Singh

Main article: Baba Harbhajan Singh

Baba Harbhajan Singh - is a spiritually revered Sikh soldier by the Indian Army, like a saint, Indian army officers and soldiers believe he gives them protection in war.


Art and Culture

Main article: Sikh art and culture
Harmindar Sahib, circa 1870

Sikh art and culture is synonymous with that of the Punjab region. The Punjab itself has been called India’s melting pot, due to the confluence of invading cultures, such as Greek, Mughal and Persian, that mirrors the confluence of rivers from which the region gets its name. Thus Sikh culture is to a large extent informed by this synthesis of cultures.

Sikhism has forged a unique form of architecture which Bhatti describes as being "inspired by Guru Nanak’s creative mysticism" such that Sikh architecture "is a mute harbinger of holistic humanism based on pragmatic spirituality".[91] The ‘key-note’ of Sikh architecture is the Gurdwara which is the personification of the "melting pot" of Punjabi cultures, showing both Islamic, Sufi and Hindu influences. The reign of the Sikh Empire was the single biggest catylst in creating a uniquely Sikh form of expression, with Maharajah Ranjit Singh patronising the building of forts, palaces, bungas (residential places), colleges, etc that can be said to be of the Sikh Style. Characteristics of Sikh architecture are gilded fluted domes, cupolas, kiosks and stone lanterns with an ornate balustrade on square roofs. The "jewel in the crown" of the Sikh Style is the Harmindar Sahib.

Sikh culture is heavily influenced by militaristic motifs, with Khanda being the most obvious; thus it is no surprise that the majority of Sikh artifacts, independent of the relics of the Gurus, have a military theme. This motif is again evident in the Sikh festivals of Hola Mohalla and Vaisakhi which feature marching and practicing displays of valor respectively.

The art and culture of the Sikh diaspora has been merged with that of other Indo-immigrant groups into categories such as 'British Asian', 'Indo-Canadanian' and 'Desi-Culture'; however there has emerged a niche cultural phenomenon that can be described as 'Political Sikh'.[92] The art of prominent diaspora Sikhs such as Amarjeet Kaur Nandhra & Amrit and Rabindra Kaur Singh,[93] is informed by their Sikhism and the current affairs of the Punjab.

Bhangra and the Gidha are two forms of indigenous Punjabi folk dancing that have been appropriated, adapted and pioneered by Punjabi Sikhs. The Punjabi Sikhs have championed these forms of expression all over the world, such that Sikh Culture has become inextricably linked to Bhangra, even though "Bhangra is not a Sikh institution but a Punjabi one."[94]

References and Notes

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  3. ^ "2001 UK Census Sikh Population". Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ "2001 Canadaian Census - Sikh Population" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ "2007 Sikh Population of USA". Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ "Overseas Indian: Connecting India with its Diaspora". Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ "2004 Sikh Population of Italy". Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ "2006 Sikh Population of Thailand". Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ "Sub-continent Sikh Population breakdown". Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  10. ^ "Sikh Population of Kuwait". Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ "Sikh Population of Indonesia". Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ Moliner, Christine. "Estimate of French Sikh population'Workshop on Indian Migration' at Laboratoire d'Anthropologie Urbaine/CNRS". Ph.d. Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ "Sikh Population of Singapore" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  14. ^ "New Zealand Sikh Population via NZ 2006 census". Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  15. ^ "Sikh Population of Nepal" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  16. ^ "Sikh Population of Germany for statistical sampling". Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  17. ^ "UN figures for Fiji 1986" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-04-04. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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Further reading

  • The Sikhs In History: A Millennium Study by Sangat Singh, Noel Quinton King. First Published New York 1995. ISBN 8190065025
  • A History of the Sikhs: Volume 1: 1469–1838 by Khushwant Singh. Pub. by Oxford India Paperbacks (January 13, 2005). ISBN 0195673085.
  • The Sikhs by Patwant Singh. Published by Image (July 17, 2001). ISBN 0385502060.
  • The Sikhs of the Punjab by J. S. Grewal. Published by Cambridge University Press (October 28, 1998). ISBN 0521637643.
  • The Sikhs: History, Religion, and Societyby W.H. McLeod. Published by Columbia University Press (April 15, 1989). ISBN 0231068158.
  • The Sikh Diaspora: Tradition and Change in an Immigrant Community (Asian Americans - Reconceptualizing Culture, History, Politics) by Michael Angelo. Published by Routledge (September 1, 1997). ISBN 0815329857.


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