Sikhs in WW1            Defenders of Western Civilizations
Channel: WANJARA NOMAD
Date: 16/11/2022

Sikhs in WW1            Defenders of Western Civilizations

Sikh regiments fought for the British empire in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa throughout the 19th century. They remained in service during both world wars. Only 2% of the British Indians were Sikhs, yet 22% of the 
161,000 soldiers serving in the British India Army during World War I were. In contrast to their modest population, more than 300,000 Sikhs from British India fought for the Allies during World War II. 

The Sikh community clearly values honouring the Sikhs who battled against European fascism. However, it is up to us as a community to do more than simply honour the sacrifices made by Sikhs. We must also discuss and oppose the circumstances that allowed British imperialism to use Sikhs as a resource 

"Thousand and hundreds of thousands of soldiers have lost their lives. If you go on the field of battle you will see corpses piled upon corpses, so that their is no place to place or put hand or foot. Men have died from the stench. No one has any hope of survival, for back to Punjab will go only those who have lost a leg or an arm or an eye. The whole world has been brought to destruction." (letter home from a Sikh soldier)

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