The Sikhs in Britain 150 Years of Photographs

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About the Book This is the fascinating history of the Sikhs and their contribution to British society from the mid nineteenth century to the present day. With over 200 historical photographs, the majority of them drawn from private collections, the author tells the story of the Sikhs from the first arrival in this country to modern times.

The Sikhs were the first community to migrate in large numbers to Britain from the Asian sub-continent. There were four major periods of mass migration - 1930s, post- war, 1960s and 1970s- and Peter Bance describes stories of individuals, capturing their struggles and successes. We see makeshift places of worship in the early years, the golden days of glory as maharajahs visited British royalty and nobility, as well as portraits of marriages, social life and employment, integration and religion.

While the initial Sikh migration was male-dominated, as families were left behind while the men established themselves, later photographs show women and children in the flourishing Indian communities of Britain. Sikhs have since continued to make an impact, and here we witness an array of distinguished personalities, whether migrant or born and bred in Britain.

From a tartan clad Lord Sikh in a Scottish castle and a veteran record-breaking Adidas-sponsored marathon man to an aspiring international England cricket star. Sikhs have been one of the most successful migrant races to settle into, and contribute to, British society.

About the Author PETER BANCE, also known as Bhupinder Singh Bance, operates a Real Estate business, and is an independent researcher, historian and antiquarian. He is the author of a number of books on Anglo-Sikh history, and an authority on the last Sikh Maharajah, Duleep Singh, the subject of two of his books. He was nominated as a Sikh Achiever of the Year in 2004, and honoured and awarded at Toronto's Centennial Foundation for his work. Peter Bance regularly contributes to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and has appeared in numerous documentaries on the subject for BBC1's Inside Out and BBC2's Desi DNA programmes, in addition to Granada TV and The History Channel.

After the sell-out success of his widely reviewed Sikhs in Britain (The History Press, 2007) and his magnum opus Sovereign, Squire & Rebel, Peter Bance has returned to the Sikh migration history of Britain, updating and revising the history in this vibrant, colourful and sumptuous illustrative book. The author is currently involved in a new television documentary, a proposed stage play, and a feature film on the subject of Maharajah Duleep Singh, with a forthcoming publication on 'Sikhs in the Great War 1914-18"

Forewords It gives me great pleasure to write a foreword again for 'Sikhs in Britain' which has warranted a new edition after being warmly received.

A book such as this which relies chiefly on photographs has the ability to convey atmosphere and impressions in a way that words very often fail to do. Peter Bance has achieved a most commendable feat in bringing together in one book such a wide range of images throughout the ages of photography, telling the remarkable story of Sikhs who came to Britain and who made this their own home.

The book fittingly acknowledges the contributions of those early Sikhs to Britain, from showing the flam- boyant years of the Maharajahs and their entourages, to the working struggles of everyday Sikhs in Britain, Sikhs In Britain is a timely book, sure to make one feel proud to be a Sikh.

Introduction Sikhism was founded in Northern India, in the Punjab, in the 15th century by Guru Nanak (1469-1539), whose universal message was most simple. He preached for mankind to abide by earning an honest living, praying directly to God and sharing one's wealth with the needy. His teachings were further enhanced by his nine successors, the tenth master being Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), who formed the 'Khalsa in 1699 and made the Sikhs into a formidable martial race. The Mughal authorities continuously attempted their best to demoralise and annihilate the Sikhs, as they were seen by some sections of the community as a constant hindrance to the spread of Islam in India. The Sikhs were forced to take up arms to defend themselves and their right for themselves and others to choose their faith. The tenth Guru bestowed upon the Sikhs the 'five Ks': the Kara, a steel a bangle; a Kirpan, a sword: Kesh, long uncut hair; a Kachiara, specially made cotton underwear; and a Kanga, a comb, each having its own symbolic use. On his death in 1708, Guru Gobind Singh installed the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy text, as the succeeding and only Guru of the Sikhs. It contained secular hymns, including those of Muslim and Hindu saints, and from five of the ten Sikh Gurus.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages