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,[1] 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.[2] There are 7 gurdwaras along with a missionary society, a welfare society, two youth organizations and two sports clubs.[3] Most Sikhs are from the Jat community.
Bhai Maharaj Singh (standing) and Companion (Khurruck Singh, seated on right) in a Prison Cell. Painted in Calcutta in November 1850. Maharaj Singh and his companion were the first Sikhs in Singapore on record.
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.
Qing-era Chinese political reformer and thinker Kang Youwei photographed with his Sikh guards in Singapore, ca.1897–1901
The Sikhs were highly admired by the British, especially after encountering how the Sikhs fought during the war against British in Punjab, also known as the First Anglo-Sikh War, which happened from 11 December 1845 to 9 March 1846.[5] This Sikhs were known as martial Indians, known for their bravery and their well-built body.[6] The uprising of Singapore Societies along with the local police not deemed fit by the British lead to the recruitment of the Sikhs.[5] This led to the eventual establishment of the Sikh Police Contingent in Singapore in 1881, with the first batch of 54 Sikh recruits arriving in Singapore on 26 March 1881 and another 65 in August that year [7]
The Sikh policemen were deployed at the Tanjong Pagar Police Station as well as the Tanjong Pagar Dock Police Station. The Sikhs responsibility was to counter Chinese Secret Societies as well as the security of the docks, harbors and the godowns. However, not all Sikhs that arrived are recruited as policemen as the British had stringent requirements – recruit has to be younger than 25 years old, have a minimum height of 5 feet 6 inch (1.68m) and a minimum chest measurement of 33 inch (84 cm).[8] On top of that, it was also revealed in the General Orders that only non-English educated Sikhs who came from the farming community (known as Jat Sikhs) are to be recruited. This is to ensure that the British will be able to control these Sikhs, as they were considered obedient and will follow blindly to those who they have taken the oath of obedience to. Hence, those who failed to be selected found work as security guards and watchmen.[5]
This marked the start of the Sikh community in Singapore as prior to this, the Sikhs that were sent here were convicts as Singapore served as a convict colony, and did not form a community. However, this stopped in 1857 when Andaman Islands became the new convict colony, since then, up till the formation of the Sikh Police Contingent, there were no records of Sikh migrants in Singapore.[5]
In 1898, a Sikh from Hong Kong named Lal Singh acted as a leader for the community during meetings, successfully gathering funds for the establishment of a dharamshala.[9]: 66
In 1912, the Journal des Voyages published a satirical print of Sikh policemen rounding up Chinese criminals by their queues in Singapore.[10]
Present
The community has been praised for its advancements made in Singaporean society whilst still holding onto its cultural and religious traditions.[11]
The Central Sikh Temple was built to commemorate the 518th anniversary of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru. The temple boasts a skilful blend of modern and traditional architecture. The Guru Granth Sahib, or holy book, is enshrined in a prayer hall which has a 13-metre wide dome.[1]
Influence of Sikhs on Singaporean culture
Bukit Brown
Bukit Brown ("Brown's Hill") is a Chinese cemetery in Singapore that features 25 pairs of guardian statues depicting Sikh men guarding the tombs.[12]: 74 The height of the Sikh guardian statues in the cemetery ranges from 3 to 6 feet.[12]: 74 They are placed to the front-right and front-left of the tombstone, with one exception of the Sikh guardian statue being placed behind the tombstone.[12]: 74 They were arranged in this manner as per feng shui principles.[12]: 74 The Sikh guardian statues were positioned just after the guardian statues of Chinese faeries.[12]: 74 The Sikh guardian statues of the Chinese cemetery are a reflection of the Singaporean Sikh community's reputation in the early 20th century of being superb watchmen.[12]: 74
Sikh guardian statues of Bukit Brown Cemetery
Prominent Sikhs
The Sikh Foundation and The Punjabi Foundation of Singapore are prominent associations that are promoting Sikh heritage and Punjabi language there.[13] Some prominent Sikhs who earned name in public life are:
^Barrier, Norman Gerald; Dusenbery, Verne A., eds. (1989). The Sikh Diaspora: Migration and the Experience Beyond Punjab (1st ed.). South Asia Books. ISBN9788170010470.
^ abcdefMcLeod, W. H.; Fenech, Louis E. (2014). Historical Dictionary of Sikhism. Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements Series (3rd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN9781442236011.
^ abcdeKahlon, Swarn Singh (2016). "Sikhs in Singapore". In Virk, Dr. Hardev Singh (ed.). Sikhs in Asia Pacific:Travels among the Sikh Diaspora from Yangon to Kobe. New Delhi: Manohar Publisher, Ne Delhi.
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