
Sikhs have made a name for themselves as warriors, and the Indian army right from the time of the British has always had Sikhs in the army.
That is why the proposal to have a British Sikh regiment did catch my eye. The proposal was reportedly mooted by the British Sikhs themselves, but was dropped since it sounded racist. But the piece by Daniel Hannan was remarkable. He pleads the case for a "Sikh spirit in a multicultural army"
So apart from India, which countries have Sikhs in their armies?
(1) Sweden is one. Surprisingly, but there is just one Sikh in their army as the Swedes accommodated a Sikh by accepting his religious rights. You can read the story and find his picture as well here
(2) Apart from Sweden, Pakistan too has one Sikh in its army. The Dawn writes about this
(3) British army - ever since the times of the British rule in India. I don't know exact date but I came across this news 1981 news item from reuters which can be seen in the New York Times archives.
Sikh in British Army Is Lured T o a Belfast Flat and Is Killed
Published: September 6, 1981
The Irish Republican Army took responsibility for the fatal shooting today of an off-duty British soldier who was killed after being lured to an apartment by two women.
Another soldier who had gone to the apartment with the women was seriously wounded in the ambush, the police said. Soon after they arrived, four gunmen burst in and opened fire at close range. The army identified the dead soldier as Schan Singh Virdee, a Sikh of Indian origin, from Birmingham, England.
(4)Off course the present Indian army chief, Gen J J Singh is a Sikh.
Sikhs also figure in the UNESCO's one of "eight stories of collective bravery", where 21 Sikhs fought 10,000 afghans in the Battle of Saragarhi.
And as I write this, here comes a report on British drive to recruit Sikhs in its army.
P.S. Sikhs have been a part of British army for long.
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