This past Sunday 15th June 2014 the Sikh Community in Wolverhampton came together in the City Centre at the Cenotaph, St Peters Church to remember and pay reverence to the many innocent lives lost during the massacres of 1984. Members of the Sikh Forum also attended and paid their respects by laying a wreath.
The service was covered by the local Chronicle newspaper:
The Sikh Forum Wolverhampton are extremely proud and honoured to have been able to help promote the up and coming Empire Faith & War Project and Exhibition which is a Major Exhibition this Summer in London.
"As the world turns its attention to the centenary of the Great War this summer will see a landmark exhibition by the UK Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA) to commemorate the remarkable but largely forgotten contribution and experiences of Sikh soldiers, as well as the families they left behind.
‘Empire, Faith & War: The Sikhs and World War One’ will be held at the Brunei Gallery at the School of Oriental & African Studies’ (SOAS), Russell Square, from 9 July to 28 September, and is the launch event of a three year project to reveal the untold story of how one of the world's smallest communities played a disproportionately large role in the ‘war to end all wars’.
From the blood-soaked trenches of the Somme and Gallipoli, to the deserts and heat of Africa and the Middle East, Sikhs fought and died alongside their British, Indian and Commonwealth counterparts to serve the greater good, gaining commendations and a reputation as fearsome and fearless soldiers.
Although accounting for less than 2% of the population of British India at the time, Sikhs made up more than 20% of the British Indian Army at the outbreak of hostilities. They and their comrades in arms proved to be critical in the early months of the fighting on the Western Front, helping save the allies from an early and ignominious defeat."
For further information about the project and to find out how you yourselves can help out with the project please got the their website by clicking either of the images at the top or bottom of the page.
Thanks to everybody that helped out on the day and here are some photographs from the Wolverhampton Mela 2014.
Also if anybody is interested in any of the books or prints we had on sale on that day you can order them from the link below:
A big thank you to all of our members and supporters who attended and gave their support at the Nagar Kirtan celebrated by the whole of the Wolverhampton Sikh community as one family on Sunday 6th May 2014, which with thanks to the whole congregation was a tremendous success. It was humbling to see the whole of Wolverhampton's congregations in all their colours coming together to celebrate.
Between the 18th and 20th April 2014 the Sikh Forum did Akhand Paath Sahib seva at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Sedgely Street, Wolverhampton for the Chardikala of the forum and to celebrate Vaisakhi, by giving members the opportunity to come together, getting to know each other whilst doing seva at the Gurdwara Sahib.
Also importantly the Bhog of the Akhand Paath Sahib coincided with the Sedgely Street Nagar Kirtan so the Forum used the opportunity to organise a health camp for the elders in our community which was held in the nursery building.
A big thank you to every body that helped out and we hope you all enjoyed it!
Here are a few photos from event.
