History
The First Sikh Holocaust Memorial
by ED HILL
The world's first dedicated Sikh memorial is being planned in Derby (United KIngdom) to represent millions of Sikhs who died in six holocausts and the two World Wars.
Planning permission is being sought to create the £1 million National Sikh Holocaust and Shaheedi Memorial in Pear Tree.
The Sikh community said it would be "unique" and the first of its kind worldwide.
Gurmel Singh Kandola, one of the volunteers who set up the
National Sikh Heritage Centre, in Prince's Street, said funding would
come entirely from donations from the Sikh community.
"We hope a member of the Royal family will formally open it later this year."
The memorial, 7.2 metres high and 13 metres wide, would be made from granite and sandstone and built close to the heritage centre, where a museum dedicated to Sikh culture opened two years ago.
It would highlight the huge contribution of Sikhs to the world - for example, 83,000 Sikhs died in the world wars and a further 109,000 were injured.
And it would be a place to remember the millions who died in six holocausts in India between 1658 and 1995.
The project has been welcomed by Gurmel Singh Bola, whose uncle, Chatter Singh, was killed in 1984 during the most recent pogroms in India.
The 50-year-old, of Heatherton village, said: "My uncle was shot by a policeman and then a mob starting beating him with metal rods and set fire to him.
"I think this memorial is a very nice idea, especially as there are war memorials around the country but nothing like this."
The memorial, if given permission, would be made of white stone, white granite, black granite and sandstone.
People would enter through an ornate archway and there would be eight steps up to a water feature, with seats lined up on either side for people to sit.
Last year, then Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited the heritage centre, which focuses on the Sikh story.
Mr Gurmel Singh said: "We are a community which hasn't healed. The Jewish community has gone some way to heal, but we feel our story hasn't been told.
"We haven't had any closure and this is why we are having this memorial."
He added that "political reasons" had prevented a memorial being built in India.
Engineering firm Morgan Tucker would design and manage the construction of the memorial from different types of stone - each with a specific meaning.
Matthew Tucker, from the firm, said: "We are delighted to be working with the Sikh community on this memorial.
"The combined museum and heritage centre and memorial will put Derby on the world stage."
Full planning permission will be sought shortly. If granted, work could start on site in the spring, said Mr Tucker, with the memorial completed later in 2011.
Frank McArdle, chief executive of South Derbyshire District Council, is patron to the National Sikh Heritage Centre and Holocaust Museum.
He said: "I am convinced that this is an excellent opportunity to promote community cohesion in and around the city of Derby.
"This will be a beacon which will help promote Derby as a destination for Sikhs from all over the world for many years to come."
The Six Holocausts In Four Centuries
1st Sikh Holocaust, 1658
Muslim Emperor Auragnzeb, on becoming the ruler of India in 1658, started a campaign to forcibly convert the entire population of India to his faith.
2nd Sikh Holocaust, 1708-1716
The Mughal Emperors Bahadur Shah and Farrukh Shah took steps to try to exterminate the Sikhs by issuing a number of edicts instructing the population. An estimated 25,000 Sikhs died as a result.
3rd Sikh Holocaust 1726-1746
During this period bounties were placed on the heads of Sikhs. Information on the whereabouts of a Sikh was worth 10 Rupees, a dead Sikh was worth 50 and a Sikh brought alive to the Lahore markets was worth 100.
4th Sikh Holocaust 1758-1767
Ahmed Shah Abdali invaded India from Afghanistan and despised the Sikhs who constantly resisted his armies. For revenge, he sent an army of over 150,000 men to attack a much smaller band of Sikhs.Over 30,000 Sikhs were killed in February 1762.
This event is known in Sikh history as the Wadaa Ghallughara, or the Great Holocaust.
5th Sikh Holocaust 1947
India was given independence from the British but the Sikh homeland, Panjab, was carved in two between India and the new Pakistan.
Sikhs found themselves being run out of their own homes by mobs.
An estimated 40% of the Sikh population became homeless and 2.5% of the Sikh population killed.
6th Sikh Holocaust 1984-1995
Sikhs demanded resolution of their historical grievances relating to Panjab state but the media, politicians, police, army and extremist organisations were used to silence them. In total about 200,000 innocent Sikhs were killed.
[Courtesy: This is Derbyshire]
January 11, 2011
Conversation about this article
1: M.K.S. (New York, U.S.A.), January 11, 2011, 12:53 PM.
It's about time.
2: N. Singh (Canada), January 11, 2011, 6:59 PM.
May Waheguru bless all those who came up with the idea and those who will see it through to its completion. I will visit for sure. It's about time!
3: Jesroshan Singh (Malaysia), January 11, 2011, 10:14 PM.
Finally. Someone actually started counting those who died so that Sikhi can live. It is indeed about time.
4: Raj (Canada), January 11, 2011, 11:30 PM.
Ironic, it's being built outside India. Sikhs have no rights in the country where these holocausts happened. Sikhs are a stateless nation.
5: Jas Kaur (Blr, Germany), January 12, 2011, 5:22 AM.
We appreciate this STEP ...!
6: Taran (London, United Kingdom), January 12, 2011, 8:08 AM.
Well done! to the guys who are going to make this memorial but, to be honest, I would like to see this memorial in DELHI. Sikhs have money, resources, will power and what we need most is that Sikh bahadar spirit so we can have our holocaust memorial in the heart of Delhi. I have reasons for this. Delhi is the place which always had the rulers, whether it be the Mughals or the present day government. All those who have ruled modern India, whether democratic or otherwise, have ruled from Delhi. So Delhi has been instrumental in thwarting the Sikh cause over and over again. By having it built in Delhi, it will be a great tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives for Sikhi.
7: Harman (Amritsar , Punjab), January 12, 2011, 10:45 AM.
There should be a memorial in Delhi, to begin with.
8: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), January 12, 2011, 7:02 PM.
A memorial in Delhi is in the hands of the Indian Government. Unless and until Sikhs, as well as the citizens and Governments of Delhi and Punjab take any interest, this is not possible. Sikhs and their associations in U.S.A., U.K., Canada, and other parts of the diaspora must use their means to put pressure on Delhi and Punjab Governments, as well as the S.G.P.C. and D.G.P.C.
9: G. (U.S.A.), January 15, 2011, 6:59 PM.
Sikhs from England are leading the way. It is about time that we did the same here in the U.S.A. In keeping with Sikhi - we are to take initiative on our own - "apna kaaraj apnae hath savaariye" - and not depend on any organizations or governments.
10: Harminder Singh (California, U.S.A.), January 18, 2011, 2:07 AM.
A great first step. Hopefully, several more will follow.
11: Yuvraj Singh Osan (Nagpur , India ), January 24, 2011, 12:07 AM.
Terrific information which I didn't know about our community. Thanks for sharing this with us.
12: Amrit (Pune, India), January 24, 2011, 2:24 PM.
I feel like the U.S., U.K., Canada, etc. have more respect for their constituent communities, including of course the Sikh community. This step should have been taken in India first.
13: Kuldip Singh (Toronto, Ondario, Canada), January 30, 2011, 10:30 PM.
It is about time that some Sikhs thought the importance and need for such a memorial to reflect on millions of Sikhs who lost their lives during the past six holocausts. It will serve as inspiration for many of us to build such memorials in other cities and countries. The efforts of the Sikh community of Derby are commendable for this worthy cause. May Waheguru bless them for this service.