Kuala Lumpur - An exhibition of photographs of Sikh soldiers will offer Malaysians a rare glimpse of their military contributions all over the world from the late 19th century till the end of World War 2 in 1945.
Entitled "Exploring the Role of Sikh Soldiers -- Where Valour is a Tradition", the exhibition opens on Nov 24 at the Wadda Gurdwara Sahib in Jalan Gurdwara.
The exhibition will have more than 200 black-and-white photographs of Sikh soldiers in action in Malaya, Singapore, Indonesia, Burma (now Myanmar), China, the Middle-East, and all over Africa and Europe.
It is being held in conjunction with the 538th birthday of Satguru Nanak Devji, the founder of the Sikh religion, on Nov 24.
Organiser Harchand Singh, the proprietor of Mega Sound Machine, said all the photographs are from the archives of the Imperial War Museum in London.
He says it is a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to learn more about the role the Sikhs have played in the world`s military history.
"The gems of the three-day exhibition are six photographs of the ruins after the Battle of Saragarhi on Sept 12, 1897 in the North-West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan)," said Harchand.
The battle, recognised by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation as one of the greatest stories of collective bravery in human history, pitted 21 Sikhs from the 4th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment of British India against a ferocious attack by more than 14,000 Afghan tribal forces.
All 21 Sikhs were killed defending their post.
The significance of the exhibition has not escaped historians like Mohd Taib Mohamed, the vice-president of the Perak Heritage Society and librarian of the Perak state secretariat.
He welcomes the display as an opportunity for Malaysians to learn more about the bravery and gallantry of the Sikhs.
"Admittedly, there is not much material in our own archives on the role played by Sikhs in the defence of Malaya, Singapore and other parts of Asia.
"This should serve as an informative platform for all Malaysians to learn more about the Sikhs and their martial contributions to this country and elsewhere."
Source: www.nst.com.my (6 November 2007)
