Marching in the name of legacy: Sikh regiment debate rekindled in Britain

Time of India

3 days ago

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The debate over whether there should be a Sikh regiment in the British Armed Forces has resurfaced, but the UK ministry of defence (MOD) insists there are no such plans.
The debate was triggered after Lord Sahota asked British defence minister Lord Coaker in the House of Lords on July 7 whether there was any progress of having a Sikh regiment in the British Army, given the loyalty of Sikh soldiers in both world wars.
Coaker replied: "Let me consider that request from my noble friend. I am quite happy to meet him to see what more we can do to recognise the contribution of soldiers such as Sikhs."
This led to UK headlines such as 'Minister open to British Army Sikh regiment proposal'.
Lord Sahota is the title given to British-Sikh Kuldip Singh Sahota, a member of the House of Lords.
Contrary to the headlines, MOD sources told TOI that over the years there had been conversations about this, but such a move would breach Britain's anti-discriminatory laws.
"There are no current plans for a Sikh regiment as it goes against the Equality Act. We want to do something to recognise Sikh contributions in some way, but not through a Sikh regiment," said sources.
Lord Sahota, whose grandfathers served in the British Indian Army, including the 15th Punjab Regiment, told TOI: "I don't think it would go against the Equality Act."
He pointed out the British Army had the Staffordshire regiment and currently has the Brigade of Gurkhas, the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, Royal Welsh and Royal Regiment of Scotland and so on.
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"It doesn't mean other faiths like Hindus, Muslim or Christians wouldn't be able to serve in a Sikh regiment. If you are in the Royal Regiment of Scotland, it doesn't mean you have to be Scottish."
Lord Sahota said the regiment would give Sikhs a reason to join. "We are struggling to recruit ethnic minorities in this country," he said. "They would wear turbans and have beards, and it would reflect Sikh heritage and values.
It would foster a better relationship with other countries such as India and South Asia as well."
There are estimated to be only 200 Sikhs in the British Armed Forces. "People tend to go in the army if their grandfather was in it. Sikhs don't have that role model here," Sahota said.
Sahota added that if there was a Punjab or Sikh regiment, they would have that role model. "There are more than 700,000 Sikhs in the UK. I am sure quite a few would be prepared to follow in their great grandfather's footsteps.
King Charles even told a Sikh soldier he wanted to see more Sikhs in the British Army," the Labour life peer added.
India-born Sahota (74) said he plans to meet Lord Coaker after the summer recess and will take Sikhs in the British Army and MPs with him.
Birmingham Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill, who has met the armed forces minister many times, to raise the issue, said no decision had been made yet. "It is being looked at. There have been existing Sikh regiments in the army.
It's not anything new," she added.
The Indian Army has a Sikh Regiment which continues to recruit from the community and a Punjab Regiment. The regiment is one of the most decorated and traces its origins to the first Sikh Battalion raised by the East India Company in 1846.
But veteran army reservist Captain Jay Singh-Sohal OBE is against the idea. "Even if they did this, they wouldn't fill out a regiment with recruits. We struggle with getting young Sikhs into the military as it is.
A Sikh regiment isn't going to change this and would become massively understaffed. A single-battalion regiment requires 700 plus. A Sikh regiment will fail as it won't get 700 plus young Sikhs joining. And if the answer is to look beyond Sikhs, what's the point of a race-specific regiment?" he said.
"These British-Sikh politicians need to make the argument for the benefit of Sikh-specific regiments in the context of the threats we face today," Sohal added.
"It's not about harking to past glories, but about practical ways in which Sikhs today can make an impact through military service. I believe Sikhs do make an impact as we serve alongside those who represent Great Britain as a whole," Johal said.
He said the Sikh identity was already recognised as a strength in the British Army and protected by UK law. "We don't need special treatment. We already practice our faith in the army.
A modern army is about bringing capabilities and insights from different walks of life and backgrounds to create a synergy into a whole team setting. Sikhs can contribute a lot to that. Having a Sikh-specific regiment won't motivate more youngsters to join.
What would, is if they see value in soldiering or developing themselves as a leader through military experience. I challenge Preet Gill and Lord Sahota to find me 20 Sikhs willing to sign up to the British Army right now, regardless of whether we have a Sikh regiment or not.
They won't be able to do it," Sohal added.
Slough MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, chair of the defence committee that scrutinises the work of the MOD, said he had supported the establishment of a British Sikh regiment for several years, given the extraordinary history, martial traditions and sacrifices of Sikh soldiers, especially during both world wars. "While the campaign has not achieved success thus far, we will certainly continue to make the case," he added.