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News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
Sikh Regiment In British Army Soon? Here's What We Know
Curated By : Last Updated: July 28, 2025, 20:10 IST News18 Is the United Kingdom considering having a Sikh regiment in its forces? Several media reports have emerged recently hinting that the British Army is considering a proposal to induct a Sikh regiment. However, the UK's Ministry of Defence has denied, saying there are no such proposals in this regard. 'We want to do something to recognise Sikh contributions in some way, but not through a Sikh regiment," sources in the defence ministry told Times of India . The issue came into the limelight after Lord Sahota, a member of the House of Lords, asked UK defence minister Lord Coaker in the House of Lords on July 7 regarding the progress on having a Sikh regiment in the British Army. Coaker said, 'Let me consider that request from my noble friend. I am quite happy to meet him and see what more we can do to recognise the contribution of soldiers such as Sikhs." Coaker's remark led to media headlines like 'UK considering to have Sikh Regiment." Lord Sahota's grandfathers have served in the British Indian army, including the 15th Punjab Regiment. Speaking to TOI , he said he does not think this proposal will not against the UK Equality Act, highlighting the Staffordshire Regiment, Brigade of Gurkhas, the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, Royal Welsh and Royal Regiment of Scotland. As per the TOI report, there are around 200 Sikhs in the British Armed Forces at present. Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Sikh Regiment's origins are found within the British East India Company Army. Sikh soldiers were notably recruited following the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–46) and even more extensively after the Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–49). Serving with distinction as part of the British Indian Army, the Sikh Regiment played a significant role in both World War I and World War II. During the First World War, over 100,000 Sikhs were part of the British Indian Army, with a number of Sikh soldiers receiving the Victoria Cross, the highest British military honour. For the Second World War, more than 300,000 Sikhs served in the Indian Army. Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter -- Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter -- view comments News world Sikh Regiment In British Army Soon? Here's What We Know Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Demand for Sikh regiment in British Army peaks, minister says open to idea
Following calls for a dedicated Sikh regiment in the British Army, comprising members of the community in the UK, the Keir Starmer-led government has said that it's open to the idea. Earlier this month, Labour peer Lord Kuldip Singh Sahota raised the issue in the House of Lords, citing the loyalty and courage of Sikh soldiers in both World Wars, The UK Defence Journal Defence Minister Vernon Rodney Coaker expressed his willingness to discuss the matter with the Sikh in July, Sahota, in the House of Lords, asked about progress on long-standing calls for such a unit in the British responded that he was open to discussions, saying, "I am quite happy to meet him (Sahota) to see what more we can do to recognise the contribution of soldiers such as Sikhs, and those of many other faiths as well".Notably, according to The Royal Logistic Corps Association, there were 130 Sikh soldiers in the British Army and another 70 serving across defence forces in 2019. However, media reports estimate that the number of Sikh soldiers in the British Army to have risen to around 160 in Minister Coaker, in the first week of July, pointed to the Victory over Japan Day commemorations on August 15, as a moment to reflect on the global wartime sacrifices of the British forces. "Not least among that were the Sikhs of the world, who played a valiant part," the UK Defence Journal quoted him as no firm commitment was made, the conversation signals fresh momentum to acknowledge Sikh military history in the British Armed A NEW IDEA TO HAVE SIKH REGIMENT IN THE BRITISH ARMYThis isn't a new 2015, Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois told the House of Commons that General Nicholas Carter, then-Chief of the General Staff, was reviewing the feasibility of a Sikh unit, possibly a reserve Defence Minister Sir Nicholas Soames urged the government to "do away with political correctness" and establish the regiment, praising the "extraordinary gallant and distinguished service by Sikhs to this country down the generations".Francois had in 2015 noted the proposal's merits, saying it was raised by several MPs and was under consideration. The discussions emphasised carrying forward the traditions of Sikh regiments from the British Indian Army, though no action ASSOCIATED WITH BRITISH ARMY SINCE MID-19TH CENTURYSikhs have served in the British military since the 1840s, after the annexation of the Sikh Empire in British colonisers, to bolster their grip, categorised military regiments in the British Indian Army by caste, religion, and region, designating Sikhs, Gurkhas, Jats, Rajputs, Nagas, and many others as "martial races" that were suited for recruited heavily from Punjab after the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny or the First War of Independence, as the community was deemed divisive strategy prioritised military utility over the cultural depth of the Sikhs transformed this imposed label into a legacy of the late 19th century, Sikhs were a cornerstone of the British Indian Army, serving in regiments like the Sikh Regiment and Punjab per the UK Defence Journal, in World War I, over 1,00,000 Sikhs fought in France, East Africa, Mesopotamia, and Gallipoli, earning Victoria Crosses in battles like Neuve were less than 2% of British India's population but 20% of its World War II, 3,00,000 Sikhs served in North Africa, Italy, and Southeast Asia, their impact huge in combat and support roles, the journal also India's Independence, the Sikhs became a part of the Indian Army, though some still serve in the UK LEGACY CAN LINK COLONIAL TIES TO MODERN BRITAINA Sikh regiment would be similar to the Brigade of Gurkhas, which recruits from Nepal and Indian Nepali-speaking communities, linking colonial ties with today's British Army.A Sikh regiment could do the same for Britain as the Gurkha Regiment has, boosting diversity in the British 2015 push did not yield results, but Coaker's openness a decade later could signal a shift in the British Army.- Ends advertisement
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Debate over having Sikh Regiment in British Army resurfaces, but UK MoD says no such plans
File photo LONDON: The debate over whether there should be a Sikh regiment in the British armed forces has resurfaced but the ministry of defence (MoD) insists there are no such plans. The debate was triggered after Lord Sahota asked defence minister Lord Coaker in the House of Lords on July 7 whether there was any progress on 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'. But MoD sources told TOI: 'Over the years there have been conversations about this, but it 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.' 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 has 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.'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.'. 'We are struggling to recruit ethnic minorities in this country,' he said, and so having a Sikh Regiment would give Sikhs a 'reason to join.' 'They would wear turbans and have beards and it would reflect Sikh heritage and values,' he said. 'It would foster a better relationship with other countries such as India and South Asia as well,' he added. There are estimated to be only 200 Sikhs in the British Armed Forces currently. 'People tend to go in the army if their grandfather was in it. Sikhs don't have that role model here,' Sahota said. He said if there was a Punjab or Sikh Regiment they would have that role model. 'There are more than 700k 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.
CNBC
27-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
The metaverse as we knew it failed, but it's being resurrected for new worlds
While the metaverse is often seen as a joke in 2025 because of low user counts and poor financial performance (take Meta's Reality Labs division and its continued losses, estimated by Statista at $70 billion all-time), the industry may be thriving in ways the general public doesn't realize. "The hype around the entertainment part has subsided," said Andy Lee, partner at law firm Jones Walker who specializes in privacy, data strategy, artificial intelligence and the metaverse. Instead, Lee said there's a "pragmatic recalibration" happening, where enterprise companies and even entire industries are starting to use immersive 3D worlds for uses like upskilling and scenario planning. Venture funds like Intel Capital and Venture Reality Fund are taking a close look at the metaverse for all its purposes. For instance, the metaverse might serve to train police officers on how to handle someone in a mental health crisis or someone that's high on fentanyl, according to Neil Sahota, CEO of ACSILabs, which develops virtual worlds for enterprises. "While you might hear about it or read about it in the classroom setting, it's very different when it's happening in real life," said Sahota, who also serves as an artificial intelligence advisor for the United Nations. While the use cases vary, one thing remains consistent — where the metaverse seems to thrive today is not as a generic duplicate of our world as we know it, but rather a purposeful industry solution solving a need that already exists. Meta's VR headset business continues to evolve and find new uses cases outside the consumer market. Other challengers such as Apple Vision Pro face an uncertain outlook. But more targeted metaverse solutions are taking place inside large enterprises. ACSILabs has created custom virtual worlds to help lawyers prepare for big cases, helping them play out different types of arguments and case strategies. Based on what's known about the judge, opposing counsel and jury, they can combine cognitive science and AI to determine how different tactics will land. What's interesting is that when users try this technology, they feel emboldened. "They start realizing that I can try more risky things, and see what happens," Sahota said. But does it really work? While there are caveats, there are positive results. When working with a government client to provide training in an immersive world, Sahota said that ACSILabs was able to deliver the equivalent of three years of field experience for a specific topic over the course of 18 in-game hours. Osso VR is another company developing VR modules for health technology. Those who used its solution to learn surgical techniques performed up to three times better than those educated via standard practices, according to the company. Sahota added that jet engine manufacturers use the metaverse (or even simpler digital twins) to test safety and performance in ways that are impossible in the real world. He pointed out questions the metaverse could answer, including: "How would this perform on a Boeing 777 at 80,000 feet? What happens if the engine is in an electrical storm?" Regardless of how it's used, the metaverse is not without risks — and given the sheer depth of this technology, the number of considerations can add up. The primary consideration, for Lee, is data privacy and security. "The platforms are going to be handling sensitive data, anything from performance metrics to biometric data," he said. Additionally, scenarios being used for law enforcement or healthcare training could have sensitive information, particularly if they stem from real-world occurrences. For companies seeking safe vendors, privacy and security by design (where these elements are built in from the beginning rather than added on after the fact) are key. Staying plugged in to regulations like the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, California Consumer Privacy Act, or HIPAA in the U.S. is crucial. Even with a potential state-level moratorium on AI regulation coming into play in the U.S., paying attention to the evolution of global AI regulation (as it pertains to privacy, bias and more) is also relevant because metaverse platforms often use AI to streamline asset creation. Lee recommended choosing one or a few people in the organization to take on reading the full terms and conditions of an enterprise metaverse vendor to make sure you know exactly what you're getting into. Especially for high-stakes scenarios, liability plays a major role. "You're going to have potential for a real-world error if the training itself was inaccurate," Lee said. "Companies and users are going to have to be dialed in on the liability issues if the training were to be deemed insufficient or misleading," Lee added. Then there's content moderation, which Lee considers crucial even in professional settings. Outside of harassment concerns, highly realistic images can trigger trauma responses. While most research currently pertains to video games, it's clear that virtual worlds can indeed elicit negative psychological responses. At the core of it all, metaverse training and scenario planning is designed to be real-world-adjacent. But it's not the real world. "While these are simulations that are powerful for learning, direct transfer of the learned skills to real world situations requires critical reflection," Lee said. "Most folks employing it should know that they need real world practice before something actually occurs that they have to respond to and not to rely fully on the virtual training," he added.
Indian Express
22-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Punjab's first liver transplant surgeon pushes for early detection and organ donation
Dr Gursagar Singh Sahota, Punjab's first liver transplant surgeon, is on a mission to fill a critical gap in India's healthcare system. By combining high-stakes clinical work with a growing public awareness campaign, the surgeon trained at the New Delhi AIIMS is pushing for early detection, specialised care, and a cultural shift around organ donation. His LiverGuru platform and expanding transplant programme aim to bring focus to liver disease—a growing but often ignored public health crisis in India. Rooted in Anandpur Sahib Born and raised in the historic town of Anandpur Sahib, Dr Sahota grew up in a family of teachers with no medical background. Yet, his fascination with science and desire to serve began early. 'I always loved studying, and there was never any family pressure,' he recalled. 'My father used to say both teaching and medicine are noble professions. I felt medicine would allow me to reduce suffering.' After completing his MBBS from Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, he pursued a Master's in Surgery from King George's Medical University, Lucknow. It was there that he developed a deeper interest in gastrointestinal surgery. Discovering the liver's complexity His first direct exposure to liver transplant surgery came during his MCh in gastrointestinal surgery and liver transplant at AIIMS, where he witnessed his first liver transplant, an experience that would redefine his career. 'I realised how complex and rare this field is. Some surgeries take 12 to 15 hours. But I wanted to take on that challenge and contribute where the country lacked enough specialists.' A spiritual process For Dr Sahota, liver transplantation is not just a surgical procedure, it's deeply human. 'It's a spiritual process in many ways. A person's organ lives on in another body. It gives life, energy, and hope,' he said. 'It's unlike any other surgery. It gives a different kind of peace.' He pointed to the acute shortage of specialists as a pressing national concern. 'Many Indian states don't have even a single liver transplant surgeon. I wanted to fill that gap,' he said. LiverGuru: public education meets medical outreach In 2023, Dr Sahota launched LiverGuru, a digital platform dedicated to liver health. 'I deliberately didn't name it after myself. It had to be neutral,' he said. The goal was to create a reliable, unbiased public resource on preventive, clinical, and surgical aspects of liver care. From social media campaigns to virtual consultations, LiverGuru aims to reach people before their condition becomes critical. 'Most people show up at hospitals too late,' he said. 'By then, the damage is often irreversible.' India's changing diets, rising risks Dr Sahota blames the rising burden of liver disease on changing lifestyles and food habits. 'Our grandparents walked, cooked fresh, and ate vegetables. Today, we're hooked on sugar and processed food,' he said. 'They may please the tongue, but they destroy the liver.' He said that vague symptoms like fatigue, low appetite, and mild weight loss are often the first signs. 'People brush them off. But when you see jaundice or vomiting blood, the liver is already in deep distress.' Prevention is cure He strongly advocates preventive screening. 'After 40, everyone should get annual liver function tests and an abdominal ultrasound,' he said. 'The liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself. But beyond a point, transplant becomes the only option.' He also warned against self-medication and unverified treatments. 'Herbal supplements and quack remedies delay proper treatment and cost lives.' A high-stakes surgery Liver transplant is one of the most technically demanding surgeries, requiring precision, stamina, and coordination. 'Complications are inevitable, but it's the surgeon's response that defines the outcome,' he said. 'At AIIMS, we were trained to stay calm and think clearly.' He credits his centre's success to rigorous training and seamless teamwork. A record-making milestone Among his career highlights is the successful liver transplant of a three-year-old child, with the child's father as the donor. 'It was a rare condition. No child with it had survived globally. He just completed two years post-transplant,' he said. A surgeon with strings Despite long surgical hours, Dr Sahota makes time for self-care and creative pursuits. His day begins at 6 am with a cup of coffee, 'which is good for the liver,' he smiles followed by 30–40 minutes of exercise. On lighter days, he focuses on LiverGuru and spends time with his family. An avid singer and guitarist, he says music is his therapy. 'If I weren't a doctor, I'd probably be in a band,' he joked. 'Exercise removes stress, and music heals the mind.' Building for the future Dr Sahota is now working to establish a full-spectrum liver care centre in Punjab, integrating diagnostics, surgery, and post-op care under one roof. 'We don't go to general physicians for brain surgery. Why treat the liver any differently?' He's also pushing for normalising organ donation. 'India lacks a culture of organ pledging. We need to make that conversation easier.' Advice to future doctors To medical students, he offers a message of purpose. 'Choose a field you're truly passionate about. You'll spend your life in it—don't follow peer or parental pressure.' The authors are interns with The Indian Express.
