Sikhism in Singapore

Bhai Maharaj Singh (standing) and Companion (Khurruck Singh, seated on right) in a Prison Cell. Painted in Calcutta in November 1850. Maharaj Singh and his companion were the first Sikhs in Singapore on record.

The first Sikh to migrate to Singapore was Maharaj Singh in 1849; he was sent there as a political prisoner by the British Empire after the Second Anglo-Sikh War.[3] The Central Sikh Temple was built to commemorate the 518th anniversary of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru. The temple boasts a skilful blend of modern and traditional architecture. The Guru Granth Sahib, or holy book, is enshrined in a prayer hall which has a 13-metre wide dome.

Photograph of members of the Sikh Police Contingent in-front of Gurdwara Sahib Silat Road in 1931. The gurdwara is also known as Singapore Sikh Police Temple. Also pictured is the inspector/general of police.

Singapore was part of Malaya under British rule and Sikhs migrated there as policemen. Some Sikhs in Singapore are immigrants from India (mainly from the Punjab region in India). Others are the descendants of Sikh prisoners from British India who were sent to Singapore by the British Army for protesting, attacking or killing British Soldiers, attacks; assaults; and vandalism of British buildings and property. They lived in British prisons in Singapore. Sikh migration to Singapore was popularized by the demand of Sikh police officers and guards in British colonial Malaya. A substantial amount of Sikhs in Singapore are also descendants of Indian Sikh Businessmen who immigrated to Singapore.

The Sikhs were highly admired by the British, especially after encountering how the Sikhs fought during the war against British in Punjab, also known as the First Anglo-Sikh War, which happened from 11 December 1845 to 9 March 1846.[4] This Sikhs were known as martial Indians, known for their bravery and their well-built body.[5] The uprising of Singapore Societies along with the local police not deemed fit by the British lead to the recruitment of the Sikhs.[4] This led to the eventual establishment of the Sikh Police Contingent in Singapore in 1881, with the first batch of 54 Sikh recruits arriving in Singapore on 26 March 1881 and another 65 in August that year [6]

The Sikh policemen were deployed at the Tanjong Pagar Police Station as well as the Tanjong Pagar Dock Police Station. The Sikhs responsibility was to counter Chinese Secret Societies as well as the security of the docks, harbors and the godowns. However, not all Sikhs that arrived are recruited as policemen as the British had stringent requirements – recruit has to be younger than 25 years old, have a minimum height of 5 feet 6 inch (1.68m) and a minimum chest measurement of 33 inch (84 cm).[7] On top of that, it was also revealed in the General Orders that only non-English educated Sikhs who came from the farming community (known as Jhat Sikhs) are to be recruited. This is to ensure that the British will be able to control these Sikhs, as they were considered obedient and will follow blindly to those who they have taken the oath of obedience to. Hence, those who failed to be selected found work as security guards and watchmen.[4]

This marked the start of the Sikh community in Singapore as prior to this, the Sikhs that were sent here were convicts as Singapore served as a convict colony, and did not form a community. However, this stopped in 1857 when Andaman Islands became the new convict colony, since then, up till the formation of the Sikh Police Contingent, there were no records of Sikh migrants in Singapore.[4]

The community has been praised for its advancements made in Singaporean society whilst still holding onto its cultural and religious traditions.[8]

The Sikh Foundation and The Punjabi Foundation of Singapore are prominent associations that are promoting Sikh heritage and Punjabi language there.[9] Some prominent Sikhs who earned name in public life are:

• Choor Singh, first Sikh Judge of Supreme Court[9]
• Kanwaljit Soin, first female Nominated Member of Parliament, orthopaedic surgeon and co-founder of AWARE[9]
• Jaswant Singh Gill, first commander of Singapore Navy[9][10]
• Kartar Singh Thakral, founder of Thakral Corporation Ltd[9]
• Major-General Ravinder Singh, former chief of the Singapore Army
• Inderjit Singh, former PAP MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC
• Davinder Singh, former PAP MP for Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC
• Pritam Singh, WP MP for Aljunied GRC and Leader of the Opposition

• Jainism in Southeast Asia
• Hinduism in Southeast Asia

• Visit Singapore