1 August 2016: In the United States, the Democratic Convention saw a stirring speech by the outgoing First Lady, Michelle Obama. While citing the world of opportunities her daughters had in comparison to the past, the Party endorsed the nomination of the first ever female Presidential Candidate, Hilary Clinton, who claimed that the ultimate glass ceiling for women was at last being smashed.
A century ago, in the dusty rural villages of Punjab the wives of soldiers were making their own leaps forward in the advancement of women. Often uneducated and illiterate, these women stepped out from the shadows of their absent husbands to take on new roles, some literally venturing into new fields of work as they began tilling farmland. Their laments were captured in haunting folk songs. This week we remember and acknowledge their efforts in the face of adversity - and the pain of separation they felt.
Thakar Singh and his widow Basant Kaur
Exactly 100 years ago today on 1 August 1916, Thakar Singh of the 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force) was killed in action as part of the Mesopotamian Campaign. His life, and that of his widow and son, has been researched by his great-grandson, Citizen Historian Jagdip Singh Kang of Woolwich, London (home of the Royal Arsenal, which housed a multitude of armaments factories and 80,000 staff during World War One).
Their story shines a light on the world of the women and families left behind, and how women in particular remembered the loss of their menfolk whilst continuing to raise their children and take on new responsibilities.
Thakar Singh was one of two brothers who went to war (his brother Battan Singh, joined the 26th Punjabis) leaving Basant Kaur to raise their son Chanan Singh.
A devoted mother and wife: new roles and responsibilities
One of Chanan Singh's three sons, Sadhu Singh (father of Citizen Historian Jagdip Singh Kang) told us that she is remembered by her family as a very brave, loyal, hardworking and skillful lady. He recalled how she worked tirelessly in the home as well as feeding and milking the family's livestock. Even when not working she was active making cloth on a spinning wheel or busy creating needlework, weaving mats (darris) and beds (charpaees). Spiritually inclined she prayed regularly.
‘Baba went to Basra but didn’t come back'
After the war she would commemorate Thakar Singh's death anniversary by providing dinner to five Sikhs in the month of Assu (September/October). She was awarded a pension of 11 rupees per month, which was considered to be good amount, and she came to be known by the name of ‘Milkhan’ as a result.
She died in 1973. The last time Sadhu Singh saw her was in August 1971, when he took the photograph above. He told us:
'Every month she would go to Jalandhar to withdraw her pension. We kids eagerly awaited her return, because she would always bring some sweets. She usually felt sad on that day. She often used to say about that ‘Baba [grandfather] went to Basra but didn’t come back’.
A long time ago, I was reminded of this after reading one particular line in the Guru Granth Sahib. It said (page 418): 'Their husbands did not return home – how did they pass their night?' I remembered my grandmother and felt so sad that I could not sleep that night.
We use to call her 'Ma Ji'. She was a very brave, hard working and skilful lady.'
Read more about Thakar Singh here including details and images from the 51st Sikhs War Diary, his medals, the memorial in Basra and more on the life of Basant Kaur.
The Sikh Roll of Honour: 100 Years Ago This Week
But who were these men? What is their story? Help us find out by becoming a Citizen Historian and following our step-by-step getting started guide on how to research a WW1 Sikh soldier.
Do you have a personal link to any of them? Check the list below - do you recognise your village? If yes, then could it be that the soldier is connected to you, even possibly your WW1 ancestor?
Click on a name below and you'll be taken to their Soldier Record where, to the bottom-right, you'll see the 'Adopt Soldier' button - click on this to begin your journey as a Citizen Historian, helping to create a lasting memorial and legacy to the fallen.
Sikh Roll of Honour week commencing Monday 1 August:
Monday, 01 August 2016- Indar Singh • born in the village of Burj Nathee, Tarn Taran, Amritsar • Sapper in the Faridkot Imperial Service Sappers • died in Kenya
- Thakur Singh • born in the village of Kang, Nakodar, Jalandhar • Naik in the 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force) • died in Iraq
Tuesday, 02 August 2016
- Ganga Singh • born in the village of Chamba Kalan, Tarn Taran, Amritsar • Sowar in the 10th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers (Hodson's Horse) • died in France
- Asa Singh • born in the village of Gobindgarh, Khaugah Dogran, Sheikhupura • Sepoy in the 34th Sikh Pioneers • died in Iraq
Wednesday, 03 August 2016
- Narain Singh • born in the village of Kular, Jagraon, Ludhiana • Sowar in the 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse) • died in France
- Harnam Singh • born in the village of Nandpur, Gujranwala • Sowar in the 25th Indian Cavalry (Frontier Force) • died in India
Thursday, 04 August 2016
- Arjun Singh • born in the village of Boparaw, Jagraon, Ludhiana • Sowar in the 6th King Edward's Own Cavalry • died in France
- Puran Singh • born in the village of Raipore, Mansa, Patiala • Sepoy in the 51st Sikhs (Frontier Force) • died in Iraq
Friday, 05 August 2016
- Nanak Singh • born in the village of Chak No 37, Chunnian, Lahore • Sepoy in the 53rd Sikhs (Frontier Force) • died in Iraq
- Indar Singh • born in the village of Desalpur, Jalandhar • Sepoy in the 35th Sikhs • died in Iraq
Saturday, 06 August 2016
- Lal Singh • born in the village of Daulwala, Fazilka, Ferozepore • Lance Naik in the 62nd Punjabis • died in Iraq
The Sikhs of World War One - With Your Help They WILL Be Remembered.
Take the Bachelors to War..
During World War One as their husbands, brothers and sons departed for war, women all over India, and Punjab in particular, were left to take up the reigns of household and farm work whilst lamenting the absence of their men.
During our summer exhibition in 2014 we commissioned musicians, Jasdeep Singh and Company, to reinterpret a wartime Punjabi folk song in a classical Indian musical style using traditional instrumentation. Using a line from the song, the rendition was entitled 'Take the Bachelors to War'. The result was a haunting piece set to the soulful sound of the dilruba ('heart-stealer').
The performance has since been recommissioned by others after we showcased it twice more around Remembrance Sunday, November 2014, firstly at London City Hall and then at a unique EFW Remembrance Reception at the Houses of Parliament in front of an audience of MPs, Lords, senior military personnel etc.
Watch again this historic moment when the rendition was played in the Churchill Room at the House of Commons here.
And take a look around elsewhere on www.empirefaithwar.com and you'll find a host of illuminating and educational resources including more incredible stories families have shared with us about their ancestors, audio interviews with men like the first Sikh fighter pilot, education packs for schools, archive and new films, and more recordings from our illustrated talks by international experts from our summer 2014 exhibition and so much more.
Media Roundup
The 'Empire, Faith & War' website was the subject of a major in-depth piece in the Times newspaper this week. The extensive article looked at the role of Sikhs and their religious requirements during WW1, drawing heavily upon our research. It also name-checked our lead historian Parmjit Singh who told reporter Melissa van der Klugt about our project's work with families like yours in order to collect and share this precious history.
"More than 200 Sikh families have contacted the organisation. And the UKPHA argues that there are few Sikhs in Britain who do not have a military connection — many stretch back 150 years to the Anglo-Sikh wars when the British contested territory in the Sikh empire that once spanned 600 miles from modern-day Pakistan to the suburbs of Delhi. A Times correspondent, witnessing the arrival of Sikhs in France in 1914, called them the “flower of the Indian Army” and Sikhs accounted for nearly 20 per cent — although they made up less than 1 per cent of the population of undivided British India."
You can check out more EFW media highlights, including some great radio and TV coverage, here.
And don't forget to keep up to date with our regular updates and your chance to join in the conversation on Facebook & Twitter.
Till next time
The EFW Team
The Sikhs of World War One: With Your Help They Will Be Remembered.
Picture Credits:
1. Michelle Obama with Sikh Guard of Honour in background (Credit: Huffington Post).
2. Basant Kaur, widow of Thakar Singh, August 1971 (Credit: Sadhu Singh Kang).
3. EFW 'They Will Be Remembered' logo, Brunei Gallery 2014 (Credit: Harbakhsh Grewal).
4. Woman and baby taken by an English eye surgeon stationed in Amritsar, 1911 (Credit: courtesy of Sukhbir Singh Kainth).
5. The Times newspaper, Saturday 30 July 2016 (Credit: Harbakhsh Grewal).
Copyright © 2016 UKPHA, All rights reserved.
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Related Article:
http://www.sikhnet.com/news/turkish-connection