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Sikhism in Singapore
	Central Sikh Temple
Total population
	12,000 (2020); 0.3% of the total Singaporean population
Religions
	Sikhism
Languages
	Malay • Mandarin • Tamil • Punjabi • Hindi • Urdu

Singaporean Sikhs numbered 12,051 at the country's 2020 census, forming the country's sixth largest religious group at 0.35% of the population,^[1] but Sikhs form a religious minority in Singapore. Sikhism in Singapore has its roots in the military and policing forces of the British Empire. Currently, there are 12,000–15,000 Sikhs in Singapore.^[2] There are 7 gurdwaras along with a missionary society, a welfare society, two youth organizations and two sports clubs.^[3] Most Sikhs are from the Jat community.

History

Migration period

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.^[4]

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.^[5] This Sikhs were known as martial Indians, known for their bravery and their well-built body.^[6] The uprising of Singapore Societies along with the local police not deemed fit by the British lead to the recruitment of the Sikhs.^[5] 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 ^[7]

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).^[8] 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 Jat 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.^[5]

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.^[5]

In 1898, a Sikh from Hong Kong named Lal Singh acted as a leader for the community during meetings, successfully gathering funds for the establishment of a dharamshala.^[9]^: 66

In 1912, the Journal des Voyages published a satirical print of Sikh policemen rounding up Chinese criminals by their queues in Singapore.^[10]

Present

The community has been praised for its advancements made in Singaporean society whilst still holding onto its cultural and religious traditions.^[11]

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.[1]

Influence of Sikhs on Singaporean culture

Bukit Brown

Bukit Brown ("Brown's Hill") is a Chinese cemetery in Singapore that features 25 pairs of guardian statues depicting Sikh men guarding the tombs.^[12]^: 74 The height of the Sikh guardian statues in the cemetery ranges from 3 to 6 feet.^[12]^: 74 They are placed to the front-right and front-left of the tombstone, with one exception of the Sikh guardian statue being placed behind the tombstone.^[12]^: 74 They were arranged in this manner as per feng shui principles.^[12]^: 74 The Sikh guardian statues were positioned just after the guardian statues of Chinese faeries.^[12]^: 74 The Sikh guardian statues of the Chinese cemetery are a reflection of the Singaporean Sikh community's reputation in the early 20th century of being superb watchmen.^[12]^: 74

Sikh guardian statues of Bukit Brown Cemetery

Prominent Sikhs

The Sikh Foundation and The Punjabi Foundation of Singapore are prominent associations that are promoting Sikh heritage and Punjabi language there.^[13] Some prominent Sikhs who earned name in public life are:

Choor Singh, first Sikh Judge of Supreme Court^[13]
Kanwaljit Soin, first female Nominated Member of Parliament, orthopaedic surgeon and co-founder of AWARE^[13]
Jaswant Singh Gill, first commander of Singapore Navy^[13]^[14]
Kartar Singh Thakral, founder of Thakral Corporation Ltd^[13]
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
Ajit Singh Gill, a hockey player, sportsperson and olympian

References

^ "Full report of 2021 Census" (PDF). p. 213. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^ Iyer, Raman. "Sikhs in Singapore: Turbanators with rich tradition of donning uniform". Retrieved 9 March 2011.
^ "Sikhs benefited from Singapore prosperity, says CSGB president". hindustantimes.com. 24 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
^ "Sikhs in Singapore 1850 | Historical Events :Gateway to Sikhism". Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2009. 2009/04/15/Sikhs in Singapore 1850
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Singh, Mohinder. 1985. Communities of Singapore (Part 2) Pitt Kuan Wah Interview by. In person.
^ Lai, Ah Eng. 2008. Religious Diversity In Singapore. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies jointly with Institute of Policy Studies.
^ Singh, Choor (Justice). 1991. Communities of Singapore (Part 2) Rajandran Supramaniam Interview by. In person.
^ National Library Board, Singapore, and Jaime Koh. 2013. "Sikh Community | Infopedia". Eresources.Nlb.Gov.Sg. http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_2013-07-29_174120.html.
^ Barrier, Norman Gerald; Dusenbery, Verne A., eds. (1989). The Sikh Diaspora: Migration and the Experience Beyond Punjab (1st ed.). South Asia Books. ISBN 9788170010470.
^ "Roots: Sikh policeman rounds up Chinese criminals by their queues". Asia Samachar. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
^ "Sikhs in Singapore hailed for their contribution in diverse fields while retaining their culture". The Tribune. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f McLeod, W. H.; Fenech, Louis E. (2014). Historical Dictionary of Sikhism. Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements Series (3rd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442236011.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Kahlon, Swarn Singh (2016). "Sikhs in Singapore". In Virk, Dr. Hardev Singh (ed.). Sikhs in Asia Pacific:Travels among the Sikh Diaspora from Yangon to Kobe. New Delhi: Manohar Publisher, Ne Delhi.
^ Auto, Hermes (21 December 2020). "Singapore's first head of navy Jaswant Singh Gill dies, aged 97 | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.