Readings in Sikh and Punjabi Studies from the UK

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About the Book This book is a compilation of twenty six papers and articles relating to the UK's Sikh and Punjabi community. The papers were presented at university seminars in the USA, UK and India. The articles were published in The Tribune, Sikh Research Journal, Ajit, The Asian, Des Pardes, Panjab Times and Indians Abroad and Punjab Impact.

The context is the rise of Sikh resistance to the Moghul invasion and oppression, the annexation of the Sikh Raj of Punjab by the British, India's independence movement, the partition, post-independence Punjab crises and some contemporary issues. The book overviews the process of migration, settlement and focuses on the dynamics of development of the Sikh/Punjabi/Indian/South West Asian community in the UK. It provides a perspective on the political philosophy and unique leadership of the founders of the Sikh Faith. It analyses some of the contemporary dimensions of the Sikh and Punjabi Studies in the UK. It also covers aspects of identity issues, racial prejudice and their impact. This compilation provides a basis for further research, analysis and development.

About the Author Dr. Sujinder Singh Sangha OBE FRSA, the first Sikh/Punjabi/Indian/Asian- British Principal and CEO in the UK's GFE Colleges, is continuing with his research and writing after retirement. He has been associated with further, higher and vocational education for 45 years and has advised on the development of GNA University in India. Dr. Sangha has. served on local, regional, national and international forums. He has been a member of the British Educational Leadership Management and Administration Society, member of the Professional Council of Principals, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He has convened several public events and has been publishing articles and broadcasting for 54 years. He gained his Doctorate in Leaders and Leadership in Education from the University of Birmingham in 2011. Dr. Sangha was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen in 2010, in recognition of his contribution to Local and National Further Education, and was honored by the Chief Minister of Punjab in 2019 on the occasion of 550th Birth Anniversary celebration of Guru Nanak in the UK.

Introduction The Sikh Empire of sovereign Punjab, led by Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1799-1849), was a model system of its time. During the Maharaja's reign, people experienced relative security, stability and development. The rise and relentless campaigns of the Sikh movement (spanning more than 300 years) contributed to ending both Mughal rule in India and a wave of invasions from the west which had continued to disrupt and destruct the lives and progress of India for centuries. Beyond Punjab, the potential for further development and expansion of self-rule in India was curtailed due to its annexation by the East India Company in 1849, which made it part of the British Empire in 1858.

During the period of British rule many Sikhs and Punjabis generally joined the British-Indian army, security agencies, agricultural and infrastructure development projects within and outside India. The independence of India ended the British rule but brought the arbitrary and tragic partition of historic Punjab to form Pakistan in 1947; the subsequent refugee crisis, socio-economic and political conditions caused continuing emigration from Punjab.

**Contents and Sample Pages**