Sikh Historical Artefacts in the UK and Diaspora Countries Should be Catalogued and Preserved for Global Sikh Qaum
Once again, the Sikh Manifesto (2024 to 2029) has raised the issue of Sikh historical artefacts in the UK in the context of Anglo-Sikh relations. Should this Sikh virsa (heritage), including the Koh-i-Noor brought to UK following the annexation of Sikh Raj in 1849, be returned to India and Pakistan created as states in 1947, or a much truncated Indian Panjab or, should these items be catalogued and preserved in the UK for the benefit of the world Sikh community?
The sovereignty of Khalsa Raj which had treaties with the British is undeniable and even the Panjab of the days of Jang Hind-Panjab is no more.
In 2001, following discussion with some leading Sikhs, I briefed John McDonnell MP for Hayes and Harlington about these issues. His speech during the Adjournment Debate, about the Punjabi Community covered the points we had discussed. On 18 July, 2001, John sent me a copy of the Hansard (official Parliamentary report) with a covering note saying: You will note that I raised the issue of Sikh artifacts as you suggested. The relevant part of his speech is as follows:- This year []]2001] we will witness the celebration of the bicentenary of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, and this month the V & A []]Victoria and Albert Museum] has organised a seminar on Preserving the Sikh Heritage. The Sikh material heritage ranges from simple pieces produced in homage to Sikh gurus to precious art works and gems in museums and royal collections. The Koh-i-noor diamond, which is part of the Crown jewels, is a Sikh artifact given to Queen Victoria - some say under duress - by the last Maharajah Duleep Singh - we need to examine how co-operation between Governments and []]the Sikh] community organisations can best assist in preserving and holding in trust these priceless objects for the worldwide Sikh community. []]Hansard, Monday 16 July 2001[]] Vol 372 No.21 pp 130 & 131].
Many in the UK and from India continue to argue that Sikh artefacts should be returned to India. For example, to quote Keith Vaz: There is no excuse for not returning precious items such as the Koh-i-Noor diamond, a campaign I have backed for many years. (The Economic Times 28 July 2015, Return Koh-i-Noor diamond to India, says UK MP Keith Vaz ) Keith Vaz was responding to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor speaking at the Oxford Union. He had called for Britain to pay reparations to India for 200 years of its brutal colonial rule. As I have written elsewhere, such talk is not very amusing for the global Sikh community, who have always associated the diamond with Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and, especially the last Sikh Maharjah Duleep Singh, who was duped into handing it over to Queen Victoria when he was brought to the UK in 1854. Also, it is interesting that these people do not mention the Sikhs or Maharajah Duleep Singh at all!
There have been other requests from leading Indians. Some of these periodical demands to do with compensation for colonial pillaging are understandable. However, such reparations, if at all, would be limited to return of artifacts of special religious or cultural significance to certain communities like the Sikhs.
The issue also touches on other 1984 related Sikh concerns about destruction of irreplaceable Sikh heritage including the Reference Library at Darbar Sahib.
Gurmukh Singh OBE
Principal Civil Servant retd (UK)