Sikhs in Singapore - A Story Untold

Sat Sri Akal! Co-created by members of Singapore’s Sikh community and the Indian Heritage Centre, Sikhs in Singapore – A Story Untold is presented in 3 parts – Roots, which tells the story of the origins of Singapore’s Sikh community; Settlement, which brings together some exemplary narratives of Sikh migrants to Singapore; and Contemporary Perspectives which offers glimpses into the experiences of some contemporary Sikhs.

Sikhs are followers of Sikhism, a religion that originated in the Punjab region around the late 15th century. Located at the crossroads of east, west and South Asia, the Punjab has historically been home to diverse faiths and cultural traditions. Consequently, the Sikh identity is a distinct combination of faith and ethno-linguistic roots.

Today, there are over 25 million Sikhs around the world, of whom 3 million belong to the international Sikh diaspora. The British annexation of the Punjab in the mid-19th century gave birth to a global dispersion of the Sikhs. With the formation of the Sikh Police Contingent in 1881, many Sikhs arrived in Singapore to seek employment as policemen, and then onwards the Sikh community gradually grew in numbers. Over the last 120 years the profile of the community has evolved, and this exhibition chronicles some stories of Sikhs, young and old, from diverse walks of life.