“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…..we need to examine how co-operation between Governments and community organizations can best assist in preserving and holding in trust these priceless objects for the worldwide Sikh community.” (House of Commons 16 July 2001 - John Mc Donnell MP speaking during the adjournment debate on the Punjabi community in Britain.)

Two Indian journalists spoke to me in early 2006 about various issues of concern to the Panjabis living in the UK. They also raised the question of returning Sikh historical artifacts to Panjab which had come up when Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker visited Panjab. I had also written about this in The Sikh Times (23 February 2006) in my article “Sat Sri Akal Mr Deputy Speaker”, which included the above statement in the House of Commons by John McDonnell MP.

The Indian journalists were surprised to know that as far back as 2001, the issue had been discussed amongst UK Sikhs and their reservations about returning Sikh historical items to Panjab raised in the House of Commons.on 16 July, 2001. One of the two journalists, Amrita Chaudhury, took up this story in The Indian Express of 18 April, 2006 with the heading (which quoted me as saying), “Sikh heritage items better preserved in UK.”

I recall attending a high profile seminar in 2001 organized by the Sikh Heritage and Maharaja Duleep Singh Centenary Trust (MDSCT) at the Victoria & Albert Museum on preserving the Sikh relics. This was attended by many leading Sikh personalities; most were shocked by the careless neglect or even destruction of priceless Sikh historical buildings, scriptures, works of art, and numerous other items. At a pre-election (2001) meeting with John McDonnell MP  at the residence of  elderly journalist, S. Kesar Singh Mand (who passed away on 24 June, 2009),  I was tasked to raise a number of issues which concerned the Sikhs under headings such as Sikh education, monitoring as a distinct community for equal opportunities, and Sikh religious rights. With the V & A seminar fresh in their minds, many prominent Sikhs who were present, expressed concern about returning Sikh heritage items to India. Having convinced himself through own research, John then took up this matter in the House of Commons as mentioned above.      
 
The issue has also been raised on Sikh cyber forums. The views expressed so eloquently by Dr I J Singh and Laurie Bolger (“A Thief’s Honour”  GLZ about 22 April 2006) are fairly typical. In view of the renewed requests from the Indian and Sikh side for the return of the priceless Sikh heritage items in UK to a doubtful future and uncertainty about expert  preservation in India, British Sikhs should make their views known through their representatives. The most sensible course suggested is identification of the items, preparation of catalogues, and preserving and holding these items in trust for the world Sikh community. British Sikhs concerned with Sikh heritage should be very much involved in any Government level discussions.
 
To quote from Dr I J Singh and Laurie Bolger, “To date, there is little tangible evidence that the value of manuscript and artifact conservation has been recognized in the Indian cultural milieu.” 

I would suggest a possible ideological reason for this. It needs to be remembered, that unlike the Semitic tradition of keeping diaries (tarikhs), there is no Indian tradition of historiography nor of preserving historical relics. In fact, myth and history is almost inseparable in the Indian tradition so that it is not unusual for history to be re-written to suit the religio-political climate! This has happened with Sikh history in Indian text books. Maybe, at least partly, this has to do with the preoccupation of Indian ideologies with the hereafter, rather than the here and now.
 
Quite uniquely amongst the eastern ideologies, Sikhism is very much concerned with this life and this world. Important Sikh martyrdoms and sacrifices for humanity are remembered in the daily Sikh supplication, the Ardaas.  However, sadly, the Sikhs too have failed to keep a proper record of their short but most eventful history. Neglect and destruction of Sikh heritage must be stopped to ensure accurate preservation of historical evidence for inspiring future generations.

Western museums, in collaboration with Sikh scholars and relevant Sikh heritage organizations like Maharaja Dalip Singh Centenary  Trust (MDSCT), are best equipped to preserve and to display these priceless Sikh relics at exhibitions which move around the world on educational tours for the benefits and Sikhs and non-Sikhs. This would be the ideal way forward to promote better understanding of Sikh history and religio-cultural identity worldwide.

Gurmukh Singh
Ret’d Principal (policy), UK Civil Service,