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Central
Gurdwara, London marks 100 years, proudly
WSN Network
In a proud
moment for the Sikh community, the oldest gurdwara in Europe, the
Central Gurdwara,London,
has celebrated its 100th year, dedicating it to Sikh
students who made efforts to earn concession to wear turban at the
Cambridge
University
during the beginning of the century. Ironically, the celebrations
come at a time when the Sikh community is taking its fight against
the ban on turban in Grench public schools to European courts and UN
bodies.
The celebrations
are a tribute to the resilience and spirit of the early pioneering
immigrants to
England
who not just settled there but also created a niche for the
community. Their efforts to keep in touch with their roots, their
struggle to preserve their own identity and their commitment to the
faith and its value system is all the more evident from the special
book brought out by the Central Gurdwara — Khalsa Jatha British
Isles (1908-2008) — which not only throws light on the history of
the Jatha and gurdwara but also the journey of the community.
A group of
five students, led by Teja Singh, were sent by Sant Attar Singh
Mastuana to England for higher education and to spread the message
of the Gurus in 1906. Teja Singh, a baptized Sikh, had joined
University College, London, to study science but Cambridge
University refused to allow a Sikh student to attend classes wearing
turban, which provoked him to seek admission at Downing College,
Cambridge, after he succeeded in convincing the university
authorities of the significance of the turban and other symbols for
the Sikhs. The gurdwara was also a safe house for Shaheed Udham
Singh. hen he was arrested, the shrine raised money for his case. In
addition, many of India’s Ghadar Party members stayed here while
traveling to and from USA and Canada, including Shaheed Bhagat
Singh’s uncle Ajit Singh.
24
December
2008
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