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A 'Sikh' (English: or ; , '', IPA: ) is an adherent to Sikhism. The term has its origin in the Sanskrit "shishya", which means disciple or learner.
Many male Sikhs can easily be recognized by their turbans, beards, or steel bracelets on their right wrists.
Most Sikhs come from the Punjab region of India, although significant communities exist around the world.

Contents

Sikh Philosophy

The Sikh Gurus

Five Ks

Distribution

Representation

Highly Distinguished Sikhs (modern era)

References

External links

Sikh Philosophy

Main articles: Sikhism

Guru Nanak, the founder of the faith, summed up the basis of Sikh lifestyle in three requirements: Naam Japo, Kirat Karni and Wand kay Shako, which means meditate on the holy name, Waheguru, work diligently and honestly and share one's fruits.
Sikh religion has some salient features which make it distinct from the other major world religions. The Guru Granth Sahib is revered as the living Guru, not just as a holy book. The Sikh follows the Guru Granth Sahib strictly as his prime guide. It was compiled by the Sikh Gurus, and is maintained in its original form. In addition to their own works the gurus also included the revelations of many saints of that period. Their followers, with their turban and uncut hair, are proud and definitely distinct; yet show respect to the followers of other religions. Non-Sikhs can partake fully in Sikh prayer meetings and social functions. Their daily prayers include the well being of whole mankind.
The concept of saint-soldier is another unique feature which sometimes confuses observers. Every Sikh is required to aspire to sainthood by his devotion to God and service to mankind, but also, according to the situation, to adopt the role of the soldier.
Sikhs are not required to renounce the world, and aspire to be the best but not be obsessed by the act, wanting the best but not craving to accumulate. Seva (service) is an integral part of Sikh worship. This is very easily observed in the Gurdwara (temple). Visitors of any religious or socio-economic background are welcomed. Langar (free food for all) is always served.

The Sikh Gurus

#Guru Nanak Dev
#Guru Angad Dev
#Guru Amar Das
#Guru Ram Das (Completed the construction of Golden Temple)
#Guru Arjun Dev (Writer of Adi Granth)
#Guru Har Gobind (Carrier of Miri and Piri)
#Guru Har Rai
#Guru Har Krishan
#Guru Teg Bahadur
#Guru Gobind Singh
#Guru Granth Sahib
Saints and other people revered by Sikhs:

★ Bhagat Kabir

★ Bhagat Farid

★ Bhagat Namdev

★ Baba Budda (Held the position of high priest in sikh religion)

★ Baba Banda Singh Bahadur (Fought Muslims and established Sikh force in Punjab)

★ Baba Deep Singh (Defended Golden Temple with his head in his hand)
Sikh Scholars:

★ Bhai Vir Singh

★ Bhai Kaan Singh Nabha

Five Ks

Main articles: 5 Ks

The Five Ks, or ''panj kakaar/kakke'', are five items of faith that all Sikhs are required to wear at all times at the command of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh who so ordered at the Baisakhi Amrit Sanskar in 1699. They are:-

★ Kesh (uncut hair)

★ Kanga (wooden comb)

★ Kaccha (specially-designed underwear)

★ Kara (Iron bracelet)

★ Kirpan (strapped sword).
They are for identification and representation of the ideals of Sikhism, such as honesty, equality, fidelity, meditating on God, and never bowing to tyranny.

Distribution

Numbering approximately 23 million worldwide, Sikhs make up 0.39%^[3] of the world population of which approximately 85% live in India. Of the Indian Sikh community 14.6 million, i.e. 76% of all Indian Sikhs, live in the northern Indian State of Punjab (India), where they form a majority 59.9% of the population. Substantial communities of Sikhs, i.e. greater than 200,000, live in the Indian States/Union territories of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttaranchal and Jammu and Kashmir^[4].
Sikh migration from the then British India began in earnest from the 2nd half of the 19th century when the British had completed their annexation of the Punjab. The British Raj preferentially recruited Sikhs in the Indian Civil Service and, in particular, the British Indian Army, which led to migration of Sikhs to different parts of British India and the British Empire^[5]. Subsequently the main 'push' factor for Sikh migration has been economic with significant Sikh communities now being found in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Malaysia, East Africa, Australasia and Thailand.

Representation

Sikhs are well represented in Indian politics, with the current Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Deputy Chairman of the Indian Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia and a former Indian President, Giani Zail Singh, all hailing from the community.
Prominent politicians of the Sikh Diaspora include the first Asian American to be elected as a full voting Member of Congress and the first Indian American to be elected to United States Congress Dalip Singh Saund^[6], the former mayoress of Dunedin Sukhi Turner, the current UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Parmjit Dhanda MP department for Communities and Local Government^[7] and Shadow Social Development Minister Ruby Dhalla MP.
Sikhs form a disproportionate percentage of India's military services Officer corp. including many Generals, the current highest ranking General of the Indian Army is a Sikh General Joginder Jaswant Singh and highest-ranking General in the history of the Indian Air force is a Sikh Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh. Advanced plans by the MOD to raise an Infantry UK Sikh Regiment were scrapped in June 2007 to the disappointment of the UK Sikh community^[8].
Sikhs feature in varied professions such as scientists, engineers and doctors; prominent members of these vocations include Professor Piara Singh Gill famous Nuclear scientist who worked on the American Manhattan project; Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany famous scientist and considered the Father of fiber optics; physicist and science writer/broadcaster Simon Singh and Professor Baldev Singh Dhillon a famous Agricultural scientist.
The entrepreneurial spirit is evident by Sikhs, with clothing retailers/brands such as UK based New Look and Thai based JASPAL^[9] being started by Sikhs. India's largest pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy Laboratories is headed by Sikhs^[10]. UK Sikhs have the highest percentage of home ownership, at 82%, out of all UK religious/ethnic communities^[11].
Prominent Sikh intellectuals, sportsmen and artists include Khushwant Singh, writer, Daler Mehndi, singer, Monty Panesar, England cricketer, Jaspal Bhatti, Milkha Singh, former world record holder (400m Olympic Games 1960), Bishen Singh Bedi (cricketer), and Parminder Nagra (English actress, currently in the American TV series ''ER'').
They have amicable relations with all communities. However during the Islamic invasion of India, prominent Sikh Gurus were martyred by the ruling Muslims for religious freedom of other religions. Sikhs have also been opposed by some Hindu organisations due to their opposition to caste system and belief in only one God.In the 1980s, there were political and religious conflicts in India with the ruling Congress party, which instigated ethnic struggles between Sikhs, Hindus and various Sikh sects for political gains.This led to Operation Bluestar and the Khalistan movement when thousands of Sikhs were killed. Many Sikhs hold the Congress accountable for the 1984 killings of Sikhs in Delhi known as the anti Sikh Riots after the assassination of Indira Gandhi by two Sikhs.
The Sikh community of the Sub-Continent comprises many diverse sets of peoples. These include different ethnic peoples, tribal and socio-economic groups. Main groupings (i.e. over 1000 members) include: Arain, Arora, Bairagi, Bania, Basith, Bawaria, Bazigar, Bhabra, Brahman, Charmar, Chhimpa, Darzi, Dhobi, Gujar, Jatt, Jhinwar, Kahar, Kamboj, Khatri, Kumhar, Labana, Lohar, Mahtam, Mazhabi, Megh, Mirasi, Mochi, Nai, Rajput, Ramgharia, Saini, Sansi, Sarera, Sikligar, Sonar, Sudh, Tarkhan and Zargar^[12]. In India, the Jat grouping is by far the largest at a population of 11,855,000 followed by the Mazhabi at 2,701,000 with the Tarkhans totaling 1,091,000.
There has also emerged a specialized group of Sikhs calling themselves Akalis, which have existed since Maharaja Ranjit Singh's time. Under their leader General Akali Phula Singh, in the early 1800s, they won many battles for the Sikh Empire. The Akali and Prasadis, have recently become more vocal.
== Sikhism in the Western World ==
Due to the turbans Sikhs wear, people in Western countries have sometimes confused Sikhs with Middle Eastern men or Muslims. This has affected Sikhs in times of conflict with elements of the Middle East.
For example, during the Iranian hostage crisis when the government of Iran held Americans hostages in its own country, some people in Western countries misunderstood the Sikh turban as a turban worn by some Middle Eastern men, they did not understand it is also worn in India. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, some people associated Sikhs with terrorists or members of the Taliban. A few days after the attack, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh man, was gunned down by a person who thought that the victim had ties to Al-Qaeda. CNN suggests that there has been an increase in hate-crimes against Sikh men in the United States and the UK.^[13][14]

Highly Distinguished Sikhs (modern era)

Sikhs in the modern era which have made contribution at the international or world class level include:

★ Dr. Manmohan Singh- Prime Minister of India, distinguished economist

★ Master Tara Singh - celebrated Sikh hero leader and famous Sikh Indian independence movement leader

★ Baldev Singh - Indian independence movement leader

★ Sardul Singh Caveeshar - Indian independence movement leader

★ Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sandhu- celebrated Indian independence movement leader, martyr and Indian national hero.

★ Shaheed Udham Singh- celebrated Indian independence movement leader, martyr and Indian national hero.

★ Pratap Singh Kairon - celebrated Sikh political leader, Indian independence movement leader

★ Professor Piara Singh Gill - Internationally famous Nuclear scientist and worked on the American Nuclear Manhattan project.

★ Arjan Singh- Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Former Chief of the Air Force Staff, first and only five star rank officer of the Indian Air Force ''(the highest rank ever given in the history of the Indian Air force)''.

★ General Joginder Jaswant Singh - the Chief of Army Staff of the Indian army.

★ Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany - Internationally famous scientist and considered the Father of fiber optics.^[15]

★ Harbhajan Singh - Internationally famous Indian cricketer who was nicknamed "The turbanator" by the Australian team after his killing bowling spell against the Aussie

★ Milkha Singh (''the flying Sikh'') - Winner of Padma Shri, 1960 Olympic Games 400m record holder at Rome Olympics - ''(Olympic record)''. Gold medal Champion 1958 Commonwealth Games, Gold medal Asian Games 1958 (200 & 400 meters) and Gold medal Asian Games 1962 (200 meters)

★ Shaheed Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale- Great Sikh Martyr of 20th Century and National Sikh Hero

★ Shaheed General Shabeg Singh- Great Sikh Martyr of 20th Century
==Sikhs in World War I & II and other Wars==
By the advent of World War I, Sikhs in the British Indian Army totaled over 100,000; i.e. 20% of the British Indian Army. In the 100 years to 1945, 14 Victoria Crosses were awarded to the Sikhs, a per capita record given the size of the Sikh Regiments^[16]. In the last two World Wars 83,000 Sikh soldiers were killed and 100,000 wounded. Across the world Sikhs are commemorated in Commonwealth cemeteries.^[16]
In 2002, the names of all Sikh VC and George Cross winners were commemorated by being inscribed on the pavilion monument of the Memorial Gates^[18] on Constitution Hill next to Buckingham palace, London.^[19]

.

★ Captain Ishar Singh - The first Sikh to receive the Victoria Cross.

★ Lance Karam Singh - awarded the Military Medal in World War II and awarded Param Vir Chakra (the second person to receive Param Vir Chakra).

★ Joginder Singh (Subedar) - awarded Param Vir Chakra.

★ Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria - awarded Param Vir Chakra.

★ Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon - awarded Param Vir Chakra (the only officer of the Indian Air Force to be awarded Param Vir Chakra).

★ Nand Singh - awarded the Victoria Cross.

★ Gian Singh - awarded the Victoria Cross.

★ Lieutenant Karamjit Singh Judge - awarded the Victoria Cross.

★ Major Havildar Parkash Singh - awarded the Victoria Cross.

★ Bana Singh - awarded the Param Vir Chakra.

★ Lt. General Jagjit Singh Aurora - Lt. General Jagjit Singh Aurora supervised the surrender of more than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
===Battle of Saragarhi===
The Battle of Saragarhi, and the Sikh officers and soldiers (British Empire Army) who fought in it, is considered one of the greatest stories of collective bravery in human history. UNESCO has described the Battle of Saragarhi as one of eight stories of collective bravery^{[20][21][22]
[23]}. The contingent of the twenty-one Sikhs was led by Havildar Ishar Singh, and all chose to fight to the death instead of surrendering. In recognition of their supreme sacrifice, the British Parliament rose to pay them respect, and each one of them was awarded the Indian Order of Merit. In the West, it has been compared to the Battle of Thermopylae. Sikh military personnel and Sikh non-military people commemorate the battle around the World every year on September 12th, it is referred to as ''"Saragarhi Day"''.
===Sikh Victoria Cross winners===


★ Captain Ishar Singh.

★ Lieutenant Karamjit Singh Judge.

★ Nand Singh.

★ Major Havildar Parkash Singh.

★ Gian Singh.

References

1. Quantifying alternate futures of religion and religions by Todd M. Johnson and David B. Barrett (2004). Refer to Table 1. Global adherents of the world’s 18 major distinct religions, AD 1900–2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd, Available online 15 July 2004 http://www.sciencedirect.com.
2. http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Summary%20Sikhs.pdf
3. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html
4. Break down of Indian Sikh population by Indian States/Union territories http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/Summary%20Sikhs.pdf
5. Diffusion of Sikhism and recent migration patterns of Sikhs in India by A. K. Dutt1 and S. Devgun. Pub. GeoJournal Volume 1, Number 5 / September,1977.Pp 81-89. Available online http://www.springerlink.com/content/p726g4t656018333/
6. http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=f3099a521bcb2c77da1513af0cce60e1
7. http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/page2988.asp
8. Telegraph report of the decision to scrap plans for a Sikh regiment "Sikh regiment dumped over 'racism' fears"http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/24/nsikh124.xml
9. Official Website of Jaspal.com
10. http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/77/biz_06india_Malvinder-Shivinder-Singh_DN7N.html
11. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=962&Pos=2&ColRank=2&Rank=800
12. Division of the Sikhs by tribal groupings http://www.joshuaproject.net/religions.php
13. CNN, America, "Hate crime reports up in wake of terrorist attacks" 17 September 2001
14. Sikhs urging action on faith hate BBC News Online, 5 November 2006.
15. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040119/biz.htm#1
16. http://www.hcilondon.net/Issues-in-focus/Sikhs-pioneered-Britain's-multi-cultural-society.html
17. http://www.hcilondon.net/Issues-in-focus/Sikhs-pioneered-Britain's-multi-cultural-society.html
18. http://www.mgtrust.org/links.htm
19. http://www.millennium.gov.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=1220&d=11&h=24&f=46&dateformat=%25o-%25B-%25Y
20. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1765/Saragarhi.html
21. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040911/edit.htm#6
22. http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990525/ige25006.html
23. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070415/spectrum/book2.htm

External links

★ Sikh Spectrum Quarterly

★ Sikhism Guide - Guide to Sikhism

★ Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle - A Socio-Religious Non-Profit Sikh Organization (ISO 9001:2000 Certified)

★ information regarding Sikhism - Contains rare photos of Sikhism

★ The Sikhism Home Page - General resource site introducing the main concepts of Sikhism.

★ The Sikh Missionary Society (UK) - Non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Sikh religion, culture and history.

★ Sikh Videos Gurbani Kirtan - Exclusive Videos site on Sikh Religion.

★ All''' About Sikhs - Sikhism''' resource site.

★ Sri Granth - Guru Granth Sahib search engine with additional scriptural resources.

★ Sikh History Portal - Definitive Sikh History Site.

★ SikhNet - Popular Sikh community website.

★ Sikhs Vote Support for Gandhi - Movie clip shot at Lahore

★ First Sikh of Pakistan Army

★ Sikhs: Smithsonian Exhibit - A video of the beautiful exhibition on Sikhs in the Smithsonian Washington DC.

★ Sikh Gurudwaras Around the World - A Global database of Sikh Gurudwaras around the world.