2018

UKPHA's Chair and co-founder, Amandeep Madra awarded an OBE in the June 2018 Queens Birthday Honours List. Amandeep's award is for services to Punjabi and Sikh heritage and culture.

2018

One hundred years ago Kiplings final work relating to the subcontinent was published. A century on the Indian soldiers of World War One are remembered as The Eyes of Asia is reissued with an extensive Introduction by Charles Allen. Partners: National Army Museum · Kashi House

2018

UKPHA Chair, Amandeep Madra joins journalist and author Sathnam Sanghera as he returns to his hometown of Wolverhampton where a battle raged over the right to wear the turban on the buses in Enoch Powell's constituency at the time he made his Rivers of Blood speech. Partners: BBC Radio 4

2017

"UKPHA worked with the production team to gather stories and experiences from the 1947 Partition of Punjab during the research phase of the documentary series. People shared frank, heartbreaking and horrific stories from the trauma caused by the partitioning of Punjab in the last days of British Raj. We hope that the 2017 documentary goes some way to educating a new generation on Britons on their collective past." Partners: BBC, Wall to Wall Media &middo Sri Gur Singh Sabha (Alice Way)

2017

Worked with the production company to look for compelling stories from the Sikh and Punjabi community to be included in this documentary Partners: BBC · Wall to Wall Media · Sri Gur Singh Sabha (Alice Way)

2017

Contributed to video installations and worked in partnership between the NAM and UKPHA in running workshops with the Sikh community to re-tie and interpret the dastar bunga and prepare it for display. Partners: National Army Museum

2017

"The V&A's Lockwood Kipling exhibition on the arts and crafts of Punjab heavily features the work of famed architect Bhai Ram Singh. On the opening day we had the pleasure of organising a private tour for his family including his grandson Sant Singh Sohal. Our expert guide was Dr Sandra Kemp, lead researcher for this magnificent exhibition who kindly took time out on her day off to show us round and also present Sant Singh with a copy of the wonderful exhibition book." Partners: Victoria & Albert Museum

2017

UKPHA sponsor the publication of the Tartan Turban by the veteran historian John Keay. Charting the remarkable biography of Alexander Gardner in his life as a central Asian traveller and later a central figure in Ranjit Singh's court of Lahore. The book was launched in front of a packed crowd at Ernst & Young's London offices. Partners: Ernst & Young Sikh Association

2017

A Great day of outreach on Sunday with our superb volunteers and partners from the National Army Museum at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Hounslow drumming up interest in Remembrance Day & the Indian & Sikh WW1 contribution Partners: National Army Museum · Sri Guru Singh Sabha Hounslow

2017

An annual ceremony at the Memorial Gates on Constitution Hill in London marks the Commonwealth contribution to the World Wars. The gates commemorate the armed forces of the British Empire from Africa, the Caribbean and the five regions of the Indian subcontinent who served in the First and Second World Wars. We were delighted to have the talented spoken word artist and educator Jaspreet Kaur Sangha, represent us at this ceremony. Partners: Memorial Gates Foundation, Behind the Netra

2016

UKPHA's Empire, Faith & War exhibition was the inspiration for The exhibition "The Sikh: History, Fatih and Valour During The Great War" which took place last november in Rome was being repeated in the heart of Italy's Sikh community in the northern town of Cremona. Partners:

2016

Thanks to Khalsa Primary School, the Dharmic Mela organisers, the good folk of Slough and our amazing volunteers had a great day! As well as finding out about our project the public were able to tell us their stories and sign-up as Citizen Historians so that we can help them find out more about their WW1 ancestors. Partners: Khalsa Primary School

2016

Our co-founders Amandeep Singh Madra and Parmjit Singh have been recognised by the UK Prime Minister for their work championing Sikh and Punjabi culture. The pair have been recognised for their voluntary effort as the latest recipients of the PM's Point of Light award whilst attending the Vaisakhi Reception at No.10 Downing St this lunchtime. Congratulations to them and to all our team of volunteers who have helped bring this rich history to the world over the past two decades via our books, exhibitions and other work including the Sikhs and WW1 project! Partners:

2015

Our Citizen Historians and team members undertook an eye-opening and comprehensive day looking at sites of interest relating to the Indian Army on the Western Front. These included two Indian Army grave sites, the moving memorial at Neuve Chappelle, the Menin Gate, which includes thousands of Indian names, and the site of the remarkable action of Jackie Smyth of the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, where he gained his VC and almost all his ten Sikh supermen lost their lives. Partners: British Army

2015

In conjunction with our partner the National Army Museum, a workshop was held with World War Two veterans to capture their memories and images with a stunning photographic album by our volunteer photographer Raj Gedhu. Partners: National Army, Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Alice Way)

2015

Exactly one hundred years former Dragon School pupil Jackie Smyth won his VC with his ten Sikh supermen. To mark this event, we brought a speaker from the National Army Museum and a member of their WW1 Sikh Regiment re-enactment group to attend the school to recount his story (Smyth himself went back to school in June 1915 to tell his story). Partners: Dragon School, National Army Museum

2015

Our outreach went to the heart of the Sikh WW1 story with a visit to the Brighton Pavilion which housed recuperating Indian Army soldiers one hundred years ago. One of our Brighton Marathon runners, Satnam Singh, was on parade dressed as a WW1 Sikh soldier. His dashing appearance attracted the crowds as did our original artefacts and volunteers. Partners: Brighton Museum and Art Gallery

2015

A rare chance to get hands-on with objects from the Sikh experience of WW1. This free community event was held by a team from the National Army Museum's 'War and Sikhs' project in conjunction with UKPHA. A free workshop was held in Hounslow, West London. The drop-in session allowed Gurdwara visitors a chance to try on uniforms and equipment, get close up to original photos and archives, and explore your their connection to the Great War. Partners: National Army, Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Alice Way)

2015

UKPHA volunteers Angad Singh and Satnam Singh ran the Brighton Marathon in full WW1 Sikh soldier's uniform to pay their respects for those who fought and died one hundred years ago. The location was ideal as many wounded soldiers were treated at Brighton hospitals. A further team of UKPHA volunteers, including the founder of ParkRun Paul Sinton-Hewitt, took on the 10K run adding to the festival atmosphere and raising funds for the EFW project. Partners: Brighton Museum and Art Gallery

2015

This national event was aimed at putting the Indian Army's role firmly on the map. It was attended by UKPHA volunteers and staff who were able to reconnect with the Culture Secretary and various stakeholders and enjoy classical Indian dance performances, poetry readings and the thoughts of schoolchildren on the important role played by the Indian Corps. UKPHA were especially involved in choosing the vintage images which were projected giant-size around the walls of the museum. Partners: Department of Culture Media and Sport, Foreign & Commonwealth Office

2015

The EFW Roadshow travelled to London's financial centre with a visit to Ernst & Young where we were hosted by their Sikh Group. As well as the EFW Touring Exhibition and original WW1 artefacts, our volunteers engaged an enthusiastic crowd. Our speakers, Hardeep Bath and Navinder Grover, regaled the audience with selected highlights from the exhibition, shedding light on the untold stories and experiences of Sikh soldiers in the run up to, during and as a consequence of WW1. Partners: Ernst & Young Sikh Association, Kashi House

2015

The EFW roadshow met its most enthusiastic audience yet when it travelled to the heart of the community at Slough's Khalsa Primary School. The evening allowed us to engage adults and kids alike with the story of their ancestors which they only knew in passing, if at all. Partners: Khalsa Primary School Slough

2015

The EFW roadshow visited Crawley to engage with a local community keen to learn more about its heritage. The combination of Touring Exhibition, outreach materials and willing volunteers allowed them to become more aware of their role in the war and how they can become Citizen Historians. Also included was a kids' 'Trench Zone' and commemorative 'Wall of Remembrance' for the public to post their thoughts. One of the most popular exhibitions ever at the Brunei Gallery which gained international media coverage. Partners: Sri Guru Singh Sabha Crawley

2015

The National Army Museum invited our volunteers to join their 'Sikhs and War' workshop and help interpret and understand objects from their archives relating to the Sikhs. This was the first in a series of such partnership workshops with NAM where Citizen Historians were able to get up close and personal to original artefacts relating to Sikh military history. This were their chance to help identify, handle and interpret items of historical significance and help bring these objects into the light with new perspectives from within the Sikh community. Partners: National Army Museum

2014

The loan of the Touring Exhibition was launched with a talk by the Project Historian on the story of the Sikhs and World War One. Partners: Greenwich Heritage Centre

2014

We brought the story of the Sikhs and WW1 to the heart of the Empire with a unique event in the Churchill Room, Parliament. Attended by MPs, Lords, military personnel and civil servants, the keynote speaker was the Culture Secretary Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP and a special guard of honour was supplied by the National Army Museum's 'Road to the Trenches' Sikh reenactment troop. Partners:National Army Museum

2014

As part of our Parliamentary Reception we again invited our performers Jasdeep Singh Rahal and Company to perform their moving interpretation of a wartime Punjabi folk song. Their rendition of 'Take the Bachelors to War' was a showstopper highlighting again the role of women on the home front and the sense of separation from men thousands of miles away. Partners:National Army Museum

2014

UKPHA Chair Amandeep Madra, Vice Chair Harbakhsh Grewal and Trustee Kanwal Madra were amongst the 2,000 guests for a special gala event commemorating the role of India during the war. It was attended by British and Indian ministers, military personnel, diplomats and veterans - some of whom the team were able to follow up with and capture their ancestor's WW1 stories. Partners: Foreign & Commonwealth Office, British High Commission (India)

2014

EFW volunteers joined the BBC World War One at Home roadshow at the Great Get Together Festival and Armed Forces Day for two hectic days of awareness raising with the public and schools trips. The team showed off our original handling objects, such as a Sikh soldier's WW1 medals and our interactive game for kids using a replica Sikh soldier's kitbag, and had a huge positive response. Partners:BBC

2014

A special Remembrance Sunday reception was held in 'London's Living Room', City Hall's top floor reception space with stunning panoramic views. Sponsored by Assembly Member for Ealing & Hillingdon Dr Onkar Sahota AM. The other two speakers were Shri. Sukhdev Singh Sidhu, Minister for Coordination from the Indian High Commission and UKPHA Chair Amandeep Madra. Partners: Onkar Sahota

2014

As part of the London City Hall Reception we again invited our performers Jasdeep Singh Rahal and Company to perform their moving interpretation of a wartime Punjabi folk song. As part of the London City Hall Reception we again invited our performers Jasdeep Singh Rahal and Company to perform their moving interpretation of a wartime Punjabi folk song. Partners: Onkar Sahota

2014

The first ever exhibition on the Sikhs and WW1 was officially opened by the Culture Secretary Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP in front of assembled guests from the worlds of heritage, academia, the Sikh community, students and people from all backgrounds. Topping it off were our young volunteers, dressed in authentic WW1 uniforms, performing an 'armed' guard' for the guests. Partners:Brunei Gallery, SOAS, Kashi House, Heritage Lottery Fund

2014

The first ever major exhibition on the Sikhs and WW1. A major exhibition over two floors of a central London gallery showcased stunning original artworks, paintings, photographs, arms and armour as well as original sound recordings and short films to tell the story of the Sikhs from the time of Sikh Empire to their disproportionately large role in WW1. Also included was a kids' 'Trench Zone' and commemorative 'Wall of Remembrance' for the public to post their thoughts. One of the most popular exhibitions ever at the Brunei Gallery which gained international media coverage. Partners: Brunei Gallery, SOAS, Kashi House, Heritage Lottery Fund

2014

UKPHA member Harbakhsh Grewal attended a special reception in the garden of No.10 Downing Street to commemorate the Great War. The Prime Minister spoke and a special performance by some of the cast from the stage play War Horse capped off a memorable event. Partners: Brunei Gallery, SOAS, Kashi House, Heritage Lottery Fund

2014

The final 'Access Archive' workshop included talks about how to do research at Kew as well as at other relevant archives. Citizen Historians had the chance to undertake hands-on research in the reading room as well as to look at original photos and documents about Sikhs in WW1. Partners: The National Archive