With India still alive in them, they have been Malaysians for over a century

Members of Management Committee of Gurdwara Pataling Jaya with the visiting Kenyan delegation / Images - Prabhjot Singh

Sikhs, like Sindhis and Gujjus, are universal communities, as they, like potatoes, are found everywhere in the world. Known to be one of the most adjustable and hospitable communities Sikhs and their Gurdwaras worldwide have not only been serving as spiritual centers for the community but also provide free board and lodging facilities to visitors and strangers alike.

When a galaxy of hockey stars of Kenya and Malaysia met at a brief, solemn and rarest of rare reunion ceremonies in Kuala Lumpur in mid-December, the venue was the sacred premises of one of the oldest Sikh gurdwaras of Kuala Lumpur, Gurdwara Petaling Jaya.

The management of the Gurdwara organised a felicitation ceremony for six-time Olympian Avtar Singh Sohal, besides his one-time colleague, Harvinder Singh Sibia, and other members of the visiting Sikh Union Hockey Club.

The felicitation ceremony was organised at the instance of former Malaysian skipper Sarjit Singh. Aftar Singh, president of the Gurdwara Management Committee, and other office-bearers, presented “siropas” to Olympian Avtar Singh, Harvinder Singh Sibia, Del Mudher, Narinder Singh Nindi, Manjit Singh Jhite, and Daljit Singh.

The visitors also made some donations for the recently renovated kitchen of the temple. The felicitation ceremony was preceded by recitation of some slokas followed by the Ardas.

Almost all members of the visiting Sikh Union Club were turban wearing boys with 12-year-old Harwinder Singh as the youngest while two members of the Kenyan team that played in the Junior World Cup qualifier are also accompanying the delegation.

Aftar Singh is a Sikh journalist. Born and brought up in Seramban, a small town In Negri Sembilan, he prides himself to be a Malaysian.

“My father Sukhdev Singh was in Army, and he also wore a turban. My mother Gurmit Kaur was a housewife,” he says recalling that his grand and great grandparents were Sikhs and Malaysians.

“Our last three generations have been Malaysian,” he asserts but maintains that he loves his roots. “We still have land in our ancestral village in Punjab. And I am proud of my rich cultural and religious heritage.

My maternal grandfather was Bachan Singh. He was in Singapore police. I still have many maternal relatives in Singapore. I have never faced any identity crisis. Outside Malaysia, I am invariably identified as a Sikh, a Punjabi and an Indian,” reveals Aftar Singh.

There are hundreds of thousands of expatriates like him who have been born and brought up in countries other than India. They have never been to India or may have visited the motherland of their grandparents may be once or twice.

Same is the story with hundreds of Kenyan Sikhs who have never been to India, but their physical appearance makes their instant identity as “Indians”.

“Identity crisis is an issue facing some of us as we are at times get confused about our roots, our heritage, religious backgrounds and social bearings,” said a young Central American who is born in Trinidad and his grandparents came from Uttar Pradesh.

Special congregation visiting Malaysia / Gurdwara Pataling Jaya /

He has “Singh” appended to his name for identifying his Indian roots.

“I want to go to India to see the land to which my great grant parents belonged,” says Tarrel Singh, a national hockey player of Trinidad. His grandfather, Satya Narayan Singh, moved to Trinidad in late 90s.

There are many expatriates who rue being labelled as “terrorists” or “militants”. “We are peaceful and hardworking people and have made immense contributions to the development of nations that we have made our new homes,” says Jasbir Phlora of Nairobi in Kenya.

Tan Sri Dato Gurdial Singh Gill wanted to be a doctor. When the World War II broke out, he was taking exams of a medical school. His studies were disrupted. The family, that had moved from Dhamot village in Ludhiana to Malaysia in the early 20th century, was suddenly hit by poverty.

After Gurdial failed to get into medical school, he took to sports. He was very keen on tennis, golf, and cycling. He set up a sports goods business in late 40s and is credited for German sports brand, Adidas, not only in Malaysia but also adjoining countries like Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.

As a successful businessman, he started sponsoring sports and became active in sports association. Initially, he got into athletics and held key positions in the Malaysian Athletic Association. His passion was reflected in his phenomenal rise as a key man in the Asian Cycling Association. Besides cycling, he was a regular sponsor of Malaysian women hockey since 2000.

In 2009, his contribution was recognised. The title of “Tan Sri”, which is equivalent to “Sir” in the British order, was conferred upon him in 2009. Since Golf and tennis were also very dear to him, he started his own brand names – McGill and Eider - and created a huge market for them. Soon he parted ways with Adidas.

“To commemorate memory of our grandfather, Tan Sri Dato GS Gill, we plan to start a local level hockey tournament next year,” says Harvey Sidhu, who like his grandfather, is Malaysian by birth.

Sharing how the family maintains its Punjab connections, he said, “I have some relatives, including my aunties in India. I keep visiting them though my last visit was about four years ago when I went to get my wedding dress as well as that of my wife from India.”

Pall Singh, a former national athlete of Malaysia, like many other eminent Sikhs, including Olympians, is a Malaysian born. He got a chance to visit the motherland of his forefathers in May last year.

“I am 60 now and went to India for the first time. My ancestors came from Baba Bakala. My father told me about our village in Majha. All he remembers is that our house in the village is close to the Sikh Gurdwara. And every time there is some programme, we would come to know of it through the loudspeaker.”

“When I went there this May, I could hear the morning and evening programmes at the Gurdwara Sahib through its loudspeaker. Some people in the village did recall some great moments with my ancestors. Overall, it was a good rewarding trip to our ancestral home,” recalls Pall Singh, who recently retired from security forces. Now he is in the transport business.

Things have changed drastically in Malaysia, he says.

“Sikhs have been in Malaysia for more than 100 years. Their numbers are decreasing now as many families have already migrated to North America, Australia, UK, and New Zealand. Some have even chosen Singapore for their relocation. Job avenues are shrinking. Earlier, many Sikhs would get into security forces, including police. But now, the rules and recruitment policies have changed,” he says.

While talking about Sikhs in Malaysia, Pall Singh mentions Ipoh as one of nerve centres. “Of 120-odd Gurdwaras in Malaysia, more than 40 of them are in Ipoh alone. But since the job avenues have dried up in Ipoh, most of Sikh families have either moved to Kuala Lumpur or even to Singapore. The Sikh population is now less than a lakh in Malaysia,” he adds.

Most of the Sikh families are maintaining their traditions and they follow “Rehyat Maryada” and follow all religious ceremonies besides celebrating Sikh festivals.