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Sir Winston Churchill was very well
conversant with the bravery of the Sikhs, who had fought for Britain
in the World Wars. Churchill while speaking in the British Parliament
said:
".....It is a matter of regret that due
to the obsession of the present times people are distorting the
superior religious and social values, but those who wish to preserve
them with respect, we should appreciate them as well as help them.
Sikhs do need our help for such a cause and we should give it happily.
Those who know the Sikh history, know England's relationship with
the Sikhs and are aware of the achievements of the Sikhs, they should
persistently support the idea of relaxation to Sikhs to ride a motorbike
with their turbans on, because it is their religious privilege."
Churchill, further added:
"...British people are highly indebted
and obliged to Sikhs for a long time. I know that within this century
we needed their help twice and they did help us very well. As a
result of their timely help, we are today able to live with honour,
dignity, and independence. In the war, they fought and died for
us, wearing the turbans. At that time we were not adamant that they
should wear safety helmets because we knew that they are not going
to wear them anyways and we would be deprived of their help. At
that time due to our miserable and poor situation, we did not force
it on them to wear safety helmets, why should we force it now? Rather,
we should now respect their traditions and by granting this legitimate
concession, win their applaud."
MILITARY UNITS WITH WHICH
CHURCHILL SERVED
Churchill Also served in the British Army with Sikh Regiments
1 |
4th Queen's Own Hussars
(cavalry regiment): England and India, 1895 99. |
2 |
31st Punjab Regiment, Bengal Infantry,
Indian Army, part of the 1st brigade, Malakand Field Force:
NW Frontier of India, September 1897. |
3 |
35th Sikh Regiment, Bengal Infantry,
Indian Army, part of the 2nd brigade, Malakand Field Force:
NW Frontier of India, September 1897. |
4 |
21st Lancers (cavalry regiment):
Egypt and the Sudan, August-October 1898. The regiment became
the 21st (Empress of India's) Lancers after the Battle of Omdurman,
2 September 1898. |
5 |
South African Light Horse (Imperial
Yeomanry cavalry regiment): commissioned January 1900, served
as officer and correspondent until July 1900. |
6 |
Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars (Yeomanry
cavalry regiment): |
SIR WINSTON'S OBSERVATIONS
Sir Winston Churchill, the greatest statesman Historian writing
about the causes of the Indian Mutiny 1857 and the circumstances
leading to the Anglo-Sikh Wars in his History of the English speaking
peoples volume IV pages 65 says, "A
more immediate cause of the rising (Mutiny) was a series of defeats
and reverses suffered by the British (in Afghanistan and Punjab).
The Russian threat to India had begun to overhang the minds of Englishmen.
The menace seemed real when a small body of Russians had penetrated
into the fringes of Afghanistan. A British expedition was despatched
in 1839 to Kabul and a British Candidate (Shah Shujah) placed on
the Afghan throne. The country rose up in arms. In December, 1841,
the British garrison off our thousand troops, accompanied by nearly
three times as many women, children and Afghan Camp-followers began
to withdraw through the snow and mountain passes, when nearly all
were murdered or taken prisoners. A second expedition avenged the
treachery in the following year, but the repute of European arms
was deeply smitten and the massacre resounded throughout the peninsula."
Sir Winston adds:
"Another defeat soon followed
in the Punjab, the most northernly state of the Indian provinces
at that time. Here the warrior Sikhs, had long held sway. Encouraged
by the news from Afghanistan, and restless after the death of their
great leader, Ranjit Singh, who had hitherto held them in check,
they resolved to try their hand at invading the Company's territory.
In 1845, they crossed the boundary river of Sutlej, and were met
and repulsed two hundred miles north of Delhi. The British installed
a regency. Three years later the Sikhs tried to overthrow it. There
was, a desperate drawn battle deep within the province at Chillianwala,
in which three British regiments lost their colours. Shortly afterwards
the British re-deemed their name and the Sikh army was destroyed.
The Punjab was pacified by John and Henry Lawrence. These famous
brothers ruled with absolute power. They sent the Koh-i-noor diamond
to Queen Victoria and gained from the formidable warriors of the
province an affection and loyalty for the British Crown which was
to endure for nearly a century. One of their subordinates, John
Nicholson, who was to be for even famous as the liberator of Delhi,
was ever worshipped by some Punjabis as a deity. Nevertheless, among
the ill-informed and ill-disposed in other regions of India "Remember
Chillianwala" became a battle-cry and a bloodstained slogan
in the upheaval which was to come."
From the above statement following points have emerged which may
be examined in the light of verdict of the British Historians and
documents of Sir Winston's own countrymen who, then, either controlled
or were vitally concerned, both in England and in India, with the
affairs of the East India company:
1. that encouraged by the British massacre in Afghanistan, the Sikhs,
after the death of Ranjit Singh, resolved to try their hand at the
British Territory in India.
2. that in 1845, the Sikhs crossed the boundary river Sutlej and
were met and repulsed.
3. that the British installed a regency at Lahore, which the Sikhs
after three
years tried to overthrow.
4. that soon after their defeat at Chillianwala, the British redeemed
their name and the Sikh army was destroyed.
5. that Lawrence brothers (John & Sir Henry) sent the Kh-i-noor
diamond to Queen Victoria.
6. that remember Chillianwala' became a battle-cry and a blood stained
slogan, among the ill-informed and ill-disposed in other regions
of India in the upheaval (Mutiny) which was soon to' come.
LINK
to Winston Churchill - Amritsar Massacre Speech
July
8th 1920, House of Commons
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