February

This drawing was the first Sikh art drawing that I have done since I started drawing again in 2012. I was immediately drawn to the original photograph, mainly due to the intense stares and look of determination of the Sikh soldiers.

I chose this photograph as a symbol of the bravery of the Sikhs in the armed forces. I did make changes from the original photo, by adding in the gun nozzle, adding more detail to the uniform and the first soldier, who was not as defined.

Sikhs are well renowned for being great soldiers and make up large numbers of the Indian army compared to the relatively small Sikh population of India, and have won numerous medals and accolades for bravery throughout history.

The Sikh Regiment’ is a 19 battalion strong, infantry regiment of the ‘Indian Army’, drawing a bulk of its recruits from the ‘Sikh community’. The first battalion of the regiment was officially raised just before the annexation of the ‘Sikh Empire’ on August 1, 1846, by the ‘British Empire’. It is currently one of the ‘highest decorated’ regiments in the ‘Indian Army’ and was at one stage one of the ‘highest decorated’ regiments in the ‘British Empire’.

Sikhs make up 15% of all ranks in the ‘Indian Army’, though Sikhs form only 2% of the ‘Indian’ population. In the years to 1945, ‘14 Victoria Crosses’ were awarded to the Sikhs, a per capita record given the size of the Sikh Regiments. In the two ‘World Wars’ 83,005 Sikh soldiers were killed and 109,045 were wounded while fighting.

The history of the ‘Sikh Regiment’ ties closely with the ‘Sikh people’ of the ‘Punjab’. Followers of ‘Sikhism’ were targeted for religious beliefs; Sikhs were encouraged to maintain a degree of martial tenants. As Islamic persecution of Sikhs increased, ‘Sikhism’ became more militant coining the theory "Saint-Soldier" in which Sikhism maintained its martial tenants.

One of the greatest battles and ‘last stands’ was by Sikh Soldiers at the ‘Battle of Saragarhi’ in 1897. Where 21 Sikh soldiers fought 10,000 Orakzai and Afridi Lashkars. The Sikhs killed 450 men before making the supreme sacrifice.

On receiving the news, the ‘British Parliament’ interrupted its proceedings and gave a ‘standing ovation’ to the men of Saragarhi. UNESCO recognizes this battle as one among eight battles of the world for bravery.