UK Ministry of Defence Celebrates Vaisakhi

LONDON, UK—The Ministry of Defence in UK for the first time ever, held Vaisakhi celebrations in its main building in London. Attended by over 100 people, the event was held in the main conference room of the Ministry of Defence on April 13. Bibi Mandeep Kaur, Sikh Chaplain for Her Majesty’s Forces, organised and arranged this historic celebration. The celebrations included kirtan (the singing of Sikh prayers), speeches, presentations, an interactive workshop and a performance from students from Khalsa Secondary Academy, Slough.

Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Secretary of State for Defence, was the chief guest for the occasion, who conveyed good wishes from the Prime Minister. Other dignitaries who attended the event included Rt Hon Earle Howe PC, Minister of State in the House of Lords; David Elliot OBE, British Deputy High Commissioner in Chandigarh; Lord Indarjit Singh, Endorsing Authority; and The Ven (Air Vice-Marshal) Jonathan Chaffey, Chaplain-in-Chief RAF, British Armed Forces.

The event began with a welcome and introduction from Bibi Mandeep Kaur. She stated: “This is a dream come true. I cannot believe this is happening. It is a very proud moment for me and all of the Sikh community.” This followed a welcome from Rt Hon Earl Howe PC, Minister of State in the House of Lords, and insightful speech by Lord Indarjit Singh, Endorsing Authority, and David Lelliot, British Deputy High Commissioner for India in Chandigarh.

Bhai Manvir Singh from Banbury, a renowned international Sikh educator and prison Sikh Chaplain, presented an informative presentation on ‘The Glorious Legacy of the Khalsa’.

Bhai Jugraj Singh, ex British Army officer and Sikh educator from Basics of Sikhi organisation, facilitated a workshop on ‘Saint & Soldier edges of the Khalsa’. The interactive workshop got the audience to contemplate and reflect on how Guru Gobind Singh Ji made the Khalsa into saintly soldiers that were the ideal human beings.

TV-host and academic- Dr Gurnam Singh, hosted a Q&A session in which Bibi Mandeep Kaur, Lord Indarjit Singh, along with representatives of the Armed Forces answered the audience’s questions regarding Sikh issues in the Armed Forces.

Near the end there were testimonials of Sikhs in the Armed Forces, who shared their experiences of their faith and personal journey in the Armed Forces. The event closed with Kirtan (singing of Sikh prayers) led by Bibi Mandeep Kaur.

Sikh Council UK, Sikh Women’s Alliance, Khalsa Foundation, and London Metropolitan Sikh Police Association were some of the Sikh organisations present on the occasion.

UK’s Sikh Channel recorded the whole event and aired it on television the following day.