Inauguration Of Plate In Memory Of Sikh Soldiers That Died In France

:dateline:The Conseil Representatif des Sikhs de France organized the inauguration of a plate in memory of the Sikh soldiers that died during the Great War. �The plate was inaugurated�at the Gurdwara Singh Sabha Bobigny, in presence of French Government official, Pr�fet M. Philippe Galli. �Three MPs – M-G Buffet, M. Hanotin and V Capo-Canellas were also present.

Many French veteran associations attended the ceremony to pay homage to the Sikh soldiers.�

�

Henri Prevost Allard, descendant of General Allard delivered�an impressive speech relating to the great history of the Sikh Empire. �He also touched upon the issues affecting the Sikhs in France.

�

Douglas Gressieux, president of Comptoire des Indes, gave a historical presentation of contributions by the Sikhs in the First World War.

�

French Sikh Youth came to the microphone to read letters by�Sikh soldiers from 1914-1918, in which they talked about the massacres and horrific incidents from�the war, the life in France and the censorship of their letters. Local Sikh leader Ranjit G. Singh emphasized the necessity to commemorate the contribution of Sikh soldiers as a way to connect the new French Sikh generation with the French Nation.

�

Mayor St�phane de Paoli took the flow to share examples of the French Sikhs and how new generations need to follow their examples. Prefet M. Philippe Galli concluded his speech�with few a words by�General Foch regarding the�inauguration of the Memorial of Neuve Chapelle in 1927.

�

During the ceremony, two exhibitions were put�on display. The City of Saint Tropez borrowed the exhibition �French presence in Sikh Empire� and the Comptoire des Indes showed pictures of Sikhs soldiers during the war.