Sikh saint-soldier’s artefacts on display in Singapore gurdwara
Sunday, 05/07/2015
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SINGAPORE: A two-day exhibition was put up at a gurdwara in Singapore on Saturday to display the artefacts belonging to a Sikh saint-soldier.
The exhibition, put up at Gurdwara Sahib Silat Road in the Bukit Merah area of Singapore as part of a monthlong festival to honour Sikh saint-soldier Bhai Maharaj Singh, features some of his personal items such as a “salottar” (wooden stick used as a support and weapon), “dastaar chakkar” (turban steel quoits used to retain the shape of a turban) and a “mala” (rosary) belonging to the spiritual leader, The Straits Times reported on Saturday.
The items on display are on loan until July 5 from his descendents in India.
Bhai Maharaj is believed to be the first Sikh in Singapore. He was taken to Singapore in 1850 after he was arrested by the British out of fear that his detention in India may cause unrest as he was revered by the Sikh community in India for his spirituality, patriotic fervour and for standing up against the British dominion.
Bhai Maharaj was lodged in Outram prison in Singapore where no light or fresh air could enter. Six years later, on July 5, 1856, he passed away.
