Ranjit Singh “The Unity of Power”

Of all the European events to mark this sixtieth anniversary of Indian Independence, The Sikh Forum International dinner held in the historic Great Hall of Lincoln’s Inn, in the heart of the Inns of the Court in Central London, is arguably the most impressive.

With quiet dignity and understated glamour, the most eminent member of the armed forces, British and Indian, fifty members of the House of Lords and the Houses of Commons, security and Government chiefs, and top business executive met with top gentry from public life for a reception before gently taking their places in the Great Hall dining room, at tables laid out in an elegant fashion. Robed figures from legal history smiled from portraits hung all around the wall-panelled room at the colourful and magnificent garnered uniforms of the military guest, including the smart turban Sikhs and their beautiful wives.

There hasn’t been such a ‘ powerhouse’ gathering collected in one place at one time on any such occasion. The entire committee of The Sikh Forum International, led by President Sardar Ranjit Singh, OBE, which organised the evening, had invited the distinguished guests to witness the presentation of the Sikh of the Year award 2007 to Governor General JJ Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC, Chief of the Indian Army Staff. Among the A-list visitors were General Sir Richard Dannatt, KSB, CBE, MC, ADC, Lord Mohamed and Lady Shaida Sheikh, Viscount Slim, General Sir Mike Jackson (Ret’d) KCB, CBE, DSO, ADC, Assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur CBE, QPM, Lord Karan Bilimoria, the Chief Executive of Cobra Beer, Lord John Stevens, Field Marshall Rt. Hon. Lord Inge (Ret’d) KG,GCB,DL, Sir Ian Blair QPM, MA (OXON), Commissioner Metropolitan Police and Mr Madhava Chandra, Minister, India House.

Here, in a hallowed bastion of power in Great Britain’s capital, where the most important British and Indian eminences were gathered to hear wise words and to laud the achievements of a great Sikh, Governor General JJ Singh, under the benign watchful eye of the Sikh Forum International President Ranjit Singh OBE, there an echo of the meetings held during the Sikh Empire of the 18th Century.

The accomplished bandsmen of the Coldstream Guards played lyrically for guests from an ornate panelled gallery. It added to the regal atmosphere. Also, very unusually fro an Asian function, the event ran to time quite punctually and speeches were short!

Sikh Forum International The President Ranjit Singh welcomed guests and spoke early about the work of the charity organisation which he chairs, set up in 1985, which contributes to community and has raised £5,000 to support Sikh children.

Sir Ian Blair, who, as Metropolitan Police Commissioner, is occasionally a headline target when London security issues are in the news, raised a smile from the audience when he adapted a quote and said,

“Rumours of my obituary are premature.” (He received much encouragement and support from guests too when he met them informally). Sir Ian’s words resonated with guest when he spoke of all of the countries of the Asian Sub-Continent and Britain “Being bound together in a web of historical DNA.

Governor General JJ Singh addressed the gathering and described the Indian army, the second largest in the world, as characterised by,

“Professionalism, an apolitical approach, and secularism.” He said that the Indian military counter-terrorism approach was that of

“an iron fist in a velvet glove….get the terrorist with the minimum amount of collateral damage….to civilians….”

There was a genuine and palpable warmth not between the military personnel, but also between the representatives of Britain and India. Governor General JJ Singh spoke of his personal affection for Sir Richard Dannatt and General Sir Mike Jackson, and demonstrated that “military to military collaboration “ between the two countries was experiencing an “upswing.”

After the three-course dinner, judge Moto Singh (Ret’d) QC, patron of the Sikh Forum International, talked for a few minutes as did Dr Rami Rangers, MBE. Viscount Slim announced the presentation of the Sikh of the Year to Governor General JJ Singh, which was given by Lord John Stevens. Governor General JJ Singh is not only a fluent Arabic and French speaker, he has served his country several time over, notably in Jammu and Kashmir at height of insurgency during 1991 – 1992, commanding the 79th (Independent) Mountain Brigade in the Baramula sector. Among many accolades earned are a war wound medal and India’s highest military honour. The PVSM.

The Sikh Forum International has a fresh crop of young committee members, as characterised by Gurpal Singh Oppal LLB, MA, who hosted some youthful guests on his table and gave a polite Vote of Thanks, and Mr JS Kandola, a Barclays executive so senior protocol states that he doesn’t carry business cards! not seeking to retain power exclusively amongst the founder members, but happily turning the voices of the future and taking their views on board. In true Sikh fashion, this renders the Forum very modern, evolving, and changing with the times as required, while always encouraging Sikhs to be part of all aspects of British life, to enter politics and the armed forces.

After dinner, a content Lord Bilimoria told me privately;

“ To me, it’s a matter of great pride to see the success of the Sikh community being celebrated worldwide both here in the UK and in India by honouring Governor General JJ Singh, an inspiration to Indians the world over.”

And General Sir Mike Jackson said to me pleasantly;

“I think the speeches showed a sense of shared heritage, and that though there was a political parting of the ways (between Britain and India) there was not a cultural parting of the ways, particularly on the military side. I count Governor General JJ Singh as a very special man.”