Dr Indarjit Singh CBE is the Director of the Network of Sikh Organisations UK. He is the Vice Chair and founding member of the Inter Faith Network UK, a national body promoting inter faith understanding, and is Head of the Sikh Chaplaincy Service, which works for the pastoral care of Sikhs in prisons. 

He is also the co-ordinator of pastoral care for Sikhs in hospitals and in the Armed Forces, and a trustee of the World Congress of Faiths. Dr Singh has represented the UK Sikh community on national occasions, including the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph and the Westminster Abbey Service to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the coronation of HM the Queen. 

And now the first 'Sardar' within the Houses of Parliament.

Our congratulations were published in Des Pardes on hearing this important news.

Sir Paul Stephenson, Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis London was taken to visit the Golden Temple by Ranjit Singh OBE, he said the diversity of the race system was a great boon for London and added that he received tremendous support from the ethnic communities, which have made England their home.

Talking to newsmen on his maiden visit to the holy city recently, Paul said the London police was ready to share intelligence inputs on global terrorist activities.

The Police Commissioner, along with a 15-member delegation, had come to participate in a high level security meet to be held in Mumbai and was invited to visit Punjab at the behest of the Sikh Forum International to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. The commissioner said he had great regard for the vibrant Sikh community settled in England and added that he had received a lot of love and affection and was here to visit the Mecca of Sikhs and other places of interest in Amritsar. He said he was amazed at the beauty of the temple and added that it gave him a lot of spiritual strength. Later, he witnessed the beating retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah check post with Ranjit Singh OBE.

  Celebration of “GURU MANIO GRANTH” AND Sikh Forum Book Launch at the House of Lords 

On Tuesday 14^th October 2008, a distinguished collection of the British peerage and the Asian community assembled in the Cholmondeley Room, one of the most beautiful areas at Westminster with the nicest view, under the auspices of the Viscount Slim, a great friend of India with family ties and a special interest in the country.

After a tea reception with snacks, samosas and cakes, guests took their seats in the main room with its marvellous view of the Thames river across the terrace.

The occasion was to mark the fourth centenary celebrations of Sri Granth Sahib, and the release of the Sikh Achievers book written by Ranjit Singh, OBE, the President of the Sikh Forum. Speaking afterwards, he said his reason for writing the book was because,

‘I wanted to highlight the name of the late Lieutenant General Arora so people can read about him in the future.’

“The Granth As the Eternal Guru” written by Mr Malkiat Singh Rahi was also distributed on the night.

 After that, HE Governor General JJ Singh (Retd) India, talked in an entertaining way, he was in London with his wife Anupama as part of an international tour.  The Governor is in charge of Arunachal Pradesh, a scenically strategic part of North East India.

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.