Bhatra
Encyclopedia
The Bhat community also known as the Sangat community, comprised majorly of Sikh
s. Today in the United Kingdom
there are significant numbers of Sikhs with Bhat ancestry, as there are in India
. The Bhat Sikhs were amongst the first followers of Guru Nanak who are also believed to have traveled with him as far away as Sri Lanka
. In the Punjab most Bhat Sikhs are now in Patiala, Amritsar
, Nawashahar, Hoshiarpur
, Gurdaspur
or Bhathinda
districts, or in Jalandhar
or Chandigarh
; elsewhere in India
they tend to live in cities, particularly Delhi
and Calcutta.
, where the Raja Shivnabh and his kingdom became the original 16th century followers of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. The Raja's grandson Baba Changa earned the title ‘Bhat Rai’ - the ‘Raja of Poets, and then settled himself and his followers all over India as missionaries where many Sikhs and general Indians became Bhat Sikhs. They also contributed 123 compositions in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.The Bhat people are not considered as a caste in the typical sense but a group within Sikhism
created by Guru Nanak which is not shackled by the caste system, a sangat whose members are from all areas of the Sikh caste spectrum. today modern bhat sikhs are commonly known to have a huge amount of wealth which they hugely donate to various gudwaras.
In the 17th century some religious Bhat went to fight as "warrior-saints" against Mughal
persecution in the Khalsa
campaign inspired by Guru Gobind Singh
Ji. Since many Bhat lived as travelling missionaries
, their mobility led them to depend on occupations which did not require a settled life.
By the 19th century Bhat was the name of a caste or jati within the Indian tradition of social classes, each with its own occupation. Even though Sikhism itself does not support separation by caste, the social system meant that the Bhat followed a hereditary profession of itinerant salesman, while some also foretold the future, if they were considered to have clairvoyant ability. They have been praised for business acumen, described as people with “a spirit of enterprise”. They were a small group: so small that even in the Punjab many people did not know of them. Though some lived in Lahore, many Bhat can trace their roots to villages around Sialkot and Gurdaspur Districts.
(fellowship) which originated with Guru Nanak's visit to Sri Lanka
. According to the Sikh Encyclopedia, Bhat is related to the Sanskrit
word bhatta, a bard or poet. The Encyclopedia says that "more than one story is current about their origin".
. A congregation led by a teacher called Baba Changa Rai is described in an old document called the Haqiqat Rah Muqam.
The Sikh Encyclopedia discusses a possible link between Bhat Sikhs and Changa Bhat of Sri Lanka, who became a disciple of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. One suggestion is that he added Bhat to his name and spread the word of Guru Nanak to his followers, who also became known as Bhat.
. One suggestion is that the meeting of Guru Nanak and Changa Bhat took place about 12 miles south of his meeting with the Raja.
, offers historical evidence for Guru Nanak's presence in Sri Lanka, probably in the year 1510. Many scholars, though not all, agree that the Guru visited Sri Lanka on his travels.
Another claim is that extensive study in the early 20th century showed that Bhat did not in fact originate from Sri Lanka, and the Bhat Sangat was created in the Punjab by one of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's disciples who came from that area.
Another Theory being, and most likely is Bhatra Sikhs having mixed ancestry In that Bhats originated in Punjab But many also originated from Sri Lanka. Bhatras were known for their missionary work to spread the message of Sikhism. Hence many Sri Lankans converted to Sikhism and assimilated into the Bhatra community.
in the 1920s, but most immigrated in the late 1940s or 1950s.
In the 1920s some men travelled to Britain to work as door-to-door salesmen, most leaving their families in the Punjab to begin with. By the time of the Second World War there were a few hundred Sikhs clustered in British seaports like Cardiff
, Bristol
, and Southampton
. Some returned to India when war broke out, but others stayed on and used contacts with Punjabi merchant seamen to import scarce goods.
in 1947 led many Sikhs to emigrate, and the Bhat population in the UK was greatly enlarged. Later arrivals tended to join relatives, friends and neighbours from the Punjab, so that some British Bhat communities have links to one or two particular villages. Difficult journeys following Partition are not forgotten. The Edinburgh
Sikh women's group (Sikh Sanjog) has exhibited artwork telling the story of leaving the Punjab and arriving in a strange land. A 2001 obituary of a senior figure in the Cardiff
Bhat community described the trials of leaving northern India in turbulent times.
community), but some settled in big cities like Leeds
or Birmingham
, gave up self-employment and took waged jobs in industry. (At this time many educated immigrants to Britain had difficulty finding employment suited to their qualifications and experience, because of racial and/or cultural prejudice.)
Bhat traders gradually moved into other roles as self-employed businessmen, often specialising in retailing. By the end of the 1950s selling door-to-door was less common and many British Bhat Sikhs moved towards commercial enterprises like market stalls, shops, supermarkets and wholesale warehouses. Nowadays the younger Bhata generation are represented in many varied professions from doctors to accountants, from engineers to lawyers. Also very well known taxi drivers.
In the 1920s some men travelled to Britain to work as door-to-door salesmen, most leaving their families in the Punjab to begin with. By the time of the Second World War there were a few hundred Sikhs clustered in British seaports like Cardiff
, Bristol
, Southampton
and Hull. Some returned to India when war broke out, but others stayed on and used contacts with Punjabi merchant seamen to import scarce goods.
‘One group of Sikhs who kept their
turbans were a group called Bhartedas (sic)’.
The Bhat Sikhs are the pioneer Sikh community to migrate to Britain. Whilst most men from other Sikh communities were finding a foothold in Britain in the early 1950‘s, the Bhats had already established themselves as a settled community all over Britain in port towns and cities. Most Sikh preachers amongst the Sikh community today belong to the Bhatra caste.
s (temples), the first of which was opened in Manchester
in 1953. As of 2006 there are more than 30 Bhat or Bhat Sikh temples in the UK, the newest being the one opened in Peterborough
in 2004. In some British towns Bhats are a small proportion of the overall Sikh population (in Glasgow
5%); elsewhere, as in Edinburgh, they are in the majority. Due to the unpopularity of Bhat Gurdwara
s amongst Sikh
s of other background, many Bhats took the role of Gyani
s in the newer established gurdwara, especially in Luton
and Leicester
.
in a Grade Two listed building in Harley Grove, East London, recognised as a fine example of Jewish Architecture and visited by Jewish historians. This fits with Sikh beliefs in tolerance and respect for other cultures. The Harley Grove Gurdwara has large Vasakhi celebrations at the Sikh New Year, and is a focal point for Bhat Sikhs in London.
; mainly consisting of the families of the following: S Hazara Singh Rathore, S Jagdish Singh Rathore (Pardaan), S Ranjit Singh Rathore, S Jaswant Singh Rathore(Secretary),S Gulab Singh Rathore(kajanch),S Sukhdev singh Rathore,S Dalip Singh Rathore, S Pargash Singh Rathore S Himmat Singh Landa, S Sher Singh Landa, Surjit Singh Rathore, Valleti Singh Digwa and many others. It is a grade two listed building, situated in Potternewton Park. The Gurdwara Sahib is in an excellent location with good transport links and good car parking facilities. The building has been a Gurdwara since March 2006, it was Park Lane college before the building was bought.
On Sunday 13 April 2008, The new building of Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib ji was opened just in time for Vaisakhi
thanks to the efforts of its hardworking Sangat who made this possible. The new building replaces 138 Chapeltown Road which had been previous Gurdwara building for 21 years.
The previous Gurdwara Sahib, Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib was established by a few members of the Bhat Sangat around 21 years ago. These included S Mehlia Singh Rathore, S Boota Tehl Singh Rathore, S Jaswant Singh Rathore, and some others. It was previously Gurdwara Ramgarhia Board.
The very first Sikh Gurdwara
in Leeds, on Chapeltown Road, was established with the help of many Bhat Sikhs. These included, S Mehlia Singh Rathore, S Boota Tehl Singh Rathore, S Sardar Singh Rathore, S Hazara Singh Rathore, Akali
Balwant Singh Landa. Indeed, these people were among the first Sikh settlers in Leeds.
The Doncaster Bhat Community
Sri Guru Kalgidhar Gurdwara, 73 St James Street,Waterdale was established in 1959. Comprising many families of different jarths inluding; Landha, Swali, Digpal, Potiwal, Gola, Neer ect.Originally, the Gudwara was at Cemetery Road, in Hyde Park, founded by S.Mohan Singh Landa who was born in 1922 and was a big figure to the sangat of Doncaster until he died in 2009 at the age of 87, In 1965 the Gudwara moved to the current location. The Doncaster sangat are very proud, in the past 3 years they have done so much, the sangat youth recently appeared on Sangat TV also every year they have maintained the tradition of each festival including Nagar Kirtan, Vasakhi and diwali. People from all over the UK visit the gudwara and see the progress they have made each year. The sangat are dedicated and worthy to their religion.
There are a sizable number of Bhat Sikhs in the United States. The number increases as immigrants from India obtain visas and move in with relatives or acquaintances.
The majority of American Bhat Sikhs tend to have arranged marriages although that is changing.
Bhat Sikhs consist of 2 groups, who at around the 16th and 17th century started travelling and preaching Sikhism around India separately and overtime, formed two Bhat groups, Darewal and Landervaser.
Indians that embraced Guru Nanak’s teachings from hearing the Bards of these travellers (Bhats), joined the Bhat Sikhs and became Sikhs. Ending up in Punjab, the Bhat Sikhs adopted surnames which include those from Jat, Tarkhan
, Rajput
, Khatri
, Kambojas
, Brahmin
and Gujjars. Many Bhats today are influenced by the Nihang
sect of Sikhism.
.
Actors, films, music and musicians which may be of special interest to Sikhs in the UK include:
Bhat Sikh Community In Doncaster
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
s. Today in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
there are significant numbers of Sikhs with Bhat ancestry, as there are in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The Bhat Sikhs were amongst the first followers of Guru Nanak who are also believed to have traveled with him as far away as Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. In the Punjab most Bhat Sikhs are now in Patiala, Amritsar
Amritsar District
Amritsar district is one of 22 districts in the state of Punjab in West India. It has a population of 3,074,207 and covers an area of 5075 km²...
, Nawashahar, Hoshiarpur
Hoshiarpur District
Hoshiarpur District , is a district of Punjab state in northern India.In 2011, Hoshiarpur had population of 1,582,793 of which male and female were 806,921 and 775,872 respectively. There was change of 6.85 percent in the population compared to population as per 2001...
, Gurdaspur
Gurdaspur District
Gurdaspur district is a district in the state of Punjab, situated in the northwest part of the Republic of India. Gurdaspur is the district headquarters. It internationally borders Narowal District of the Pakistani Punjab, Kathua District of Jammu and Kashmir, the Punjab districts of Amritsar and...
or Bhathinda
Bathinda District
Bathinda district is in Punjab, India. The districts encompasses an area of 3,344 square kilometres. It is bounded by Faridkot district on the north, Mukatsar district on the west, Barnala and Mansa districts on the east, and the state of Haryana on the south...
districts, or in Jalandhar
Jalandhar
Jalandhar is a city in Jalandhar District in the state of Punjab, India. It is located 144 km northwest of the state capital, Chandigarh...
or Chandigarh
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a union territory of India that serves as the capital of two states, Haryana and Punjab. The name Chandigarh translates as "The Fort of Chandi". The name is from an ancient temple called Chandi Mandir, devoted to the Hindu goddess Chandi, in the city...
; elsewhere in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
they tend to live in cities, particularly Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
and Calcutta.
Introduction to the Bhat Sikhs
Bhat tradition and Sikh text states their ancestors came from PunjabPunjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, where the Raja Shivnabh and his kingdom became the original 16th century followers of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. The Raja's grandson Baba Changa earned the title ‘Bhat Rai’ - the ‘Raja of Poets, and then settled himself and his followers all over India as missionaries where many Sikhs and general Indians became Bhat Sikhs. They also contributed 123 compositions in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.The Bhat people are not considered as a caste in the typical sense but a group within Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
created by Guru Nanak which is not shackled by the caste system, a sangat whose members are from all areas of the Sikh caste spectrum. today modern bhat sikhs are commonly known to have a huge amount of wealth which they hugely donate to various gudwaras.
In the 17th century some religious Bhat went to fight as "warrior-saints" against Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
persecution in the Khalsa
Khalsa
+YouWebImagesVideosMapsNewsMailMoreTranslateFrom: ArabicTo: EnglishEnglishHindiEnglishAllow phonetic typingHindiEnglishArabicAssumptionGoogle Translate for Business:Translator ToolkitWebsite TranslatorGlobal Market Finder...
campaign inspired by Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh is the tenth and last Sikh guru in a sacred lineage of ten Sikh gurus. Born in Patna, Bihar in India, he was also a warrior, poet and philosopher. He succeeded his father Guru Tegh Bahadur as the leader of Sikhs at a young age of nine...
Ji. Since many Bhat lived as travelling missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, their mobility led them to depend on occupations which did not require a settled life.
By the 19th century Bhat was the name of a caste or jati within the Indian tradition of social classes, each with its own occupation. Even though Sikhism itself does not support separation by caste, the social system meant that the Bhat followed a hereditary profession of itinerant salesman, while some also foretold the future, if they were considered to have clairvoyant ability. They have been praised for business acumen, described as people with “a spirit of enterprise”. They were a small group: so small that even in the Punjab many people did not know of them. Though some lived in Lahore, many Bhat can trace their roots to villages around Sialkot and Gurdaspur Districts.
Origins
Many Bhats consider themselves a sangatSangat
Sangat is a Sikh term with its origin in the Sanskrit word 'sangh', which means company, fellowship and association. In Sikh vocabulary, the word has a special connotation. It stands for the body of men and women who meet religiously, especially in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib...
(fellowship) which originated with Guru Nanak's visit to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. According to the Sikh Encyclopedia, Bhat is related to the Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
word bhatta, a bard or poet. The Encyclopedia says that "more than one story is current about their origin".
Baba Changa Rai
One tradition says that the Bhat people are descended from Changa Rai or Changa Bhat, a disciple of Guru Nanak's mentioned in the JanamsakhisJanamsakhis
The Janamsakhis , literally birth stories, are writings which profess to be biographies of the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak. These compositions have been written at various stages after the death of the first guru.-Overview:...
. A congregation led by a teacher called Baba Changa Rai is described in an old document called the Haqiqat Rah Muqam.
The Sikh Encyclopedia discusses a possible link between Bhat Sikhs and Changa Bhat of Sri Lanka, who became a disciple of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. One suggestion is that he added Bhat to his name and spread the word of Guru Nanak to his followers, who also became known as Bhat.
Raja Shivnabh
Another tradition says that Guru Nanak visited Sri Lanka during 1574 and met Raja Shivnabh, who was the grandfather of Changa Rai in this account of Bhat origins. The Guru bestowed the title of sangat on the Raja and his people, united seven kingdoms and made the Raja Shivnabh leader of them all. Some scholars consider the Raja was the ruler of BatticaloaBatticaloa
Batticaloa is a city in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka. It is the seat of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka. It is on the east coast, south by south east of Trincomalee, and is situated on an island.-Etymology:...
. One suggestion is that the meeting of Guru Nanak and Changa Bhat took place about 12 miles south of his meeting with the Raja.
Sri Lanka
M.S. Ahluwalia, a Senior Fellow at the Indian Council of Historical Research, New DelhiNew Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, offers historical evidence for Guru Nanak's presence in Sri Lanka, probably in the year 1510. Many scholars, though not all, agree that the Guru visited Sri Lanka on his travels.
Challenges to Theory of Origin
A place called Singaldeep or Sangladeep is often mentioned in 'Hakikat-Rah-Mukaam-Shivnabh-Raje-Ki' and is stated to be in Sri Lanka. A few scholars dispute the idea that there was ever a ruler of Singladeep called Shivnabh (Sivnabh).Another claim is that extensive study in the early 20th century showed that Bhat did not in fact originate from Sri Lanka, and the Bhat Sangat was created in the Punjab by one of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's disciples who came from that area.
Another Theory being, and most likely is Bhatra Sikhs having mixed ancestry In that Bhats originated in Punjab But many also originated from Sri Lanka. Bhatras were known for their missionary work to spread the message of Sikhism. Hence many Sri Lankans converted to Sikhism and assimilated into the Bhatra community.
Bhat Sikhs In The United Kingdom
Bhat Sikhs started to arrive in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the 1920s, but most immigrated in the late 1940s or 1950s.
In the 1920s some men travelled to Britain to work as door-to-door salesmen, most leaving their families in the Punjab to begin with. By the time of the Second World War there were a few hundred Sikhs clustered in British seaports like Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, and Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. Some returned to India when war broke out, but others stayed on and used contacts with Punjabi merchant seamen to import scarce goods.
Partition
The Partition of IndiaPartition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in 1947 led many Sikhs to emigrate, and the Bhat population in the UK was greatly enlarged. Later arrivals tended to join relatives, friends and neighbours from the Punjab, so that some British Bhat communities have links to one or two particular villages. Difficult journeys following Partition are not forgotten. The Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
Sikh women's group (Sikh Sanjog) has exhibited artwork telling the story of leaving the Punjab and arriving in a strange land. A 2001 obituary of a senior figure in the Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
Bhat community described the trials of leaving northern India in turbulent times.
Jobs
The traditional Bhat profession of itinerant salesman and taxi drivers was useful to those arriving in the UK, and was "a skill with considerable potential". At first most Bhat, like some other Sikhs, worked either as doorstep or market traders (working with the KhatriKhatri
Khatri is a caste from the northern Indian subcontinent. Khatris in India are mostly from Punjab, region but later they migrated to regions like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber...
community), but some settled in big cities like Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
or Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, gave up self-employment and took waged jobs in industry. (At this time many educated immigrants to Britain had difficulty finding employment suited to their qualifications and experience, because of racial and/or cultural prejudice.)
Bhat traders gradually moved into other roles as self-employed businessmen, often specialising in retailing. By the end of the 1950s selling door-to-door was less common and many British Bhat Sikhs moved towards commercial enterprises like market stalls, shops, supermarkets and wholesale warehouses. Nowadays the younger Bhata generation are represented in many varied professions from doctors to accountants, from engineers to lawyers. Also very well known taxi drivers.
In the 1920s some men travelled to Britain to work as door-to-door salesmen, most leaving their families in the Punjab to begin with. By the time of the Second World War there were a few hundred Sikhs clustered in British seaports like Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and Hull. Some returned to India when war broke out, but others stayed on and used contacts with Punjabi merchant seamen to import scarce goods.
‘One group of Sikhs who kept their
turbans were a group called Bhartedas (sic)’.
The Bhat Sikhs are the pioneer Sikh community to migrate to Britain. Whilst most men from other Sikh communities were finding a foothold in Britain in the early 1950‘s, the Bhats had already established themselves as a settled community all over Britain in port towns and cities. Most Sikh preachers amongst the Sikh community today belong to the Bhatra caste.
Gurdwaras
When possible the Bhat community has established its own GurdwaraGurdwara
A Gurdwara , meaning the Gateway to the Guru, is the place of worship for Sikhs, the followers of Sikhism. A Gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib ....
s (temples), the first of which was opened in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 1953. As of 2006 there are more than 30 Bhat or Bhat Sikh temples in the UK, the newest being the one opened in Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
in 2004. In some British towns Bhats are a small proportion of the overall Sikh population (in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
5%); elsewhere, as in Edinburgh, they are in the majority. Due to the unpopularity of Bhat Gurdwara
Gurdwara
A Gurdwara , meaning the Gateway to the Guru, is the place of worship for Sikhs, the followers of Sikhism. A Gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib ....
s amongst Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
s of other background, many Bhats took the role of Gyani
Gyani
A gyani is someone learned in the Sikh religion and who often leads the congregation in prayers, such as Ardas, or in singing . The word "Ghian" in Punjabi means knowledge...
s in the newer established gurdwara, especially in Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
and Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
.
The London Bhat Community
The Bhat Gurdwaras in the UK are sometimes linked with ongoing community projects. The site of the first Sangat Bhat Gurdwara in London, in Mile End Bow in Campbell Road, is still in service and of interest to social historians. The Community also moved to a retired SynagogueSynagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in a Grade Two listed building in Harley Grove, East London, recognised as a fine example of Jewish Architecture and visited by Jewish historians. This fits with Sikh beliefs in tolerance and respect for other cultures. The Harley Grove Gurdwara has large Vasakhi celebrations at the Sikh New Year, and is a focal point for Bhat Sikhs in London.
The Leeds Bhat Community
Gurdwara Guru Hargobind Sahib ji, Potternewton Mansion, was recently established by the Bhat Sangat in LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
; mainly consisting of the families of the following: S Hazara Singh Rathore, S Jagdish Singh Rathore (Pardaan), S Ranjit Singh Rathore, S Jaswant Singh Rathore(Secretary),S Gulab Singh Rathore(kajanch),S Sukhdev singh Rathore,S Dalip Singh Rathore, S Pargash Singh Rathore S Himmat Singh Landa, S Sher Singh Landa, Surjit Singh Rathore, Valleti Singh Digwa and many others. It is a grade two listed building, situated in Potternewton Park. The Gurdwara Sahib is in an excellent location with good transport links and good car parking facilities. The building has been a Gurdwara since March 2006, it was Park Lane college before the building was bought.
On Sunday 13 April 2008, The new building of Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib ji was opened just in time for Vaisakhi
Vaisakhi
Vaisakhi is an ancient harvest festival celebrated across North Indian states, especially Punjab by all Punjabis regardless of religion. In Sikhism the Khalsa was founded on same day as the Vaisakhi festival, so Sikhs celebrate twice as much....
thanks to the efforts of its hardworking Sangat who made this possible. The new building replaces 138 Chapeltown Road which had been previous Gurdwara building for 21 years.
The previous Gurdwara Sahib, Gurdwara Kalgidhar Sahib was established by a few members of the Bhat Sangat around 21 years ago. These included S Mehlia Singh Rathore, S Boota Tehl Singh Rathore, S Jaswant Singh Rathore, and some others. It was previously Gurdwara Ramgarhia Board.
The very first Sikh Gurdwara
Gurdwara
A Gurdwara , meaning the Gateway to the Guru, is the place of worship for Sikhs, the followers of Sikhism. A Gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib ....
in Leeds, on Chapeltown Road, was established with the help of many Bhat Sikhs. These included, S Mehlia Singh Rathore, S Boota Tehl Singh Rathore, S Sardar Singh Rathore, S Hazara Singh Rathore, Akali
Akali
In the context of Sikhism, Akali may refer to:*any member of the Khalsa, i.e. the collective body of baptized Sikhs*a term for Nihangs*a politician of the Akali Dal political parties...
Balwant Singh Landa. Indeed, these people were among the first Sikh settlers in Leeds.
The Doncaster Bhat Community
Sri Guru Kalgidhar Gurdwara, 73 St James Street,Waterdale was established in 1959. Comprising many families of different jarths inluding; Landha, Swali, Digpal, Potiwal, Gola, Neer ect.Originally, the Gudwara was at Cemetery Road, in Hyde Park, founded by S.Mohan Singh Landa who was born in 1922 and was a big figure to the sangat of Doncaster until he died in 2009 at the age of 87, In 1965 the Gudwara moved to the current location. The Doncaster sangat are very proud, in the past 3 years they have done so much, the sangat youth recently appeared on Sangat TV also every year they have maintained the tradition of each festival including Nagar Kirtan, Vasakhi and diwali. People from all over the UK visit the gudwara and see the progress they have made each year. The sangat are dedicated and worthy to their religion.
Bhat Sikhs in The United States of America
The first Bhat Sikh in U.S.A was Vilati Singh Rathour. He originally had the surname Rathore, although because of spelling changed to Rathour. He came from Sialkot, Punjab before the Partition. His brothers decided to move to the United Kingdom, while he decided to move to America.There are a sizable number of Bhat Sikhs in the United States. The number increases as immigrants from India obtain visas and move in with relatives or acquaintances.
The majority of American Bhat Sikhs tend to have arranged marriages although that is changing.
Bhat Sangat name groups
The Names of the Jarth came from certain tribal groups.Bhat Sikhs consist of 2 groups, who at around the 16th and 17th century started travelling and preaching Sikhism around India separately and overtime, formed two Bhat groups, Darewal and Landervaser.
Indians that embraced Guru Nanak’s teachings from hearing the Bards of these travellers (Bhats), joined the Bhat Sikhs and became Sikhs. Ending up in Punjab, the Bhat Sikhs adopted surnames which include those from Jat, Tarkhan
Tarkhan
Tarkhan is an ancient Central Asian title used by various Indo-European Tarkhan (Old Turkic Tarqan; Mongolian: Darkhan; ; ; ; alternative spellings Tarkan, Tarkhaan, Tarqan, Tarchan, Tarxan, Tarcan or Targan) is an ancient Central Asian title used by various Indo-European Tarkhan (Old Turkic...
, Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
, Khatri
Khatri
Khatri is a caste from the northern Indian subcontinent. Khatris in India are mostly from Punjab, region but later they migrated to regions like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber...
, Kambojas
Kambojas
The Kambojas were a kshatriya tribe of Iron Age India, frequently mentioned in Sanskrit and Pali literature.They were an Indo-Iranian tribe situated at the boundary of the Indo-Aryans and the Iranians, and appear to have moved from the Iranian into the Indo-Aryan sphere over time.The Kambojas...
, Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
and Gujjars. Many Bhats today are influenced by the Nihang
Nihang
Nihang is an armed Sikh order. Early Sikh military history is dominated by the Akali Nihang military order, particularly for many famous military victories won while often heavily outnumbered. The Akali Nihang have historically been held in great affection and respect by Sikhs due the pivotal role...
sect of Sikhism.
- Aboee
- Athangal
- Ark
- Amlawat
- Aulak
- Bagga
- Bagri
- Baidwan
- Bala
- Balhara
- Balyan
- Bance
- Bath/Badh
- Bhai
- Bhagat
- Bhaker/Bhakar/Prabhakar
- Bhatti
- Bhikha
- Bana
- Bandechha
- Bansi
- Barham
- Barhama
- Bath/Badh
- Basati
- Basra
- Basrai
- Bharat
- Bhari
- Bhati / Bhatti / Bhati
- Bhukar
- Bhana
- Chatha
- Chughtai
- Chilka
- Chima
- Chahal
- Chhokar, Chokar
- Chohan
- Changa
- Chauhan
- Digpal/Digwa
- Das
- Daska
- Derewal
- Dhoni
- Dara
- Dehr
- Dehal
- Dev
- Deo
- Dhaka
- Dhanesar
- Dhankhar
- Dharan
- Gami
- Gaurrh
- Gill
- Goojra/Gojrah
- Gola
- Gaina
- Gandhar
- Godara
- Gora
- Goraya
- Jaswal
- Jogi
- Jajra
- Jakhar
- Jakhu
- Jande
- Jhaal
- Jhaj
- Jhandi
- Jhammat
- Jhuj
- Khalsa
- Khalsi
- Kasbia/Kasba
- Kaumi
- Karwasra
- Katewa
- Katyal
- Kehal
- Khagwal
- Landa
- Ladh/Lad
- Larr
- Lohia
- Luddu
- Lakhat
- Maun
- Mavi
- Mehmi
- Minocha
- Moit
- Mohar
- Monga
- Mundi
- Mattu
- Neer/Paneer/Keer
- Nandra/Nanra
- Nain
- Nanda
- Potiwal
- Pall
- Pardesi
- Parhar
- Patel
- Pawar
- Phalaswal
- Phagura
- Phangureh
- Phogat
- Phoolka
- Pilania
- Palak
- Panaich
- Panag
- Roudh
- Rangila
- Rathore/ Rathour / Rathaur (KshatriyaKshatriya*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
RajputRajputA Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
) - Rattan
- Rao
- Raina
- Rawat
- Sabarwal
- Sahasi
- Sahi
- Sandha
- Sandhu
- Suwali/Swali
- Sagar
- Sathi
- Shad
- Sharma/Bhaker
- Sheri/Sharee
- Taak
- Tar
- Thariwal
- Toda
- Toor
- Thathal
- Vaire
Further information
Prince Charles has a long-term interest in Sikhism and has met Bhat Sikhs in various parts of the UK, praising their community work in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
Films and music
Actors, films, music and musicians which may be of special interest to Sikhs in the UK include:
- Baleah Baleh - a traditional Punjabi folk-singer
- GandhiGandhi (film)Gandhi is a 1982 biographical film based on the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who led the nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule in India during the first half of the 20th century. The film was directed by Richard Attenborough and stars Ben Kingsley as Gandhi. They both...
- the film directed by Richard AttenboroughRichard AttenboroughRichard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
which portrays the Amritsar massacre - Films with Gurdas MaanGurdas MaanGurdas Maan is an Indian singer, songwriter, choreographer, and actor. He is considered one of the most notable figures in the world of Punjabi music. He was born on 4 January 1957 in Giddarbaha, Muktsar, Punjab, India...
- Dholki drumming - a traditional art
- Jasbir Singh Bhogal, tablaTablaThe tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
player - Rhythm Dhol Bass (RDB), a Bhangra group
- Mehsopuria, a Bhangra singer
- Daljit Neer, singer, writer, media, radio, tv presenter
- Onkar Singh, London based Stand Up Comic
Historical figures
People of historical importance for Sikhs in the UK include:- Mata Sahib KaurMata Sahib KaurMata Sahib Kaur was the third wife of the tenth Sikh guru Gobind Singh. Born Sahib Devan, she was the daughter of Ramu of Rohtas. She did not have any child with Guru Gobind Singh, but she was declared as the mother of all the baptised Sikhs ....
External links
- Bhatra.co.uk - includes unique content on the early decades in the UK - collection of photographs
- Bhatra in the UK before Partition
- Sikh Sanjog
- Sikh Directory UK - includes Bhatra Gurdwaras
- Cardiff Bhatra Gurdwara
- Bhat Sikh Community in Peterborough
Bhat Sikh Community In Doncaster