Sikh Renaissance in J&K

Dear Gurvinder,

Congratulations on winning the Raj Sabha seat. The National Conference leadership deserves accolades for nominating you to the upper house.

I believe that the Sikh community stands at a historic crossroads that presents an unprecedented opportunity to redefine our role in the social, economic, developmental, and nationalistic fabric of J&K.

You inherit a legacy that is illustrious and challenging. The question is whether you can amplify, modernize, and pass on a stronger baton to the next generation.

Can the Sikhs of J&K become the Parsis of India, a minority community that punches far above its weight in nation-building, entrepreneurship, education, and social welfare. I believe they can, and you could be instrumental in making this vision a reality.

Before I propose what, I call the “Ten Commandments” for the Sikh community’s resurgence in J&K, it is essential to acknowledge important political contributions that has brought us to this juncture.

When we speak of contributions to J&K, we must remember stalwarts like Bhai Budh Singh Tyagi, a towering contemporary of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

While Sheikh Abdullah’s political trajectory is well-documented, Budh Singh Tyagi’s contributions to the socio-political landscape of pre- and post-independence J&K remain insufficiently celebrated.

He was instrumental in organizing the Sikh community politically, ensuring their representation in the tumultuous times of Partition and the accession of J&K to India.

He worked tirelessly to protect Sikh interests while maintaining communal harmony a delicate balance that few could achieve in those fraught times.

The contributions of Sardar Harbans Singh Azad and Dr. Harbajan Singh, who represented the Cabinet as Minister with outstanding dedication to community development, exemplify how individual leaders can bridge divides while serving the collective good.

The Sikh community in J&K, though numerically small, has consistently demonstrated resilience, entrepreneurship, and patriotism that enriches our shared heritage.

From the transport sector to agriculture, from small businesses to educational institutions, Sikhs have been integral to economic activity in many parts of J&K. Our contributions during times of conflict—sheltering displaced persons, maintaining supply lines, and serving in the armed forces with distinction exemplify the values that unite us.

It is crucial to recognize that the Sikh presence in J&K is not monolithic. The Sikhs of Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, and Mirpur constitute distinct ethnic and cultural groups within the broader Sikh diaspora. These communities often referred to as Pahari Sikhs or Himalayan Sikhs represent a pure ethnic group with their own distinct dialects, cultural practices, and historical trajectories. This diversity enriches Sikh identity itself and deserves recognition within both community institutions and official frameworks of representation.

Yet despite these contributions, the Sikh community in J&K faces challenges: demographic transitions, economic pressures, youth migration, and at times, a sense of political and administrative marginalization. The recent changes in J&K’s constitutional status have opened possibilities for development, investment, and equitable governance—possibilities that extend to all communities historically underrepresented in power structures.

Parsi Paradigm

The Parsi community constitutes less than 0.005% of India’s population, yet their contribution to Indian industry, science, arts, and philanthropy is disproportionately immense. From the Tatas to the Godrej, from Homi Bhabha to Zubin Mehta, Parsis have exemplified excellence, integrity, and community consciousness.

What made this possible? Vision, community organization, emphasis on education, entrepreneurial spirit, philanthropic culture, and a commitment to India’s progress without losing their distinct identity. The Sikhs of J&K possess similar attributes and can chart a comparable trajectory.

Ten Commandments: A Five-Year Roadmap

What follows is not a wish list or an emotional manifesto, but a practical, actionable five-year plan that requires sustained effort, measurable milestones, and community buy-in:

1. 
   Establish A Sikh Development Council (SDC) for J&K

Create an institutional framework that brings together Sikh professionals, entrepreneurs, educationists, and social workers from across J&K. This council should have a mandate, annual general meetings, transparent finances, and specific deliverables. Model it on successful community organizations, not on ceremonial bodies. Institutional funding will make its stature and mane impactful and valuable.

Year 1 Target: Registration, bylaws, and first annual conference with at least 500 community representatives.

2. 
   Launch a Comprehensive Education Initiative

Establish scholarship programs for Sikh students, particularly girls, for higher education and professional courses. Partner with educational institutions for reserved seats or special coaching programs. Funded by ministry of minority affairs and supported actively Ministry of Human Resources. Your presence in New Delhi as representative of the region and the community which mandate your active participation to make his possible.

Five-Year Target: At least 1,000 scholarships distributed, establishment of two coaching centers for competitive examinations, and mentorship programs connecting Sikh professionals with students.

3. 
   Create an Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Fund

Set up a seed funding mechanism for young Sikh entrepreneurs. Focus on sectors where the community has traditional strength—transport, hospitality, agriculture—but also emerging areas like technology, tourism, and renewable energy.

Five-Year Target: Support 200 startups/small businesses, conduct 50 skill development workshops, and create employment for at least 2,000 youth.

You would do exceptionally well in reaching out to the HNIs, Corporates and business tycoons of the community and encourage them to invest their expertise and capital in the state.

4. 
   Document Sikh Heritage in J&K

Commission a comprehensive documentation project on Sikh contribution to J&K—historical, cultural, economic, and military. Publish books, create digital archives, produce documentaries, and establish a small museum or heritage center.

Five-Year Target: At least three publications, one documentary, and one heritage center operational in Jammu.

5. 
   Strengthen Community Centers

Modernize gurdwaras not just as places of worship but as community hubs offering education, skill training, healthcare camps, and cultural activities. Ensure transparency in management and involve youth in decision-making.

Five-Year Target: All major Gurudwaras equipped with digital libraries, and regular welfare programs including promotion of Punjabi language largely discontinued in schools. Welfare measures for Granthis, Ragi Singhs and Sevadars.

6. 
   Establish Elderly Care Initiatives

Create a support system for elderly community members, including home visits, pension support assistance, and social engagement programs in collaboration with Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Five-Year Target: Quarterly health camps in 10 locations, establishment of one elderly care center, and a database of senior citizens requiring support.

7. 
   Inter-community Dialogue

Organize regular interfaith programs, cultural exchanges, and joint community service projects with other communities in J&K. Promote the Sikh values of universal brotherhood and service (Sarbat da Bhala).

Five-Year Target: Establishing a Sikh Study centre in central universities at Jammu and Srinagar.

8. 
   Political Advocacy

Train young community members in governance, public policy, and advocacy. Inclusion of Sikh Community under reservation category of ST 2.

Five-Year Target: At least 50 trained community advocates, participation in policy formulation, and improved representation in elected bodies and government positions. The aim is to garner human resources for two nominations from the community to the legislative assembly one each from Jammu and Kashmir region.

9. 
   Diaspora Engagement

Systematically engage the Sikh diaspora with roots in J&K. Create investment opportunities for Smart Agriculture, knowledge transfer programs, and emotional connections that translate into tangible support.

Five-Year Target: Annual diaspora convention, investments/donations, and establishment of a global network of J&K Sikhs.

10. Youth Leadership

Identify, mentor, and empower young leaders who will carry forward this mission. Create youth wings, leadership training programs, and platforms for young voices.

Five-Year Target: A 100-member strong youth leadership corps, annual youth conclave, and succession plan for all major community initiatives.

What distinguishes a legacy from a mere headline is sustainability and measurability. The Sikh community does not need another emotional appeal or a grand promise that fizzles out after a ceremonial launch. What is needed is a persistent, well-organized work.

This five-year plan is deliberately conservative in its targets. It does not promise transformation overnight but commits to steady, verifiable progress. Each commandment should have a dedicated team, quarterly review mechanisms, transparent financial accounting, and public reporting.

The Parsis did not become exceptional through grand gestures but through sustained commitment to excellence, education, enterprise, and ethics over generations.

The Sikhs of J&K possess all the ingredients for a similar trajectory—a rich heritage, a tradition of hard work, a culture of service, and now, a historic opportunity.

The Baton is Yours

You stand at a point where history offers a rare opening. The changes in J&K’s administrative and developmental landscape have created space for new initiatives, fresh thinking, and community-led transformation. The question is not whether the opportunity exists but whether there is the will, the wisdom, and the organizational capacity to seize it.

Remember, the greatest disservice to the legacy of Bhai Budh Singh Tyagi and countless unnamed Sikh contributors to J&K would be to let this moment pass with rhetoric alone. The community is watching, the region is ready, and the nation needs examples of minority communities thriving through self-effort and national integration.

The Sikhs of J&K can indeed become the Parsis of the region not by mimicking them but by being authentically Sikh in their values while being strategically modern in their methods.

Lt Gen R S Reen, Director General Quality Assurance - DGQA (Retd)