The de facto ambassador of the Sikhs at many recent French events in India and France, Harjinder Singh Kukreja hosts the French book launch.

At an impressive public event at an upbeat restaurant in Ludhiana, French historian, Douglas Gressiux, along with a French delegation visiting Punjab, released a book on the Role of Indian soldiers in World War 1.

Social activist and social media champion Harjinder Singh Kukreja played host to the team and said, “I am doing so to celebrate the Franco-Punjab relationship.” The French book titled, ‘Les Troupes Indiennes en France 1914-18’ talks about Indian soldiers who fought alongside the French in the First World War.

“I think, after the historic French cultural, military and logistic contribution to Lahore, Kapurthala and Chandigarh, it is time to link up Ludhiana and the launch of this book is the beginning”, said Harjinder Singh Kukreja.

“We cherish in our hearts the rose pinned by a French lady to the chest of a Sikh soldier on the streets of Paris nearly a century ago. The fragrance of the rose is still fresh in our minds and will continue to inspire us to explore our glorious past”, said Douglas Gressiux at his book launch. Addressing the media, historian Douglas said that he has been working on the project of identifying Indian citizens and their role in France for the last two decades.

Interestingly, coming out of the Punjabi mould, Ludhiana residents are showing keen interest in European languages. They are also concerned about their relatives, friends and associates affected by xenophobia against the Sikhs and others in France and other countries. The turban issue in French schools is uppermost in the minds of the Sikhs and it is painful to think that even today Sikhs in France are subjugated to humiliation for making driving licences and passports and are asked to remove their turbans and other headgear to make such documentation. It is however another story that the number of turban-wearing French Sikhs is minimal and the community needs to look inwards too.

Ludhiana-the Manchester of India has a growing youth population with keen interest in French and European political developments, languages and the rising xenophobia in recent times. “There is vast potential for Punjab to set up a centre for Punjab-Paris co-operation in many areas.” said Harjinder Singh Kukreja.

Among the many countries that have participated alongside the French in the World War 1, there is one that is often ignored: India and Punjab in particular. Punjab, then under British rule, made a huge contribution in WW1 in the north of France. Though the Sikh soldiers were part of the Indian contingent, the French are acutely aware of the French-Sikh ties since the times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

“The role of French General, Jean-François Allard in training the Fauj-e-Khas of the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh is another proud chapter of French- Punjab heritage,” said Harjinder Singh Kukreja who had recently represented Punjab at the installation of the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Saint-Tropez, France.

Speaking to WSN, Douglas said “He has been working on the role of the Sikh soldiers in France along side Sikhs de France, an organisation that represents French Sikhs to highlight the role of Sikh soldiers who fought the World War 1 for the freedom of France. I am now working on a book to catalogue the contribution of Sikh soldiers specifically to the independence of France.”

Accompanied by his wife and a 40 member strong French delegation on their maiden visit to Punjab, they were bowled over with Punjabi hospitality. Marie Jeane Gressiux, the wife of the author said, “I am happy at my first visit to Punjab. The creme de la creme of Ludhiana assembled at the function were also addressed by Bala Raman -French Consulate General to Pudduchery (formerly known as Pondicherry) and a Sikh resident in France Kulvinder Singh, both of whom thanked the author and Harjinder Singh for the event.

A mini-exhibition was held at the event displaying collages of photographs depicting Sikh involvement in the World War I.

Harjinder Singh, who has been relentlessly following the British and the Europeans to highlight the relationships between them and the Sikh nation, told WSN, “I am looking at the huge possibilities of translating this work into English and Punjabi. I invite Sikh scholars to take this up at the earliest.”