About Sikh Missionary Society (U.K.) author S. Gurmukh Singh OBE

Born: 11 September 1938
Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat, India

Nationality: British

Residence: Southall, England, UK

Occupation: Retired senior civil servant

Prominent community mentor, writer, journalist and interpreter of Sikh ideology.

Gurmukh Singh

Gurmukh Singh OBE (born 11 September 1938) is a retired British senior civil servant and prominent Sikh scholar. He advises many national level Sikh organizations and was awarded an OBE in 2016 for charity work and community cohesion.

Biography

Gurmukh Singh was born in 1938 at Bhuj in the Kutch region of Gurjarat in India. His father, headman of the Dhaliwal clan at Village Bassian in Ludhinana district of Punjab, was in the Indian army at the time and became well known Sikh gyani, an exegesist of Sikh Scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Towards end 1947, following the partition of India, his parents migrated to Malaya where he completed his school education. He migrated to England in August 1960 and joined the Civil Service in December 1962.

He achieved four promotions during a changing race relations period while retaining his visible identity as a Sikh. He was the first Sikh identity official to represent a government department at European forums from 1985 and retired as policy Principal from the Aerospace and Defence Industries Directorate of the Department of Trade and Industry in June 1996. [1] [2]

Community service

During his working life he remained active promoting Sikh ideology, identity and integration of the Sikhs as a prominent community in British plural society. His advice is sought by nationwide Sikh organisations and non-Sikhs including departments and Members of Parliament. He has represented the Sikh Missionary Society UK in drafting briefs for organisations and guidance about Sikh articles of faith, Sikh ideology and identity. [1] [3] [4] He and is the Chair of the Society’s Advisory Board.

Through his faith advisory services for many groups within the community, he has played a significant catalytic role in keeping UK Sikh affairs on an even keel, while promoting transparency in Sikh-Government interface. [1][3]

He writes extensively and has produced many publications including translations and Sikh centennial souvenirs and numerous articles on topical issues affecting British Sikhs. Through his writings he has promoted Sikh social activism and charities working in diverse fields outside gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship). [5]

Over the years, he has given talks and media briefings about Sikh ideology and institutions. He has interpreted Sikh scriptures in the context of 21st-century issues. The topics include environmental and the Earth Charter topics, gender equality in Sikhism, Sikh view on ageing and care of the elderly, issues concerning advances in science e.g. Sikh view about genome editing, and many other educational, cultural and welfare topics. [1]

He wrote a weekly column in The Sikh Times published by the Eastern Media Group, for a number of years, and now writes a weekly lead column in English in the UK's Panjab Times. [6]

Awards and honours

Honoured by Canadian Sikhs with 'Sirdar Kapoor Singh' Khalsa Millennium Award in 2001 in recognition of his scholarly interpretation of Sikh ideology.

Honoured by the Gurmat Gian Missionary College, Ludhiana, India, the Sikh Missionary Society UK and by Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib (supreme Sikh religious institute) for his services to the community. [1] [7]

Lifetime Achievement Award at the first ever Guru Nanak Dev ji's Parkaash (birthday) Gurpurb event at the UK Parliament organised by the All Parties 1Parliamentary Group for British Sikhs, the Sikh Network and the Sikh Federation (UK). [8]

Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to Community Cohesion and charity. [9]

Honoured by the British Community Honours Awards at the House of Lords on 21 October 2016. [10]