Sikh prayer books return to British military life after 100 years

‘We draw moral and physical strength from reading the scriptures every day’

DAILY prayer books are being issued to Sikh military personnel for the first time in more than 100 years.

Major Daljinder Singh Virdee, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, spent two years campaigning for the reintroduction of a tradition last seen in 1914.

Sikhs in the British Indian Army were provided with their religious text, along with other articles of their faith including steel daggers, bracelets and wooden combs.

The books, called Nitnem Gutkas, have been printed in three languages in durable and waterproof material to withstand the elements.

The British Army Gutka, which has a camouflage cover, and the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Gutkas, which have navy blue covers, were printed in Wiltshire and placed on a throne in a purpose-built vehicle for Sikh scriptures.

They were then transported to the library of the Central Gurdwara temple in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, before they were issued to military personnel by the UK Defence Sikh Network at a ceremony in London on Oct 28.

Major Singh Virdee, who refers to his Nitnem Gutka three times a day, said: “The Army has been providing Christian

religious texts for many years and I saw the opportunity there to open the door for the Sikh faith to provide Sikh texts. For Sikhs our scriptures are not just words, they are the living embodiment of our guru,” he said.

“We draw moral strength and physical strength from reading the scriptures every day, it gives us discipline and it grows us spiritually.”

Satveer Singh Padam, who designed the new version of the Nitnem Gutka, said he wanted to incorporate historical elements of the Sikh faith, such as a curved blade sword or a double-edged dagger, into the books. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The UK Defence Sikh Network is one of many religious networks for those serving in the British military.

“By providing a Nitnem Gutka for serving Sikhs across the UK MOD we hope to directly support Sikhs practise a key component of their faith wherever they travel and work in whatever conditions.”