Sikhism in India

Indian Sikhs

Harmandir Sahib, located in Amritsar, Punjab is the holiest shrine of Sikhism.
Total population
20,833,116 (2011) Fourth largest Religion in India
Regions with significant populations
Majority in Punjab, India. Significant populations in Chandigarh · Haryana · New Delhi · Jammu & Kashmir · Rajasthan · Uttar Pradesh · Uttarakhand
Languages
Punjabi • Sindhi • Hindi • English

Majority in Punjab, India.

Sikhism is India's fourth largest religion and has existed for 546 years, beginning with the birth of its founder Guru Nanak. The Sikhs are predominantly located in Punjab, but also in many other parts of India. It is also the fifth largest religion in the world with 25 million followers in the world as of year 2010.

Though Sikhs are a small minority in India, the community occupies a significant place in the country. The current Chief Justice of India, Jagdish Singh Khehar,The past Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh are Sikh, as is former President of India Giani Zail Singh. Almost every council of ministers in India has included Sikh representatives. Sikhs are also conspicuous in the Indian army, primarily because they formed the sword arm of the British empire. The only living Indian officer with a 5 star rank Arjan Singh is a Sikh. Sikhs have also led the Indian army through JJ Singh and the Indian Air Force was led by Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh. Presently Chief of Air Force is also Sikh ,[ Air Chief Marshal Baljinder Singh Dhanoa]. Sikhs have been prominent in Indian sports, with the only Indian individual gold medalist in Olympics, Abhinav Bindra, being a Sikh. Similarly they occupy important official positions, like Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia; governor Surjit Singh Barnala. Sikhs are also known for entrepreneurial business in India. In the entertainment industry, singer Daler Mehndi, Diljit Dosanjh and Rabbi Shergill are Sikhs. One reason for visibility of Sikhs in the Indian spectrum is the disproportionate role played by the Sikh community during the Indian freedom struggle, with Bhagat Singh remaining a youth icon to Indian youth.