A Punjabi speaking state - 'Punjabi Suba' in popular terminology became the focus of Sikhs' political ambition. They pursued the demand with the full power of their will. They mobilised all their resources behind it and fought for it tooth and nail. A variety of tactics came into play. Widespread agitations were followed by negotiations across the table.

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After the incident of Vaisakhi 1978, a agitation was started against the Nirankaris. Wherever the Nirankaris had their meetings, GurSikhs would go and protest peacefully. Thus Gurbachan Singh was unable to address the meetings held at Varanasi, Azamgarh and Allahbad. On 25th September 1978, Gurbachan Singh reached Kanpur at 9.30p.m, flanked by police officers to protect him. The news having leaked out, the Sikhs started a protest march from Gurdwara Gobindpuri, which is at a distance of about 3 kilometres from the Nirankari Bhawan of Kanpur. Women and children also joined the protesters.

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Indian nationalism emerged in the later nineteenth century, and by the end of the first World War the movement for independence was becoming a major force in public life. During the decade from 1919 to 1929, there were waves of protest against the British that were unprecedented in extent, duration, and intensity. The decade ranged from the Amritsar meeting of the Indian National Congress (in the aftermath of the Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and in anticipation of the Non-Cooperation campaign which grew from the activist programs of Khilafatism and Gandhian Satyagraha) to the Lahore Congress which adopted the memorable resolution that called for purna swaraj.

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On 13th April 1978 the Akhand Kirtani Jatha gathered together from all over India at Amritsar to hold their yearly Vaisakhi Smagam. Kirtan had started from Amrit Vela and at about 10 o'clock a message was received. The message said that the followers of Nakali Nirankari Gurbachan Singh were holding a procession in Amritsar and were shouting slogans against the Satguru and shouting insults against the Sikh religion.

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Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, founder of Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental College which later became Aligarh State university was encouraged by British to communalise politics. He became a staunch ally of British and lent his commanding influence to preach gospel of loyalty among Muslims. He first opened his campaign againt Indian National Congress in 1887. (Indian national congress was founded in 1885 by Some British and Anglo-Indians to demand legislative assembly, etc) His speech in Lucknow in 18 December 1887 was full of venom. His primary aim was to win the Muslims reprieve for their part in mutiny of 1857. In 1893, Syed Ahmad Khan established the Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental Defence Association of Upper India which was opened only to Muslims and Englishmen. Thus started a long campaign to create a separate state for Muslims.

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This short paper has been put together to provide some information about Viscount Slim, and the Sikh forces that fought in the 14th Army during the infamous Burma Campaign. It has proven difficult to find the exact breakdown of the Sikh forces under Slims command in the timescale provided. The authoritative work on the subject (The Sikh Regiment In The Second World War, Colonel F.T.Birdwood (OBE)) is not freely available. It is clear that the 1st Sikh battalion (aka 14th Sikh, Ferozpure Sikhs and King Georges Own) were there under Slims command. It appears as if the famous 2nd Sikh (15th Ludhiana) were also there. There were almost definitely more Sikh forces under his command, more time is required to track down the exact details. This paper represents the work done to date on this request.

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