Letter from Santokh Singh, 1 June 1946. Catalogue ref: CAB 127/106
Context – Santokh Singh was a writer who wrote in Punjabi, with a Sikh father and a Hindu mother. He is writing to Lord Pethick Lawrence, a British politician involved in the negotiations leading to the partition of British India.
Transcript
The situation is painful for the Sikhs particularly as the proposals emerge from the British with whom they have had such great friendship for a long time. Sikh blood has been spilt ungrudgingly at every war for the last Century in which the British have been involved. They do not want any reward for this, but their feelings should be understood when their very experience is threatened by the proposals of the British whom they have always regarded as friends.
The Mission has recognised the Sikhs as a minority but have not conceded minority privileges to them as they have done to the only other minority, the Muslims.
Yours truly,
Santokh Singh M.A. (Oxon) B. Sc.
of Shahkot.
- What is the tone of the letter? Give an example to support.
- What does it reveal about the concerns of the Sikh population relating to the partition of British India?