Phoenix Art Museum has been hosting its exclusive presentation of the exhibition Warriors of World War I: Sikh Art and Heritage for quite some time. An exhibit that features a selection of rare photographs, lithographs, and postcards that document the presence of Sikh warriors in the British Indian Army, the exhibit is breathtaking and has some unique artifacts that must have been collected through extensive hard work. The exhibit also included treasured items such as Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army flag – 1 of 8 surviving in the world. The exhibit tells the unique story of Sikhs and their warrior heritage and how it has assisted various global armies during times of need.
In addition to the exhibition, the museum hosted a private film screening of the 2017 film All Quite on the Home Front. This film tells the story of the first Sikh to serve in the US Army in World War I, Bhagat Singh Thind, wearing his articles of faith and the landmark Supreme Court case that followed in 1923. Phoenix had the immense pleasure of hosting Army Lieutenant Colonel Kamal S. Kalsi who introduced the film and provided an insider’s perspective on the challenges people face to this day wearing articles of faith during armed combat.
The event attracted a large audience and Asia Today was honored to be included to see the exhibition & film screening and watch the various attendees enjoy history unfold itself before their eyes. With the wonderful support of the South Asian community in Arizona, it was a sold-out event on a Saturday afte
oon. The support of the community will continue to allow organizations to host such events in the future so our coming generations can be co
ected to our history and heritage. Congratulations to the community and organizers for another great event. If you missed it, the exhibit is still available at Phoenix Art Museum (www.phxart.org) and the movie can be bought/rented to see what the excitement was all about!
