Sikhism in Italy Italy
Sikhismo in Italia
Two Sikh soldiers using a Bren light machine gun in the World War II (Italian campaign) near Villa Grande (15 January 1944)
Total population
200,000 to 220,000[14]
Regions with significant populations
Reggio Emilia · Brescia · Verona · Lazio
Religions
Sikhism
Languages
Punjabi · Italian
Venetian • Neapolitan

Italian Sikhs are a growing religious minority in Italy, which has the second biggest Sikh population in Europe after the United Kingdom (525,000) and sixth largest number of Sikhs in the world. It is estimated that there are between 200,000 to 220,000 Sikhs in Italy, constituting 0.33% of Italy's population.[22]

History

Sikh Gurus

One of the earliest documented interactions of Italians and Sikhs was in 1708, when Niccolao Manucci, a Venetian doctor who practiced medicine in Lahore, is "reported" to have attended Guru Gobind Singh to treat a stab wound during his final days in Nanded, India.[23] However this claim is a point of contention.

Sikh Empire

The Italians had a significant impact on the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. They played key roles in the administration, military, and cultural aspects of the empire. Some notable Italians who influenced the Sikh Empire were General Jean-Baptiste Ventura and General Paolo Crescenzo Avitabile. [24]

A late night gathering of Sikhs with Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Italian General Ventura outside the walls of Lahore, ca.1830

Ventura was a commander in the Fauj-i-Khas, a brigade of the Fauj-i-Ain section of the Sikh Khalsa Army of Punjab.

The Italians, along with other European mercenaries, were instrumental in modernizing and reorganizing the Khalsa Army, bringing it up to European standards. They introduced new military strategies, training techniques, and weaponry, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the Sikh forces.

In addition to their military contributions, the Italians also held influential positions within the Sikh administration. They served as advisors to the Maharaja and held administrative posts in various provinces. For example, General Paolo Crescenzo Avitabile was appointed as the Governor of Wazirabad and succeeded Sikh leader General Hari Singh Nalwa as Governor of Peshawar where he implemented administrative reforms and maintained order in those regions.[25]

The Italians also had a cultural impact on the Sikh Empire. They brought their own customs, traditions, and architectural styles, influencing the artistic and architectural landscape of Punjab. Their presence contributed to the cosmopolitan atmosphere at the Lahore Court and added to the modernising of the Sikh Army.[26]

Mid 19th Century: Duleep Singh

Maharaja Duleep Singh had travelled through Italy in late 1856 and early 1857. Lena, Lady Login had a handwritten diary recounting parts of the four-month tour accompanying Duleep Singh on this trip.[27]

Early 1900's

In 1918, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was awarded the Order of the Crown of Italy.

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala visited Rome, Italy in 1935. To this day, it is claimed shops in Milan still remember Singh as one of their high-flying benefactors. As an ally of the British, Bhupinder Singh served on the General Staff in the World War I which commanded the first Patiala Regiment, which won 43 honours for its display of courage in Italy alongside Palestine, Gallipoli and Mesopotamia in the World War I.[28]

Italian campaign (World War II)

The Italian Campaign began with the landing of the Allies in Sicily on July 9, 1943. This significant event marked Italy's decision to join the war on the side of the Allies and the beginning of the decline of Fascism. On April 24, 1945, the liberation of Ferrara was officially announced by Anglo-American troops. Testimonies from that time indicate that Indian troops, primarily Sikh soldiers, were among the first to reach Ferrara. These troops were part of the 5th Corps of the 8th British Army. Following the liberation of Ferrara, the troops were deployed in Porotto, strategically located on the path leading to the Po River, which ran alongside the Gothic Line.[29]

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh also fought in Italy during the World War II. [30]

In April 2023, the World Sikh Martyr Military Memorial Committee (WMC) attended the commemoration ceremony in Lucera, Italy. It is estimated that between 5,000 - 5,800 Sikh Soldiers died for the liberation of Italy. [31][32][33]

During the Italian Campaign, Indian troops won six of the 20 Victoria crosses awarded to Allied Forces in Italy. [34]

A Sikh soldier of the 4th Division (the Red Eagles) of the Indian Army, attached to the British Fifth Army in Italy. Holding a captured Hakenkreuz (Hooked Cross) after the surrender of German forces in Italy, May 1945.

Italian Sikh Soldier Memorial

In April 2011, at the Forli War Cemetery, the inauguration of the first Sikh military monument in Italy was dedicated to the Sikhs who fought in Forlì from 1943 to 1945. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, it is estimated that 352 Sikh soldiers died at Forli.[35][33][36]

WWII Sikh Soldier Statue at Forli War Cemetery in Forlì, Italy

Post World War II

In 1965, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh served as the ambassador to Italy for two years before leaving his post to become a member of the Punjab State Assembly. [30]

In 1968, Milkha Singh finished fourth in the mens 400m in the Olympic Games in Rome.

21st Century

In 2009, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the First Sikh Prime Minister of India arrives in Rome, Italy to attend the 35th G8 summit.

In April 2023, Vincenzo De Luca, Italian Ambassador to India went to pay obeisance at Golden Temple in Amritsar, India.[37]

Employment

Italian cheese industry

There is a disproportionate amount of Sikhs working in the Italian cheese industry. Due to their significant contribution to the industry, Sikhs have been regarded as the 'saviours of Parmesan'.[38][39][40][41]

The British Sikh Report has stated in 2016, "As a result, Sikhs make up a large number of workers in many of the Mozzarella and Parmesan dairies in Northern and Central Italy. It is remarkable to think that a significant portion of these and other world famous Italian cheeses are now produced by Sikhs. The influx of diligent Sikh migrant workers has rescued the trade as many younger Italians have sought vocations away from these traditional industries."[42]

Exploitation of Sikh workers

There have been thousands of cases raised of exploitation of Sikh migrant workers within the agricultural sector. Many have been exploited through being paid below minimum wage, organised crime, blackmail, harassment, threats and even violence.[43][44][45][46]

Marco Omizzolo, is a sociologist, researcher and journalist who has been documenting human rights violations against Sikh migrant workers exploited in the fields in the province of Latina. He has released various books, research papers and studies in this area.[47]

In 2011, Al Jazeera released a documentary called 'Italy's Sikh Slaves' which explored Sikh migrant workers who "face abuse and exploitation from both profit-driven agri-businesses and organised crime – labouring for pitiful wages, often without official documentation, and trapped in a system from which there is no escape."[48]

According to Medu (Doctors for Human Rights - Italy), 43% of Sikh agricultural workers don't speak Italian therefore are cut-off from criminal justice and social support services.[49]

Sikh women have also reported sexual exploitation, harassment and work exploitation. The Lilith Womens Center in Latina, Lazio also has stated the threat of domestic violence is also a deterrent to Punjabi women seeking justice when they facing harassment.[50]  

In 2016, Marco Omizzolo and 4,000 Sikhs marched through the provincial capital of Latina to protest pay and conditions.[51]

In 2018, another protest was organised where representatives from Italy's largest workers' unions joined 1,500 Sikhs.[51]

United Nations's special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery had estimated that more than 400,000 agricultural workers in Italy are at risk being exploitation in 2018 and almost 100,000 are likely to face "inhumane conditions".[52]

Demographics

It is widely estimated that the number of Sikhs currently are between 200,000 to 220,000, with some scholars estimate this number to be significantly higher and have doubled it or even tripled it.[53] This can be largely attributed due to ongoing large immigration from Punjab, undocumented migrants and a lack of religious census data in Italy.[54]

Regional

  • It is estimated in Vicenza, there are 1,000.[64]
  • In Novellara, there are estimated to be 10,000 Sikhs.[65]
  • In Pontinia, there estimated to be 60,000 Sikhs making it the second largest cluster of Sikhs in Italy.[66][67]


Kirpan ruling

In 2017, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) decided to approach the International Court of Justice to challenge the recent ruling by the Italian court upholding the prohibition on Sikhs carrying the Kirpan. The SGPC expressed its discontent with the decision and plans to take legal action at the international level to defend the rights of Sikhs to carry their religious ceremonial daggers. [68]

Gurdwaras

There are about 60 Gurdwaras across the country - the oldest one being in Reggio Emilia in northern Italy where many members of the community are engaged in agricultural work.[57]

Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Reggio Emilia, Italy

These Gurdwaras include

Calabria
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Emilia-Romagna
Lazio
Lombardia
Marche
Piemonte
Puglia
  • Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Bari
  • Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Lecce
Toscana
Trentino-Alto Adige
  • Gurdwara Singh Sabha Galvani, Bolzano
Umbria
  • Gurdwara Singh Sabh, Terni
Veneto

List of Italian Sikhs

Inder Singh (Hockey) - 1968 Olympic Bronze Medallist

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Over 40,000 Sikhs vote in secessionist Referendum in Italy". Geo News. it had chosen the city of Brixia because Italy had over 200,000 Sikhs living in the county with a majority in Brescia.
  2. ↑ "Around 45,000 Sikhs vote in Referendum in Italy". Daily Pakistan. That it had chosen the city of Brixia because Italy had over 200,000 Sikhs living in it with a majority in Brescia
  3. ↑ "Sikhs vote in referendum in Rome". Pakistan Today. 3 July 2022. About 200,000 Sikhs live in different cities of Italy.
  4. ↑ "Sikhs vote in referendum in Rome". The Nation. About 200,000 Sikhs live in different cities of Italy.
  5. ↑ "Thousands of Sikhs attend parade in Italy". Bol News. Italy has over 200,000 Sikhs who are active members of the Italian population, which is why this city was chosen
  6. 1 2 3 "The Continuing Struggle for Religious Freedom by Italy's Sikh Community". The Wire. It is estimated that there are around 220,000 Sikh migrants in Italy. The community, however, has been largely invisible to native Italians. The majority of Sikhs are dairy workers, living far from the cities, and settled mainly in the farms of north and central Italy.
  7. 1 2 3 "How the recent Punjabi migration to Spain & Italy is a departure for the diaspora". The Economic Times. 29 July 2018. The total number of Indians in Italy has now crossed 200,000, making it the largest Indian diaspora in continental Europe and far greater than the 30,000 estimated in Spain. This Indian contingent is mainly made up of Punjabi Jat Sikhs.
  8. 1 2 "How Sikhs saved the Italian cheese industry". Global Indian. Today, Italy has the largest Sikh population in Europe, only second to the United Kingdom, with an estimated number of 220,000
  9. ↑ Bertolani, Barbara (2013). "The Sikhs in Italy: A Growing Heterogeneous and Plural Presence". Globalizing Belief, Localizing Gods. Brill Publishers. p. 75. ISBN 9789004254756. According to Gallo (2013), by contrast, the Sikhs would number at least 100,000. Barbara Bertolani estimates in 2013 "My own data gathered within the Sikh community in Italy show Sikh people constituting about 70% of all the Indians present, i.e., at least 84,000 residents
  10. 1 2 3 "Why the Indian government must help Italian Sikhs". Hindustan Times. Up to 150,000 Sikhs now live there, making it the largest Sikh Community in Europe after the one in Britain
  11. ↑ "The Sikhs Spearheading The Italian Parmesan Cheese Industry". Homegrown. Despite the estimated 220,000 Sikh immigrants who inhabit the Po Valley, there seems to a whiff of change in the air
  12. 1 2 3 "Sikhs vote in referendum in Rome". Pakistan Today. About 200,000 Sikhs live in different cities of Italy.
  13. 1 2 3 Tebano, Elena. "Prayer at dawn, zero crime: this is how Sikhs live in Italy, after the sentence of the Cassation". Corriere Della Sera. The vegan diet, the cult, the traditions. Customs and symbols of the 150,000 faithful of the religion born in India who now live in the Bel Paese
  14. ↑ [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
  15. ↑ "Over 40,000 Sikhs vote in secessionist Referendum in Italy". Geo News. it had chosen the city of Brixia because Italy had over 200,000 Sikhs living in the county with a majority in Brescia.
  16. ↑ "Around 45,000 Sikhs vote in Referendum in Italy". Daily Pakistan. That it had chosen the city of Brixia because Italy had over 200,000 Sikhs living in it with a majority in Brescia
  17. ↑ "Sikhs vote in referendum in Rome". Pakistan Today. 3 July 2022. About 200,000 Sikhs live in different cities of Italy.
  18. ↑ "Sikhs vote in referendum in Rome". The Nation. About 200,000 Sikhs live in different cities of Italy.
  19. ↑ "Thousands of Sikhs attend parade in Italy". Bol News. Italy has over 200,000 Sikhs who are active members of the Italian population, which is why this city was chosen
  20. ↑ Bertolani, Barbara (2013). "The Sikhs in Italy: A Growing Heterogeneous and Plural Presence". Globalizing Belief, Localizing Gods. Brill Publishers. p. 75. ISBN 9789004254756. According to Gallo (2013), by contrast, the Sikhs would number at least 100,000. Barbara Bertolani estimates in 2013 "My own data gathered within the Sikh community in Italy show Sikh people constituting about 70% of all the Indians present, i.e., at least 84,000 residents
  21. ↑ "The Sikhs Spearheading The Italian Parmesan Cheese Industry". Homegrown. Despite the estimated 220,000 Sikh immigrants who inhabit the Po Valley, there seems to a whiff of change in the air
  22. ↑ [15][16][17][18][19][6][7][8][20][10][21][12][13]
  23. ↑ The Panjab-Past And Present. Vol. XXV–I. Department of Punjab Historical Studies. 1991.
  24. ↑ "The Lion's Firanghis: The Europeans at the Court of Lahore traces the journey and lives of foreigners in Ranjit Singh's court". Indian Tribune.
  25. ↑ "Abu Tabela – Peshawar's forgotten general". The News PK. Abu Tabela joined the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1827 and in 1837, took over as the governor of Peshawar.....After the death of Hari Singh Nalwa in the battle of Jamrud (April 1837), Avitabile was named governor of Peshawar.
  26. ↑ "Bas-relief of Ranjit Singh's officer in Italy". Dawn.
  27. ↑ "Lady Login's handwritten travel diary, recounting part of the four-month tour accompanying Maharajah Duleep Singh through France and Italy". Bonhams. They left Rome for Naples (though not before a trip on a steamer at Livorno which was plagued by seasickness), and also climbed Mount Vesuvius (19th), and from there went on to Bologna ...
  28. ↑ "Maharaja Bhupinder Singh, patron saint of Patiala peg who used Sikh identity to his advantage". The Print. high-flying benefactors.
  29. ↑ "The Legendary 8th Army ~ Italy". SikhNet. 31 October 2011.
  30. 1 2 "Yadavendra Singh, Sikh Leader, Ex‐Maharaja of Patiala, Is Dead". New York Times. 19 June 1974. He subsequently joined the army and during World War II, as a colonel in the Sikh Regiment, he fought in Malaya, Burma and Italy.....In 1965, the Maharaja was named ambassador to Italy, but two years later left this post to become a member of the Punjab State Assembly. He was named ambassador to the Netherlands in 1971
  31. ↑ Makkar, Daljit (28 April 2023). "8,500 Sikh Soldiers were martyred for the sake of Freedom in Italy". Rozana Spokesman. About 8,500 soldiers have given their martyrdom for the sake of freedom in our country.
  32. ↑ "Forli Indian Army War Cemetery" (PDF). Forli Indian Army War Cemetery.
  33. 1 2 "Italy Honours WWII Sikh Heroes With Grand Memorial". SikhChic. For the liberation of Italy, 5773 British-Indian Soldiers laid down their lives in Italy, of which the majority were Sikhs. Besides Forly, Sikhs also fought in Cassino, Florence, Ravana and Sangro River during World War II.
  34. ↑ "India forgot its soldiers, world remembers them with pride". Indian Express. The Indian troops won six of the 20 Victoria crosses awarded to Allied Forces in Italy
  35. ↑ "FORLI CREMATION MEMORIAL". Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  36. ↑ "Razzini goes to Forlì to the religious commemoration of the Sikhs". il Resto De Carlino.
  37. ↑ "Italian, EU envoys pay obeisance at Golden Temple". Tribune India. 16 April 2023.
  38. ↑ Mitzman, Danny (25 June 2015). "The Sikhs Who Saved Parmesan". BBC.
  39. ↑ Logre, Sonia (25 October 2011). "Sikhs rescue Italy's Parmesan cheese". Yahoo. Manjit Singh is part of a large community of Sikhs in northern Italy who are shoring up an industry under threat of extinction
  40. ↑ "Italians Thank Sikhs for Their Contribution in transforming their economy!". BaruSahib. 23 December 2014. The owners of the cheese factories state they are glad to have Sikhs as their workers because Sikhs are trustworthy and hand working.
  41. ↑ "The Italian Cheese Is Not Made By The Italians: There's An Indian Connection To It". Ed Times. 8 July 2017. It left the Italian cheese to be at a significantly dangerous position. What came to rescue were the Sikh immigrants from Punjab who were masters of the agricultural and cattle process.
  42. ↑ "An Insight into the British Sikh Community" (PDF). British Sikh Report 2016: 9. As a result, Sikhs make up a large number of workers in many of the Mozzarella and Parmesan dairies in Northern and Central Italy. It is remarkable to think that a significant portion of these and other world famous Italian cheeses are now produced by Sikhs. The influx of diligent Sikh migrant workers has rescued the trade as many younger Italians have sought vocations away from these traditional industries.
  43. ↑ "TRAPPED BY THE DEBT: PUNJABI WORKERS LURED INTO TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITED IN ITALY". JournalismFund Europe.
  44. ↑ Annibale, Federico (22 November 2016). "Sikh Farmers in the Agro Pontino". Novara Media. Marco worked undercover on a farm in the area for three months, experiencing first hand how hard it is working in the fields. "The vast majority of Sikhs who live in the area work in the fields, and almost all of them work in degrading conditions. Salaries are well below the legal minimum wage, and there is violence and intimidation towards farmers who rebel.
  45. ↑ Bacchi, Umberto (19 July 2017). "Opium numbs the pain for Indian pickers exploited on Italian farms". Reuters.
  46. ↑ Lionel, Jessica (18 October 2023). "The Indian slaves growing Italy's crops". The New European. On the outskirts of the capital, Punjabi-Sikhs are being forced to work in brutal conditions.
  47. ↑ "Marco Omizzolo: The Italian Activist Punjabi Immigrants Hail as 'Sent by God'". The Wire. 17 April 2023.
  48. ↑ "Italy's Sikh Slaves". Al Jazeera. face abuse and exploitation from both profit-driven agri-businesses and organised crime – labouring for pitiful wages, often without official documentation, and trapped in a system from which there is no escape.
  49. ↑ "'An employer? No, we have a master': the Sikhs secretly exploited in Italy". The Guardian. 22 December 2017.
  50. ↑ Saikia, Pari (12 August 2022). "'For Them I Am a Prey': The Hidden Exploitation of Punjabi Women in Italy". Vice.
  51. 1 2 Williams, Meghan (28 April 2019). "Despite threats from bosses and fear of reprisal, 4,000 Sikhs marched through the provincial capital of Latina to protest pay and conditions". CBC Canada. Despite threats from bosses and fear of reprisal, 4,000 Sikhs marched through the provincial capital of Latina to protest pay and conditions. Last September, they organized another protest where representatives from Italy's largest workers' unions joined 1,500 Sikhs.
  52. ↑ "Six years a slave: Indian farm workers exploited in Italy". Indian Times. The UN's special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery estimated in 2018 that more than 400,000 agricultural workers in Italy risk being exploited and almost 100,000 likely face "inhumane conditions".
  53. ↑ Le religioni in Italia, CESNUR, 2018
  54. ↑ "'An employer? No, we have a master': the Sikhs secretly exploited in Italy". The Guardian. According to labour unions and community leaders, Italy's largely hidden community of Sikh migrant workers
  55. ↑ Sirohi, Seema (21 June 2006). "Sikhs in Italy". More than 50,000 of them, mostly Sikhs, are spread across towns such as Reggio Emilia, Casina, Bergamo and Brescia
  56. ↑ Gallo, Ester (2012). "Creating Gurdwaras, Narrating Histories: Perspectives on the Sikh Diaspora in Italy". Revisiting Space and Place: South Asian Migrations in Perspective. The number of Sikh Punjabis is estimated at about 115,000 and represents the largest Indian community.
  57. 1 2 "All-white band captures Baisakhi flavour in Italy". Times of India. Italy has 1.14 lakh Sikh population and 60 gurdwaras.
  58. ↑ "The Indian hands behind Italy's famed Parmigiano-Reggiano". Hindustan Times. 4 September 2018. There are an estimated 200,000 Sikhs in Italy, agricultural and dairy workers forming a large part of that number. While official recognition of the religion has been slow, the community has woven itself in to the social fabric
  59. ↑ "Over 40,000 Sikhs vote in secessionist Referendum in Italy". Geo News. it had chosen the city of Brixia because Italy had over 200,000 Sikhs living in the county with a majority in Brescia.
  60. ↑ "Around 45,000 Sikhs vote in Referendum in Italy". Daily Pakistan. That it had chosen the city of Brixia because Italy had over 200,000 Sikhs living in it with a majority in Brescia
  61. ↑ "Sikhs vote in referendum in Rome". The Nation. About 200,000 Sikhs live in different cities of Italy.
  62. ↑ "Thousands of Sikhs attend parade in Italy". Bol News. Italy has over 200,000 Sikhs who are active members of the Italian population, which is why this city was chosen
  63. ↑ Cecco, Leyland (8 October 2023). "'Police said I'm in danger': Sikh activists on edge worldwide after Vancouver killing". The Guardian. of Italy's 220,000 Sikhs
  64. ↑ Now, Sikhs do a Canada in Italy
  65. ↑ "Religious groups". Novellara (Council of Europe). Every Sunday around 4000 people are gathering in the Gurdwara, but the number of devotees can reach around 10.000 people during the Vaisakhi, the main Sikh celebration marking the harvest festival of the Punjab region, the Punjabi New Year and the birth of the Khalsa.
  66. ↑ "The Sikh migrants keeping Italy's mozzarella industry alive". NewsWeek. There are roughly 60,000 Sikhs living in the area, the second largest cluster in Italy. Roughly 800 of them work in the 2,000 dairy farms
  67. ↑ "Sikh Farmers keeping Cheese Industry alive in Italy". SBS Punjabi. There are roughly 60,000 Sikhs living in the area and roughly 800 out of them work in 2,000 dairy farms that specialize in producing mozzarella and buffalo milk
  68. ↑ "SGPC to approach int'l court against Italian court ruling". The Tribune.
  69. ↑ Gurdwara Cortenuova
  70. ↑ Singh, Jasbeer (10 March 2023). "Hockey, la braidese Jasbeer Singh: "Ho solo il rimpianto di non aver visto giocare mio padre"" [Hockey, the Brai player Jasbeer Singh: "I only regret not having seen my father play"] (Interview) (in Italian). Interviewed by Fiorella Avalle Nemolis. Bra, Piedmont: Cuneocronaca.it. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  71. ↑ "Sikhs in Hockey in Italy". Sikhs in Hockey. Kulwant Singh, who represented India at Munich 1972 Olympic Games, also went and settled in Italy. Kulwant won Italian National Championship with HC Bra and CUS Torino.
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