This is by way of introducing the little known Sikh community of South Africa which comprises of around 25 families in whole of South Africa, out of which 20 are based in different parts of the Province of KwaZulu Natal and the building of first Gurudwara in South Africa at 197, Croftdene Drive, Chatsworth, Durban which was initiated by the families of S.Fateh Singh and S.Hardev Singh.
Sikhs came to this country as soldiers of the British army to fight in the Anglo-Boer war (1889-1902) between Great Britain and the Afikaners which ended with the British victory in 1902. However, after the war many soldiers went back to India and a few stayed back and settled down in this country. Due to the policies of apartheid those Sikhs who stayed back in this country were not able to remain in touch with their motherland and the community slowly started losing its identity. However, some of them kept their faith and passed it on to the next generations.
We are the third generation descendants. Due to the turbulent history of South Africa, the touch we had with Sikhism was only through passing Indian sailors who visited us frequently from whom we managed to get gurbani cassettes and other literature on Sikh faith. It is only after my visit to my grandfather's home in Jullundhar and to the Golden Temple in 1984, we decided that if we do not propagate our religion in its correct form, we will be lost forever as stated. If parents lose their culture, then the children are lost forever? We do not want this to happen here and on this visit I brought the first Shri Guru Granth Sahib to South Africa and set up a temporary Gurudwara in my house. We are regularly having Gurudwara service every Sunday morning, celebrating some Gurupurabs followed by Langar. Our satsang group makes up of about 75 members. This also includes some expatriate families who came to South Africa after the establishment of democracy in 1994.
Since the house was too small to accommodate all, we embarked on building a Gurudwara. The plot for the Gurudwara was allotted to us after intense negotiations and struggle with the Durban City Council in 1995. The City Council was reluctant because of the size of our community which was too small. However, after the allotment, plans were drawn and work started on the project. Though the land allocated was not the best but with the Grace of Waheguru we have brought the building to its second floor, i.e. the Langar Hall. We have now reached a point where the roof has to be erected over the Prayer Hall.
