I think it’s important for Sikhs to own their narrative and tell their own stories.

The British Army is the same one that used treachery in the Anglo-Sikh war. Sikhs, and others in the colonial armies, were never even considered truly “British” - not even Duleep Singh. https://twitter.com/BritishArmy/status/1304698807909789696

In the 19th century, the British Army is the one that suppressed various Sikh-led rebellions yet artificially limited large bodies of Sikhs displaced from employment in the Khalsa Army from recruiting for British service. https://twitter.com/JungNihang/status/1296907635040694277

In the 20th century, the mass-recruiting that was done for the World Wars which the British now herald as Sikhs being part of their collective heritage was primarily propped upon offerings of new economic incentives - they even called it a mercenary army. https://twitter.com/JungNihang/status/1300419101517586433

In fact, the main individual who helped push for heavy British recruiting in Punjab was the infamous Sir Michael O’Dwyer; later shot by Udham Singh for his sanctioning of Jallianwala Bagh. He also played a large part in suppressing post-WWI Sikh anti-colonial movements.

Saragarhi is an important moment - but Sikhs should contextualize that within the broader realm of Sikh history and individual bravery. I would be loathe to celebrate it alongside an institution that quite often undermined Sikhs. Good thread: https://twitter.com/sialmirzagoraya/status/1304731235810328576