Statue of a Sikh soldier unveiled in honor of Sikh soldiers in Leicester, UK

A statue of a Sikh soldier was unveiled in the UK city of Leicester on Sunday to honor the Sikhs who fought for Britain during conflicts around the world. A bronze statue of a Sikh soldier was displayed on a granite platform in Victoria Park on Sunday, BBC reports.

The Sikh Sainik War Memorial Committee said it would complement the war memorials already there. The report said that at the time of World War I, more than 20 percent of the British Indian Army was made up of Sikhs. The statue has been made by artist Taranjit Singh and has been paid for by the amount given by the Sikh Community Council and donations from the Sikh congregations.

Ajmer Singh Basra, Chairman of, the Sikh Sainik War Memorial Committee said that "We are very proud to unveil this memorial to honor the sacrifice of all the brave men who traveled thousands of miles to fight for a nation, which was not his own." He said the statue would serve as a reminder to the Sikhs who made the city of Leicester their home.

Piara Singh Clare, a member of Leicester City Council, said that "the Sikh community has contributed significantly to the success of our city for many decades. I am very pleased that a Sikh memorial statue was unveiled in Victoria Park." and was conceived by late councilor Kuldeep Singh Bhatti MBE. It will pay a true tribute to Sikh soldiers along with other monuments located in the park. The unveiling ceremony took place on Sunday at De Montfort Hall and was attended by hundreds of people, including representatives of the armed forces.