Preserving community memory
The definitive archive of the Afghan Sikh experience
We are building a searchable digital archive of recorded oral histories, photographs, documents, transcripts and community memory — so that future generations can understand how Afghan Sikhs lived, migrated, worshipped, worked and rebuilt their lives.
What this archive will hold
Stories from Kabul to London and beyond
From Kabul and Karte Parwan to Southall and communities across the diaspora, this project will document a history that deserves to be heard, studied and remembered.
- Recorded oral history interviews with transcripts
- Photographs, documents and family records
- Searchable collection organised by topic and place
- Supporting materials for each interview
Themes we will explore
Understanding Afghan Sikh history
- Origins and migration
- Community life
- Family structures
- Religion and culture
- Education
- Trade and professions
- Relations with other communities
- Major historical events
- Migration and displacement
- Settlement in the UK
- Legacy and identity
Who it is for
A resource for many audiences
This archive is being created for historians, students, researchers, documentary makers, future generations of Afghan Sikhs, and the wider Sikh community — anyone who wants to learn from firsthand accounts of Afghan Sikh life and history.
By preserving these voices now, we ensure that stories of resilience, faith, community and identity are not lost to time.
How you will use it
Browse, search and discover
When the archive launches, you will be able to explore the full collection of interviews, browse by topic — from migration and trade to religion and settlement — and search across names, places, professions and historical periods.
Each interview will be accompanied by photographs, records, letters and other supporting materials, making this a rich resource for scholarship, education and storytelling.
Why this matters
Keeping memory alive for generations to come
The Afghan Sikh community carries a unique history — of life in Afghanistan, of migration and displacement, and of rebuilding in new homelands. Too much of this history exists only in memory. This project, led by Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar in Southall, will create a permanent, accessible record for scholars, families and communities worldwide.
A community initiative
Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar, Southall, London
This project is led by Ajmeet Singh and Harvinder Singh, preserving Afghan Sikh oral histories as part of the gurdwara's work to document and share community memory.