April

The Akalis were a particular section of the Sikh community and prided themselves on strict adherence to the warrior spirit and visual identity of the Khalsa or community of saint-soldiers, established by the Tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh Ji. Known for their fearless nature, military prowess and brilliant horsemanship they relentlessly defended Punjab from successive waves of foreign invasion during the 18th and early 19th centuries and were regarded as the most formidable and valiant members of the great Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Army. According to contemporary Victorian accounts they formed part of the Sikh infantry, were armed with spears and guns, wore black and adopted black standards embroidered with a lion. However, other historical accounts and depictions show them dressed in the dark blue generally associated with Guru Gobind Singh’s Khalsa uniform and popularly adopted by the Akalis’ modern day descendants, the Nihangs. Then, as now, the tall conical shaped turban, surmounted with steel quoits is an unmistakable hallmark of their dress.

The Akalis appear to have been a particular fascination for the Victorians as they were recorded variously in print. But not all accounts were accurate. An 1864 edition of the Illustrated London News for example described them as “ fanatic priests” – a serious misrepresentation, not least for the fact that Sikhism does not have a priesthood but teaches personal and direct access to God.