Maqbool lari sensei: Created an insightful write-up.

2022-12-02T15:01:16Z

Created an insightful write-up.

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{{Multiple image
| image1 = Detail of the left-side mural from frescoes of two Akali-Nihang Sikhs (‘dvarpala’ or door guardians) at the entrance of a mandir in Iran, ca.1892.jpg
| image2 = Detail of the right-side mural from frescoes of two Akali-Nihang Sikhs (‘dvarpala’ or door guardians) at the entrance of a mandir in Iran, ca.1892.jpg
| header = Detail of frescoes of two Akali-Nihang Sikhs (‘dvarpala’ or door guardians) at the entrance of a mandir in [[Bandar Abbas]] in Iran, ca.1892
}}{{Sikhism sidebar}}'''Sikhs''' form a very small minority in Iran, with a 2011 estimate stating some 60 to 100 families to be residing in [[Iran]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/prime-minister-narendra-modi-to-visit-iran-gurdwara/articleshow/52364802.cms|title=Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Iran Gurdwara|first=Dipanjan Roy|last=Chaudhury|via=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/573080/irans-sikhs-get-a-better-deal-than-many-other-minorities/|title=Iran’s Sikhs get a better deal than many other minorities|last=Ghosh|first=Bobby|website=Quartz|language=en|access-date=2020-02-17}}</ref> Members of the community speak Punjabi among themselves, and Persian and Balochi with the larger community.<ref name="JahaniKorn2008">{{cite book|author1=Carina Jahani|author2=Agnes Korn|author3=Paul Brian Titus|title=The Baloch and Others: Linguistic, Historical and Socio-political Perspectives on Pluralism in Balochistan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nNoRAQAAMAAJ|year=2008|publisher=Reichert Verlag|isbn=978-3-89500-591-6|page=250}}</ref> Most Sikhs living in Iran are Iranian citizens.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/573080/irans-sikhs-get-a-better-deal-than-many-other-minorities/|title=Iran’s Sikhs get a better deal than many other minorities|last=Ghosh|first=Bobby|website=Quartz|language=en|access-date=2020-02-17}}</ref>

==History==
The first presence of Sikhs to Iran began in the 1900, when both Sikh business people as well as Sikh troops in the British military [[Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran|during its occupation of Iran]]. The primary target of Sikh immigration was initially the hamlet of [[Zahedan]], near the border with then [[British India]] (now [[Pakistan]]) during the 1920s when the [[Trans-Iranian Railway]] project was started.<ref name="Tribune">{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010422/spectrum/main1.htm |title=The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Lead Article |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |access-date=2015-06-26}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1979/12/26/sikhs-play-key-role-in-iranian-province/37de65c5-e1e9-4553-910f-605c35a2b605/|title=Sikhs Play Key Role In Iranian Province|first=Michael|last=Weisskopf|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> According to a [[folk etymology]] it is believed that when [[Reza Shah]] visited the city he saw [[Sikhs]] in white robes living there and thus changed the name from ''Dozdab'' (Land of thieves) to ''Zahedan'' (plural of the persian word {{transl|ar|zâhid}} ({{lang|fa|زاهد}}), meaning 'pious') after the Sikhs who were considered zâhid (Sages) by him.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/irans-connection-to-indias-sikhs-498087|title=Iran's connection to India's Sikhs|website=NDTV.com}}</ref>

An Indian school was started in 1930s located in Zahedan serving Sikh families.<ref name="Teachesitall">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/kendriya-vidyalaya-tehran-teaches-it-all/article3836836.ece|title=Kendriya Vidyalaya Tehran teaches it all|last=Ians|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-11-27}}</ref> It was shifted to [[Tehran]] in 1952 and became [[Kendriya Vidyalaya Tehran]] in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://livingintehran.com/2017/12/07/international-kv-school-tehran/|title=International Schools in Tehran: Indian KV School}}</ref>

In 1979 there were around 250 Sikhs in Zahedan who own motor parts distributorships, construction firms and import-export companies.<ref name="auto"/> After the [[Iranian Revolution]] a number Sikhs left for India and Europe and remaining shifted to the capital city of Tehran.<ref name="Teachesitall"/><ref name="auto1"/>

In 2019 [[Government of Punjab, India|State Government of Punjab, India]] announced that a chair will be installed in the name of [[Guru Nanak]] in 11 universities, of which seven are in Punjab, three in other parts of India and one [[University of Religions and Denominations]] in Iran. The Chair will conduct research on life and teachings of Guru Nanak.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/punjab-cm-amarinder-singh-announces-chair-in-name-of-guru-nanak-for-11-universities-2381217.html|title=Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Announces Chair in Name of Guru Nanak for 11 Universities|website=News18}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Masjid-e-Hindan]]
* [[Buddhism in Iran]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Asia topic|Sikhism in}}

[[Category:Sikhism in Iran| ]]

Sikhism in Iran - Revision history

Maqbool lari sensei: Created an insightful write-up.