A Walsall businessman is calling out for community stories about the early contributions and lasting impact of the Sikh community in Walsall.
Ranjit Singh Sohal, popularly known as "Ran", former lecturer at Walsall College and owner and inventor of Flexiled at Magiled, said "I am exploring Sikh contributions in Walsall and I am calling out for community stories about the lasting impact of the Sikh community in Walsall.
"From what I understand families like the Kheras and Sidhus were among the first to settle here and helped lay the foundations for a vibrant Sikh presence in the borough. My father was here in the 1950`s."
The Khanda (pictured) is a prominent Sikh symbol found in Walsall, often displayed on flags and at Sikh temples (gurdwaras). The Khanda represents the Sikh faith and is an amalgram of 3 symbols - a double edged sword (khanda), a circular disc (chakkar) and 2 single edged swords (kirpans). It is also the military emblem of the Sikhs.
"There was a time when being Sikh was almost inseparable from being Punjabi" explained Ran Sohal.
"The scent of the earth, the rhythm of the harvest, the hum of the Gurbani at dawn. Our people formed a single, inseparable identity with their turbans, unshorn hair and 5K identity. Much of this is now on the move and correctly so. They are now all over the globe, yet sill hold their identity. So today, that same identity has spread to every continent. From Canada to Kenya, from the UK to Australia, you’ll find Sikhs in every corner of the world. Yet for all this global presence, there are still only around twenty-five million of us. A small number, but with a presence that far exceeds it. We are humble, yet our pride exceeds all expectations."
This spread has brought both strength and uncertainty. The new Sikh may not always look like the Sikh of Punjab. Some wear the turban proudly, others do not. Many speak more English than Punjabi, and their children may know more about iPhones than Gurbani. But does that make them less Sikh? Or does it mark the natural evolution of a people who have always adapted, survived, and served wherever they have gone?
"Our presence is strong, our business sense strong and our capacity to integrate without question." said Ran Sohal. "My forefathers were recognised for their marshall art capacity and worked closely with the British from Shanghai to the desserts of the Middle East. The face of Punjab itself has changed. The villages once full of laughter now tell stories of migration and separation."
Fields that once fed families are sometimes left bare, and ancestral homes stand quiet, waiting for a visit that never comes. Yet the essence of Punjab, its warmth, its generosity, and its unyielding optimism, remains alive in every Sikh household across the world. It is carried not in the soil alone, but in the spirit.
"Our Gurus never spoke of religion as confinement. Sikhism was born from the idea of equality, humility, and service, principles that transcend borders and time. Wherever a Sikh stands up for justice, offers a helping hand, or works with honesty, that place becomes Punjab again, not the land, but the feeling of belonging and dignity that it represents. The question now is not whether the Sikhs can keep their identity, but how they choose to express it. " said Ran Sohal.
The future Sikh may not wear the same symbols, but must carry the same soul, the belief in seva (service), in courage, and in humanity. The next generation has the tools to connect, educate, and inspire like never before. What they need most is the memory of who they are and the humility to live by it. So the hope for Sikhs is not a return to the past, but a renewal of purpose.
"The new Sikh world is borderless, a global Punjab built not of soil, but of shared values." explained Ran Sohal. "The strength of our identity has never depended on where we live, but on how we live. And if we remember that, then wherever we go, the light of our heritage will continue to shine, quietly, steadily, and without borders."
There is no doubt that Ran (or Ranjit) Sohal is not only a British Sikh but proud of his roots.
"If you or your family were part of this early journey or have stories, photographs or background you`d like to share" explained Ran Sohal "I would be very interested in hearing from you. Please contact me with a brief family background via email:ran@magiled.com I believe it`s worth logging".
