celebrating a decade of groundbreaking work that has reimagined how Sikh history is preserved, researched, and experienced in the digital age.
What began as a small community project led by historian Gurinder Singh Mann has grown into an internationally respected organisation linking museums, scholars, and Sikh communities through technology. Its mission — to make Sikh heritage accessible to modern audiences — has driven collaborations with leading institutions including the Royal Armouries, Victoria and Albert Museum, and The National Trust, along with numerous private collections.
SMI has digitised artefacts connected to prominent Sikh figures like Guru Gobind Singh, Maharajah Ranjit Singh, and Maharani Jindan Kaur, enabling global viewers to explore them online for the first time.
A turning point came with the exhibition “Anglo Sikh Wars: Battles, Treaties and Relics” (2016–17) at Leicester’s Newarke Houses Museum, which used Virtual Reality (VR) and 3D modelling to immerse visitors in the 19th-century conflict between the Sikh Empire and British forces.
“It was a privilege to bring Sikh history to life using 3D technologies,” said technologist Taran Singh, who collaborated on the project. “By digitising these artefacts, we made Sikh heritage accessible to people who might never see these treasures in person.”
Mann recalled that early audiences were intrigued but uncertain about virtual heritage. “Many visitors had never seen VR used this way,” he said. “We had to show how such technologies could revolutionise how people experience history.”
Behind-the-scenes negotiations were key to gaining access to museum-held Sikh artefacts, many of which had never been displayed publicly. Through dialogue and collaboration, SMI earned the trust of curators, allowing these relics to be scanned, researched, and shared digitally.
The technical side posed its own hurdles — replicating fine details, ensuring accuracy, and balancing scholarship with user-friendly design. But the effort paid off. In 2023, SMI launched the UK’s first 3D Sikh installation at the Royal Armouries, showcasing objects like an Akali turban, shield, and helmet in a dynamic, digitally enhanced display.
The initiative has also supported Sikh creativity beyond historical artefacts, curating two major Contemporary Sikh Art exhibitions in 2018 and 2024, uniting artists who reimagine faith and identity through modern art.
During its tenth-anniversary celebration at the University of Leicester, the SMI team, partners, and supporters unveiled new 3D-digitised artefacts and reflected on the organisation’s future. Mann said SMI’s work would continue to “bridge the past and future, ensuring Sikh heritage thrives in a digital world.”
The Sikh Museum Initiative’s digital collection can be explored on the Anglo Sikh Virtual Museum platform at www.anglosikhmuseum.com or by contacting info@sikhmuseum.org.uk.
