The Maharaja’s son comes to Cambridge
1890
Frederick Duleep Singh was the second son of Maharajah Duleep Singh, the last ruler of the Sikh Empire. His father was sent to England once the Punjab was annexed in 1849. Living the life of the British Aristocracy, he was educated at Eton College and then read History at Emmanuel College.
The fight for the dastaar
1907
Sant Teja Singh hailed from Gurjanwala. While studying at Cambridge University, he fought for, and won the right to wear his dastaar. After graduating, he set up the Khalsa Jatha British Isles, establishing the first Gurdwara in Europe. He later supplanted this with study at Harvard, and then establishing the Khalsa Diwan Society in Canada, and the Stockton Gurdwara in the US. These were some of the first Sikh institutions in the US; and the foundations for a Western diaspora. In later life, he also set up the Kalgidhar Society, Baru Sahib.
Betrayal of the Sikhs
1931
Born in Jagroan, Kapoor Singh was instrumental in Sikh politics in the 20th Century. Known as the “Professor of Sikhism” by the Akal Takht, Kapoor Singh read Moral Science at Cambridge. He was a politician, writer, and philosopher. As a Politician, he joined the Akali movement for a Punjabi-speaking state. He is famed for his 1966 speech – “Betrayal of the Sikhs” which outlined the demands of the Punjab during this time. He further supplanted this in his role in the Anandpur Sahib Resolution in 1973. What follows is an immense body of work in Sikh history and philosophical thought.
From Cambridge To India’s First Sikh Prime Minister
1954
The celebrated Prime Minister of India began his educational career at Punjab University, to then read Economics at St John’s College, winning the Adam Smith Prize in 1956, and the Wrenbury Scholarship in 1957. He is famed as the architect for India’s economic reform programme, during his time as finance minister in 1991, and is one of the longest serving Prime Ministers in Indian history. The Judge Business School have a scholarship in his name, for Indian students seeking doctoral study at St John’s.
Cambridge University Punjabi Society
2025
As of Lent 2025, the Cambridge University Punjabi Society. Since then we have grown month by month, building the society to one of the bigger university wide societies and put on a whole range of events including Bhangra Classes, Punjabi Lessons, speaker events with the likes of Steel Banglez, Dholki and Mehndi Nights and loads more!