The Spirit Born People Defending the World

This year's gala will feature 'The Spirit Born People Defending the World,' an exhibition honouring the two World War heroes, which was successfully inaugurated in the Parliament of Canada on October 28th, 2009 by Spirit Born Foundation, Founder, Curator - Ambi Kalra. Highlights of this exhibition will be showcased at the ROM as part of the Centennial Gala.

The sacrifice made by Sikhs and other Indian nationals in World War I and II is largely an unknown story to most of the world. Making up less than 2% of the Indian population, Sikhs stepped forward to swell the ranks of the Indian army from a slim 189,000 to over 2.5 million men. In all, more than 83,005 turbaned Sikhs would give their lives while another 109,045 more would suffer wounds and disability for the sake of the free world. In all, a total of 169,700 brave Indian soldiers lost their lives in both World Wars (this comprised of 83,005 Sikhs, 43,250 Muslims, and approximately 42,700 Hindus and Gorkhas.) The majority of the Indian casualties hailed from the state of Punjab. We must never forget the sacrifices made by the Spirit Born People of yesterday who fought and died to preserve the freedom we all enjoy today.