Ever wondered how three temples became one? Today, we stand before Gurdwara Sahib Yishun. This is not just another place of worship. Its history is deeply intertwined with Singapore’s colonial past.
Gurdwara Sahib Yishun’s story began in the early 20th century. Britain feared a Japanese threat in the Pacific after World War I. Singapore’s strategic location led to the construction of a major British naval base in Sembawang and an air base in Jalan Kayu.
Sikh watchmen secured these bases. They naturally built gurdwaras to meet their spiritual needs. These humble places allowed them to gather. Here, they could hear spiritual discourse and sing hymns.
The Naval Base Sikh Temple emerged in 1925. Sikh security guards built a small gurdwara within the naval base. It started as a large room in their wooden living quarters. As the security force grew, the gurdwara moved to an entire wooden block. By the 1930s, over 100 Sikh policemen served there. This number eventually increased to over 500. The gurdwara shifted locations several times. It finally registered as “Naval Police Sikh Temple”. It closed in 1971 after the British pull-out from Singapore.
Sembawang Sikh Temple has a different story. Civilian Sikh employees established their own gurdwara outside the Naval Base in 1936. Pioneers like Hira Singh and Tara Singh led this effort. They named it Guru Khalsa Sabha. It served Sikhs in Sembawang and those moving to new towns like Ang Mo Kio.
Jalan Kayu Sikh Temple’s origins lie with the Sikh community serving in the RAF Seletar Police Force. They set up a police gurdwara in their barracks in the 1930s. After the Japanese occupation, Hari Singh, Puren Singh and Bood Singh established Gurdwara Sahib Jalan Kayu in 1947. It was a refurbished house at Lorong Ranting.
As Singapore developed, these temples faced resettlement. In May 1990, the committees accepted a government offer. They agreed to a joint relocation to Yishun Ring Road. This merger led to the establishment of Gurdwara Sahib Yishun.
Construction of the $2.5 million building began in 1993. Sardar Kartar Singh Thakral officiated at the opening ceremony on 27 August 1995.
Today, Gurdwara Sahib Yishun stands as a testament to the resilience of the Sikh community. It embodies their dedication to faith and community. It exists to propagate Sikh teachings and values. It aims to strengthen the Sangat’s relationship with Waheguru. It also raises awareness of Sikhism to others.
So, as you stand here remember the journey. Remember the three gurdwaras. Remember the generations of Sikhs. They built a community. They kept their faith alive. They merged to form Gurdwara Sahib Yishun.