Khalsa Diwan of Malaya

The Khalsa Diwan Malaya, which its first members called the Khalsa Diwan Muluk Malaya, was the first Sikh association formed in Malaya. Its president, Santokh Singh Randhawa, wrote in 2016 for the hundredth anniversary of the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Taiping that it was founded at Taiping and that its roots are there. It is now called Khalsa Diwan Malaysia.

How it began: The letter says the Sikhs of the Malay State Guides at Taiping decided to hold Guru Gobind Singh's birthday celebration at the national level, and invitations went out across Malaya. Sangat came from Kinta in Perak, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Pahang, about 800 in all, a large number for the time. The Akhand Path ended on the morning of 26 December, followed by kirtan, lectures and katha, and in the afternoon there was a unanimous call to form a formally registered society for Malaya. On the morning of 27 December 1903 a meeting was held and the Diwan was born.

First office-bearers, as the letter lists them

• President: Gurdit Singh, Subedar Major, Taiping.
• Vice-presidents: Dr Sunder Singh of Penang and Bahaal Singh, Jemadar, of Kulim.
• Secretary: Thakar Singh, Subedar, Taiping. Assistant secretary: Bhai Moola Singh of Ipoh. Treasurer: Munshi Khajaan Singh of Taiping.
• Twenty other committee members from Taiping, Penang, Kedah, Batu Gajah, Ipoh, Kuala Kangsar, Kuala Lumpur and Kampar.

Another account: Wikipedia, citing Barrier and Dusenbery's The Sikh Diaspora, says the Diwan was established on 27 December 1903, the morning after the Guru Gobind Singh celebration, when three Singh Sabhas, in Singapore, Penang and Taiping, came together. It dates the Penang Singh Sabha to 19 May 1895 and says a Sikh from Hong Kong named Lal Singh visited Penang and helped start it.

Where it stands: The 2016 letter says the Diwan remains connected to Taiping through its Punjabi Education Centre there. The sources found say little else of its work after 1903.