We've reached our Kickstarter goal!

Thanks to you - we've now reached our goal to create more online short films about Sikhs during the Great War!

The team here at Dot Hyphen Productions really appreciate your kindness and generosity in making this happen. It's humbling that you've believed in our aims and share our passion for telling this story.

We didn't ask for much - because our research about Sikh history is our passion. But what we've raised will go towards video graphics, artwork and design that will engage people in the story of the Sikhs.

We will also release ALL our films on DVD for the first time - and ensure it is kept as a resource in schools and libraries.

So what next?

We will now begin the process of making these shorts - they will be hosted on our website www.sikhsatwar.info as a free online resource for people to watch worldwide.

We will update you about these films via our social networks - on our Facebook and our dedicated @SikhsAtWar twitter feed.

There is still some time to donate - so please do tell your friends. Anything above our goal will help create other films we did not originally plan.

 Thanks so much again - and we look forward to sharing our work with you over the next few months.

21 Sikhs vs 10,000 jihadis at Saragarhi

** Help create new films about Sikhs in the World War on Kickstarter **

"Saragarhi: The Forgotten Battle" was launched in the Indian Army Memorial Room, Royal Military Academy in November 2013.

Here is the second half of the book launch speech, which pays tribute to the heroics of the 21 Sikhs who fought against 10,000 enemy tribesman.

Towards the end of the speech, I highlight why it's important that we continue to remember this battle - and why it is still significant for us today.

[Footage courtesy of Sangat TV]

Saragarhi at the Royal Military Academy Library

Tejvir Bains is an IT Contractor and ex-Officer Cadet who attended our "Sikhs At Sandhurst" launch event last November.  Below is his guest blog post.

Tej and Endip Singh Rai took the initiative to donate a copy of "Saragarhi: The Forgotten Battle" to the library at the Royal Military Academy.  

Because of this, officers of the future will be able to read about the glorious 21 - many thanks to Tej and Endip.

If you'd like to do something similar contact us directly as we can discount the book for you.

On the 20^th November I was privileged to visit the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, it wasn't to take part in the grueling training the officer cadets have to go through but it was the launch of the book; Saragarhi: The Forgotten Battle.

I was once researching for a War studies paper and was intrigued by a video that had started going viral on Facebook on the Battle of the Saragarhi. Unfortunately I could not find any books to reference the Battle and had no substantiated information and decided to write a paper on the Battle of Chillianwala.

The Royal Military Academy library has many books related to the worlds battles and wars but I was disappointed that no information was made available on the Battle of Saragarhi. The valour the fearless Sikh soldiers showed by not neglecting their duty even though the odds were against them. These warriors died fighting a warriors death and will not be forgotten. 

After the book launch the Saragarhi; The forgotten Battle was donated to the Royal Military Academy Library (below) in the hope that one day another Officer cadet will have the opportunity to write a War studies paper on the Battle of Saragarhi.

When reading upon the soldiers sacrifice it awakes the spirit within me and enables me to feel the Bir Ras; a unique emotion that I can only be explained by describing the moment the adrenaline which pumps through ones veins when being ready for battle. 

The spirit of these soldiers has been captured in the Shabad (Hymn) written by the tenth Master; Guru Gobind Singh Ji; Deh Siva bar Mohe:

Translation: O Lord grant me the boon, that I may never deviate from doing a good deed.
That I shall not fear when I go into combat. And with determination I will be victorious.
That I may teach myself this greed alone, to learn only Thy praises.
And when the last days of my life come, I may die in the might of the battlefield.||231||

New Year, New Films

Happy New Year to you all!

We're very excited about 2014 ...

Firstly, our recent "Sikhs At Sandhurst" event will be shown on Sangat TV (ch 847 on Sky) this Saturday 4th January at 10am. 

And secondly, because it's the 100th centenary anniversary of the start of the Great War.

There are lots of projects up and down the country which will be taking place to mark this historic occasion, and we're looking forward to attending and supporting as many as we can.

But we're also launching a new series of short films on our website www.sikhsatwar.info

These new films will focus on elements of the battle relevant to Sikhs, from how many fought in the various arena's of the conflict to how they were rewarded to individual acts of gallantry.

This history is immense and something we can all be very proud of - and we want to ensure our films continue to be an educational resource to understanding the Sikh contribution worldwide.

For this, we've launched a fundraising page on Kickstarter - with the aim of raising the small amount of £2,500 we require to create new graphic productions for our new films.  Please follow this link for information.

 I hope you will be able to donate as much or as little as you can, and are able to forward this email so others can contribute too.

With your help we can create quality productions for our free online website for international audiences to enjoy now and in the future.

Thanks in advance for your support,