Simranpreet Lamba
When the news came in April 2016 that Harpal Singh, Arjan Singh and Kanwar Singh – 3 Sikhs have
been allowed to join American army with their hair & turban, Sikhs all over the world were delighted. The
army had ordered them to shave hairs and doff the turban only then they were allowed for the basic training.
They moved the court for passing an injunction against this demand of the army and succeeded in their
efforts. Before them, Captain Simratpal Singh was accommodated to serve with long hair, beard and turban
in accordance with the Sikh faith. It may be mentioned here that before 1974, Sikh American were allowed
to serve in the US military with their articles of faith intact. Later on Stricter Regulating were brought in
and religious accommodation was granted on individual case basis. Simranpreet Singh Lamba became the
first to get such an accommodation. Simrantpreet being a US citizen had joined army after doing Industrial
Engineering in USA. He had a desire to serve the army in Sikhi sarup. Thus, he took the chance and the
Govt. allowed him to have his article of faith on the ground that he could speak Punjabi, Hindi and English.
By getting this accommodation, he showed the way to others that we can serve the army in Sikhi sarup also.
