Reflecting on an incredible two days at the Plunder, Pillage and Spoils of War in History and Law conference held in Leeds (28–29 April), where I had the honour of presenting as part of Panel Five: Trophies, Symbols and Practicality.
My talk focused on the plunder of Sikh artefacts following the Anglo-Sikh Wars, examining how the British Empire seized royal and religious treasures — including the Koh-i-Noor diamond, manuscripts, and weaponry — and transformed them into symbols of imperial triumph.
As part of my presentation, I shared a newly compiled map illustrating how, when, and where Sikh relics were looted, and their current locations in UK public institutions — a project aimed at uncovering the hidden journeys of these cultural treasures.
I was joined on the panel by:
Mr António Conduto Oliveira (University of Coimbra) – on the prized hauberk of the Count of Borba
Dr Jennifer Wellington (University College Dublin) – on British trophy-taking after D-Day
The conference also featured an insightful keynote lecture by Dr Steve Tibble (Royal Holloway, University of London), titled “Crusader Criminals – Plunder, Pillage and the Usual Suspects”, which explored the demographic forces behind violence and looting during the Crusades.
Another highlight was having the previlage of giving an exclusive gallery tour of Sikhmuseum/@Taran3D 3D-digitised Sikh artefacts — the only collection of its kind in the UK — offering a powerful, immersive look at contested heritage using cutting-edge digital tools.
This truly international conference welcomed participants from the USA, Europe, and India, and featured representatives from esteemed institutions such as the National Army Museum, the Wallace Collection, and many others committed to confronting the legacies of cultural theft and restitution.
I’m also pleased to share that a forthcoming publication with Sikhlens Arts will further explore the global dispersal of Sikh relics, shedding new light on how these artefacts continue to shape identity, memory, and historical understanding.
Sincere thanks to Mark Bennett, the Royal Armouries, and Manchester Metropolitan University for organising such a timely and thought-provoking event. @everyone
#SikhHistory#DigitalHeritage#ColonialLoot#PlunderedPast#CulturalRestitution#AngloSikhWars#GurinderSinghMann#Sikhlens#GlobalSikhHeritage#MuseumInnovation#RoyalArmouries#MMUHistory#WallaceCollection#NationalArmyMuseum
