The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) will sponsor five Sikhs to carry out research at the prestigious Cambridge University. However, the five will be required to maintain their 'Sikh identity', refraining from cutting their hair or trimming their beards, among other things, during the period of their study. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, explained that students can be from any part of the country and would have privilege of choosing any area for study. The only condition they are to follow is that of 'true Sikhism.' They are to maintain their identities as Sikhs and if they loose this identity while studying in Cambridge, then they will have to refund the scholarship amount.
An MoU between the SGPC and the Cambridge university was signed in Cambridge July 21. As per the MoU, every year five Sikh students of good academic background, who want to pursue Ph.D and M.Phil courses, will be sent to the university. After completing their studies at Cambridge, students have to come back and serve in SGPC institutions for at least five years, added the official.
