Close X
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
ADVT 
International

Flight Lieutenant Mandeep Kaur Becomes The First Sikh Chaplain In Royal Air Force

Darpan News Desk IANS, 14 Dec, 2018 09:25 PM

    In a first for the British military, a Sikh and a Muslim "padres" have become part of the Royal Air Force Chaplain's Branch, UK's Ministry of Defence announced on Friday.


    Flight Lieutenant Mandeep Kaur, who grew up in Punjab, becomes the first Sikh chaplain and Kenya-born Flight Lieutenant Ali Omar becomes the first Muslim chaplain.


    Ms Kaur was selected as a chaplain while studying in the UK for her doctorate in engineering and has been working towards this role since 2005, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.


    The two padres, as they are officially referred to, graduated at Royal Air Force (RAF) College Cranwell, RAF's training and education academy, on Thursday, after completing reservist officer training.


    "Padres provide spiritual and welfare support to all soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, and their families. They deploy on operations and aboard ships when they go on long deployments," the MoD said.


    "Padres can also go out on patrols and live on the front line, on hand for when personnel need them," it notes.


    The appointments form part of the Ministry's new diversity strategy to increase diversity and inclusion across the armed forces.


    The strategy titled 'A Force for Inclusion' is aimed at ensuring that diversity and inclusion are a major part of all of the department's work, including workforce policies, culture and behaviour.


    "It has been an absolute privilege to welcome our first Sikh and Muslim commissioned Chaplains into the Royal Air Force and I look forward immensely to working with them into the future," said John Ellis, RAF Chaplain-In-Chief, the Venerable (Air-Vice Marshal).


    "My role in the RAF as a flagbearer of the Muslim Chaplaincy will see me work with the RAF Chaplaincy branch to negotiate and establish the place of World Faith Chaplaincy within the RAF," said Omar, who studied for his Master's degree in translation studies at Portsmouth University before completing a post-graduate course and joining RAF ranks.


    "An overdue and exciting venture that will see me work side by side as a commissioned Muslim chaplain along colleagues from different faiths," he said.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Sikh Man Surjit Singh Malhi Beaten On Head With Rod In US, Told ‘Go Back To Your Country’

    Sikh Man Surjit Singh Malhi Beaten On Head With Rod In US, Told ‘Go Back To Your Country’
    The 50-year-old man was placing signs for local candidates when two white men wearing black hooded sweatshirts ambushed him and beat him to the ground.

    Sikh Man Surjit Singh Malhi Beaten On Head With Rod In US, Told ‘Go Back To Your Country’

    Is Size Of Turban Part Of Sikh Religion, Asks Supreme Court

    Is Size Of Turban Part Of Sikh Religion, Asks Supreme Court
    The Supreme Court on Friday sought to know if the topknot/ half or bun turban (patka) can be worn by Sikh athletes with helmets during participation in sporting events such as cycling, if it doesn't affect their faith".

    Is Size Of Turban Part Of Sikh Religion, Asks Supreme Court

    Pakistan's First Sikh Cop Gulab Singh, Who Was Allegedly Dragged Out Of Home, Sacked

    Pakistan's First Sikh Cop Gulab Singh, Who Was Allegedly Dragged Out Of Home, Sacked
    The cop, Gulab Singh has been dismissed from being absent from for over three months, a traffic police spokesperson said.

    Pakistan's First Sikh Cop Gulab Singh, Who Was Allegedly Dragged Out Of Home, Sacked

    BBC Withdraws Controversial Immigration Film With South Asian Characters

    BBC Withdraws Controversial Immigration Film With South Asian Characters
    The BBC has been forced to withdraw a documentary film which had animated images of South Asian characters aimed at making schoolchildren more aware about the country’s immigration debate, it emerged on Friday.

    BBC Withdraws Controversial Immigration Film With South Asian Characters

    Woman, 2 Grandchildren Found Hammered To Death In Ludhiana

    Woman, 2 Grandchildren Found Hammered To Death In Ludhiana
    A woman and her two grandchildren were allegedly murdered in what appears to be a case of daylight robbery at Ludhiana’s Kishore Nagar on Friday.

    Woman, 2 Grandchildren Found Hammered To Death In Ludhiana

    US Attorney Gets Jail For Marriage Fraud Of Indian With Pakistan Assistant

    US Attorney Gets Jail For Marriage Fraud Of Indian With Pakistan Assistant
    A US attorney, who got an Indian-origin naturalised American citizen 'married' to his Pakistani assistant so that she could obtain a Green Card, has been sentenced to six months in a federal prison.

    US Attorney Gets Jail For Marriage Fraud Of Indian With Pakistan Assistant