Nishan Sahib Khanda Sikh Symbols Sikh Museum History Heritage Sikhs

Late 19th Century

Late 19th Century - Military Emblems

A number of emblems used by Sikh military units of the British Army or private armies of the remaining Sikh Kingdoms may have been pre-cursors of the modern khanda emblem. Within the arrangement of their weapons to form a military emblem, we can see a direct relationship to both the modern khanda as well as arrangements of weapons appearing in paintings of the Sikh Gurus from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The origin of the Rattray’s Sikh badge with a khanda sword above a chakkar quoit used by the 45th Sikhs remains unclear. Similarly it becomes difficult to determine if the design of these military emblems had a direct influence on the development of Sikh religious emblems at the time leading, or whether these military emblem designs were influenced by pre-existing religious emblems used by Sikhs during this period. It is uncertain which came first, but a definite correlation between the design of the Sikh military emblems and other khanda like emblems does exist.

Saluting Off-Duty Soldier, 45th Rattray's Sikhs

ca. late 19th century, silver gelatin print, SSB Collection

The regimental emblem worn by members of this British Indian Army infantry regiment consisted of a straight bladed khanda sword above a chakkar quoit. The regiment was founded by Captain Thomas Rattray in 1856 as a Bengal Military Police Battalion and organized as the 45th (Rattray's Sikh) Bengal Native Infantry in 1864. The origins of the design and adoption by the Rattray's Sikhs of this emblem remains unknown.
Closeup of the previous image.

Both elements of the Rattray's Sikhs badge, the khanda sword and the chakkar quoit are found on todays modern Nishan Sahib but with a slightly different orientation. In modern designs the base of the khanda sword starts below or within the chakkar rather than above it.
Sikh Military Turban Badge

ca. late 19th century - early 20th century, brass with silver coating, SSB Collection

A turban badge likely belonging to a military unit of one of the Sikh Kingdoms (Patiala, Nabha, Jind, Kapurthala or Faridkot). The badge consists of a khanda sword above a chakkar quoit with two crossed curved swords below the quoit and two crossed axes within the chakkar. The emblem bears a strong resemblance to the modern khanda emblem.
Sikh Military Turban Badge

ca. late 19th century - early 20th century, brass with silver coating, Gurprit Singh Gujral Collection

A turban badge likely belonging to a military unit of one of the Sikh Kingdoms (Patiala, Nabha, Jind, Kapurthala, Faridkot). The badge consists of a chakkar quoit with a khanda sword above and two crossed swords below. Within the chakkar quoit are two crossed axes, a bow, a spear and a small kirpan like knife. The word Vaheguru (Wondrous God) in Gurmukhi script appears in the center of the emblem.