.svg) | |
.jpg) Zahedan Gurdwara | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 60-100 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Bandar Abbas •Zahedan •Tehran | |
| Languages | |
| Punjabi •Persian •Balochi |
Iranian Sikhs form a very small minority in Iran, with a 2011 estimate stating some 60 to 100 families to be residing inIran.[1][2] Members of the community speak Punjabi among themselves, and Persian and Balochi with the larger community.[3] Most Sikhs living in Iran are Iranian citizens.[2]
The first presence of Sikhs to Iran began in 1900, when both Sikh business people as well as Sikh troops in the British militaryduring its occupation of Iran. The primary target of Sikh immigration was initially the hamlet ofZahedan, near the border with thenBritish India (nowPakistan) during the 1920s when theTrans-Iranian Railway project was started.[4][5] According to afolk etymology it is believed that whenReza Shah visited the city he sawSikhs in white robes living there and thus changed the name fromDozdab (Land of thieves) toZahedan (plural of the persian wordzâhid (زاهد), meaning 'pious') after the Sikhs who were considered zâhid (Sages) by him.[6]
An Indian school was started in 1930s located in Zahedan serving Sikh families.[7] It was shifted toTehran in 1952 and becameKendriya Vidyalaya Tehran in 2004.[8]
In 1979 there were around 250 Sikhs in Zahedan who own motor parts distributorships, construction firms and import-export companies.[5] After theIranian Revolution a number Sikhs left for India and Europe and remaining shifted to the capital city of Tehran.[7][6]
In 2019State Government of Punjab, India announced that a chair will be installed in the name ofGuru Nanak in 11 universities, of which seven are in Punjab, three in other parts of India and oneUniversity of Religions and Denominations in Iran. The Chair will conduct research on life and teachings of Guru Nanak.[9]
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