By Greg Dawson
A stunning £65,000 Indian bronze statue was revealed at Greenhead Park last Saturday.
The statue commemorates those who fought in both World Wars, as well as recognising Sikh soldiers who serve in the armed forces today.
The statue, made of bronze with a Yorkshire stone pedestal, depicts a soldier in full army uniform and is 6ft high.
Public donations to the Sikh Soldier Organisation have helped pay for the construction, the crowdfunding campaign taking 10 years to get off the ground.
The original plans fell through in 2010 but were revived in 2017 when the SSO began raising money to fund the statue themselves. Kirklees council granted permission for the statue to be erected in Greenhead park’s rose garden back in 2018.
Kalvinder Bhullar of SSO said: “We’ve accomplished our mission to get the statue put in place and the support we have had has been overwhelming.
“Huddersfield’s vibrant Sikh community is one of the reason’s why the town has been chosen for the perfect location of the statue.”
“We believe that this historic event belongs to all our communities, to all denominations, and is a testament to the dedication and heroism displayed by all our Armed Forces who gave their lives in Europe, in Africa and in the Asian conflicts.
You can watch the unveiling below as well as view photos from the event.
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