THE CLOSE connection between Scots and Sikhs was celebrated in Perthshire yesterday when a maharajah who made his home in Scotland was remembered.

With the launch tonight of the Scottish Sikh Heritage Trail, restaurateur Tony Singh, James Rattray, the great grandson of Army Captain Thomas Rattray of the Rattray Sikhs and Pitlochry businessman Kirpal Singh paid their respects to the Maharajah Duleep Singh, dubbed the ‘Black Prince of Perthshire.’

They visited Maharajah Duleep Singh’s son’s grave in Kenmore to lay a wreath in memory of his first born, who died nearly 150 years ago.

The Scottish Sikh Heritage Trail will be launched tonight by Harbinder Singh, honorary director of the Scottish Sikh Heritage Trail, and Linda Fabiani MSP, minister for Europe, external affairs and culture at the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle.

The launch will highlight the connection between Scots and Sikhs, which reflects a shared history of adventure, comradeship, and sacrifice.

In the months ahead, the scope of the trail will grow through research projects focusing on historic sites and lectures, exhibitions, and workshops will highlight the connections that Scotland has with the Sikh nation.

The trail will also act as a reminder that both nations have been intertwined by colonial administrators, statesmen and military figures from the 1700s to the present day.

Harbinder Singh explained, “The illustrious and unique heritage that the Sikhs and Scotland share will come to life through this exciting initiative.

“It is our aspiration that it will help to inform, empower and inspire individuals and the community at large to a greater appreciation of the history that unites these two great nations.

“The strong connection the Sikhs and Scots have is illustrated through the Rattray family whose descendents live in Perthshire.

“Whilst serving in India, Captain Thomas Rattray was chosen to raise a group of military police to control the lower provinces of Bengal and as a mark of respect, the 3rd Battalion Sikh Regiment was renamed the Rattray Sikhs, and is now part of today’s modern Indian army.

“The largely unknown but amazing historical interplay between Sikhs and Scotland is further shown when Maharajah Duleep Singh moved to Britain in 1854 and took up residence at the Grandtully estate in Perthshire, becoming a highly respected member of society in the process, where he was known locally as the ‘Black Prince of Perthshire.’”

James Rattray said, “I am proud to be here to represent our family’s long connection with the Sikhs. Started by my great grandfather Captain Thomas Rattray in 1856, he offered to wrestle any Sikh who refused to join the military police.

“My grandfather, Haldane Rattray, who commanded the 45th Rattray Sikhs, was a fluent Punjabi speaker and my father Peter Hugh Rattray was the last British Commanding Officer of the 45th Rattray Sikhs, who had the honour of handing over the battalion in 1947 to the first Indian Commanding Officer.

“Our family continues its proud association with the Sikhs in India having visited the battalion in 1997 and again for its 150th anniversary in 2006.”