Pakistan’s government will issue postage stamps commemorating the services of a prominent Christian leader from Pakistan. Deewan Bahadur S.P. Singha
who was once Speaker of the House for the province of Punjab during the British Raj, was extremely influential in the creation of Pakistan. As
leader of the Christian group within the Christian MP’s in Punjab, he ensured all four Christian MP’s voted for separation of Punjab province from
India. Even with their vote their was a stalemate in the vote and so the decision was placed on his shoulders and he stayed with his commitment
and voted for Punjab to join Pakistan. Without this vote Pakistan as a nation would not have come into being. The Punjab province
contains around 75% of the land mass of Pakistan and approximately 65% of the population. Falure to secure Punjab province by the early founders
would have meant that the proposed land would have been too small and isolated for a nation to thrive or integrate effectively. So this vote
was a monumental and pivotal moment in the campaign for the establishment of Pakistan.
This part played by Christians in Parliament has been ignored from the historical context of Pakistan and does not feature in any of the national curriculum,
to the disdain and ire of Pakistani Christians. Leaders from within the Pak-Christian community believe acknowledgement of our contribution to
the development and creation of Pakistan, will create a sense of unity amongst all Pakistanis, and remove the myth that Pakistani Christians are anti-Pakistani,
spies of the west, infested with demonic spirits. Moreover, it would inspire Pakistani Christians by providing role models to aspire to become
like.
Although there are no moves yet to introduce a detailed history of the contribution of S.P Singha into the National Curriculum, issuing of the stamps
has triggered a discussion about his valuable services to Pakistan. No mention has been made of his part in the creation of Pakistan in Pakistani
media, but his work as a political decision maker has been referred too and the nation understands better that Christians have been part and parcel
of the nations growth.
On April 29th 2016the President of Pakistan-Mamnoon Hussain inaugurated the stamps in a ceremony held at the President’s house.
“The commemorative postage stamps of Rs10 denomination each recognize the services of Deewan Bahadur S.P. Singha before and after the creation of Pakistan.’
This inaugural ceremony was attended by prominent Christian leaders including Bishop Alexander Malik. PML-N leader and Federal Minister for Ports and
Shipping Senator Kamran Michael.
It is the very first time in the country’s history that a Pakistani Christian image has been published on a postage stamp.
Wilson Chowdhry Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association said:
“This is a wonderful act by the Government of Pakistan. In creating this stamp they are endorsing the Christian minority living in Pakistan a bold message that I believe over time, with other equality programmes will create a fairer Pakistan. It is just a shame it took so long to get such recognition of Christian contribution.”