According to
Sikhologists Louis E. Fenech and
W. H. McLeod, Thailand's Sikhs are unique in the region in that they are mostly descended from
Namdhari goldsmiths from the
Pothohar. This is in contrast with the Sikh communities of the surrounding countries, which mostly descend from
Malayan Sikh policemen and soldiers who further migrated to those countries. Sikhs in the Straits Settlements who successfully were granted this certificate migrated further on to areas like
Sumatra,
Borneo, and
Siam. He was granted an audience with King
Rama V of Thailand. He brought his relatives whose surnames were Madan, Narula and Chawla. They were among the first members of the Indian diaspora in Thailand, who started to arrive in the late 19th century. By 1911, many Sikh families had settled in Thailand. At that time Bangkok was the centre of migrant Sikhs, but there was no
Gurdwara, so religious prayers were held in the homes of the Sikhs in rotation on every Sunday and all the
Gurpurab days. In 1912, the Sikhs decided to establish a Gurdwara. A wooden house was rented in the vicinity of Baan Moh, a well known business area. In 1913 (or the year 2456 according to the
Buddhist calendar), with the continuing increase of the Sikh community, a new larger wooden house was leased for a long term at the corner of
Phahurat and
Chakraphet roads. After considerable renovation and decoration, the
Guru Granth Sahib was installed and religious prayers were conducted on a daily basis. Sikhs are mostly settled in area in area adjoining Pahurat Road. Most of them run real estate business or engaged in textile business. Prior to his migration to Thailand, a Namdhari by the name of
sardar Warayam Singh Khurana had a conflict with the Namdhari Guru in early 1962. He usually attends the S.G.S.S. Gurdwara in Bangkok wearing a blue turban. == Culture of Thai Sikhs ==