Meet Mandeep Kaur: First Amritdhari Sikh Chaplain In UK’s Royal Air Force

Born and brought up in Punjab, Mandeep Kaur made the Punjabis, the Sikh community in particular, proud after she created the history by becoming the first person of Sikh faith to be appointed as a chaplain in the armed forces of Great Britain.

A resident of Birmingham, Mandeep Kaur completed her schooling from St Pauls Convent School, Dasuya and Army School Unchi Bassi in Punjab. Besides, she has completed her B.Tech in Agricultural Engineering from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).

PIC Courtesy: Mandeep Kaur's FB Account

She has also done Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Soil and Water Engineering from PAU. Following this, she moved to England to pursue a Ph. D.

Mandeep Kaur was selected as a chaplain while studying in the UK for her doctorate in engineering and has been working towards this role since 2005.

PIC Courtesy: Mandeep Kaur's FB Account

“The path to my becoming the first Sikh Chaplain in the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom has been neither a planned nor a predictable one. I feel that I have been brought to this point only through God’s Grace,” Mandeep Kaur told a leading website.

PIC Courtesy: Mandeep Kaur's FB Account

“My educational background is in Agricultural Engineering, having completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in India. I came to England to do my Ph.D. in the same field.

“I was intrigued by the job description of a Sikh Chaplain when I first saw it advertised in the newspaper, because of my interest in community work and my previous experience in projects involving youth. I liked the concept and the job description, and therefore applied for the position,” she said.

PIC Courtesy: Mandeep Kaur's FB Account

Her role in UK’s Royal Air Force is to provide spiritual and welfare support to all soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, and their families.

PIC Courtesy: Mandeep Kaur's FB Account

In December 2018, Mandeep Kaur was also honoured as a Member of the British Empire for her services to the British Armed Forces and services towards the global Sikh community.