Sikhs have adapted to living in Bradford much more quickly than other Asian communities, according to a new book.

The claims are made by a leading Sikh, who has written the book to mark half a century since his community began to arrive in the city.

In the book, Ramindar Singh reflects on the way in which Sikhs have settled in this country and established their own cultural identity.

The book, called Sikhs and Sikhism in Britain - Fifty Years On: the Bradford Perspective, is published by Bradford Central Library.

"Integration has been much faster than for the Pakistani community," said Mr Singh.

"There are two reasons. Sikhs had a very long established experience of immigration to Canada, the Fiji Islands and places like that and they knew the myth of returning home doesn't last for too long.

"Everybody comes to make money. They give themselves ten years and then they think they'll go back.

"But once you are here, you don't go back that fast. Sikhs realised that and brought their families with them whereas the Pakistani community still hangs onto the myth of return.

"Sikh children are now very well established and educationally are high achievers."

Mr Singh first came to Bradford from India in 1965, only a year after the city's first Sikh temple was built. Today there are 7,000 Sikhs in the city, served by six temples.

Now 62 and retired, Mr Singh used to be a lecturer at Bradford College, a magistrate and chairman of Bradford's Race Relations Council.

Robert Walters, of Bradford Central Library, who has been involved in the publication of the book, said: "It's a strength of this book that it was written from inside the community.

"Ramindar can talk about these things not in an academic way. It's not like a piece of research from outside."

SIKHS AND SIKHISM in Britain - Fifty Years On: the Bradford Perspective is published in paperback at £6.95. It will be launched at 7pm on February 22 at Waterstone's in the Wool Exchange in Bradford.

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