In what has been described as a first for the Sikh community in France, the son of former Army chief General J J Singh has been elected to a municipal council in Normandy. Vivek Singh, who got married to a French citizen in 1998 and has been settled abroad for years, was elected to the municipal council in the town of Cond?-sur-Vire in March this year.
The French Ambassador to India said this is the first time a Sikh has been elected to such a position. ?In March, former Army chief Gen J J Singh?s son became the first Sikh in France to be elected to a municipal council. This was in Normandy,? ambassador Francois Richier said in an interaction with journalists. The ambassador was speaking about the achievements of the Sikh community in France in response to a question on the controversy surrounding ban of turbans in public schools. Richier said the ban was not specifically on turbans but on any visible symbol of a child?s religion to ensure there is no discrimination.
The new council of the municipality Cond?-sur-Vire was elected on March 23 and comprises 23 members, including Vivek, who is the only person of Indian origin on the board. Vivek and his wife Anna have two daughters, Anne-Tara and Marie-Sana.
In his book, A Soldier?s General, J J Singh has written that Vivek lives in a country home near St Lo and runs a business designing and developing handicrafts, household accessories and gift items sourced from India. His wife works with a social organisation. According to Gen J J Singh, Vivek was, at one point, keen on joining the Army.
Cond?-sur-Vire is a small town located in North West France in the region of Normandy, the place of the historic WW II landings by allied troops.
