Ludhiana, May 29 (K.L. Jit Walia):The Chairman of the Punjabi Folk Heritage Academy, Prof. Gurbhajan Singh Gill, has congratulated renowned media personality Sardar Sardul Singh Marwa on being elected as the first Sikh Mayor of Solihull, a prominent city near Birmingham in the United Kingdom.
Prof. Gill described May 27 as a proud day for Punjabis worldwide, as Sardul Singh Marwa achieved the distinction of becoming the first Sikh Mayor of Solihull, one of the seven major councils in the West Midlands region of England.
Born in Jhandeer Kalan village near Banga, Punjab, Sardul Singh Marwa moved to England with his family in 1960 in search of better opportunities. He completed his education in Electrical Engineering, earned a Diploma in Education (DipEd), and qualified as a Computer Hardware Technician.
Marwa entered politics in 1978 by joining the Conservative Party and was elected as a Birmingham City Councillor from 1982 to 1988. He gained national recognition in 1984 for his parliamentary speech against racial discrimination.
Throughout his public career, he has held several important positions, including Chairman of the Race Relations and Equal Opportunities Committee, Chairman of the Recreation Services Committee, Chair of the Birmingham Police Advisory Committee, and member of numerous health, housing, and community organizations.
In recognition of his dedication to youth development and community service, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the prestigious MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 1990. He also served as a Justice of the Peace from 1995 to 2019.
Apart from politics and public service, Marwa has made significant contributions to Punjabi culture. In 1965, he founded The Musafirs, one of Britain’s pioneering Punjabi Bhangra music groups. He is also known as a poet, author, public speaker, television presenter, and radio host.
Elected to the Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in 2023, Marwa has served in several key roles, including Chairman of the Licensing Committee and member of various scrutiny boards. He also serves as a Governor of the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
As Mayor of Solihull for the 2026–27 municipal year, Sardul Singh Marwa has pledged to serve all residents with dignity, fairness, inclusivity, and a commitment to strengthening community unity and opportunities for future generations.
Punjabi Folk Heritage Academy extended its best wishes and congratulations to Sardul Singh Marwa on this historic achievement.
KL JIT WALIA
