Are There 120 Million Sikhs in India? Author Bikram Singh Majhail’s Shocking Demographic Claim

Bikram Singh Majhail is a distinguished voice in the study of Sikh history and political identity. Born in Muradabad, UP, in 1955, his journey took him through Amritsar before he eventually settled in Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand, where he has resided since 2006. His life across these different landscapes provides a unique vantage point for his scholarly work, most notably his recently published book, "Sikhs and Two-Nation Theory." In a revealing interview today, Bikram shared several unconventional perspectives that challenge mainstream historical and demographic narratives. He argues that the actual number of Sikhs in India is far higher than official records suggest, claiming a population of 120 million, with the vast majority living outside of Punjab. Regarding the Khalistan movement, he offers a blunt assessment, stating that it does not enjoy grassroots support. Furthermore, he provides a critical look at the long-term consequences of the 1947 Partition, suggesting it fundamentally weakened Indian Muslims by dividing them into three separate entities. He believes they would have remained a formidable force had they stayed together, and argues that the Partition itself was a calculated move within a larger geopolitical strategy to serve British interests by acting as a bulwark against the spread of communism. Most provocatively, he asserts that Mahatma Gandhi was "planted" by the British, suggesting that the leadership of the independence movement was far more controlled than traditional history suggests. I sat down with Bikram to discuss these bold claims and the research behind his work to understand how these narratives continue to shape our understanding of identity today. Whether you are a student of history or simply curious about the forces that defined the subcontinent, this conversation offers a deep and rigorous look into the past. ************************************ Shakil Chaudhary is a journalist, author, and researcher. He is an alumnus of Government College, Lahore. He later studied International Relations at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and Media and Communications at the London School of Economics. Over the years, he has worked for several leading English-language newspapers and a few other organizations. He runs a YouTube chanel that has over 124,000 subsxribers. These are some of his notable interviews: 👉 Sardar Masood Khan, former president, AJK, Part 1: https://youtu.be/h0jFAudsDuM 👉 Sardar Masood Khan, former president, AJK, Part 2: https://youtu.be/0esgmmI8XGE 👉 Ambassador Abdul Basit: https://youtu.be/qxWeiIzwskI 👉 Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani: https://youtu.be/x3mdfAklix0 👉 Shahid Siddiqui, a former member of India’s parliament: https://youtu.be/hRDiEe90z6Y You’re welcome to follow him on Facebook and Twitter. 👉 https://www.facebook.com/shakil.chaudhary/ 👉 https://x.com/ShakChaudhary