Bir Singh visits Maharajah Duleep Singh sites in Thetford and Elveden

A Punjabi superstar has visited Thetford and Elveden to pay homage to the last emperor of the Punjab, Maharajah Duleep Singh.

Bir Singh, who has composed and written many of the top soundtracks for the Punjab film industry, was invited to visit by the Anglo Punjab Heritage Foundation and the Essex Cultural Diversity Project (ECDP).

The singer and lyricist, who has more than 275,000 followers on social media, made the visit as he embarked on his first UK tour, including venues in London and Birmingham.

Indi Sandhu, creative director and chief executive of the ECDP, said: “We were honoured to host Bir Singh in visiting various locations related to Maharaja Duleep Singh and hear the historical background of these sites.”

The first stop saw Mr Singh lay flowers at the grave of the maharajah in Elveden Church.

Speaking there, he expressed what an honour it was for him to visit the church and pay his respects.

Mr Singh also recited a poem about no matter what our faiths are we are all one – a reference to the maharajah, who was born a Sikh but later became a Christian.

After visiting the Ancient House Museum, in Thetford, which was given to the town by the maharajah’s second son, Prince Frederick, the group went to the Duleep Singh statue on the town’s Butten island.

Given the closing speech of the tour, historian Peter Bance said: “The story of the maharajah binds the British and Punjabi community and is a common history which brings both cultures together.”