Sikh Awareness Program

1The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietary

Sikh Awareness Program

April 2004

<Presenter>

2The Sikh Coalition Confidential & Proprietarywww.sikhcoalition.orgwww.sikhcoalition.org

Who are the Sikhs?

Sikh means “student” or “disciple” Sikhism is world’s 5th largest religion, after Christianity, Islam,

Hinduism, and Buddhism 26 million Sikhs worldwide

— 20 million in Punjab— 1 million in North America

99 % of the people wearing turbans in America are Sikhs


Guru Nanak: Birth of a Revolutionary

Punjab (the land of Five Rivers) Born in 1469; Village Talwandi Socio-political environment

— Land divided by religion— Ruled by invaders from Persia & Afghanistan— Rich exploited the poor— Castes: Untouchables had no rights— Women had no role— Superstitions & Rituals

Guru means “Spiritual Enlightener” Spread the revelation across 8000 miles on foot Defender of human rights and equality Tolerant of other’s perspective and freedom of choice Often used metaphor and analogy to communicate


There is One God for all of creation, a loving Creator attainable through the Grace

Loving remembrance and devotion of the One Absolute equality of humanity Living a moral, truthful and hardworking existence Selfless service towards the entire Creation Humility and loving action Defending the rights of the downtrodden and oppressed

Basic Sikh Beliefs


The Sikh Revolution Timeline

Columbus discovers America

Guru Nanak(1469-1539)

Golden Temple Foundation(1588)

Adi Granth Compiled(1604)

Martyrdom Guru Arjan Dev(1606)

Guru Gobind Singh(1666-1708)

Martyrdom Guru Tegh Bahadur(1606)

Creation of Khalsa -5 K’s(1699)

Maharaja Ranjit Singh(1780-1839)

Guru Nanak was followed by nine Gurus (same spirit).

1400

AD


Evolution of Distinct Identity

Distinct script – Gurmukhi Distinct community - Sangat, Pangat, Dharamsala

— Education, — Physical well being (wrestling)

Liberation and empowerment of women — Against Sati (widow immolation), Pardah (Veil) — Supported widow remarriage

Manji (Seats of Authority) system (22 Manjis)— 4 women bishops and preachers— Collection of money for social/religious causes (daswand)

Distinct Ceremonies (birth, naming, marriage) People of the Book

— Adi Granth compiled and installed by the Fifth Guru Miri Piri (Temporal – Spiritual)

— Sikhs were to lead active lives both in temporal and spiritual realms


Formalization of Identity

Baisakhi 1699 Baisakhi 1699 Concept of Khalsa Concept of Khalsa

— Saint Soldier Saint Soldier — 5 K’s5 K’s— Dedicated to service of HumanityDedicated to service of Humanity

AmritAmrit— A public declaration and— A private commitment

Singhs and Kaurs— Caste/Class less society


Guru Granth and Guru Panth

After Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru Spiritual Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib (The Sikh

scripture)— 1430 pages— The Gurus’ Experience of the Divine— Also included were consistent teachings from Hindu and Muslim

saints— Gurmukhi script

Temporal Guru, Guru Khalsa Panth

(the charismatic Sikh community)


Articles of Faith

5 K’s – mandatory articles of faith

Kesh – Uncut hair Kirpan – Religious sword Karra – Steel bracelet Kangha – Wooden comb Kachehra – Boxer shorts Kangha


Dastaar – the Turban

Mandatory – not a social or cultural article.

Symbolic of sovereignty of humans. Always be recognized and duty

bound to offer help. Sikhs wearing it for the last 500

years. Removal of turban in public is

tantamount to a strip search. Stand for social justice of all people.


Gurudwara – “Door” to the “Guru”

Everyone welcome Services typically held on Weekends Language – Punjabi Langar (Community Kitchen) Local Contact Information Planned Visits


Sikhs in North America

Arrived around late 1890’s Places

— California, Oregon and Washington— British Columbia

Farming & Lumber Industry Immigration Barriers by 1920’s

San Francisco Chronicle, April 6, 1899Vancouver Diamond Jubilee 1897 Hong Kong Regiment


Sikhs in America

1920’s – 1950’s — Reverse Immigration— Freedom struggle against British imperialism— Partition of Punjab 1947 bw. India and Pakistan

1950’s – today— End of immigration controls— Professionals, Extended Families— Refugees (1980’s and 1990’s)


Some Sikh Public Faces

Gurbax Singh MahliFirst Turbaned Sikh in Canadian Parliment

Narinder Singh KapaniFather of Fiber Optics

Palbinder KaurHuman Rights Lawyer

Baltej Singh DhillonFirst Turbaned Sikh in Royal Canadian Mounted Police

T Sher SinghRecognized with the Order of Canada


Some Sikh Public Faces

Amrit and Rabindra Kaur Artists

Colonel SekhonUnited States Army

Bhagat Singh ThindUS Army 1912

Nuvraj Singh BassiUniversity of OregonFootball Player


CHALLENGES TODAY…..


Challenges after September 11, 2001

HATE CRIMES and BIAS INCIDENTS Misunderstood and Targeted because of their turbans and appearance First 3 months – More than 250 hate crimes recorded Vandalism, assault – verbal/physical, fatalities Balbir Singh Sodhi – first victim of Post 9/11 Hate in Mesa, AZ His brother killed 9 months later in San Francisco, CA Events such as Iraq war continue to affect the community <provide local context>



EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION Several cases of Sikhs being told to remove their turbans or

they will be fired Before 9/11 employment discrimination was the biggest civil

rights issue for Sikh-Americans, many are afraid that now hate crimes have gone down, employment discrimination will go up.

Difficulties finding employment Racial Profiling – airports/transportation and law enforcement Reinforcement of stereotypes NYPD “no-turbans” policy

— The Sikh Coalition and Amric Singh Rathour filed a federal lawsuit challenging the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) “no turban” policy. Amric Singh was terminated by the NYPD in August 2001 for refusing orders to remove his turban and trim his beard, both required by his religion



SCHOOL HARASSMENT Since September 11, 2001, there has been a significant increase in

violent attacks and bullying of Sikh students. Many of these attacks are by middle school children. In Seattle,

Atlanta, New York, Maryland, Sikh children have been the target of violent attack because of their religion.



KIRPAN Since September 11, 2001, the Sikh Coalition has defended six Sikhs

who were prosecuted for wearing the kirpan from New York City to Wisconsin to Tennessee. Charges in all six cases were dismissed.

There is no criminal intent in wearing a kirpan. It an article of faith. There are exemptions in many jurisdictions for boy scouts or knives

salespersons to carry instruments whose blades are longer than the legal limit.

Before 9/11, Sikhs were generally not arrested for wearing the kirpan.


France: Secularism?

On December 11, 2003, a commission appointed by the government of France, issued a report recommending that all “conspicuous articles of faith” in French public schools be banned.

These Signs Include:— Muslim Hijaabs— Sikh dastaars— Jewish Skullcaps— Christian Crosses

More than 5000 Sikhs live in the greater Paris area alone. This would effectively ban French Sikh children from being educated in

French public schools. No French Sikhs were amongst the more than 200 people interviewed in

the six month preparation of the recommendation to the French president


For more information,

visit www.sikhcoalition.org

Or Email [email protected]

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Sikh Awareness Program

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