Who Are the Sikhs?Who Are the Sikhs?

The Game PlanThe Game Plan

The BasicsThe Basics Key BeliefsKey Beliefs Quick Sikh HistoryQuick Sikh History

OriginsOriginsGurusGurusImmigration to United StatesImmigration to United States

Sikh Symbols, The TurbanSikh Symbols, The Turban Experience Post-9/11Experience Post-9/11 Sikhism TodaySikhism Today

Sikhism: The BasicsSikhism: The Basics

A A DistinctDistinct Religion Religion Different from Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Different from Hinduism, Islam, Christianity,

Judaism, Baha’i, etc.Judaism, Baha’i, etc. FoundedFounded in late 1400s by in late 1400s by Guru NanakGuru Nanak in what is in what is

today today North IndiaNorth India Has its Has its own holy scriptureown holy scripture, written by the founder , written by the founder

and succeeding Gurusand succeeding Gurus There are about There are about 500,000 Sikhs in the U.S.,500,000 Sikhs in the U.S., and an and an

equal number in Canadaequal number in Canada 22 million Sikhs22 million Sikhs worldwide worldwide World’s World’s 55thth largest religion largest religion (World Almanac) (World Almanac)

Sikhism: Key BeliefsSikhism: Key Beliefs OneOne God God Universal Universal EqualityEquality—gender equality & —gender equality &

equality between all peopleequality between all people Community Community ServiceService HelpingHelping Anyone in Need Anyone in Need RespectRespect for Other Faiths for Other Faiths No drugs, alcoholNo drugs, alcohol No rituals, superstitions, idolsNo rituals, superstitions, idols Point of life: Get Closer to GodPoint of life: Get Closer to God

Historical Origins of SikhismHistorical Origins of Sikhism

• 22 million Sikhs worldwide• 20 million Sikhs in India

INDIA

CHINA

INDIA

Guru NanakGuru Nanak

Guru Guru NanakNanakBorn in 1469 near

Lahore, India

Born into in

environment of Caste

System & Oppression

Established beliefs of

the Sikh faith

Guru means teacher

Sikh means disciple or

student

© 1997, Maboli Systems, Inc.

Golden TempleGolden Temple

Golden TempleGolden Temple, Amritsar, , Amritsar, IndiaIndia

aka aka Harmandir Sahib Harmandir Sahib (1588)(1588)Holy Site founded by 5Holy Site founded by 5thth

GuruGuru

Guru Gobind SinghGuru Gobind Singh

Tenth GuruTenth Guru

April 1699—Khalsa

Initiation: Amrit

Articles of Faith: 5 “K”s

Singh/Kaur

© 1997, Maboli Systems, Inc.

1430 pages

Gurmukhi

Written

By Sikh Gurus

© 1997, Maboli Systems, Inc.

Guru Granth Guru Granth SahibSahib

Sikhs in the United States & New Sikhs in the United States & New JerseyJersey

Sikh Americans join American society without Sikh Americans join American society without giving up religious beliefs and valuesgiving up religious beliefs and values

First Sikh Immigrants to US in late 19First Sikh Immigrants to US in late 19thth Century, Century, California FarmersCalifornia Farmers

Sikh house of worship called “Gurdwara”Sikh house of worship called “Gurdwara” Several Gurdwaras in New Jersey (Glenrock, Several Gurdwaras in New Jersey (Glenrock,

Bridgewater, two in Carteret, East Windsor, Bridgewater, two in Carteret, East Windsor, Lawrenceville, Deptford, Burlington Township)Lawrenceville, Deptford, Burlington Township)

10,000 Sikhs in New Jersey10,000 Sikhs in New Jersey Visitors Welcome (covered head, shoes removed)Visitors Welcome (covered head, shoes removed) Free meals at all times. Free meals at all times. ( (LangarLangar))

Articles of FaithArticles of Faith

KeshKesh—uncut hair. Sikhs do not cut hair or —uncut hair. Sikhs do not cut hair or beards to remain in the image that God beards to remain in the image that God gave us .gave us .

KuchhaKuchha—under-shorts. (boxers) To —under-shorts. (boxers) To represent modesty and fidelity.represent modesty and fidelity.

KangaKanga—comb, made of wood. To keep —comb, made of wood. To keep uncut hair neat and clean.uncut hair neat and clean.

KaraKara—bracelet, made of steel worn on right —bracelet, made of steel worn on right hand. A reminder of noble actions, a hand. A reminder of noble actions, a symbol of eternity.symbol of eternity.

KirpanKirpan—ceremonial small sword. —ceremonial small sword. Symbolizing freedom, liberty and justice, Symbolizing freedom, liberty and justice, and the defense of anyone weak or and the defense of anyone weak or oppressed.oppressed.

Sikh TurbansSikh Turbans

99% of people with turbans in US are 99% of people with turbans in US are Sikhs, not Muslims or HindusSikhs, not Muslims or Hindus

Covers long, uncut hairCovers long, uncut hair Approx. 15 feet of cloth wrapped neatly Approx. 15 feet of cloth wrapped neatly

around the head every time it is put onaround the head every time it is put on Symbolizes Symbolizes discipline, integrity, humility, discipline, integrity, humility,

and spiritualityand spirituality Religious Religious requirementrequirement—must be worn at —must be worn at

all times in publicall times in public King’s CrownKing’s Crown Why do other people wear turbans?Why do other people wear turbans?

September 11, 2001September 11, 2001

Sikhs grieve with AmericaSikhs grieve with America. Like . Like many, Sikhs lost friends, loved many, Sikhs lost friends, loved ones and colleaguesones and colleagues

Sikhs unequivocally Sikhs unequivocally condemn the condemn the recent terrorist attacksrecent terrorist attacks

Sikhs continue to donate blood, Sikhs continue to donate blood, food, and money, and participate food, and money, and participate in memorial servicesin memorial services

At the WTC, Sikh doctors were At the WTC, Sikh doctors were first on the scene helping save first on the scene helping save liveslives

Dr. Navinderdeep Singh, a fourth year resident

Set up the first triage center at ground zero, just in front of one of the collapsed towers.

He also helped organize a makeshift morgue in the lobby of the American Express building.

First to HelpFirst to Help

Dr Nijher stayed until 2 a.m., mostly treating injured firefighters who had been pulled from the rubble. From there, he went back to the hospital, slept for an hour, and reported for his regular shift at 6 a.m.

An American Hero?An American Hero?

"Every person was staring at me" "People were saying 'There goes one of them now.'

Someone yelled 'Go back to your own country!'"

A Hero’s Welcome?A Hero’s Welcome?

Balbir S. SodhiFormer Bay Area Resident

Small Businessman1949-2001

9/15/01: Mesa, Arizona9/15/01: Mesa, Arizona

Why?Why?"On Sept. 11, America was attacked from abroad,"

said Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley

"However, with the murder of Mr. Sodhi, we have now been

attacked from within."

Victims of Sept 11Victims of Sept 11

VictimsVictims: Sikhs have been victims of a : Sikhs have been victims of a hate backlash and harassment because hate backlash and harassment because of their appearance (100s of hate of their appearance (100s of hate crimes)crimes)

ProfilingProfiling: Sikhs have been victims of : Sikhs have been victims of racial profiling at airports & on highwaysracial profiling at airports & on highways

DiscriminationDiscrimination: harassment, racial : harassment, racial profiling and employment discrimination profiling and employment discrimination is making it much harder for Sikhs to is making it much harder for Sikhs to wear turbans and other articles of faith - wear turbans and other articles of faith - a basic constitutional righta basic constitutional right

Sikhism Today – 4/23/03Sikhism Today – 4/23/03

Though violent attacks have Though violent attacks have subsided, discrimination & hatred subsided, discrimination & hatred still persiststill persist

Young Sikhs in schools have been Young Sikhs in schools have been targets of ignorance & violencetargets of ignorance & violence

What can you do to help?What can you do to help?

Take Home MessageTake Home Message

Sikhism is a distinct religion.Sikhism is a distinct religion. Sikh values of freedom, hard work, Sikh values of freedom, hard work,

helping the needy and defending the helping the needy and defending the oppressed fall perfectly in line with oppressed fall perfectly in line with American ideals.American ideals.

Sikhs believe in One God, like many Sikhs believe in One God, like many other faiths, and are proud to be other faiths, and are proud to be Americans.Americans.

Resources on the NetResources on the Net

www.sikhs.orgwww.sikhs.org www.sikhmediawatch.orgwww.sikhmediawatch.org www.sikhcoalition.orgwww.sikhcoalition.org www.sikhnet.orgwww.sikhnet.org www.sikhcommunications.comwww.sikhcommunications.com www.sikheducation.comwww.sikheducation.com www.come.to/sikhsabhawww.come.to/sikhsabha www.sikhfoundation.orgwww.sikhfoundation.org

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments

Presentation compiled by Savraj Singh Presentation compiled by Savraj Singh ’03 (savraj@princeton.edu) for the ’03 (savraj@princeton.edu) for the

Marlboro School District, April 23, 2003.Marlboro School District, April 23, 2003.

Sources: Presentations created by Jasbir Sources: Presentations created by Jasbir Singh of Maboli Systems, The Sikh Singh of Maboli Systems, The Sikh

Mediawatch & Resource Task Force, Mediawatch & Resource Task Force, Sutinder Singh Dhanjal of Sikh Sabha, Sutinder Singh Dhanjal of Sikh Sabha, Amardeep Singh, SikhEducation.com, Amardeep Singh, SikhEducation.com,

and SikhCommunications.com.and SikhCommunications.com.