The Many Facets of Sikh: from India to the United States (history & core beliefs)
--Settling in, doing good.--
The one-hour film:
- gives the history of the Sikh community in the USA; – includes special narration by Dr. Jasbir Singh Kang, MD.
- explains the religion’s core beliefs
- talks about Sikh contributions in agriculture, technology, and other areas
- explains the importance to Sikhs of providing free food to all (langar)
- shows off Sikh martial arts, including those horses
- allows individual Sikhs to express what Sikhi means to them in daily life
--oneness, equality, service--
Sikhism, or “Sikhi”, is a religion. About half of all Sikhs in the United States live in California. There are other concentrations in New York City, in Washington State, and in and around both Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Sikhs believe we are all one to be treated with equal respect. They welcome, and feed, anyone who comes to their festivals and their gurdwaras, their temples – but if you go inside a gurdwara, please be sure to take off your shoes and cover your head before entering. (They will provide a scarf for your head if you need one.)
The need to feed – called “langar” – means that not only at their own facilties but when there is a disaster (like covid, or war, or famine) they will help out with food, feeding anywhere between 100 and 10.000 or even at times, 100.000 people. Helping, or sharing, is one of the three core principles of the religion, an obligation Sikhs take very seriously.
The other two core values are the need to meditate, and to work actively in the community and earn an honest living, the fruits of which should be shared with others.
The Sikh religion is some 500 years old, and it is said to be the fifth largest religion in the world in the number of adherents. Most Sikhs or their ancestors come from the Punjab region of northwestern India. Many have immigrated to the United States partly for better opportunities and partly to escape violence in India, especially (naturally enough) violence against Sikhs.
Sikhs first started coming to North America around 1899. Many originally working in agriculture. Now, many run start-ups in Silicon Valley, or are scientific researchers, financial leaders, medical doctors and the like although there are still many farmers among them. Many Sikhs live in Canada, as well as the United States. Baptized men usually wear a turban, and have a beard – requirements of the religion.
Over the years, they have faced much discrimination but have flourished in spite of this. Now, a large portion are middle class and above, and are highly respected.
WHY THIS DOCUMENTARY
Although not one of the largest immigrant communities in the United States, Sikhs have made outsized contributions to the country. Think of the “father of fiber optics,” the “peach king,” the president of the World Bank, and many others. In addition, the history of the community mirrors the history of other immigrant communities, something particularly important at this time. Plus learning more them can be a good antidote to hate crimes.
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