Who are the Sikhs?
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Transcript Who are the Sikhs?
Who Are the Sikhs?
The Game Plan
The Basics
Key Beliefs
Quick Sikh History
Origins
Gurus
Immigration to United States
Sikh Symbols, The Turban
Experience Post-9/11
Sikhism Today
Sikhism: The Basics
A Distinct Religion
Different from Hinduism, Islam, Christianity,
Judaism, Baha’i, etc.
Founded in late 1400s by Guru Nanak in what is
today North India
Has its own holy scripture, written by the founder
and succeeding Gurus
There are about 500,000 Sikhs in the U.S., and an
equal number in Canada
22 million Sikhs worldwide
World’s 5th largest religion (World Almanac)
Sikhism: Key Beliefs
One God
Universal Equality—gender equality &
equality between all people
Community Service
Helping Anyone in Need
Respect for Other Faiths
No drugs, alcohol
No rituals, superstitions, idols
Point of life: Get Closer to God
Historical Origins of Sikhism
CHINA
INDIA
• 22 million Sikhs worldwide
• 20 million Sikhs in India
INDIA
Guru Nanak
Born in 1469 near
Lahore, India
Guru Nanak
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 Temple
Golden Temple, Amritsar, India
aka Harmandir Sahib (1588)
Holy Site founded by 5th Guru
Tenth Guru
Guru Gobind Singh
April 1699—Khalsa
Initiation: Amrit
Articles of Faith: 5 “K”s
Singh/Kaur
© 1997, Maboli Systems, Inc.
Guru Granth Sahib
1430 pages
Gurmukhi
Written
By Sikh Gurus
© 1997, Maboli Systems, Inc.
Sikhs in the United States & New Jersey
Sikh Americans join American society without
giving up religious beliefs and values
First Sikh Immigrants to US in late 19th Century,
California Farmers
Sikh house of worship called “Gurdwara”
Several Gurdwaras in New Jersey (Glenrock,
Bridgewater, two in Carteret, East Windsor,
Lawrenceville, Deptford, Burlington Township)
10,000 Sikhs in New Jersey
Visitors Welcome (covered head, shoes removed)
Free meals at all times. (Langar)
Articles of Faith
Kesh—uncut hair. Sikhs do not cut hair or
beards to remain in the image that God
gave us .
Kuchha—under-shorts. (boxers) To
represent modesty and fidelity.
Kanga—comb, made of wood. To keep
uncut hair neat and clean.
Kara—bracelet, made of steel worn on right
hand. A reminder of noble actions, a
symbol of eternity.
Kirpan—ceremonial small sword.
Symbolizing freedom, liberty and justice,
and the defense of anyone weak or
oppressed.
Sikh Turbans
99% of people with turbans in US are
Sikhs, not Muslims or Hindus
Covers long, uncut hair
Approx. 15 feet of cloth wrapped neatly
around the head every time it is put on
Symbolizes discipline, integrity, humility,
and spirituality
Religious requirement—must be worn at
all times in public
King’s Crown
Why do other people wear turbans?
September 11, 2001
Sikhs grieve with America. Like
many, Sikhs lost friends, loved
ones and colleagues
Sikhs unequivocally condemn the
recent terrorist attacks
Sikhs continue to donate blood,
food, and money, and participate
in memorial services
At the WTC, Sikh doctors were
first on the scene helping save
lives
First to Help
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.
An American Hero?
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.
A Hero’s Welcome?
"Every person was staring at me"
"People were saying 'There goes one of them now.'
Someone yelled 'Go back to your own country!'"
9/15/01: Mesa, Arizona
Balbir S. Sodhi
Former Bay Area Resident
Small Businessman
1949-2001
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 11
Victims: Sikhs have been victims of a
hate backlash and harassment because
of their appearance (100s of hate
crimes)
Profiling: Sikhs have been victims of
racial profiling at airports & on highways
Discrimination: harassment, racial
profiling and employment discrimination
is making it much harder for Sikhs to
wear turbans and other articles of faith a basic constitutional right
Sikhism Today – 4/23/03
Though violent attacks have
subsided, discrimination & hatred
still persist
Young Sikhs in schools have been
targets of ignorance & violence
What can you do to help?
Take Home Message
Sikhism is a distinct religion.
Sikh values of freedom, hard work,
helping the needy and defending the
oppressed fall perfectly in line with
American ideals.
Sikhs believe in One God, like many
other faiths, and are proud to be
Americans.
Resources on the Net
www.sikhs.org
www.sikhmediawatch.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.sikhnet.org
www.sikhcommunications.com
www.sikheducation.com
www.come.to/sikhsabha
www.sikhfoundation.org
Acknowledgments
Presentation compiled by Savraj Singh
’03 ([email protected]) for the
Marlboro School District, April 23, 2003.
Sources: Presentations created by Jasbir
Singh of Maboli Systems, The Sikh
Mediawatch & Resource Task Force,
Sutinder Singh Dhanjal of Sikh Sabha,
Amardeep Singh, SikhEducation.com,
and SikhCommunications.com.