Sikhism is the philosophy of Guru Nanak, who rejected manmade ritualism and sought to bridge the divide between the two major faiths—Hinduism and Islam—that were prevalent in north-western India at the time. His message was universal and inclusive, with humanity as its core mission. He was a man of liberal thoughts, not of radicalised belief. Guru Nanak travelled thousands of miles in all directions, including to the Middle East, the Himalayan regions (often associated with Tibet), and Sri Lanka. Thousands of people, including many Muslims, became his followers.

The succeeding Gurus upheld and defended his doctrine and gradually expanded the faith. The formation of the Khalsa Panth was an extension of this defence and a response to the requirements of the times. Guru Gobind Singh Ji, surrounded by adversaries, had to fight numerous battles with relatively disorganised forces to protect the very existence of the faith. The Khalsa Panth provided a code of conduct and a distinct identity for those willing to defend the faith, but it was neither a rejection of Guru Nanak’s ideology nor of non-Khalsa followers. Guru Gobind Singh’s final message, Guru Manyo Granth, reaffirmed this continuity.

The perplexity today lies in the tension between Guru Nanak’s ideology and the emphasis on identity and the Khalsa. Because of this confusion, custodians of the faith have, in practice, rejected millions of Guru Nanak’s followers, including Sindhi followers in Pakistan. As a result, the community appears to be in decline. Followers of Guru Nanak are being marginalised or discriminated against within the community, leading to mass conversions to Christianity, a drift away from Sikhism, or the search for alternatives such as Radhaswamis, Sacha Sauda, Nirankaris, and other deras. Even the Gurudwaras in many places or villages are divided based on new castes created within the community. 

From one perspective, the core reason is that the Sikhism of Guru Nanak has been derailed by its own followers, with Sikhs increasingly deviating from his philosophy. Consequently, the community appears directionless and faces multiple challenges. Manmade rituals are returning. Ten Gurus attempted to reform a segment of society, yet it seems the community is not fully reformed and is gradually moving back to where it began. Beyond identity, one must ask: how are we truly different from others?

Globally, Sikhs constitute a very small minority, and the time may not be far when they become a minority even in the already truncated Punjab, largely due to poor leadership or guidance. Leadership has always been a challenge for the community. Even Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in pursuit of his military mission, had to appoint an outsider—later baptised into the Khalsa—to continue this task.

Recent incidents in New Zealand may be seen as a warning, not only against Sikhs but against Indians in general. A recent Diwali celebration in a Canadian town left the venue littered and in disarray. A similar thing happened when Dushera was celebrated in yet another town. Such behaviour privately angers local communities, who perceive it as uncivilised. In this sense, reactions in New Zealand were not directed solely at Sikhs, but at Indians who failed to respect local values. The flags torn in New Zealand also included Hindu flags and shouted that it is not India. 

As a community, it raises an important question: what purpose do Nagar Kirtans serve, especially in Western or developed countries? Excessive public displays of any kind are bound to provoke opposition. Rajneesh, after achieving success in Pune, went to the United States to expand his Osho movement. He was expelled unceremoniously and later died under controversial circumstances. Today, the Osho movement is practically non-existent.

Faith is deeply personal and, particularly in foreign societies, should ideally remain confined to appropriate spaces such as gurdwaras. The liberal nature of Western societies should not be exploited. Would such activities be possible in China or many Middle Eastern countries?

Buddhism, which also originated in India, spread globally—including in the United States—without creating social friction. Headed by the Dalai Lama, a figure comparable to the Pope, Buddhism benefits from leadership that is spiritually profound, intellectually grounded, globally respected, and attuned to modern realities. Do we have any person or institution of such calibre to guide or lead? 

Recently, a friend of mine visited a gurdwara with his family, and his son was not allowed to enter because he was wearing shorts. Similarly, individuals wearing caps or hats are often denied entry. One must ask what is achieved by such restrictions, especially when the younger generation questions these practices and asks how such attire constitutes disrespect to the faith.

The community needs introspection and must avoid falling into a self-created trap laid by its own members. By returning to and respecting the ideology of Guru Nanak, many of these problems can be resolved. It is time to contemplate. Moreover, the radicalization of this faith has no future.

The state has a long history of social and political unrest, and has been the site of numerous protests and demonstrations in recent years (Farmer’s Protests of 2020-2021). In response, the Indian government has often resorted to heavy-handed tactics, including the use of force and the suspension of basic freedoms like freedom of speech and expression.

The recent suspension of internet services in the state is just the latest example of this. While the government has cited security concerns as the reason for the suspension, many critics argue that it is an attempt to suppress dissent and silence opposition voices. This is particularly troubling given the important role that social media and online platforms play in facilitating the free flow of information and ideas.

Moreover, reports of restrictions on the social media accounts of non-government-aligned reporters and organizations are deeply troubling. These actions are a clear violation of freedom of the press and the right to free speech, and represent a serious threat to democracy and the rule of law. Such actions are unacceptable in a democratic society, and should be strongly condemned by all those who value freedom and human rights.

In light of these concerns, it is essential that civil society organizations, human rights groups, and concerned citizens come together to demand greater transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights from the Indian government. This includes calling for an end to internet shutdowns, the protection of freedom of the press and the right to free speech, and the release of those who have been arbitrarily detained or imprisoned for their peaceful dissent.

Here are a few ways you can help.

KHALSA AID INTERNATIONAL

HEMKUNT FOUNDATION IN DELHI

UDAY FOUNDATION

MISSION OXYGEN

FEEDING FROM FAR IN MUMBAI

GIVE INDIA

BUDS IN DELHI NCR

OUR DEMOCRACY – DOCTORS ON ROAD CAMPAIGN

DELHI RELIEF COLLECTIVE

FEEDING INDIA BY ZOMATO

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE

YOUTH FEED INDIA AND HELPING HANDS

MUMBAI DABBAWALA

THE BHOPAL MEDICAL APPEAL

HBS HOSPITAL

HELPNOW

PATH

FIGHT WITH CARE

Hate crimes and violence against the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander communities have surged since the beginning of the pandemic, though we are very aware that the sentiment has existed for many many years. The recent murders of Yong Ae Yue, Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Daoyou Feng, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Xiaojie Tan and Paul Andre Michels, as well as the serious injury to Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz are clear evidence of the unconscionable hate, racism, and misogyny that fueled them. This violence has in part been fueled by white supremacy and rhetoric baselessly blaming people of Asian Americans and Pacific Island descent for the outbreak

and spread of COVID-19.

The continued violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders shows how far we are from protecting all the members of our society from racially inspired attacks. Our focus remains on social justice, diversity, inclusion and being proactive, solution-oriented, and intolerant of white supremacy. If you’re looking for ways to help, there are organizations you can donate to and if you’re specifically looking for a better understanding of the power of allyship, we encourage you to learn more about and potentially sign up for Bystander Intervention Training.

We call for an end to this Asian American and Pacific Islander hatred and violence now. We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to those families and communities so deeply and tragically affected by this horrific assault.

In recognition of human rights, civil rights and democracy, the Sikh Foundation makes the following statement supporting the farmers’ right to be heard, their right to dignity and their right to justice. 

Since September 2020, the world has been witnessing the largest organized strike in human history, upwards of 250 million people (NY Times, 2020). Farmers from all over India have travelled to New Delhi to peacefully protest three farm laws passed by the Indian government (Tribune, 2020), which they believe will dramatically worsen the already harsh social and economic conditions in which they live. 

Farming employs about 600 million (50% of the total population) of Indians! (Financial Express, 2018) For many years, the farmers have struggled with water scarcity, inflation, and mounting debts with little respite. According to the Government of Punjab’s data, 3,300 farmers in Punjab have committed suicide in the years 2000–2019 (ref.). The new farm laws are seen as pro big business by the farmers, further debilitating their own plight (Deccan Herald, 2020).

Since the protests began, we have seen news reports indicating that the government has tried to violently suppress the peaceful protesters. The protesters have been surrounded by barricades and barbed wire, and spikes nailed onto the roads. Their internet, water, and power were cut off. Despite these adverse conditions, the farmers continue their struggle protesting the new farm laws, sleeping in tents and make-shift canopies, braving the rain and biting winter cold. Hundreds of people have died, over a hundred have been jailed and some have disappeared (Amnesty International). 

Unfortunately, the mistreatment by the government does not stop at the farmers; members of the press have also been intimidated, imprisoned, and their social media accounts suspended. Furthermore, a campaign of misrepresentation of the peaceful law-abiding Sikh farmers as “terrorists” and “anti-nationals” on social media tweets, posts and memes is increasingly diverting attention from the real issue- the new farm laws.

We are gravely concerned about the human cost of this struggle and fear that more innocent lives will be lost if common ground cannot be found soon. 

The world is watching closely. Leaders from Asia, Europe, Americas, Australia, New Zealand including the UN and Human Rights Watch have expressed similar concerns as ours. The implications of these protests reach global issues of land inequality: government deregulation and privatization of the agricultural industry has caused tremendous concern to the small farmer globally. 

We urge the Indian government to protect the health and safety of the farmers of India and be an example to the rest of the world. Protect them from being swallowed up by big business.  Send the farmers home by repealing the laws and continue discussions with them on a better set of laws. Please come to their aid. 

We urge the United States Congress and President Biden to issue a strong statement in support of the democratic, human, and civil rights of the farmers. 

The Sikh Foundation strongly advocates for the farmers’ safety and health, right to be heard, right to their dignity and their right to justice. 

Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji ki Fateh!

It is on this day that the Sikh Foundation International wants to express its outrage and sadness for those who have been hurt by the legacy of police brutality and systemic racism which exists in our country. We are mortified by the brutal killing of Mr. George Floyd by the Minneapolis Police officers. His tragic death, and other recent inexcusable killings of other innocent African Americans like Rayshard Brooks,  Ahmaud Arbery,  Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Sean Reed, and Yassin Mohamed highlight the extensive racial profiling by law enforcement and the criminal justice system resulting from decades of brutality against African Americans rampant in our country, our communities, and even within ourselves. 

Martin Luther King explained that blacks are unique as they were the only ethnic group that was brought to America involuntarily in chains.  Though 250 years of  slavery was abolished in the United States upon the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in December 1865, black people were left landless and disenfranchised. They were treated like property; their marriages were not recognized nor did they have any rights over their children. African-American slaves, despite having worked for 250 years in America, without ever being paid, received little to help them get on their feet. What followed was 100 years of state sponsored discrimination. Though the Civil Rights Act was enacted in 1964 and 1968,  a system of egregious housing discrimination, policing and mass incarceration of African American people in this country has been continuous throughout history.   If current trends continue, 1 of every 3 African American males born today can expect to go to prison in his lifetime (See https://www.sentencingproject.org).   

Martin Luther King  was also an advocate of psychological science;  he saw that slavery and segregation could only be perpetuated by the ideology of white supremacy, leaving  lasting psychological damage on both blacks and whites. 

American racism carries its own special brand, initiated by categorization , supported by factions (breeding ingroup loyalty and outgroup suspicion and threat), strengthened by segregation (driving racial perceptions, preferences, beliefs, and inhibiting intergroup contact), emboldened by hierarchy (white supremacy), legislated by power (at all levels of government from Federal to Local), legitimized by the media  (over-representing and idealizing white people, while marginalizing or minimizing people of color), and overlooked by passive acceptance (due to ignorance, denial, or inaction emanating from fear or diffusion of responsibility). Unfortunately, these incidents of racial injustice, named above, are an infinitesimal fraction of those occurring routinely; we must acknowledge that there are many more incidents of hate experienced by people of color that remain unreported everyday. 

Guru Nanak Dev Ji taught us to speak out and stand up for the rights of ALL to be respected. Guru Nanak denounced the caste system and preached against discrimination and prejudices due to race, caste, status, and on and on. He taught us that  the presence of the divine is within each human being.  Therefore, we, The Sikh Foundation International, ask you to join us in the fight against systemic racism. 

How do we break this cycle of injustice? By being antiracist, by opening our minds and our hearts, as many are doing, and creating dialogues with people you may not have otherwise known. These conversations can spark understanding, drive change and thus make history. All of us must examine our own prejudices towards race. Unless we oppose racism, we are passively aiding and abetting it, allowing it to persist and fester.  Let us reach out to all African Americans in our communities and to hear their perspectives, share their sorrow, absorb their frustration, and accept their testimony. We are the beneficiaries of the civil rights activism led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,  and many others who sacrificed their lives to pave the way for the Civil Rights Movement which brought attention to what was happening to immigrants in the US. 

We as Sikhs must ask ourselves how we can help. Peaceful protests are happening all over the country. Let’s take the time to attend and support these gatherings. Sikhs representing the local gurdwaras are already participating in the Black Lives Matter rallies in our communities – let us join them. Many Sikhs are in the forefront doing seva, distributing  refreshments, and demonstrating their deep empathy towards victims of racial injustice. Sikhs have faced persecution for many centuries, yet they have held onto their strong belief in ‘Sarbat da Bhala’, the wellbeing of ALL. 

We pledge our continued commitment to fight for  social justice for all, irrespective of color, race, gender, national origin, or sexual identity. The Sikh Foundation International will explore meaningful ways to work with African American artists, authors, museums, & students. We stand true to the egalitarian ideals established by our Gurus, in solidarity with people of all color, and hope to inspire others by growing stronger in Chardi Kala. 

To gain more insight about the issues facing African Americans, please see below:

TEMPLATES FOR EXPLAINING #BLACKLIVESMATTER TO OTHERS

• We know that it can be challenging to explain what’s going on to parents and other loved ones who lack the context.Letters for Black Lives provides a great starting point. See here for the South Asian American version, also available in other languages
• Overall framework from EverydayFeminism is another strong resource

ALLYSHIP IDEAS FOR THE ASIAN COMMUNITY (shared by Black Lives Matter)

This Medium post has been making the rounds, and was shared by Black Lives Matter as examples of what Asians can do to help.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Washington Post: The real reasons the U.S. became less racist towards Asian Americans

“The work of the African American freedom movements had made white liberals and white conservatives very uncomfortable… Across the political spectrum, people looked to Asian Americans…as an example of a solution, as a template for other minority groups to follow: “Look how they ended up! They’re doing just fine. And they did it all without political protests.” That isn’t really true, by the way. Asian Americans did get political, but sometimes their efforts didn’t get seen or recognized. These stereotypes about Asian Americans being patriotic, having an orderly family, not having delinquency or crime — they became seen as the opposite of what “blackness” represented to many Americans at the time.”

NPR: ‘Model Minority’ Myth Again Used As A Racial Wedge Between Asians And Blacks

“Since the end of World War II, many white people have used Asian-Americans and their perceived collective success as a racial wedge. The effect? Minimizing the role racism plays in the persistent struggles of other racial/ethnic minority groups — especially black Americans…[this is] 1) ignoring the role that selective recruitment of highly educated Asian immigrants has played in Asian American success followed by 2) making a flawed comparison between Asian Americans and other groups, particularly Black Americans, to argue that racism, including more than two centuries of black enslavement, can be overcome by hard work and strong family values.”

RECOMMENDED MEDIA (suggested by @southasians4blacklives)

Films to watch 

13th – Netflix, American Son – Netflix, See You Yesterday – Netflix, When They See Us – Netflix, If Beale Street Could Talk – Hulu, The Hate U Give – Hulu with Cinemax, King in the Wilderness – HBO, Just Mercy – currently FREE, Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 – available to rent, Clemency – available to rent, Fruitvale Station – available to rent, I Am Not Your Negro – available to rent, also on Kanopy, Selma – available to rent

Books to read

Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins, Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper, Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, Redefining Realness By Janet Mock, Sister Outsider By Audre Lorde, So You Want To Talk About Race By Ijeoma Oluo, The Bluest Eye By Toni Morrison, The Fire Next Time By James Baldwin, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration In The Age Of Colorblindness By Michelle Alexander, The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism For The 21st Century By Grace Lee Boggs, The Warm of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Racial Women of Color by Cherrie Moraga

 My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies, by Resmaa Menakem.    Highly recommend his book, which offers somatic exercises and practices, because racial injustice is in our bodies, not just in our thinking and feeling. To experience it in our bodies brings deeper levels of understanding.

DONATE

Please donate to Black Lives Matter here.

TAKE THE  HARVARD UNIVERSITY’S IMPLICIT BIAS TEST

To see if you have any unconscious biases on a variety of factors. They have 15 different tests.

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

You can skip the initial survey questions which are unrelated to the main tests.