Pashaura Singh Dhillon

Caruthers, California Makes History

I first started working for the Fresno County Department of Agriculture in 1994 and still remember my supervisor, Paul Cook, telling me about Caruthers after he had described the satellite towns around Fresno which would fall under my jurisdiction. He looked at me jokingly and said, “Now don’t ask me where the hell is Caruthers. You have to go there to see it!”

When people talk about the Central Valley of California, they immediately think of Bakersfield, Tulare, Selma, Fresno, Madera or Modesto etc.. Not many people are aware of this sleepy, tiny town tucked away 30 miles southwest of Fresno en-route Hwy 41 South. Caruther  lies right in the middle of miles and miles of almond groves and vineyards, many farmed by Sikh American farmers, producing some of the best almonds and raisins in the world. Caruthers is also a base for the well-known Gill Insurance Company of Gill brothers and of course is the home for the Sikh American farmer who is considered to be the  largest Raisin Grower of the world, Charanjit Singh Batth, affectionately  nick named the “Raisin King.”

But Caruthers made a history of a different kind on November 19, 2011 when Randy Mehrten of  Fresno County Education Department presented the Sikh Council of Central California (SCCC) at the 542nd Guru Nanak Prakaash Utsav, its proclamation designating November 2011 as California Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month.  And the Assembly member Thirty First District Henry Perea persuasively spoke of working with other legislators in the Assembly to make it permanent.

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Greetings to one and all on the Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav in the month of November! The Sikh Council of Central California is celebrating Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav 18-20 November, 2011 in Caruthers, California.  Considering a befitting tribute on this occasion, the Sikh Council of Central California is organizing an informal conversational style seminars on Saturday, November 19 that is dedicated to spreading Sikh Awareness in schools,  whereby local school superintendents, administrators and  teachers  will meet the parents of school going children to discuss ways and means to work together for the good of all. So parents of currently school going children please note and must attend for the sake of their children.

Celebrating the birth of founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in the month of November is one of the most auspicious months, not only in the history of the Sikhs, but also for humanity as a whole. Guru Nanak Dev Ji laid the foundation for the core beliefs of the Sikh religion through questioning many rituals and traditions that were accepted as fact during this time period. It gave the world a new way of thinking through the Sikh religion, which in such a young age has now become the fifth largest religion worldwide. Illama Iqbal (Sir Iqbal),  the most learned philosopher and cherished poet of all times wrote a couplet about Baba Nanak, (one can do a PhD thesis on it), ” Phir utthi Aakhir Sda Tauheed Ki Punjab Se,  Hind Ko ik Mrde Kamil Ne Jgaiya Khaab Se ! Wounded by the Great Poet’s poetry, I as a humble poet added my two liner, ” Oh Khaab Phir Supne bne, Such Vi, Sakaar Vee, Os Jago ne Bchaiee Hind see Azaab Se !  Bernard Shaw, one of the most renowned philosophers, playwrights, and satirists of the 20th century, once wrote that if this world was destroyed because of a nuclear war and few people survived, the only religion capable of guiding them to rebuild would be the Sikh religion. When asked why the Sikh religion couldn’t save the world from being destroyed in the first place? He replied that it could, but the Sikhs did not let its message to spread out.

All over the world wherever the Sikhs now reside, November has traditionally been the month to rejoice. Since the 9/11 attacks however, the followers of the Sikh religion, especially living in the “West” have had conflicting emotions. The terrorist attacks continue to affect us, not just as Americans, but as Sikhs with a visual presence because of our religiously mandated beard and turban. Images of a bearded and turbaned Osama bin Laden, immediately following the hijacked planes crashing into the Twin Towers being continually broadcast on television stations created the impression that Sikhs were the face of evil, resulting in numerous hate-crimes predominantly against Sikhs.

The Sikh religion has never been about spreading our message or of converting people. There is no such thing as a Sikh missionary or Sikh missions. It is perhaps for this reason that although Sikhs have served in both World War I and II, fought for England, France, and the United States, been living in the United States since the 19th century, and are involved in virtually every aspect of society the world over: politics, music entertainment, police and military, education, government, small business, agriculture, people still don’t know who the Sikhs are.

In a misguided act of “patriotism,” on September 15, 2001, Frank Roque wanted to “kill a Muslim” and ended up shooting and killing gas station owner, Balbir Singh Sodhi, a proud Sikh American, father, husband, brother, and small business owner in Mesa, Arizona in the first “backlash fatality.” And all because he “looked like a Muslim to him.” The irony that none of the 19 hijackers who committed this terrorist act that no sane member of any religion has ever endorsed, has largely gone unnoted as discrimination against Sikhs continues, despite many strides in the right direction being made.

Balbir Singh Sodhi cold blooded murder has been euphemistically described as a “backlash fatality,” and the mistaken identity of the Sikh identity resulting in other “backlash” hate crimes, is also described in various euphemistic language. None of it has been covered in any depth by any national media outlet.

Ten years later, in April of 2011, in an unfathomable turn of events, Arizona Governer, Jan Brewer, was seriously deciding on signing a bill to remove Balbir Singh Sodhi’s name from the state’s 9/11 memorial and sell his memorial plaque as scrap metal! Thankfully, because of Sikh organizations like SALDEF and the word getting out through social media sites like FaceBook and Twitter, Brewer vetoed the bill, but the fact it was being considered is cause for alarm itself (read about it here).

Most recently this year (2011), two elderly Sikh gentlemen were shot and killed while going for a walk near their homes in Elk Grove, Sacramento, California. Nothing had been taken and they were targeted solely because of their Sikh identity.

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Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism

Greetings to All on the Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav in the month of November.

Guru Nanak Prakaash Utsav (Celebrating the birth of founder of the Sikh religion) is just around the corner. All over the world wherever the Sikhs now reside, November has traditionally been the month to rejoice. On this auspicious day, there can be no other befitting tribute which may be bestowed to the Guru than the California legislature unanimously passing the Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 181-Relative to California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month in November 2010. And there can be no other message more powerful for humanity than what the most cherished philosopher/poet Sir Ilama Iqbal, a practicing Muslim, wrote about Guru Nanak:
“Phir Utthi Aakkhr sdaa Touheed Ki Punjab Sey
Hind ko ik Mard-E-Kamil Ne jgaieya Khaab Sey.

I haven’t translated the above yet, but let me know if you would like me to, and I will gladly do so. Readers familiar with the history of India in the 15^th century and what the word ‘Khaab’ or khvaab means in this context will understand the sentiment behind the lines.

Despite Sikhism being the youngest of the religions, it is the 5^th largest religion in the world. And yet not many people know who the Sikhs really are or what Sikhism is all about. Many people invariably confuse Sikhs with members of the Taliban or disciples of Osama Bin Laden because they equate all turbans as alike. Neither we, as Americans ,nor the entire civilized world can ever forget the terrorist attack of 9-11 on our nation. And ironically, none of the 19 attackers who committed the heinous crime of taking the lives of nearly 3000 totally innocent people had beards or turbans. However, they belonged to Al Qaida, whose leader (Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants) grow beards and wear turbans, as do the Taliban in Afghanistan. They were shown repeatedly by all TV channels.  This led many people to believe that Sikh Americans were one of those terrorists. The mistaken identity caused the hateful cold-blooded murder of Mr. Balbir Singh Sodhi on 9/15/2001 in Mesa, Arizona as well as many “backlash’ crimes that have not been covered in any depth by any national media outlet.

Sikh boy wearing a patka

In America, and I am sure in many other countries as well,  Sikh boys have also been and are continued to be harassed in schools by their peers because of their long hair, turbans and patkas. Organizations such as the Sikh Coalition based in New York have taken a great step forward in addressing this issue. These incidents show the need for a greater understanding and educating people about some basic Sikh facts such as the fact that 99.9 % of the men wearing turbans (Pug or Dastaar) in the U.S. are Sikhs, hailing from India. 100% of the boys wearing mini turbans (patkas) and having unshorn hair are maintaining their Sikh identity.

Sikhism is not a branch of another religion. It is a monotheistic religion  founded in Punjab, India 540 years ago by Guru Nanak. It has approximately 26 million followers worldwide, largely living in Punjab, and is the 5^th largest world religion. Sikhs have been in the U.S. for over 100 years and approximately number 700,000 of which nearly 40% live in California.

Sikh Temple in Stockton

The first Sikh Temple in Stockton was built in 1912 by the Sikhs who later played a significant role in the freedom of India movement better known as Ghadar movement. Sikhs have served in all American wars, starting with Bhagat Singh Thind in  WWI. Some 85,000 Sikhs died fighting for the freedom of others in Europe during the wars they did not start or want. The first Asian American to be elected to the U.S. Congress, Dalip Singh Saund  (1956-1962), was a Sikh. And the serving Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, who as the US President Barak Obama put it, “ when he speaks, world listens,” is a Sikh. Sikhs are enterprising and are in all professions from farming to fiber optics and everything in between.

Mine is not a mission in preaching a particular religion to the multiethnic and multicultural readers but the Sikhs need to use all possible means of educating the general public about who they are and ensure that their identity is not to be mistaken or abused. If this was the case with any other community, I as a poet and singer would appreciate it and support their effort the same way.

California Legislature recognized and acknowledged the significant contributions made by Californians of Sikh Heritage and has adopted the aforementioned ACR 181 (Logue). This measure seeks to afford all Californians the opportunity to better understand, recognize the rich history and shared principles of family values, monotheism, the tenants of Sikh faith and the important role that the Sikh Americans play in furthering mutual understanding and respect among all peoples. This ACR 181 Resolution – Relative to Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month, a shot in the arm so to speak, couldn’t have come at a better time if not too late for the auspicious day in November 2010, coinciding with the 541^st Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav.

Contributing to this effort as a humble Sikh, permit me to draw your attention to my poem ‘Pag di Saanjh’; A tribute to the Sikh turban (Dastar/pag/pagri). Explaining the historical background, symbolism, struggle, sacrifice and successes against all odds, the poem is set to my voice and moving images by my son Navdeep Singh Dhillon. As always, I welcome your comments.

p.s. The story behind this Kavita ie, ‘Kavita di Kahani’ will follow in a later blog.

Sikh Pioneers at Stockton Sikh Temple, 1912

Although the Sikhs have lived in the United States for over a century, many people are still unaware of who the Sikhs really are and where they originally come from. Following the 9/11 attacks, many Sikhs were targeted in cases of mistakenly identity; Sikh children continue to be harassed and bullied both during and outside of school hours. And the reason is not because of any ill will, but ignorance. People simply don’t know who the Sikhs are. And the reasons appear to be a lack of public education and media awareness in our multiethnic and multicultural society. And even within the Sikh Community, our own self created illusions and pre-occupations with non-issues made to be major issues have all coalesced and resulted in being detrimental to the Sikhs as a community. Because of our internal bickering, there has not even been a mention of Sikhi or Sikhism in the California school books although it is now the 5th largest religion in the world and almost 200,000 Sikhs made California their home by making valuable contributions right from serving in the American Armed forces, farming fields, and everything else in between for over a century now. Having said that, there have been many Sikh organizations who have made strides to educate people about Sikhs, but the point I am making is that we all need to join forces and do what is best for the Sikh Community as a whole.

Along with many other individuals and Sikh organizations, I have been working with the Sikh Council of Central California (SCCC) to set the records straight in the school curriculums and content standards which ensures inclusion in the classrooms. The Yuba city Sikh Community, for example, has been paving the way in getting Punjabi classes started in their school districts and also getting the legislation to pass the resolution to make November 2010 Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month starting in California. Under the leadership of some selfless individuals and with the support of the Sikh community, I am delighted to report that this endeavor is bearing fruit on both of these fronts.

While the November 2010 Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month is great news for the Sikh Community, November is just around the corner and there is a special message for the American Sikh community: Unite and create awareness of who the Sikhs are in your respective communities. Also, please listen to KBIF 900 AM this Sunday to listen to Dr. Jasbir Singh Kang, M.D. of Yuba city’s interview with Punjab News and Views.

A friend of mine, former professor and alumni of U.C. Berkeley- Dr. Onkar Singh Bindra – just sent me the details of resolution No. 181 (California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month), introduced on August 2, 2010 by Assembly Member Daniel R. Logue, at the request of Marysville-Yuba City Sikhs. Remember to pass along the message of who the Sikhs are through your words and most importantly, through your actions:

November 2010 Has Been Designated Sikh Awareness & Appreciation Month in California.
Written by Dr. Onkar Singh Bindra

California legislature has unanimously approved the Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 181 (California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month). Introduced on August 2, 2010 by Assembly Member Daniel R. Logue, at the request of Marysville-Yuba City Sikhs, it designates November 2010 as California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month. His press release in appealdemocrat.com states, “This is the first time in state history that Sikhs are receiving recognition for their outstanding contributions to California. He added, “month’s designation should serve to honor one of the state’s notable and accomplished communities.”

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, the resolution reads “ That the Legislature hereby designates the month of November 2010 to be California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes and acknowledges the significant contributions made by Californians of Sikh heritage to our state, and by adoption of this resolution, seeks to afford all Californians the opportunity to better understand, recognize, and appreciate the rich history and shared principles of Sikh Americans, their monotheistic religion and the tenets of their faith, and the important role that Sikh Americans play in furthering mutual understanding and respect among all peoples; and be it further Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution to the Members of the Legislature, members of the California Sikh American community, and other interested persons.”

The resolution, it is hoped, “would recognize and acknowledge the significant contributions made by Californians of Sikh heritage to California and afford all Californians the opportunity to understand, recognize, and appreciate the rich history, shared principles, religion, faith, and role Sikh Americans play in furthering mutual understanding and respect among all peoples.”

The following provided a justification for the resolution.

1. California and our nation are at once blessed and enriched by the unparalleled diversity of our residents;
2. Among this unprecedented diversity in California, there reside an estimated 200,000 Americans of Sikh origin, comprising nearly 40 percent of the nation’s estimated Sikh population;
3. Sikh immigrants have resided in California for more than a century, with the first Sikh immigrants believed to have labored on railroad construction projects, in lumber mills, and in the agricultural heartlands of the Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Imperial Valleys;
4. The first Sikh temple (Gurdwara) in California was established in Stockton in 1912, and Sikh temples have since been established in communities throughout California;
5. While Sikh Americans have distinguished themselves in numerous areas of endeavor, they have demonstrated particular success in the areas of agriculture, trucking, medicine, and in the creation of small, family-owned businesses;
6. Yuba City, California, boasts the largest population one of the largest confirmed populations of Sikh and Punjabi Americans in the nation;
7. Dalip Singh Saund was the first Sikh American and Asian American member of the United States Congress;
8. Dr. Bhagat Singh Thind struggled and fought for Asian Indians to be allowed to become American citizens;
9. Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany of Palo Alto is acknowledged by many to be the father of fiber optics;
10. Sikh Americans have served as mayors of California cities, including David Dhillon in El Centro, Gurpal Samra in Livingston, Amarpreet “Ruby” Dhaliwal in San Joaquin, and Kashmir Singh Gill in Yuba City, and numerous Sikh Americans have served as council members of California cities;
11. The Sikh and Punjabi American communities of California continue to make important contributions to our state and nation;
12. Sikh Americans City throughout California celebrates the coronation day of Sikh Scripture as Guru Gaddi Divas, along with parades in cities across California, the largest being held in Yuba City on the first Sunday of every November.

There is not much time left before November 2010. I urge all Sikh organizations in California (Gurdwara Managements, Cultural Associations, Sikh Students Associations in California, Jakara, Sikh Foundation, SALDEF, Sikh Coalition, United Sikhs, World Sikh Council – America Region (WSC-AR), Punjabi American Heritage Society (PAHS), Sikh Council of Central California (SCCC), KBIF900AM PunjabNewsandViews other Sikh organizations, and Sikh intellectuals to consider it their duty to arrange functions for awareness and appreciation of Sikhs in November 2010 throughout California. Museums, Libraries, School Districts and Media (TV, radio, print media, internet media – Blogs, twitter, Facebook) can all help. I recommend the use of PBS Sikh videos like “Meet the Sikhs”, “Sikhs in America”, and “A Dream in Doubt” etc., and Kaur Foundation’s “Cultural Safari”. Further, we need to hold open houses, exhibitions, seminars etc. and invite neighbors and teachers, and to hold teacher appreciation functions.  Furthermore, we must participate in Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11 (Displaying a life-size picture of Bhagat Singh Thind, when he was in the United States army during WWI) and in other neighborhood parades, and distribute a brief leaflet about Sikh identity, religion, culture and history in California.

For those of you who can read Punjabi, check out my latest poem in Preet Lahri about the Conference on the Freedom-Fighters of the Ghadar Movement. To read more about them in English, read my blog on them here.