Hello friends! Today’s topic is not bookish in nature, but it is one I am passionate about—my background. And, it is truly inspirational. I’d like to highlight some famous, present day Sikhs breaking boundaries, and bringing the core of Sikhism to the forefront. There are also many recent stories of the Sikh community offering a helping hand in a time of crisis.
More than 500,000 Sikhs live in America today, and though we remain a minority, our prevalence pulses. Valarie Kaur is an American activist, documentary filmmaker, lawyer, educator, and Sikh faith leader. Her memoir See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love released today June 16. I’m excited to read it. Will you be checking it out? If you have heard Valarie Kaur speak, it’s poetic. I cannot count the times I’ve listened to her six-minute address during a watch night service at the Metropolitan AME Church on Dec. 31, 2016, in Washington. Did you watch it? It gives me the shivers every time.
In addition to Valarie Kaur, recently, Anmol Narang was named the first, female, observant Sikh cadet of the latest crop of West Point graduates. At twenty-three years old she is a second lieutenant, who will become the first observant Sikh to graduate from the United States Military Academy. She’s managed to keep her faith-based, uncut hair in a bun under 3.5 inches in diameter, which is the army’s standard for women’s hair buns. Her grandfather was in the Indian military, so she feels it’s always been in her blood. Anmol Narang’s destiny called, and she mailed her application to West Point immediately after visiting the Pearl Harbor memorial.
But Sikh women in the army or military are nothing new to the culture. Check out this article on 10 Badass Sikh women. From Mai Bhago to Sada Kaur to Maharani Jind Kaur, the list goes on. Pretty amazing, right?
Finally, if you are Sikh or have a friend or family member who is, you must have indulged in or heard about langar. Langar is the community kitchen in a Gurdwara where a free, vegetarian meal is served to all the visitors, without distinction. We dedicate our time to service, also known as seva. And, we are to help those in need most. My local gurdwara hosts monthly sandwich sevas, where 200+ sack lunches are prepared for those in need. Everyone, from the adults to young kids, take part in the sack preparations.
I’m incredibly proud of these Sikhs in Queens serving meals to those suffering as a result of the pandemic or to those protesting. But none of this is carried out with the intention of proselytizing, which is forbidden. And, If you want anything done get the Sikhs, holds true with the food and support Australian Sikhs are providing to those suffering as a result of the destructive bushfires and covid.
Hope you enjoyed this post on Sikhs breaking boundaries. If you’ve never heard of Sikhs was this interesting learning for you? Or, if you have heard of the community, did you enjoy what you read here? I’d love to know.
Blog you soon. Stay safe and stay well.