Kapurthala: After 9/11, Balbir Singh Sodhi became the first victim of hate crimes in America. Now 20 years later, his family wants his picture to be installed in the Central Sikh Museum in Amritsar. They also want more efforts to be made to create awareness about the Sikh identity in the US, as well as to act against hate messages against the community in India.
“We tried to see Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Bibi Jagir Kaur recently, but she was away. We wanted to request him to put Balbir’s picture in the Central Sikh Museum as he was the first Sikh to be a victim of hate crimes in America. His other brother Inderpal Singh.
“All seven of us brothers are settled here. Apart from agriculture, we have our textile business in a small town of Nadala nearby. Sikhs were in activism after one of our brothers, Harjit Singh operation bluestar And to escape the persecution of the police, he moved to America in 1986. Later, in 1987-88, Balbir also went there and the rest of us followed and settled in Arizona. I returned in 2001 and now most of the families in our village are in the same town.”
“While many Sikh groups and activists have worked to create awareness about Sikh identity in the US, more needs to be done,” Jagjit said.
“What is more shocking is that while Sikhs face hate crimes in America due to mistaken identity, some elements in India are propagating hatred against Sikhs, as evident during the agrarian movement. The central government should take strict action against such propaganda as hate messages prepare the ground for violent hate crimes.
In memory of his brother, the family gives scholarships every year to the students who excel in their studies at Guru Nanak Prem Pessimistic College, Nadala, and also organizes an annual volleyball tournament.
‘Need to curb fights in Gurudwaras’
Sikhs are facing hatred in America. It is not necessarily physical violence, but sometimes it is expressed through gestures. Sikh children are also facing problems. I know many families who ignore it because every time you can’t lock horns with everyone everywhere. Hence, many cases are not registered,” said North American Punjabi Association Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal living in Brentwood, California.
“While efforts have been made to create awareness, the Sikh community groups need to re-evaluate the situation and restructure. Also, the community needs to launch a result-oriented campaign against physical fights inside gurdwaras, as these leave a very bad impression on the local communities,” he said.
“We tried to see Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Bibi Jagir Kaur recently, but she was away. We wanted to request him to put Balbir’s picture in the Central Sikh Museum as he was the first Sikh to be a victim of hate crimes in America. His other brother Inderpal Singh.
“All seven of us brothers are settled here. Apart from agriculture, we have our textile business in a small town of Nadala nearby. Sikhs were in activism after one of our brothers, Harjit Singh operation bluestar And to escape the persecution of the police, he moved to America in 1986. Later, in 1987-88, Balbir also went there and the rest of us followed and settled in Arizona. I returned in 2001 and now most of the families in our village are in the same town.”
“While many Sikh groups and activists have worked to create awareness about Sikh identity in the US, more needs to be done,” Jagjit said.
“What is more shocking is that while Sikhs face hate crimes in America due to mistaken identity, some elements in India are propagating hatred against Sikhs, as evident during the agrarian movement. The central government should take strict action against such propaganda as hate messages prepare the ground for violent hate crimes.
In memory of his brother, the family gives scholarships every year to the students who excel in their studies at Guru Nanak Prem Pessimistic College, Nadala, and also organizes an annual volleyball tournament.
‘Need to curb fights in Gurudwaras’
Sikhs are facing hatred in America. It is not necessarily physical violence, but sometimes it is expressed through gestures. Sikh children are also facing problems. I know many families who ignore it because every time you can’t lock horns with everyone everywhere. Hence, many cases are not registered,” said North American Punjabi Association Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal living in Brentwood, California.
“While efforts have been made to create awareness, the Sikh community groups need to re-evaluate the situation and restructure. Also, the community needs to launch a result-oriented campaign against physical fights inside gurdwaras, as these leave a very bad impression on the local communities,” he said.
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