OUR WIDENING
CULTURAL WINDOW
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
July 29, 2009
Kanwal Prakash Singh
We are witnessing throughout the U.S.A. and around the world
an unprecedented influx of new immigrants from distant lands and
the remotest corners of the earth to advanced countries in search
of a brighter future. These newcomers are bringing with them their
hopes, talents, energy, experiences, proud cultural and spiritual
heritage. They are engaged in building familiar anchors at these
new and unimagined crossroads to create a sense of community,
to nurture their spirit as they shape their future.
The horrific events of 9/11 and its aftermath have created many
problems and unfortunate episodes of misunderstanding, harassment,
mistaken identity, and unprovoked violence against some ethnic
populations. Innocent Muslims, Arabs, and especially Sikh Americans
with their faith-mandated turbans and beards, have faced many
challenges on the streets, in workplaces, at the airports and
some community gatherings. Some of the guaranteed freedoms have
become an unfortunate victim.
This unacceptable stereotyping and repeated violations of civil
and sacred rights of fellow Americans have generated outrage and
alarm in some quarters. This unfortunate and misdirected anger
against innocent Sikhs and others since 9/11 has called us to
action. Major efforts are under way at the local and national
level to know our neighbors, learn about other faith traditions,
languages and cultures are underway at Local, State, and National
level. Civic authorities, faith organizations, and media have
rightly concluded that: unfounded suspicion, indiscriminate hostility
or indifference toward a vital segment of our society is not the
American way. It tarnishes our time-honored tradition when we
violate or diminish another person’s legitimate rights and
personal dignity. We must create an environment where we may enter
into faith with another as an acknowledgement of our common humanity;
build trust and healthy respect for one another by engaging in
conversations, through interfaith and multi-cultural programs,
and other helpful initiatives; address just concerns, assure the
safety and peaceful pursuits of all Americans.
We can begin by making a rightful place for new ideas; learning
about diverse cultures in our midst, and exploring ways as to
best advance our shared hopes and worthy community causes. This
enlightened approach to make the alien, the unfamiliar and once
distant cultures a part our community fabric, our treasured assets
and experience, is producing a gradual transformative change of
attitudes towards our fellow citizens. The leadership in these
groups: Sikhs, Muslims, Arab Americans, others need step forward
to bring about positive change and not just be expectant sideline
advocates.
This positive approach is leading to much interaction and cultural
exchange: illuminating interfaith conferences and presentations;
seminars and dialogues on faiths and communities; exhibits and
films on history and heritage; informal visits across traditional
faith and culture boundaries, multi-cultural weddings and ethnic
festivals, service projects, international travel and studies
abroad. These multi-faceted efforts are dispelling some unwarranted
hurdles to our sense of belonging in new lands; building confidence,
encouraging us to discover ways and opportunities to be partners
rather than spectators to big dreams.
Sikh Americans have taken up this challenge seriously. We are
witnessing many initiatives, critical projects, and successful
networking at many levels. We are in search of our identity and
destiny. We are participating in special events in our area. Some
of the experiences leave deep imprints, valuable lessons, and
grateful pride to be an American. In themselves, these activities
may not be significant, unless we imagine the collective impact
of thousands of peaceful endeavors across our world each new day.
A dispassionate study of our efforts to connect, much like the
generations of pioneers before us, are jolting our imagination,
offering us lessons and direction to see our future in a new light
and spirit:
Last October, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels paid a historic
visit to the Sikh Temple (Acton Road) in Indianapolis to mark
the Tercentenary Celebrations of the Ordination of Sri Guru Granth
Sahib as the Eternal Guru of Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh in 1708.
This was a welcome milestone.
In April 2009, interfaith leaders were invited by Archbishop
Daniel Buechlein to attend the 175th Anniversary: The Golden Jubilee
Celebration of Indianapolis Archdiocese at The Lucas Oil Stadium.
In the prayers, songs, colorful pageantry, and ceremonies witnessed
by some 30,000 Catholics, representing a multitude of cultures,
ethnicities, and national origins, there were unmistakable echoes
of Sikh faith and other spiritual traditions, and affirmations
of our shared humanity and higher purpose.
In April 2009, while offering a word of inspiration at the “New
Cultures at the Crossroads” Conference sponsored by the
Indiana Committee for the Humanities, I saw a universal Truth
at work: “No one is outside the Circle of God’s Love
and Benevolence” and therefore must not be outside the realm
of our understanding and thoughtful consideration.
In May, with pride and thanksgiving, the Sikh sevadars (volunteers)
loaded a ton of canned food at The Sikh Temple in support of the
Indianapolis Interfaith Hunger Initiative. We were witnessing
the enshrined Sikh Commandment, “Sharing blessings from
your righteous labor with the needy,” in action.
Later in the month, eighteen Hoosier Sikh men and women paraded
their ethnic and American pride as a part of the Nationalities
Council of Indiana Parade Unit in the nationally-televised 500-Festival
Parade in Indianapolis. This was a welcome recognition by the
500-Festival Associates to showcase ethnic groups, nationalities
that make up our Nation along with celebrities, race drivers,
and famous bands.
An invitation by Venerable Arjia Rinpoche to participate in the
Tibetan Mongolian Festival on the beautiful grounds of The Tibetan
Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center in Bloomington, Indiana, was
a lesson in Buddhist spirituality and culture. We remember the
recent visits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to The Golden Temple
and Guru Nanak’s visit to Tibetan Monasteries nearly 500
years ago. The 108-acre site of The Kumbum Monastery of Tibet
(West) in Bloomington will be a major center for learning and
preservation of Tibetan and Mongolian culture and a place of pilgrimage
for everyone.
Attending the illuminating National Sikh Conference: “Taking
Heritage into the 21st Century” at the magnificent Library
of Congress in Washington, D.C. was a memorable and colorful affair.
We felt proud to see so much talent in one place. We learned many
new facets of the history and legacy of Sikh Gurus, our illustrious
ancestors and our modern heroes. The Conference, sponsored by
The Kaur Foundation of Potomac, Maryland, inspired a strong urge
to share this heritage with the world.
July brought a busload of Indiana University-India Studies Program
students and several faculty members to The Sikh Temple (Acton
Road) for discussion and cultural insights into the Sikh faith
and traditions of the growing Indianapolis Sikh community. We
saw hope and promise in the American youth wanting to learn Indian
languages (Hindi and Urdu) and about cultures different from their
own.
AmeriCorp volunteers from the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis,
representing the interfaith outreach of the American Red Cross,
visited The Sikh Temple to explore the possibility of The Temple
serving as a designated Red Cross shelter during major disasters.
We saw this as another sign that the values and commitment of
the Hoosier Sikh community are finding resonance in American circles
and the Red Cross sees us as good partners in their service mandate.
Being a welcome place for visitors from many traditions, The
International Center of Indianapolis (ICI) brought three distinguished
Muslim leaders from India accompanied by Gloria Scott (official
hostess) and Juanita Galvis (ICI volunteer) to visit the Sikh
Temple. The visiting leaders: Mohammed Younus Siddiqui, President,
All India Muslim Unity Forum; R. Ruman Baig, Resident Editor,
The Siasat Daily, Bangalore; Dr. Syed Mohammed Muqeem Ameen, President,
Home for Poor Boys, Madrassa- I-Azam School; were guests of the
U.S. Department of State, here to learn about the challenges of
minority faiths in especially the post-9/11 U.S. They were interested
to learn about the vision and programs of the Sikh Americans to
educate the next generation about the culture, history, and practice
of the Sikh faith; and the efforts of Sikh Americans to interface
with other faith communities where they live.
The visit began with singing of a Sikh hymn and reading of the
Hukamnama by Giani Pritam Singh, Head Granthi of the Temple. The
participants in the discussions included: Sikh Satsang Trustees,
Maninder Walia and Avtar Singh; Giani Pritam Singh; visiting Sikh
musicians; and KP Singh, a community volunteer. We were joined
by Dr. Callie Smith, Director of Faith Learning Initiative at
The Christian Theological Seminary and Janice Singh, English Teacher
at Brebeuf Jesuit and an ardent supporter of Punjabi and Asian
cultures. The discussion continued over lunch at New India Restaurant
where Baljit Oberoi, representing SAsiaOne Journal also joined.
There was a frank exchange of ideas about the difficulties that
arise from the multi-cultural and multi-faith tensions in India
and many places around the world that we need to overcome with
thoughtful consideration of our cherished ideals.
Our guests were amazed at the freedom of religion in America
and about the growing interest in learning about the faith and
culture of our neighbors; invitations to participate in projects
such as Interfaith Hunger Initiative, Indianapolis Mayor’s
Community Fair as a day of service and remembrance of the 9/11
victims. The inclusion of the once unfamiliar faiths and spiritual
traditions in annual Interfaith Prayer Services and America’s
growing interest in faith-based initiatives that serve and contribute
to the well-being of citizens in the U.S. and beyond, where our
material support can, and in the past has made a difference, is
a welcome change. The fundraising efforts for Indian and Chinese
earthquakes, Asian Tsunami, and Gulf Coast hurricane disasters
in the U.S. were across faith and cultural divides. The words,
networking, interfacing, peaceful dialogue and solutions, mainstreaming
of cultures and communities, as possible alternatives kept reverberating
throughout the visit. Continued unfounded suspicion, mistrust,
confrontation and antagonism among faiths and ethnic communities,
denials of basic rights and infringement of our sacred space has
led to so much pain and suffering throughout history.
REFLECTION
Each time we participate in activities that expand our cultural
window to the world: attend a World Culture Club meeting in a
local high school, teach Bhangra to enthusiastic Americans; share
a perspective on faith and culture; enjoy ancient folk dances
at the Chinese New Year Celebration, or Bharat Natyam at an Asian
Festival; serve a common cause or fulfill a critical need; engage
in constructive efforts with our elected officials and law enforcement
agencies that may prevent future hate crimes or unwelcome episodes;
triumph, achieve, contribute new gifts that enrich our national
heritage, or strengthen community spirit, we open new doors to
our own future. That is cause for optimism.
We know that the strong common threads embedded in our cultures
can pave the way to our seeing ourselves as One America, as world
citizens; creating a myriad of new avenues for our strengths and
potential. It all begins by recognizing transcending frontiers,
our responsibilities at new crossroads; developing healthy respect
for one another and celebrating our time and place as a shared
blessing.
