The Winsor Sikh Youth Seminar was covered by the Winsor Star of July 7. The following report by Scott Barnside was published in the paper:

Viewed by many as radical terrorist, a new generation of North American Sikhs is struggling to fit in while staying true to their traditions.

“I would still say we’re on the edge,” said Gurpreet Jawa, a 23 year old medical student from North Carolina.

“But you’ll never be able to know what Sikhs can do for the community until they’re given a chance.”

Sikhs are arguably the most visible of visible minorities with their turbans and ceremonial daggers, or kirpans, But the principles of the Sikh religion closely resemble those of Christianity and Judaism. They believe in one God, equality among men and giving to the poor.

Still, many westerners think of Sikhs only as violent religious extremists who have been blamed for the bombing of an Air India flight in 1985 and who are involved in violence in their native India where many are fighting the predominant Hindus for an independent Sikh state in the Punjab.

“So many people just consider a Sikh as a terrorist”, said Amaindip Singh, 20, a mathematics student at the University of Western Ontario in London.

But the London resident and other Sikh youths attending a 10 day conference at the University of ‘Windsor said it was up to Sikh communities to educate others about their beliefs.

“We have to do more. A lot of it is our own fault,” said Singh, who bears the surname most Sikhs adopt.

“A lot of understanding has to go on both sides,” said Sandeep Singh, 21, of Farmington, Conn.

A medical student, Sandeep Singh said others have: been suspicious of him because he is a visible minority.

They say: “Hey you guys are outsiders and’ you’re doing well. It’s not supposed to be that way,” he said.

There have been widespread incidents of racism on both sides of the border in the mid 80’s since the bombing of Air India Flight 182, which has never been solved.

Meanwhile Sikh communities have tried to keep a high profile with parades, blood drives and chanty work which have helped improve the situation, participants said.

The conference which runs until Sunday has attracted 25 youths from Ontario Michigan, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio and Connecticut. It is the fourth such gathering at the university and features discussionsled by each of the participants on topics ranging from prayer to prejudice. e

“We want to keep them exposed to our culture in a positive way,” said Sajan Bhangoo a high school teacher in Essex and organizer of the conference.

“These kids have lots of problems, lots of pressures,” trying to become part of a western culture while maintaining their Sikh heritage.

“I’m encouraged by their performance,” Bhangoo said.

The conference is sponsored by the Windsor Sikh community, which numbers about 500.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 28, 1989