By: Kalit Makkar
HOFF MAN ESTATES,IL: Hoffman Estates High School, celebrated its first Cultural Awareness week in November 1992. During this week, international flags were flown in the hallways, the cafeteria was decorated with multicultural posters, and many other activities were organized by the students. Ms. Denise Mack, faculty teacher and program director, asked Kalitdeep Singh Makkar, a senior, to speak on Sikhism.
“How many of you have heard of Sikhism?” asked Kalit. Seeing only a few hands rose, Kalit talked about Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism in the 15th century.
The main objectives of Sikhism: 1To preach the oneness of God. 2 Equality of Man and Woman. 3. Earing your living by hard work and honest means. 4. Reciting God’s Name.
He talked about the S K’s of Sikhism. Replying to a question by one student, Kalit emphasized the importance of the concept of a “saint soldier’ and the difference between a ‘Palka’ worn by him and a turban worn by his dad.
Pointing towards the picture of the Golden Temple hanging on the wall, he said “the government of India attacked the Golden Temple on June 6, 1984, when thousands of Sikh men, women, and children had gathered to celebrate the birthday of the fifth gun” He distributed magnets of the Golden Temple as a keepsake for the students to remind them of what they had learned. Kalit thanked the students and sponsors of the organization, Human relations, for giving him an opportunity to educate his peers about his religion.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 22, 1993
