Dear Editor
We are writing to you today to respond to the letter of John Spellman reprinted from the Jan 22 issue of the Toronto Globe & Mail.
We strongly deplore tie assertions that Dr. Spellman has made He has tried to minimize and misrepresent the importance of Sikh identity. Such statements may have been understand able if they came from someone who did not know about the Sikhs and this was high first contact with them How’s ever coming famine who knows Sikh history well we find his statements particularly repugnant.
A few points need to be made. In his second sentence he states Some Sikhs contend their religion requires them to wear the turban. The corollary is that there are some Sikhs who do not. Can Dr Spellman identify any important or knowledge able Sikhs who take such a-stand?
He questions whether the turban is a religious requirement at all and supports that by references to the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Does Dr. Spellman mean that there are no other traditions and writings that existinour religion? What about the statements of our 10th Guru (which are not recorded in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib). What about the traditions that have shaped our religion and have now been accepted as standard practice?
Further on he claims that the most important revival of the Sikh turban had little to do with religious belief. Coming from a scholar who should (and probably does) know about the Singh Sabha revival this statement lacks credibility.
It is sad to see someone of such intellectual caliber stoop to this level to defend the xenophobic tendencies of the Reform Party in Canada. Besides India where turbaned Sikhs have served in all positions from the President downwards other countries have accepted turbaned Sikhs who have served as pilots army commanders police chiefs members of parliament members of the judiciary and in Senior governmental positions. The list includes Fiji Singapore Kenya Malaysia United Kingdom and Indonesia to name a few. The Chief Justice of Singapore recently was a turbaned Sikh. If Canada now has a turbaned MP and Sikh religion culture and tradition dictate the wearing of a turban why should the RCMP or the Legion is above the law?
Finally we hope that Dr. Spellman will reconsider his views He has cited various other incidents (Dr _P Singh Dr. Oberoi) which may have lead him.
He obvious said by when their core values were attacked? He has done an injustice to the Sikhs with this inaccurate and distorted letter. His past actions certainly do not merit this stand.
Dr. J. B .Singh Chairman Board of Trustees Dr. Jagmeet S. Soin President Dr. G. S .Bhullar Secretary Association of Sikh Professionals
Article extracted from this publication >> February 25, 1994
