History, Religion, & Culture of Sikhs in North America
Narinder Singh, Ottawa, Ont. Prologue- Written by Dr. Noel Q. King, Santa Cruz, CA
As we emerge from a world of nation states into a global society which has been termed” postmodern,” Canada has been a kind of laboratory of the peoples. For all the mistakes made and the miss adventures that have happened, somehow some answers have been found and some mighty acts achieved. The book Canadian Sikhs records and takes further the history of one of the most notable and colorful of those stones, the epic narrative of the Sikhs of Canada. It tells of how a group which originated exactly on the other side of the globe in the India of centuries ago, now comes to be part of a multi-national diaspora – “seed scattered abroad” which includes groups located in South and South East Asia, East Africa, Britain, New Zealand, Fiji, the United States as well as Canada. The book demonstrates 10 us how an individual and a community Can be thoroughly integrated in a nation as well as devoted to very Specific religious and cultural ideals and while multi- national succeed in bridging the barriers and miss- understandings by which nationalism has engulfed us all in wars and disasters. There is here a true reaching out into citizenship of the world.
The story is not easy to tell but Sardar Narinder Singh narrates it with vigor and drive, He soon fascinates us with the story and sustains our interest to the end. We begin with a land, the Punjab, of immense beauty and antiquity where civilization and culture achieved great heights long ago und yet there is unspoiled wilder: ness and a cycle of heat and cold, water and drought, benevolence yet violence of Mother Nature and her human offspring. The people are sturdy and gifted, exuberant and hardworking, the language supple and capable of meeting and surpassing very situation. This land as a world crossroads inevitably attracted invaders. Every influence from the four comers flowed in. After centuries of suffering and untold oppression, a line of 10 God-inspired men told forth a divine message which created the Sikhs and remains their center for all time, Singh explains the main points in this teaching and the way of life in a way that all may grasp and receive benefits. He then goes on to outline the history of this people in the Punjab, through the terrifying 18th century 10 their political apogee in the kingdom of Punjab, By the 1840s, the British were infiltrating and then they annexed. The miracle of the Sikh resurgence and self-definition is brilliantly portrayed. The Sikh contribution to the British Empire and Commonwealth, then to the Indian Independence movement is carefully told. He tells then of Sikh survival of Partita in 1947, a catastrophe in size and intensity which even in our country must rank among the most severe. We go on then to the Sikh contribution to the survival and economic miracle of the new India. He tells the tragic story of how the days have come when many Sikhs consider the Punjab is being underdeveloped in classical coke real style. It is hard to live the memory of the unspeakable federal army attack on the Holy Places and the killings of Sikhs in Delhi, the Punjab and elsewhere.
An Against this background depicted in masterly strokes, Sardar Narinder Singh places the story of the Canadian Sikhs beginning from the first phase from the 1890s to World War 1. It began with so much promise of benefit to Sikhs, to Canada and the world but ended in disgrace and denial of the very best principles Queen Victoria and the British Empire and Common- wealth had so _ proudly promulgated. The portrayal of the life of the Sikhs in Canada in those days is poignantly set before us. But, as ever, martyrdom that of Sardar Mea Singh, leads to new life-and hope, In the 1960s onwards the Canadian Sikhs again emerge and take their increasingly important place in Canada and the world. Sardar Narinder Singh Is outstanding in his grasp of what taking such a place involves .It includes arts, sports, the media, education, the culinary arts and much else.
The world today has many a diaspora, many self-conscious, Self-being groups involved fully and loyally in the life of the larger community where they live homeland far from the origin heartland. Few Diasporas have what Mr. Singh has given to Canadian Sikhs. He is by training an architect and has worked as & planner for more than 20 years i the City of Ottawa Planning apartment. This book in the tradition of his community is an offering to all with love and service. It tempts to help the Sikhs of Canada to know who they are and Canadians to learn who the Sikhs are. It in fact goes further and speaks to us all, women and men of good-will and longing for peace and fullness of life wherever we are.
As with all pioneer works there are limitations but if we know Sikhs at all, we can be confident there will be discussion, thousands of suggestions and in the end more brilliant second and I editions will emerge.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 12, 1994
