[Courtesy: The Fresno Bee]
FRESNO: Four years ago with his curiosity piqued, Baljeet Singh stumbled into McDonald Hall on the: Fresno Pacific College campus thinking it was a church.
Today, his thirst for knowledge about different cultures and religions somewhat satiated, he is the only Sikh among the 145 men and women receiving Bachelor of Arts degree from the Christian college.
“I’ve learned a lot about Christians,” said Singh. “They are not all self-centered like they think in my country.” Singh said Hindus believe in many gods and Sikhs in only one.
Singh, 27, hails from New Delhi, India and now resides in Selma. He holds a degree in commerce from New Delhi University, majored in accounting at Fresno Pacific and wants to eventually receive a master’s degree in tax accounting.
Reflecting on his time as the only Asian Indian and Sikh on the tree lined southeast Fresno campus; Singh said teachers and students at the school are like a family.
“I never felt like the relationship was only of talking to professors and students,” he said, “I feel like they’re my peers and friends.”
‘Singh said the one thing that has stuck with him during his study of Christianity is the differences in the old and new testaments of the Bible.
“The old one uses more difficult language,” he said. “And it’s totally different from our book. The Bible is like different stories and a person can read one story. Our book [Guru Granth Sahib] is more difficult. You just can’t start reading it. There are too many things to understand first.”
After graduation, Singh wants to remain in this country but eventually would like to return home to help fight what he said is rampant government corruption especially bribery and kickbacks in India.
“Not everyone is trying to get extra money from bribes,” he said. “If two people think like me, then that’s three and that’s a beginning.
Article extracted from this publication >>May 8, 1996
