Around the tum of the century. A small number of Sikhs toiled their way across the continents into the United States. Due to political disadvantages, they had to face tremendous hardship; they were isolated from their families and had no one to tum to. Because of unequal opportunity and harsh political and social environments, they had to settle as migrant farm labor. Due to their remarkable tenacity, unrelenting hard work and frugality, they made it out from nothing. As soon as the political environment became favorable, some of them, the fortunate ones, succeeded in buying those lands where once they had labored for making a bare living. They won their battles against odds with their inexhaustible perseverance and their faith in Akaal Purakh. They left us a legacy from which we can take pride and draw inspiration. Later in the 50s, another group of individuals ventured into the States. They came as professionals and enhanced their professional education. They, like the pioneers, established a reputation as hard working talented individuals and over time, worked their way into the social and political landscape of the country. However, their exposure was limited without having much chance to mingle with the political and social establishments.
Over the last some 20 years, the population of the Sikhs in the States has increased several folds. Concurrently, similar increases have occurred in other ethnic groups. This has led to the emergence of need for our people to look for jobs, businesses and skills which had until recently remained untapped. The competition for getting into these areas is stringent.
We live in a free country which has the best democratic system in the world. It provides for equal opportunity in business and employment in both public and private sectors. The scope for growth is enormous as is the competition. And despite the constitutional provisions for equal rights, the equality for the individual rights does not happen automatically. In the multiethnic population in the Country, the Sikhs are a very small minority. We are lumped in the Asian American category which includes Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and all people born in the Subcontinent of India.
The limited and dwindling resources and increasing population have created cutthroat competition among various minorities. In order for us to protect our share in the political and economic establishments of the Country we need a watchdog organization. The Organization should work at the grass root level and champion the cause of our people in this country by providing them assistance, guidance and representation in seeking equal share for obtaining the benefits we are entitled to and also advocating their cause for advancement in their professions or vocations. Absent this, we will be relegated to menial jobs and will be left unrepresented or underrepresented in business and marketable services. This state of affairs is evident from the lack of our representation in civil services, law enforcement jobs and the limited availability of loans and grants to our enterprising youth and adults.
It is painful that our youth, to a large extent, are boxed in for the minimum wage jobs. They work long hours, some 70 to 80 hours a week, without the appropriate fringe benefits. Most of them are working beneath their qualifications, experience, aptitude and talent I believe given the opportunities these young men and women can successfully compete for jobs, for example, in law enforcement agencies. Fire departments, social and other services. Likewise, they can work their way up in the Corporate Amenca. True, some of our people have succeeded getting into every level job and some have landed higher level technical assignments. However, sooner or later, they end up facing» an impenetrable “Class Ceiling” preventing their advancement 10 management and administrative positions.
Safeguarding our rights as a minority requires an ongoing effort, an organization at a level accessible to the common person and needs to have the leadership and infrastructure comparable to other minorities. Populations which fail to measure up to the changing need are doomed to subservience if not extinction. Time is running out We need to get organized to strengthen our voice.
The clout in a democratic system depends, among other things, on political muscle of a community. The strength of a community is determined by the size of its population, unity among its members, level of sophistication of its organization and the quality of its leadership. Historically we are a proud people and do have the wherewithal to accomplish the goals we collectively pursue.
However the small size of our population underscores absolute need for tight unity among us.
In response to the ‘Call of the Time’s, I propose the establishment of a “Sikh American League.” This would represent a grassroots movement on an ongoing basis, and would serve as an agency for watching the interests of all our members. It is intended 10 complement other Sikh organizations in their effort to promote the Sikh cause in the United States. The effectiveness of the League will depend in entirety on the active participation of all the members of our people. Live and let live with honor is our tradition. Let us maintain it with the zeal consistent with our tradition. The organization is envisioned to represent a civil democratic pursuit with the nobility exemplified by our great Guru.
Obviously, this sets forth a time consuming, complex, uphill task. We are at the crossroads. We have the choice to leave it as it is or move aggressively with the caravan of Time.
I volunteer myself to work for this needed organization, and for a start, I plan to work on this in Southern California, particularly in Los Angeles metropolis. In the near. Future, I will be approaching the leaders of our community and members at various Sikh institutions. In the meantime, I am asking for your valued input addressed to the World Sikh News.
This article is dedicated to the memory of my valued friend late Dr.Anandpal Singh Dhariwal of Bakersfield, CA, for his interest in the advancement of the Sikh community.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 22, 1993
