Dear Editor,
Sat Sri Akal.
It is heartening to note that WSN recently carried many letters and articles refuting Dr. Spellman’s point that evidence does not support that Sikh religion requires that the Sikhs must wear Turbans. Hereunder I quote from page 154 of the book Sikhs in Ontario, Published by Ontario Council of Sikhs Toronto, regarding the case of Dashminder Singh Sehdev and Bayview Glen Junior Schools Lid about the Singh’s right to wear turban.
Dr. Spellman testified that these Sikh symbols (the five k’s) manifest a theological statement that is opposite of Hinduism….. Thus. Sikhs wear their hair in in opposite fashion to Hindu monks, to symbolize and indicate their different religious perspective. In this case, unshorn hair to the Sikh represents spiritual vitality. As a part of this requirement, a male Sikh must wear a turban and no any other form of head covering.”
Regarding the case of Canadian Legion not allowing the Sikh veterans to enter its hall because they wore turbans, it is a historical fact that at least six Sikh soldiers, whose pictures and particulars I found among other Victoria Cross Winners listed in Register of the Victoria Cross published in England. These turbaned Sikh veterans displayed unique valor to deserve this highest military medal while fighting in the two world wars along with the allied forces. They wore turbans in the battlefields of Waziristan or Burma, at the decoration ceremonies(if not posthumously) and also during the 1956 Centenary parade at Hyde Park London, attended by more than 300 living V.C. winners and inspected by the queen.
The reality of the present multicultural and multipath mosaic of Canadian society has been rightly recognized by Ottawa by allowing Sikh M.P. Gurbax Singh Malhi to speak in the Parliament – with his turban on, though the standing orders of House of Commons say – an MP must be uncovered when he rises to speak in the chambers; and by amending the prayer having been read by the Speaker since 1877 to start each day’s deliberations Parliament, to reflect this present day reality by changing its pro Christianity and pro-British royalty character and new to address Almighty God to bless Canada 1 and its citizens. Wearing of turban s in RCMP or Legions should be viewed likewise.
Prof. Pritam Singh Grewal Kitchener-Ont.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 8, 1994
