September | 2013 |

"Sharing a laugh at Turban Day in New York City." (Source: Huffington Post)

Picture of the Day: “Turban Day” in New York

September 10, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On Sunday, The Surat Initiative held its first ever “Turban Day” in New York to help raise awareness and understanding about Sikhs and the turban by tying turbans on to curious members of the community: The Surat Initiative organized its first Turban Day at Union Square in New York City this past Sunday. Volunteers came from all over the northeast and tied over 700 turbans on their fellow Americans. Hundreds of other New Yorkers stopped by to speak with young […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Events, Interfaith • Tags: New York, Surat Initiative, Turban Day

Going to the turban shop

September 9, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

When I was young, one of my Saturday morning pastimes was to browse through the morning newspaper to sketch turbans, mustaches and beards on to the photos in the comics, stories and advertisements (if the poorly designed logo for this blog is any indication, it clearly still is a hobby), providing our newspaper with a more Sikh-related flavor. I would only vandalize our paper after my father had finished reading it, of course. Today, as newspapers are disappearing, perhaps this […]

Categories: Art, Humor • Tags: Columbia Style, Columbia University, Macklemore, New York, Ryan Lewis, Thrift Shop, Turban Shop

A Sikh woman stands up for rights in Quebec, Canada

September 9, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A storm is continuing to brew in Canada’s province of Quebec where the provincial government is expected to propose regulations that limit freedom of religion in the province. Earlier this summer, the Parti Quebecois (PQ), the governing party, supported the Quebec Soccer Federation’s now-overturned ban on the patka (a form of turban worn by young Sikh boys), and it is expected that Quebec’s government will be proposing a ban on religious articles of faith such as the turban, hijab and […]

Categories: Civil Rights • Tags: Canada, Parti Québécois, Quebec, Quebec Soccer Federation, SAFAR, Sikh Feminist Research Institute, Turban, World Sikh Organization

"Giani Gurbachan Singh, who traveled from India for the groundbreaking of a new Sikh temple in the 10400 block of Larkin Road in Live Oak, reads from the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013. The 25,000 square foot complex will include three structures on nearly 11 acres and will be the largest Sikh temple site in Yuba-Sutter." (Photo: David Bitton/Appeal-Democrat)

Live Oak, CA, Sikh community breaks ground on new Gurdwara

September 5, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Last week, the Sikh community of Live Oak, California, broke ground on a new Gurdwara for their growing congregation: The 25,000-square-foot complex, which will be the area’s largest, will include three structures on nearly 11 acres in the 10400 block of Larkin Road. The main hall will be about 10,000 square feet and the dining and multipurpose areas will each be around 7,500 square feet. It is expected that the estimated $4 million dollar project will be completed within one […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: California, Gurdwara, Live Oak

Sikh amputee finds new life in marathon running

September 5, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Oklahoman shares the story of one Devender Pal Singh, a 39-year-old Sikh marathoner from India known as “the Indian Blade Runner” because he runs long distances on a prosthetic leg. Devender Pal Singh visited Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to receive a new prosthetic to help him better run long distances. He lost his leg in 1999 after sustaining injuries in the Kargil War: Devender Pal Singh said he sustained severe injuries in 1999 when his Indian Army unit guarded the […]

Categories: Profiles • Tags: amputee, Fauja Singh, Kargil War, Major Devender Pal Singh, marathon, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Prosthesis, TED, TEDx

Actor Sir Ben Kingsley on the set of the forthcoming film "Learning to Drive" in Brooklyn, New York. (Source: The Daily Mail)

Ben Kingsley dons turban, beard, in role of Sikh for forthcoming film

September 4, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Celebrated actor Sir Ben Kingsley takes on the role of a Sikh driving instructor in New York named Darwan in the forthcoming film Learning to Drive: …Wendy has to get a license. When she was married, her husband always drove the car if they went anywhere. Forcing herself to come out of hiding, she signs up for driving lessons. Her instructor (Darwan) is a Sikh, a political refugee from India. He tries to be patient with his student, who is […]

Categories: Picture of the Day, TV/Movies • Tags: Ben Kingsley, Learning to Drive, Sikh-face

Photo from Kush. (Source: Kush website.)

Kush, film about 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom, wins award at Venice film festival

September 3, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Recently featured at the 70th Venice International Film Festival, the film Kush by Shubhashish Bhutiani– set during the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom in New Delhi, India — has been awarded the festival’s “Best Innovative Budget” award: “Kush” was made on a shoestring budget thanks to private contributions including by the Film Director and other individuals who sacrificed their fees and charges to make the film possible. The Director, a student of the School of Visual Arts in New York was also […]

Categories: 1984, Art, TV/Movies • Tags: 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Indira Gandhi, Kush, School of Visual Arts, Shubhashish Bhutiani, Venice International Film Festival

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Monthly Archives: September 2013