Rupinder Mohan Singh |

Cover of A History of Prejudice: Race, Caste, and Difference in India and the United States, by Gyanendra Pandey (photo credit: Amazon)

A history of modern prejudice

January 25, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The blog 3quarksdaily introduces Gyanendra Pandey, a history professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, whose upcoming book (A History of Prejudice: Race, Caste, and Difference in India and the United States) compares the evolution of prejudice in India and the United States. Gyanendra Pandey contrasts different levels of prejudice at play in both timelines: the visible “vernacular” prejudice, and a more invisible “universal” prejudice that defines what it means to be different in society: The American political scientist Samuel […]

Categories: Literature • Tags: A History of Prejudice, Emory University, Gyanendra Pandey, India, Prejudice, United States

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Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and the Golden Temple in Amritsar. (source: The Telegraph)

The Top 5 Sikh American Stories of 2012: Honorable mentions

January 24, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

For each of five days, I looked at what I considered as the Top 5 Sikh American Stories of 2012: The Oak Creek Massacre Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana Victories in employment equality The inspiring grace of Balpreet Kaur Sikh Americans celebrate a century All of these stories were significant in relation to Sikh Americans during the year. However, there were several events during 2012 that arguably could be considered among the top five stories (and, while the “top five” list […]

Categories: Reflections • Tags: Barack Obama, Darbar Sahib, Democratic National Convention, Dr. Onkar Bindra, FlyRights, Golden Temple, Harpreet Singh Saini, Ishwar Singh, Jay Leno, Jusleen Kaur, Michelle Obama, Mitt Romney, Republican National Convention, Ricky Gill, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, White House

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Tejdeep Singh Rattan dons a gas mask during his military training in 2010. (source: US Army)

US military lifts ban on women in combat; could Sikhs be next?

January 24, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Yesterday, it was announced that the Pentagon will be lifting its 1994 ban on allowing women solidiers from serving in combat situations: [Defense Secretary Leon] Panetta’s move comes in his final weeks as Pentagon chief and just days after President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech in which he spoke passionately about equal rights for all. The new order expands the department’s action of nearly a year ago to open about 14,500 combat positions to women, nearly all of them in the […]

Categories: Civil Rights • Tags: DADT, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Employment Discrimination, gender discrimination, Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, Pentagon, Simran Jeet Singh, Simran Lamba, Tejdeep Singh Rattan, United States, United States Armed Forces, US Army, US military

The Southern Poverty Law Center counted 1,018 active hate groups in the United States in 2011. (source: Southern Poverty Law Center)

The Southern Poverty Law Center Hate Map

January 22, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a “nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry, and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society,” counted 1,018 hate groups in the United States in 2011: This list was compiled using hate group publications and websites, citizen and law enforcement reports, field sources and news reports. Hate group activities can include criminal acts, marches, rallies, speeches, meetings, leafleting or publishing. Websites appearing to be merely the work of […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Reports/Studies, Resources • Tags: California, Elk Grove, Gurmej Atwal, hate crime, Hate Crime Statistics, hate groups, New Jersey, New York, Oak Creek, Sacramento, Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, Southern Poverty Law Center, Surinder Singh, Wisconsin

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Sapreet Kaur, Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition, became the first Sikh to offer prayer at an Inaugural Prayer Service. (source: The Sikh Coalition)

Sikhs at the Presidential Inauguration

January 22, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Sikh News Network published an article today about some of the Sikh spectators during the public Inauguration ceremony in the nation’s capital yesterday: “It’s exciting to be here because this president means a lot to me because of what he’s done over the years,” [California Democratic Party Delegate Harpreet Singh Sandhu] said. “(It is) what I’ve been affected directly in terms of healthcare for my kids, education, for them, and also for my mother who now is under disability, […]

Categories: Events, Interfaith • Tags: Harpreet Singh Sandhu, Presidential Inauguration, Sapreet Kaur, Sikh Coalition

Pawneet Sethi, a Portland Sikh, talks about wrapping his uncut hair in a turban. Many Sikhs refuse to cut their hair as a sign of respect for Godâs creation. Sethi spoke at âLet the Light Shine,â an annual lecture series at St. James Lutheran Church in downtown Portland. (Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian)

Portland, OR Sikhs reach out to local religious community

January 20, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A recent article in The Oregonian shares a story about an education session at St. James Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon, in which Pawneet Sethi, a member of the local Sikh community, provides the church’s congregation with an overview about the Sikh faith: “Sikhs have a responsibility to talk about their faith practice with outsiders, he says, “but it’s freaking me out.” The audience of 25 chuckled at his confession and then listened intently as he walked them through the historical roots […]

Categories: Interfaith • Tags: Oregon, Pawneet Sawhney, Portland, St. James Lutheran Church

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Oak Creek, WI, shooting victim Punjab Singh shows small signs of recovery

January 20, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

An article from the Associated Press describes the slow process of the recovery of Punjab Singh, one of the surviving victims of last August’s Oak Creek, Wisconsin, shooting attack by a white supremacist: Every day they repeated the word “waheguru” (pronounced VAH’-hay-goo-roo) and watched for a response. For weeks there was nothing. Then on Jan. 9 he began to move his mouth, apparently trying several times to say the word. The next day he tried 30 times. In coming days, […]

Categories: Hate Crimes • Tags: hate crimes, Oak Creek, Punjab Singh, Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, Wisconsin

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"Local Sikh brings India to students." (source: The Davis Clipper)

Utah Sikh holds awareness event for local students

January 18, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Kaysville, Utah, is probably not the first place that comes to mind when thinking about where Sikhs are in the United States, and perhaps this is why a local Sikh named PJ Singh held an event to teach local students about Indians and Sikhs: Andrew Smalley was one of approximately 130 students in the audience during the presentation. “I learned a lot,” said Smalley. “I didn’t know where Sanskrit started and I didn’t know about how they valued education in […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Kaysville, PJ Singh, Utah

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Rajastani style painting of Guru Gobind Singh (seated on horse) entitled 'Journey to Deccan', circa AD 1770-80 (source: SikhSangat.com)

In honor of the “Rider of the Blue Horse”

January 18, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Today, Sikhs commemorate the birth of Guru Gobind Singh in 1666, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs and last in human form. His impact upon the followers of Nanak was transformational, so much so, that tens of millions of his followers remain inspired by his legacy over three centuries later. Happy Gurpurab!

Categories: Events • Tags: Guru Gobind Singh

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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Author Archives: Rupinder Mohan Singh

A history of modern prejudice

The Top 5 Sikh American Stories of 2012: Honorable mentions

US military lifts ban on women in combat; could Sikhs be next?

The Southern Poverty Law Center Hate Map

Sikhs at the Presidential Inauguration

Portland, OR Sikhs reach out to local religious community

Oak Creek, WI, shooting victim Punjab Singh shows small signs of recovery

Utah Sikh holds awareness event for local students

In honor of the “Rider of the Blue Horse”