Rupinder Mohan Singh |

CNN discusses a silver lining around “looking like a terrorist”

October 16, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A recent article on CNN reinforces the media stereotype of the terrorist — a man with a turban and beard (via @jbarooah): It’s hard to say that looking like a terrorist would be a good thing, but it hasn’t gone so badly for Navid Negahban. …”I went to shoot a project in Toronto last year and I still had a full beard and my hair was a little bit longer, and I was scruffy – I mean, I was afraid […]

Categories: Civil Rights, TV/Movies • Tags: CNN, Navid Negahban

Picture of the Day: Centennial Nagar Kirtan in Stockton, CA

October 16, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On Sunday, Sikhs in Stockton, California held a Nagar Kirtan (religious procession) through the city as the final celebration of the Centennial festivities of the Stockton Gurdwara Sahib, established 100 years ago: STOCKTON – The Sikh community came from near and far this weekend to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Stockton Gurdwara – a temple on South Grant Street that holds special meaning, because it represents the first permanent Sikh settlement in the United States. A weekend of events, […]

Categories: Events, Picture of the Day • Tags: California, Nagar Kirtan, Stockton, Stockton Gurdwara Centennial Celebration, Stockton Gurdwara Sahib

Republican candidate for California's 9th Congressional District Ricky Gill posted this photo of his attendance at a birthday celebration for the US Navy on Saturday night. After this article on American Turban, the Gill campaign deleted the photo. (source: Ricky Gill campaign Facebook page)

When a Sikh runs: the curious case of Ricky Gill

October 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The case of Republican candidate for Congress Ricky Gill, running against incumbent Jerry McNerney to represent California’s 9th Congressional District, makes for an interesting study about a Sikh American seeking public office in this country. His campaign, and his reluctance to publicly acknowledge his Sikh background, has been a recurring topic on this blog. On Saturday night, I had the opportunity to observe Ricky Gill in person. I had attended the Centennial celebration of the Stockton Gurdwara — which is […]

Categories: Politics • Tags: Bobby Jindal, California, Jerry McNerney, Nikki Haley, Republican Party, Ricky Gill, Stockton, Stockton Gurdwara Centennial Celebration, Stockton Gurdwara Sahib

Picture of the Day: Ghadar Party Printing Press

October 14, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On Saturday evening, I attended the Centennial festivities at the Stockton Gurdwara Sahib in Stockton, California, which, founded in 1912, is considered the first and oldest Gurdwara in the United States. In many ways, for Sikh Americans, this Gurdwara represents our first formal foothold in this country. Saturday’s event enjoyed a celebratory atmosphere that brought out many local, state and federal politicians and officials, and many of the who’s who within the Sikh American community. During this celebration, it was […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Picture of the Day, Reflections • Tags: California, Ghadar, Ghadar Party, Indian independence movement, printing press, Stockton, Stockton Gurdwara Centennial Celebration, Stockton Gurdwara Sahib, The Ghadar

Picture of the Day: Planned Gurdwara in Vancouver, WA burns to the ground

October 12, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In Vancouver, Washington (not to be confused with Vancouver, BC, Canada), an athletic club that was in the process of being renovated for use as a Gurdwara burned to the ground early this morning: VANCOUVER, Wash. – Fire swept through a Sikh temple and school that was under construction in Vancouver early Friday morning. Two workers who were asleep in the complex escaped without injury. The Guru Ram Das Church essentially burned to the ground. The building is located on […]

Categories: News Bits, Picture of the Day • Tags: "Washington, Gurdwara, Guru Ram Das Church, KATU, Vancouver

Stockton, CA Gurdwara Centennial Celebration concludes this weekend

October 11, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

WHEREAS, The faithful service of the Sikh American community to this state and country merits appreciation as an integral thread in the fabric of American plurality; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes October 13, 2012, as the 100-year anniversary of the Sikh American community, and calls upon the people of California to commemorate the day with appropriate celebrations; — excerpt from the State of California […]

Categories: Events, Politics • Tags: AB1964, ACR 97, California, History-Social Science Framework, Proclamation, SB1540, SCR 104, Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month, Sikh Centennial, Stockton, Stockton Gurdwara Centennial Celebration, Stockton Gurdwara Sahib, Workplace Religious Freedom Act

Call for Papers announced for fourth annual Sikholars Graduate Student Conference

October 10, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The fourth annual Sikholars Graduate Student Conference is scheduled to be held at Stanford University in Stanford, California, from February 16-17, 2013. The Call for Papers has now been announced: In anticipation of the fourth annual Sikholars: Sikh Graduate Student Conference, we are pleased to announce our call for papers. The Sikholars conference has attracted young scholars from over three continents and twenty–five universities. With topics ranging from Khalistan to Unix Coding, from sex-selective abortion to diasporic literature, from Nihangs […]

Categories: Events • Tags: California, Call for Papers, Jakara Movement, Sikholars, Stanford University

Picture of the Day: Gurpurab of Guru Ram Das in Amritsar, India

October 10, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Yesterday, Sikhs around the world celebrated the birth anniversary of the fourth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Ram Das (1534-1581). Born in Lahore in present-day Pakistan, Guru Ram Das’ contributions to the Sikh faith are numerous, including founding the city of Ramdaspur, which would later be called Amritsar and become the site of Harmandir Sahib (aka the Golden Temple), constructed by the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan.

Categories: Picture of the Day • Tags: Amritsar, Golden Temple, Guru Arjan, Guru Ram Das, Harmandir Sahib, Lahore, Ramdaspur

Sikh Human Development Foundation provides $210K in scholarships to Punjab youth

October 9, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The US-based Sikh Human Development Foundation recently announced a record US$210,000 in funding of scholarships for needy students in Punjab, India, and surrounding areas: Washington based Sikh Human Development Foundation has given a helping hand to needy students pursuing higher education in Punjab and other Northern Indian states. It has given scholarships to 504 students in 159 institutions/colleges totaling about $ 210,000 for the academic year ending in 2012. “This number is up from 412 of the last year” said […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: India, Punjab, scholarships, Sikh Human Development Foundation

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Author Archives: Rupinder Mohan Singh