Rupinder Mohan Singh |

Yuba City, CA celebrates the life of Hari Singh Everest

August 24, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“He was a lasting example of an American dream come true,” said friend Dr. Jasbir Singh Kang of Yuba City. “He was a role model, very progressive in reaching out to others,” and living a very honest, humble life.” — Dr. Jasbir Singh Kang discusses Hari Singh Everest, who passed away last week at the age of 95. Hari Singh was a community leader in the Yuba City, California area and was admired by Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike.

Categories: News Bits, Profiles • Tags: California, Hari Singh Everest, Jasbir Singh Kang, Northern California, Yuba City

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Tejinder Singh Bhullar fights to save his brother in India

August 22, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

“I’m really proud to be an American, because I know I could get justice over here,” Bhullar said. “But in India, if you are a Sikh, there’s a good chance you won’t see justice.” — Live Oak, California resident Tejinder Singh Bhullar is quoted in a local article about the fight to save his brother – Devinderpal Singh Bhullar – from being executed on questionable grounds in India.

Categories: News Bits • Tags: California, Capital punishment, Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, Devender Pal Singh Bullar, Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, India, judicial murder, Live Oak, Tejinder Singh Bhullar

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D.C.’s National Gurdwara heading to the auction block

August 16, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The National Gurdwara, located on Massachussetts Avenue in Washington, D.C., is in dire financial straits. Built in 2005, the Gurdwara (Sikh house of worship) is located in the heart of D.C. – steps away from the National Cathedral and only a few miles away from the White House – and claims to be the only Gurdwara in Washington. However, despite its lofty goals, it seems that the Gurdwara has become too mired in politics and poor management to be able to […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: "Washington, D.C.", National Gurdwara, SGPC, Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Washington D.C.

The mixed emotions around Indian Independence Day

August 15, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

For many people of South Asian heritage across the world, August 15th is a time of celebration. Today is the anniversary of the independence of India and Pakistan from British rule in 1947. However, it also marks one of the most tragic events in human history: the land that was ruled by the British for over a century was to be partitioned along religious lines, resulting in one of the largest mass migrations of people in human history. Despite the enormity […]

Categories: Resources • Tags: 1947 Partition Archive, British Raj, India, Oakland Tribune, Pakistan, Partition of India

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Sacramento Valley Charter’s first day of school

August 15, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Today marked the first day of school for many children. For most kids and parents, there’s always a sense of nervousness and excitement as students take on the next year of their education. For the Sacramento Valley Charter School – the first Punjabi charter school in the United States – the excitement coming from the side of staff and administrators would be understandable. It was their first day, too.

Categories: News Bits, Picture of the Day • Tags: California, Sacramento Valley Charter School, West Sacramento

Learning from the Sikhs of Southall

August 11, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

With the whole world watching the violence occuring in London, Sikhs in the United Kingdom and beyond have taken interest and inspiration by the actions of our brothers and sisters who, in the midst of that chaos, have banded together to protect their Gurdwaras and communities from the vandals and looters that have been running rampant across London’s streets. “Naujawani Sardar” offered his account of what has been happening on blog, The Langar Hall, and sees the promise for Sikhs in the […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: London, riots, Southall

Nikki Haley and race identification: If being “Asian” is wrong, is it right to write “White”?

August 9, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Academic and blogger Amardeep Singh offers his perspective on the issue of South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s identification of herself as “White” on a voter registration card despite her South Asian and Sikh origins: Isn’t it fair that some South Asian Americans with little connection to South Asian culture or language would see themselves (and be seen as) “white” by others in their communities? Isn’t it possible to be of South Asian origin and “white” at the same time? Amardeep […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Amardeep Singh, Nikki Haley, South Carolina

Religion and US Politics: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

August 4, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Jasmeet Sidhu writes a piece on The Huffington Post contrasting between Canada and the United States the roles of faith groups with government: It seems to me, that though this country has its fair share of heated debates around religion (the ground zero mosque controversy comes to find [sic]), there are also seems to be a yearning and a willingness by policy makers, community groups and other stakeholders to publicly engage and bring into the fold Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh […]

Categories: Interfaith, Politics • Tags: Barack Obama, Government, Huffington Post, Islamophobia, Jasmeet Sidhu, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry

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Elk Grove, California Diversity Pledge ad (source: elkgrovecity.org)

Scene of suspected hate crimes, Elk Grove, CA to promote its diversity

August 3, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The California city of Elk Grove has been the scene of two notable and suspected hate crimes this year: the shooting deaths of Sikh seniors Surinder Singh and Gurmej Atwal during their evening walk, and the beating of a gay man at a local bowling alley. In response to these tragic incidents, the Elk Grove’s City Council is launching its Diversity Awareness Campaign to promote the diversity of the city which is centered around its “Diversity Pledge“. According to Elk Grove’s Mayor: […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, News Bits, Politics • Tags: California, Diversity Pledge, Elk Grove, Gurmej Atwal, Sacramento, Steven Detrick, Surinder Singh

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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Author Archives: Rupinder Mohan Singh

Yuba City, CA celebrates the life of Hari Singh Everest

Tejinder Singh Bhullar fights to save his brother in India

D.C.’s National Gurdwara heading to the auction block

The mixed emotions around Indian Independence Day

Sacramento Valley Charter’s first day of school

Learning from the Sikhs of Southall

Nikki Haley and race identification: If being “Asian” is wrong, is it right to write “White”?

Religion and US Politics: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Scene of suspected hate crimes, Elk Grove, CA to promote its diversity