Profiles | American Turban

Your weekend Waris, Part V

October 4, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Besides mentioning Waris Ahluwalia, Soraya Roberts assesses the emergence and use of the Sikh turban in fashion, and the motivation for Sikh designers to incorporate the Sikh article of faith in their portfolio: “Having introduced turbans on the runway and having had such good press so far, I believe I have brought a little more awareness to this religion,” [designer Jeetinder Sandhu] tells The Daily Beast. “I believe people need to be more aware of Sikhism, because it’s a religion […]

Categories: Profiles • Tags: Dastar, Fashion, Jeetinder Sandhu, Singh Street Style, Turban, Waris Ahluwalia

Pictured in this screen capture of "Equality Street," this Sikh gentleman has appeared in many films and television shows. (Source: Buzzfeed)

Is this the world’s most famous Sikh extra?

October 1, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Based in the United Kingdom, the website Look! A Singh! — which identifies turban-wearing Sikh men in popular media — asks if the man pictured above is the “world’s most famous Sikh extra?” You may not know who he is but chances are he’s been on your TV. This individual has appeared in the backgrounds of scenes in at least a dozen television and film productions. Read more at Buzzfeed. (Thanks to Manpreet Singh for the tip.)

Categories: Profiles, TV/Movies • Tags: Buzzfeed, Look! A Singh!, movie extra

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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

Waris Ahluwalia appears in an article in Vogue Italy's July-August edition. (Source: Vogue Italy)

Your long weekend Waris, part III

August 30, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

As only he can, noted designer/actor Waris Ahluwalia appears on the cover of the July-August 2013 Italian version of Vogue Magazine, which also includes a pictorial of Waris in various forms of dandy. Here’s to a relaxing long weekend. (See previous posts about Waris Ahluwalia here.)

Categories: Literature, Profiles • Tags: Fashion, Italy, Vogue Magazine, Waris Ahluwalia

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Sikh philanthropist GP Singh gives back

August 22, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The San Antonio Express-News features Sikh philanthropist Gurvinder Pal Singh (otherwise known as G.P. Singh), of San Antonio, Texas: “I have lived here for 34 years,” says Singh, who turned 60 on June 30. “My children were born here. They got educated here. I ran a business here. I employed over 400 people here. So, I am defined by San Antonio and I feel it’s my duty and frankly a privilege to give back to the community that has been […]

Categories: Profiles • Tags: Gurvinder P. Singh, San Antonio, San Antonio Area Foundation, San Antonio Express-News, TED, TEDx, Texas

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Sant Kaur Bajwa passed away at the age of 115. (Source: The Daily Mail)

Second oldest woman in the world passes away

July 23, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Born in 1898 in what is now Pakistan, Sant Kaur Bajwa, the second oldest woman in the world and oldest woman in the UK, has passed away at the remarkable age of 115. Her life is a story of overcoming of adversity. According to Sant Kaur’s twin grandsons, who she raised: ‘It was her inner strength and resolve that carried her forward, she fought and stood tall as the matriarch of the family. She will be sorely missed and we […]

Categories: Profiles • Tags: England, Sant Kaur Bajwa, United Kingdom

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Arpita Singh's "Wish Dream" was recently auctioned for $2,223,744. (Source: All Art News)

Is interest in Sikh art growing?

July 8, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

India’s Financial Chronicle highlights a growing interest in artwork produced by Sikhs or related to Sikh themes, and not just from a by-gone era, but also from more contemporary artists: In recent times, there has also been a move to categorise contemporary artists from the Punjab belt under the Sikh Art umbrella. So it now covers Sikh pianters [sic] such as Arpita Singh, her husband Paramjeet Singh and the ever popular Manjit Bawa. Arpita’s mural titled Wish Dream, fetched Rs […]

Categories: Art, Profiles • Tags: Arpita Singh, Manjit Bawa, mural, Sikh art, Wish Dream

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A service by The Sikh Gurdwara of San Francisco. (Source: The Sikh Gurdwara of San Francisco Facebook page)

Bay Area synagogue opens doors to Sikh congregation

June 28, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The San Mateo Daily Journal provides a profile of The Sikh Gurdwara of San Francisco, a Sikh congregation in the West Bay area of greater San Francisco, California. The Gurdwara, having just celebrated its first year of existence, is unique: the congregation actually meets monthly in a space provided by a synagogue called Peninsula Temple Beth El: “We’re willing to make room for them whenever we can … until they expand or run out of space [for their services],” [Peninsula […]

Categories: Interfaith, News Bits, Profiles • Tags: Blair Brown, California, Mehar Singh Mahal, Peninsula Temple Beth El, San Francisco, San Mateo, San Mateo Daily Journal, The Sikh Gurdwara of San Francisco, West Bay

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Kultar's Mime playbill. (Source: United for Justice with Peace)

New MA theater company debuts play about 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms

June 27, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The Boston Globe features a young theater company in Hopkinton, Massachusetts (30 miles west of Boston), called Two Paths Productions. Started by a group of teens, their first production is called Kultar’s Mime, an adaptation of the poem of the same name by Sarbpreet Singh (who has been featured on this blog before) about the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms in New Delhi, India, in which thousands of Sikhs were murdered in organized killing after the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira […]

Categories: 1984, Art, Events, Profiles • Tags: Hopkinton, Kultar's Mime, Massachusetts, Mehr Kaur, Sarbpreet Singh, Two Paths Productions

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American Turban

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Category Archives: Profiles

Your weekend Waris, Part V

Is this the world’s most famous Sikh extra?

Sikh amputee finds new life in marathon running

Your long weekend Waris, part III

Sikh philanthropist GP Singh gives back

Second oldest woman in the world passes away

Is interest in Sikh art growing?

Bay Area synagogue opens doors to Sikh congregation

New MA theater company debuts play about 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms