You may remember having been somewhere the first time you saw a man with a long beard and turban. Perhaps he was with his son who was also wearing a turban, as well as his daughter and wife that had long, beautiful hair tied in a braid. Maybe you thought that man was Muslim or Hindu, or that their ancestors lived in a desert. You might have feared what could possibly be in his turban or if he was associated with acts of crime. The reality is that these people are members of my faith: Sikhism. 

These are all common misconceptions that people all over the United States believe when it comes to Sikhism. Believe it or not, Sikhism is the world’s fifth-largest religion. This fact may be surprising to many because when most Americans are asked what the major religions are, Sikhism is often excluded. Many are found to be lost when they hear the words “Sikhism” or “Sikh” because it is barely talked about and many are not educated about it. Sikh means “student” and rhymes with “stick,” not “seek.” 

People believe that Sikhism is a sect of Islam or Hinduism, or that it is a blend of both. Sikhism is actually a distinct and unique religion. It is different from Hinduism or Islam. The same way that the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) have a shared history and geography, but are different religions, Sikhism, Hinduism and Islam are different religions. Although these three religions originated from the same geography, they are not the same. 

Sikhism is a religion that originated in the Punjab region of South Asia, which now falls between present-day India and Pakistan. It began around the late fifteenth century, making it one of the youngest world religions. With more than twenty-five million followers all over the world, Sikhism is considered the fifth most widely practiced religion in the world. Despite this, Sikhism is one of the least understood religions and is often not taught in schools. 

A “Sikh” is a follower of Sikhism. Part of Sikhism requires Sikhs to not shave or cut their hair to honor what God has given them, and for Sikh men, wrapping their hair in a turban represents an outward commitment to their faith. Sikh women have long, thick hair that they tie in a braid or put up in a bun. They are not required to tie a turban, but there are some that choose to do so. Basically, men must and women may wear the turban. The turban is oftentimes thought to be a hat that the wearer can just slide on to their heads. That is not the case. The turban is a long piece of cotton, typically up to six yards long and one to two yards wide. It is retied every day and the process can take up to 10-15 minutes. 

There are five articles of faith that a Sikh is required to have, one of them being Kesh, which is uncut hair. It is a mandatory religious requirement for Sikhs to wear a Dastar, or turban over their Kesh. There are many different styles of turbans that could be tied. Young boys wear a patka (a smaller cloth covering the hair and topknot) before they start wearing a turban. Once they get to an age where they are responsible and mature enough, they can tie it everyday. 

Sikhs have immigrated to countries all across the globe such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Sikhs have been living in America for close to 125 years. Thousands of Sikh Americans worked on farms, in lumber mills and mines, and on the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railroad. Sikh Americans contributed positively to social, economic, cultural and political space in the United States. Although the population of Sikhs in America was small, they had a huge impact on the country, and they continue to do so today. Unfortunately, after the incidents of 9/11, Sikhs have been an easy target of hate crime as the beards and turbans are often mistakenly associated with stereotypes of terrorists. This association has left Sikh Americans and other groups vulnerable to targeted hate, violence, and discrimination.

Sikhs have faced many hate crimes. There have been fatalities and 300 hate crimes documented since 9/11. Many turbaned Sikh children are bullied or harassed in schools because of their faith. Some specific examples include, having their religiously-mandated hair forcibly cut and being physically assaulted. They have had their religious headwear forcibly removed or disrespectfully touched and are routinely being subjected to slurs. The turban is a mandatory religious obligation for Sikh males. It cannot be forcibly removed under any circumstances, whether that is while going through a security check or while at school. 

Although there is a large population of Sikhs in America, as well as New Jersey, there are not that many that live in Hamilton, New Jersey. I am the only practicing Sikh at Steinert High School and my brother is the only practicing Sikh at Reynolds Middle School. Our teachers, classmates, and friends are not really aware or educated about Sikhism. Although it is nice to be the one and only sometimes, looking different makes us stand out in crowds and is brought to the attention of bullies. My brother is a young Sikh that ties the patka and with this, his hair bun is more visible than that of a man that ties a turban. He regularly faces a lot of harassment and bullying. Kids touch his patka and squeeze his hair bun while mocking him for his looks. Everything that he is facing should not be acceptable because everyone should be treated equally. 

My faith is important to me and Sikh awareness is really close to my heart and I want everyone to be aware of my religion. Many young Sikh children face such discrimination and injustice and that is absolutely heartbreaking. Unfortunately, change takes time. Open your hearts and minds to understand the Sikh faith and what is important to us. It is only through education and understanding that we can activate our empathy for one another and eradicate ignorance and prejudice.