Did you know that Sikhism is the fifth-largest religion in the world? Too many people are unaware of this fact. According to the Sikh Coalition, about 500,000 Sikhs are living in America, and about 100,000 of them are living in New Jersey, which is one of the largest concentrations of Sikhs living in the U.S. Being one of the most followed religions, there are so many people who are still not educated about it. Consequently, many don’t understand the reasons why Sikhs look different. The lack of knowledge leads to discrimination, hatred, and harassment toward Sikhs, especially Sikh children in schools. Being one of the very few practicing Sikhs in the Hamilton Township School District, I have witnessed such injustice, both of my own and others. I was concerned about the treatment of Sikhs in our district and felt that it was important for me to speak up for my beliefs and find ways that I could advocate, not only for myself but also for other students.

In Sikhism, hair is a part of God's creation, something that should not be altered. Both men and women keep their hair naturally long out of respect for the perfection of this creation. Sikhs do not cut, trim, or shave hair from any part of their body. They believe that keeping their hair long allows them to take their minds off of their appearance and become more focused on God. Typically, women keep their uncut hair in braids or buns, while men keep their uncut hair in a bun and tie a turban or patka on top. This is to honor the gift that God has given them, as well as to represent an outward commitment to their faith. It allows Sikh men to be recognized with their turban to show that they are duty-bound to offer help.

Due to their unique appearance, Sikhs, especially Sikh men with their beards and turban, seem to stick out of any crowd, allowing them to be noticed by everyone. Although this recognition allows Sikhs to be visible in times of need, it is also a flashpoint. According to 2021 FBI Hate Crime Statistics, Sikhs are the second religious group in the nation to face the most hate crimes, Jews being the first. Turban-wearing men have suffered bullying and harassment because of their religion and many of them have been hit or involuntarily touched because of their turbans. These attacks occur because the Sikh articles of faith, in particular the turban, are associated with terrorism and 9/11. There have been numerous incidents where Sikh men were subjected to racial slurs and their religious headwear would be forcibly removed.

I am a practicing Sikh, born and brought up in America. I am one of the many Sikh American students who have faced discrimination and bullying throughout their childhood. Sikh girls are teased for having long hair and threatened with someone chopping off their hair. People tend to touch their long hair without asking for permission and pretend to make cutting motions with their fingers. On the other hand, young Sikh boys wear patkas which causes their hair buns to be more visible. This leads to their patka being touched and their hair bun being squeezed. They get mocked for their looks and told that they have a bomb or lightbulb on their head. Sikh children have been told to “go back to where you came from” or called “terrorists.”

When asked to help, teachers and administration are incapable of taking any action because they themselves are uneducated. Oftentimes, they do not understand why certain things could be considered to be disrespectful or wrong which causes the discrimination to continue. If teachers are informed about the different faiths that are followed by their students, they would be able to understand the importance of taking action in these kinds of situations, as well as connect with their students better because school should be a place where all students can feel comfortable. 

Therefore, I felt the need to bring awareness to the district about Sikhism. I started by writing an article for the Spartan Sentinel, where I talked about the history of the religion, along with common misconceptions, the articles of faith, and the hate crimes directed toward Sikhs. This allowed me to bring attention to the topic, as well as educate my peers and teachers here at Steinert. I got the opportunity to meet with a member of Hamilton’s Board of Education to discuss possible professional development opportunities regarding Sikh awareness for the administration, staff, and students in our district. In this meeting, I gave an overview presentation of Sikhism and discussed the experiences that I had encountered and witnessed as a Sikh attending school in Hamilton Township. 

After this meeting, I got an invitation to give a presentation on Sikh Awareness to all of the middle school Social Studies teachers from our district. In this workshop, I shared an overview of Sikhism, explaining the background of the faith. 

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion

There were 10 human Gurus, one eternal Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Three core pillars; Vand Chakna - sharing with others, Kirat Karna - honest living, Naam Japna - focus on God.

Misconceptions; differences between Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam

Talked about the teachings of the Gurus that everyone can follow irrespective of their religion or origin. 

Talked about the Sikh identity; articles of faith, turban

Talked about my own experiences being a Sikh, the bullying and discrimination I faced. 

My goal of this workshop was to make the district a more inclusive place. My efforts resulted in Sikhism being added to the middle school Social Studies curriculum of Hamilton Township School District. 

In order for Sikh children to feel included, their religion should be taught in the Social Studies curriculum along with other world religions/faiths. It will help bring awareness to students, teachers, and parents. Along with that, it will help to reduce the amount of bullying and hate crimes that Sikhs in America are currently facing, as well as creating a base for the future generation of Sikhs as education is directly related to bullying cases. My journey as an ambassador of Sikhism, so far, has given my life more meaning, affirming that I am capable of making a difference in my community.