Turban a Target of Racism or Inferiority Complex?

In Sikhism, Kesh (sometimes Kes) is the practice of allowing one's hair to grow naturally out of respect for the perfection of God's creation. The practice is one of The Five Kakaars, the outward symbols introduced by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 as symbols of Khalsa, the spiritual Sikh warrior. The hair is combed twice daily with a Kanga, another of the Five Ks, and tied into a simple knot known as a Joora or Rishi knot. This knot of hair is usually covered by a turban.

Young Sikh Men with No Turbans

Young Sikhs of Today

In modern times the trend of short hair has encroached upon this age old tradition. It is estimated that half of Sikh men have already abandoned the turban and cut their hair. The reasons for them cutting their unshorn hair include the following

• Simple convenience (avoiding the daily maintenance and tying turban)
• Social pressure from the mainstream culture to adjust their appearance to fit the norm
• Desire to indulge in activities like smoking, drinking, etc.
• Fear of racial attack (mostly mistaken for Muslims or Arabs)

Desperation or Inferiority Complex

While convenience of keeping unshorn hair or cutting it short can be debated, the social pressure is a real factor influencing the young Sikhs into cutting their unshorn hair. The highest impact of this is felt by the young Sikhs who have immigrated to the West in early teens. They feel that their hair and turban are a barrier to them being accepted by the new community. I have seen many adult Sikh men doing the same in an effort to find a date, a job, or promotion.

Sikh Youths of Today

Self Inflicted Wound

There have been many instances in US, Canada, UK, and even in India, where young Sikh men  themselves have cut their hair while publicly claiming their hair was chopped off by racist thugs. These young men are torn between their Sikh values and the western culture. Most had wanted to get their hair cut for some time, but was afraid of the reaction of family and the Sikh community.

Example of Self Inflicted Attacks

We should take a compassionate view and at the same time acknowledge the challenges our Sikh youth, are facing in society at large. We should take this opportunity to ensure our young people feel able to discuss difficult matters on life and faith with their family in a supportive environment.

High Visibility as a Minority

In India, the turban was first abandoned in large numbers in anti-Sikh genocide that erupted after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984. Amidst bloodshed that killed thousands, Sikhs took off their turbans and cut their hair in an attempt to conceal their faith. That trend was further accelerated by India's economic growth and rapid Westernization in the 1990s.

Faces of Sikhs

After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Sikhs in the West have been mistaken for Muslims and subjected to hate crimes. Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh living in Mesa, Arizona, was shot to death on September 16, 2001 when he was mistaken for a Muslim. In 2007, an 18-year-old Pakistani, Umair Ahmed, forcibly cut the hair of a 15-year-old Sikh boy Harpal Vacher in a US school. 

In a statement, the Sikh Coalition, America's largest Sikh civil rights group, said that Sikhs are often targeted for hate crimes in part "due to the Sikh articles of faith, including a turban and beard, which represent the Sikh religious commitment to justice, tolerance and equality."

A couple of my Sikh friends took their turbans off and cut unshorn hair of their sons after 9-11. Both have been thinking about this for a long time but the events of 9-11 gave them a sense of urgency. One of these two parents felt that cutting hair will improve the social confidence level of their sons.  After almost 18 years, I am doubtful if they have succeeded in their objectives.

Mistaken Identity

Demonized as immigrants and mistaken for Muslims, the Sikhs in the U.S. have faced suspicion and violence for more than a century. The first documentation of racist attack against the Sikhs is from Bellingham, WA in 1920s. Some 500 white men descended on the Sikhs and other South Asians, evicting them from the bunkhouses and chasing them into the streets. Within hours, the entire Sikh population of Bellingham had fled, frantically piling onto trains and boats in search of some sort of refuge.

Sikhs (Mistaken as Hindus) in Belngham attack

Its worthwhile to note that the Sikhs are not he only victims of this mistaken identity. In 2017 at a bar in Olathe, Kansas, 51-year-old Adam Purinton, a US veteran pulled out a gun and opened fire on two local engineers from India. One of the Indian men, 32-year-old Srinivas Kuchibhotla, died of his wounds at the hospital. The other, Alok Madasani, also 32, was injured.

Kansas Victim and Racist Attacker

In April 2019, a US Army veteran on his way to deliver the food to his Bible study group, drove through a group of pedestrians crossing the road on El Camino Real in Sunnyvale California. Most victims were from South India and NOT Sikhs. Witnesses heard the driver muttering over and over, "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus."

Harsimran Kaur from Sikh Coalition says “You know it’s absolutely imperative that as a society we take a stand against hate violence. Hate crimes undermine the fabric of our country. They’re an assault, not only on an individual, but on an entire community and they degrade our democracy. They undermine the American dream and they make us all feel less safe.”

Compromising the Sikh Character

"Sikh identity is threatened today," says Sikh religious leaders feeling the threat in Punjab, the state that is home to a majority of Sikhs in India. Its becoming rare to find young Sikh boys in Punjab villages with unshorn hair.

Sikh Boy with Mother

It's not so much that young people are any less spiritual today, but the main ideals of Sikhism get obscured by the complexities of the contemporary world. The Sikhs as a whole should rethink the separation of two identities, "Sikh" and the "Khalsa". Anyone who believes in the teachings of the ten Guru, submits only to the wisdom of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and respects the value of "Amrit" ... is and must be considered a "Sikh".

But it does not mean compromising on  the Sikh values and character.

The character of Sikh youth must be developed by following the path shown by our great Gurus and not just by just having a visible identity. Our primary concern should be the preservation of the "Sikh character" and the value of  "Amrit".

We must embrace our youth who no longer demonstrate the visible symbols of Khalsa .... otherwise, we will lose them forever.

References

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/06/losing-the-turban-indian-sikhs-at-odds-on-essentials/
https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/14/us/sikh-hate-crimes-list/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/06/asia/sikh-hate-crimes-us-muslims/index.html
https://www.propublica.org/article/sikhs-in-america-hate-crime-victims-and-bias
https://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/a-tragic-history-of-hate-crimes-against-sikhs-in-t
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/dec/24/religion.schools
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Police-ID-Victims-in-Sunnyvale-Crash-509078551.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Olathe,_Kansas_shooting