Sikh Style

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gq2.jpgRemember that one particular Kenneth Cole ad in NYC that caught our eye?  Yes, the picture of the sardar who received much admiration from Sikhs and non-Sikhs around the globe.  Well, as it turns out – he’s back.  Sonny Caberwal is being featured in GQ’s upcoming Spring/Summer 2009 (German?) publication.  Unfortuantely, there isn’t much press around it yet – but what we do have are some pictures from the shoot in Germany.

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As with the Kenneth Cole ad – it’s great that the image of the sardar is receiving positive attention.  Perhaps it will encourage those who aren’t familiar with Sikhs to learn more.  I said perhaps.  More realistically, the page will be turned (no, not all Sikh men dress that well like that) and Sikhs will still be unknown.  It’s in our human nature to see something unfamiliar, and then go back to our dinner and never think of it again (take Darfur for example).  And while it’s great that Sonny is getting these wonderful opportunities (Sikh PR right?) – we should definitely save room for other Sikh male fashionistas… like this one from one of my fav sites The Satorialist!  After the jump…

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Aman commented (see below) on Waris Ahluwalia’s style, so I just had to add this picture of him wearing his Lohee.  Yes, Waris, we are a fan of your style (among other things).

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Also see Bank of America Sikh.


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78 Responses to “Sikh Style”

  1. Hardeep Singh says:

    Aman,

    Unshorn facial hair is a part of the Sikh identity just as much as the Dastaar.

    What are we saying to ourselves about this model and the way he looks? Does he look good? Do we want to look like that? Is this how we want Sikhs represented? If you answered yes, maybe you should go and trim your daari as well.

    How about this for being judgemental: A Sikh has unshorn hair, anyone who doesn't keep their hair is not a Sikh at all.

  2. Jasdeep says:

    Looks good!

  3. Jasdeep says:

    Looks good!

  4. baingandabhartha says:

    thank you for smoking?!!

  5. Sundari says:

    Yeah, what's that about? Unfortunately, my German is not polished and I can't read what the statement says underneath it…

  6. Hardeep Singh says:

    His daari looks trimmed.. GREAT!

  7. baingandabhartha says:

    thank you for smoking?!!

  8. Sundari says:

    Yeah, what’s that about? Unfortunately, my German is not polished and I can’t read what the statement says underneath it…

  9. Aman says:

    I think the media is a great outlet for Sikhs and allows for Sardars to be seen in a positive light. A majority of people are still ignorant about our identity as Sikhs, and I have to applaud Sikhs who are putting themselves out there to be recognized as… Sikhs. Waris Ahluwalia is another great example of a Sikh who is trendy with a unique sense of style. But, we as a community, need to learn to be less judgmental when we see Sikhs in the media. How can we expect to educate others, when we sit there and criticize our own? I would hope, instead, that this would encourage Sikh men to get out there and experiment with their style. At the end of the day, I think it's all about confidence and being unique.

  10. Hardeep Singh says:

    His daari looks trimmed.. GREAT!

  11. Aman says:

    I think the media is a great outlet for Sikhs and allows for Sardars to be seen in a positive light. A majority of people are still ignorant about our identity as Sikhs, and I have to applaud Sikhs who are putting themselves out there to be recognized as… Sikhs. Waris Ahluwalia is another great example of a Sikh who is trendy with a unique sense of style. But, we as a community, need to learn to be less judgmental when we see Sikhs in the media. How can we expect to educate others, when we sit there and criticize our own? I would hope, instead, that this would encourage Sikh men to get out there and experiment with their style. At the end of the day, I think it’s all about confidence and being unique.

  12. Hardeep Singh says:

    Aman,

    Unshorn facial hair is a part of the Sikh identity just as much as the Dastaar.

    What are we saying to ourselves about this model and the way he looks? Does he look good? Do we want to look like that? Is this how we want Sikhs represented? If you answered yes, maybe you should go and trim your daari as well.

    How about this for being judgemental: A Sikh has unshorn hair, anyone who doesn’t keep their hair is not a Sikh at all.

  13. Vizio says:

    Hardeep, you should launch a campaign to remove all those non-Sikhs from the gurdwaras too.

  14. Hardeep Singh says:

    Vizio..

    Gurudwara's are open to all irrespective of religion, non-sikhs are more than welcome.

    Having a Dastaar without a full Daara is like having the Guru Granth Sahib without a Nishaan Sahib (referring to a recent post on this site) one is not a Sikh, the other is not a Gurdwara.

  15. Vizio says:

    Hardeep, you should launch a campaign to remove all those non-Sikhs from the gurdwaras too.

  16. Hardeep Singh says:

    Vizio..

    Gurudwara’s are open to all irrespective of religion, non-sikhs are more than welcome.

    Having a Dastaar without a full Daara is like having the Guru Granth Sahib without a Nishaan Sahib (referring to a recent post on this site) one is not a Sikh, the other is not a Gurdwara.

  17. Jeev says:

    To Hardeep Singh,

    Brother, although you may have given one definition of a Sikh but; the reality is completely different. There are more than 70% Sikhs worldwide who would not fall in the defintion that you have provided. First thing if we start deducting people who don't fit your defintion then we would we describing 70% to 95% of the entire Sikh population. One has look at these things in a practical and reasonable way.

  18. Jeev says:

    To Hardeep Singh,
    Brother, although you may have given one definition of a Sikh but; the reality is completely different. There are more than 70% Sikhs worldwide who would not fall in the defintion that you have provided. First thing if we start deducting people who don’t fit your defintion then we would we describing 70% to 95% of the entire Sikh population. One has look at these things in a practical and reasonable way.

  19. harinder says:

    Sikhs have three spiritual roots .

    "GURU GRANTH SAHIB"

    "SIKH MARYADA"

    "DASAM GRANTH"

    The Last GURU said that "GURU GRANTH SAHIB" was to be the final GURU.

    SHOW me in "GURU GRATH SAHIB" what is the definiton of a Sikh .

    You will find none.

    It is al abour praise of "GOD"

    "THE WHOLE MANKIND IS REGARDED AS ONE BY GURU GRANTH SAHIB"

    The currant definciton of SIKH is derived form "SIKH MARAYADA"

    It is exclusive in nature which is contrary to the founding principle of ""GURU GRANTH SAHIB" which is inculsive in nature.

  20. harinder says:

    Sikhs have three spiritual roots .

    “GURU GRANTH SAHIB”
    “SIKH MARYADA”
    “DASAM GRANTH”

    The Last GURU said that “GURU GRANTH SAHIB” was to be the final GURU.
    SHOW me in “GURU GRATH SAHIB” what is the definiton of a Sikh .
    You will find none.
    It is al abour praise of “GOD”

    “THE WHOLE MANKIND IS REGARDED AS ONE BY GURU GRANTH SAHIB”

    The currant definciton of SIKH is derived form “SIKH MARAYADA”

    It is exclusive in nature which is contrary to the founding principle of “”GURU GRANTH SAHIB” which is inculsive in nature.

  21. JP Singh says:

    The Last GURU said that “GURU GRANTH SAHIB” was to be the final GURU.

    SHOW me in “GURU GRATH SAHIB” what is the definition of a Sikh .

    Seriously… It is pretty pitiful when folks give their own judgments or only listen to what our Guroo jee said. Take for example Sardar Harinder jee above. It is interesting that he is so eager to give an example of our Last Guru saying that "Guru Granth Sahib" was our final Guru… but totally forgets to mention Khande Baate De Pahul (his gift of Baptism) hukum. Since Guru Gobind Singh jee's baani is not in Guru Granth Sabib, doesn't mean that it is not Guroo jee order. Also, to maintain Sikhi Swaroop, doesn't mean that you start becoming more "inclusive of other religions"

  22. JP Singh says:

    The Last GURU said that “GURU GRANTH SAHIB” was to be the final GURU.
    SHOW me in “GURU GRATH SAHIB” what is the definition of a Sikh .

    Seriously… It is pretty pitiful when folks give their own judgments or only listen to what our Guroo jee said. Take for example Sardar Harinder jee above. It is interesting that he is so eager to give an example of our Last Guru saying that “Guru Granth Sahib” was our final Guru… but totally forgets to mention Khande Baate De Pahul (his gift of Baptism) hukum. Since Guru Gobind Singh jee’s baani is not in Guru Granth Sabib, doesn’t mean that it is not Guroo jee order. Also, to maintain Sikhi Swaroop, doesn’t mean that you start becoming more “inclusive of other religions”

  23. Amardeep says:

    My rough translation of the German: "The Tuxedo speaks the international language of classical elegance, but the modern versions of the Dinner Jacket is now also getting an update."

    I think the "Thank you for smoking" has to do with the idea of retro Euro-chic ("classical elegance"). They're using the turban here to suggest "modern" and "international."

  24. Amardeep says:

    My rough translation of the German: “The Tuxedo speaks the international language of classical elegance, but the modern versions of the Dinner Jacket is now also getting an update.”

    I think the “Thank you for smoking” has to do with the idea of retro Euro-chic (“classical elegance”). They’re using the turban here to suggest “modern” and “international.”

  25. khoofie says:

    Amardeep – i believe the reference is to the classic smoking jacket. to really drive the point home, they should have had the bwoi sport a hookah. Personally, i love the young brother you picked from the sartorialist. now THAT guy is a troo rock star.

  26. khoofie says:

    Amardeep – i believe the reference is to the classic smoking jacket. to really drive the point home, they should have had the bwoi sport a hookah. Personally, i love the young brother you picked from the sartorialist. now THAT guy is a troo rock star.

  27. Sundari says:

    Thanks for the translation Amardeep!

    Khoofie, your link to the Zegna spread on SM was spectacular! I loved those shots.

  28. […] 2009/03/24 by manjotbains Holy hell hottie! Check out this editorial spread from the upcoming issue of GQ featuring the very sexy sardar Sonny, formerly seen in these Kenneth Cole ads. It’s still a stretch to connect the visibility of this very attractive turbaned Sikh in an international magazine, to creating more awareness of who Sikhs are, but it’s still nice and heartwarming to see a turbaned man in a mainstream magazine. Even if he’s being objectified in a fashion magazine… [SepiaMutiny via The Langar Hall] […]

  29. Sundari says:

    Thanks for the translation Amardeep!

    Khoofie, your link to the Zegna spread on SM was spectacular! I loved those shots.

  30. dude sold his soul. i saw the kenneth cole ad in sf. i wanted to burn the store down

  31. dude sold his soul. i saw the kenneth cole ad in sf. i wanted to burn the store down

  32. yellowchaddi says:

    Have to concur with Aman above. It's hard enough keeping a puggh in America without having your own Sikh bretheren bringing you down for trimming your dhaari. Give me a break. I love my faith, am proud of my identity, but want to kiss girls at the same time without constantly having to re-arrange the facial hair on my lip line. I'm still a proud Sikh who loves sporting my puggh every morning, but I guess I'm also a work in progress.

  33. justasikh says:

    Harinder; The trimmed beard debacle you speak of is largely the fault of the majority of punjabi girls who do not hold turbaned/bearded boys to be in high preference.

    The combination of western and bollywoodic cultures have taken care of that.

    That is, until Punjabans see the turbaned/bearded boys with females of other cultures that they have tried emulating..

    Then, the ladies think, "those evil females of other cultures are stealing our men", or "what's she got that I don't?"..

    An open perspective and mind, maybe.

    As a Singh, I'm not sure what to think anymore. I know the vast majority of Punjabans do not think very highly or positively or openly or preferentially in any way about turbaned/bearded Sikh men. And that plays a large role.

  34. yellowchaddi says:

    Have to concur with Aman above. It’s hard enough keeping a puggh in America without having your own Sikh bretheren bringing you down for trimming your dhaari. Give me a break. I love my faith, am proud of my identity, but want to kiss girls at the same time without constantly having to re-arrange the facial hair on my lip line. I’m still a proud Sikh who loves sporting my puggh every morning, but I guess I’m also a work in progress.

  35. justasikh says:

    Harinder; The trimmed beard debacle you speak of is largely the fault of the majority of punjabi girls who do not hold turbaned/bearded boys to be in high preference.

    The combination of western and bollywoodic cultures have taken care of that.

    That is, until Punjabans see the turbaned/bearded boys with females of other cultures that they have tried emulating..

    Then, the ladies think, “those evil females of other cultures are stealing our men”, or “what’s she got that I don’t?”..
    An open perspective and mind, maybe.

    As a Singh, I’m not sure what to think anymore. I know the vast majority of Punjabans do not think very highly or positively or openly or preferentially in any way about turbaned/bearded Sikh men. And that plays a large role.

  36. Ibadat Gill says:

    justasikh wrote: "I know the vast majority of Punjabans do not think very highly or positively or openly or preferentially in any way about turbaned/bearded Sikh men."

    I enjoyed reading your post brother, but disagree with the above statement. From my personal life experience, I have not found your analysis to ring true. I am a turbanned Sikh, and without divulging unnecessary information, the majority of my romantic relationships have been with Sikh women who came from patit or "clean-shaven" families. In college, I also dated a Pakistani-Punjabi girl. The girl I eventually married also came from a Sehajdhari family [in which nobody maintained their Sikh identity]. Today, the same girl who chose to marry a Sardar, is now hell-bent on raising her children as practicing Sikhs.

    What I'm trying to say is that women, for the most part, are attracted to CONFIDENT MEN – whether they sport turbans, yarmulkes or wear dreadlocks.

  37. justasikh says:

    Ibadat Veerji:

    Thanks for your kind words. I did not mean to convey that all Punjabans are close minded.

    If you did a survey of 100 representing the majority, what would you find? Maybe we should :) That's all I meant to make a point about.

    I do not count ladies interested in Sikhism as they too are in the minority.

    I agree with you that confidence must be there. I have found the punjabans I have dated, or my friends have, have a bias that seems to exist among many circles of ladies. When any friends thought about keeping their hair, their female halves objected. It's quite something. All in all I have had it come up a lot more with Punjabans, than not, which is quite interesting.

    Singhs have to be doubly good, strong, smart.. maybe rightfully so. :)

    There may be a gap between what I said and what I meant, hopefully that helped clear up where I am coming from.

  38. Ibadat Gill says:

    justasikh wrote: “I know the vast majority of Punjabans do not think very highly or positively or openly or preferentially in any way about turbaned/bearded Sikh men.”

    I enjoyed reading your post brother, but disagree with the above statement. From my personal life experience, I have not found your analysis to ring true. I am a turbanned Sikh, and without divulging unnecessary information, the majority of my romantic relationships have been with Sikh women who came from patit or “clean-shaven” families. In college, I also dated a Pakistani-Punjabi girl. The girl I eventually married also came from a Sehajdhari family [in which nobody maintained their Sikh identity]. Today, the same girl who chose to marry a Sardar, is now hell-bent on raising her children as practicing Sikhs.

    What I’m trying to say is that women, for the most part, are attracted to CONFIDENT MEN – whether they sport turbans, yarmulkes or wear dreadlocks.

  39. justasikh says:

    Ibadat Veerji:

    Thanks for your kind words. I did not mean to convey that all Punjabans are close minded.

    If you did a survey of 100 representing the majority, what would you find? Maybe we should :) That’s all I meant to make a point about.

    I do not count ladies interested in Sikhism as they too are in the minority.

    I agree with you that confidence must be there. I have found the punjabans I have dated, or my friends have, have a bias that seems to exist among many circles of ladies. When any friends thought about keeping their hair, their female halves objected. It’s quite something. All in all I have had it come up a lot more with Punjabans, than not, which is quite interesting.

    Singhs have to be doubly good, strong, smart.. maybe rightfully so. :)

    There may be a gap between what I said and what I meant, hopefully that helped clear up where I am coming from.

  40. stophating says:

    I know Sonny personally and he does not trim his beard. Stop hating.

  41. stophating says:

    I know Sonny personally and he does not trim his beard. Stop hating.

  42. yellowchaddi says:

    Justasikh,

    Your response reeks of self-pity. Who cares about taking polls? Just get out there and start dating. Be yourself, be confident in your own skin, and you'll find your Sikh princess.

  43. yellowchaddi says:

    Sonny is a visible Sikh. Enough said. He wears a dastaar and is not ashamed of his Sikh identity. That in itself is inspirational. Why the hell do we have to bang on about his beard?

  44. Dalsher Singh says:

    We "bang on" about his beard because it's part of the Sikh identity; he himself is claiming that he isn't doing this for personal gain, but rather to further protrude the presence of Sikhs in America. You don't see Waris A. trimming, or even tying up his beard, and he's more famous then Sonny is at the moment – much respect for Waris. I would completely understand if he trimmed his beard and donned a phagri, as long as he didn't claim to do it for the "Sikh community." As one of very very few Sikh role models in the American media community, Sonny should be fully supporting the Sikh identity. HOWEVER, I take all of this back if I am ignorantly mistaken, and it's true that he doesn't actually trim his beard. Someone mentioned that earlier, and there was no dialog from that, so I just assumed he trimmed his beard.

  45. yellowchaddi says:

    Justasikh,

    Your response reeks of self-pity. Who cares about taking polls? Just get out there and start dating. Be yourself, be confident in your own skin, and you’ll find your Sikh princess.

  46. yellowchaddi says:

    Sonny is a visible Sikh. Enough said. He wears a dastaar and is not ashamed of his Sikh identity. That in itself is inspirational. Why the hell do we have to bang on about his beard?

  47. justasikh says:

    Yellowchaddi;

    My confidence wasn't the topic, it was the non-confidence of the majority.

    Interesting though that it was the only point you wanted to touch.

    Did you just not do what you are claiming is being done to Sunny, just on a different note?

    It leads me to question whether your definition of an open mind is someone who can't entertain a viewpoint that isn't their own.

    I hope it's not because you're the only one comfortable in his own skin.

  48. Dalsher Singh says:

    We “bang on” about his beard because it’s part of the Sikh identity; he himself is claiming that he isn’t doing this for personal gain, but rather to further protrude the presence of Sikhs in America. You don’t see Waris A. trimming, or even tying up his beard, and he’s more famous then Sonny is at the moment – much respect for Waris. I would completely understand if he trimmed his beard and donned a phagri, as long as he didn’t claim to do it for the “Sikh community.” As one of very very few Sikh role models in the American media community, Sonny should be fully supporting the Sikh identity. HOWEVER, I take all of this back if I am ignorantly mistaken, and it’s true that he doesn’t actually trim his beard. Someone mentioned that earlier, and there was no dialog from that, so I just assumed he trimmed his beard.

  49. justasikh says:

    Yellowchaddi;

    My confidence wasn’t the topic, it was the non-confidence of the majority.

    Interesting though that it was the only point you wanted to touch.

    Did you just not do what you are claiming is being done to Sunny, just on a different note?

    It leads me to question whether your definition of an open mind is someone who can’t entertain a viewpoint that isn’t their own.

    I hope it’s not because you’re the only one comfortable in his own skin.

  50. banker kuri says:

    Justassikh

    I hold Sikh and turbaned guys in high regard.I find them highly attractive. And I prefer them first over any other.

    As far as the whole "trimmed beard" goes. Why not just take it one step at a time? I mean a Sikh man with a turban has made it so high after so long. With time we can only expect more.

    At this point the media, I feel, is meeting us half way.

    Smokers jacket- I have not yet formulated an opinion I'm in limbo. I can look at it loosely or scrutinies it to death in which afterward I would be very disappointed with it all overall.

  51. Ibadat Gill says:

    Justasikh says: "My confidence wasn’t the topic, it was the non-confidence of the majority."

    Like I said, if you're a good looking sardar who is assertive and confident, Sikh women (who belong to PATIT/clean-shaven families) will STILL be into you.

    If the majority of Punjabi Jatt families do not keep the Articles of their Faith, then why would their daughters feel that it is important to marry a sardar? This has nothing to do with the "non-confidence of the majority" as you state in your response to the poster named "yellowchaddi", rather a breakdown in passing on the tenets of the Sikh Faith.

    I mention Jatt, because it is the group from which my own clan hails. I have observed that Tarkhans and Khatris are much better about observing the Articles of the Faith. I feel the problem lies in a lack of education and parenting.

  52. banker kuri says:

    Justassikh

    I hold Sikh and turbaned guys in high regard.I find them highly attractive. And I prefer them first over any other.

    As far as the whole “trimmed beard” goes. Why not just take it one step at a time? I mean a Sikh man with a turban has made it so high after so long. With time we can only expect more.

    At this point the media, I feel, is meeting us half way.

    Smokers jacket- I have not yet formulated an opinion I’m in limbo. I can look at it loosely or scrutinies it to death in which afterward I would be very disappointed with it all overall.

  53. justasikh says:

    ibadat; I'm not sure what your point is.

    I've personally never had a problem. I'm not a keyboard warrior either who needs to impose my punjabi brawn.

    I do fine with girls. :)

    I was trying to make a different point which has seemed to fail.

    So, either this becomes about something that it wasn't meant to be, and we get into some analysis paralysis of interpretations of interpretations or we call it a day.

    The majority of Sardars are not comfortable in their skin due to their conditioning and the conditioning of the vast majority of punjabans towards them.

    Both yourself veerji, and yellowchaddis are discussing the exception and not neccesarily the norm, and applying the case of the minority to over look what's happening amongst the majority. I think this might be because this is a Sikh blog who would probably attract stronger personalities.

    I was dissapointed with yellowchaddi who chose to assert his heroic comments rather than productively contribute to the conversation. Opinions are a dime a dozen, openly entertainign ideas that might not be your own take an open mind. No reflection on anyone here, just a problem with sickhs in general.

    One love.

    Ms. Banker; My point is about the majority and not the minority. If we look beyond our social circles and see the perspectives in more than a few places in the world there is a trend. The average punjabi does not think lik emost people on this blog. This blog appeals to the minority of a minority.

    I do not mean to be presumptuous but I have not arrived at this realization because of my own experiences, but rather observation.

    I don't have any problem getting the attention of someone I want to :) I must thank you for speaking up though, you are worth your weight in diamonds for sharing. Talking to guys about this is rather meaningless in the end as I wouldn't date one if I was single anyways.

  54. Ibadat Gill says:

    Justasikh says: “My confidence wasn’t the topic, it was the non-confidence of the majority.”

    Like I said, if you’re a good looking sardar who is assertive and confident, Sikh women (who belong to PATIT/clean-shaven families) will STILL be into you.

    If the majority of Punjabi Jatt families do not keep the Articles of their Faith, then why would their daughters feel that it is important to marry a sardar? This has nothing to do with the “non-confidence of the majority” as you state in your response to the poster named “yellowchaddi”, rather a breakdown in passing on the tenets of the Sikh Faith.

    I mention Jatt, because it is the group from which my own clan hails. I have observed that Tarkhans and Khatris are much better about observing the Articles of the Faith. I feel the problem lies in a lack of education and parenting.

  55. justasikh says:

    ibadat; I’m not sure what your point is.

    I’ve personally never had a problem. I’m not a keyboard warrior either who needs to impose my punjabi brawn.

    I do fine with girls. :)

    I was trying to make a different point which has seemed to fail.

    So, either this becomes about something that it wasn’t meant to be, and we get into some analysis paralysis of interpretations of interpretations or we call it a day.

    The majority of Sardars are not comfortable in their skin due to their conditioning and the conditioning of the vast majority of punjabans towards them.

    Both yourself veerji, and yellowchaddis are discussing the exception and not neccesarily the norm, and applying the case of the minority to over look what’s happening amongst the majority. I think this might be because this is a Sikh blog who would probably attract stronger personalities.

    I was dissapointed with yellowchaddi who chose to assert his heroic comments rather than productively contribute to the conversation. Opinions are a dime a dozen, openly entertainign ideas that might not be your own take an open mind. No reflection on anyone here, just a problem with sickhs in general.

    One love.

    Ms. Banker; My point is about the majority and not the minority. If we look beyond our social circles and see the perspectives in more than a few places in the world there is a trend. The average punjabi does not think lik emost people on this blog. This blog appeals to the minority of a minority.

    I do not mean to be presumptuous but I have not arrived at this realization because of my own experiences, but rather observation.

    I don’t have any problem getting the attention of someone I want to :) I must thank you for speaking up though, you are worth your weight in diamonds for sharing. Talking to guys about this is rather meaningless in the end as I wouldn’t date one if I was single anyways.

  56. stophating says:

    As I stated earlier, Sonny does not trim his beard. Some Sikhs simply don't have long and thick beards like Waris, and people on this blog should not engage in personal attacks based on misinformation (or complete lack of information, as the case may be). That said, someone portraying a positive image for Sikhs in the mass media should be commended, not attacked. Sonny has repeatedly stated in all of the press that I've seen that "It's not about me, but about Sikh identity and about our culture and traditions being portrayed in a positive light to people around the world." It doesn't get much less selfish than that. He is an attorney and a successful businessman, so he is not in this for the money. He is doing this to further the efforts of groups like SALDEF, United Sikhs, and the Sikh Coalition to CHANGE THE WORLD'S PERCEPTION OF SIKHS!

    Our community will NEVER move forward if we are unwilling to embrace and support the success of our own. [Edited by Admin- There's no need to be elitist, 'stophating.' Take the advice of the name you've chosen. Thanks!] .

  57. stophating says:

    As I stated earlier, Sonny does not trim his beard. Some Sikhs simply don’t have long and thick beards like Waris, and people on this blog should not engage in personal attacks based on misinformation (or complete lack of information, as the case may be). That said, someone portraying a positive image for Sikhs in the mass media should be commended, not attacked. Sonny has repeatedly stated in all of the press that I’ve seen that “It’s not about me, but about Sikh identity and about our culture and traditions being portrayed in a positive light to people around the world.” It doesn’t get much less selfish than that. He is an attorney and a successful businessman, so he is not in this for the money. He is doing this to further the efforts of groups like SALDEF, United Sikhs, and the Sikh Coalition to CHANGE THE WORLD’S PERCEPTION OF SIKHS!

    Our community will NEVER move forward if we are unwilling to embrace and support the success of our own. [Edited by Admin- There’s no need to be elitist, ‘stophating.’ Take the advice of the name you’ve chosen. Thanks!] .

  58. Simple Sardar who is says:

    Excellent response by STOPHATING. I hope ALL readers take a moment to understand Stophating's message instead of bringing down a confident sardar who is such a positive role-model for Sikhs in the mainstream media. Sonny is a visible Sikh and is not ashamed of his spiritual heritage. That in itself is a positive factor for the Sikh community and how the mainstream sees us. So what if his dhaara isn't as big as Waris'. The comparison is absolutely ludicrous. Hair growth is different on all individuals. A longer dhaari does not make one sardar better than another. Wake up people.

    In addition, it's important for people like "Dalsher Singh" to realize that all Sardars are not Amrit-dhari (although I agree we, as Sikhs, should all strive to be).

  59. Simple Sardar who is says:

    Oh yeah, one more thing. Do you think the people at the SGPC (who have long beards, Dalsher) would be better role models for Sikhs in mainstream Western society. I think not.

    Given recent events, our beloved panthic leaders at the SGPC would condemn Sonny becuase he wears jeans!!!! hahahahah! Further, they would probably disapprove of GQ as an "immodest" and useless publication.

    Bottom line: Sonny represents the Sikh community, to the mainstream, by virtue of his Turban, work ethic and intelligence.

  60. Dalsher Singh says:

    Simple Sardar who is Proud of Another,

    Seeing as my post was a while ago, you may have forgotten what I truly said. I mentioned that IF, as a matter of fact, Sonny truly doesn't TRIM his beard, THEN I completely take BACK everything:

    HOWEVER, I take all of this back if I am ignorantly mistaken, and it’s true that he doesn’t actually trim his beard. Someone mentioned that earlier, and there was no dialog from that, so I just assumed he trimmed his beard.

    So, I completely agree with both of the previous two posts, in that Sonny is doing a great thing in further delivering the Sikh image to the vast amount of Americans who don't know; my only issue was in the notion that people had mentioned he trimmed his beard. As I mentioned in my original post, and AS did StopHating

    Sonny has repeatedly stated in all of the press that I’ve seen that “It’s not about me, but about Sikh identity and about our culture and traditions being portrayed in a positive light to people around the world"

    If he trimmed his beard, yet still made the claim that he was doing this for the Sikh identity – that is where my problem rested. HOWEVER, as now you can clearly see, it has been verified that he doesn't trim his beard.

    Simple Sardar, I also question your knowledge of what is an Amritdhari – simply growing a dharra doesn't make you an Amritdhari, so you inferring that I was criticizing Sonny's status of being an Amritdhari simply because I said he trimmed his beard is troubling. Taking Amrit is a personal decision you make, and upon taking Amrit, you enter the realm of Khalsa; however, we are all Singhs – and the identity of a Singh is that with a dharri and turban. So I would like to distinguish that the terms Singh and Khalsa are two COMPLETELY different words with different natures – don't intertwine them.

    A final point is that which brought up – the SGPC and its members. No one ever mentioned the SGPC or praised it any manner; I personally hold them very low in my mind, due to their corrupt workings and ties to Hindu-vastava organizations. The ENTIRE SIKH PANTH holds free flowing (not long; I don't where the hell you keep getting that from) dharris in high regards – that is what Sikh martyrs died for – our SIKH IDENTITY. This has NOTHING to do with length of beard, but rather the nature of it. The only reason Sikhs have began to trim beards in recent history is to conform to Western culture. Why not start trimming some of our kes too? NOTE: This final point HAS NOTHING to do with Sonny, as it has been established that he doesn't trim his beard.

    And truly last point: what Avtar Singh Makkar says has no value in mind – he's not the supreme leader of ANYONE, understand? He, along with the rest of the SGPC, is a puppet of the Akhali party. For you to claim that a free flowing dharri is the same joke as Makkar claiming jeans are immoral – [edited by admin- Dalsher, that wasn't an awful name to call someone, but it's still namecalling, which is unecessary. Please try to restrain yourself. Thanks!].

    Dalsher Singh