My Turban is My Resistance: Vaisakhi 2012 Reflections
The last few weeks, Sikhs around the world have been celebrating the anniversary of the birth of the Khalsa. I intended to do a Vaisakhi post earlier, but travels have kept me from sitting down and writing down some of my reflections until now. I have found myself in small and medium-sized towns throughout the midwestern and southern United States these last two weeks, feeling my outward identity as a Sikh projecting more conspicuously than ever.
NYC's Annual Sikh Day Parade
Consequently, I began thinking a lot about the significance of the Bana that Guru Gobind Singh gave us in 1699. What a fearless, defiant act of revolutionary love it was for Sikhs to wear their identity so visibly in a time when they faced such severe violent repression. A time when it was dangerous to be a Sikh, where being a Sikh meant you were an enemy of the empire, a threat, where there was a price on your head, a target on your back. Yet rather than blending into Indian society and building its movement for sovereignty and justice subversively, the Khalsa wore its identity loudly and proudly so everyone knew very clearly who a Sikh was.
I think about this today as more and more of cut our hair because we can’t take the torment of bullying in schools any more or trim our beards so we look more “professional” at our corporate jobs. Bana seems to have lost its appeal to many, for an ever-expanding list of reasons. Looking back at our history, it never has been easy. And perhaps that is part of the point. I wouldn’t wish the traumatic experience of racist harassment on anyone, but I know very well that I wouldn’t be the person I am today without all the struggles I have dealt with because of my Sikh identity.
In a time of increasing vigilante murders of unarmed people wearing hoodies, hijabs, or turbans, choosing to maintain our articles of faith or identity in a time when those very articles are vilified is truly a revolutionary act, just as it was when the Sikh uniform was created in 1699.
This Vaisakhi, I salute not only my Sikh sisters and brothers who continue representing the Khalsa spirit through their Bana (and otherwise), but all those of other communities who stand proudly in their religious or cultural garb even when everything in our society is telling them they are wrong, they are the enemy, they are outsiders/foreigners/terrorists.
A few weeks ago Arab American activist Linda Sarsour said, “My hijab is my hoodie.” In that spirit of solidarity and in celebration of the 314th Vaisakhi, I say, my turban is your hijab, your hoodie, your kippah, your kufi, your dreadlocks—our collective resistance.
Panth Ki Jeet!
13 Responses to “My Turban is My Resistance: Vaisakhi 2012 Reflections”
*Sikhs, not Sikh in the first sentence.
@brooklynwala,I would like to know how many times in actuality you have been attacked physicaly,for wearing your turban.Do not take it the wrong way I am just trying to compile some statics.Thnx.
Not to be an @MohinderSingh troll, but maybe instead of compiling statistics on hate crimes against Sikhs on your own by checking Sikh-oriented blogs, you should volunteer with SALDEF or the Sikh Coalition, who have been documenting these incidents for over a decade.
@sanehval thnx for the suggestion,I did check with them about 2 months ago but they declined to give any specific numbers.I thought that Mr.Brooklynwala seems to imply that he was physically harmed,I would start with him.See there is an US attorney in southern dist. of newyork by the name of Preet Bahara he would be interested in these incidents.Sorryif I offended you.
@MohinderSingh I'm not sure why the coalition would have declined your request, but I'm curious to know why Bahara is looking for these numbers and why his search for them has gone public and become known to you specifically, rather than to institutions like the Coalition, SALDEF, and United SIkhs Mr. Brooklynwaala isn't the first person to be physically harmed, and you (should) know that. Naale do you think that the best way for you to systematically gather information is to ask on a blog? Its not. You're not acting in good faith on this blog in general and that's whats offensive.
@sahneval,I am sorry and again I apologise if I have offended you.As to why I am asking this on the blog is that whenever I have tried to ask this/these question/s from the victims specificaly I have been stonewalled by generalities instead of any particulars.I have tried to ask the same thing in gurdwaras,in small get togethers etc.,howevever could not get anyone to open up.I thought since Mr.Brooklynwallah brought this up on a public blog maybe just maybe he would open up,but I guess I was wrong,as for Mr. Bahara maybe he too is looking for some thing concrete.
@MohinderSingh I don't accept your apology because I don't believe that you mean it. Can you link us to how you came to know that Bahara is looking for 'something concrete'?
I think you might be getting stonewalled by your approach because you don't belong to a sangat proper. This is near-conspiracy theory guesswork here, but I don't think I'm too off the mark.
Also: http://bit.ly/ItzVB1
the last paragraph- spot on.
Beautiful article. Thanks for posting
Great article. Proud to be a Sikh.
I don't know who the person(s) behind this blog http://www.yespunjab.com is(are) as I was looking for more information on Bhatinda refinery, I came to click on this site and found this story offending story. WTF?
"Turbans on his table, will Nitin Gadkari please explain this". Shows 3 turbans on his table with a patka wearins sikh sitting on a side chair.
http://www.yespunjab.com/yespunjab-editorials/ite…
I sure found this offending.
Khalistan is the only solution – it's just a matter of when – beware of Pakistan – that is traditionally where all supporters of Khalistan meet their demise. It's great they recognize Anand Karaj, however it is still part of so-called "dar es islam" lands -whereas the rest of the Dharti is supposedly dar el harb or whatever – this line of thought is anti-Sikh – so too are the various cults like the freaks who have stolen the Namdhari Bana – the 3HO freakazoids who have no concept of bodily purity whatsoever – starting to understand the axiomatic truth behind "white leather, kala dil"
i love kagzi almonds – nice on the outside and inside.
(all you vegetarians out there – try to stay away from any kind of cheese – it is nasty – who knows what curdling agents are used – not always easy though as i sort of like pizza, or used to anyway..
all humanoids are good – we just have to be dharmic/ethical – not hurting anyone's feelings or body.
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