The Sikh Community in Britain; an outsiders opinion.

Britain is an island which has over the years become a melting pot of culture and languages. Each ethnic community has their own specialisms and strengths which has helped this country to become a beacon for social cohesion. Whether it is the West Indians who came during the 1950’s to work on the London buses or the Pakistani Muslims who worked endless hours in the Yorkshire mills. All of these communities have left an indelible mark in rich and varied script of British history.

In my post today I will look at the Sikh community, an ethnic group of people who hail from the Punjab region of North India. I live in a small town in England called Gravesend, which has its own very well established and growing Sikh community which is now in its 3rd or 4th generation. Even though my own ancestors hail from the same area as these people, I am writing this post as an outside because I am not a Sikh; I am a HIndu Brahmin. I follow a different religion and as a result a different culture to my Sikh brethren who live in my neighbourhoods.

This is my view of the Sikh community within the UK having not only lived in Gravesend for my formative years but also having spent 3 years living in Leicester and witnessing the Sikh students who strive to follow their faith…

The Sikhs of Britain are the most hardest working community in the land. They bring with them a tenacity to work and a humbleness to not complain, as a result they are also the wealthiest of the south Asian minorities in the UK with a median household salary of £200,000. The Sikhs today, as they did back in the 50’s when they first arrived always look after one another and their families. Many families try to bring relatives over from India and help them set up in this ‘land of oppurtunity’. However, although lots of families have gained immense fortune living here, the hardships they have had to endure to become successful has been great too. Many turbaned Sikh men still experience racism in this modern era even though there is lots of education within schools about differentiation of religions. However, if anything this makes the bonds between the people much greater and they face the adversity with a combined effort. Sikhs are also very progressive and integrate very well wherever they go, they have excelled in all aspects and sections of British life without compromising on their background. I think the best thing I have seen in my time living with these big hearted people is that they love their religion so much; it gives them boundless energy during their bad times as well as a reflection during their good times. This is why Sikhism as a religion is unique, because the people by and large carry out the message which the Gurus laid out before them in their illustrious history. They love their religion so much they have a mission to build Gurdwaras wherever they go so that they can pray and do sewa in peace. On that note the concept of ‘service for others’ or Sewa is a key tenet of the faith and again they hold this in high regard whether it be serving langar with love in the Gurdwara or giving great hospitality in family functions. They always seek to include, educate and promote others about their faith and do this by means of TV channels, leaflets and even facebook. All in all it is a faith for humanity.

As an outsider I have a different perspective on things and this provides me with a different view on Sikhism within this country. Although I understand much of the faith I do not claim to be educated in it, I have many Sikh friends who I consider my own brothers and this has provided me with much insight into the community. There are however various problems which are apparent from my viewpoint…

I think the major struggle the Sikhs (as with any ethnic minority in the UK) have is the battle to maintain and preserve their culture and religion. I have seen first hand at University how young Asian girls and boys, not only Sikh, try to diverge away from their true paths and try to become more modern in their ways. The Sikh Society at my university did a great job to educate the students but despite tremendous support in volunteering, one can only feel that these were the minority. There were very few people who I can say exhibit true qualities of a ‘Singh’ or a ‘Kaur’. The youth are in a struggle to try and fit into British society but also to adhere to their faith, it is a struggle which I have been through myself and it is tough.
The issue of caste, as mentioned in another one of my blogs, is indeed a cancer on the community which affects everyone. One of the fundamental tenets of Sikhi is that caste is wrong and one should not follow it; however there are deep divisions within the community due to people still believing that their caste is better than another. I have seen separate Gurdwaras for Ravidassia ( Low caste) Sikhs and it seems that people will still hold onto their attached caste.
More recently the cases involving sexual abuse and grooming of young Sikh girls has hit the community hard, I have seen and heard cases in Leicester involving grooming gangs in clubs and there is a lot of truth to these stories. There has even been a BBC documentary highlighting this issue and it is heartening to see that there are educational programmes out there in place to deter such vile acts against these girls.
There also seems to be some kind of weird mix between how one should uphold Punjabi culture; which promotes alcohol, eating meat and caste etc and the true values of Sikhism which do not promote such things. Again it is just my opinion, but for normal Sikh youth it may be a very difficult balancing act to try.
The burning issue for Sikhs who really are in touch with their roots is the issue of Khalistan and the events before and after 1984. TO MAKE THIS CLEAR; I was not born and I did not live in that time, so I will not comment on it because I have no knowledge other than news reports and friends. However, I will say that it is very clear that the justice system of India is a shambles and why the perpetrators of the Delhi riots have have not been dealt with is beyond me. My family come from Delhi and my Dad has recounted to me the story of how he and his brothers defended his Sikh neighbours with cricket bats while the city around them was in chaos. I cannot help but cry in anguish over his story, as well as the miscarriages of justice that has occurred in the Punjab during the 1990’s. I am not educated enough to comment on the validity of Khalistan (a homeland for the Sikhs) but the Sikh youth of the UK do try tirelessly for their cause and I respect them for it…you need to stand up for what you believe in.

I think the Sikh community in the UK have done themselves proud, they have made a shining example of social cohabitation and it has been a privilege to live among these fiercely proud people. The religion has inspired me through my tough times and its followers have shown me and my family a lot of love over these years. Despite the problems facing it, I am confident that the youth will overcome them with the same zeal and effort as their fore-fathers.

If I have offended anyone then I am incredibly sorry, it was not my intention. Please however leave comments or criticisms if you get time, I would love to educate myself. This post is merely an objective viewpoint of Sikhism in this country, not an attack.