Sikh Americans Of Central Valley Celebrated Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation month with Mainstream America
The Sikh Council of Central California celebrated its Annual Guru Nanak Prakaash Utsav dedicated to Honoring Assembly Concurrent Resolution 181 (Logue) -Relative to California Sikh Awareness and appreciation Month on Sunday November 14, 2010 at Selma Sikh Temple. Akin to a seminar, the program was highly educational; brainstorming as educators how to create awareness and fill the cultural gap using this opportunity to bring long term benefits to Sikh Americans and the American Community at large?
On this auspicious Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav, the 541st Birthday of the founder of the Sikh Religion, there couldn’t be a better tribute (nazrana) for Guru Ji, than the California Legislature has bestowed in passing its unanimous Resolution 181; a resolution now enthusiastically being honored with adopted proclamations by the county and city governments as well as by the school districts all over the state. No doubt there is a long way to go but this measure is a big step in the right direction in dispelling some of the serious misconceptions about the Sikh Americans, caused by the 911 tragedy. However belated, the Sikh American community greatly appreciates it and is thankful to the legislature in its entirety especially, to Assembly Member Daniel Logue for passing this resolution.
This event was not a mission in advocating a particular community or religion to the multiethnic and multicultural population as such, but the Sikh Americans need to use all possible means of educating fellow Americans about who they are and ensure that their identity is not to be mistaken or abused. If this was the case with any other community, the values of the Sikh faith demand that a Sikh stands up and demands that no one, regardless of faith or creed be barred from practicing their faith freely; that no one be denied justice and compassion.
All presentations were focused to explore the ways and means especially through our educational system that allows the Sikh Americans to work together towards new progressive educational initiatives that benefit Sikh American students and help close the cultural awareness gaps that currently exist in text books between them and their peers. The possible use of California Department of Education approved Supplemental Instructional Material in classrooms and school districts as a way of attaining mutually beneficial objectives was demonstrated through videos, power point presentations and to the point speeches, on this occasion.
The carefully selected participants made excellent presentations and the whole program with a packed hall went according to the plan. Lot of young students from the Gurdwara schools along with their teachers and parents attended and watched every video and presentation with great interest.
The program started sharply at 11 AM after the Bhog Shri Akhand Patth and Kirtan by the Hazoori Ragis of the Selma Temple. Dr. Ranjit Singh Rajpal General Secretary of the SCCC shared greetings of the Gurpurb, gave a brief introduction on the Sikh philosophy and welcomed all participants. Pashaura Singh Dhillon, the Education Coordinator gave a brief synopsis of the program as a Master of the Ceremonies and briefly touched upon why the Sikh Americans needed this Resolution 181although they have lived in California for more than a century. Now they have got it how best to use it to realize its full potential in creating awareness among fellow Americans. Apart from other venues, Mr. Dhillon emphasized the role of classrooms in public schools where it all begins. A couple of videos ‘Meet the Sikhs ‘ and ‘Understanding Sikhism were shown which were produced by Dr. David Hosley while he was C.E.O at the PBS KVIE Sacramento. These videos are available on You Tube and are approved by the California Department of Education.
Dr David Hosley was introduced by Dr, Onkar Singh Bindra of Sacramento who along with Dr.Jasbir Singh Kang and other community members especially from Yuba City, worked closely with Dr. Hosley in preparing these videos. Dr. Hosley now an Interim Vice Chancellor of UC Merced spoke briefly and shared his experience with the congregation and was honored by the SCCC with a Commendation Certificate. Dr. Jasbir Singh Kang made a comprehensive power point presentation covering 120 years of Sikh American history in California, genesis and background of ACR 181 and Achievements of the Sikh Community in California. He also introduced Assembly Member Daniel Logue, author of the ACR 181. Mr. Logue glowingly appreciated the Sikh American community and thanked for their patriotism, hard work and valuable contribution to this Golden state.
Dr. Onkar Singh Bindra of Sacramento made a very impressive and brief presentation to create awareness, demonstrating some practical ways through classroom in public schools, libraries, work places and other venues of interaction with other communities through his personal involvement. Robert Frausto, Kerman Unified School District Superintendent topped it all, by offering to inculcate all the Supplemental instructional material as approved by the CDE in the classroom in his school district of Kerman without delay. Mr. Frausto touched upon AC 181 Resolution passed by the State Assembly declaring November 2010 Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month and what that means to public school districts. To every one’s delight he explained what specifically the Kerman Unified School District was currently doing to promote Sikh awareness and appreciation and the duty of public education in promoting multicultural awareness and cultural sensitivity in the public school setting. It is appropriate to state here that the Kerman Sikh American Community because of its leaders, is way ahead from others except perhaps Yuba City where Punjabi course is being taught for the past some years in schools
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Other Sikh American organizations and representatives who took part and made powerful and focused presentations relating to ACR 181as to what has been done in the past by their respective organizations and what are the future plans to honor the resolution and create awareness among fellow Americans to fill the cultural gap were as follows: Simranjit Kaur Sandhawalia and Iqbal Singh Bains from JAKARA, Raj Singh Dadhesha from SALDEF, Manvinder Singh from United Sikhs, Jessi Kaur and Reshma Kaur from KAUR Foundation.
The program ended with the donation of several hundred blankets to the representative of Poverello House Fresno; A word of thanks for the program well accomplished by the General Secretary and Ardas at 1.45PM.
The Langar as usual was served all day long. Media coverage was provided by most local TV channels and newspapers. Moga Video provided free photo and videography to cover the occasion. Special thanks go to the entire management committee of the Sikh Temple Selma for their close cooperation with the SCCC and for playing host. Special thanks are also in order for the special committee members set up for this function to assist the Education Coordinator, without their help this would not have materialized. presentation, preparation
