All articles tagged with #sikhism
Guru Nanak Jayanti, celebrating the birth of Guru Nanak, is observed worldwide including in Canada with prayers, processions, and cultural greetings in Punjabi and English, marking the 556th anniversary with reverence and joy.
Canada and India are engaged in a diplomatic clash after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Nijjar was wanted in India for alleged terrorist activities and supporting a banned separatist insurgency. The rift between the two countries has escalated, with India expelling a Canadian diplomat and suspending visa services for Canadian citizens. The allegations have broader global implications, as Western powers seek to maintain a positive relationship with India as a potential counterbalance to China.
Canada's involvement in the Sikh struggle in India has deep historical roots, with the country now home to the largest Sikh population outside of India. Tensions surrounding the Khalistan movement, which advocates for an independent Sikh state in Punjab, have recently come to the forefront following allegations of Indian involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia. Canada's Sikh community has been drawn to the country due to shared values and opportunities, but not all Sikhs support the separatist movement. Sikhs hold prominent positions in Canadian society and politics, including Jagmeet Singh, the head of the New Democratic Party.
Vishavjit Singh, a bearded, brown-skinned, turban-wearing Sikh, donned a Captain America costume for a photoshoot in 2013 and was surprised by the positive response he received. Singh has since been on a mission to change negative perceptions of Sikhs in America. His latest effort is an animated short film called "American Sikh," which tells the story of how he came to adopt his alter ego. Singh's ultimate goal is for people to see a Sikh in a Captain America suit and find it just as normal as anyone else wearing that superhero costume.
The Ravidassia community, a religious group in California, is backing a bill that aims to outlaw caste discrimination in the state. If passed, California will become the first state to add caste to its nondiscrimination laws. The Ravidassia community, which has roots in Punjab, India, has five temples in California and believes that the legislation would bring attention to a problem that affects their lives. However, the bill has faced opposition from groups who say it will lead to discrimination against Hindu Americans and those of Indian descent.