Sikh Diaspora Edition 2023
Table of Contents
Sikh Routes: Tracing the Why
By Nadhri Kaur
The Punjabi Mexican Americans of California
By Sayva Kaur
Sikhs in Singapore
By Suneet Kaur
An Immigrant Sikh’s Story
By Nadhri Kaur
The Role of Stockton, California in Sikh Immigration to the U.S.
By Veera Singh
Sikhs in Africa
By Sahai Kaur
Sikhi in the Diaspora - Cultural Confluence
By Uday Singh
A Look at the History of North American Sikhs
By Sayva Kaur
Sikh Routes: Tracing the Why
By Nadhri Kaur
The Sikh diaspora is an integral part of Sikh history that continues to unfold globally. Hundreds of thousands of Sikhs ventured to many places around the world for a variety of reasons. Sikhs have made significant contributions and changes to the world while spreading across it. Furthermore, Sikh migrants have had many different motivations for leaving their homeland and many reasons for why they went to the places that they did. From the industrial scenes in Indonesia to the agrarian fields of North America, the migration of Sikhs represents dynamic interactions of economic opportunities, historical happenings, and the enduring Sikh principles that led many in search of different circumstances.
North America
The majority of Sikhs who first moved to North America went to California in order to perform manual labor jobs in the lumber, railroad, and agricultural industries. They arrived in California through Vancouver, with the first documentation of Sikhs arriving in California dating to 1903. The first gurdwara in the United States was founded in Stockton, California in 1912. As of 2023, half of the American Sikh population is located in California, with many Sikhs in Yuba City, Live Oak, and Fresno.
Many Sikhs also migrated to Canada, with Brampton, Ontario being the city with the largest Sikh population outside of India. Also, Canada is the country with the highest number of Sikhs other than India. They began migrating to Canada in the early 1900s to work as laborers, and have continued settling in Canada for this reason, along with the motive of higher education. Additionally, many Sikhs went to Canada after World War II, in which they served for the Allies.
Oceania
Many Sikh soldiers for the British army were stationed in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Malaysian Peninsula and moved from here to Oceania. In Oceania, they worked temporary jobs primarily in the farming industry. Sikhs worked as shepherds, in cane fields, and in sheep stations as indentured servants. Moreover, many Sikhs worked in business and engineering, especially in Fiji. Fijian Sikhs, who arrived most heavily in the early 20th century, also worked as farmers, teachers, and police. Many Sikhs also began to migrate to Australia during this time. However, a set of Australian laws known as the White Australia policy restricted the immigration of non-whites, slowing Sikh immigration to Australia. Nevertheless, many Sikhs fought against these policies, battling the persecution of non-Europeans in Australia.
Africa
As early as the 1890s, Sikhs have been going to British East Africa to work as carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, and more. In particular, Sikhs played an integral role in constructing the Uganda Railways, in which many Sikhs gave their lives in the development of. Although Sikhs made several contributions to Uganda, they were later expelled by the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in 1972. From here, many Sikhs went to the UK and North America. Many Sikhs went to South Africa after the end of Apartheid.
Sikhs in Kenya built the Sikh Temple Makindu near Nairobi in 1926, the first organized gurdwara on the African continent. Furthermore, Kenyan Sikhs were part of the Indian army during the British reign, working as police officers, inspectors, and guards in railroad construction in the colonies. Later, many achieved positions as contractors in Kenya.
Europe
The large population of Sikhs in the UK can largely be attributed to World War II. However, Sikhs began migrating to the UK as early as 1850. In addition to this, the first gurdwara in the United Kingdom opened in 1911 in London due to the visit of Maharaja of Patiala. According to the 2021 census, Sikhism is the fifth-largest religion in the United Kingdom. Most British Sikhs live in West Midlands and Greater London, with a Sikh enclave in Southall, West London (which has been nicknamed Little Punjab).
Italy is also home to a significant Sikh population. Many Sikhs fought in Italy during World War II, moving there for employment. A substantial percentage of Italian Sikhs work in the Parmesan industry and have faced high levels of exploitation in the past. Many have been subject to harassment, blackmail, and underpayment in this industry, facing innumerable challenges as immigrants.
Southeast Asia
Historically, many Sikhs have been erroneously labeled as Bengalis throughout Southeast Asia. For example, this was the case with many Sikhs in Thailand. Thailand experienced an influx of Sikh migrants in the late 19th century, and is still the home to many Sikhs, with about 20 gurdwaras throughout the country. Many went in order to start businesses and seize economic opportunities in the hotel and tailoring industries. The majority of Thai Sikhs live in Phuket Province.
In addition to Thailand, many Southeast Asian Sikhs live in Indonesia. These populations are largely concentrated in Sumatra, Medan, Binjai, and more. Many went to Jakarta in order to start companies, several making large household name brands in Indonesia. There are an estimated eleven gurdwaras located in Indonesia, with the majority in Medan.
Malaysia is home to around 100,000 Sikhs, with around 119 gurdwaras. Sikhs began to arrive in Malaysia regularly in around 1873, with the first gurdwara being established in 1903 in Penang. During British rule, Sikhs ranked in the military and held positions as police officers. Malaysia has the highest Sikh population in East and Southeast Asia.
Image credits to Wikipedia.
Conclusion
There are many causes for the Sikh diaspora, and many reasons that Sikhi has become a global religion. The Sikh diaspora has shaped the lives of millions of Sikhs worldwide and has also made crucial impacts on the countries to which Sikhs have immigrated. Moreover, Sikhs have brought their faith to the innumerable places that they have traveled to, which is seen by the number of places with significant Sikh populations. The Sikh diaspora is layered and complex, and there are several reasons for the immigration of Sikhs into various countries.
Sources:
https://pluralism.org/first-arrivals
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sikhism/The-20th-century-to-the-present
https://www.sikhcoalition.org/about-sikhs/sikhs-in-america/
https://www.pewresearch.org/2012/08/06/ask-the-expert-how-many-us-sikhs/
https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2006/71359.htm
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/website-on-role-of-sikh-soldiers-in-world-wars-launched-6720237/#:~:text=The%20website%20contains%2017%20videos,world%20war%2089%2C218%20soldiers%20died.
http://orvillejenkins.com/profiles/sikh.html#:~:text=When%20the%20British%20became%20involved,the%20building%20of%20the%20railroad.
https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/The_Sikhs_of_Africa
https://www.sikhnet.com/news/sikh-indonesia-kuam-sikh-indonesia-part-1#:~:text=The%20largest%20number%20of%20Sikh,23%2C000%20Sikhs%20live%20in%20Sumatra.
https://hwpi.harvard.edu/pluralismarchive/news/sikhs-thrive-island-fiji
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-29/siva-singh-fights-white-australia-policy-for-right-to-vote/12097822
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/constituency-data-religion/#:~:text=Across%20England%20and%20Wales%2C%2046,Jewish%20or%20of%20another%20religion.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1356282/world-religions-sikh-population-worldwide/
https://www.sikhnet.com/news/gurdwara-trail-malaysia-spiritual-experience
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Global_Map_of_Sikh_Population_%28Estimated_2023%29.png#filehistory
The Punjabi Mexican Americans of California
By Sayva Kaur
When looking at the Sikh diaspora, a considerable amount of Sikhs have immigrated and settled in America. Especially within the state of California, there is a large Sikh population present. Originally many of the Sikh immigrants who came to California became farmers and were regarded as “Hindus”, an inaccurate general term for South Asian immigrants.
During the early 1900’s, Punjabi-Sikh immigrants first began to arrive in America. Nearly all of these immigrants were men as anti-immigration laws during the time period made it difficult for South Asian immigrants to bring their families with them. These laws allowed for cheap labor from other countries while preventing the U.S. from having a large population of immigrants. The large majority of South Asian immigrants at the time were Sikhs who were employed as farmers in America.
Around the same time, many Mexican laborers also settled in California and became farmers. Both Sikh and Mexican immigrants worked alongside one another in the fields, leading to a realization of the cultural similarities between the two groups. Many Sikh immigrants began to marry Mexican women and this led to the beginning of the Punjabi-Mexican culture.
Although there were miscegenation laws present at the time, both Mexicans and Punjabis put “brown” when their marriage was recorded. No one realized that they were separate races. Even though these interracial marriages went unrecognized by record offices, they received backlash from many Mexican men who accused Punjabi men of “stealing” their women.
The birth of this culture led to a new family life. Generally, the children of Punjabi men and Mexican women spoke Spanish and were followers of Catholicism, but they also went to Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship) on occasion. A fusion of both Mexican and Punjabi cuisines occurred. Mexican women learned to cook Punjabi food with a Mexican influence. A new style of dance also evolved where elements of Bhangra and Ballet Folklórico.
Although a diminishing population, the Punjabi-Mexican community has a rich cultural background. By keeping traditions of dance, food, and culture alive, the community continues to celebrate its heritage.
Sources:
https://latina.com/im-indian-and-im-mexican-and-im-100-american-californias-punjabi-mexican-communities/
https://www.insider.com/punjabi-mexican-community-immigrant-history-california-indian-hispanic-2022-10
Sikhs in Singapore
By Suneet Kaur
Did you know that over 12,000 Sikhs reside in Singapore? The Sikh community on the island is deeply rooted starting from their time of arrival in the early 1800’s. They came from India as soldiers and servants of the British East India Company. Later on, the Sikhs were employed as security and policemen. This eventually led to the Sikh Police Contingent (also known as the SPC) being created in 1881. This organization was well respected by the British and they deployed the Sikhs to keep the peace in different areas. While some Sikhs were employed as colonial police, others were employed privately because the British had strict guidelines for employment. The British required a height of at least 5’6”, a chest measurement of 33 inches, and an age limit of 25 years old. Private employment duties ranged from providing security at the docks, guarding banks, and being bodyguards. The SPC lasted until it was dissolved in 1945 - after WWII. Along with the policemen, a portion of Sikhs also ran small businesses as farmers, merchants, and more.
In 1880, the policemen formed the first Gurdwara. Today, seven Gurdwaras exist in Singapore. One Gurdwara, Gurdwara Sahib Silat Road, served as a temporary stay for many Sikh migrants until they could establish themselves. In addition, Sikhs such as Justice Choor Singh Sidhu and Colonel Gurcharan Singh have proved themselves prominent members of the Singaporean society. Justice Choor Singh Sidhu had served as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Singapore and Colonel Gurcharan Singh served as a commander of the Singapore Command.
As noted, Sikhs have an extensive history within Singapore. This is illustrated by the historical roles filled by Sikhs in society, the presence of the Gurdwaras, and the impactful careers of Sikhs. One could say they put the “Singh” in Singapore.
Sources
Service, Tribune News. “Celebrating the Journey of Sikhs in Singapore.” Tribuneindia News Service, www.tribuneindia.com/news/diaspora/celebrating-the-journey-of-sikhs-in-singapore-237644. Accessed 25 Dec. 2023.
“Sikhs in Singapore 1850.” Gateway to Sikhism, 14 Feb. 2021, www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-history/historical-events/sikhs-in-singapore-1850/.
Singapore, National Library Board. Gurdwara Sahib Silat Road (Silat Road Sikh Temple), www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=f59d005d-c9cb-47f5-859e-3eaa60925e0a. Accessed 26 Dec. 2023.
Singapore, National Library Board. Sikh Community, www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=31531085-04f3-4e91-841a-4ad6ee600e07#:~:text=The%20Sikh%20community%20is%20one,the%20British%20East%20India%20Company. Accessed 26 Dec. 2023.
An Immigrant Sikh’s Story
By Nadhri Kaur
The smells of food, sounds of chatter,
Soft chords engulf my home.
The tainted air, rivers, and clatter,
Through where my mind will roam.
The fragrance of fertile land begs me to stay,
But tomorrow I must go.
I do ardaas, I map out the way,
Letting my goodbyes stay slow.
I barely have with me any money,
But I know I have Waheguru’s support.
Embarking early, but staying sunny,
Taking out my passport.
I won’t let the separation be a holdup,
I’ll start a family and find a job.
I stare out of the plane, my eyes welling up,
I already miss Punjab.
Staying strong for my sangat and future family,
I’ll work hard, kirat karo.
I won’t let my leaving be a tragedy,
Won’t let them be filled with sorrow.
Fifty years have flown by so subtly,
I have eight grandkids now.
I started a gurdwara and run a company,
All thanks to Punjab’s plough.
The Role of Stockton, California in Sikh Immigration to the U.S.
By Veera Singh
Introduction
Stockton, a city in Northern California's San Joaquin County, was established in 1849 by Captain Charles Maria Weber. Being named after US Navy Commodore Robert F Stockton, it sits along the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley. Stockton boasts a seaport crucial during the California Gold Rush, serving as a gateway to the region and beyond. Unique for its non-Spanish, non-Native American name, Stockton's diverse origins, dating back to the Gold Rush era, shaped its culture. This has been evident in its street names, architecture, and vibrant ethnic festivals.
Historical Context
Early settlers hailed from various corners of the globe - Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Pacific Islands, Mexico, and Canada, creating a diverse community. In 1870, the Census Bureau recorded Stockton's population as 87.6% white and 10.7% Asian, reflecting its multicultural makeup.
Importance of Stockton In the Role of Sikhism
Notably, it hosts the first Sikh Gurdwara in the US, founded in 1912 by successful Punjabi immigrants, Baba Jawala Singh and Baba Wasakha Singh, who farmed and owned substantial land in the area. Sikhs follow Sikhism, the fifth largest religion globally, with around 25 million adherents. Originating in 15th-century Punjab (now part of India and Pakistan), Sikhism is distinct from Hinduism and Islam. Sikhs believe in one God and the equality of all people. A Gurdwara, translating to "home of the Guru," is central to Sikh practices. It houses the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture declared as the eternal spiritual guide by the tenth Guru in 1708. Gurdwaras serve as places of prayer, community service, and gathering. They offer Langar, a free community meal, symbolizing equality and hospitality. Gurdwaras embrace an inclusive policy, welcoming individuals of any faith or background, not solely Sikhs. Gurdwaras hold immense significance in the social and political fabric of the Sikh community, a legacy that traces back to the formation of the Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society in 1912 and the pioneering Stockton gurdwara in California in 1915. These centers served as multifunctional hubs—combining religious, communal, and political roles—providing a space for spiritual gatherings, dining, rest, employment guidance, and cultural exchange, shaping the essence of Punjabi life on the West Coast. Until 1947, the Stockton gurdwara stood as the sole Sikh place of worship in the US. Subsequently, the establishment of more gurdwaras, including the El Centro site in 1948, marked a growing presence across the country. By 2010, around fifty gurdwaras had been established in California, marking the flourishing of Sikh religious centers.
In the latter part of the 20th century, the Sikh agricultural community in Northern California shifted to Yuba City, marked by the founding of a significant gurdwara on Tierra Buena Road in 1969. This shift led to the construction of multiple gurdwaras in the area, highlighting the community's expansion and consolidation. A testament to this growth was the November 2010 celebration in Yuba City, where the thirty-first Nagar Kirtan and Sikh Day Parade drew an impressive crowd of around 80,000 participants, a substantial portion being Sikhs. This event, featuring fifty floats spanning nearly four-and-a-half miles, stands as one of the largest of its kind in the United States.
Sources:
Stockton, California: The story of sikh immigration lesson plan. Sikh Coalition. (2021, April 14). https://www.sikhcoalition.org/get-involved/resources-for-educators/middle-high-school-resources/stockton-california-story-sikh-immigration/
Sikh Americans in Stockton, California: A trip through time. Visit Stockton. (n.d.). https://www.visitstockton.org/blog/sikh-americans-in-stockton-california-a-trip-through-time/
Stockton Gurdwara. Pioneering Punjabis Digital Archive. (n.d.). https://pioneeringpunjabis.ucdavis.edu/contributions/religion/stockton-temple/
The Story of Sikhs in Africa
By Sahai Kaur
Why did Sikhs move to Africa/around the world?:
Sikh people moved to many places around the 19th century including Africa, the United States, Britain, Australia, etc. The reason that the majority of Sikh people moved around the world was due to the need for employment/jobs. Sikhs worked in Africa mainly to help build railroads. Without their help and contribution, the department would likely have not succeeded. Throughout the time of the 2021 South African unrest, many died due to hunger/starvation. Sikhs had set up langar distribution to help people who needed food, though later they became targets during the riots. In 1994, Sikhs began to migrate to Africa after apartheid (a policy of segregation in South Africa) had ended. The first Gurdwara was established by pioneering Sikhs near the main train station in Nairobi, Kenya. This eventually led to the establishment of 57 more gurdwaras in 12 African countries. This short article shows that Sikhs live all around the world and all are different based on their upbringing in life.
Sikhi in the Diaspora - Cultural Confluence
By Uday Singh
Introduction
Ever since the loss of the Khalsa Raj and the introduction of colonialism into the Sikh land, Sikhs have been in other countries they are not “native to”. Such lands include the Americas, Canada, the UK, Australia, and other such Western countries. This has also, inevitably, led to a great influx of racism as Sikhs have been misinterpreted as Muslims for most of the time in other lands. Even when Sikhs are understood to be a separate entity, they are still appropriated as rowdy, dirty, and unintelligent people (this is most evident in the conservative population in Canada). To some extent, these stereotypes are also replicated in Indian society, and zealous individuals in other countries may have an incentive to spread these narratives to other people. Regardless, to my understanding, this issue stems from a serious lack of conversation with people of other lands.
The Normalization of Racism
Racism in contemporary culture has been drilled into everyone’s mind as a “bad thing”, but it persists. Sikhs face the heaviest discrimination in America, more than any other minority according to a 2020 census. Sikhs face racism mainly in two ways: one is through a misguided idea of us being “Arabs” or “Muslims”, while the other is through an equally misguided perception of Sikhs being “dirty”, “party animals”, “loud”, “drunkards”, and the like, which is a reputation which actually stems from the earliest accounts of Sikhs written by the British. This is exemplified through the typical racist comments people pose on social media, which almost always fit between these two paradigms. Social media has played a huge part in racism against Sikhs through the excessive rumination and support of these ideas.
The Main Issue at Hand
The main, obvious issue is that we as Sikhs have not educated others about who we are and what our religion, culture, and lifestyle are. Typical education of “Sikhism” in the Western mainstream is pitiful, to say the least, and the values of Sikhs in Western countries, and how they align to the values of the countries they live in is a topic very seldom discussed in the public mainstream. On top of this, Sikhs for whatever reason seem to be extremely uncomfortable and shy with any form of “preaching”, which extends into public religious education. This has done us zero favors, to the extent that when I mention the word “Sikh” or “Sikhism” in my typical high school class (my city has a massive Sikh population with three gurudwaras), less than 1/3rd of my classmates even know what that term refers to. This shows a clear disconnect between Sikhs and other Americans (or people in other Western countries). We as Sikhs need to be less shy about our faith, but we should also not be overly proud and shove our faith in the faces of others. We should let the public know who Sikhs are, what we believe, and also educate people beyond just “seva and equality”, which to my understanding seems to be the only thing we ever talk about when it comes to discussions about Sikhi.
Sikh education in the mainstream is extremely secular to a negative extent. Instead of relating concepts of God, Sikh rituals, and the poetic and beautiful aspects of Sikhi, we only focus on secular progressive aspects of Sikhi so that we can easily/cheaply give people a good impression about who we are. Of course, the progressive aspects of Sikhi are amazing and should be held dearly, but this should not be done at the expense of other things. The vast majority of people, regardless of whether they are educated or not, know that Muslims have 5 prayers, but few people know that Sikhs also have daily prayers, known as paath.
I say this because even in my school, in some select high school classes, students learn about Sikhism, but even in these lectures practically none of the actual tenets of Sikh thought are actually discussed. Educators do not give a proper overview of Sikhi as a lifestyle, as a way of thought, and as something that everyone can learn from, which is one of the core messages of our faith. Our belief in Guru Nanak Dev Ji as “jagad guru”, or the Enlightener of the Whole World, has not been pursued in the mainstream Sikh consciousness. Instead, what I find is a kind of “purposeful segregation” that Sikh educators use in order to make people feel comfortable about Sikhs. This includes language like:
“Sikhs are an ethnic group”
“Sikhism is an Indian religion”
“Sikhs are ____ race/ethnicity”
“Sikhs are a warrior race”
“Sikhs don’t seek converts”
“Sikhs don’t preach”
I feel as though Sikh educators use this language to make it seem like Sikhs are not zealous religious Puritans who seek to have everyone submit to their hegemony. As Sikhs, we wish to live in harmony with people of other faiths and beliefs, but this harmony is NOT to be pursued through ethnic or religious segregation.
When a British officer first went to Takht Sri Patna Sahib in the 1800s, the Nihang Singhs in charge of administering Amrit offered Amrit to the officer. Nothing like this has ever happened in the contemporary era due to this mindset we have, where we are afraid to spread our faith to others.
I believe that there are much better ways we can educate people about Sikhi. Firstly, we should talk about the Gurus and their history more as opposed to extremely broad ethics. We could talk about how Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji has no chapters but is organized via musical raag, or how Guru Nanak Dev Ji had a Gurudwara in Yemen that the British documented. We should also mention how Guru Granth Sahib Ji has the writings of people of several faiths, and the narrative that we should build upon using this fact is that not only are Sikhs inclusive, but the Sikh scripture is also meant for the whole world as a Guru. As such, anyone can come to the Guru Granth Sahib as a member of any faith to continue their spiritual duty.
In short, we need to show Sikhi to be a universal path. There are two ways one can interpret this: One is that Sikhi “accepts” other religions as paths to God, and the other is that Sikhi invites everybody to interact with the Guru, regardless of whether they are a Sikh or not. This is something, with all due respect, many other faiths lack. Catholic and Orthodox Christians do not allow people outside of their Church, let alone religion, to take part in their liturgy and receive the bread and blood of Christ. The holiest sites of Islam are barred to non-Muslims.
In this way, I would like to make clear that I am referring to the latter and not the former, as the former can still lead to the earlier sense of “religious segregation”, where Sikhs say “follow God whichever way you like”, without offering even an ounce of wisdom from the house of the Guru. Simply saying “follow God your own way” isn’t constructive at all, and just leads to everyone “staying in their own home” so to speak, which is not what Guru Nanak Dev Ji was about.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born to illuminate the world, but today Guru Nanak is known as “The 1st Sikh Guru”. As such, we as Sikhs need to make a much more concise effort to communicate with the wider philosophy and spirituality of the Western world.
Japji Sahib from a Zoroastrian Fire Temple in Azerbaijan
A Look At the History of North American Sikhs
By Sayva Kaur
Within this issue, many different countries within the Sikh diaspora are discussed. And of course, we cannot forget about North America within the Sikh diaspora. All of our writers at the SYWA are North American and have family stories about immigration to North America. We are living in North America as a result of Sikh immigration. Therefore, this continent within the Sikh diaspora must be addressed.
There are around 30 million Sikhs in the world, and a considerable amount have immigrated to North America. Sikhs have continued to immigrate here ever since the 1800’s. According to NBC News, there are about 750,000 Sikhs in the U.S. Additionally, Canada is the country with the largest Sikh population in the world outside of India. Because of the number of Sikhs residing in North America, it is important to acknowledge their stories and experiences.
When Sikhs first arrived in the U.S., they largely worked in railroad construction and the lumber industry. Sikhs had made a large contribution to the railroads that have been established within America. Many Sikhs in the U.S. also became farmers, moving to California. Seeing as a considerable population of Sikhs in India were farmers, they chose a field that they were familiar with.
Similarly in Canada, Sikhs often became railroad workers. Other jobs early Sikh immigrants in Canada occupied included mining, working in the lumber industry, and the fishing industry.
When Sikh immigrants arrived in North America, they faced ample discrimination and racism. Along with other Asian immigrants, they were targeted by laws trying to limit immigration except for when cheap labor was needed. Men could not bring their wives or children from India to North America. They also struggled to get citizenship, which can be seen in the case of Bhagat Singh, a Sikh immigrant who came to the U.S. and was denied citizenship in a Supreme Court case.
Not only did Sikhs encounter racism by the law, but they also faced racism by many white workers and citizens. The term “ragheads” became used to refer to Sikhs. They confronted both mobs and acts of violence from those who did not welcome immigrants.
The history of Sikh North Americans is rich with both positives and negatives. Sikhs have made large contributions to North American society, a mere piece of the puzzle in the worldwide Sikh diaspora. But overall, the history of North American Sikhs is one that we can all appreciate and reflect upon.
Sources:
https://canadiansikhheritage.ca/passage-to-canada/
https://pluralism.org/sikhism-in-america