People
The Proud Sardarni of New York
BBC
She looks and dresses like a traditional Punjaban, yet she speaks with an American-Italian Brooklyn accent.
Maria Provenzano Singh is also one of the few women cab drivers in New York City.
Recently, a young man pulled out a gun at the end of the ride in Harlem. She sped away, the cab's door slammed shut by the speed, and then continued working all day. "You can't be afraid and do this job," she says.
The 57-year-old emigrated to the U.S. with her family when she was a toddler, but she has not spoken to her relatives for years after falling in love with, and marrying, a Sikh man from the Punjab.
"If they can't accept him, they can't accept me," she says with a calm smile.
She loves her husband, likes his religion and enjoys cooking Punjabi food. In August, she and her husband will leave New York to run a gas station in the Midwest state of Indiana.
In this First Person account Maria explains why Italian and Sikh culture have a lot in common. CLICK here for the video.
October 10, 2011
Conversation about this article
1: Baldev Singh (Bradford, United Kingdom), October 10, 2011, 7:09 AM.
What a super cool Sikh-Italian-American Sardarni!
2: Pierre (District of Columbia, U.S.A.), October 10, 2011, 8:18 AM.
Her husband has a good face! I died at "Yar own BoowAHS" - 'You're your own boss!' I wish them success!
3: Nirmal Singh Nilvi (Texas, U.S.A.), October 10, 2011, 9:35 AM.
Adventurous and outgoing Sikh spirit, spread over the globe, needs to be discovered, documented, shared and savored. This story by BBC is a vivid example and an inviting proof. Sikhs have their work cut out in many directions and dimensions. Let us divert focus from an appearance-geared mind-set towards rich humanistic Sikhi ways. Such approach requires our path to be on the freeway that portrays Sikh values, in sync with our heritage. Implemented with Waheguru-endowed determination and gusto, we can attain our goals and show the world our compassionate disposition and generous, sharing/ caring and neighborly beliefs.
4: Jespal Singh Brar (Lodi, California, U.S.A.), October 10, 2011, 10:05 PM.
It was a pleasant surprise to see this highlighted on BBC in U.S. Definitely the Sikh image is becoming mainstream and Sikhs are very visible across the globe. With Sardars as CEO's of American corporations, the Sikh image with Manmohan Singh as PM has also gained prestige. The Wall Street Journal often has Prime Mininster Manmohan Singh profiled.
5: Rosalia Scalia (Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.), October 11, 2011, 6:56 AM.
Brava Maria Provanzano Singh! What a spunky and courageous Italian-American woman! Not only for marrying the man she loves but for driving a New York cab!