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Identity

HARJUS SINGH SETHI

 

 

 





When people see my turban and beard, they assume my origins to be from a country that I have never been to and culture/religion that I don’t subscribe to.

But as I open my mouth, it becomes very apparent that I have an accent indigenous to Ohio. I say "ya’ll", call any carbonated beverage ‘pop’ and the letter ‘Q’ sneaks its way into the word ‘coupon’.

When I answer the question “Where are you from?” with ‘Cincinnati!’, the look on their face is both priceless and concerning. They are surprised and unsatisfied because this answer doesn’t meet their predisposed expectation. The follow up questions of where I am ‘really from’ or where are my ‘parents from’ show me what they are actually asking, “What are you doing here?”

Studies from Sikh groups ‘The National Sikh Campaign’ and ‘SALDEF’ have shown that around 70% of Americans do not know who Sikhs are, and that a majority of people who wear turbans are Sikhs. Many associate my identity with what they have been shown in the media and, unfortunately, that breeds a sense of an ‘otherness’ and fear.

I do not like the violence and segregation that has come from it, but being so misunderstood for most of my life has taught me a lot about myself. I must have compassion and patience for others, especially those who initially hate or misunderstand me.

It’s easy to focus on the negatives, but upholding this part of my identity has been one of the most influential aspects in forming my views as a human being. The reason why I love this piece of cloth - my turban - wrapped around my hair is because of what it means. The history of this identity involves the struggle for freedom during a time of tyranny and inequality in India.

The turban and unshorn hair became a sign of devotion to equality for all humanity, regardless of caste, creed, gender, religion or any other arbitrary line used to divide people; no exceptions.

When I see the familiar look of confusion or fear, I do not shy away from it.  I approach it head on. I strike up conversations with random people and make sure they know that I am a human being, an American, just like them. A goofy human being with an unearthly draw to cookies, but a human being nonetheless.

Its tough to hate something you understand, and if given five minutes with someone who initially wants nothing to do with ‘my kind’ I guarantee to have them laughing and joking with me (living in Ohio I have been given many an opportunity to practice this art).

Even though this identity came out of a commitment to equality for all people, it is now associated with a level of malice. How often does one see someone with a turban and beard as a ‘normal human being’ on TV or film?

It doesn’t happen very often and that is the importance of CBS Entertainment Diversity for me. It gives a voice and opens a dialogue for issues like this. Not only for representing a certain community well, but showing others the value that underrepresented communities can bring to great storytelling. Having a smattering of characters who are different enough to cause conflict, but similar enough to realize each other’s humanity.

Audiences are smarter and more aware of storytelling devices as they are exposed to it more. One can see it from the advent of new diverse TV/films and the audience they attract.

Before working here, I never knew about diversity departments and working here has shown me the importance. Not only from a socially conscious standpoint, but as a storytelling yearning for intriguing and complex characters. Creating characters that represent real life and that I can see myself in.

These are values impressed upon me in the CBS Entertainment Diversity department, values that I will carry on for the rest of my career.

I am a Sikh, from Cincinnati, Ohio, huge nerd, biomedical engineer turned film director, (much to my parents chagrin). I love the Bengals football team and the United States is my home.

In the film and television industry people strive to stand out and get noticed; I walk onto a set or in a room and I am already noticed. My turban isn’t a detriment but has been fundamental to whom I have become and I see it as an asset to my path of becoming a film/TV director.

Regardless of what anyone says, this is my identity.

I will integrate it into my career as a director after working at the CBS Entertainment Diversity department.


[Courtesy: CBS. Edited for sikhchic.com]
April 7, 2016

 

Conversation about this article

1: Rundeep Singh (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), April 07, 2016, 9:41 PM.

Bhai Sahib, if this be "your kind", may we have lots more of it around, cookies notwithstanding!

2: Gurbux Singh (Chatsworth, California, USA), April 07, 2016, 11:34 PM.

You are right on in your attitude and positivity and are a role model. Here is a lesson to be learned. My wife and I immigrated to Springfield, Illinois in the early 70s and as a lone turban-wearing Sikh, I too was a magnet for attention, mostly good. Extending a hand of friendship works wonders and it was easy to strike up conversations because you could tell by the looks that they had questions they wanted answered. Being a good golfer and a Ham Radio operator was a bonus as I stood out in public gatherings or as a volunteer for public service. The media would home in on to me and I got good natured ribbing from my friends who felt somewhat ignored or neglected, to which I always said they could borrow my colorful turbans and follow Sikhism. Keep it up, and march on in Chardi Kalaa.

3: Sangat Singh  (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), April 08, 2016, 9:19 PM.

That sava lakh Sardar Gurbux Singh W6BUX, ham operator par excellence, is in Malaysia for some mundane business like someone getting married. As was his wont, I got a tentative call to announce of his good intention to see me some time while he was here. Gurbux ji, like all radio amateurs, was born a goodwill ambassador and even more, is one of the special ones who have friendliness written on their faces. His respected father S. Tara Singh was a rare radio amateur (with a call sign XZ2KN) and his home was the Mecca for all visiting radio amateurs. As a radio amateur myself I used to speak to him regularly in the mid-sixties but missed meeting him when he came to Malaysia to participate in some Golf championship. S. Tara Singh has had a most distinguished career and was instrumental in building the Burma-China railway. They also had the topmost foundry known as Empire Foundry. I have regularly pestered Gurbux to write his autobiography, especially when he had to suffer solitary confinement for two years by the Military Junta, and how simran kept his sanity intact. Now, when can we meet?

4: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), April 13, 2016, 8:39 AM.

At long last my number came up and I met Gurbux Singh ji today at my Satellite Ground Station. He is still busy answering the usual complaint: "You came two weeks ago and only found time to meet today?" To this the answer should be that I cannot incarnate myself at all places at the same time. It was good to hear of his nostalgic days in Burma with the bad patch of some 13 months when held in isolation. That story is still waiting to go in ink. That has been my refrain all the time. For the present I am now reset for his next visit. There are hopefully some more weddings in the offing.

5: Gurbux Singh (Chatsworth, California, USA), April 13, 2016, 10:11 AM.

Meeting S. Sangat Singh ji this afternoon made my day. Never a dull moment, and he is a treasure trove of knowledge. S. Sher Singh ji has also posted an article today about being different and should have some people do some soul searching as to what being a Sikh means. Identity comes first and it comes with some baggage that is a burden to some who opt to weasel out or take the path of least resistance and join the rest of humankind and keep hair dressers in business. At appropriate times, let the stubble grow and tie on a turban for old times' sake. Someone said something about being a Mausami or seasonal Sikh. Harjus Singh carries the flag on his head and he has my respect for maintaining his unique identity. As S. Sangat Singh alluded to earlier, I was locked up in solitary confinement for seventeen months and sixteen days. Taking a quick wash with a hose every few days was the only luxury allowed and when asked for extra seconds of time to wash my hair, I was told that the barber comes in next week and he will cut it. The choice was obvious and many a tear was shed when I washed my hair for the first time after being freed and arriving in Singapore. Not washing my hair for over seventeen and a half months was a small price to pay. Cut my hair and give up my identity as a Sikh would be a sacrilege as I was born a Sikh and it is our duty to maintain our appearance as created by Waheguru.

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