Columnists

A Pinch of Immodesty:
Lionizing sikhchic

by MANJYOT KAUR

My desire to actively participate in marking a most momentous milestone  -  this month we celebrate sikhchic's first anniversary!  -  sent me right to one of my favorite books: a thesaurus. (We librarians sure do know how to party!)

My eyes immediately lit upon an entry for "celebration" and "commemoration" that seemed particularly appropriate for sikhchic.com: "lionize".

Applying the definition of this word to our website by "treating it as an object of great interest or importance" couldn't be simpler. Right from the start, sikhchic has been, and continues to be, a most distinctive presence amidst the plethora of sites dealing with Sikhs and Sikhi.

One of sikhchic's chief characteristics is the refreshing atmosphere of ekta  -  unity and inclusiveness  -  that thoroughly pervades the site, a joyous confirmation that there is more than one "room" in "the House of the Guru". Our belief that diversity is something to be embraced and nurtured, not feared and shunned, allows sikhchic to radiate a confident attitude of strong (but never smug or preachy) self-assurance, providing an open and non-judgmental forum for those whose beliefs and practices do not always strictly conform to maryada.

Different points of view and variations in lifestyles  -  including those that some people may consider downright un-Sikh-like  -  are regularly and matter-of-factly featured on our website, proof indeed that flexibility and accomodation need not result in distortion or dilution (the dreaded "Sikhi Lite").

It's a sad but true fact that far too few Sikhs buy and read books, visit exhibitions and museums, or (Bollywood flicks aside, perhaps) go to the cinema. Of course, long-ingrained habits don't change overnight. But it's truly wonderful to see so many thoughtful pieces on sikhchic that promote awareness and active "consumption" of attention-grabbing books, tantalizing movies, fascinating happenings in art and music, and other vital ingredients of a well-rounded and satisfying life of the mind.

As a Sikh of non-Punjabi origin, another of our website's traits that I particularly appreciate is that sikhchic is not "punjabchic". Since Sikhi was, is, and will probably always be (for better or worse) closely tied to the culture of its geographical origins, it is not unnatural, unexpected, or undesirable that many sikhchic articles recognize and highlight various connections to Punjabiyat.

However, fully commensurate with the phrase "art & culture of the diaspora" that appears on its home page, it is most rewarding to see that our website has managed to steer quite clear of the narrow-minded insularity that is, unfortunately, sometimes clearly evident in Sikh cyberspace.

Indeed, when it comes to broadening our own horizons and reaching out to the world around us, sikhchic is a wide open door that banishes our invisibility and misconceptions about us, giving non-Sikhs a warm and inviting glimpse into "who we are", and, just as importantly, a much-needed look at "who we are not". Our site not only makes us all aware of the personal successes and accomplishments of Sikhs in many fields of endeavor, but also accurately portrays them as wholly integral and highly productive members of society-at-large, in countries all over the globe.

Many sikhchic columns and essays are "bridge-builders" par excellence, masterfully "connecting the dots" from Sikhs and Sikhi to other cultures and religions. Some other articles are experiential pieces written by non-Sikhs, that give a first-hand look at how Sikhs and Sikhi are perceived by people who may have never before had a close and meaningful encounter with them. All of these writings really make me wish sikhchic had been around back when I was first discovering and starting to explore Sikhi!

Getting back for just a moment to my beloved thesaurus  -  another, albeit less-used synonym of "commemorate" is "perpetuate": "to cause to last indefinitely". I'm sure I'm very far from being alone when I say that I truly hope this happens to sikhchic!

So, what would I like to see in sikhchic's future?

While I think our site's editorial guidelines of avoiding "full-frontal" treatment of religion are indeed appropriate for us, there are issues that, even if handled in a more oblique manner, could serve to put forth some of the ways that we, in today's diaspora, perceive the myriad facets of the "jewel" that is Sikhi. Let's consider a few in the context of three of sikhchic's many rubrics: "Poetry", "Music" and "Fashion", respectively.

Guru Granth Sahib has been given to us in the physical form of a book of incomparably beautiful poetic verse  -  do we read and contemplate it, so that we may integrate its teachings into our own lives? If we choose to do so, how and with what tools (various translations, dictionaries, etc.) do we actively engage ourselves with the Shabd that is our eternal, living Guru?

What are the ways in which kirtan "speaks" (or, might be made to "speak") to those of us who do not possess fluent comprehension of its original language?

How might we as Sikhs (especially those of us who observe the tenets of our faith that impact upon outward appearance) form or update our own personalized approach to "looking good", given the fact that many styles and trends featured in today's mainstream media may not be in accordance with certain more traditional norms and expectations?

It's always much easier and simpler  -  and, let's face it, often a lot more amusing  -  to talk about people and things, rather than about ideas. But, let's take the plunge! Although, as with religion, sikhchic's policy is also to refrain from "full-frontal" politics and news, we must still address the need to freely discuss the "big issues" of our day. (Naturally, we must ensure we do this in a way that would promote cordial discussion and debate, rather than rancorous and divisive discord.) What do we see as our major challenges as this still-new century unfolds? What is our role to play on the world's stage?

The brightest and most beautiful "thread" that has run through all of sikhchic, since the very day of its inception, has been its abiding and overarching sense of chardi kalaa. Let's hope this continues! How can we best express our "trademark" characteristic? What makes us feel blessed to be Sikhs? What would we like to share about ourselves with those who still may know little about us? How do we envision 21st century diasporan Sikh culture and our own individual parts in it? How can we "live Sikhi" so that it shines forth as the universal and timeless faith that our Gurus meant it to be?

Whatever the answers to these cosmic questions, may this "thread" be a long and strong one! Happy First Anniversary, sikhchic!

December 9, 2007

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