SIKHISM

1. SIKHISM SHRG

2. CONTENT • Sikh • Teachings • Geography • Gurdwara • Equality • 5 Ks

3. SIKH 10 human forms SIKH = disciple & learner

4. TEACHINGS Chakra All embracing Divine Manifestation Balance between Miri & Piri Khanda Creative Power of God Symbolises divine justice Symbolises Freedom Miri Political Sovereignty Piri Spiritual Sovereignty = Saint-Soldier TEACHINGS • One, immortal God • Meditate with every breath • Listen Gurus teachings • Earn an honest living • To share your wealth • Equality (race, religion, gender)

5. GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY • ~ 350,000 • minority religious and ethnic group

6. Different Days • Traditionally Sikhs have followed the lunar calendar • However since 1998 there has been a move to adopt a solar calendar which is called the Nanakshahi calendar. • Not all Sikhs have accepted the solar calendar and they continue to observe holy days on the lunar calendar. • May cause confusion at a workplace when two Sikhs may ask for a day off on different day for the same function. • The important fact is they are only a few days apart and a Sikh may only take one of the alternative days off.

7. GURDWARA Diwan Hall Langar Hall GURDWARA • Take shoes off • Cover your head • Cleanliness • No alcohol/tobacco • Bow to the Guru • Seating (on floor, segregation) • Vegetarian • Open to all

8. EQUALITY EQUALITY - WOMEN From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all. O Nanak, only the True Lord is without a woman. That mouth which praises the Lord continually is blessed and beautiful. O Nanak, those faces shall be radiant in the Court of the True Lord.|| 2 ||(Page 473) Guru Nanak challenged the idea of inferiority and evil associated with women and freed her from slavery and taboos of the society. • Fought against: • Sati • Purdah • Sutak = superstition, the belief that a woman giving birth to a child is • unclean for a given number of days depending upon the caste

10. Mai Bhago Fought along side Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharani Jind Kaur Politically important - first female freedom fighter in the struggle to drive out the British from India. Arpinder Kaur First turbaned woman Sikh pilot for a major US Airline

11. FAMOUS SIKHS Monty Panesar England Cricketer Fauja Singh 94yr marathon runner Manmohan Singh Prime Minister of India

12. 5 Ks Kanga Kesh Kirpan Kara Kachera 5K’s • April 1699: Guru Gobind Singh Ji initiated the ceremony • of Amrit (baptism). • Baptised Sikhs= amritdharis • They wear the 5 Ks

13. Kara and police Kara & Your Job Reminder of moral code, cyclic philosophy & identity 1998: Watkins-Singh v Aberdare Girls High School and Rhondda Cynon Taf Unitary Authority High Court ruled in favour of a Sikh girl whose school expelled her for violating its ‘no jewellery code’ by wearing her Kara. The Court ruled that although wearing the Kara is not a requirement for non-Amritdhari Sikhs, it is of exceptional importance to the racial and religious identity of observant Sikhs. The Court also ruled that that the Kara was an unobtrusive object and the Court also pointed out that many schools have no problem with the Kara.

14. Kesh & job Kesh & Your Job Identity (respect), spiritual power, physical function (vit D synethesis, phosphorus, homeostasis, cleanliness) It is illegal to discriminate against anyone wearing the turban under the terms of the Race Relations Act (Mandla v. Dowell Lee) • Exemption from wearing a helmet • on motor bike: Motor-Cycle Crash Helmets (Religious Exemption) Act & section 16 (2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988) • on horse: Horses (Protective Headgear for Young Riders) Regulations 1992 • construction: Section 11 of the Employment Act 1989 - In case of accidents, the employer’s liability is limited to the extent of the injury likely to have occurred if a helmet had been worn. Guinness Book of World Records (2.3 meters)

15. World War 1 & 2 Public Duties guarding the monarch and protecting the Crown Jewels Sikh police officer

16. While some Sikhs make a personal decision and are willing to wear the helmet, others find this compromises their religious commitment and covering the turban is not acceptable. In some forces the inability to complete public order training has a more substantial impact on career progression than in others. Research into finding a material for a bullet-resistant, flame-resistant and riot-suitable turban. National guidelines have not yet been agreed but we would hope that best practice is adopted nationwide.

17. March 2009 : Department of Communities and Local Government announced Fire Service has now resolved some of the issues surrounding uniforms for so that it is now possible for a turban-wearing Sikh in control and non-operational roles to comply with the requirements of the Service. However, it remains the case that a beard prevents a person from serving as a firefighter. Sikhs wish to see the development of appropriate respirators, masks and hoods so that this prohibition can be eliminated. Sept 11

18. Kirpan & Your Job Kirpa = compassion Aan = honour Mistake to translate to a knife or dagger Exemption under the terms of Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and section 4 of the Offensive Weapons Act 1996. ‘it shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) or (2) above to prove that he had the article or weapon in question with him (c) for religious reasons Misuse of the Kirpan is virtually unknown in the UK and in other countries where there are large concentrations of Sikhs, such as Canada and the US.

19. Scanners: - Secure areas where staff and visitors have to pass through scanners should not, in principle, be a problem providing those operating the system are aware of the significance of the Kirpan to Sikhs and of the legal status of the Kirpan. • Schools: • - Very sensitive for schools (youth crime involving knives) • A number of local authorities have drawn up local guidelines • with the assistance of local Sikh communities. • Best practice: guidelines should be based on acknowledgement • of the right of Amritdhari school pupils to wear the Kirpan provided • the school is informed that they are doing so, that the Kirpan be • concealed and be made extremely difficult to remove from its • sheath by the bearer, or anyone else.

20. 5K’s – Tips for You Sikhism is NOT just a religion, it is a WAY OF LIFE The 5Ks are apart of our body, so if you come across any issues regarding the 5Ks treat it with respect

21. SUMMARY • Sikh • Teachings • Geography • Gurdwara • Equality • 5 Ks

22. SIKH TOOLKIT • SIKH HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP HAVE PRODUCED A TOOLKIT FOR EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES THAT BOTH WILL FIND VERY USEFUL • A considerable part of the factual information in this presentation comes from the Sikh toolkit.

23. THE SIKH TOOLKIT • Available as CD, download and will be available as book form and will be regularly updated • Copies from Sikh Human Rights Group P.O.Box 45 Southall. Middlesex UB2 4SP Or download from www.sikhtoolkit.com/SIKHS-v2.pdf www.shrg.net