Changing Perceptions ~ Sikh Superfan on TEDx

"As I stand before you today, what do you see? Someone who would make you uncomfortable on your flight? Your convenience store worker? Your gas station attendant? You see my turban and my beard. Let me tell you what someone saw in me when he met me fifteen years ago. One day I was having a problem with my cell phone and I went to get it fixed. As I was entering I saw this gentleman in his mid-forties, Caucasian, talking to someone on the phone. He saw me and I overhead him say, "Honey, I've got to go, my cab is here." 

He goes to describe how his family decided to leave India after anti-Sikh massacres threatened their safety. He was happy to move to Canada. He goes on to explain how though he was an engineer the only job he could get was as a salesman. When he first showed up to sell cars he was made in fun of by everyone, On that day I realized one thing: I have to be better than good if I want to survive in that environment. With God's grace, and my hard work, I sold 127 cars in three months. That was a record then and I believe it's a record now."   

Soon he was promoted to management and was considered the top sales manager in the country. Then he was sent to another dealership that was failing. He was confidant that he could turn it to be a success. But then he had a reality check of how Sikhs were still being perceived. 8 out of 10 of his sales reps resigned on his first day, "They didn't want to work for a guy with a turban... Well, as I stand here before you today, I own two of the largest Hyundai dealerships in Canada." 

Then he expressed his gratitude for his company and his country, I often say: If there is a heaven on this earth, it's right here in Canada."

After that he started attending basketball games and soon enough became known as the superfan of the team. He felt really good, "I mean I was on a high. And then one day the incident at the cell phone repair center happened where I was seen as just a cabbie. That really made me think and I decided whatever it takes, however much money, resources or time, I have to do something to change the perception of Sikhs in the mainstream." 

He talked to his team the Raptors. Now they have a game to honor both Diwali for Hindus and Vaisakhi for Sikhs. He buys 5,000 tickets for all the underprivileged kids in Toronto and surrounding area. The kids are of all different back grounds. His vision is to have them learn to integrate at a young age. He explained that it's working. There used to be precious few South Asians who attend games, "but today when you go, there are thousands of South Asians there. Including a lot of good looking guys with turbans." 

He praised the Toronto Raptors for being such an inclusive company, "Toronto Raptors for the last 5 years have been the number one franchise in NBA to get the most ethnic communities into the game. So once again I want you to make some applause for the Toronto Raptors." Applause ensued.

He explained his further love for his team and how his wife calls him an addict saying if he didn't have this addiction to the game they wouldn't have a mortgage on their house, "I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't womanize, I Raptorize. I am an addict." One time he was late for a game which never happened before. He drove on the shoulder to bypass the bumper to bumper traffic. Sure enough he was pulled over by the police. When the officer came to his car he asked why he was breaking the traffic rules and then asked, " 'Oh, aren't you Nav Bhatia the superfan?!' I said 'Yes.' He said, 'Don't do it again, I'm gong to let you go today.' " 

"You know, all the things I went through and I shared with you in the last few minutes, I could have been upset and angry, but I wasn't. Instead I left my comfort zone, I left my tribe and I started to integrate where I wasn't welcome. I want you to do the same. If we want to make a good society, a beautiful society and want to leave our next generation a very harmonious society, let's do that. Each one of you, even the white folks sitting in here, you have a habit to go back into your tribe. It's not just the Sikhs and the Chinese and the Jamaicans, you white people also do that. Go out of that zone where you are not welcome. I challenge you to do that.

And now look at me. What do you see?

Thank you." 

Published on Oct 8, 2014

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Toronto has been named the most multicultural city in the world, yet many of the immigrants to the city still encounter racism long after they’ve arrived. Nav Bhatia moved to Toronto in the 1984, and after overcoming significant prejudice and obstacles as a Sikh, today he boasts successful business enterprises and the coveted title of “Superfan” of the Toronto Raptors. The message in Nav’s TEDxToronto talk is one of hope and inspiration, as he urges us all to use our passions to rise above discrimination to allows us to excel both as individuals and as a city.

Nav Bhatia is known as the Official Raptor`s Superfan, and recently was given the title Raptor`s South Asian Community Ambassador working alongside superstar Drake. Nav owns 2 Hyundai dealerships, Mississauga and Rexdale, with Mississauga recently awarded number one Hyundai volume dealer in Canada. He is heavily involved in bringing Bollywood to the Non Resident Indians and through his love of basketball and his business Nav looks to change the perception of Sikhs to the mainstream audience.

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