Institute of Texan Cultures presents Sikh religion exhibit
April 02, 2015: SAN ANTONIO - For the next seven months, a unique exhibit featuring the history and legacy of the Sikh religion is being featured at the Institute of Texan Cultures, fulfilling a lifelong dream of a local San Antonio businessman who has longed for understanding of his beloved faith.
Dr. G.P. Singh came to United States in the 1970s and admits he was the first to wear a turban here.
It hasn’t been easy to raise a family and grow a thriving defense contracting business in the process, he said, but he has.
"It is the fifth-largest (religion), but nobody knows about our faith," he said.
Singh said he was a catalyst for getting the first Sikh exhibit at the Smithsonian, entitled “Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab."
Since February, he’s moved to San Antonio, which has added another dimension to the presentation. It now features an overview of Sikhs who are Texans.
He said his son, Simran Singh, grew up looking different from the other kids in school, but proudly wears his turban and uncut hair and beard today.
"The violence targeting people who look like us is continuing to increase," G.P. Singh said. "The growth of hate groups continues to rise."
G.P. Singh said the new exhibit explains what the religion is all about, including ideas of service, justice, community and love. It also is a religion that preaches tolerance no matter who you may pray to or who you call God.
A large part of the exhibit has to do with military service, something that is very important to Sikhs. Hundreds of thousands have served and died in wars on behalf of America, but because of their turbans and hair practices, they are no longer allowed to fight.
It is something that goes against their belief that serving their country brings them closer to God.
Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab will be on display until Oct. 18.
Copyright 2015 by KSAT - All rights reserved.
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About the Exhibit: The Institute of Texan Cultures will host the traveling exhibit, "Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab," developed by the Smithsonian Institution and sponsored by the Sikh Heritage Foundation. Sikhs, a unique culture and religion, originate in the Punjab region of India, straddling the India-Pakistan border. Male Sikhs are easily recognized by their turbans and untrimmed beards. The community and its leaders have been working with the museum to continue educating about their culture, which has experienced discrimination and suspicion in a post-9/11 society. In San Antonio, the Sikh community has grown to nearly 300 families. The exhibit features a collection of traditional Sikh art, information on the culture’s history and beliefs, artifacts such as ceremonial weapons and armor, and a model of the Golden Temple, one of the sacred sites of the Sikh religion. |