Sikh Identity Research Paper

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Being a Sikh adds a very important and unique element to my identity. What makes me a Sikh: is clearly defined in the article of 'The man in Blue' quoted that 'I am not a gora (white) Sikh or a kala (black) Sikh - I am a Sikh' (Cornelis Harjinder Singh, 2012), which gives a Sikh a very important identity because being a Sikh is not only defined by wearing the five Ks, which are Kesh: uncut hair, Kangha: a wooden comb , Kara: a metal bracelet ,Kachera: a specific style of cotton undergarments and Kirpan: a strapped curved sword, but it defined by the fact and an idea that every Sikh is mediating on the name of God. I do not wear all the five Ks, but I proudly have always worn a Kara ( metal bracelet), which naturally does draw a lot of …show more content…

This stresses the change in people's thinking because so many converts are taking place, and in some situations my element of being a Sikh sometimes gets misunderstood or lost. Furthermore, many people acts and behave differently because I am a Sikh. However, as a Sikh and a very independent woman, I proudly do believe that Sikh is an identity that makes me who I am and in certain situations it gives me the chance to represent my religion amongst so many other religions. If you were to ask me what makes me who I am: I will clearly say being an Indian, being British, being a Sikh and most importantly being a woman all these elements ' on a scale' ( Ansari, H, 2004) are all equal and important to me and all these elements identifies me, because when I am out in the public, I would be seen as Asian/ British woman , when I visit the Sikh temples, I am seen as British Sikh woman , when I am at home I behave like an Asian woman, this is truly because ' identity can't be compartmentalised' ( Lawler,S, 2007) , it cannot be split in halves or thirds not because I have several identities, but all these elements in equal proportions shapes who I am. This further makes me always stand up and be tolerant and respectful to many other identities that may be very different

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