Sikhs celebrate centennial

December 9th, 2006 by admin

By Michael McQuillan
NewsLeader
Dec 08 2006 Sikhs arriving in B.C. in the early 1900s faced greater hardships than most of the province’s early pioneers.

Sikh and Indian immigration to Canada was restricted through government race-related policies. That was abundantly apparent in 1914 when 376 Sikhs, Muslims and Hindu passengers aboard the ship Komagata Maru were denied entry at Vancouver harbour, despite the fact they were British subjects.

The passengers were not only denied entry, they were physically threatened, denied food, water and supplies and not permitted to take their individual cases before the courts.

Two months after they arrived, the ship left Vancouver and returned to Hong Kong.

The Komagata Maru incident wasn’t the first act of racism Sikhs had experienced.

In 1907, Sikhs were denied the right to vote by a provincial government bill that disenfranchised natives of India unless they had Anglo-Saxon parents. The same year race riots took place on Vancouver streets with Asians and Sikhs being targeted.

Faced with hostility in their new homeland, Sikhs formed the Khalsa Diwan Society in defence. It would become their political, social and religious voice. Eventually the society helped change immigration policies, lifting restrictions on Sikh women and children immigrating to Canada. With the help of unions, Sikhs earned fair wages in 1943 and the right to vote in 1947.

Now in its 100th year, the Khalsa Diwan Society is celebrating the lives of those pioneers Dec. 15-25 in New Westminster. Many of the events will be held at the Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar Sikh temple in Queensborough (347 Wood Street) with others at the New Westminster Community Centre. In addition to celebrating Sikhism, the celebrations will remind participants how Sikh pioneers shaped the lives of all Canadians.

“At that time, there was a need. There was a lot of racism and Indo-Canadians needed a voice,” said Tanvir Singh, assistant secretary at the New West temple.

The intentions of the society have evolved over the years, said Singh. Once focussed on social justice issues, it now is more oriented towards the faith and the operations of the many temples in the Lower Mainland and B.C. It also helps those in need, especially immigrants new to Canada.

The first Sikh temple (Gurdwara) was built in Vancouver in 1908 and one was built in New West in 1912.

mmcquillan@

burnabynewsleader.com

mario bartel/newsleader

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