What: Photography/Video Exhibit, "Sikh History and Life in California"

Where: Sutter County Library, 750 Forbes Avenue, Yuba City

When: April 25-May 27, Monday – Thursday 10-8pm, Friday – Saturday, 10-5pm
Opening Reception April 28th, 6-8pm. Photo display, film screening, discussion. Free food and drink. All welcome.

The exhibit features black and white photography of Sikh communities throughout California, with a special emphasis on Yuba City. Over twenty-five prints on display provide insight into the public and private life of a community that is often misunderstood. The photographer, Stacey J. Miller, has captured images of men and women in prayer, at work, in the home, and at festivals. Her work challenges viewers to re-imagine what "community" means, particularly in regards to inclusion of diverse religious and cultural traditions.

The exhibit also features video footage from interviews conducted with longtime members of California’s Sikh communities. The interview footage, drawn primarily from men and women living in Yuba City between 1948-1965, focuses on narrators’ experiences traveling to the United States, the challenges they (and those who came before them) encountered, and how they built a familial and social life over the decades. The video clips are intended to inspire viewers to rethink who is a California "pioneer" and how to rewrite history to include stories that are often ignored. Two television-listening stations will run continuously, featuring approximately thirty-two minutes of footage.

The Punjabi American Heritage Society (PAHS) of Yuba City is the exhibit sponsor. Funding for the exhibit was made possible by a grant from The California Council for the Humanities and matching funds from PAHS. The Sikh Temple of Sacramento made an additional contribution

We like to express our concern regarding dangers and misunderstanding created about Americans of Sikh faith by Dateline story Forbidden Love on NBC on August 27, 2002. We rather appreciate efforts of NBC to highlight this story of heinous crime by one family of British Columbia but unfortunately this story has tarnished image of all Sikhs in USA. Sikhs have lived over 100 years in USA and Canada but they have been most misunderstood Americans, especially many Sikh-Americans have faced  hate crimes and even few have been killed since 9/11 by some ignorant Americans. Media has done poor job by confusing all turban-wearing (99% of turban wearing Americans are Sikhs) Americans with Taliban. We wish your reporter would cover unfortunate killing of Balbir Singh Sodhi of Mesa, Arizona or killing of his brother Sukhpal Singh Sodhi in San Francisco. These people were killed just because of their appearance.

Your reporter again and again linked murder of Jessie (the girl in this story) to Sikh culture and indirectly blamed on Sikh religion. It is like blaming every rape and murder by a criminal individual on his/her religion/community. Sikhs are not an ancient religion (as claimed by your reporter) rather only five hundred year old progressive faith. It respects gender equality. Yes, in Indian culture arranged marriages are common amongst all people irrespective of their faiths- like Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Buddhist people of India. It is a cultural phenomenon rather than any thing to do with religion or faith. In Yuba City, California (10% residents are Sikhs) most of the marriages are love marriages blessed by their parents. So it is very unfortunate that your story is going to create lot more confusion amongst ignorant people. Most Sikh girls in America are highly educated and doing professional jobs (even in India) also surving in police and army.

Also, there were some technical hitches in this story, no one was allowed to represent Sikh point of view on this story. Love letters shown in this story were written in Punjabi/Gurmukhi but Jessie was not able to read affidavit written in Punjabi, then how could she read those love letters. Most baptized Sikhs carry small kirpan but three feet long sword (probable murder weapon) was confused again again as a Sikh symbol. Punjab police is notoriously known for its records of consistent violation of human rights (please refer to Amnesty International records). Even Indian courts don’t readily accept confessions obtained under police torture.

Once again we express our sorrow at tragic death of this unfortunate young beautiful girl, but please don’t let your reporters tarnish the image of all Sikhs in America. There is no link between this crime and Sikh faith. Please, at least have some one represent Sikh point of view on this story in your future programs.

Sincerely,
Jasbir Singh Kang MD
Spokesperson, Punjabi American Heritage Society
Yuba City, CA
530-300-3735