In the Däniken town of Northern Switzerland, a gurudwara stands tall with a glistening yellow building that has four onion-shaped turrets. It stands out in the middle of the industrial town, which is otherwise known for the Gogsen nuclear plant. The Daniken gurudwara, a place of worship for the followers of Sikhism, was established in 2002 by a small Sikh community who came and settled in Switzerland after the religious upheaval in India.
Sikhism's universal message of equality and love is being spread by people from diverse ethnicities. On Guru Nanak's 550th anniversary, an aerospace engineer who wants to open a gurdwara in Jamaica, an African-American who discovered her faith in a yoga class, and a 21-year-old baptised Christian who is now spreading the word of Sikhism through her website share their experiences about their journey towards finding the Sikh faith. Along with these, there are many instances of people from different ethnicities spreading the message of Sikhism worldwide. Let's look at what they have to say:
Gurudwara Chowa Sahib, located near river Jhelum in Pakistan, commemorates the site where Guru Nanak Dev Ji stopped on his way from Tilla Jogian. The 19th Century Sikh shrine re-opened after years of partition in 2019 and is being restored to its original magnificence.
The atrocities that occurred in June 1984 and led to the killings of tens of thousands of Sikhs have left an indelible mark on the collective memory of members of the Sikh Diaspora.
Sardar Kalyan Singh Kalyan -Assistant Professor, Writer, and Human Rights Activist for Minorities Rights, is an excellent representative of his university among his community and the people of Nankana Saheb.
A six-year-old was given the assignment to write about how his family celebrates their holidays in December. He chose the topic Shahadat of Sahibzade, which depicted the martyrdom of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. When asked why he chose this topic, the child smiled and said,
Multiculturalism is one of the strongest attributes of London. It is estimated that one-third of those living in London were not born in the United Kingdom. While walking around the city, one can hear more than 200 languages. This multiculturalism has not only enriched the capital economy of London but also contributed significantly to its culture and gastronomy. It has been a major factor in elevating its status as one of the best cities. However, things haven’t been all rosy and easy for those who now call London their home.
Four-year-old Tanya Kaur told her father, Harinder Singh, that she wanted to wear some new clothes to the gurudwara that day. Just a few hours later, Singh watched her, along with his wife and father, succumb to gunshot wounds. He recalled that she kept on shouting, “ Save me, Daddy! Save me, Daddy!”
"The fundamental belief in Sikhism is that God exists not merely as an idea or concept, but as a real entity. God is indescribable, yet knowable and perceivable to anyone who is prepared to dedicate the time and energy to become perceptive to His persona. The Gurus never spoke about proofs of the existence of God. For them, He is too real, and something obvious does not require any logical proof."