A Changing UC
A broader global perspective at UC Santa Cruz is emerging from a distinct, determined community
By Kelly Kelso
City on a Hill Press
Published October 6, 2011 at 2:00 am
Photo by Morgan Grana.
Introduction to the Sikhs is the first course of one of UC Santa Cruz’s newest programs, Sikh and Punjabi studies. The two-unit course is a broad overview of Sikhism and the Punjab region and is taught by economics professor Nirvikar Singh on top of his full workload.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/united-states/37183-u-california-new-course-sikh-punjabi.html
In 2007, UCSC received $367,000 through the Sikh Foundation — a gift from Hardit and Harbhajan K. Singh in memory of their son, the funding was used to create the Sarbjit Singh Aurora Endowed Chair. Professor Singh was appointed to the chair last December.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37183
Second-year Damanjit Gill, who is working to create a Sikh Student Association, wants Sikh and Punjabi culture to have a more active role in academia and the community.
“Punjab is a very important state in India, economically and especially agriculturally,” Gill said. “It’s also the sixth largest religion in the world — but with it being a minority in the U.S., there are a lot of misconceptions.”
Culturally, Sikh and Punjabi studies resonates for students of both Sikh and non-Sikh heritage.
“The issue of mistaken identity has been a very significant one,” Singh said. “I think there’s an urgency for programs like this.”
Following 9/11 and the xenophobia it precipitated, many Sikhs were assumed to be jihad Muslim terrorists. In several cases, this proved fatal.
“I think that for the first couple of years after 9/11, when the paranoia was really bad, the Sikh community was very defensive — passing out fliers at parades that we’re not Muslim and all sorts of things to get into the media to let people know who we are,” Gill said.
Third-year Harbir Mahal looked on as her father’s identity was repeatedly mistaken and insulted. Though hurtful, she did not feel the confusion between Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs was offensive in and of itself.
“I don’t think just learning about Sikh culture can really solve issues of profiling in America,” Mahal said. “Even if somebody was able to recognize the difference between a Sikh and a Muslim around 9/11, that wouldn’t have made it any better for Muslim people.”
Singh, however, values strong cross-cultural education.
“Once you start understanding another community, it sets you on a particular path,” Singh said. “It changes your mindset.”
Gill feels it is a key time to plant more seeds.
“Now that the pressure has lessened a little bit, Sikh studies can spread beyond just raising awareness,” Gill said.
Additionally, Singh sees relevance between the program and the larger UC system.
“Looking at the United States today, I think one of the major things we have to come to terms with is the impact of globalization,” Singh said.
Having been at UCSC since 1982, Singh witnessed the advancement of information technology and the globalization it enabled.
“Sometimes I think the people in Santa Cruz don’t fully appreciate just how fast the world is changing,” Singh said. “I would like to see some initiative regarding what kind of student we want to produce for a world that is much more trans-national.”
When he began outlining the curriculum, Singh immediately reached out to several interested students and asked them what they wanted. As with the class, Singh feels students are the best resource for ideas.
“We need to start a conversation that involves the student,” Singh said. “They have a much better sense of where the world is going.”
In terms of funding, however, Singh is straightforward about where to look — private donors.
He praises the success of Jewish studies and Latin American and Latino studies as exemplars of what can be created by the joint action of spirited student interest and a supportive community. Many students hope that Sikh and Punjabi studies will someday be a publicly funded major.
“Things will take time,” Singh said. “I feel the state budget might only get worse, but to the extent that we can create a vision that is meaningful to the wider public … Once we’ve demonstrated our commitment and our ability to deliver a quality program, it will elicit additional support from the community.”
The next step for those on all sides of the program is a Punjabi language class.
“With the Hindi and Urdu class being cut, and Punjabi being even more of a minority, we’ll have to probably raise our own funds,” Gill predicts. “I could see that happening, though — that’s doable.”
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