Sikh's Welcomes in the Army

IN INDIA Sikhs in the Army are a common sight. They have a fine martial tradition. The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji had transformed all followers of the Sikh Dharma into soldiers of the faith to defend and protect the weak from the strong oppressor. The United States had accepted Sikhs in the Army with their unshorn hair, an uncut beard, a turban and so on until 1984 when the new regulations forbade them from sporting their religious symbols and look different in the Army. That saw an end to the Sikh entry into the US Army.

The Iraq and Afghan wars made the US policy makers change regulations. More and More surgeons and orthodontists were needed to treat and provide comfort to the sick and the injured officers and enlisted men of the US Army. here was an opportunity for Tej Gagandeep Singh to join the US Army and undergo training with men and women who joined the Officers Training School.

We are Americans. We are US citizens. protecting and Defending America is our duty and that we shall do - that was the solemn pledge that Capt Tej Gagandeep Singh made solemnly along with other American men and women who had successfully completed the tough training. The 32 year old Sikh was permitted to maintain and sport all religious symbols of his Sikh Dharm.

He said that he asked for no exemptions in the tough schedule and did every act that a trainee is required to do. His fellow trainees had no problems with him and his different look due to his religious symbols was never an issue with other white and black American trainees. The Sikh American dental officer is now ready to be deployed anywhere in the world along with other officers and Enlisted Men and Women.


SIKH ORGANISATIONS HELPED


Let us walk together, let us talk together, let us think together - so enjoins the Veda on mankind. There is strength in togetherness and there is weakness when the social group falls apart.

In the case of Tej Gagandeep Singh the Sikh organisations in America came to his rescue. They made plaints and helped him file it and pursue it. They provided secretarial support and went out to meet the powers that be to represent the case.

They cited history and religion buttressing the point with historical proofs to convince the Department of Defence that allowing an individual to sport his religious symbols will only raise his morale and help him discharge his duties more efficiently. Cases of bravery of Sikh officers and soldiers in the World War I and World War II were cited to prove the contention that keeping and sporting religious symbols as ordained by the Tenth Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was a help and not a hindrance in the discharge of military duties. Cases of bravery by the Sikh officers and soldiers of the Indian Army under the British suzerainty were also cited. Eventually the Sikhs carried the day.


FUTURE IS BRIGHT


Capt Tej Gagandeep Singh has opened the doors of the US Army for the Sikh youth in future. There will be no discrimination against them now on because of sporting religious symbols. Indeed, the insignia that other officers wear on beret, the Sikh officer will wear on the turban above the forehead. In the Indian Armed Forces the Sikh officers and soldiers, sailors and airmen do likewise. There is no objection from the idealogues of the Sikh religion.


Academically speaking, this exception to the regulation promulgated in 1984 has been allowed to the Sikhs as a special case. No more exceptions to any other individual or a group will be permitted hereafter. Can an individual sport a long beard? The answer is NO. Uniformity is a must in a service organisation. Deviations in many cases may lead to dilution of rules and the aim of maintaining uniformity.