This is regarding an article in the Times on June 4 entitled "Alameda County won't pursue Sikh knife arrest."
A Sikh friend, Anand-Gurdas Singh, was recently arrested by the Oakland police on an Amtrak train. He was denied his constitutional right to practice his religion. Singh does not
dress like everyone else. He dresses in a manner that exemplifies his religious tradition.
Singh did not board Amtrak to make a religious statement. He was simply traveling to Salinas to spend time with a Sikh family. Singh was on his way to Los Angeles to further his career in computer consultation and executive management.
The quotes in the news story from the Amtrak officials were incorrect. At no time did Amtrak make the referred-to statement to Singh, "They have a strict policy against weapons of any kind."
Singh was not cited for carrying a ceremonial knife. He was cited for carrying a knife over 3 inches and disturbing the peace on public transit. These false charges have been dropped.
The kirpan in question was logged in as police evidence at 5 ½ inches, not the 8 inches that was erroneously reported. The issue is not one of carrying a knife in public but rather the civil, religious and constitutional rights of an American citizen.
One must ignore 300 years of history to suggest that a Khalsa Sikh may be a threat to society. To describe a Sikh's Kirpan as a knife is equivalent to referring to a Christian Crucifix as an ornamental trinket, or to describe a Catholic Church as a gambling hall because of bingo.
The kirpan is but one of five equally important symbols that baptized Sikhs must carry on their body from their Baptism until their death.
"Khalsa" is the correct spelling of the brotherhood that represents Sikhism. Khalsa means "pure;" those that stand for the religious, spiritual and social freedom of all beings, regardless of race, creed, color, social status or origin.
The fundamental doctrine of Sikhism flows from all world religions. Sikhs believe that because God is present in every person, each person stands as an equal before God, regardless of race, creed, color, nationality or sex. Thus, there is indeed in Sikhism a religious basis for tolerance, freedom of conscience, and social equality. There are approximately 30 million Sikhs in the world today.
A statewide education program is needed to avoid future incidents.
