The Roles of Religion and Nationalism in the Formation of Californian Sikh Communities, 1890-1930

Author: Don Pulindu RanasinghaWeerasekara

Field of Study: Social Sciences

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Wendy Wall

Easel: 44

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many South Asian men, mostly Punjabi Sikhs, immigrated to the United States, finding jobs as farmworkers in California. Though hoping for an improved life, they–like many immigrants during that time–faced poor living conditions, poor wages, and above all, rampant discrimination. This paper sheds light on the way that these immigrants created a Sikh community, using religion and nationalism to unite themselves in the face of such challenges. Tying in the role of Gurudwaras (Sikh temples) and the Ghadar party (an expatriate Indian independence movement), this paper analyzes the way that the Sikh community both preserved their culture, and assimilated into America. As existing research on Sikh communities in North America mostly focuses on British Columbia, this paper draws on newspapers, Sikh publications, letters, diary entries and the census to paint a portrait of the early Sikh-American community in California.