Sikh Community

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (16:09): I move:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges the celebration of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 551^st birthday anniversary, which will be celebrated on 30th November 2020;

2. Notes the history of the Sikh migration and settlement in Australia goes back more than 100 years;

3. Recognises that they have brought with them the best of their culture, and the values they live by make our state stronger;

4. Recognises that they have built harmony, understanding and friendship with other communities, which has enabled them to settle successfully in Australia; and,

5. Congratulates the Sikh community and the volunteers who have worked hard to bring these celebrations together and share them with all of South Australia.

I rise today to acknowledge the wonderful contribution the Sikh population has made in Australia over almost 200 years. With the 551^st birthday of Guru Nanak, the creator of Sikhism, being celebrated on 30 November, it seems an appropriate time to speak out about that contribution.

Australia has a rich Sikh history, which has been beneficial to our culture, society and even our economy. The first Sikhs arrived in Australia around the 1830s, migrating as hawkers and farmers as the demand for foreign labour increased. These hawkers served as an important link in connecting isolated farms with supplies and household items and delighted children with stories of foreign lands a long way away.

The Sikhs integrated well into 19^th century Australia and were noted for their work ethic and stature. By 1929, they owned land, had the right to vote and received a pension. When World War II broke out and many young Australians went off to fight, Sikhs were important workers in maintaining the agricultural industry.

While the partition of India in 1947 led many Sikhs to return home to India to protect their families and assets in tumultuous times, the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 led to a large increase in Sikh migration. Sikhs migrated not just from their homeland but from countries such as Malaysia and Singapore, seeking out Australia as a free and stable country with economic opportunities.

In the 21^st century, Sikh migrants have expanded their field of work. Rather than be restricted to rural areas, many of them have sought out work as health professionals, lawyers and business owners. Australia now has the fourth largest population of Sikhs outside India, behind only the UK, the United States and Canada. The Australian Sikh population increased steadily from 12,000 in 1996 to 26,500 in 2006, before increasing significantly to 125,000 in 2016. In the last four years, that has grown quite significantly. Most are from the Punjab region on the border of India and Pakistan.

Founded in this region in the 15^th century, Sikhism is the youngest of the major religions. Its philosophies are simple, regarding God as the creator and believing justice is best dispensed through karma and divine grace. A lot of cultures could benefit from that belief system. Sikhism has many qualities that people of all faiths, even those who are not religious at all, would appreciate and embrace. It acknowledges the five thieves, which is the Sikh equivalent to the seven deadly sins. These are: ego, anger, greed, attachment and lust. The primary aim of the religion is to counter these so-called thieves with five virtues: truth, compassion, contentment, humility and love.

Sikh culture believes that God has no gender and the scripture does not discriminate between men and women or ban them from any role. It does not push the fire and brimstone edict of heaven and hell; instead, it believes in a spiritual reunion of akal, for which there is no perfect literal translation, but has the ultimate goal of achieving salvation.

The Sikh community is active in South Australia, promoting inclusion and understanding of different cultures. The Sikh Society of South Australia has actively promoted family advocacy and support groups, and assistance for women who have been victims of domestic violence. It has also been vigilant in its adherence to and education of safety and social distancing requirements during the COVID-19 restrictions.

As I have mentioned in this place before, the Sikh community made up 20 per cent of the British Indian Army that fought alongside Australians at Gallipoli, even though they made up just 2 per cent of the Indian population. The role of the Sikhs, from their bravery to camaraderie, has become part of Australian wartime folklore, and for good reason: they were an integral part of the battlefront, the medical units and supply and transport. They shared their meals of dahl and roti bread with Australian soldiers, and were on the frontline of battle to capture trenches and secure positions.

There is no doubt that without the support of the Sikhs, many more of our young Australians would have died at the Battle of Gallipoli. Whether it is helping build our nation over 190 years, fighting alongside our soldiers in the most brutal of conflicts, or living by a peaceful philosophy, Australian Sikhs have proven themselves many times over.

As they commemorate the birthday of Guru Nanak, the birth of their religion and celebrate Diwali, I urge all South Australians, and in particular members of this chamber, to attend a Sikh function to celebrate Guru Nanak's birthday. There is a very simple greeting you can give, and that is to put your hands in front of you and say, 'Sat Sri Akal'. This practice is a safe COVID-19 greeting.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.S. Lee.