LA CANADA, CA - The first performance of the ‘Sikh Monologues’ took place on June 15, here. The evening brought to life the Sikh American experience through spoken word, narrative stories, and skits. The ‘Sikh Monologues’ is a project inspired by stories of Sikhs from different walks of life, ages and states across America. Jasleen Singh, Director of the ‘Sikh Monologues’,
Jasleen Singh with the cast
traveled around the country to over 15 cities and interviewed almost 150 Sikhs, compiling 10 monologues – short, narrative pieces. Each monologue presents an aspect of being Sikh in America, from overarching problems the community faces, to day-to-day concerns, anxieties and hilarious vignettes. The show opened with a piece about Sikhism from a child’s perspective, weaving through a spoken word piece about immigration narratives and on to a woman discussing her decisions regarding hair and the dastaar (turban). Other women comedic-ly problematized notions about how their parents pressurize them to get good grades, help around the house, stay slim, and of course marry good spouses to stake their roots and give birth to boys to keep the family name going.
Stories of discrimination were also narrated which highlighted the general lack of knowledge about the Sikh community from the general public. Other issues that were discussed included the domestic abuse women face and how the community can support these women and make a positive impact on lives shattered by abuse whether its mental or physical.
One narrative described how a man lost faith in his religion because he felt judged – it was a reminder to us all that how we must always be aware of how we treat people of our own communities and that judgment only works to ostracize. And when living in a country miles away from homeland, community needs to stick together, not divide themselves.
The evening was a pioneering endeavor in creatively telling the Sikh story. It tore away from the ways in which the Sikh community has been represented or misrepresented in media and relied solely on real people and their real experiences to bring together a show with which each audience member could identify.
Stories of discrimination were also narrated which highlighted the general lack of knowledge about the Sikh community from the general public. Other issues that were discussed included the domestic abuse women face and how the community can support these women and make a positive impact on lives shattered by abuse whether its mental or physical.
One narrative described how a man lost faith in his religion because he felt judged – it was a reminder to us all that how we must always be aware of how we treat people of our own communities and that judgment only works to ostracize. And when living in a country miles away from homeland, community needs to stick together, not divide themselves.
The evening was a pioneering endeavor in creatively telling the Sikh story. It tore away from the ways in which the Sikh community has been represented or misrepresented in media and relied solely on real people and their real experiences to bring together a show with which each audience member could identify.
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