It’s funny. As I was growing up, I had never thought of myself as a leader. I never wanted to be in business, didn’t really care for titles, didn’t see myself as the type of person to “rally the troops”, to be a strategist or look out for the good of people. I didn’t think of myself as a warrior. I wanted to sit in my room and write things and be happy and content with my life. And ultimately I think that’s okay, because happiness is happiness, you know? But there was also another innate quality of mine that always left me feeling unsatisfied with a life focused on only self: my unabridged passion for the betterment and development of people. I think that in order to truly develop yourself as a leader and a servant for the people, you need the right kind of platform. You need opportunity. You need guidance and education and perspective and faith. You need inspiration. For me, Sikhism became that platform. But I didn’t realize this until I learned how Sikhism became a platform for my father. My dad was born into a Hindu family, and at 2 years old, my dad became blind. In the late ‘40s and early ‘50s in India, I’m not sure that there were a lot of opportunities or special support systems built for disabled people, so already, life might have looked bleak for him. My dad, having had the same independent streak that I have, probably shuddered at the thought of this, as I have on many occasions when it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. But my dad persevered. He began going to Gurdwaras in his community, learning the teachings of the Gurus, the word of the Granth, the melodies of the tabla and harmonium and the intricacies of kirtan. He found solace in the same values and principles that the Gurus found solace in. He appreciated equality, hard work, and most importantly, devotion and service to your community. And he found that he could exercise these values and principles, spread the message and empower people, even with a disability. My father converted to Sikhism. He didn’t go to school beyond the third grade, but he eventually began teaching Sikhi and kirtan to many people in Punjab. He honed his skills and sang beautifully, and learned how to play multiple instruments. He traveled all over India and went to places like England to sing kirtan. He formed many friendships and helped many people with their problems through the power of prayer, meditation, concentration, and hard work. He made people happy and they considered him to be their leader. He then moved to the United States with my mom, brother, and uncle, and became Giani Ji at our St. Louis gurudwara. He led our St. Louis Sikh congregation for the next ten years, and people traveled from all over to listen to his kirtan. He had a really unique talent for music, which when combined with his passion for Sikhism and his impeccable communication style, garnered much praise and respect. As I reflected on his life, his journey, decisions, and accomplishments, I thought about how Sikhism enabled him. That’s what a platform does, right? Draws in on people’s natural competencies and puts them into drive, using the combination of opportunity, luck, and hard work. For me, the part of Sikhism that I connected with the most was its leadership aspect. I read about Sikh heroes and warriors who seemingly possessed the same passion and thirst I had for the betterment of individuals and communities, and that’s when I decided that I needed to be a leader. I wanted to serve and protect individuals in my community and other communities. I wanted to fight for them and advocate for them. And Sikhism was my platform. I grew up with the religion embedded into my everyday life, but I realized Sikhism was not just something that I practiced as a daily custom, but something that was meant to take me to new heights and really help me fulfill my own potential in this world. Today, I consider myself a leader within different organizations, and I hope to continue along the trajectory. Participating in the SALDEF SikhLEAD Leadership Development Program brought me eons closer to learning what leadership truly means, and putting it into the context of what Sikh Americans need. I learn from the examples that past Sikh leaders have set for myself and for others, and I know that it also brings me closer to truly being the daughter of my father. Harkiran Kaur SikhLEAD Leadership Development Program Alumni c/o 2012
