Sounds like the Canadian Immigration Dept needs to backtrack over some pretty wild requests to people of Sikh heritage.
Sikh groups angry about a controversial government letter requesting name changes for Sikh immigrants have taken their fight to the popular social networking website Facebook.
At least five online groups dedicated to discussing the government letter, which asked people with the common Sikh surnames Singh and Kaur to change their last names before coming to Canada, have been created.
Sikh name-change letter challenged on Facebook
As an immigrant to Canada myself, I can understand the frustration of these people. I didn’t have to change my name to be here, but I did have to wade through quite the bureaucratic mess called immigration.
It’s a good idea for groups to form online to dispute this letter, coordinating this protest, while people are spread across the globe is difficult, social network sites such as facebook should make that easier, and hopefully the government will listen.
I’ve known a few Singh’s, but I didn’t realize how popular the names are…
Singh and Kaur are common names in the Sikh community. In a tradition that began more than 300 years ago, the name Singh is given to every baptized male and Kaur to every baptized female Sikh.
The names are used differently by different people. Some use Singh or Kaur as middle names, while others use them as their last names.
Common Sikh names banned under Canada’s immigration policy
My first thought is, do they want to be mistaken for someone else? My second thought, would they rather be just a number?
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, Mike, I would much Yes, Mike, I would much rather keep my heritage and my identity. I would rather be a number in the legal documents, but have my identity when I speak at a conference, or when I am introduced at a party, or when I give an interview on the radio, or when I graduate from a course and they announce my name. I would rather be addressed as Mr. Singh, than Mr. [Insert Caste, Creed here]
The reason is because in my daily life, in my practical life, in my public life, in my career, my education, my political and social identity, I would rather have the blessing of my saviour, my enlightener, my teacher, the Guru, who gave me this name, and furthermore I would like to stay away from the social distinctions and heirarchies created in traditional South Asian societies by caste-based names.
However, if necessary, for official purposes, I would not mind at all being known as Singh #008291 or something like that. It is much better to be a number on paper, and keep my identity in practical life.
People coming to Canada from foreign countries do not want to enforce their views on Canada. They want to become Canadian. However, Singhs and Kaurs have been in Canada for more than 100 years, so now it is just as Canadian to be a Singh as it is to be a Smith or a Lee or a Chang.
Nicely said, although I feel Nicely said, although I feel kind of odd addressing you as Singh #008291! I see that you are open to other solutions, I hope that the immigration dept is likewise as accommodating.