Growing up, I must’ve moved around school districts over three times. Yet, with all the moving, I’d never met another Indian person in my grade, much less a Sikh person. It was impossible not to feel the isolation.
I recall sitting in my 5th grade history class, we’d just started the unit on Asia. “Hinduism and Sikhism- basically the same thing” says my 45-year-old caucasian teacher. He added there was a Sikh temple not far from us, one that had been attacked by a white supremacist less than five years prior. He said as you’re driving past it would be kind of cool to look out and see where
it happened. Did he think this was a museum? My face flushed red as I stared at the ground waiting for this lesson to be over. I could not understand how he could treat this place as meaningless when my life was at the Gurdwara.
The Gurdwara was vital to shaping my childhood experiences and outlook. From
connecting with family to learning more about my faith, this was a place of belonging and growth. In the Gurdwara, we end the sermon with Ardaas – a plea for divine guidance and blessings. In the final line, all devotees recite the words: “Nanak Naam Chardi Kalaa, Tere Bhane Sarbat Da Bhala (Through Nanak’s Name, May Thy Spirit Be Exalted and May All People prosper By Thy Grace).
This utterance asks for the well-being of all humanity, regardless of religion, caste, race, or gender, a teaching of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji (The Sikh Holy Book), that honors the founder of Sikhi, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and his values. One of his primary beliefs being the oneness of mankind- “we are all born of the same One Light.”
Guru Nanak Dev Ji established three core pillars of Sikhi: Naam Japo (meditate on God’s name), Kirat Karo ( earn an honest living), and Vand Chhako (share with others). These pillars are not merely rules to follow, but guiding principles for a meaningful life, rooted in mindfulness, integrity, and compassion. Guru Nanak Dev Ji envisioned Sikhi not as a religion bound by hollow ritualistic practices, but as a way of life, a continual journey of learning and self-betterment. To be a Sikh is to be a learner, ever curious, ever growing, walking the path of truth through both devotion and action.
My father instilled these values in me from a young age, seeing all of humanity as one.Much of what he taught came from my grandfather, whose quiet strength embodied the very heart of Sikhi. My grandfather was the president of our local Gurudwara. He spent weekends volunteering at the gurdwara, serving langar with the same humility he carried through life. After the tragic shooting that shook my community, one sentiment stuck with me in particular: Chardi
Kalaa
Chardi Kalaa – Defined as “High Spirits” or “Eternal Optimism” holds meaning that cannot be defined by the English language. Chardi Kalaa is unwavering positivity and resilience in the face of adversity. Chardi Kalaa is courage and trust in Hukam (God’s Will). Chardi Kalaa is a commitment to service for the community. Chardi Kalaa is a guiding principle to life. Those words showed up everywhere following the shooting at the gurdwara that claimed my grandfather’s life. It echoed through our lives. How could I embody that?
We continued to live for our grandfather’s legacy. It’s easy to question faith in times of struggle, but that’s when Chardi Kalaa is most important, when optimism feels impossible, and yet we choose it anyway. In those moments, I remember that even in isolation, my light is part of something larger. Faith teaches me to rise, to serve, and to see the divine in everyone.
As we celebrate Gurpurab this November, honoring the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, I look back on all those moments in the classroom and realize I no longer feel the same isolation. I wish I could tell my younger self that our teacher’s ignorance didn’t define me; it revealed why Chardi Kalaa matters. Even in misunderstanding, there is room for compassion, especially in the small, everyday nuances that test our patience. In a world still learning to see beyond difference, Guru Nanak’s message persists as a guiding principle: to live with courage, compassion, and humility