Sikhs Have Mixed Feelings About South Carolina’s Nikki Haley

South Carolina, USA (CHAKRA) – Sikhs in South Carolina are unsure of what to make of their first possible minority and  woman governor, Nikki Haley who is a popular supporter of the tea party, movement and born to Sikh parents.

South Carolina known for its Republican support, voted for a minority candidate making evident that even the most conservative voters are looking for change when it comes to politics.

However, during the election campaign, a GOP lawmakers racist tag for Haley, left her emphasizing her conversion to Christianity.  This incident left several Sikhs in South Carolina wondering whether their faith would ever be completely accepted.

When asked about his thoughts, a 20-year-old Newark resident, Manpreet Kalra said that he supported and was happy for the fact that a Sikh has been voted in as a runner for governor but admitted that he is still waiting for the day a Sikh will receive a high position yet keep with the Sikh faith, instead of turning away from it.

38-year-old Haley was born to Sikh parents, and was named Nimrata Nikki Randhawa, in Bamberg, South Carolina.  Her parents emigrated from the city of Amritsar, Punjab in India.

Haley said that it was not easy to grow up as a Sikh in a town where there were so few of them.  Her brother broke with their Sikh roots at a young age when they cut their hair and stopped wearing a pug after being victims of classroom taunting.  However, their father who is a biology professor continues to wear his turban to represent his religion.

Haley claims that changing names and breaking with traditions is a form of “survival mode” because it is a way to show people how much you are alike to each other rather than different.

Many Sikh who were asked what their feelings were towards Haley’s approach to religion, many said they understood what she was saying and most did not feel too much pride towards her accomplishments but at the same time they did not blame her for her choice to convert to Methodism before she married her husband, Michael Haley.

Sarabjit Cheema, A Union City resident who is running for a seat as a school board trustee, expressed feelings of neutrality towards Haley’s choices.  Cheema posti velys hopes that Haley’s experience with two religions and ethnicities will allow her to make better decisions for the whole community of South Carolina.

Cheema’s belief is that in the end, some things Haley will never forget are her childhood memories growing up as a Sikh girl and that is what is very important towards the decisions she makes as a representative of her people.

Since the September 11^th attacks, Sikhs have been trying to make clear that they do not sympathize with terrorists.

Gary Singh, a Union City planning commissioner said he feels that Sikhs are gaining more presence in the United States every time someone like Nikki Haley makes a feat like obtaining the position of governor.  He says its difficult wearing a turban and having a beard daily so it only helps when you know more people because then more people respect you.

Haley, gained her votes this time around because of tea party supporters and the backing of Jenny Sanford, the popular ex-wife of past scandal related Gov. Mark Sanford.

Haley received 49% of the vote in the party’s primary election and won a runoff last week as well.  If Haley wins the election next November against her Democratic opponent, she will be the second governor of Indian origin in the United States.  She beat her Democratic opponent by 20 % in the June polls.  Bobby Jindal, the governor of Louisiana is the first governor of Indian origin in the United States and he also Anglicized his name in addition to converting from Hinduism to Catholicism.

For a Union City Teacher, Harpaul Rana, Haley’s name change and religion are not as important as her roots.  He stated that he were supporting Haley because of her Punjabi roots and due to the fact that she came from the land of Punjab, where all Sikhs belong.