“I wear a turban because I am staunchly religious that way. But also partly because it makes me more visible among the rest almost like it is my identity,” said Jaiteg Singh, an undergraduate at Cardiff University who first came to the UK in 2016.
Like Burqa, Turban these days also appear to have attracted debate and much of the discrimination against them stems from their physical appearance.
According to the UK Sikh Survey of 2016, almost one out of seven Sikhs have experienced workplace discrimination. Consequently, according to the British Sikh Report of 2018, 6% of Sikhs attribute discrimination as a major cause of stress for them. The report goes on to indicate that racial harassment, which has become more visible in the UK ever since the EU referendum, causes depression, anxiety, and even self-isolation.
But Jaiteg Singh's experience in the UK over the last two years has been everything. “I have had informative experiences with people coming in and asking me about the significance of my turban. But that is only out of curiosity. I have never faced any discriminatory attacks or any abuse because of my religion.”
While he may not have personally compromised with his identity, there are certain believes that he has adjusted with in order to maintain a social life in the UK- for instances drinking. But apart from social and cultural requirements, Jaiteg does not even carry a Kirpan with him.
“It's not feasible to wear a Kirpan for me with the amount of travelling that I have to do so. Out of the five objects, Kirpan is the only thing that I don't carry with me.”
While as a youngster he may have carried his religious identity in his physical appearance, not everyone follows along the same principles. Channi Kaler is a retired resident in Cardiff who came to the UK from Tanzania. Even today he adorns the turban almost like a crown on his head and believes that aside from religion it also keeps his long hair bound and clean. But he is also a great believer of personal freedom and does not impose his religion on his children who neither wear the Turban nor carry any of the five essential Ks.
“I have travelled to a lot of places and I have never faced any sort of discrimination for wearing a turban and I don't think that there is any controversy or debate surrounding the Turban.” said Kaler
