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‘Roop Singh, you’re eight - you’re a big boy now’, said his mother solemnly, and he swelled with pride, wearing a turban for the first time.
A day with charismatic Sikh storyteller Roop Singh is a day to remember. Year 7 were transfixed by his appearance, with his generous moustache and long flowing beard; and spellbound when he opened his mouth to hear his wonderfully rich voice and unexpected, broad northern accent. Roop explained Sikh customs and his way of life with warmth and humour, but it was uncomfortable to stand in his shoes as a small boy. Roop told us about growing up in Leeds in the 1960 and 70s vividly, his desperation to wear the turban, to be like his dad, uncles, Gurus. This was decades ago and attitudes have changed. Wearing a turban to school was one thing, but he hadn’t anticipated the questions he was bound to get, nor the victimisation and bullying. Roop’s mother couldn’t explain Sikhism to the school because she couldn’t speak English.
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He might have wanted to be a train driver, an ambulance or fireman as a small boy, but Roop became passionate about promoting awareness and understanding of Sikh beliefs and customs and his audience at JAGS seized the opportunity to ask him about everything from the 5 Ks to the meaning of the family names Singh (lion) and Kaur (princess). He tied an orange turban round Leonie’s head, (it is not about covering the hair but the head), and the girls practised putting on beautiful saris with Roop’s wife, Surinder. They made posters and power points about Sikhism, wrote thank you cards in Punjabi and improvised role-plays about Sikh values. ‘Always be honest. Never let anyone suffer at your hands,’ Roop said. |
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Finally, in celebration of the principle of shared cooking and eating, we consumed the wheat flour chapatis together that every Year 7 had made in our smart new kitchen, the nearest JAGS gets to a community langar. Annabel and Cameron in 7C loved writing in Punjabi and the smell of the cooking and said it was all really fun. Alex and Frances in 7D were particularly adept with rolling pins and frying pans. Thanks to the RS department for organising the cultural day.
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