Debating Institutions

Abstract

With his turban and beard signifying his Khalsa Sikh identification, Gurinder Singh concluded his Punjabi kirtan (devotional songs) with the exclamation, “Guru nānak dev kī jay (Victory to Guru Nanak Dev).” On a cool Sunday morning in January, the handful of Sindhi Hindus in the satsang hall of the Hari Om Mandir responded by exclaiming, “Jay (Victory)!” Singh’s long beard and turban made him stand out from the Sindhi Hindus, who were generally clean-shaven and covered their hair with a simple cloth while in the satsang hall.