Sikhs donate books to thwart discrimination

Jagir Singh Bains recognized the need for change after a member of his religion was beaten up following 9/11 because he was believed to be a terrorist.
Rather than fighting back with actions or threats, the 74-year-old Fresh Meadows resident sought retribution through education.
Bains, born in Punjab, India, recently made five donations of literature on the history and heritage of Sikhism to Queens Libraries on behalf of his community, the latest being the Pomonok branch on August 11. Bains hopes to expand these donations to more of the 58 libraries in Queens, regarding them not only as avenues of understanding about his religion, but also a way to protect his fellow Sikhs through knowledge.
&#8220[The donations] help with the safety of my religion,” said Bains. &#8220After 9/11 there were a lot of misunderstandings about my religion.”
Sikhism is a religion that is influenced by Hinduism and Islam and it is common practice for the men to wear turbans and sport full beards. Bains felt that after terrorism became a viable threat to the country's safety, many Americans felt the need to lump all people of Middle Eastern descent into the same category as those who did commit the acts of violence on that fateful day.
Bains has taken measures to educate others about the Sikh religion, as well as gain a better understanding about other religions for himself. He is a delegate of the Queens General Assembly, which was instituted under Borough President Helen Marshall's Marshall Plan. They meet with the goal of creating a better understanding of different religions and nationalities in one of the country's most diverse counties.
&#8220We take [what we learn from one another] to our community, and [we hope] there will be less crime,” said Bains.
The money for the books was raised by the members of the Sikh community and its temples. The amount of money donated varied, but Singh estimates that approximately 30 books were given to each library thus far.
Queens Library, which has over 20 million items in circulation, didn't mind getting a couple hundred more.
&#8220Many times [the books are] a way for people to find out more about other cultures,” said the library's spokesperson Judy Close.
Some of the books also benefit Sikhs who could not read English language books.
&#8220[Now] people in the Sikh community have books and material available to them in their own language,” said Close.
Both Bains and Close hope that these donations set a precedent that will make information about all cultures available to the entire borough.
&#8220People [will] see that they can make donations themselves,” said Close.
&#8220I can't speak for them, but maybe the Sikhs living in other places will [donate] too,” Bains said adding, &#8220To make people understand about each other is the call of the time, so we can live in peace.”