Sikh soldier says attacks are encouraged by political climate

The spate of violence against people of Asian descent in America will pass, but the Donald Trump administration must take a stronger and more vocal position on this issue, said Lt. Col. Kamal Singh Kalsi, whose campaign for allowing Sikh turban in U.S. military uniforms met with success recently.

In 2001, Mr. Kalsi was the first Sikh to join the U.S. military after new uniform restrictions in early 1980s barred turbans and beards. Mr. Kalsi’s petition for an exemption was granted after 50 members of Congress, a petition signed by 15,000 people and the White House supported him. The changes announced recently allows religious accommodation to be granted at the brigade level. “The process will be simpler and faster. And there is a presumption of approval,” Mr. Kalsi told The Hindu on the phone from New Jersey.

Overlapping with the U.S. military’s new accommodation policy that will allow Sikhs, Muslims, Jews and African Americans to join its ranks has been the spate of racial crimes against them in the recent weeks. Mr. Kalsi said the campaign ran by President Trump has contributed to this. “These vicious attacks are encouraged by the current political climate in the country, running through the entire election cycle. The administration needs to speak out strongly against this,” Mr. Kalsi said.

“I can guarantee you that after the changes in uniform policy, more Sikhs, more Muslims will join the military,” Mr. Kalsi said. While the proud Sikh is excited about the victory of the campaign supported by the Sikh Coalition and an array of American civil rights groups, the attacks on immigrants and minorities disturbs him. “As a six year old, my grandmother witnessed all her family members being killed in 1947, in Lahore. She came to India as an orphan, as a refugee. I always remember that and I feel bad when people are put down because they are refugees. The recent refugee ban by the Trump administration, and attacks on people of Indian descent remind me of my own grandmother’s story,” Mr. Kalsi, who came to the U.S. as toddler, said. His father was an Indian Air Force officer and he was born in the Kanpur Air Force Base.

Great military heritage

Mr. Kalsi said it was the “great military heritage” of the Sikh community and faith that motivated him to join the U.S. Army in 2001. He went to the medical school and in the initial years, turban and beard didn’t bring any attention.

“I went on medical rotation at several military bases, without any problem. When I was going to full-time active duty in 2008, I had to apply for accommodation. There began the whole campaign,” Mr. Kalsi said. His request was granted by the U.S. Secretary of Defence, and Mr. Kalsi was deployed in Helmand, Afghanistan, in 2011.

Four-star general of U.S. Marine Corps John R. Allen was Mr. Kalsi’s commander in Afghanistan. In July 2016, Mr. Allen was a special speaker at the Democratic National Convention, questioning Mr. Trump’s policy towards minorities and his strategy for fighting the Islamic State. A group of veterans drawn from all ethnic and religious origins stood behind Mr. Allen, showcasing the U.S. military as the symbol of the diverse America. Mr. Kalsi stood right behind his former commander, in the frame. “These are the people who fight for America,” the general said.

The current turmoil will pass, believes Mr. Kalsi, who was himself the target of a racial attack in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attack. “I was at a shopping mall in California and four men started abusing me. They were making fun of my turban and started hitting me. But thankfully, the cops arrived immediately and they were all arrested,” recalls Mr. Kalsi, who is now an active reserve in the U.S army. Mr. Kalsi is associated with the Truman National Security Project in Washington DC, combining his passion for matters related to national security and civil rights — a soldier for America and the Sikh faith.