PHOENIX, Arizona: Many people pass away every day in this world. Some die of illnesses or old age. Others may lose their lives as a result of violence of some sort, be it an accident, or an injury, a suicide or homicide. We read such tragic news in paper, we listen to them on radio and we watch them on TV.
Come next day, such incidents get washed away from our memory. But then there are deaths that stick in our memory leaving permanent imprints on the minds of those affected. The death of S. Balbir Singh Sodhi, a Sikh resident of Mesa, Arizona was such an incidence.
On September 15, 2001, four days after 9-11, an act of violence was committed in Mesa, Arizona against one of our fellow Sikh-Americans from India, Balbir Singh Sodhi. His life was cut short for no fault of his own, rather because he was openly celebrating the freedom of the faith that this country affords to its citizens. In other word he kept on wearing his Sikh turban on daily basis, an important component of his Sikh faith.
His commitment to his faith made it essential for him to keep unshorn hair and full beard, along with a turban on his head. He lived and felt safe in our country and in this community because he knew, he could practice comfortably in what he believed in.
The assailant, who took his life thought otherwise for he didn’t believe in the diversity of this great nation. Six years ago Frank Roque had pumped five bullets in the back of Balbir Singh Sodhi in broad daylight while Balbir was planting a flower-bed in front of his gas station.
This cowardly act of crime was committed only four days after those horrible attacks of 9-11 on World Trade Center and Pentagon. While being arrested, Frank made a statement implying that he was performing his patriotic duty by punishing the “Terrorists”.
But the innocent man who lost life was a practicing Sikh from India who was neither a terrorist nor belonged to their faith, nor their country or their ethnicity. On September 15 around 11:30 am, once again this year, several members of Balbir’s family and Sikh community assembled at the permanent memorial built in front of Balbir Singh Sodhi’s gas station. It was the spot where Balbir Singh fell down after five bullets had been pumped into his back that instantaneously killed him while he was planting flowers.
The group had assembled not only to pay homage to him but also to reaffirm once again their faith in the pledge of United States of America. After Ardas (a Sikh prayer), the flag of United States of America was unfurled by two uniformed policemen from city of Mesa.
The pledge of United States of America was read by all with full respect to the flag. In an emotional mid morning, the event became a source of encouragement for his little grand children and all the others that had assembled for the event.
It implied that the life lost by holding on to the principles one believes in, will never go in vain. Rather the community and the world at large will keep drawing courage to further the commitment of such men.
The seeds that Balbir Singh Sodhi was planting on the day of his cruel death have grown into beautiful flowers and are spreading their fragrance. Through their beauty and fragrance, this community of ours will become the champion for the cause of tolerance for diversity forever and for always.
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