LOS ANGELES: Public Broadcasting System (PBS) has produced a documentary on the Sikh community to educate mainstream America about the Sikh community their culture, religion and way of life. Often mistaken for others, the Sikhs bore the brunt of the post 9/11 racial attacks.Called 'Sikhs in America', the documentary also features kabbadi and the Yuba City Nagar Keertan.

At its release, channel president David Hosley said 'Sikhs in America' would teach mainstream Americans about the community. Sikhs have been in the US for over 100 years, but most Americans know very little or nothing about them.Dr Jasbir Singh Kang is a founder member of the Yuba City Punjabi American Heritage Society that conceived the idea of such a film and also funded the documentary.

He spoke about how the Society convinced PBS to make this documentary on the Sikhs.'We needed a mainstream network to project us. Since PBS is a respected national network, I made a presentation to Hosley four years ago. He agreed to do this documentary on the basis of that presentation' he said.Berkeley-based Media Factory, which made the documentary, saw a number of films on American Sikhs. They were all related to post 9/11 hate crimes.They realized that they didn't want to make another similar film. They decided to portray a contemporary image of the Sikhs.

With only five days to complete the shooting, they took 25 to do a comprehensive research and get to know the community better. Filmed primarily in Sacramento, Fremont, and Livingston in northern California, the documentary mostly zooms in on Yuba City.The film documents Sikh families through their day to day life at home, at work and at the Gurdwara. It also dwells on the Yuba City Nagar Keertan and Gatka, the Sikh martial arts.

The film also highlights the five Ks and how a young Sikh wears his uncut hair and ties his turban.It features a Sikh wedding and a game of kabbadi to show the cultural and athletic side of the Sikhs.The documentary was telecast in northern California by PBS's local affiliate known as KVIE. Soon it will be telecast across America by other PBS affiliates.''Sikhs in America' is a great educational tool. I hope it will create awareness and stop mistaken hate crimes against Sikhs,' said Kang, whom the channel had honored as an unsung hero in 2006 for his community work.