The Light We Give

Starred review from May 15, 2022
Lessons from the Sikh faith. Singh provides an accessible work that combines personal testimony of a fascinating and little-understood ethnic and religious minority in America and an introduction to the teachings of Sikhi (the author uses the Punjabi noun as opposed to the colonialized Sikhism). Singh's life story--and the history of the Sikh community--has been shaped by misunderstanding, racism, and violence. The author recounts a shocking array of racial confrontations with people on public streets, in schools, in airports, and elsewhere. He chronicles the Sikh struggle through numerous periods of oppression and mass murder in India as well as incidents in the U.S., including the post-9/11 murder of a Sikh man and the 2012 massacre of a Sikh congregation in 2012. "They didn't have to forgive the man who'd tormented them, but they didn't have to internalize his hate either," writes Singh. "Rather than calling for blood or revenge, they shared with the world a core Sikh teaching: "No fear, No hate (Nirbhau, Nirvair)." This concept--to "fight hate with love"--has helped the author deal with his own anger. He points to three major components of his faith that shaped his positivity: "chardi kala," a teaching that imbues life with optimism and gratitude even amid pain and suffering; "ik oankar," the concept that all people are divine, or have a light of divinity within them, making all people equal and worthy of respect; and "seva," the practice of expressing love in all things, especially through service. "With each selfless act," writes Singh, "we become slightly less selfish; with each loving action, we become slightly more loving." The author calls on readers to seek a life of active empathy, seeing each person, even those who are hurtful, as valuable and worthy of kindness and love. A worthwhile and readable introduction to Sikhi and a strong testament to peaceful living.

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June 1, 2022
Clever, informative, and very accessible, Singh's (Fauja Singh Keeps Going, 2020) first book for adults explores tenets of the Sikh faith and applies them to everyday life. Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, Singh stood out as the only ""turban-wearing, brown-skinned, beard-loving Sikh."" He and his brothers experienced constant racism, especially after 9/11, forcing them to both lean on their established support systems and learn to confront racism head-on rather than ignoring it. Singh also relied on his faith's teachings and focused on finding the good in every person and situation. In this book, he uses relatable humor and amusing anecdotes to connect with readers about his faith and show them how they, too, can apply it to their lives. He stresses the importance of being unafraid to speak up, encourages readers to challenge racism and injustice, and talks about how he pushed past his comfort zone to bring awareness of the Sikh faith. Readers will come away from the book wanting to be better themselves and to work for positive change in the world.

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Starred review from June 20, 2022
In this lucid blend of memoir and self-help, Singh (Fauja Singh Keeps Going), executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Religion and Society Program, reflects on being Sikh in the U.S. and shares life lessons gleaned from Sikhism. Singh recounts growing up as a child of Indian immigrants in Texas and how the racism against Sikhs in the aftermath of 9/11 pushed him to become a religious scholar so he could “share my stories and the stories of my communities.” He tells how anti-Sikhism has followed him throughout his life, from getting called a terrorist at age 11 to being targeted by Punjab police in northern India because he was researching Sikhism in the area. The author proffers lessons based in Sikh principles and describes how the concept of seva (“a way of caring for others, and... ourselves”) encourages acts of kindness by viewing one’s well-being as connected with everyone else’s: “To live with love is to see no distinction between the self and the other.” Singh’s fleet-footed storytelling seamlessly moves between personal stories, Sikh theology and history, and thoughtful musings on what it means to live by a Sikh philosophy, adding up to an exemplary meditation on the faith. This has a lot to offer.