Unique. That word has grown up with me throughout the years鈥� From kindergarten, high school, and finally through university, unique has always been the word that has been entrenched in the back of my mind. I was different, I was 鈥渦nique,鈥� or so everyone said. Maybe they were being polite. Maybe I was unique.
TURBAN. Does that word conjure up an image of Aladdin rubbing his magic lamp for you? Or a picture of a snake charmer playing his exotic tune? Well, I sport a turban. Actually, lots of them鈥攔ed, blue, black, white, yellow, design on some, plaid on others (hey, why be boring?) Unfortunately though, I haven鈥檛 yet mastered the art of snake charming, nor do I have a magic lamp鈥攏ot even one.
But what I do know is that I鈥檝e already heard every bad turban joke this side of Kansas. Towelhead, diaperhead, I鈥檝e heard them all (though I still haven鈥檛 figured out which part of my turban looks like a Pamper product). The best comment I heard was at work one day. I work part-time at the GAP where one day, a co-worker came up to me and told me that one of her customers had said that is was so wonderful to see that they hire people 鈥渨ith those funny hats.鈥� My co-worker was so fumed that she told me how she had lectured the lady for fifteen minutes.
Like I said, I have heard EVERYTHING. I鈥檝e been the object of stares, astonishment, and reactions from kids who can鈥檛 figure out what it is that I am wearing on my head. Having grown up with it, I鈥檝e heard it all. But, given all that, I wouldn鈥檛 change a thing. I mean, let鈥檚 face it: I get all the attention in the world (which I love). Plus I get to teach people something about ignorance and about the significance of the turban to the Sikh religion.
Like I said, I am UNIQUE: my turban is my crown that no one can take away from me. It is a symbol of my religion and my heritage that immediately lets you know something about me. If you see me in the distance, chances are, you鈥檒l know it鈥檚 me. And hey, it鈥檚 a fun surprise鈥攏othing like what you will ever see on Friends.
By Hardip Manku, a participant in the 平特五不中 Sikh chaplaincy
From Radix Issue No. 5, Summer 2002
