At an inter-faith concert in Washington, people couldn't help but applaud when Vikram Singh sang Sikh hymns. What made it even more remarkable was that the voice singing those verses belonged to Vic Briggs, a famous rock star from the 70s who now follows Sikhism. Singh holds the distinction of being the first non-Indian Sikh to perform at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
Vic Briggs celebrates Sikhism through music
Dr. Rajwant, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education mentioned that Vikram Singh joined a Kirtan group at the Interfaith Conference and added the guitar, Dilruba, and Sitar to the Kirtan. They also played Tanpura and Surmandal.
Before he became a Sikh, he used to be a famous rock star in a band called The Animals. In the 1970s, Briggs got very interested in Sikh religious music and the Sikh religion. He spent a lot of time with Sikh community members in London. They used a special musical instrument called the harmonium in their religious music, and Briggs started to learn how to play it. People from the Sikh community in London started calling him Vikram Singh because they were impressed with how well he could sing and play Sikh sacred music. In 1971, Briggs officially became a Sikh and chose the name Vikram, and he also added Singh Khalsa to his name. After that, he was invited to perform at Sikh temples all over England. Around the same time, Briggs met and later married actress Kirsten Lindholm, who also became a Sikh.
In 1979, Briggs travelled to northern India and performed Sikh religious music. He made history as the first non-Indian to perform kirtan at Harimandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple of Amritsar. This was a deeply significant moment for him. Afterwards, Briggs went on to record several albums of Indian music, with a special focus on Gurbani kirtan, which are hymns from Sikh scriptures set to ragas.
Despite his strong connection to Sikh spirituality, Briggs chose to keep some distance from Sikh social gatherings. He explained, “Sikhi spoke to my soul. Gurbani still speaks to my soul. I just prefer not to be involved much with Sikhs, Indian or American, because of the political considerations that are always present.”
People moving to the Sikh faith
Vikram Singh isn't the only American who has embraced Sikhism. According to Dr Rajwant Singh, who chairs the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, there were nearly 50,000 American Sikhs in 2009 who proudly wore turbans as a part of their faith.
Dr Rajwant Singh, in an email from Washington, said, “In the last decade, some Americans who have become Sikhs are mainly through the contacts with American Sikhs and some local Indian Sikhs," Dr Rajwant Singh, Chairman, Sikh Council on Religion and Education, said in an email from Washington.
In Latin America, more people are becoming Sikhs recently. Reports show that people in Brazil, Chile, and Peru are embracing Sikhism. Dr. Jaspal Singh, a Sikh scholar and former diplomat, explains that both men and women are converting. He believes that these Americans are drawn to Sikhism because of its universal philosophy. Sikhism is the newest religion and has a modern outlook.
Various Sikh groups are working alongside Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Indians to preserve the Sikh identity in America. People in the local community are also impressed by their efforts. This is happening while there's a crackdown on showing one's religion openly in Western countries, especially in Europe.
*Based on an article published in Times of India on 3rd December 2006