Kirpan

The kirpan, in a Sikh American context, challenges the boundaries of multiculturalism in the United States because it directly addresses the free exercise of religion guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. For Sikhs, the kirpan (a type of sword or knife), is an article of faith that affirms their commitment to Sikh values and honors the teaching of their gurus. Along with four other Sikh articles of faith, the kirpan were gifts of love from the divine, which the 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, proclaimed as part of the Sikh physical identity.

On the day of Vaisakhi in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji initiated five men, from varied caste backgrounds, into the Khalsa (army of the pure). The mission of the Khalsa was to uphold Sikh principles of equality and justice. Thus, Guru Gobind Singh Ji's designation of the kirpan as an article of faith means that Sikhs, particularly those initiated into the Khalsa, must display bravery and fearlessness in order to combat oppression. With such an honor comes great responsibility.

The kirpan is only to be employed in defense, when all other options have been exhausted, because “failure to do so at that time would be tantamount to complicity in acts of evil and oppression,” according to V. Lal. Therefore, the kirpan is not merely a symbol but an article of faith bestowed upon Sikhs to honor their love and commitment to the divine higher power (Wahe-guru). Thus, many Sikhs believe it would be dishonorable to carry the kirpan outside its original form and as instructed in the Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct).

The kirpan as an article of faith and not simply a symbol directly challenges American notions of celebrating multiculturalism. Legal issues (in schools, employment, and public spaces) center on the kirpan as a weapon. This perspective makes it a criminal offense to carry the kirpan, although it is a mandated faith-based practice for Sikhs. Thus, balancing the freedom of religious practice and public safety is a constant challenge for Sikh civil rights organizations, American civil society, and the judiciary.

The Sikh Coalition, a Sikh civil rights organization, has defended the right of many Sikhs to carry a kirpan, despite this obstacle. Kirpans can be found in Sikh houses of worship, on display at Nagar Kirtans (Sikh parades), and worn on the bodies of Sikh men and women in a gatra (strapped sheath) under or over clothes. The Sikh Rehat Maryada mandates the wearing of a strapped kirpan but does not specify the length. [Page 1295]Therefore, the length of a kirpan varies from several feet to two or three inches.