Sikhism in Panama: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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{{More citations needed|date=December 2023}}{{Infobox religious group|group=Sikhism in Panama {{flagicon|Panama}}|pop=?Unknown|langs=[[Panamanian Spanish]] • [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]{{·}} • [[SpanishHindi]] Language|Spanish• [[Urdu]]|image=|image_caption=|flag=Khanda (Sikh Symbol).svg|regions=[[Panama City]]|religions=[[Sikhism]]|image_size=|flag_size=60px}}
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'''Sikhism in Panama''' took its roots when the [[Panama Canal]] was started in 1890 by an American company.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sikhnet.com/news/sikhs-panama-and-medical-school-scholarship-opportunities|title=Sikhs in Panama and Medical School Scholarship Opportunities|website=SikhNet|language=en|access-date=2020-01-01}}</ref> Construction of the [[Panama Railroad|rail-road link]] between the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and [[Pacific Ocean]]s began in 1850. With the boom of labour opportunities, immigrants saw Panama as a place of fortune. Sikhs came first as construction workers for the [[Panama Railroad|transcontinental rail road link]]. During 1864, among the population of [[New Grenada]], which contained [[Panama City]], out of 2.7 million people, 160,000 were Sikh. A large number of Sikhs settled there after the project.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Ottis, Fassenden Nott (1867). Isthmus of Panama :History of Panama railroad. Harper & Brothers. p. 264.}}</ref>
[[Panama]] gained independance from Spain in 1821, and joined with Colombia, with which it remained till 1903. Construction of the [[Panama Railroad|rail-road link]] between the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and [[Pacific Ocean]]s began in 1850. With the boom of labour opportunities, a large number of immigrants saw Panama as a place of fortune. Sikhs came first as construction workers for the [[Panama Railroad|transcontinental rail road link]]. During 1864, among the population of [[New Grenada]], which Panama City was part of, out of 2.747 million people, 160,000<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ottis, Fassenden Nott (1867). Isthmus of Panama :History of Panama railroad. Harper & Brothers. p. 264.}}</ref> were Sikh. Many Sikhs left after the completion of the rail link but a large number remained and settled there.
== Spread ==
Sikhs worked on digging the canal as manual labourers, as little machinery was available. [[Punjabis|Punjabi]] and specially Sikh labourers worked in difficult conditions, meeting challenges of [[yellow fever]]. British and American officials preferred Sikh labourers over others because of their perceived work ethic and characteristics that could withstand harsh conditions{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}.
{{copyedit section|date=December 2023}}
When work on the [[Panama Canal]] started in 1890, Sikhs worked on digging the canal as manual labourers, as very little machinery was available then. Punjabi and specially among them Sikh labourers worked in difficult conditions, meeting challenges of yellow fever. British and American officials preferred Sikh labourers over others because of their perceived hard work ethics and characteristics to withstand harsh conditions of work {{citation needed|date=December 2023}}. The Panama canal was completed in 1913-141913–14. By that time all along Sikhs had maintained a weekly congregation, reciting [[Gurbani]] path, in houses by rotation. PunjabiEarly earlyPunjabi settlers who came to Panama started working in jobs like watchmen or sold daily use articles as petty businessmen, until they were absorbed in Panama Canal construction work by an American company. With the completion of the canal, many of them had earned enough money to set up their own businesses or became land ownerslandowners and became farmers. One of them was Rattan Singh, who built his financial company, and became a founding father of Gurdwara Guru Nanak Sahib, Panama along with another ParkashParkaish Singh and many others from their voluntary contributions. Gurdwara is well established and was inaugurated in 1986.<ref name=":0" /> Gurdwara is managed by Guru Nanak Sahib Civic Society, Panama.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition|url=https://archive.org/details/religionsworldvo00melt|url-access=limited|last=Melton|first=J. Gordon|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2010|pages=[https://archive.org/details/religionsworldvo00melt/page/n2303 2187]|quote=Some of South Asian continent organisations in Panama are (...) Guru Nanak Sahib Civic Society.}}</ref>
== Establishment of Higher Education Systemeducation ==
One such weekly congregation resulted in the formation of Panamanian Medical and Management Corporation of Higher Education (PMMC) which set forth a Medical degree programme in Panama.<ref name=":0" />
== Present generation ==
After closure of Panama Canal Project and further formation of the independent Republic of Panama, many Sikhs returned to their homeland in India, others migrated to Canada, the United Kingdom and other European countries. But still a large number settled there. After the construction of the Panama Canal and the establishment of American military bases in Panama, many new immigrants, including Sikhs came and, settled there as permanent residents. Recent interviewsInterviews of some fourth generation Panamanian Sikhs by the Sikh channel of the U.K., has revealed that those who settled aresettlers engaged in financial businesses, owning financial companies, owning agricultural lands, cultivating bananas and other crops, owning department stores, restaurants, etc. Some of them joined civil and military services. ThereMany, are many among these,such as Sindhi Sikhs believe, in the ten gurus and attend the [[Gurdwara]] regularly. There is onlyOnly one Gurdwara operates in Panama. Many interviewsInterviews by [[Sikh Channel]] arediscuss revealing oral history ofthe presence of 4th generation Sikhs in Panama.
==References==