Sikhism in Panama: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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== Historic Background ==

{{More citations needed|date=December 2023}}{{Infobox religious group|group=Sikhism in Panama|pop=Unknown|langs=[[Panamanian Spanish]] • [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] • [[Hindi]] • [[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 roots when Panama Canal was started in 1890 by 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>Panama got separated from Spain in 1821 and joined with Columbia , with which it remained till 1903.Construction of [[Panama Railroad|rail-road link]] between [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific Oceans]] was started in 1850. With the boom of labour opportunities , large no. of immigrants saw Panama as a place for fortune. Sikhs came first as construction workers for [[Panama Railroad|trans continental rail road link]].During 1864 ,Among the population of New Granda ,for which Panama City was part there of then, out of 27.47 lac , 1.65 lacs were Indians <ref>{{Cite book|title=Ottis, Fassenden Nott (1867). Isthmus of Panama :History of Panama railroad. Harper & Brothers. p. 264.|last=|first=|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> including large no. of Punjabi and Sikh population . Many sikhs left Isthmus after completion of rail link but a large no. remained and got settled there.. ▼

▲ '''Sikhism in [[Panama]]''' took its roots when the [[Panama Canal]] was started in 1890 by 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>Panama got separated from Spain in 1821 and joined with Columbia , with which it remained till 1903.Construction of the [[Panama Railroad|rail-road link]] between the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific Oceans]]s was startedbegan in 1850. With the boom of labour opportunities , large no. of immigrants saw Panama as a place forof fortune. Sikhs came first as construction workers for the [[Panama Railroad|trans continentaltranscontinental rail road link]]. During 1864 ,Among among the population of [[New Granda Grenada]],for which contained [[Panama City]], wasout partof there2.7 ofmillion thenpeople, out160,000 ofwere 27Sikh.47 lacA ,large 1.65number lacsof wereSikhs Indianssettled there after the project.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Ottis, Fassenden Nott (1867). Isthmus of Panama :History of Panama railroad. Harper & Brothers. p. 264.|last=|first=|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> including large no. of Punjabi and Sikh population . Many sikhs left Isthmus after completion of rail link but a large no. remained and got settled there..

== Spread of Sikhism ==▼

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▲== Spread of Sikhism ==

Then when work on [[Panama Canal]] was started in 1890, they worked for digging canal as manual labourers , as very few machinery was available by that time.That was period when steam engine was just started.Punjabi and specially among them sikh labourers worked under odd conditions meeting challenges of yellow fever etc.British and American officials preferred sikh labourers over others because of their hard work and characteristic to withstand harsh conditions of work. Panama canal was competed in 1913 -14.By that time all along sikhs had maintained a weekly congregation , reciting Gurbani path ,in houses by rotation .Punjabi early settlers who came to Panama started working in jobs like watchmen or sold daily use articles as petty businessmen, till they were absorbed in Panama Canal construction work by American company.With completion of canal Many of them had earned enough money by dint of hard work working in elongated hours to set up their own business or became land owners and did farming in fields .one among them Rattan singh built his financial company, and became founding father of Gurdwara Guru Nanak Sahib, Panama along with another Parkash Singh and many others from their voluntary contributions . Gurdwara is well established and was inaugurated on 1986 Guru Nanak Birthday.<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|last=Melton|first=J. Gordon|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2010|isbn=|location=|pages=2187|quote=Some of South Asian continent organisations in Panama are.....Guru Nanak Sahib Civic Society.|Quote=}}</ref> ▼

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}}.

▲Then when work on [[Panama Canal]] was started in 1890, they worked for digging canal as manual labourers , as very few machinery was available by that time.That was period when steam engine was just started.Punjabi and specially among them sikh labourers worked under odd conditions meeting challenges of yellow fever etc.British and American officials preferred sikh labourers over others because of their hard work and characteristic to withstand harsh conditions of work. PanamaThe canal was competedcompleted in 1913 -141913–14.By that time all along sikhs hadSikhs maintained a weekly congregation , reciting [[Gurbani]] path , in houses by rotation. Early .Punjabi early settlers who came to Panama started working in jobs like watchmen or sold daily use articles as petty businessmen, tilluntil they were absorbed in Panama Canal construction work. byWith American company.Withthe completion of the canal, Manymany of them had earned enough money by dint of hard work working in elongated hours to set up their own businessbusinesses or became land ownerslandowners and didfarmers. farmingOne inof fieldsthem .onewas amongRattan themSingh, Rattan singhwho 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 onin 1986 Guru Nanak Birthday.<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|isbn=|location=|pages=[https://archive.org/details/religionsworldvo00melt/page/n2303 2187]|quote=Some of South Asian continent organisations in Panama are (.....) Guru Nanak Sahib Civic Society.|Quote=}}</ref>

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== Establishment of Higher Education Systemeducation ==

One such weekly congregation resulted in formingthe Panamianformation medicalof Panamanian Medical and managementManagement corporationCorporation of higherHigher educationEducation ( PMMC) which set forth besta Medical degree programme in Panama.<ref name=":0" />

== Present Generation of Sikhsgeneration ==▼

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After closurethe of Panama Canal Projectconstruction and further formation of independent Republic of Panama, many sikhs returned back to their homeland in India , others migrated to Canada , England and other Europian countries. But still a large no. got settled there. Afterthe establishment of Panam Canal and American military bases in Panama , many new immigrants, including sikhs came and gotSikhs, settled there as permanent residents. Recent interviewsInterviews of some of 4thfourth generation PanamianPanamanian sikhs by sikh channel of U.K. , hasSikhs revealed that those who settled aresettlers engaged in financial businessbusinesses, owning financial companies, owning agricultural lands, cultivating bananabananas and other crops, owning departmentaldepartment stores, restaurants, etc. Some of thesethem joined civil and military services.There areMany, many among thesesuch as Sindhi sikhs whoSikhs believe, in the ten gurus and attend gurdwarathe [[Gurdwara]] regularly. There is onlyOnly one gurdwaraGurdwara operates in Panama.Many interviewsInterviews by [[Sikh Channel]] arediscuss revealing oral history ofthe presence of 4th generation sikhs Sikhs in Panama.▼

▲== Present Generation of Sikhs ==

==References==▼

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

▲After closure of Panama Canal Project and further formation of independent Republic of Panama, many sikhs returned back to their homeland in India , others migrated to Canada , England and other Europian countries. But still a large no. got settled there. After establishment of Panam Canal and American military bases in Panama , many new immigrants including sikhs came and got settled there as permanent residents. Recent interviews of some of 4th generation Panamian sikhs by sikh channel of U.K. , has revealed that those who settled are engaged in financial business owning financial companies, owning agricultural lands cultivating banana and other crops, owning departmental stores,restaurants etc. Some of these joined civil and military services.There are many among these as Sindhi sikhs who believe in ten gurus and attend gurdwara regularly. There is only one gurdwara in Panama.Many interviews by [[Sikh Channel]] are revealing oral history of presence of 4th generation sikhs in Panama.

* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giC9ADl0Eq4 Sikh Channel interview of Panama Sikh episode 6 in 2019]

[[Category:Sikhism by country]]▼

{{North America topic|Sikhism in}}

{{Sikhism}}

▲[[Category:Sikhism by country|Panama]]

▲==References==

[[Category:Religion in Panama]]

[[Category:1890s in Panama]]