In a bid to raise cultural awareness about the Sikh community, all public elementary school students in California will receive a new colouring and activity book which explains why Sikh boys and men wear turbans and refrain from cutting their hair.Unveiling the book — The Boy With Long Hair — in Los Angeles, Lt Governor Cruz M. Bustamante said: ‘‘This project will educate children about cultural diversity and help promote an understanding and acceptance of our differences.’’‘‘Following the terrorist attacks against America and the resulting suspicion and violence towards Sikh and Arab Americans, this project is more than timely. After completing the lesson, I hope students will learn that California’s diversity is something to celebrate,’’ Bustamante, who is also the founder of the Commission for One California, added.After the 9/11 attacks, many Sikh-Americans became victims of attacks against people perceived to be of West Asian descent. Written by Pushpinder Singh, the book was published in 1999 and is the story of a boy who knows that, although people may look or behave differently, there is much that they share in common. (PTI)
