NORWICH — Democrat Swaranjit Singh made history this week when he became the first Sikh ever elected to a City Council in the State of Connecticut.
Sikhism, the fifth most-followed religion in the world, originated in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan in the 15th century, and counts more than 25 million followers across the globe today. An estimated 500,000 Sikhs live in the U.S., according to the Sikh Coalition advocacy group.
In Norwich, Singh estimates there are around 10 Sikh families in total, but he recognized his candidacy spoke to the diversity of the entire city. He found support from Indian families and the Haitian community, and others who found a sense of trust in his bid for the municipal body, he said.
“… one guy from Tibet told me he was a citizen but not a registered voter – so I helped him register and he voted for me too,” he said, “so I think when people see some different faces … a lot of folks then are urged to get involved in this Democratic process also, otherwise they won’t care to go for voting.”
Before speaking to The Bulletin Wednesday, the newly elected City Council member received a congratulatory call from Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz.
“I congratulate Swaranjit for his achievement,” Bysiewicz told The Bulletin later that day. “He is a person who loves his community and loves public service and we are very lucky to have him.”
The Lieutenant Governor noted the state’s legislative body is failing to fully represent the diversity of the state, where one in 10 citizens are immigrants from another country.
“It’s important for people who are new to this country to see people who look like them succeeding in elected office,” she said.
When it comes to the state’s legislative body and local governments across Connecticut, she acknowledged diversity is lacking on multiple fronts.