Practicing Sikh woman becomes first to graduate from the US Military Academy at West Point

An Indian woman has made history by becoming the first ever practicing Sikh to graduate from the US Military Academy at West Point. Even though other Sikhs have graduated from the Academy, Second Lieutenant Anmol Narang, a second-generation immigrant born and raised in Roswell, Georgia, is the academy's first observant Sikh, which means she abides by the tennets of the philosophy and practices including Kesh, which calls for allowing one's hair to grow naturally without cutting it.

Narang told media "It's an incredible feeling. It's a humbling experience, I have never worked harder for anything in my life. Being a Sikh woman is a very important part of my identity and if my experience can play a small role in being an inspiration for others, regardless of career field, that will be wonderful."US President Donald Trump on Saturday gave a speech to the 1,107 graduates, including Narang, who gathered for the academy's annual commencement.Trump began his speech with these words "This premier military academy produces only the best of the best -- the strongest of the strong -- and the bravest of the brave. West Point is a universal symbol of American gallantry, loyalty, devotion, discipline, and skill,"  "To the 1,107 who today become the newest officers in the most exceptional Army ever to take the field of battle, I am here to offer America's salute. Thank you for answering your nation's call. Narang will complete her Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. She will then head to her first posting in Okinawa, Japan in January 2021".

The 23-year-old graduate hopes that her efforts to represent her religion and community will encourage Americans to learn more about the Sikh faith. Narang said she decided to apply to West Point to study nuclear engineering and pursue a career path in air defense systems after visiting the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii.Her graduation marks an extraordinary milestone for Sikh Americans.

In 1987, Congress passed a law prohibiting various religious communities, including Sikhs, from practicing certain articles of their faith while serving in the military.For 30 years, Sikh members of the military were not allowed to practice core tenets of their face, including unshaven hair and turbans.In 2017, eight years after the Sikh Coalition began its campaign to end the US military's ban on certain religious practices restricting Sikh members, the Army updated its rules governing religious liberties. 

US Army Captain Simratpal Singh in a statement also congratulated Narang."I am immensely proud of (Second Lieutenant) Narang for seeing her goal through and, in doing so, breaking a barrier for any Sikh American who wishes to serve," The broader acceptance of Sikh service members among all of the service branches, as well as in top tier leadership spaces like West Point, will continue to benefit not just the rights of religious minority individuals, but the strength and diversity of the US military."

Photo courtesy of Indian Express