Tandy Culpepper Talks to Filmmaker Vishavjit Singh about His Animated Short Film, "American Sikh"
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Dec 24, 2023 ·
41m 10s
In the Republic, the philosopher Plato notably penned that “Our need will be the real creator.” A rephrasing of those words survives to this day: Necessity is the mother of...
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In the Republic, the philosopher Plato notably penned that “Our need will be the real creator.” A rephrasing of those words survives to this day: Necessity is the mother of invention. And so it is. Just ask filmmaker Vishavjit Singh, a cartoonist, performance artist, and public speaker.
Singh is a member of the religious sect Sikhism, a worldwide spiritual movement that has its roots in India. Singh was born in Washington, DC, where one of his parents was a member of the delegation at the Indian embassy. In his teens, his family moved back to India where Singh completed his secondary education. Following graduation Singh returned to the United States – just in time for the tragic events of 9/11.
Sikh males can be recognized by their long beards and turban hair coverings. Unfortunately, terrorist Osama bin Laden, though a Muslim, was also known for his beard and head-covered turban. Sikhs became the object of suspicion, harassment – even violence.
Tired of being stared at, Singh ditched his turban, cut his hair, and shaved his beard. But after a while, he felt a spiritual void. So he grew his beard and donned his turban again. And then he hit upon an idea. Singh bought a Captain America costume and began walking the streets of New York dressed in the garb of a superhero.
Now, Singh has become very much in demand as a public speaker. He’s launched a company – Sikhtoons.com – and he’s chronicled his story in an award-winning animated short film, American Sikh. Tandy Culpepper talks to Singh about the entrepreneur’s transformation from zero to hero.
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Singh is a member of the religious sect Sikhism, a worldwide spiritual movement that has its roots in India. Singh was born in Washington, DC, where one of his parents was a member of the delegation at the Indian embassy. In his teens, his family moved back to India where Singh completed his secondary education. Following graduation Singh returned to the United States – just in time for the tragic events of 9/11.
Sikh males can be recognized by their long beards and turban hair coverings. Unfortunately, terrorist Osama bin Laden, though a Muslim, was also known for his beard and head-covered turban. Sikhs became the object of suspicion, harassment – even violence.
Tired of being stared at, Singh ditched his turban, cut his hair, and shaved his beard. But after a while, he felt a spiritual void. So he grew his beard and donned his turban again. And then he hit upon an idea. Singh bought a Captain America costume and began walking the streets of New York dressed in the garb of a superhero.
Now, Singh has become very much in demand as a public speaker. He’s launched a company – Sikhtoons.com – and he’s chronicled his story in an award-winning animated short film, American Sikh. Tandy Culpepper talks to Singh about the entrepreneur’s transformation from zero to hero.
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| Author | Tandy Culpepper |
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