Why this poem by Sikh girl is viral

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Poem by Melbourne-based Sikh girl Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa is going viral on the internet and social media. After video was uploaded on Facebook 500,000 views were generated very soon.

Sikh Girl Poem going viral
Image credit – YouTube

Surjit has received massive support from across the world. Due to wrong interpretation of identity many instances of racism against Sikh community have been observed and reported in Australia, US and other countries. This has forced many Sikh peoples to chop off their beard & hair and remove their turban.

This is why  highlighted challenges being faced by Sikh community during her performance for the reality show Australia’s Got Talent.

In this poetry Sukhjit can be seen depicting how the community is treated in Australia. They are facing injustices regularly and often termed as  ‘terrorists’.

Full text of her poem:

“If you’re not in Australia, ‘where the bloody hell are ya?’ Remember the Bingle jingle, inviting the world to mix and mingle?

Where a fair go was your welcome mat, unless you’re of caramel descent and then ain’t nobody got time for that.

You see, rocking up for my first job at Coles, was like a scene from Border Patrol.

What makes you Australian?

Is it a Southern Cross Tattoo or wombat stew crumbled with a Dunkaroo?

Do you think of a time when Australia’s learnt to share and care and dare to wear its heart on its face, fully aware that most of us in this place are far from fair, but brown and black and slow to attack?

But quick to embrace a warm Australia.

I’m confused as to why, on Australia Day, when the night sky spews bigot bile, I’m left traumatised.

When a teen rips off my uncle’s turban, I’m an enraged flame of pain and shame and sorrow, for tomorrow when a hooning ute throws a rotten peach at my dad and screams ‘go home, ya bloody terrorist.’

I plead to you Lara, where the bloody hell are we?

My people, the Sikhs, came here in 1860 with camels and carts and courageous hearts and look at the maxi Taxi, we’re still driving and steering this country in offices and hospitals and even on stage.

So when people tell me and my family to go home to where we came from, I reply with a smile, tongue-in-cheek, ‘mate, we’ve been right at home for the past 150 years!’

I’m not the one that’s a freak, I’m fully Sikh.”