HCR97 - Designating April 14 as Sikh Day for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

  89R17019 KRT-D     By: Bhojani H.C.R. No. 97       CONCURRENT RESOLUTION          WHEREAS, For more than a century, members of the Sikh faith   have benefited the Lone Star State in countless ways, and their   achievements are indeed deserving of special recognition; and          WHEREAS, First arriving in the U.S. and Texas in the early   1900s, the initial Sikh immigrants often worked as farmers,   laborers, and entrepreneurs; though they often experienced   discrimination and other hardships, these industrious individuals   persevered; through the years, Sikhs have made notable   contributions in such fields as medicine, law enforcement,   business, and agriculture, and their efforts have helped advance   the economic well-being of the entire state; and          WHEREAS, Numerous Sikh Americans have emerged as prominent   figures; notable examples at the national level include civic   leader and philanthropist Dr. Amarjit Singh Marwah, U.S.   Representative Dalip Singh Saund, and scholar and author Simran   Jeet Singh; moreover, Harris County Deputy Sheriff Sandeep Dhaliwal   became the first officer in Texas to serve with traditional   articles of the Sikh faith, including a turban and beard, and he   distinguished himself in his work until he was tragically shot and   killed in the line of duty in 2019; and          WHEREAS, Today, there are an estimated 500,000 Sikhs in the   U.S., with thousands residing in Texas, and Sikh communities have   flourished in such cities as Houston, Dallas, and Austin; in   addition, the state is home to several prominent gurdwaras, or   places of worship, among them, the Gurdwara Sahib of Houston and the   Sikh Center of San Antonio; and          WHEREAS, Members of the Sikh community play a vital role in   myriad social and humanitarian initiatives, with Sikh   organizations proving especially valuable in providing disaster   relief to those affected by Hurricane Harvey in 2017; and          WHEREAS, Each year, the Sikh holiday of Vaisakhi takes place   on April 13 or 14; originally established to commemorate the   beginning of the spring harvest in the Indian state of Punjab, the   festival gained religious significance in 1699 when the last living   guru for Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, chose the occasion to found the   Khalsa order of Sikhism; and          WHEREAS, The passage of this important observance provides a   welcome opportunity to recognize Texas' Sikh community, which has   become an integral part of the Lone Star State's vibrant and diverse   mix of cultures; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas   hereby designate April 14 as Sikh Day; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section   391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect   until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally   passed by the legislature.