In the 1980s, as India fought its dirty war to quash Sikh separatism, it inadvertently inspired a new generation of savvy Canadian Sikh politicians.
Stepping off the plane, the first-time visitor to Toronto might be surprised at what seems like a Sikh monopoly on jobs at Pearson International Airport. Everyone, from the customs and immigration officials to the elderly "aunties" mopping the floors, are Sikhs, and all reflecting their characteristic image: proud and hard-working.
What may come as even more of a surprise is that today a Sikh is poised to become premier of the very Canadian province notorious for its once racist policies towards Canadian Asians. It may not be long before the far western province of British Columbia, the bastion of Anglo pioneerism, will be governed by Ujjal Dosanjh. As the province's Attorney General, Dosanjh has had a high profile and is now leading the race for the leadership of the ruling New Democrat Party (NDP). Challenging him is, among others, a Sikh MP named Manmohan (Moe) Sihota.
Dosanjh's is the classic North American immigrant success story. Arriving as a teenager in Canada barely able to speak English, he worked in the sawmills of British Columbia before moving on to a career in law and subsequently being elected to the provincial legislature. If Dosanjh manages to clinch the party leadership, and the public votes the NDP back in office in the next election scheduled for 2001, the political space for 'visible minorities' in Canada will once again have been widened by the Sikhs.