July 21, 2014 by
Patrick Daly Source:
www.plymouthherald.co.uk
THE
city’s favourite turban wearing councillor is to be honoured with an
international award at a religious conference in America.
Chaz Singh is set to
fly to Washington DC tomorrow to be part of an honorary banquet put
together by the organisation United Sikhs.
He is set to be
commended for being a “strong Sikh leader” and for his work in “breaking
down barriers” for the religion’s worldwide community at the celebratory
dinner on Saturday July 26.
The Labour councillor
for the Drake ward said he hopes to use the occasion to promote Plymouth
and its plans for the Mayflower 2020 celebrations.
Mr Singh is one of
only 90 Sikhs living in the city and will be the only person from the UK
honoured at the event.
“There aren’t a lot
of Sikhs in Plymouth and I did stick-out a bit when I first arrived,” he
said.
“The organisers have
seen what I have been doing here in the community and my role as an
ambassador of the Sikh faith.
“They haven’t picked
me because I’m a councillor or a former deputy Lord Mayor. It has been
about breaking down barriers.”
The Plymstock
resident came to global attention when his picture of him adding a “T”
to the front of the Urban Outfitters shop in Exeter went viral after he
posted it on Twitter.
He said United Sikhs
felt he had “humanised the turban”, especially in America where the
religious headwear “can still be an issue.”
The independent
businessman also pointed to the way he interacts with classically
English events, such as organising St George’s Day celebrations in the
city.
“This is a massive
opportunity,” said the Labour parliamentary candidate for the South West
Devon seat.
“I have said to
people that 400 years ago, the Pilgrim Fathers fled religious
persecution but someone like me today can be here representing my Sikh
faith and say that this is a city of tolerance. We have come a long
way.”
Other international
figures due to be commended include JJ Singh, an economic policy advisor
in Washington, Suneet Singh Tuli, inventor of the world’s cheapest
tablet computer, and Vipp Jaswal, head of international development and
business at FOX News.
After the award
dinner on Saturday, Sikh leaders from across the world will join a four
day conference in the US Capital to discuss issues and discrimination
suffered by faith members in day-to-day life, including bullying and the
right to wear turbans at airports.
Chaz Singh will wear
turbans made by College of Art students during two of the days at the
conference.
