A Democratic candidate originally from Punjab, India was elected as the first Sikh mayor of Norwich.
According to mayor-elect Swarnjit Singh’s website, “[a]fter his family fled the 1984 Sikh Genocide, Singh arrived in the United States in 2007 seeking the promise of the American Dream and freedom from the threat of violent persecution.”
In an interview with the Daily Campus, Singh said, “I know many people in the U.S. don’t know much about the Sikh faith, and there are some misconceptions, but this is an opportunity for people including those who have elected me to look into it. Sikhism is a very peaceful faith. We believe in one God, and there are three basic principles: work hard for your living, meditate, and share with others.”
Additionally, he takes part in his religious community in Norwich by being one of the directors of the Sikh Art Gallery, a nonprofit educational resource center.
“We use art to educate people about Sikh history; there’s artwork of Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Golden Temple and more,” Singh said. “We use artwork to initiate dialogue and educate people on what this faith is all about.”
Sikhi, or often referred to as Sikhism, is a monotheistic Dharmic religion that originated in the Punjab region that spans throughout modern-day Pakistan and India, according to World Religions.
WordAtlas reports that “[a]t present, Sikhism has more than 25 million followers all over the world and is considered as the 5th largest organized religion in the world.” According to Word Population Review, the majority of Sikhs live in India, primarily in the Punjab region, but significant communities exist in countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia.
“I am very committed to my town, I want to make things better for everyone and make it more affordable for everyone at the same time,” Singh said.
Singh said he has been involved in politics before.
“This is actually my fourth election,” he said. “Before coming into politics, I served my city for almost six years on the Commission of City Planning. Then, I ran for the Board of Education. I was blessed with a daughter, so I wanted to improve our education system. I realized that complaining doesn’t help; it’s best to get involved to make things better.”
He said it was a successful term, and that people encouraged him to run for city council afterward.
“They said, ‘You’re a businessman, your perspective would help.’ So, I ran, won, and now I’m serving my second term,” Singh said.
Singh said running for mayor was the natural next step because “according to our city charter, the mayor plays a big role in economic development and negotiations.”
“Since I’m a small developer myself, I thought it would be a great platform,” he said. “I can understand what investors and business owners need and help move Norwich forward.”
After studying Norwich’s history, Singh found out that one major turning point was when Norwich lost their manufacturing base. Singh aspires to bring manufacturing companies back to Norwich.
“I’ll also focus on creating a more vibrant downtown: more green spaces, pocket parks, and better walkability to the waterfront and other parks,” he said. “I want people to enjoy these amenities.”