Already in its eighth year, an antiracism campaign started by Burnaby-based Spice Radio received a major boost when world renowned humanitarian Ravi Singh joined it on Wednesday (February 2).  

The Khalsa Aid founder from England known for his philanthropy in the countries hit by conflicts and natural disasters raised his hand on air while holding out a sign reading, “Sarbat Da Bhala” (blessings for everyone). This was to show his solidarity with Hands Against Racism , which started on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday in January, 2015.  

Every day, a Sikh prayer ends with these three words, which are sacred to the community and have remained a driving force behind Khalsa Aid.  

Singh tweeted, “We must all take a stand against racism in all its forms.”

In fact, he is a strong defender of human rights and remains vocal against social injustice and repression anywhere across the globe.

His team was in the forefront of providing oxygen cylinders to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic in India and has been serving langar (the community meal) without discrimination to people of all faith groups in regions torn by war and devastated by calamities.

He himself had to face the wrath of right-wing trolls numerous times for standing up for minorities in India and elsewhere.   

The Spice Radio initiative that was launched by a seasoned broadcaster of Indian heritage, Shushma Datt, and continues to grow in its following in Canada. It's been endorsed by the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C. premier John Horgan.  

Coinciding with Holi—an Indian festival of colour—participants in the campaign are encouraged to dip their hands in colour and leave a palm print on white paper along with a message against bigotry. This year however, due to COVID-19 restrictions, people were urged to send in their pictures and post them on social media with a hand in the air and a message of love.  

Some messages came from India 

Apart from Singh, others sent similar images from India. 

Among them was social justice activist Ranjit Kaur, who stepped forward to post her picture with one hand up in the air and a “Stop Racism” sign in the other on social media.   

Kaur lost her father in a racist attack on the Guru Nanak Singh Gurdwara in Surrey in January, 1998.  

Nirmal Singh Gill was a caretaker, who died in the line of duty when white supremacists invaded the temple.  

Kaur was in India when the incident happened and has been living there since.  

She is socially active in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Punjab, and has been vocal against injustice and repression of women and those marginalized. 

Likewise, award-winning Punjabi author Balbir Madhopuri, who has extensively written on the issue of caste-based oppression against Dalits (so-called untouchables) in Indian society also sent in his picture from New Delhi while standing next to the portrait of Mangu Ram Mugowalia, a towering leader of the Dalit emancipation movement in Punjab.

Madhopuri has written two books on Mugowalia, including a novel that recently received a $10,000 prize as a finalist for the Vancouver-based Dhahan Prize in Punjabi Literature.  

Not to be left behind, Ludhiana-based businesswoman and social worker Sippy Bhasin also sent one to show her support with the campaign which will go on until March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.  

In the meantime, pro Palestine activist Hanna Kawas did his part by sending in a picture holding sign in one hand that read, “End Apartheid! Free Palestine!” with his other hand up in the air.

Though Kawas is based in British Columbia, his cause is a part of the international solidarity movement. He strongly believes that the Israeli occupation of Palestine amounts to institutional racism.