Introduction
Nowadays, news outlets have the power to affect the opinions of many of their readers. However, there are tendencies among said outlets to highlight adverse events or chase sensationalism over truth. Religion is one of the topics that is often involved in the articles that bear such a nature. While the novel coronavirus has brought many struggles to the lives of people across the globe, it also gave people the opportunity to show their positive sides. One of the most recent news posts from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) focuses on a highly religious community without the common negativity, deserving the spotlight to be analyzed for its contents. This post will provide commentary on the article “Northampton Sikh food bank answers ‘huge need’ in pandemic” by Minreet Kaur.
Main body
The article aims to bring attention to the good deeds performed by the local community of Sikhs from an English town named Northampton. The lockdown had hit hard on the most vulnerable individuals who might be unable to survive through it without a helping hand. While governments across the globe seek more permanent or optimal solutions, volunteers poured into the streets to help those in need. I think that the purpose of this article is not to promote anyone’s religious beliefs or show Sikhs in a positive light. The author reminds people about the ability to affect the lives of others when genuinely wanting to.
I deeply respect the intentions of the author, who provides a clear exposition on the issue and the beneficial actions of the discussed population. Kaur (2021) writes that the Gurdwara Sahib from this town “helped hundreds of people with food, toiletries and cleaning products.” The impact of the efforts of just a couple of devoted believers whose minds are set on preventing as much suffering as they possibly could is immense.
As a religion, Sikhism is based on the principles of servitude, humble life, and equality. The author of this article performs well to outline how this group follows said virtues without directly referring to the Sikh scripture or even the religion. At the same time, the readers can clearly perceive that the Sikh community focuses on alleviating suffering through any means they have at their disposal. The recent incidents that caused significant damage to the local houses were met with immediate response from Sikhs in the form of assistance with food supplies (Kaur, 2021). I firmly believe that such acts of kindness are the best method of showing one’s devotion.
Selfless service is one of the core concepts in Indian religions. This idea is clearly shown in this article, even without any direct attention. Kaur (2021) explains that these people are willing to continue their assistance to those in need “even when the grant finishes.” The overall exposition of the event appears as a natural drive that Sikhs merely have and do not do it as a publicity stunt for attention or reputation. I think that this indirect connection that a reader makes when reading this piece of news is the primary strength of the article.
The location where this group operates also plays a crucial role in the article’s message. Despite originating from India, Sikhism is not limited to the people of Indian origins. The Gurdwara Sahib is a large group of devotees, and Northampton most likely does not contain many of its members. Despite this fact, Sikhs are helping the local population without any prejudice or second thoughts about others’ origins. Without mentioning it directly, Kaur reveals that Sikhism is based on equality and giving to the people.
The author intertwines the responses from the community with the snippets of the interview with the members of the Gurdwara Sahib. These quotes are filled with gratitude, humility, and compassion that are an essential part of Sikhism. Notably, the overwhelmingly positive reactions to the Sikhs’ actions are from people of all ages and beliefs. The language of kindness is a universal one, and Kaur did a great job at revealing this fact.
Another vital observation about this article is that there are not many mentions of religious concepts of Sikhism. Religion is not in the primary scope of the article and remains only as a way to identify the community. At the same time, the positive message of this news piece is easily connected with Sikhism. Kaur gives the most basic information about this group, ushering a reader to explore more about this religion themselves.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Minreet Kaur does a great job at creating a sympathetic image of Sikhs from Northampton, as well as highlighting the overall commitment of the local community to the betterment of society. The article raises a valid point: people who have the drive to help others can do so for anyone, anywhere. Moreover, the author purposefully refrains from focusing on Sikhism to avoid steering the discussion into religious matters and concepts. I think that the fact that Kaur’s article does not focus heavily on religion gives it even more value, as it leaves the conclusions for the readers to draw.
Reference
Kaur, M. (2021). Northampton Sikh food bank answers ‘huge need’ in pandemic. BBC News. Web.