pritpal94
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Found this on Facebook:
As Vaisakhi 2009 celebrations come to an end, I reflect on the incident that helped me realize the importance of Sikh Saroop (physical embodiment of values).
Location: Liviv, Ukraine
11/03/2007 9:00pm
My Story:
I am a visible Sikh who is an American Citizen who traveled abroad on
a student exchange program to Budapest, Hungary from August to
December 2007. While taking a weekend trip to Liviv, Ukraine I was
attached from behind by a group of 6-8 skinheads while walking to a
concert. They knocked me to the ground from behind and repeatedly
kicked my head, chest, and back. My Dastaar was knocked off and lost.
After about 2-3 minutes of the beating, they ran away. My wallet,
camera, passport, etc. were all untouched. At this point I passed out
and woke up at the hospital. The details in between were recounted to
me by a friend. I was found by some people within the club and brought
inside. My friend & others called an ambulance and waited for about 20
minutes for it to arrive. After it did not, they took me in a cab to a
hospital where i was treated. I was then taken to our hotel to
give a statement to the police in which they basically told me Ukraine
is a dangerous place for non-Caucasian looking people and that unless
I could identify the skinheads, there wasn't anything they could do.
Afterward, I was taken back to the hospital for rest. I stayed for
a day and checked myself out the next day to travel back to Budapest.
I contacted the US embassy while in the hospital and they told me that
Ukraine is a dangerous place, they sympathize with me, but could offer
no other support. After I returned to Budapest by train, I contacted
the US embassy there and received the same response. They provided
me with a list of treatment centers which they recommended. I spent
the rest of my exchange program dealing with doctor's
appointments on a weekly basis.
I suffered severe trauma to my head, nose, and right ear, and bruising
to the rest of my body. My nose & right ear were stitched up. My right
ear is deformed. My eyes were filled with blood for about a
month afterward. Attached are some pictures taken at the hospital in
Ukraine.
I make this story public for the first time in the hope that it helps me to:
1) Acknowledge my past and move beyond victim mentality.
2) Inspire myself and others to continue to fight against ignorance and hatred.
In the year and a half since my memorable trip to Ukraine, I have achieved many of my personal goals. I now hope to continue that progress to Vaisakhi 2010 and beyond.
As Vaisakhi 2009 celebrations come to an end, I reflect on the incident that helped me realize the importance of Sikh Saroop (physical embodiment of values).
Location: Liviv, Ukraine
11/03/2007 9:00pm
My Story:
I am a visible Sikh who is an American Citizen who traveled abroad on
a student exchange program to Budapest, Hungary from August to
December 2007. While taking a weekend trip to Liviv, Ukraine I was
attached from behind by a group of 6-8 skinheads while walking to a
concert. They knocked me to the ground from behind and repeatedly
kicked my head, chest, and back. My Dastaar was knocked off and lost.
After about 2-3 minutes of the beating, they ran away. My wallet,
camera, passport, etc. were all untouched. At this point I passed out
and woke up at the hospital. The details in between were recounted to
me by a friend. I was found by some people within the club and brought
inside. My friend & others called an ambulance and waited for about 20
minutes for it to arrive. After it did not, they took me in a cab to a
hospital where i was treated. I was then taken to our hotel to
give a statement to the police in which they basically told me Ukraine
is a dangerous place for non-Caucasian looking people and that unless
I could identify the skinheads, there wasn't anything they could do.
Afterward, I was taken back to the hospital for rest. I stayed for
a day and checked myself out the next day to travel back to Budapest.
I contacted the US embassy while in the hospital and they told me that
Ukraine is a dangerous place, they sympathize with me, but could offer
no other support. After I returned to Budapest by train, I contacted
the US embassy there and received the same response. They provided
me with a list of treatment centers which they recommended. I spent
the rest of my exchange program dealing with doctor's
appointments on a weekly basis.
I suffered severe trauma to my head, nose, and right ear, and bruising
to the rest of my body. My nose & right ear were stitched up. My right
ear is deformed. My eyes were filled with blood for about a
month afterward. Attached are some pictures taken at the hospital in
Ukraine.
I make this story public for the first time in the hope that it helps me to:
1) Acknowledge my past and move beyond victim mentality.
2) Inspire myself and others to continue to fight against ignorance and hatred.
In the year and a half since my memorable trip to Ukraine, I have achieved many of my personal goals. I now hope to continue that progress to Vaisakhi 2010 and beyond.
