What is intergenerational trauma and it's relationship with Sikhi?
Intergenerational trauma, also known as transgenerational or ancestral trauma, refers to the passing on of psychological and emotional wounds from one generation to another.
Intergenerational trauma refers to how the psychological and emotional effects of trauma can significantly shape the behavior, beliefs, and coping mechanisms of individuals who have experienced it.
This concept suggests that traumatic experiences endured by one generation can have long-lasting effects on subsequent generations, even if those later generations did not directly experience the original trauma themselves.
These effects can then be passed down to their children and grandchildren, which can impact their mental health, behaviors, and overall well-being. The idea is that trauma can have a profound and lasting impact on individuals and their families, even across multiple generations.
Examples of intergenerational trauma can include historical events such as wars, genocides, forced migrations, slavery, colonization, and other forms of oppression.
The traumatic experiences of a group of people during certain events can have lasting impacts on subsequent generations. Trauma can shape family dynamics, cultural norms, and individual psychology in ways that can affect how people perceive and respond to stress and adversity.
Studies suggest that intergenerational trauma can be transmitted through various pathways including parenting styles, epigenetics, cultural and social norms, attachment and relationships, and memory and storytelling.
Trauma survivors may unconsciously pass on their coping mechanisms, emotional responses, and behaviors to their children, which can impact how they perceive and respond to stress.
Traumatic experiences can also cause epigenetic changes that influence the expression of genes related to stress response and mental health, which the next generation can then inherit. Trauma can also shape the cultural narratives, customs, and values of a community, which can be passed down to subsequent generations.
This can affect how individuals within that community perceive themselves, others, and the world around them.
Trauma can also affect individuals' attachment styles and interpersonal relationships, influencing how parents bond with their children and how children form relationships later in life.
Lastly, how traumatic events are remembered and discussed within families can impact how subsequent generations understand their identities and histories.
Intergenerational Trauma & Sikhi
The Sikh community has faced significant traumatic events throughout history, with some of the most prominent ones being the 1947 Partition of India, the 1984 Sikh genocide, and the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. These events have had profound and lasting impacts on the Sikh community, both in India and around the world.
1947 Partition of India: The partition of India in 1947 resulted in the creation of two independent nations, India and Pakistan. This division led to widespread violence, displacement, and loss of life as millions of people were uprooted from their homes along religious lines. Sikhs, along with Hindus and Muslims, were deeply affected by the violence and upheaval during this period. Many Sikh families were forced to leave their ancestral homes, and countless lives were lost in the communal violence that erupted.
The biggest reason for this displacement for Sikhs is the new divded Punjab between India and Pakistan. Till this day there is truama that new generations face thinking about what their parents, grandparents or great/ or great to great granparents had to deal with and witness.
1984 Sikh Genocide: In 1984, following the Indian government's military operation on the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar, there was a brutal anti-Sikh pogrom in Delhi and other parts of India. Thousands of Sikhs were killed, women were raped, homes and businesses were destroyed, and Sikh gurdwaras (places of worship) were desecrated.
The events of 1984 continue to be a painful memory for the Sikh community, and they have sought justice and recognition for the lives lost and the suffering endured during that time.
9/11 Terrorist Attacks: After the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, there was a surge in anti-Muslim and anti-Sikh sentiments due to the mistaken association of Sikhs with the attackers. Sikh men, who often wear turbans as a religious requirement, were targeted because of their visible appearance, which was misinterpreted as being affiliated with Islamic extremism.
Hate crimes against Sikh individuals increased, and innocent Sikhs became victims of violence and discrimination.
Sikhs Affected by Hate Crimes: In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and at various points afterward, Sikh individuals have been targeted in hate crimes due to their appearance, mistaken for being affiliated with terrorism. Some Sikhs have lost their lives or been seriously injured in these attacks.
These traumatic events have left deep scars on the Sikh community.
The experiences of violence, displacement, and discrimination have contributed to intergenerational trauma, affecting subsequent generations as well.
Many Sikhs have used various means, including art, literature, and advocacy, to share their stories and raise awareness about the challenges they have faced and continue to face.
At the same time, everyone I know doesn't matter their background has a story that showcases some sort of ancestral trauma.
What’s your story?
Comment below.