As Harmeet Kaur Dhillon, a proud Sikh and accomplished lawyer, steps into her role as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, the Sikh community worldwide anticipates her commitment to justice and equality. Appointed by the US President-designate Donald J. Trump, she is perhaps a few of the Sikh faces in the 4000 staff that the President of the United States before transition of power. In this open letter, The World Sikh News editor Jagmohan Singh highlights the expectations from her to uphold the principles of “Sarbat da Bhala” and champion civil liberties for all.

DEAR HARMEET KAUR JI, Greetings from homeland Punjab! Heartiest congratulations on your nomination as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights! This is a moment of immense pride for the Sikh community worldwide. Your journey from Chandigarh to the corridors of American justice is inspiring and a testament to resilience and commitment. Your legal work speak volumes for your hard work, diligence and focus.

While your nomination is a political milestone, we are hopeful that your role will  transcend politics for the common good.  I learn that you are deeply rooted as a Sikh into the Sikh principles of equality, justice, and “Sarbat da Bhala”—the well-being of all. These values resonate deeply with the essence of civil rights, which demand fairness and dignity for all communities.

As you prepare to serve, we urge you to channel the Sikh ethos of universal justice and inclusivity. Your actions will be watched with admiration and perhaps some scrutiny too, as your faith and role uniquely position you to leave a lasting impact.

The Sikh community in the United States and beyond looks to you with hope and expectation. In an era where civil liberties often face challenges, your position will be pivotal in ensuring the rights of all—regardless of race, faith, or ideology—are upheld without discrimination.

Your career path makes interesting and inspiring reading. Having served on the editorial board of the Virginia Law Review of University of Virginia School of Law from where you received your law degree, your own law practice, started in 2006, with focus on commercial litigation, employment law, and First Amendment rights, then serving as vice-chairwoman of the California Republican Party and a member of the Republican National Committee, you are certainly going to make long strides in the corridors of courts as your party faces an uphill task on the domestic front, especially with the looming fears of the new immigration laws proposed by your party.

Your leader and President-designate Donald J. Trump’s commendation of your work shows his steadfast faith in you. “Harmeet has stood up consistently to protect our cherished civil liberties.  Harmeet will be a tireless defender of our constitutional rights, and will enforce our civil rights and election laws fairly and firmly.

Reciting Gurbani and invoking the blessings of God through repeating the lines “Nanak Naam Chardikala, Tere Bhane Sarbat da Bhala” at the Republic Convention in July 2024 was a remarkable gesture at a political meet.

I am sure that you are aware that the Indian media has gone agog in projecting you as a sympathizer of dissenting Sikh voices, particularly because of your raising voice against the killers of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and call to book those who attempted to murder a Sikh activist in the United States. I am sure that this will not deter you from calling a spade a spade.

As you prepare to serve, we urge you to channel the Sikh ethos of universal justice and inclusivity. Your actions will be watched with admiration and perhaps some scrutiny too, as your faith and role uniquely position you to leave a lasting impact.

We trust you will honour this responsibility with the integrity and courage that define the Sikh spirit. Wishing you success and wisdom in your new role. May Akal Purakh guide you to serve with fairness and compassion.

Jagmohan Singh
Editor, The World Sikh News