Parminder Singh Gohal. (source: Soňa Maletz Nosáľová)
The interview was originally published in the magazine fjúžn.
Parminder Singh Gohal was born in the Indian state of Punjab, but has not lived there for almost 30 years. Because of his work for a human rights organization, he was forced to leave India. He has lived in 35 countries ever since, taking on various jobs. He is currently seeking asylum in Slovakia, which he considers a safe country. Even though he is a practicing Sikh himself, he does not feel safe among other Sikhs. He has a wife and two daughters in India who cannot leave the country.
What does your name mean?
Parminder is my first name, Singh denotes my clan, and Gohal is my surname and indicates my caste.
Is it common for people to have a special name that refers to their clan and caste?
It is. In the case of a woman, her name includes the word "kaur". She can have a name like mine, but her full name would be Parminder Kaur—this tells us that she is female. The caste name is given based on religion or profession. Mine comes from the name of my native village, Gohal, which has historical significance.
Does this mean that every resident of Punjab has a composed name?
Every Sikh does.
Where exactly are you from?
I'm from Amritsar, the city of the Golden Temple. It is very important because of this shrine. It is located on the border of India and Pakistan.
When did you last visit it?
It's been two years now.
Did you spend most of your life there?
No, I left India for the first time 30 years ago and have been returning from time to time. I have lived in 35 countries. Because I worked for an international organisation, I had to travel a lot.
Where do you have your roots?
I feel my roots are still in my native village, Gohal, which is 18 kilometres from Amritsar. All my ancestors—my grandparents and parents—were from this village. Within the Sikh community, it is very important. I have a strong connection to it because it is the source of my inspiration and everything I have achieved, that is my fight against corruption, cruelty, and my determination to save humanity have always been the mission of our village.
Your native village and the city of Amritsar are part of the Punjab region. This region has had an irreplaceable role in the history of India.
Yes, Punjab plays a very specific role because it has everything. We have rich agriculture that employs more than 75 percent of Punjab's population. We feed almost all of India because a wide variety of crops can be grown on our fields and then distribute them to everywhere in the country.
Is this area a conflict zone?
Yes. Ever since India declared independence, Punjab has also sought autonomy. India is home to many religions, predominantly Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism, with Hinduism having the majority. During the struggle for independence from Great Britain, it was decided that followers of each of the three religions would have their own territory. While Muslims got Pakistan, the remaining residents, Hindus and Sikhs, stayed in India side by side. However, the independence of Punjab as the central hub for Sikhs was never recognised. Conflicts began right after independence from Britain was achieved. Many people became radicalised, and even today Punjab is home to many radicals. Conflicts, battles, and bloody clashes have shaken the region. Roughly every 10 years, something happens.
What kind of radicals do you mean?
The Punjabi ones. Punjab has been divided into three parts—one-third lies in Pakistan, the rest in India. However, there are many people who want an independent Punjab, which they call Khalistan—a Sikh country. The government has tried to solve this problem many times, but to no avail. Punjab is a crucial territory for India as its enemy, Pakistan, so the former will not let it go.
Regarding the residents of Punjab, what are the relationships between them? You mentioned that conflicts happen quite often. Are they caused by ordinary citizens?
No, mainly by radicals. The people of Punjab are generally very progressive, they have no desire for conflicts. They believe in political organisation and fair solutions. However, radicals believe that the Indian government and its agenda are turning them into slaves. A few years after independence, the government had no control over Punjab. The radicals took power at that time and, with Pakistan's help, acquired weapons. On the other hand, the Indian political scene united the radicals because they wanted to take control of Punjab and annex it to India. Both sides have been violent. Young people have two options—either join the government police or join the radicals. If they are interested in neither, they are either eliminated by the radicals or the government. That is why they leave Punjab in droves, and emigration to various parts of the world is significantly affecting the region. You can find Sikhs almost everywhere. People leave because they cannot withstand such intense pressure. It is better to leave than to die.
Is this what forced you to leave?
Yes, although there were other circumstances as well. When the conflicts between the government and the radicals began, many new NGOs emerged trying to alleviate the tension. The government mainly targeted young Sikhs because they were considered radicals, even if they had nothing to do with it. It was also meant to serve as a warning so that no one would join the radicals. My NGO identified as many as 25,000 victims who were eliminated by the government between 1988 and 1992. That was when I started working there. On the other hand, the radicals were also very strong and unstoppable. In 1984, a group of Sikhs assassinated the then Indian prime minister because they felt she had attacked the Golden Temple. When through my work I gained access to sensitive information regarding Indian police activities in Punjab, I became a persona non grata. After a while, the government accused my NGO of collaborating with the radicals. I had to leave. At first, I had trouble getting a passport. I only got it in 1999, and since then, I have been practically on the run. Not constantly, but most of the time.
Where did you go first?
I lived in many places. First, it was Hong Kong, then Germany, Singapore, and Malaysia. My organisation helped me every time. Then it was decided for me to get married.
Is it common for an employer or organisation to decide whether and when you should get married?
Not really. Usually, it's the family that makes the decision. But the organisation found a girl who was preparing to study in Australia, and since marriage visas were common at that time, she was a suitable candidate. We got married in 2006 and settled in Australia. Our two daughters were born there. In 2008, when I was finally able to apply for residency, the NGO called me back to India to work on a new project. I had to tell my wife which NGO I was working for and the risks pertaining to my job. As you can imagine, she was very upset. Over time, we built a house in India, but it was not safe for us to stay there. So in 2010, we moved to London. However, my wife wanted to provide our daughters with the best education and returned to India. I couldn't go with her; she had to go alone. In 2014, I finally moved from London to Dubai to be closer to my family. I stayed there for 9 years.
Parminder Singh Gohal. (source: Soňa Maletz Nosáľová)
What did you do in Dubai?
I owned a logistics company and occasionally visited my family in Punjab, always just for a few days, to be safe. But in 2020, my patience ran out. It was time to change the environment and take my family somewhere we could be together. I asked my organisation for help, but in the meantime, the Indian government changed, significantly disrupting my plans. I also had to leave Dubai because the leader of the separatists and his group moved there. Originally, I was supposed to move to Romania, but I chose Slovakia in the end.
Was Slovakia a safer choice?
Yes, I found out that there is practically no Sikh community in Slovakia.
Is it dangerous for you to be among your own people?
Right now, yes. I don't know who is on which side and who works for my organisation. It is really hard to live under constant surveillance.
Is there any place where you feel safe?
I feel safe here. I don't have to deal with any problematic situations because no one knows me. I really like it here. I'm the only foreigner at our company, and I think they respect me. They even say "Singh is king" (laughs).
Are you in contact with your family?
Yes.
Is there any chance that they could move to Slovakia?
Only if I get asylum. My application was already rejected once, despite the fact that I underwent four 7-hour interviews in 6 months. My lawyer appealed and my case was reopened. It was acknowledged that I have the right to be granted asylum. The immigration office has 6 months to decide. However, they have to reopen my case and go through the entire file, which is 350 pages long, so it may take some time.
Fortunately, you can stay and work here in the meantime. What keeps you busy at the moment?
I work in the warehouse of the Conrad company. In Australia, I obtained a forklift license, and in the UK, I got a permit to drive my own car.
How many driving licenses have you collected like this?
It's quite a collection, six licenses in total. I also have a driver's license in Dubai, Germany, India, and South Korea.
Do your colleagues talk to you in English?
Some of them do. But I've also learned a bit of Slovak, and I can communicate with them about work-related topics. In the refugee camp, we had Slovak language courses held by the Humanitarian Council and in particular a young lady named Janka. She knows my story, taught me Slovak, listened to me, talked to me, and helped me cope with the initial mental strain. I'm very grateful to her.
Do you miss your family?
I do. My daughters call me all the time. They were recently upset because we haven't celebrated New Year's together for many years. They are teenagers now and want to spend time with the family together. I promised them that we will celebrate it together soon.
When did you last see them?
Two years ago.
What are your plans and hopes for the future?
I hope that if I'm assigned a new immigration officer, they will understand my situation. If I 'm granted asylum, my organisation will help me obtain passports for my family, but it has to happen quickly so that their safety is ensured. Until that happens, I need to prepare a few things here for their arrival. I don't want to leave, I plan to stay. I believe my family will finally find peace here. I would also like to re-establish my business from Dubai here—a logistics company and a small NGO.
What do you think of Slovaks?
No one has threatened me so far, except maybe the immigration office, though I’m not sure why exactly. But generally, I’ve had only good experiences in public.
Have you connected with the Indian community in Slovakia?
I know a few people, but they are completely new acquaintances. The Indian community here is very small. It is slowly growing, but most people who come here for work are from southern India. People from Punjab aren't interested in countries like Slovakia; I'm here for completely different reasons. I came here seeking peace and safety, not a high income. However, you can find many people from Punjab abroad, very progressive, in government, and in politics. They have a large community in countries like Italy, Germany, and Austria, with around 80,000 people there.
You wore a traditional Sikh turban at the photoshoot for FJÚŽN magazine. What is it like to wear it in Slovakia?
It's a very unique expression of identity. In India, we have a saying: if you meet a 100 people somewhere, one of them will definitely be a 'sardar'. That's the one who wears a turban.
Could you explain why it is so important and what it symbolises?
The turban is one of the five symbols of our religious leaders, and 'sardar' means leader. Our gurus teach that all Sikhs should be both saints and warriors. They should be politicians but also believers. They should fight against corruption. If someone needs help and sees a person with a turban, they know they will help them. That's why we have shrines all over the world—though not yet in Slovakia. In temples, you can usually find free accommodation or food.
Are you religious?
Yes. Every day, without exception, I wake up at 3:46. I meditate, and at 6:00 I go to work.
Does meditation help you cope with the stress you are currently experiencing?
Meditation helps me a lot. Especially now, after 30 years on the run, I have found peace in Slovakia, so I feel it's time to devote myself even more to meditation. Sikhs believe in three important pillars: meditation, distribution, and family. One should meditate, share what they have—that's why we have shrines worldwide—and should not be alone; they should have a family.
Is Slovakia a place where you could establish roots?
I think my descendants will. They are still looking for where to start a new life; mine is already in its final stage. We have a saying that life has four stages, and my age corresponds to the last one. My older daughter will study in Košice; she wants to become a pilot. Even if I don't get asylum, I want her to study in Slovakia. My younger daughter will become a lawyer here. I chose Slovakia for their future life, even though they were born in Australia, went to school there, but Slovakia is the land where they should live.
Why not Australia?
There is a large Sikh community in Australia. I want my daughters to leave the past behind and start a new life, far away from everything we had to go through.
© [fjúžn] magazine
