Video: Desi representation increases in NJ State House

A historic moment has occurred in Trenton as Ravi Bhalla and Balvir Singh became the first two Sikhs to serve together in the New Jersey State Assembly this session. Yet while Desi representation is growing, the metrics don’t reflect the growing state population. Assemblywoman Shama Haider, one of the first Muslim women in her role, shares her vision for representation and the growth she’s seen since beginning her tenure in 2022.

Video transcript

Joti Rekhi: History has been made in New Jersey as the State Assembly now has two turban-wearing Sikhs representing the people of the Garden State. I’m Joti Rekhi, a video fellow with Central Desi here in Trenton.

Rekhi: Ravi Bhalla and Balvir Singh are on stage as members of New Jersey’s 222nd General Assembly. Assemblyman Bhalla, the former mayor of Hoboken took his oath of office on sacred Sikh scripture.

Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla: I’ve always taken my oath on a Gutka, or a Sikh religious text, because that’s a part of who we are and that really affirms my oath to serve the people.

Rekhi: Balvir Singh, who has been serving since last year, is the first Sikh in the State Assembly.

Assemblyman Balvir Singh: Stepping into the chamber, and just realizing, hey, I was appointed, finished my first year and now I’m ready to start my full-term second year in the Assembly. There’s a weight that comes on your shoulders, just recognizing the moment and your place in the moment.

Rekhi: Another moment that resonated with the assemblyman from District Seven was during his own swearing in.

Singh: I’m getting my family situated, some are going to walk with me to the Assembly floor—and of course I’m speaking in Punjabi with my family— and then Assemblywoman Shama Haider…. She comes from the top of the stairs and starts talking back in Punjabi.

Assemblywoman Shama Haider: There’s a hallway with photographs of all the speakers and former—old pictures and drawings. All white men. And here are Balvir and I standing and talking in Punjabi, and I kind of love that!

Rekhi: While Assemblywoman Haider is one of the first Muslim women to be sworn into the State Assembly, she says that’s not necessarily how she defines herself. She also has seen the AAPI (Asian-American and Pacific Islander) Legislative Caucus steadily increase since she’s taken office in 2022, but she says that it’s not exactly reflective of the state’s population.

Haider: I want us to be elected from districts whether there are Desis there or not. Whether there are AAPI [residents] or not. I want people to be elected for what they represent. The AAPI community is about 1.1 million in New Jersey. This includes East Asians, South Asians, all of us who qualify. We should have at least 14 members in the legislature.

Singh: We are no longer just a model minority community that is there to support everybody else’s initiatives. We ourselves can also be in the spaces and others can come and support us.

Bhalla: Dream big. Anything is possible.

Haider: If I can do it, Joti, you can do it!

Rekhi: I don’t know about me, but maybe you? Are you thinking about running for office? And if so, what are the top issues for you? Let me know by replying to this email. And be sure to give me and Central Desi a follow on Instagram for more content like this.

Joti Kaur Rekhi is the inaugural video reporting fellow at Central Desi. She is a veteran local news anchor and reporter who recently launched her own production company, Harjan.

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February 28 – Women’s Day Celebration
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Rasoi III
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March 2 – “Working Girls” Film Screening and Q&A with Director Paromita Vohra
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Public Trust
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Philadelphia, PA 19104
Join us at Public Trust for a film screening and conversation about the invisible lives of women in India whose labor sustains their society. Following the screening, director Paromita Vohra will engage in conversation with scholar Bakirathi Mani. Presented with the Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication and the Center for the Advanced Study of India at the University of Pennsylvania. Reserve your spot.

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