It took two non-Sikh women, 22-year old Amanda Gesine (Protestant American) from Greenwich, Connecticut and Ms Vinanti Sarkar (converted Baptist), a New York filmmaker from India, to produce 'Mistaken Identity: Sikhs in America', five days after the destruction of the World Trade Centre in New York on 11th September 2001, a tragedy now universally called '9/11'.

Within two weeks of research and filming, they witnessed the racial profiling, verbal assaults and first senseless killing of the first Sikh, Balbir Singh Sondhe in Meza Arizona. One year later, the sentencing of his killer was underway with the perpetrator appealing the action as an act of patriotism!

A college student at Georgetown University in DC, Amanda initiated the idea for the film during candlelight vigilance attended by over 1000 Sikhs in New York's Central Park, five days after the Attack on America. Talking with young Sikhs her own age, Amanda learned about the sudden racial profiling, verbal abuse and physical assaults (over 295 attacks within weeks) by fellow Americans, simply because Sikhs wore turbans and beards for religious reasons. Together, they discovered that the reasons were sheer ignorance and fear.

The film represents the voice of young America - the white American, sheltered like so much of American society behind a white picket fence. Amanda speaks candidly of her view of the world. She tries to demystify the enigma of Sikh Americans, while sharing the hopes and desires of Americans from all ethnic backgrounds who seek to close ranks against bigotry and hatred. The filmmakers traveled on location all over the United States. Amanda played the host and investigative journalist, in search of and discovering her Sikh American neighbours. Over 50 hours of digital footage was edited by Phillip Marshall, four-time Emmy award winning editor, into the one hour TV program, exclusively designed for PBS TV audiences.

When filming on location, the filmmakers simply could not understand why Sikh Americans were being singled out. Amanda knew it was due to pure ignorance and fear. Yet it seemed unbelievable after she witnessed how the devastating disaster of 9/11 brought the whole American population together as one global family, no longer the "US" and "THEM". She saw arms reaching out on all levels - beyond color, creed, shape and religion. "September 11 changed us all - the question is whether it changed us for the better or for the worse? It was not only a wake up call for everyone, but also a sense of innocence lost and the coming of age for my generation. Stories of cultural and religious diversities need to be told AND celebrated."

The film has now taken on a life of its own, as a fundraising vehicle, to produce more TV programs concentrating on celebrating America's multicultural diversity. It has won two GOLD awards: the Golden Lion Award at the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Florence, Alabama, and the Remmi Gold Statuette for creative excellency in political and social issues at the WORLDFEST-Houston, Texas, competing with over 4,500 entries from 37 countries. "It is our first TV program celebrating cultural diversity in America after 9/11. It triumphs in breaking down misconceptions and social barriers", says Vinanti Sarkar, the Producer and Director of 'Mistaken Identity'.

In the UK, plans are being formed to host two media events in Birmingham and London this year as a dedication in remembrance of what happened in America on September 11, 2001. The website www.mi-sia.com provides more information and a 3-4 min streaming video of "Mistaken Identity". The film's producer invites Sikh and other cultural groups interested in screening the film to contact them via the website.