Remembering 9/11: How Kalwant Sandhu's Life Changed

A practicing Sikh, Kalwant Sandhu cut his hair and got rid of his turban nearly a year after Sept. 11, 2001, because of a near-death experience.

On Sept. 13, 2001, Sandhu drove northbound on Interstate 880 near Fremont, when a car pulled up next to him. Sandhu smiled at the man and woman inside.

“I still remember their faces,” he said of the couple with the American flag draped over the trunk of the car.

After a lane diversion caused by roadwork, Sandhu said the couple tried to “nail his car.” He thought it was a mistake, until they tried to hit him against the median a second time and a third time. It wasn’t until much later that he realized they had tried to kill him, he explained.

For Sikhs, the turban represents an article of faith and not a fashion accessory. If a man stops wearing his turban and cuts off his hair, the act can be interpreted as a rejection of the religion.

Sandhu contemplated carefully whether wearing his turban would bring harm to himself or his family. In August 2002, he decided to cut his hair and get rid of the turban.

Patch, through its parent company, AOL, is involved in a project called ActionAmerica. The project is a collaboration of several corporations, individuals and nonprofits organizations designed to honor those affected by the events of 9/11 and unify the country through positive action.

Editor's note: Mountain View Patch would like to share your story. How did 9/11 change your life? Did it spur you to you raise money to help families touched by tragedy? Do you thank your firefighters more? Have you visited Ground Zero? How did you feel? Contact me Claudia Cruz at claudia.cruz@patch.com or call at 650-218-7580.