Parmigiano-Reggiano, also known as Parmesan, is the renowned and prideful variety of cheese that hails from the heart of Italy. This authentic and artisanal cheese from Northern Italy, with its rich and delicate taste, has left an indelible mark in the world. But do you know this authenticated traditional cheese has not been preserved by the Italians themselves, but the Sikhs from India?
The Sikh community has played a significant role in keeping the Parmesan alive. It was around three decades ago, when the economy of the nation was booming and many Italian youth moved to cities for better employment opportunities, leading to a shortage of labor in the farming sector.
During that time, the Sikh immigrants, using their skills and experience, filled this gap. This is to be mentioned that the Sikhs came to the land of exquisite wines and cheese during the insurgency in Punjab to find jobs.
However, with a deep passion and love for farming and innate skills, they played a key role in the production of Italy’s Parmesan cheese. Though, initially, it wasn’t the cheese that kept them attracted. But the climate in Italy’s Po Valley, where Parmesan was produced, has a similar climate and landscape as Punjab. This made it easier for the Sikh immigrants to adapt and feel at home.
There were over 16,000 Indian immigrants who were estimated to be working on Italian farms. Many of them were working to produce dairy farm products. The Northern Italy cheese industry was on the edge of failure because of a shortage of labor. But thanks to the Sikh community, using their skills, they were able to preserve the slice of Italian culture.
Mini Punjab on Italian Soil
In 2011, a well-known writer named Khushwant Singh was the first who brought stories of the Sikh community in Italy to the spotlight. It was a small trip to Olmeneta, near Cremona in Lombardy, which made him familiar with the mini-Punjab, created by the Sikh community on Italian soil.
Amritpal Singh, a Punjab native, moved to Novellara in Italy in the 1980s and shared his story with the BBC. “At home, we have fields and cows, and our relationship with the land and animals is very particular to us. So, when we came here and didn’t know the language. This was something in our favor,” he noted, adding that most Sikhs became involved with the cows, others found themselves immersed in the art of cheese making, something that young locals were neglecting.
In 2015, another Italian Sikh, Jasbinder Singh from Italy, shared about his father’s story on moving to the nation during the 1980s and 1990s. “My dad is from an agricultural tradition, so when he came here, he didn’t find the big difference between Punjab and Italy,” he added.
Italy didn’t just find the Sikh community from Punjab to earn their livelihood but also a welcoming environment where they could flourish as Sikhs. They even have their own Gurudwaras here.
Kanishka Malhotra is a seasoned journalist with a deep passion for reporting and uncovering the truth. With a specialization in research and investigative Journalism, she has covered wide range of topics related to social issues, travel, lifestyle, technology, Entertainment and much more. She believes to express and share her creativity to the world through words. With relentless pursuit of knowing and uncovering the truth, Kanishka continues to leave a mark in the world of journalism.
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