|
            |
IDENTITY CRISES OF THE SIKHS The Sikhs are one of the most enterprising people. Owing to their cosmopolitan temperament they have settled in all the nooks and corners of the world and have been contributing to enrich the country of their adoption by rendering very useful services. Because of their multifarious qualities and open mindedness they have earned good recognition and reputation at their work places. In U.S.A., Canada and U.K. they have been living since last decade of 19th century. Despite their very long and significant habitat in these countries, the Sikhs could not acquiant their fellow countrymen about their identity that they are the Sikhs belonging to the religion founded by Guru Nanak and nurtured by nine subsequent Sikh Gurus for a period of 239 years. Sikhs are the unique people who love humanity, serve humanity and seek 'welfare Unto All' when they pray before God, otherwise their prayer is considered incomplete. They have been instructed to help others, stand by the needies, support the weaks and remain egoless profused with a sense of humility dominating all the times. At the same time they are the people who can sacrifice their everything when their self respect is hit unnecessarily. They are the custodians of the righteousness and do not allow anyone to do injustice to them. Recently in Sept. 2001, the terrorists attacked some U.S. installations. Everyone including the Sikhs condemned terrorism which has no place in a civilised world because it is worst than even nuclear terror. Life in its normal way cannot be lived under the constant shadow of terrorism and the terrorists by their nefarious designs are drifting the present day world back to its primitive roots. Whole the world should therefore find out some viable solution to counteract this menace. The Sikhs suffered the most when the angry Americans harassed them considering the Sikhs the followers of Osama Bin Laden who according to the Americans is the manipulator of the terrorist attacks in U.S. In this book an effort is made to clarify that the Sikhs do not belong to Laden group and they are mistaken as such because the Sikhs also keep beards and tie turbans as Laden and Talibans do. This small resemblance has made the Sikhs target. The Sikhs on a whole are very much different from them and are the nicest people, cooperative and helpful. They should be viewed from a wider angle and should not be made a prey of hate wave against Taliban or Arab terrorists because the Sikhs have a separate, distinct entity and identity. We are sure those who read this book would definitely love Sikhs and would be proud of their nearness. It is regrettable on our own part that we as the Sikhs did not make serious efforts to apprise others about our glorious heritage and tenets of our religion which unite humanity with the bonds of brotherhood. S. Gurbax Singh Malhi, the receipient of Ambassador of Peace Award 2002 expressed his views on this book in his letter as follows: "Recenty released book of an eminent Indian Scholor and writer Dr Sarup Singh Alag titled 'Mistaken Identity of the Sikhs' deals with Sikhism and the Sikhs living in India and abroad. It is written for school aged children and would be an excellent supplement to the existing curriculum that deals with understanding and acceptance of the differences of the many cultures, faiths and customs, which make up our country.
In the light of September 11th and the resulting bias
which has been created, this book would help deal with the many
misconceptions that have been directed towards the many people
of different origin, both young and old. I strongly recommend
this book and trust you will share in the potential benefits
it could bring to all of our communities."
We are also indebted to the sangat which helps us to carry on this otherwise difficult task of distributing the books free of cost. We are sure this book would create more awareness in the minds of the readers about Sikhism. May the peace prevail every where on this globe. Book ReviewReview about the book by Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Jaswant Singh AVSM, 1801, Sector 33-D Chandigarh published in 'Abstracts of Sikh Studies' Magazine Oct-Dec issue 2002.
Author: Dr. Sarup Singh Alag, MA Ph.D. (USA), D.Litt (USA)
Dr. Sarup Singh Alag MA in History, Urdu, Punjabi, Economics and English is author of 40 books in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Bengali. All these books are on Sikhism and spectacularly are for 'Free Distribution'. Mistaken identity of the Sikhs is a timely book to awaken the Sikhs, most enterprising people spread all over the globe and flourishing in countries of their adoption. As an aftermath of 11 September, 2001 holocaust of World Trade Centre at New York, America, the Sikhs suffered harassment, humiliation, death, due to Americans wrath, considering the Sikhs as followers of Bin Laden, a Muslim, as both his followers and the Sikhs tie turbans and have long flowing beards. This condition is still continuing though sporadically. I have a personal experience of this mistaken identity. When in June-August 2001, while visiting America, I purchased a camera film from an American shop in Manhattan, the heart of New York, I asked the American owner as to who I was? He promptly flashed, "I was a Muslim, supposed to have four wives and limitless children". Again at Niagara Falls seeing a large number of long bearded white clad and capped tourists, I asked them whether they were Muslims or Jews? "No, we are Christians from Illinois State of America". When I asked about my identity they all replied in chorus, "We know you are an Arab, a Muslim". Of course I told both the groups, "I am a Sikh, Sikhism is one of the six major religions of the world and told them also the basic tenets of our religion. This was hardly a month before the WTC disaster. Since then I have been deeply contemplating how the Sikhs be taken out of this deathtrap of mistaken identity. This book throws a flood light on the subject and timely too. The author has described how law-abiding peaceful Sikhs were assaulted, how Balbir Singh Sodhi, gas station owner was gunned down at Mesa. The business houses, the Gurdwaras and the Sikhs' properties were vandalised. We used to go to the Gurdwara at Richmond Hill, New York. It was attacked by gun waving New Yorkers. Indian Govt., President SGPC, and Dr. Sarup Singh Alag sent communications to UN, International Red Cross. The effect was swift. US government also took timely action, launched media campaign, Police and Airport officials were warned against any disrespect to Sikhs. Sikh Media Watch and Resource Task Force (SMART) based in Maryland issued a Press release of 11 points advising the Sikhs to carry a cell phone, not walk alone in public, carry a name tag "Singh" or "Kaur" on the shirt. This evaporated the myth 'Sikhs are known all over the globe'. Author justifies historical and religious reasons for Sikhs and Muslims similar external appearance, the dignity of hair, turban, Sikhs agitation in foreign countries to wear a turban, exemption from steel helmets, release of Khanda postal stamp in Canada. He describes beautifully the creation of Khalsa and Sikhs sterling qualities. Useful suggestions for identifying Sikhs, then all out efforts to familiarise other communities by seminars, museums, magazines, Newspapers, literature. He succinctly describes Non-Sikhs views about Sikhism. Arnold Toynbee, M.A. Macauliffe, Dr. Ambedkar and other luminaries are quoted. I intend not and cannot elaborate fully this timely, splendidly written book by a globe travelled Sikh scholar Dr. Alag. This is a treatise every Sikh must read, reading is believing. It is a great service to the community at large. Chandigarh | |||||
