We do have something that no one else does!

Some kid whose father is a decorated General in the armed forces goes to the same school where the son of a stick-wielding police constable (havaldaar) also studies. Now which one of these 2 would be more proud of his father? Obviously the son of a General! How does this make the havaldaar’s son feel? Obviously intimidated and perhaps even inferior! How do such people then react? They try every attempt to mock or humiliate someone who is way ahead of them in any aspect life.

Some kid loves his father to death because he knows his father sacrificed so much just to give him a decent upbringing and a good education. Another kid doesn’t even know who his father was, because his father left his mother before this kid was even born. Now which of these 2 will never tolerate any insult to his father? Obviously the first kid, because he owes everything to his father!

This is the difference between the Sikhs and others, and this is the reason why we’re facing all these various sorts of troubles all over this world. Whether it’s the problems we face at the hands of Hindus in India, or Muslims in Islamic countries, or gorey/kaale/others in Western countries, this difference is the central issue at the core.

We are proud of our Guru Sahibaan, our Puratan Singhs, our mahaan Sants, Sipahis and our Shaheeds. We are proud of their glorious legacy. Those who don’t have such a history, or have a shameful history full of oppression and barbarity will always have a problem with us just like the son of a havaldaar has with the son of a General. The General’s son has pictures of his dad in uniform decked with medals. The son of a havaldaar knows his father doesn’t even have a rifle. The General’s son can tell stories of how his dad won so many battles and faced the enemy fearlessly. What will the havaldaar’s son say? How his father beat up an innocent protester? Or how his havaldaar dad got slapped by a girl because he passed a lewd remark? What else can such people do besides cracking Sardar jokes?

We are proud of our turbans, our beards, our 5 kakaars, because these are blessings of our Guru Sahibaan. Those who don’t even know whom to worship/follow, what do they have in life that they can value? They are like that kid who never knew who/what his father was/is? Thus they have a problem with our turban, and they want it taken off at all airport checkpoints. They have a problem with our kara/kirpan and want these removed before we board buses. Why they have this problem? Because these poor fellows are like that fatherless kid who never knew what it means to get a gift from a dad. They don’t have a blessing like Sikhi in their lives, they don’t have a father like Kalgidhar Patshah Ji, they don’t have anything such as the Khalsa appearance or the 5 kakaars which they can call as gifts. But since we do, they have a problem with these. What else can they do except try to rob us of these?

Khalsa ji, do not take Sikhi for granted. Please don’t! This whole world is full of ashamed and fatherless people who do not have anything to be proud of, or anything to value in their lives. We have everything! Our Guru Sahibaan, the priceless jewel of Gurbani, our Puratan Singhs/Kaurs, our itihaas, our Gurmat philosophy, these are all like those medals which the General’s son is so proud of. These are all those gifts which a loving father’s beloved son holds near and dear to his heart and soul. Those who don’t have such a father, or those who don’t even know about their father, they always have, they still do, and they always will have a problem with the Khalsa!

Mehtab Singh
Nov. 4th, 2013

Very well said Mehtab Singh jeeo.

Kulbir Singh

excellent analogy Mehtab Singh Jee

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Veer Mehtab Singh Ji, you are true to say we, as a sikh, are better off than others. It is certainly so. No one can ever imagine, what riches we are hiding in our HAIR AND TURBANS.

But, is it right to say that all people know about the status of our "General" Father. I do not think so. How we assume that all those who know not about our REHATS, DASTAAR and COMMITMENTS TO KAKKARS and discriminate against us; do so because they feel inferior in their thoughts, as a son of a constable does.

May be I am missing something in this ANALOGY and unable to completely follow it. Please do not mind it.

I would certainly like to say that we as a sikh have a duty to tell others about GURBANI AND MISSION OF GURU NANAK SAHIB. And when somebody discriminates against us at global level, he reminds us of our duty. They are right to discriminate, because we look different. It is their ignorance or poor state of mind. (Their poverty, as you say.)

Who knows GURU NANAK was there?

They see the turbans and hair. That is all. It looks odd to them. Are not we odd, in true sense?

Bhul Chuk Maaf Hove Ji

Please.

MB SIngh ji thats exactly what I wanted to say, but I choose not to earlier, because I found the sentiments expressed in the op as being too pure and heartening. But MB Singh is quite right. Sikhs are being discriminated against and have to face opposition for reasons other than expressed in the analogy.

Quote

They don’t have a blessing like Sikhi in their lives, they don’t have a father like Kalgidhar Patshah Ji, they don’t have anything such as the Khalsa appearance or the 5 kakaars which they can call as gifts. But since we do, they have a problem with these. What else can they do except try to rob us of these?

US is against muslims because of their historical meddling with muslim countries. And Sikhs are becoming their target due to mistaken identity. In any case they are certainly not jealous of the turbans and beards. In fact they see these as being something undesirable.

And whatever US does in the name of security might be termed as paranoid behaviour, but it is certainly not being done out of jealousy. Majority do not even know about Sikhs and their history.

It is an excellent trait that Sikhs should be proud of their history and lineage BUT lets not live in an illusion. Nobody is jealous of us because of our history. They either do not know or they do not care.

Almost all the religious people of faith consider their belief system as being the truest and most perfect. Muslims believe that and so do others. In fact when they see other faiths they think of them as being mislead and having little knowledge of true religious life.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

"Nobody is jealous of us because of our history. They either do not know or they do not care."

It certainly applies in India. "Sardarji" and "Baranh Baj Gaiyae" may have comedic implications to many Indians, but are rooted in proud affirmation of Sikh character. And the common man may have lost the meanings and implications to our character, but the Brahmin regime in India are acutely aware of what Sikhs are.

Hanji satbachan jeeo! Bhul chuk maaf.

ms514 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH
>
> "Nobody is jealous of us because of our history.
> They either do not know or they do not care."
>
> It certainly applies in India. "Sardarji" and
> "Baranh Baj Gaiyae" may have comedic implications
> to many Indians, but are rooted in proud
> affirmation of Sikh character. And the common man
> may have lost the meanings and implications to our
> character, but the Brahmin regime in India are
> acutely aware of what Sikhs are.

These jokes are not 'rooted' in proud affirmations. They mock the Sardars and are created by people who hate Sikhs or think less of them.

The Jokes about Sardars have been circulated more after 1984 (according to what I have seen, but the reason could also be that communication media became big only in recent decades). These jokes are certainly very hurting and no one amongst the Sikh have liked the jokes.

Some people from Sikhs have made poor attempts in explaining away the situation by saying that look we 'punjabis' or sardars are so open hearted that we can laugh at ourselves.

In recent times situation has changed. About a month or 2 ago, a judicial court in Punjab has jailed a person for circulating jokes against sardar community. The news was prominently circulated in many newspaper in Punjab.

I feel that with advent of sensitivity and modern way of tackling things, the jokes will slowly and slowly decrease from circulation.

The mind-set which produces these jokes can certainly be said to be against the Sikh community. But this can only be termed as hatred and antagonism. It cannot be termed as jealousy.

And its not Brahminism which is surfacing in India. It is Hindu Fundamentalism and it includes brahmins and khatris. I point out that Jagdish Tytler is NOT a Brahmin, he is a Khatri. And he is said to have converted to christianity (which might be a ruse though)

Jwahar lal Nehru was an atheist, he was a corrupt fellow who had affairs with Edwina Mountbatten and smoke and drank. He was a person who cleverly came to power and ruined whole of India. Indira did not have any religious affiliations as well. She was simply a power hungry tyrant who used religion only for coming to power. She married a Parsi and her son married a christian. They have no religion, they made fools of Indian masses and used the name Gandhi only for creating an illusion.

What we do not understand is that is not one particular trait Sikhs are up against. World wide incidents of violence and sexual nature are on the rise, there is greed for power and money everywhere. it is the baser mental and tendencies which do these acts. And they are not done out of jealousy, they are done out of hatred, misgivings, antagonism and what have you.

If some forces in India are against the Sikhs, they do not want Sikhs to come in power or to assert separate religious and historical identity. They would be happy if you'd say that Khalsa was created as a warrior wing of Hindus to fight against muslims. So its not jealousy, its greed for power and money and cultural domination. In fact Cultural Domination is a big topic in itself.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

Sardarji - translate the word please and see what type of title it is.
12 o clock joke - another reference to a proud Sikh community who would fight off Mughals at midnight to great effect.

I would pursue this discussion, but it would only serve as a offense/defense exchange. Thank you.