RECENTLY I had the opportunity of meeting a young Sikh Keshadhari boy, 13 years of age, and asked about his impression of his visit to a big Canadian city with a large Sikh population. The youngsters’ relatives are recent immigrants from Punjab. The entire family with the exception of the great matriarchs are “Patits” and cleanshaven. The youngster informed me that one of his relatives informed him that his relations’ most favorite Guru was Guru Nanak and least favorite was Guru Gobind Singh. The youngster asked me “why did he say that and he himself answered the question “Is it because Guru Gobind Singh commanded the Sikhs never to cut their hair and to which I responded “exactly”.

It appears to me that these recent immigrants did not even learn the basics of the Sikh religion while they were growing up in Punjab. Therefore, it would seem appropriate to publish the “Rehat Maryada”. (A Guide To The Sikh Way Of Life) as published by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee as a community service to the Sikhs abroad.

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 12, 1987