NEPEAN, ONT: Since July, the country has been in turmoil. 1990 has certainly been the year of the Indian summer. The unrest of the Native People has been profound and justified, from the Mohawks in ‘Oka to the Paigan on the Old Man River to the very shores of British Columbia, WSO has written to Tom Sidon, asking for quick action to resolve their problems and expressing solidarity with their just cause. Can you imagine, the Native People of Canada, not only are not recognized as the founding nations, but are totally ignored by our Constitution. Our country Canada, is suffering from a remarkable lack of leadership. But while the “elites” are doing nothing, their lack of action is creating a vacuum in which Canada is redefining itself. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has armed ordinary citizens against poor governments. We are becoming ‘more aggressive in demanding our constitutional rights. Don Mcgillivray of Southern News writes “Canada is becoming a different country, not according to some design imposed by the elites but by the natural process of ordinary people feeling their ‘own power to stand up to governments.” Sikhs are contributing their share to the redefinition of Canada. WSO has fought and won the right for Sikhs to wear the turban in the RCMP. This created the spade work. Now the Native People can wear braids with the uniform, I wonder how many have realized, they have the Sikhs to thank for that ruling.
BANQUETS: The World Sikh Organization has held two very successful intercommunity banquets. The First was in Toronto on September 8, 1990. It was well attended by approximately 600. The Peel Board of Education, that has been doing battle with us regarding the kirpan issue in their schools was invited and came. We have received a nice letter from one of the board members commending our executive assistant as a great ambassador for the Sikh Community. Guest speakers included Dr. Harjinder S. Dilgeer, Dr. John Spellman, Professor Darshan Singh and Mississauga Mayor, Hazel McCallion. We were honored to have with us Ram Raghbir S. Chahal, President, as well as the V.P. Prem Singh Vinning from B.C. and Gian Singh Sandhu our International President, who in his speech, conveyed regrets at the Federal Government’s continued interference in our lives. We are given to understand that the Macauliffe Institute at the University of Toronto, has been given $75,000 to do a feasibility study on the need to start a new Sikh organisation that will be representative of the whole Sikh Community. Mr, Joe Stem, a consultant on the project was present in the audience, Gian Singh’s message to the government could not have been made any clearer.
The second Banquet was held in Campbell River, B.C, on Sept.28. It was attended by over 700 guests, most of whom were from the non-Sikh community. The Sikh population is very small in Campbell River. Key speakers were Dr.John Spellman and Gian Singh Sandhu. Our President Ram Raghbir S. Chahal was present as well as Mr. Bob Ostler Mayor of Campbell River, Colin Gabelmann M.L.A., Gordon Wilson of the Liberal Party and many others. We are very grateful to the Guru Nanak Sikh Society and its President, S. Kirpal Singh Pandher, and his executive for all the help ‘we got in Organising this mammoth project. Functions of this kind are very valuable in terms of good Public Relations. At this point in time, Sikhs need as much positive input as we possibly can.
The Windsor Chapter of WSO is holding yet another Banquet on Nov. 10, 1990. The whole concept of Banquets was born in Windsor, and I am told that they not only started this, but inevitably hold the best and most successful ones. We wish them every SUCCESS.
NOVEMBER RIOTS: We are now commemorating the 6th Anniversary of the November Riots. Official figures of the Indian government state that three thousand Sikhs were killed in Delhi alone. We all know how “official figures” are doctored in the so called World’s greatest democracy. This was only the start of State organised genocide of Sikhs throughout India. Six years later, the guilty have never been brought to justice. Indeed, many of them have been well rewarded for their duty to the state, Here in Canada, we remember our own betrayal by the Tory government. Joe Clark was there in Delhi, when all hell broke loose. Jonathon Mann and Carol Grave land, Canadian journalists from Montreal were also there as witnesses. None of these “honorable” Canadians has said one word of what they witnessed. Why? It is indeed poetic justice that “the witch” was killed on Halloween night, and in good Indian custom, all of North America distributed sweets.
PUNJAB: The government of India has again extended President’s rule in Punjab for a further period of six months. S. Simranjit Singh Mann resigned from the membership of the Lok Sabha in protest against this. “Denial of democratic rights to Punjab and illegal extension of President’s rule” in the state. A few weeks earlier he bad stated that the “Indian State was not capable of holding elections”. This was the reason for his demand for elections in Punjab under the supervision of the United Nations. He said “that all constitutional doors had been shut ‘on Sikhs and they had been reduced to slaves. Thousands of Sikhs were rotting in jails and interrogation centers of the CRPF without trial.”
INDIA: A country on the brink of collapse. L.K. Advani is busy fanning the discontent between Hindus and Muslims, in a nonsectarian country. V.P, Singh has the caste wars in full swing, in a country that has claimed not to have a caste system since independence. Sikhs are prisoners of conscience in jails, without trial in the world’s biggest democracy. Assam and Kashmir are both demanding independence. The simple fact is that democracy is a foreign concept in a country that believes in a karma that is determined by one’s caste. Indian unity was always but a myth created by the British. It cannot hold in the test of time.
The recent rape of a young Canadian Student visiting Kashmir has sparked the organization of Rallies by the Islamic ‘Communities. Sikhs should join their Muslim brethren everywhere.
There seems to be some speculation as to whether the events in Eastern Europe and particularly the Soviet Union could possibly be repeated in India, How could they? Europeans all believe in basic individual freedoms, India is bogged down in the Caste System, and Karma, Even non Hindus, are influenced by the concept of castes. Muslims and Sikhs are just as guilty. While we proclaim to see everyone as equal, we still do battle as to who is a Jat and who isn’t. People in India do not succeed because of their own merit, but rather because ‘of who their ancestors were, and who they know ets, Then there is also the age old problem of the two most basic castes. Male and Female, India is not Russia, and India does not have a Gorbachev.
We are pleased to note that Zuhair Kashmiri is once again writing articles on India in the Globe and Mail. He has been sorely missed.
VISITORS FROM PUNJAB: We have had a number of visitors from Punjab in the last little while. The reason for their visits is obviously the assessment of the ‘overseas community. Among those visiting were Bibi Daljit Kaur, S.Mann’s sister, Prof, Darshan Singh, former Akal Takhat Jathedar, Bibi Rajinder Kaur Bulara, M. and Justice Ajit Singh Bains of the Punjab Human Rights Organisation who made a very worthwhile presentation in Washington to the Congressional Human Rights Cave us, (India Abroad, Oct5)
BHUPINDER SINGH KOONER: A Canadian Citizen, who ran into major problems, while visiting India, was shot in the back and killed in a false encounter on July 30, 1990. WSO had been lobbying on his behalf for almost two years. We have lodged a strong protest with the Canadian Government and Amnesty International. The Canadian Government, true to form has not yet made an official statement on this murder, the reason given that India has not yet confirmed this matter
INDERJIT SINGH REYATS His trial started in Vancouver on the 17th of September. We assume everyone innocent until proven guilty. There is great concern that a fair trial will be difficult to ensure due to the excessive publicity it has been given This will be a very lengthy affair as there are ‘over 200 witnesses to be cross examined. Defence will want to know why CSIS ‘erased tapes that could have been used as evidence, The proceedings started with a bang on the first day when Mrs, Palvinder Kaur Shergill, an articling student with the defence lawyer’s firm, and daughter of our ‘own Gian Singh Sandhu entered the court room wearing a kirpan. Permission for her to sit at the counsel table was granted but only after carefully worded admonitions. “The issue of concern to the court is security.” said the judge. Not that there is a risk from Mrs. Shergill, but the risk to security should such a practice become widespread.” He said with the condition she not be in close proximity to the accused, he would permit her to wear the kirpan in court. However, “This does not apply to any other person, not to any other case, nor to any other of her activities. This is only an exception and should not be taken as a precedent.”
GURU NANAK’S BIRTHDAY: We are about to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. For those of you with families, this is a particularly special time of year. Children growing up in this country are having a very difficult time understanding their own heritage while adapting to the great world outside of the family. We hope that you all will use this time to reinforce your beliefs is the Sikh Religion and the Sikh way of life, Gather your kids around and tell them stories, Make this a family time, Make it a joyous time. Make it something special for all the little ones, that they may learn to know and love their own very special culture. Send greetings to your friends and acquaintances.
This may be a good time to put a word in for the KARA. As you all know the Kara is ‘one of the Ski’s. It is the steel bracelet that all Sikhs are required to wear. It is an article of faith. It is a complete circle, The circle is used as a symbol in Judaism, Christianity and other religions as well because like God, it has no beginning and no end, As an item of faith it must be worn as stipulated, Changing the Kara in any way, takes away from its value as an item of faith, It has been noted lately, that some ladies are wearing multiple Kara’s. This reduces the Kara to a bangle, If you want an ornament or a piece of jewelry, that is fine. No problem. But please do not wear the Kara as such. It is demeaning. Still others in the community are wearing Kara’s made of gold. This too, demotes the Kara to a piece of jewelry. It is an article of faith, not a piece of jewelry. ‘The Guru said that everyone is equal Steel denotes strength, and can be afforded by everyone. The kirpan and the Kara must be made of steel. If you wish to display your Affluence, wear your gold in some other form.
The World Sikh Organization is run purely on donations and membership dues, we do not get any government funding from any source. Therefore the success of WS.O. To carry out its policies is heavily dependent on you and your financial support.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 23, 1990
