MR: RAJENDRA SAREEN’S articles published in The Tribune of August 4 and 5 are not only in bad taste, but also full of factual inaccuracies. He has climbed that some Sikh leaders demanded a separate Sikh State at the time of Independence, but neither the British nor the Muslim League entertained the idea. He has not mentioned the name of any Sikh leader who made such a demand.
The only two leaders who negotiated on behalf of the Sikh community at the time of Independence were Master Tara Singh and Mr. Baldev Singh, The former is on record as having refused to have any negotiations with Jinnah, While in London for negotiations, Mr. Baldev Singh once categorically declared that the Sikhs had not separate demand and that they could get whatever they wanted from the Indian leaders after Independence. However, instead ‘of appreciating the gesture, some of my countrymen started dubbing the Alkalis as separatists, immediately after Independence.
The slogans of the type mentioned by Mr. Sareen were being raised by irresponsible persons from both sides. For his information, the slogans raised by the other side were “Kangha, Kacha, Kara, Kirpan — Inko Bhejo Pakistan”; “Oora Ara Nehin Parhenge — Gandi Bhasha Nahin Parhenge”, “JaikaraeKalyan Hindu, Hindi, Hindustan,” etc.
Anybody who is really interested in getting at the root of turbulence, cannot ignore the facts that certain persons in religious garb created all round bitterness by hurling personal abuses at the prophets of other religious, including Sikh Gurus, a section of the vernacular Press at Lahore and later at Jalandhar and Delhi, concentrated on spreading hatred among different communities to boost its circulation; a section of the Punjabis made a common cause before Independence with the Muslim League in disowning their mother tongue. Afier Independence, the ‘Muslims in Pakistan gave up their tirade against the Punjabi language, but some of my countrymen persisted with it, with renewed ‘vigour, often with official patronage, those who denounced the Punjabi language because of its Gurumukhi script, conveniently forgot that their own script had been adopted for the country’s national language. While cow slaughter had been banned almost all over the country to respect the sentiments of one community, some people could not tolerate a ban on tobacco in a part of only one city to respect the sentiments of another community.
Instead of blaming only one side for the prevailing turbulence, an eminent journalist of the stature of Mr. Rajendra Sareen should preach tolerance by calling upon ‘the two sister communities to respect each other’s’ religious sentiments.
Tri lok Singh, Lusaka (Zambia)
Article extracted from this publication >> October 10, 1986
