Sir,
For many decades, India’s Hindu leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi has been projected to the world as the Apostle of nonviolence in India and before this in South Africa. It is rather unfortunate that the real credit where it is due has not been given in history.
Sikhs are the youngest religion in the world and numerically also the smallest about 16 or so millions. Their history even though short only 5 centuries old is replete with many unique instances. One such is the doctrine of nonviolence. Fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Sahib, was the first guru to lay down his life ina PERFECT nonviolent manner. The tradition was continued by his grandson, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib and his grandchildren, Baba Zoravar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji. Thereafter countless Sikhs in history have carried on this tradition including…
Baba Ram Singh ji in the 19th century. During early part of this century we have as Sikhs, sacrificed lives in various morchas including Guru Ka Bagh which made late Mr. C.F. Andrews to remark, “In this I see a Christ being crucified every day.” What to mention of the thousands of Sikhs who laid down their lives thereafter in keeping up the tradition.
It is so ironic that in spite of such a magnificent record of nonviolent struggle to achieve their basic human rights, Sikhs who are precursors of nonviolence are now credited with the most despicable name of terrorist. I think time has come that Sikhs with the power of pen should come forward and take over this unique sewa and inform the world of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Amarjit Singh Buttar
Vernon, CT06066,..,
Article extracted from this publication >> December 22, 1989
