Dear Editor: Recently, Ravi Sidhu, a reporter of the Tribune, and presently in USA, interviewed Presidents and Secretaries of various gurdwaras around this country concerning responses of Sikhs to the issues facing them in Punjab. In a democratic set up individuals have all the rights to hold and express their opinions about the issues and so they did ranging from New York City to California, including spokespersons from North Carolina, Texas, and Illinois. But what is ‘most distressing is the situation when such spokespersons close their eyes to stark realities of life and act as mouth pieces of the vested interests of fascist-regime. One such representative is Rajinder Singh Uppal, President of Sikh Forum, New York.
In explaining his version for “differences with the Sikh Cultural Society of New York”, one of the oldest Gurdwara on the east coast of U.S.A. he said, “The time is not ripe yet to seek a separate nation. Other Indian States, too, want independence. Why should we lead the way and get our people killed?”
Clearly Mr. Uppal is speaking. the Language of the people like General Jagjit Singh Aurora, @ decorated hero of Bangladesh war and who it is said saved his life by hiding under the bed in servant’s quarters of his home at the time when Delhi was burning in the Indian government inspired violence against the Sikhs all over India except Punjab in the wake of Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s death on October 31, 1984.
The Sikhs have lost their most precious treasure, the Sikh Reference Library, not to talk of the demolition of Akal Takht Sahib, desecration of the Golden Temple and many other holy places, loss of thousands of Sikh lives under most barbaric and uncivilized conditions, Let us not talk of the loss of property which runs into billions of dollars.
Had Mr. Rajinder Singh Uppal seen his own father, brother or seon being roasted alive and also seen his own mother, sister and/or daughter raped before his own eyes, would he still have held these views, I shudder to think?
Lastly, I am reminded what the veteran Sikh leader, Master Tara Singh wrote in the fifties in the “Prabhat” a vernacular newspaper then published in Punjab “It is better to be the master of your own cottage than to be a servant in a palace”.
After 40 years of humiliation and discrimination would Mr. Uppal still like us to wait?
Amarjit Singh Buitar Vernon, Ct., USA.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 20, 1987
