The Vaisakhi is the day North Western Indian subcontinent dances on the edge of time, lightly with grace, head thrown back, and arms outstretched, spinning to the cosmic tempo played on drumbeats. The dance of joy “Bhangra,” the dance of free spirit, the dance of the dancing Punjab ushurs in the New Year. My ex-homeland, the land of the five rivers, is inhabited by the kindhearted and nobles sons and daughters of Punjab! Unfortunately Punjab is oppressed and occupied by India and Pakistan.
Vaisakhi holds a special significance in 500 years of Sikh history. On April 13,1699, the 10th Guru baptized the first five Sikhs. The baptism of the sword. For 200 years Gurus taught Sikhs the spiritualism and nonviolence. During that time thousands of Sikhs were murdered, two Gurus lost their life in protecting their faith and the right of others to worship in their belief. With no end to persecution and violence, Sikhs concluded, where goodness and sacrifice cannot avail, violence has to be met by violence. However; Guru wanted the Sikhs to be much more than a human. He wanted Sikhs to be God like. A warrior defender as well as a saint who would be perfect in all respects. In baptizing, Guru wanted Sikhs to be the embodiment of all that is best in Sikh religion, be a defender of the defenseless and a protector of man’s dignity. He gave the Sikhs uniformity, name ending in “Singh” for a male and “Kaur for a female, uniform of five symbols and the five prayers. He asked His followers to commit themselves to selfless devotion to the service of mankind, to the family of man, become a leader dedicated to the glory of God, and defend the freedom and dignity of man. He got Sikhs to believe in the moral order of the Universe and the knowledge that God is both just and generous.
lama proud Punjabi American Sikh who celebrates Bisakhi. I would appreciate very much if you would join me in prayers for the coming year for the welfare of mankind, peaceful succession of my ex-homeland, and an end to military oppression of Punjab and the adjacent Northwest Indian subcontinent.
May the coming Punjabi year bring you the best God bestowed on mankind!
“You have potentials of being someone because of God’s dwelling and His wisdom that is in your mold,”
Narjit Singh Anaheim Ca.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 23, 1993
