W.S.N earlier published a letter regarding this issue this is the text of Mr.Sohota’s letter to the hospital,

Ombudsman,

Recently, I was admitted to the Peel Memorial Hospital. This is an excellent institution that takes care of people in need of urgent health care. I was impressed with the dedication of nursing staff. They are really special people. May God bless them for their service to humanity?

I would like to ask one question that comes to my mind again and again. I saw several signs in the hospital written in English, French, and Italian and Hindi language. I understand that two official languages of Canada are required and needs to be on the sign boards. Then there is large number of people in Brampton who speaks Italian, so there is a need for that too. But when I see Hindi on the signs, I would like to know whether these Hindi signs are for the Doctors or are they for the Public?

‘The reasons behind this question are that when I became a Canadian citizen about 20 years ago, I got the idea that Canadian Institutions serving the public take decision in accordance with the needs of the people and not some political conveniences, Furthermore, the decisions taken in the public are based on true statistics and informed knowledge and not to please a Foreign governments or a few individuals,

My brothers who visit me often sat in the lobby one day and counted 92 Punjabi speaking visitors, two Malayalam speaking, three Tamil speaking, two Guajarati speaking, two Bengali speaking and four Hindi speaking persons. He counted these because he recognize these people and would ask if in doubt. The people of English, French and Italian or Chinese speaking were not counted because that requires more than one person to count.

According to statistics in Canada, there are 6,715 Punjabi speaking persons in Brampton, and there are several thousand in Metropolitan Toronto area. Visitors come to visit their Sikh relatives from Vancouver and other major Punjabi speaking areas. Furthermore, of all the Punjabi speaking persons in Canada 6.5% are senior citizens who benefit most from Punjabi signs in the Hospital, Punjabi in the 12th largest language in Ontario and 11th largest in Canada right after the three that has 1,34,695 persons.

In this country of immigrants, people bring their cultural baggage with them as did the American Indians, the English and the French and people of several other nationalities. But I have never seen a cultural baggage pushed by a foreign government like India and their Hindu majority, to a country like Canada where institutions are supposed to enforce decisions according to the real needs of the people they serve.

In India a minority Hindi belt (U.P. and Bihar) are forcing Hindi on other nations that speak Punjabi, Bengli, Tamil, Gujrati, Kashmiri etc.

In the history of the world it’s the Punjabi speaking Hindus only who disowned their mother tongue to register Hindi as their mother tongue when they cannot conduct any business in Hindi, and they can speak only Punjabi. The Canadian Sikhs thought that in Canada they will be treated fairly, Punjabis in Canada are from all parts of the world including European African and Asian continents. Half of Pakistan is Punjabi speaking although Urdu is their language of the ruler.

We have seen, the Hindus in North America who are tied closely to the Indian government, are propagating Hindi and touting Gandi in North America, when Gandhi was the biggest racist in history. We see Hindus like Ubale and Ananad heading the Human Rights commissions and many other Hindus heading government sponsored organizations that are supposed to fight racism. It is evident that all these people are staunch Hindus and the racism (The Caste System) is the very basis of Hindu Religion.

The Hospital Management can also ask for figures for Hindi speaking people in Brampton, Ontario and Canada, which is almost negligible. I wonder, where and how long the Punjabi speaking people will continue to be ignored and persecuted?

I have asked my brother to write this for me as my health does not permit me to write.

Malkiat Singh Sahota Brampton, Ontario

Article extracted from this publication >> October 30, 1992