OTTAWA: Sikhs are top favorites in a package of law proposals presented by the Canadian Government and its defence is so unique that it’s not available in many countries, especially in their justice departments. It came just a week before when the Sikhs throughout the world are busy celebrating the 525th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji on November 18 this year. According to the legal proposals given by the justice minister Allan Rock, Sikhs who carry the kirpans for religious reasons are to be exempted from prosecution. Rock’s report is for allowing Sikhs and others to escape criminal conviction on religious and cultural grounds. Criminal Code may be amended to include culture and six other defenses, The 31 page report is urging Canadians to respond by February 1995 and the cultural defence might allow someone whose culture or religion allow marriage to more than one spouse. Rock is committed to review the code’s general section in Canada. It is worthwhile for the Sikhs to seize it as an opportunity to advance greater understanding across Canada. Guru Nanak Devji had already laid the foundation of a religious legacy some 525 years ago through his long spells of meditation and his direct communication with the Almighty God, which is relevant even now. The cases of turbans, beards and kirpans often surface in the Western societies and governments go. After banning them. The situation in mid’90s is better than the previous decades as the significance of religious values and beliefs of Sikhs are getting understood now. The ball seems to be in the court of Sikhs when the federal laws are applied by way of police force and costly legal systems to solve and dissipate the trivial disputes in Gurdwaras, whereas the governments are trying to understand who. the Sikhs and other minorities are, and how to recognize their cultural diversity, It’s well known, that in many Gurdwaras control for the management, cash donations and power politics are by the new committees and Sikh Groups. Sometime ago a Sikh wrote to the WSN urging fellow Sikhs to donate no more than Daswand or the one tenth tithe, which is also demanded by our Gurus, as an alternative to improved functioning. Because of the ugly incidents which took place in Gurdwaras in New York, California, Vancouver, Toronto and elsewhere, let us vow ‘on this year’s Guru Nanak Devji birth anniversary that peace and truth, two of the best hallmarks of Guru Nanak Devji, prevail now.
Sikh Press in relation with World Sikh News will continue to provide the news and media services, ‘both for Sikhs and non-Sikhs but we have to attain higher journalistic standards like the Associated Press of America and Canadian Press. Any financial assistance given by an individual or organization will be highly appreciated. Justice is one of the cardinal truths which are explicit in the Sikh religion; love, holiness, truth and mercy are others as proclaimed by the first Guru of Sikhs to the world. Guru Granth Sahib or the holy book of Sikhs which contains 1430 pages is Guru Nanak’s own expression. He described God the ‘Almighty as: One spiritual being, who is eternal, who is immortal and ul inning, who is free from birth, death and remains self-existing and who is known by the Guru’s grace. This issue is full of Guru Nanak’s glorious history which is revered by over 20 million Sikhs in the world, Guru Nanak labored earnestly to. Enjoin the peoples and their religions into togetherness. His arduous and extensive sojourns known as Udasi were covered in about 30 years and he visited almost all Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain and Sufi centers of worship the East, Sikhism is one of India’s great gifts to world civilization but its treatment to many Si and their rights today is uncivilized, Sikhism has no priestly class or churchlike hierarchy and it stresses community service, individual liberties and a direct relationship to God. Sikhism rejects the worship of multiple gods and idols. Guru Nanak preached that God is “ikk” or one and responds to the devotion of the t being. His compositions as a diver, Baramah, Tukhari, Dakhni Onkar, Arti, Sidh Gosht and 974 hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib affirm his spirituality and defence of culture.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 18, 1994
