With this issue World Sikh News enters the fourth year of its publication, It is an unprecedented accomplishment as no other Sikh newspaper in English language could survive beyond two years even in Punjab where more than fourteen million Sikhs live. Sikh newspapers failed to survive not because of lack of resources or lack of professional competence but because of the cold response of the Sikhs to their own newspapers. Being fiercely individualistic, Sikhs have had altogether different priorities. Their community involvement hardly stretched beyond Gurdwara congregations and Gurdwara politics. The tragic events of 1984, however, wrought radical change in their responses and for the first time Sikhs, as a community, realized the absolute necessity of developing a powerful media of their own. The masterly manner in which the Indian government was able to disseminate disinformation and project Sikhs as “terrorists” and “extremists” left each Sikh angry and hurt but utterly helpless.
Licking their wounds and determined to face the challenge, Sikhs of North America launched World Sikh News with a shoe-string budget and a skeleton staff. Regrettably, the appeals for support have been generally falling on deaf ears. Not that Sikhs lack magnanimity. In fact, Sikhs are among the most generous people in the world. But they donate strictly to the religious shrines or to promote their personal image. Community welfare projects like educational institutions, libraries, newspapers, etc. interest them but only marginally and distantly. It is quite heartening that a sizeable number of Sikhs have begun to shake off the old ghosts and respond to the community needs more positively and meaningfully but the process of involvement is exasperatingly slow. Besides, a large number of Sikhs are still victims of the Indian government’s propaganda and are easily misled by its agents. Unfortunately, the enemy agents within the community continue to thrive in their evil mission.
World Sikh News can take legitimate pride in breaking this crippling spell through its searching analysis of the news and the events, and through exposing the vicious designs of the Indian government. Our comments on various important issues like the hollow Punjab Accord, insincerity of Delhi, fake encounters, Indian intervention in Sri Lanka, its forked-tongue foreign policy, etc., have all been vindicated by the course of events. What we have accomplished barely touches the fringe of the limitless expanse that stretches before us miles on miles, By Guru’s grace the newspaper has surmounted the survival problem and is confidently poised to compete with the well-established papers.
World Sikh News was launched on the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh and is committed to serve and promote the Tenth Nanak’s proud creation, Khalsa Panth. Being vocal voice of the Khalsa Panth, World Sikh News, finds itself besieged by forces inimical to the great mission of the Gurus, in this unequal confrontation, it is the religious duty of every Sikh to distinguish the true from the false and the real from the fake. Time is not for apathy but for involvement which can be established in numerous ways and in varying degrees. It is not always necessary and even possible for everyone to g0 to the battle-lines. Each Sikh can play the role that best suits him or her. But to assume the role of a spectator in a moment of crisis and to give greater importance to worldly pelf and power is criminal, if not sinful.
On the occasion of the last anniversary of the newspaper, we had appealed to the readers and patrons to help extend its clientele by persuading their friends, relatives and acquaintances to subscribe to World Sikh News. Whereas we deeply appreciate the response from certain quarters, we deem it necessary to share our disappointment at the general apathy to the appeal. It should not be difficult for anybody to mobilize at least one additional subscriber. We, therefore, renew our appeal and hope that our request will be taken more seriously than before.
While extending our heartiest felicitation on the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Gobind Singh as also of World Sikh News, we rededicate ourselves to the service of the Khalsa Panth and seek Guru’s blessings in the fulfillment of our mission.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 25, 1987
