Sir,
I want to draw the attention of the Sikh American community to a group of Sikh families who would never stretch their hands for help, but certainly need our attention.
Since the start of Dharam yudh morcha in August 1982 for the genuine civil, political, religious and constitutional rights of Sikhs, Indian government agencies like Paramilitary and Central Reserve Police forces have been liquidating young breadwinners of Sikh families in Punjab, Delhi, Kanpur and other places in fake encounters. Many of the young men fearing death in fake encounters have left their families and homes, and are on the run all the time thus leaving their near and dear ones at the mercy of no one except the Akal Purkh Waheguru.
Khalsa ji, we have all come from Punjab and are fully aware of the economic health of these families on an individual basis. We also know very well the economic strength of Sikhs as a community. We all know the name earned by the Sikhs in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, East Africa, and United Kingdom, Canada and in this country for not only contributing to the economics of the countries they went to, but, also their own economic lot. I believe at this most critical juncture of Sikh history, ‘we as a community must rise to the occasion and hold the hands of those needy families with children who need the basic necessities of life to say the least. Many of these families are the worthy dependents of those great Sikhs of modern times who have given their lives and will not hesitate to give so in the future to uphold the nobler traditions of Sikh religion.
I leave the details of rendering help to the ingenuities of the individuals. Those who need ideas and direction may contact me.
Amarjit S. Buttar Vernon, CT
Article extracted from this publication >> February 2, 1990
