As new immigrants to this country we are passing through a very critical phase of our existence as a separate entry and should be very careful in formulating Policies which tater on might become awkward challenges to over continued harmony and progress.
From time to time Rave mace my thinking public alter careful observation on pertinent to Or permanent living in this country, the great land of our future generations, The essence of such living lies in considering ourselves as essential Constituent of the Mainstream American Society and playing Our pan in all facets of this society, Social, cultural and political. This can only be achieved by positive thinking and acting in the right direction with proper perspectives and priorities.
“I am glad to notice that apathy and woeful unawareness of 20 years ago ‘on the part of our people, about their problems in this country are slowly being recognized and replaced by action, though feeble and individual. Much more concerted and aggressive effective action is needed to safeguard our future. My involvement in active public life in East Africa gave me an opportunity to study the problems of our people in depth, width and in their right perspective and Learn the root causes of such tragic violations of fundamental human nights and Dignities’. We are hard-working people and do an honest day’s work to cam our livelihood and bring up our children under religious umbrella. We are law abiding and peaceful and do not interfere with other’s lives but always willing to help. But these very virtues aerate disadvantage when we remain isolated and shun interaction with other communities especially the mainstream America. When you live permanently in a country you form an integral unit of the society at large, Our problems are their problems and vice versa and solutions for problems have to be sought together to march in harmony, peace and progress, Interaction is the basis which will lead us on the right road to safeguard our Children’s future, It is no good to remain isolated and sticks to outmoded values of fife and cling to the pert only to damage our future and unless we shed our cloak of impermeability we will not be able to chart the right course for those who follow us Let us, therefore, understand, accept and adopt local perspectives everyday life by participating in all facets of this country’s life. This step is essential and imperative to establish one identity and achieve equality in all fields. We should also participate in politics to build our political clout. Palace me power and affect every face to four lives and should be played seriously to gain prestige and power for the good of the community. Our great Guru Gobind Singh showed us the way. He was comprehensive and total personality, a saint, soldier, 3 literary giant and practical politician; He fought on the side of Bahadur Shah to gather the throne of Delhi. In fact he raised politics to the sacred level of religion. The path of participation in politics shown by Guru Gobind Singh is clear and unambiguous.
Language of Religion
It is absolutely essential that our children should be fully and completely conversant with our religion as religion is the basis of morality. This can only be possible if they read, write and speak fluently the gurmukhi in which script Guru Granth is Witten. But most of us make only half-hearted attempt at teaching them ‘our mother tongue and no serious attempt has been made at the community level to do it in the proper way. Evidently neither adults nor children have sufficient motivation to learn to a level of proficiency required to understand even the simplified version of our scriptures in Gurmukhi, A language is called “Boli” in Punjabi and it is clear that nobody can learn any language without speaking it and no. attempt in teaching children will succeed unless they are encouraged to speak, not by precept but by example, To achieve this goal I propose the following steps:
- When speaking among ourselves in our houses we should only speak and converse in Punjabi. It is universally accepted that once you have learned to speak the language the other two parts of reading and writing become very easy.
- Rather thin hold Sunday or week end school of some such period effort to teach children, a continuous period of &% weeks, 3-4 hours a day during summer vacation should be set aside. I assure that the result will be surprisingly satisfactory. After that period books magazines and other items of literature in Gurmukhi should be distributed free of charge to keep them interested in the further learning process.
- All speakers during the ritual ceremony and deliberations conducted in the presence of Guru Granth sahib in the gurdwara should speak only pure and unadulterated Punjabi. It may sound a harsh and difficult condition to fulfill bat will pay high dividend towards promoting our language amongst children.
Secularism
From the first to the last Guru the pillars of secularism were strengthened till it became a part of Sikh’ s life We can draw inspiration from their acts and one which stands out is the honor bestowed on Main Mir, the Muslim divine who was invited by Guru Arjan Dev to sanctify the foundation of Sri Harimandir. Again our enteral guru, the Holy Granth, the spiritual lighthouse of our faith has given equal place, with other gurus to the wisdom of 36 Hinds and Muslim saints by including their verses and composition. SO when a Sikh view before and seeks guidance from the Holy Granth he offers his obeisance as much to Farad, the renowned Muslim Saint and Jaidev, a Hindu Bhakat of Krishna as to Guru Nanak Dev or Guru Asjan, the compiler of the Granth. It is infact a commonwealth of the men of God. Again, still being a Muslim, Budhu Shah of Sadhaura fought on the side of Guru Gobind Singh and sacrificed his two sons who died fighting against the forces of Aurangzeb: All this goes to prove that as long as we practice and claim spiritual allegiance to our faith we are all equal irrespective of our external appearances.
G.S.Sasdhu M.D. -Fresno CA
Article extracted from this publication >> August 26, 1994
