A recent column in our local News Paper, by Jack Anderson, titled “Religious intolerance by Hindu Nepalese”, brought back memories of that old Vattanhomeland. Jack Anderson describes the misfortunes of one David McBrideyoung American Christian missionary licked up in a Nepalese prison for carrying Christian pamphlets. It will remind many of their personal experiences in India: Remember those rude and crude Haryaanvi security officials, who manhandle international travelers bearing Sikh symbols Singh, Sikh turban and beard, or literature in Gurmukhi. young McBride writes to his mother, about his internment in the Nepalese prison which he shares with 24 others:”… a number of them don’t belong here. but the lack of evidence Guilt is not proven , only assumed, and once assumed, there is no hope”. Sounds familiar; doesn’t it?
How would you convince an ‘Amreeki Gora” that “you ain’t seen nothing’ yet, baby”! Mcbride’s experience in jis desh men ganga behit hailand of Ganges”, is quite a normal fare for the local a. “He cannot imagine the hell holes torture chamber”of Roberiro’s Hiltons! Nepalese share the subcontinent with Indians, Pakistanis and Bangla Deshis; their “people handling” system is a carbon copy of the one perfected by the Indians! Mr. McBride is probably one of a lucky few in those prisons; most likely he is getting a VIP treatment. you see he isa Phaarener (term of both contempt or respect for Foreigners); and Robeiro specializes only in dessi (term of both affection, or cheap and base of own country)! real treat is reserved only for the “prisoners” from the enemy camp, or opposition or detected minorities such as Sikhs. Every imaginable savagery is freely, openly and legally let loose!
MYTH OF HINDU GENLENESS:
We read about the exploits of the rulers, of the past, on the Indian subcontinent. But we don’t know how the “ruled” survived? What were their human rights, if any? There is no recorded history only tales. Even McBride is taken in by the “gentleness” of his fellow rsepalese Hindu prisoners. (I thought the British hired them “because of way they could butcher a human body!) In recent times the “tolerance” of “gentle” Hindus of Ahmedabad, Bombay, Bidar, Delhi, Meerut, Sri Lanka has been well documented. “Hindus are gentle; they don’t harm living beings”! It is one of those fairy tales, which is spread by clever “media men”. yes, Hindus do kill: but only for sport, and to please and appease Durga? Kali/Bhawani/Chandi or Ambha Devi! No offense! Does it remind you of Professor Rajinderpal Singh of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and many others who happened to be on the wrong side of the “Indian Law and Justice”. Dave McBride is very lucky indeed, he was born in a free country and whose government protects his rights!
OUR PAST OF SLAVERY:
Some of us grew up in slavery first British and them Indian. I remember as a young student, in early and mid fifties, going gaga reciting Maulana Iqbal’s “Saare jahaan se achchaa Hindustaan hamaraa” (He must be turning in his grave); and getting “history lessons” about the tolerance of Hinus: “look the way other religious groups have flourished in India Christians, Persis, Yahudis, Muslims; they have lived here for centuries”. It was all there for anyone to see and believe. But our elders knew better! Alas, we never believed them.
We grew up brain washed by the system of “Hinduism a tolerant religion” around us! Actually it operates exactly the way our Punjabi proverb described: “lao ji, Kiddhe mitthe ne; ji wich werr jaanda Boy, how gentle they are; they become part of you”: Yes, indeed. Hindus always pretended to appreciate your belicfs;even “adopted” your way; won your confidence by invoking Aap hi mai baap hain” ultimate posture of humility which asks for forgiveness, surrenders and then accepts dominance. Like master con men, they camouflaged like their victim, and convinced the hapless victims of their sincerity. NonHindus never knew what hit them. Look at the whole dravidian racethey were the dassslaves and Rakshasmonsters: But gradually Hinduism transformed the conquered to mimic the conqueror. From now on , Dravidian victim was never the same.
COSMOPOLITAN SIKH BEGINNINGS:
remember my mother a Randhawi relating to us the execution of Sahib Zadas, and perfidy of Gangu Baahman(Brahmin). She would warn us: “Never trust a Brahmin”. Why would tell us: “Have a Brahmin dip his arm, up to his elbow, in oil: Then, have him stick it in a heap of Sesame seeds. Now, even if he (Brahmin) undertakes as many oaths as the number of seed sticking to his arm, don’t even believe or trust him”! But then in 1947 the world around us turned upside down, and inside out: It changed fast. In Ninth grade I was sent to Jammu to get education in a “proper” school. Is witched firm Urdu to Hindi medium They never taught Punjabi in Jammu! Mother’s admonitions faded firm memory and were gradually forgotten. Not unlike the young of every generation, I believed that my parents were ignorant, prejudiced and uninformed: “they never had the benefit of studying the history of India: all that they knew was the lies spread’ by “Angrez” to “divide and Rule” the Indians”, I believed. I am sure mother is now somewhere out there watching, smiling (but quite angry), and saying “Look dummy, didn’t I warn you”.
“NATIONALISTIC” BEGINNERS:
My reverie reminded me of the same old Jammu, where some weeks ago Shiv Sena had preyed upon Sikhs, marching in a religious procession, while the police watched. The same streets, the same route were, I as a young man, had marched on “Guru Gobind Singh’s Janam Divas”, to Rani Jindaan’s Samaadh, and listened to Kavi Darbars. I remember the quaint little shop, by the Gurdwara, Where I had bought my first bottle of “Ficso”. I could visualize the Horror of marchers being set upon by Shiy Sena. These were the same grounds where | used to participate, with my Hindu friends, in ashtriya Swayam Sewak, “Shaakhaa” exercises. I remember joining them in poking fun on things Muslim“they don’t belong in India; they should be sent to Pakistan’, we agreed, 5
DEFEND MINORITY RIGHTS:
Little did I realize then, that I also belonged to a minority. Buti must have wanted badly to be counted as one of them; and in fact I believed so. I forgot the only adage; Bakra ki maan cab tak khair manaayee gee. For how long mother goat’s prayers will spare the sacrificial goat? I wish, I had realized the importance of defending the rights of other minorities and minority; you never know that, the next may be your turn! Of course, now it was my minority’s turn. “NONSIKH” PRACTICES:
remember walking through the same ‘Purani Mandi” Jammuscene of recent anti Sikh “mobaction”, many times to purchase books or to go to Gandhi Bhawan to learn and practice Yoga from some visiting Yogis. I remember once explaining to an old Sikh gentlemen a friend of my deceased father, about my Yugie exercises. He admonished me, gently; “Beta, eh Sikh Putti ran de kam nahin,” I of course ignored his advice.
“He is an old hag; what does he know; world has changed; besides yoga is good for body and soul”,
surmised. i didn’t see any message in the advice, then.
UNEDUCATED GRADUATE:
1 remember being disinterested in Sikh affairs. I ignored other Sikh students of Gandhi Memorial College. They talked about Master Tara Singh’s movement in Punjab; they raised slogans about Panth Khatre men hai. I knew them as city kidsrich kids, who always seemed to stay in the same class. (My biggest grouch against them was their free manner; the way they talked about a name which I revered my father was also named Sardar Tara Singh). I, a villager, was in college for education. I studied hard, but didn’t get any education! A young Sikh now had all the beginnings of a pucca Indian “nationalist”; moderate and cosmopolitan!
I AM ASHAMED OF JAMMU:
I do remember at least four of my Dogra friends, from. High school and them in college, who later joined the State (J&K) service as police officers. Oh, how much it hurts to think that some of my buddies might have been bystanders or perpetrators of that violence against a minority a “good” minority, at that! Do I comprehend that they might have instigated some nameless “miscreant” an Indian euphemism for “thugs of Shiv Sena:? 1 can’t believe that somebody provoked the fight surely those zealous Sikhs, shouting praises of “murderers of Indra Mata”, must have incited the “peaceful Hindu mob”! But somebody will have to work very hard to convince me! how does one convince other Sikhs, that it all seems like a dream? I left Jammu in 1956, for higher education, in India.
INDIA A KHICHRI, BUT NO MELTING POT:
“Melting pot” of America is what in the Old country will be called ik jaan homogeneous. India on the other hand is Khichri a concoction of grains of pulse and rice suspended in a thick and watery medium: near, yet distinctly separate! Strong prejudices against minorities religious, ethnic or cultural, have always been an integral part of Indian life, but as young we never was them: we didn’t understand them, I grew up in an ocean of Hinduism and Islam. Our family friends were from every walk of life and from every religion. But that was only ‘mil vartan”’social exchange”, good neighborliness, and “good business”! However, all family gatherings marriages Vasakhi, Dewalii, etc.,were attended by relatives and Biradari onlySikhs went to Sikh festivals, and Hindus and Muslims had their own. When mothers Pundit Ji, Lala Ji, Choudhary Sahib, Mian Ji, or Bhagat Ji (our address for Harijans) came to visit, they waited in Haveli or deodhi. It was all very formal and courteous, and well understood: no one took offense, of seemed to object. (Ours was a jatSikh Zamindar and Sufaid Posh family from Sialkot District of British Punjab but domiciled in the dogra ruled Jammu and Kashmir state.) Oh yes, whenever our father could not weasel out of an invitation from nonSikh gatherings I don’t remember ever seeing any adult Sikh present ina Khangah da Meea”, Taziaa de Mela” (Muharram),”Dhann” Dogra feast, or Dussehraa!
MISTAKE REGRETTED:
maybe I am the only one ignorant. But I am sure there are many other Sikhs of my generation, who grew up believing Hindu’s subliminal messages: “Good Indian is a “nationalist” one who believes in “Hindu India”. Inwardly, we believed that Muslims, CHristinas, Parsis, and Yahudis were “outsiders”, who kite in India! (Forget about the “morning prayer” in the MIddle school Saare Jahaan se achchaa, Hindostaan hamaraa; that time it sounded good.) But “ der aamad,durust aamd” message gradually absorbed has the desired results. am glad, I finally realized my mistake gradually and some years ago.
LET US HAVE SIKH STUDIES PROGRAMS:
Let us lose no time, or spare any effort. Let us set up some educational facilities. These shall not teach our young as to what Hindus do or don’t do. These programs will teach: The humanity of humans; The goodness of Sikhism; Not the piosty of Khomeini, demagoguery of Hitler, snake oil of Bhutani, or failings of Gandhi’s but; Sewa and humanity of Bhai Kanhaiya Singh, the resolve of Mahtab Singh, courage of Buta and Garja Singh, and humility of GurChela Gobind Singh Inhee ke kirpa se saje ham hain. let us heed to Guru Nanak’s advice: “ Jao ujjar jao” go propagate your goodness. Let us make our coming generation better; let us not be consumed by what the Hinus are done, or did to us: Let us chalk our own course; Let us set a goal and achieve it. Let us rebuild the Sikh Nation.
HINDU OR NOTHING! 7
Yes, Hindus are tolerant, as long as you do “their thing” As long as you live in “their country” you must worship the cow, plaster your walls with cow dung, burn widows, exploit your fellow human beings, worship everything in sight, build temples in the middle of the delight and amuse yourself at the spilled blood of goats on ghoulish and garish stones; and yes, keep the Brahmins happy! For a Hindu every one Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or a Sikh is a Hindu; “Look we respect your prophets, we believe in what you believe in”, they plead. “Many Hindus grace their houses and shop with pictures of all men of God”, we are reminded. You say this thing for the Hindus: They are persistent and patient Whatever they may say about “so many different ways to reach God”; there is the right way it coincides with everyone else: you name it and they believe in it!
BAD LEGACY:
And what power of persuasion the Hindus have It may take generations, they will invent ancestry for you, give you brand new genealogy, but will have you as a Hindu only. Meet a devout Muslim: His namaaz cannot start till he has some his “Uzoo” with proper flowing water and “Lotta”.” Khuda ke ghar men pal jana chahiya”, he explains, innocently. But wait a minute: isn’t that the old Hindu ritual, under the guise of body. cleanliness! Whoever heard of flowing water, five times a day, in Arabia! See how Muslims got Hinduized! Have your heard of Brahmin or Harijan Christinas They are all there in India! Have you met Brahmins from Southern India; many don’t resemble, a wee bit, the Aryan? haven’t they converted, a half parsi into a true believer? can you imagine a Sikh as Pundit or Lala Phalanaa Singh, A Singh Sahib Ji Teenghraa singh Yogi, “Gyani Baraa Vadaa singh Ji Maharaj! How phony! Everyone is always ona ego trip. Many don.t stop even at that: They attach multiple suffixes and prefixes of honorifics of Shri, Sahib, and Ji etc. It reminds of Guru Nanak’s bewilderment: “ Hao Dhadi Ka neech jat, hor uttam jat sadainde”.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 9, 1989
