Dear Editor:
I recently read two books: “India the Siege Within-Challenge to a Nation’s Unity” by M.J. Akbar (Penguin Books Ltd, Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England)and “An Indian Dynasty–The Story of the Nehru-Gandhi Family” by Tariq Ali (G.P, Putnam’s Songs, 200 Madison Ave., New York, N.Y. 10016). Both the writers are Muslims, but don’t seem to have even an iota of concern for the oppression of minorities in India, Their articles on Sikhs appear to come directly from India’s “white paper on Operation Blue Star”. No wonder we are having difficulty convincing the world about the strangling of human rights in Khalistan by India when such books abound in malicious propaganda. Both the books, and several other similar publications, are available from your local library.
It is our duty to neutralize such false reports coming out of India. I suggest that books like “Oppression in Punjab” (available free from Sikh Religions and Educational Trust, P.O. Box 292612, Columbus, OH 43229) should be distributed to all local libraries and news media. My experience with this has been very rewarding. Some of the books that we should all read are “How You Can Influence Congress” by George Alderson and Everett Sentman (EP. Dutton, 2 Park Ave., N.Y., NY 10016) “How to be Heard—Making the Media Work for You” by Ted Klein and Fred Danzing (Macmillan Publishing Company, 866 Third Ave, NY. NY. 10023). These are also available from your local library. For more free literature on Sikhism contact: Sikh Missionary Society, (UK) 10 Featherstone Rd., Southall, Middx, UB2 SAA, United Kingdom. Sincerely,
Karanjit S. Kooner, M.D.
Dear Editor:
DISRESPECT TO GURUS’ PICTURES
Lately, there is a growing tendency on the part of the Sikhs, especially in America and Canada, to publish pictures of Guru Nanak, Gun Gobind Singh and the holy shrines like the Golden Temple, with best of intentions, of ‘course, in newspapers, pamphlets and on packing materials, for publicity and advertisement purposes, containing fabrics, atta, rice, vegetables and so on.
Needless to remind that we are neither fanatics nor ‘idol’ worship pets but you need to have a stone heart to watch the newspapers and containers, bearing the pictures of personalities you rever so ardently, being callously thrown into a garbage box, after the same having put to its disuse. Does it become a ‘Sikh to treat such pictures disrespectfully, at any stage?
While it is a fact that papers and containers, bearing such pictures cannot be held by any individual, with due esteem, indefinitely, I most humbly like to request all knowledgeable and learned persons, through this letter, to kindly advise me and the Sangat as to how such pictures should be treated and disposed of, after its usefulness has been exhausted.
In the meantime, I respectfully ‘appeal to all concerned to please do a favor to themselves by putting a lid on their urge to publish the pictures of our Gurus and holy shrines, whom we worship with greatest of our respect, at least till such time as we can reach at an honorable decision for their disposal.
Sincerely,
Qamar Kaur
Dear Editor:
Thad the opportunity of going through your journal and I appreciated the thought and the content especially like the article written by Dr. Gurbakhsh Singh Gill, He comes across as a very knowledgeable person.
There is a severe shortage of “Gurmat Parchar” in this part of the World and your efforts to dispense the knowledge of people like Dr, Gill are certainly a step forward in illuminating the darkness. I would like to suggest that he should keep on contributing to your paper on a regular basis.
I would like to read the views of Dr. Gill on the topic “The proper procedure for the selection of Panj Piaras for Amrit Sanchar”.
Sincerely,
Mahesh Inder Singh Toronto, Ont,, Canada
Dear Editor:
Leftist politicians are striving hard to get political mileage out of the current Sikh struggle for self-determination. In Canada they are bandying the specter of a ‘black-lash’ against Sikhs–simply to see the Sikh community look so bad. The truth is that all over the world the Communists are fighting hard against a religious people seeking nationhood, the Sikhs. The only back-lash is from the communists by any other name.
There is obviously a close-knit conspiracy of the leftist elements on this subject. To carry out their purpose they are not hesitating to invade even the Justice and court system in Canada when they go on a limb and criticize individual Sikhs who are before the courts in pending cases. The leftist lobby seeks to affect the question of the bail of the Sikh accused by raising the Sikh question in the provincial legislature in a unique fashion, namely that ‘there is a fear of back-lash against the Sikhs, and questioning the bail granted to the Sikh accused. This is democracy and justice system in Canada as the leftist communist lobby exploits. Had Mr. Lauk made the comments outside the legislature, surely he would be mocking the courts and thus committing contempt of court. There is no question of any back-lash in Canada against the Sikh community for any reason what-so-ever. Canadian people know the atrocities the Sikhs are suffering under the dominant Hindu India with the support of commies in India and abroad.
What should concern the governments of Canada and British ‘Columbia is the communist strategy directed against organized religion, and the freedom movement of the Sikhs, a people whom Gary Lauk in BCC. Legislature calls “fanatics”. This is the only backlash the Sikhs are facing. Both Ottawa and Victoria governments should watch these leftists aided by certain press media who daily fabricate stories in an effort to turn the public against the Sikh communists. They are spreading more trouble than is being realized,
Sincerely, P. Singh, Vancouver B.C
Article extracted from this publication >> July 11, 1986