Sir,

I was amazed by the anonymous article entitled GURU DI KACHH NOT AN UNDERWEAR, published in the issue of Sept 13, 91.

The author has misinterpreted my write up on Kachh included in my recent publication-A BOOK OF SIKH STUDIES. “Underwear” here has been qualified as underpants (9.94). “Under- pants” is drawers or shorts worn next to the skin, as defined in Random House Dictionary. Nowhere have I said that Kachh is unleaded or a “loose piece of cloth like a Dhoti or tight-fitting like than

Jhangia or its non-stitched equivalent the langot as alleged in the above article.

I have not made any “Mansukhani Code” or altered the Rehat. The writer has distorted my words and given them an imaginary connotation by stating “the Kachhaihra thus is an adaption of Puffed Trunk Breeches”.

May I draw the attention of your readers to my paper on “Sikh Rehat-Maryada, published in the book entitled “Advanced studies in Sikhism” by Dr. J-S. Mann and H.S. Saraon, Irvine, California (1989) wherein I have stated “Kachh/Kachhaihra is meant to cover the private parts of the body and is used by both sexes.” (p.183) Bhai Daya Singh mentions the Kachh should remain above the knees, so as not to restrict the freedom of movement” ““Goday wali Kachh na Pahray:,(p.184) agree with Prof, Kapur Singhs exposition of Kachh”a short drawer to cover the genital organs and the thighs up to the knees. The drawer consists of a tailored cloth and is called a kachh or a kachheha (Parasharprasna, p.144). I cannot understand how a kachh can be compared to Dhoti (an unstitched piece of cloth) or Pants or salwar OD Breeches which are much lengthy. I stand by and commend the S.G.P.C Rehat-Maryada published in English in 1978, which equates Kachh to “Knickers”. There is no point in raising this futile and misleading controversy on the Kachh.

Dr. Gobind Singh Mansukhani London

(The article referred to was written by S. Sukhbir Singh of Indianapolis. It was an oversight that his name was not mentioned. Editor.)

Article extracted from this publication >> October 4, 1991