Sir,

It is only after a lot of soul searching and deliberate thinking that we have decided to write to the World Sikhs News concerning this matter. It is not our intent to point a finger at any one rather it is an honest attempt to point out the grave shortcomings that our leaders have displayed through their statements to the media. We are concerned about the damage these statements can do to our cause.

We are concerned because in the past it was our own leaders who failed us. As far as I can remember we have been served by well-meaning leaders like Master Tara Singh and Sant Fateh Singh and the like.

Indian government had no difficulty in dealing with them and disposing their fair and just demands without any positive action, a policy which is directly responsible for the situation that exists in our ancestral land.

They were also sincere and caring leaders but their simple mindedness and lack of sophistication needed to deal with the deceitful and cunning Hindu rulers of India lead to the disastrous consequences that the Sikh Nation is facing today. Just as there is no substitute for honesty, integrity and commitment there also is no substitute for common sense, wisdom and foresight. These are important ingredients required in a person who is responsible enough to accept the challenge of leading the Sikh People through this hour of crises,

Without these qualities no one should even volunteer or be allowed to get into a position and become potential source of embarrassment to all of us. We can achieve this goal by demanding ‘explanations and confronting those who violate the highest standards of conduct while leading our cause.

Some of the leaders today believe that they can force changes in India with their foolhardy approach and rather antiquated ideas. They are only willing to acknowledge that all things exist only as black and white, ignoring purposely or simply due to their inability to recognize countless shades of gray that exist in between. They have shown lack of statesmanship and ignorance 0 the realities that exist in Punjab. In our humble opinion it would be beyond them to analyze the options available to the Sikhs and formulate most effective strategies to deal with the realities of the situation. These leaders know what they want to achieve but ironically have no concept of what will work under the present circumstances and get the best results for us,

Their thinking is dangerous for us, since they are recommending that the Sikhs should only deal with the current government under certain pre agreed rules, just as some well-meaning people did in the past and consequently rascals like Barnala and Balwant were swept into power, we all know what happened after that. The last thing we need is emotionally immature political neophytes trying to run the show according to their individual thinking. And before we criticize the newly elected leaders in Punjab who have spent valuable time of their lives in prisons for the honor of the Sikhs we need to evaluate a whole lot of facts. It is very easy to say do this and do that from the comfort of your living room while you are living in a free country but it is altogether different when you are living under martial law and dealing with a government that will much rather kill you in a fake encounter or murder you by drowning than talk to you or listen to you.

The Sikh leaders abroad must realize that the leaders in Punjab are under constant siege, though they have been elected by an overwhelming majority, they have no real bargaining chips as far as their political leverage is concerned. The so called democracy in India is nothing less than a farce and sham when it comes to applying its principles to the minorities,

The Sikh leaders in Punjab need our support, let us not be too hasty to judge them, something we may have to regret later. Let us stop looking for a miracle cure for all that ails us, and be prepared for a long drawn struggle that we are in. Quick fixes are fine but they usually come in the shapes of Barnala, Badal, Balwant, Talwandi and Tohra, Do we really want them?

As a Sikh we are taught to have faith and patience and believe it when we say that, when all is said and done victory will be ours, cowards do not deserve it and they will not have it.

Gursewak Singh

Article extracted from this publication >> January 26, 1990