“The Old Sirdar”
Holds for his court a high durbar; ‘Summons each vassal and each friend, And bids his gallant sons attend
The turbaned Sikhs, a wiry band, Flock at their aged Chief’s command, With eagle eye, and bearing bold, Polished armour, chains of gold; Unshorn locks that ample lie,
‘Slender spears that quivering fly; Costly shawls and broidered vests; Beards that float upon their breats; Stately camels decked with shells, Prancing steeds, and tinkling bells; All the sounds and sights that vie;
In pomp of eastern chivalry.” * * The love of liberty is the love of others, the love of power
is the love of ourselves.”
“This pen portrait of “The Old Sirdar” should remind us (the readers) of Sikh political domination of the Indian subcontinent during the rast quarter of eighteenth century from foothills of the Himalayas in the north to northern borders of present day rajas than (India) and Sind (Pakistan) in the south and from confluence of Attock with Indus to Mithankot in the west to Jamuna in the east If “the old Sardars” with less than 100;000 members of “Dal Khalsa” under the readership of “SultanUlKaum” “Badshah Singh” Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia could riberate our forefather from “MughalDurrani” imperialism. So can we liberate ourselves from present day “Brahman Bania” imperialism of India, when we have very conceivable advantage that old sirdans” did not have,
(Courtesy of: Dr. Mohan Singh Vice President Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Edmonton Alberia, Canada).
Article extracted from this publication >> August 4, 1989
