First we will examine the word liberal Words tend to change meaning in popular use over a period of time.
For instance, anxious means worried. Yet today, if I say that I am anxious to meet you that means that I am looking forward to it. Similarly, liberal once meant tolerant in a sense, but now it has taken on another meaning. For instance, a liberal parent may feek that it is healthy for teens to experiment with sex. Basically a liberal person is one who is easy to mould, and has no set ideals. A person with a liberal view of religion may feel that you should express your religion as you see fit. Such a person does not want a religion to have rules, demands, or restrictions.
After studying many books written exercising that right. If however, some ritual in any religion on the subject of Sikhism, I feel that Sikhs have accepted the role of liberals to some extent or the other. This way of thinking ‘was assigned to them first by the British, then by the Hindus Sikhism is a tolerant religion, it is only liberal in the minds of those who have been hoodwinked into believing that. A liberal Sikh is easy to deal with. A tolerant Sikh, while he does no harm to anyone, has firm convictions, and is moved by nothing in his faith in the word of the Guru.
What really intrigued me and caused me to take an in depth view of this idea, was an incident where I mentioned a letter printed in an Indian newspaper, and written by two Hindus who reeked with hatred for the Sikhs. They tried to prove by some perverted logic that Sikhs are Hindus, and therefore have no right to claim a separate identity. I noted that Hindus have the tendency to disrespect other religions, and try to absorb them, as they did to the Buddhists. A well-meaning, but ignorant sympathizer immediately accused me of being UN—Sikh like, for a Sikh should never criticize. A Sikh must especially avoid criticism of a Hindu, even if the Hindu is attacking our religion and nation. This is a convenient philosophy, but let’s examine the roots.
In the same way that the Brahmins have brainwashed the lower classes into subservience , Sikh have been brainwashed into believing the outsiders idea of what a Sikh should be , or not be .
Sikhs are tolerant of other people’s beliefs, as long as these beliefs do not infringe on the rights of others. If someone wishes to worship a tree, or a rock, we are tolerant. We believe in the inalienable right usurps the human rights of anyone, then we cannot respect or condone it. We will not tolerate any such acts in the mane of religion. Shankaracharya Swami Niranjan Dev believes that Sati is based on religions principles, so it must be encouraged. If the Hindus were to follow him, it would be the duty of any decent human to stop such immoral preaching, even if it is part of the Hindu “religion”. The Swami further states that observance of caste is a right of the Hindus. Well, what if that “right” infringes on the human rights of others, including the poor lower class Hindus? You will not find in history an instance where a Sikh forcibly converted anyone. Even exhortation for the purpose of proselytizing is discouraged. If you study the words of the Guru, you will also find that the Sikh is not recommended to accept other teaching besides those of the Sat Guru. One well-meaning group opening a Sikh school listed as one of their objectives , “….to teach acceptance for all world religions and belief systems -” While I Have great respect for the work of this fine group , I had to write to them and point out that the word they should have used instead of acceptance , is tolerance .
We should be tolerant to all religions and beliefs, but how can we say that we shall accept them? Guru Gobind Singh says, “Ram rahim puran quran, anek kahain mat hamek na janyo. I do not follow the religious ways preached by various religions believing in Ram, Mohammad, Puran, and quran. The Smritis, Shastrsa, and Vedas lay down different doctrines, but I do not recognize any of them.”
Sikhs in India are educated for the most part in Government run Schools. They learn from Indian society that a Sikh should fight for his country, otherwise he is expected to have little or no opinion. Of course, many Sikhs are vocal, but it is amazing to see how many Sikhs firmly believe in this idea. It is important to note that almost all Hindus will echo this opinion. The Hindus say that a “good” Sikh would never agitate for Khalistan. It is only the “bad” Sikhs, in their eyes, that would go against their religion in such a way. We who demand our rights and dignity, are “un-Sikh like”. They feel that ‘Sikhs are there for the protection of the Hindus. While it’s true that a Sikh would help anyone, even a Hindu who was oppressed. However, we will never become the door mats of any group, Hindus, or otherwise. They cite the fact that one of our Gurus gave up his life to save the Hindu religion. These asinine fools will never understand that our Guru did not give up his life for the Hindu religion, but for the principle of dignity for all humanity. He would have done the same for anyone. That he saved the Hindu religion does not mean to say that he condoned their beliefs.
At a Sikh summer camp, the children were instructed by one teacher that there is no difference between a Kashdhari, and a person who cuts hair. It was seen as a cultural affair. This is one: example of wishy—wishy liberal Sikhism. Another Sikh warns that we should never mention the word Hindu, when speaking of the oppression of the Sikh Nation. We should only accuse the Indian government. Who is it that comprises the majority of the government? Why is it that minorities like Muslims, for instance, have a percentage death ratio of 22 to one Hindu, in communal riots? What does this have to say for Hindu militancy? To be afraid of mentioning this fact is another example of spineless liberal Sikhism. I believe that there is a conspiracy to educate Sikhs into thinking that they must be noncommittal liberals A Sikh letter writer recently stated that, “A Punjabi Sikh likes his religion to make the minimum demands on his lifestyle and freedom of action.” This is a convenient philosophy. It seems strange however , considering that we Sikhs , even in these modern times , keep long hair , wear turbans ,spumillicit sex and gambling , we do not take alcohol , smoke , or take drugs , Our religion is free of dogmatic beliefs , but we do have a definite discipline , even if some do not follow it . Some Sikhs may be quick to point out that persons who have not taken the vows of an Amnitdhari are not required to follow all of these restrictions, however that does not mean that there are little or no demands. Even before the introduction of the Khalsa, the Sikhs had a definite discipline of their own, and jwere not formless Hindus as some may think.
The Indian Government is fond of sponsoring groups like the Naqli Nirankaris who make it their calling to distort Sikhism. There are many such group, some not so vicious, but they play into the hands of the Government. There is found a concerted effort to weaken the structure of the Sikh Nation, which is our philosophical system, and ethical practices.
We can all’ be instrumental in retrieving the dignity of the Sikh Nation. We must first make it our duty to remain a separate identity, and alongside this we must learn in truth, the divine teachings of our Gurus. Our children must be taught diligently. It is not enough to assume that they will pick up the philosophy on their own. We must beware of the attitude in ourselves, that we know everything that there is to know. The Gurbani is a spiritual ocean that ever increases. The more you learn, the more you realize that there is so much to learn.
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