Although we have a large number of Sikh Organizations both in India and abroad which have done some good work in many other spheres, the electronic media has somehow not received the kind of attention that it deserves. As a result we have yet to reach out to the nonSikhs to project our great and rich heritage. There is a lot of scope for producing meaningful short films dealing with the great and glorious achievements of the Sikh people in various fields.

I feel we should take up immediately the production of a series of documentaries on Sikh religion and history beginning with the Golden Temple whose 400th anniversary is being currently observed all over the world. Similarly, a documentary on Sri Guru Granth Sahib may also be produced featuring its cosmopolitan contents, the contribution of it of saints & sufis, the importance given to various Ragas and the unique place of this scripture in the life of Sikhs. A film on our Ardas should also be a fit subject.

These are just some random suggestions. What needs to be done may be summarized as follows:

I About 20 documentaries on the Gurus period (14691708) highlighting the great sacrifices made by the Gurus for the sake of Hindu religion and showing the cordial relations that have always existed between the Sikhs and Sufis. The episodes of Chamkaur Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib, the role of Peer Budhu Shah in the battle of Bhangani and the contents of Zafarnamas etc. should be highlighted.

Il. An equal number of short films on the Sikh struggle during 18th century against local tyrants like Farrukh Siyar, Mir Mannu, Zakaria Khan, Yahiya Khan and invaders like Nadir Shah (1739), Ahmad Shah Abdali (174767), the release of 2200 Hindu girls from the clutches of Abdali in 1762 by Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, the valiant struggle of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, the two holocausts of 1746 & 1762 in which about 10,000 Sikhs laid down their lives in a single day, the formation of Sikh Misls, their republican character, the capture of Lahore by Sikhs, the rise of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his glorious period should all be depicted so that not only non-Sikhs but our own people should get acquainted with this period.

III. There is also scope for producing a large number of short films on the post — Ranjit Singh period; the treachery of the British, the revolt of the Sikhs against the British in 185758, the struggle of Rani Jindan, Bhai Maharaj Singh, the Kukas etc. We should also produce material on the Sikh renaissance after 1870 and the beginning of Sikh Diaspora towards the last decade of nineteenth century in USA, Canada, UK, Singapore, China, and Thailand & Japan etc.

  1. As for as the twentieth century is concerned there is unlimited scope: like the role of the Sikhs as pioneers of freedom struggle beginning with the agitation led by S. Ajit Singh against colonies bill in 1907; the formation of Hindustan Ghadar party by the Sikhs in San Francisco in 1913, the KamaGata Maru episode; victory in various morcha, the great struggle of Guru Ka Bagh in which C.F. Andrews saw so many Christs being crucified, the tragedies in the ultimate victory of the Sikhs against British imperialism.

The role of the Sikhs as leaders of INA and the huge sacrifices made by them in 1947 should also be properly shown.

The part played by the Sikhs in the defense of India specially by the Patiala forces in Oct. 1947 their great contribution in the wars against China and Pakistan in 1962, 1965 and 1971 also deserve special mention, Similarly the glorious roles of the Sikhs in the fields of agriculture, trade, industry, sports, education, science, art & literature can also become the subject of a separate documentary. A series of films on the achievements of Sikhs in foreign lands could also be made.

There is also need for producing films on purely religious subjects like the importance of Sikh symbols; the charm of keshas; the proper way of Sikh meditation and service; the Sikh ceremony of baptism; the Sikh marriages as well as their festivals and gurpurabs. A series of films on some of the eminent Sikh leaders, saints, martyrs, heroes, soldiers, artists and writers and poets like Prof. Puran Singh and Bhai Veer Singh can also be produced. We should also produce films of special interest to the young people.

FINANCES

I am not in a position at present to give an estimate of the expenditure involved in this project, but I have a feeling that one such documentary of about one hour should cost anything between 1.5 to 2.0 lakh rupees. A beginning could perhaps be made with a modest amount of about 20 lakh. There are a large number of mini film producers in Delhi from whom we could invite quotations after advertising. Gurcharan Singh Patiala, India.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 22, 1989