THE great English romantic poet PB: Shelly learnt about Ozymandias’ fate and despaired over the fate of worldly glory and pomp in the following verse:

I met a traveler from an antique

land

Who said: Two vast and trunkless

legs of stone

Stand in the desert. Near them, on

. the sand,

Pita sunk, a shattered visage lies,

whose frown,

And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold

command,

Tell that its sculpter well those

Passions read

Which yet survive, stamped on

these lifeless things,

The hand that mocked them, and

the heart that fed.

And on the pedestal these words

appear:

“My name is Ozymandias, king of

kings:

Look on my works, all ye Mighty,

and despair!”

‘Nothing beside remains. Round

the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless

and bare

The lone and level sands stretch

far away.

Ozymandias, the king of kings, has nothing left of this kingdom, but a “colossal wreck, boundless and bare”. The only test of power is time, and Ozymandias failed. No power ever lasts, especially power ruled by arrogance. Many atrocities are taking place in Punjab, our fellow brothers and sisters are being murdered and disgraced in their own home. “The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed”, has now timed into the enemy that must be destroyed. It’s true that the only test of power is time, now the time has come to regain the freedom, and liberty that has been taken away from all of us  The Khalsa Panth. Many people have started to take matters. into their own hands, and are trying to help the unfortunate victims of an arrogant government. Although people abroad will never fully be able to comprehend the pain and disgrace felt by the Sikhs in India during the Delhi riots, their efforts and support, however, will be greatly appreciated. Many organizations have sprung up within the past few years since Operation Bluestar in hopes of uniting the Sikh community. All these organizations have many goals and ideas but often times the goals are set aside in order to first resolve the power struggle that inevitably develops after the formation of any organization. Time is a limited commodity which is wasted because a few people want some publicity. Do sewa as Guru’s Sikh. Do it from the heart, and Almighty Waheguru will grant you wishes.

Now the time has come to let go of whatever hang ups we have and to unite and become one powerful and individual faith.

Although through Guru Nanak we have been told to abolish the caste system, it still rules many Sikhs today. If everyone could live without worrying about what caste they belong to, wouldn’t coexistence in the Sikh community be easier? and more fruitful during the time of crisis and happiness?

“So long as he (Sikh) maintains his identity. He shall remain imbued with my vitality”, said Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The Guru has provided us with all the power and strength we need to win the bloody battle and we will win. The Khalsa Panth will pass the test of time and will one day look back and read on a pedestal these words: “My name is Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister with powers unlimited: Look on my works, ye mighty, but please curse not”.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 24, 1987