Date: 4/1/2006
Esteemed members of Learning-Zone,///// Ref. posting below,////// Can't we all agree on the need of our survival on earth, at least on our home ground? ////// Can’t we all agree on a sovereign status for East Punjab like that of Slovakia, Austria, Bolivia, even lucky East Bengal? They are not even "LIONS" on earth like the SINGHS.////// The British took Punjab from the Sikhs but on departure handed it over their stooge and lickspittle slave Jawaharlal Nehru to rule the colony and then pass it on to his daughter, grandson and any future dog or bitch that comes out of the cesspit of Hindustani Corruption, Treason and Degradation. ////// NONE on earth is fair to the other. So to expect that the British would be fair to the Sikhs before leaving their coolie colony of India is to hope for a lottery win. At least we, with foresight and knowledge of native politics over centuries, ought to have gone for SOVEREIGNTY even on our much reduced and oft mutilated homeland, Punjab. ////// Now all the crying will be futile since without literacy and computers we cannot spread awareness across the enslaved Sikh community like the sunlight. Nor do we have an electric bulb of awareness to switch on and illuminate the landscape. ////// We will have to wait for some more “ghaloogharas” if the past five have not raised us evan an inch, and then perhaps a war over Kashmir where our leaders, IF they have AQAL, could avail of the golden opportunity to GET OUT of the sinking morass called Partitioned Indian Secular State. Can't we even mention it to our children how the INDIAN MUSLIMS saw their golden opportunity got out to establish Pakistan SIXTY YEARS AGO, caring two hoots for the feelings and secularism of the entire world? ////// Any better idea?///// ///// ==== ///// In a message dated 01/04/2006 15:11:27 GMT Daylight Time, ...com writes:///// Kanwar Sandhu is the Resident Editor of the Hindustan Times, Chandigarh. This column written by him addresses the burning issue of current controversies rocking the Sikh community and the need to tackle them before they consume the community itself. Posted in the larger interest of the community and the nation. ///// MS Bajwa,//// (BROKEN BHARAT (PARTITIONED BLEEDING / DYING "HIJDA" HINDUSTAN) India ///// Point of View Kanwar Sandhu ///// Oh, not again, please ////// Certain recent developments relating to the Sikh community, which are reminiscent of the late 1970s, do not augur well for the region and call for all-round introspection and intervention. Some of these contentious issues figured in the conclave convened by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) at Amritsar on Wednesday. For the past few months, one of the major irritants has been the publication of a Punjabi daily published from SAS Nagar (Mohali). Its Editor, Joginder Singh, backed by certain Sikh intellectuals have been highly critical of not just the Shiromani Akali Dal president, Parkash Singh Badal, the SGPC but also the Akal Takht jathedar, Joginder Singh Vedanti. The Akal Takht jathedar had ex-communicated its Editor, Joginder Singh. However, since he continued to criticise the Jathedar and others, the conclave, which was attended by a large number of Sikh organisations, including seminaries, was highly critical of the paper and all those associated with it. ////// In the conclave, the Spokesman editor was accused of "anti-panthic" activities aimed at making short shrift of the rehat maryada and Sikh way of life, which Joginder Singh has denied vehemently. Reports emanating from Amritsar indicate that the conclave decided to constitute a committee of legal experts to study the content of the newspaper. Meanwhile speakers appealed to the Punjab government to stop its publication. It was also decided to approach the Registrar of Societies to cancel the paper's registration and to the Press Council of India to intervene. It was also suggested that a task force be constituted to ensure that various decisions of the Akal Takht were implemented in letter and spirit. There are also reports that some suggestions were made at the conclave (although not mentioned in the press release issued after the function) calling upon the youth to take "extreme steps" against the editor of the Punjabi daily. ////// The issue is extremely unfortunate, not only because the issue of the freedom of the press is involved, but also because it has the potential of snowballing into a major controversy, which could even take a violent turn. For one, the conclave should have been open to the press so that accurate reporting could take place. Those who have been following Punjab developments will recall that way back in late 1970s, when the Akal Takht issued a hukamnama against the Nirankari sect, youth were encouraged to take law into their hands to ensure its implementation. It was during the height of this controversy that the head of the Nirankari sect, Gurbachan Singh, was shot dead. Sikh radicals like the late Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale had openly declared that the killers of the Nirankari Chief would be weighed in gold. Bhai Ranjit Singh who faced trial in the case was installed as Jathedar of the Akal Takht after his release from prison 13 years later. Significantly, it is the same Bhai Ranjit Singh who has taken serious note of the reported call by some to take the "extreme step" against the paper's editor. He urged the Sikh youth not to get swayed by such statements which had already caused great loss to the community. ////// In the light of this, it is imperative that Vedanti clarify not only his own stand but the consensus which emerged at the conclave. While all organisations, including the SGPC are fully within their right to take whatever legal action they think fit in case they feel aggrieved, no one, be it the head of a community or otherwise, can ask the youth to take the "extreme step" against any individual or organisation. A little refresher lesson in political science may be in order: in the transition from absolute monarchy to modern political systems, monopoly of organised violence emerged as an attribute of the state. The state regards terrorism -- organised political violence outside the framework of the state -- as more reprehensible than war (violence between states) and crime (random violence perpetrated by individuals). Hardly a decade has past since Punjab went through the self-destructive ordeal of terrorism. ////// In case the SGPC and other organisations are anguished by the writings in any publication, they could also launch their own campaign to counter what they consider blasphemy or scurrilous. But these organisations must differentiate between dissent and scurrilous writing. While the latter needs to be checked, dissent should be encouraged. While free discussion may expose and weaken certain individuals and groups, it would strengthen the institutions as a whole. Since the issue is highly emotive, instead of being a mischievous bystander, the state government should intervene at various levels. While no one should be allowed to take law in his or her hands, the government could involve Sikh scholars and media professionals to look into the charge of this or other publications indulging in writing that could endanger public order. The incident at Baluana, where criminal cases were registered against Jathedar Damdama Sahib and others for reportedly trying to stop sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib, reflects an all-round failure; while the Sikh leaders had no business to take law into their hands, the government agencies should have taken pre-emptive steps to prevent the alleged sacrilege. /////// However, since a paper, or a group of people, have openly dared to oppose the Akal Takht, there is need for introspection on the part of the SGPC authorities. There is no doubt that there is a long history of various governments trying to undermine Sikh institutions. But, in today's context, these organisations too can't be absolved of blame. For example, various sects and groups, which run contrary to the Sikh rehat maryada, are mushrooming only because the Sikh institutions are unable to meet the aspirations of many, particularly the poor. It is also no secret that Gurus' teachings of equality and casteless society have been given a go by in day-to-day life. There is also a feeling amongst many that offerings at gurdwaras need to be put to better use. Those who suggest "extreme steps" to implement the Akal Takht directives should know that this would only exacerbate fratricide in the community. Instead, what is required is to evolve a mechanism to address the larger issues at hand that would benefit not only the community but the country as a whole. ///// Blurb: ////// The deliberations at the Sikh conclave in Amritsar call for all-round introspection and intervention. Earlier mishandling of such emotive issues started a fire that continues to smoulder uneasily. ////// Besides, differentiating between scurrilous writing and dissent, the SGPC and other organisations must take recourse to law but no more. The government on its part must take a detached view of things to ensure peace and harmony. /////// 000000000
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