I have a new discovery I can't help but share: Sikhism is the fusion of Muslim and Hindu religious principles. That makes me a Sikh, I guess: Indian first name + Muslim surname = Sikh blogger. I guess I should walk around wearing a turban and lending people cold cash at usurious reasonable rates. (Is Bangladesh's Yunnus/Grameen Bank Sikh? Oh no, his first name is Muhammad.) Even the costume of the Sikhs is a combination of features from both great religions: turban + robe + sword. I bet you didn't know that. What's tragic, though, is that the Sikhs were never successful in neutralizing both elements, the Muslim and the Hindu; they instead formed a third religion in India that's often mistaken in the outside world as fundamentalist Muslim and thus the poor Sikhs are easily suspected as, you're right, terrorists. But even Sikhs are not spared of extremism. The plane that recently crashed in Canada, killing all 300+ passengers, was reported to be the handiwork of Sikh extremists. As atheists would sigh with much relish, "Ah, religion."
Sunday, April 29, 2007
I'm a Sikh
Posted by R.O. at 9:33 PM
Labels: Humor, I-am series, Religion
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14 comments:
So far, my only experience of mild culture shock was in India, when i first saw a young Sikh wearing a casual 'house' style turban as worn here (by the guy on the phone). Of course, now i recognize that the younger generation prefers this style and i commonly see it worn by Cricket players.
OK. As a Sikh, I will try to be tolerant and not take offense. Our religion was founded as a result of the will of Waheguru (God) through the enlightened ten Nanaks, not as a fusion of Hinduism and Islam. I have read that, too, but it isn't true. We do honour all religions and, while I believe our way is most direct, we do not claim to be the only way. Anyone who Guru brings to us can become a Sikh, but we don't proselytize.
I saw my husband, son, two brothers and two cousins murdered in Delhi in 1984 for the crime of being Sikh. I guess that is why someone making light of being Sikh is annoying to me.
I am not trying to be thin-skinned and, honest, I do have a sense of humour. But, dear brother-human, you have touched a nerve in me and also, I'm sure in other survivors.
Check out our blog, The Road To Khalistan, http://roadtokhalistan.blogspot.com/, if you would like to understand our stories.
In the interest of understanding,
Mai
Hello Mai, I'm surprised you were a bit offended. I am half-joking, but I meant no offense to the Sikhs. In fact, I was trying to understand your culture. And that claim about the Hindu-Muslim fusion came from a writing by someone who's Sikh. I didn't expect that was offensive. What is so wrong if it is? Wikipedia says so: "Sikh religious philosophy has roots in the religious traditions of northern India.[4] The Sant Mat traditions are fundamental to the teachings of Sikhism's founder, Nanak. Especially important to the connection with Sikhism were the teachings of some of the saints such as Ravidas and Kabir. Sikhism is also inspired by the emphasis on devotion to God in the traditions of Vaishnavism, especially through the Bhakti movement, as well as influences of Sufism."
i meant" what's wrong if it is a fusion of muslim and hindu influences"?
Jawahar Lal Al-Jawahari, sounds interesting. Little knowledge,they say, is dangerous. I won't comment on your personality because I don't know you much. But you,I think, think otherwise. So, commenting on a Religion you don't know much about is neither a joke nor fun.
You talk of a discovery and you say 'I bet you didn't know that.' Should I call it confidence, over confidence or arrogance. Replying to Mai, you say 'In fact I was trying to understand your culture.' My dear, if you want to understand something, the best course about it is that you try to learn something about it and not straightaway start making comments on it. Learning can be termed understanding but commenting, defilnitely, is not understanding. Your knowledge, my dear is 'more than perfect.' You say 'the plane that recently crashed in Canada'. The plane my dear was 'Kanishka' which was bombed way back in 1985. If that is 'recent' then everything you have written is fine.
No ill-will, no offense. We are all are brothers and we should learn to respect each and every faith. Commenting is easy. I think you agree.
H S Bawa
Hey, brother. For the sake of world peace, I stand corrected. I mean no offense. Will do the necessary correction and try to read more about Sikhism, okay?
Okay. That's the Spirit and I really, really appreciate it.
GOD Bless.
H S Bawa.
I was referring to the June 23, 1985 Air India Flight 182 crash, which crashed into the Irish Sea and killed all 329 passengers.
Please refer also to the assasination of Indira Gandhi, which was thought to be a retaliation of Sikhs to the Indian Army's invasion of the Golden Temple in 1984.
I also gathered info fr. the ff. refs:
Brar, Sandeep Singh. "The Khalsa." The Sikhism Home Page. 1988. Sandeep Singh Brar.
24 Apr 2007 http://www.sikhs.org
"Georgia Court Apologizes to Sikh...." SALDEF. 2006. SALDEF. 22 Apr 2007
http://www.saldef.org
Molloy, Michael. Experiencing The World Religions. 3rd. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill,
2005.
Very Well Said, Mr. H. S. Bawa, Little Knowledge is really a dangerous thing.
Miss Pearl S. Buck, Nobel Laureate says about Sikhism , "I have studied the scriptures of the great religions, but I do not find elsewhere the same power of appeal to the heart and mind as I find here in these volumes ... There is something strangely modern about these scriptures and this puzzled me until I learned that they are in fact comparatively modern, compiled as late as the 16th century ...They speak to a person of any religion or of none. They speak for the human heart and the searching mind."..
And I must appreciate the feedback of Mr. Jawahar lal al-jawahari for asuuring Mr. Bawa that he will study more about this religion.
So, Let us stand unite for WORLD PEACE, for what we sikhs are committed.
Don't think the Air India crash on the flight from Vancouver to India was meant to kill infidels or non-Sihks. I heard it was a sabotage of one to assissinate someone but not against any particular religion or peoples. It was a henious crime but not an act of terrorism as we know Al Qaeda would profess to do.
bw: ok
hello lali: i appreciate sikhism's worldview. for the record, i find it to be a gentle, peace-loving religion. it's just so confusing that a few would resort to violence, which seems to go against your beliefs
wait, bw, that doesn't mean the air india crash wasn't a terrorist act because it is. agreed that there's a big difference, but it remains an unacceptable act of terror
True it smacks of terrorism because it killed innocent victims but then it wasn't done because of a religious or political ideology much like the Al Qaeda or the defunct IRA. This is where the major difference lies.
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