Over the years I have seen that Sikhs are indulging in more and more literal translation of gurbani into English and consequently it has become a major source of misinformation / distortion of Nanakian philosophy (Gurmat). It is my earnest appeal to such writers to ponder for a moment on what they are doing? If they think that they are serving the cause of Sikhism by propagating the message of Gurbani then for sure they are badly mistaken.
For example, recently, Doris R. Jakobsh has published her Ph.D. thesis, Relocating Gender in Sikh History: Transformation, Meaning and Identity. Using Talib’s literal translation of Aad Guru Garnth Sahib and Sarjit Hans’s interpretation of Gurbani she claims that Sikh Gurus were anti-women. Many Sikhs have expressed their outrage about this thesis. But I am not aware if Sikhs concerned about what Talib and Hans have done. Should we not blame Talib and Hans before we blame Jakobsh.
Let me draw the attention of the readers of SikhSpectrum.com to Dr. Harbans Lal's article, Peeking Back to Move Forward posted in the current February 2005 issue of the magazine. From my understanding, Dr. Lal is not just another writer. He was awarded D. Lit (Hons) by Guru Nanak Dev University in 1995, and the Order of Khalsa at the Tricentenial of the founding of the Khalsa. Moreover, he is kind of an ambassador of Sikhism as he goes all over the world participating in seminars and conferences on Sikhism and interfaith meetings.
Let us look at the translation of three examples from his article (italic).
Says Nanak, this is the Boat of Truth but its use to ferry across will be through contemplation of the Guru’s teachings (Nanak, SGGS, p. 20)
In this verse boat is a metaphor for truth or righteousness and water is a metaphor for worldly temptations. Keeping this in mind the verse should be interpreted as: Nanak says that Guru’s teachings guide a Sikh on the path of righteousness through life full of worldly temptation like one crosses water in a boat.
If I look behind there were planted sprouting grape vineyards, but when I foresee these vineyards I see them as burning bushes (Nanak, SGGS, p. 20).
In this verse angoor does not mean grapevine, it means newly sprouted vegetation. Here Guru Nanak is talking about the cycle of destruction and creation by giving the example of a forest on fire. Moreover this verse must be interpreted in conjunction with the following verse as: The Transcendent One, Who creates also, destroys like the sprouting of new ones after the burning of the old trees in the forest.
Fareed, if you are a master of wisdom, then, do not keep on writing blackened essays. Rather, Look underneath your own collar instead (Fareed, SGGS, p. 1378).
Here kale lekh does not mean blackened essays it means black deeds or actions. Accordingly it should be interpreted as: O Fareed, if you consider yourself a great genius then do not commit bad deeds. With a sense of humility look, what you are doing!
I admire all mountaineers of this expidition. Regards to there
devotion and courage for reaching the peak of Nandakot. Also, I am a cousin of KP, a well known Garhwali mountaineer of late 50s, a Guru of mountaineers of India.
How incredible to see so much stuff on the web dealing with BEYOND
WAR - the idea whose time has come. I was blessed to work within the
Beyond War Movement in the 80s. I thank you for keeping it alive.
I must congratulate Mr. Hardev Singh Virk for his excellent book reviews concerning Maharaja Duleep Singh. What a tragedy to read and in some ways his story reminds me of the King of Sikkim who went into exile in India after the Republic of India swallowed his country back in 1970s.
While this history is being unearthed, we need to open the role of the Presbyterian Church in this complicity. The Presbyterian Church had entered Punjab in 1833 after getting permission from Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Also it is high time to reevaluate the role of Maharani Rani Jind Kaur and her relationship with European men in exchange for working on their behalf that brought about the demise of the kingdom. Why she became so self-destructive?
I would urge Mr. Peter Bance (Bhupinder Singh) to continue this research further. If I may add here something more of interest: In my years of studying Mohandas K. Gandhi, I was somewhat startled to find out that two children (out of six) of Maharaja Duleep Singh were “associated” with Gandhi. In 1914, upon Gandhi leaving South Africa for good and landing in England, at the time of beginning of First World War, he was accorded a great reception. Among the dignitaries that hailed him was Princess Sophia. Five years earlier, in 1909, Gandhi was campaigning in London in support of his ongoing passive resistance campaign of Transvaal, amazingly one of Maharaja Duleep Singh’s sons, named in the documents as “Prince Duleep Singh,” contributed five pounds to the fund in support of Gandhi. And upon Gandhi’s departure back to South Africa in 1909, Princess Sophia attended the function hailing Gandhi.
While investigating these matters, let me stress another point: Both in 1909 and 1914, Gandhi was fiercely pro-British. Therefore may I ask, why were these two children of Maharaja Duleep Singh helping and cheering Gandhi at a time when Gandhi was helping the British Empire? And when Gandhi turned anti-British in 1919 while in India, we hear nothing from these two children!
I am available to Mr. Peter Bance to share with him some more materials I have gathered. He can reach me via email: GB7495@hotmail.com.
I found this article very interesting and plan on sharing it with
my friends. The author has made some very interesting points.
5
Need information...
-Robin Arthur, Canada
We request our Canadian readers who have the contact information on Baltej Singh Dhillon to please forward it to Mr. Arthur. Your help is greatly appreciated. Below we are posting a short review of the book from alibris.com. --Editors
"Canada's Immigrants, Heroes and Countrymen tells the story of Canada's people since its early history. It pays tribute to Canadians who have done us proud in science and technology, in medicine, in discovery, adventure, sport, music and literature. It is an account of how our immigration policy has evolved over the last one hundred years. In reviewing modern-day immigration to Canada, the book carries narratives on the political and economic conditions in Europe, South East Asia and Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, that drove people out of their countries to seek refuge in Canada and other parts of the world.
"The second World War, as everyone knows, was the primary cause of the current mass refugee phenomenon and now it's ethnic conflict that's blossoming on the stems of a new nationalism. But the focus of this new title is people. It tells the stories of 65 new Canadians across Canada who have, as first generation immigrants, (the only exception to this being author Joy Kogawa and immigration lawyer Lee Cohen) achieved great success, demonstrated heroic courage in the transition process and who continue to give Canada their heart and soul."
"The people profiled include scientists, doctors and neurosurgeons, politicians, senators and even a former premier, sports heroes, authors, lawyers, journalists, businessmen, academics and so on. It is, indeed, to them and to this nation of immigrants that this book pays tribute.
-.-.-
Dear Editor,
I am looking to connect with Mr. Baltej Singh Dhillon of the RCMP. I am
currently producing the second edition of the book Canada's Immigrants,
Heroes and Countrymen and would like to do an interview with Mr. Dhillon
either over the phone or through his electronic address. Could I therefore
request you to give me Mr. Dhillon's e-mail address or telephone number.
If you would like to see the first edition of the book, you may enter the
title in the Yahoo Search Engine and get a sense of it.
Sincerely,
Robin Arthur
Editor, Touch BASE
2099 Gottingen Street, Ste 201
Halifax, NS
B3K 3B2
Tel: (902) 429-7356
Thank you for your insightful and thorough examination of this issue. It
is important to challenge the positions of Indian intellectuals like
Mukherjee who reside in the US, and occupy tenured positions in US
universities.
Professor N. Muthu Mohan’s article Guru Granth Sahib and Unity of Minds is superbly written. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading it and learning from it. He is absolutely correct in pointing out the unique distinctive nature of Guru Granth when compared with other scriptures of the Indian sub-continent. I being a student of religion, including those that originated outside the Indian sub-continent, have found that the teachings of Guru Granth hold a high edge when compared with other scriptures.
In this article, the professor has noted that, “Guru Granth Sahib calls Hindus to become true Hindus and Muslims to become true Muslims.” I have heard other people also say the similar words. My problem with this sentence is that it is most likely to misinform the readers if not accompanied by an explanation. From reading Hindu scriptures I have come to the conclusion that a true Hindu believes in caste discrimination, honors sati (widow immolation), gives lower status to women, hates untouchables, and so forth. Similarly a true Muslim, by following some of the Islamic teachings (from Koran and Hadiths), treats kafirs with contempt, creates a theocracy like Ayotollah Khoemini, and so on.
Sikh Gurus rejected many such teachings of Hinduism and Islam, and their message on how one could become a true Hindu or a true Muslim was a simple one as evidenced by Guru Nanak’s advise to Muslims and Hindus. I quote the Guru below:
To a Muslim
Make compassion your mosque,
Faith your prayer mat,
Make honest living your scripture,
Let modesty rule your conduct,
Let piety be your fasts,
Let right conduct be the Ka'aba,
Truth your Prophet,
Make the Lord's Will your rosary.
In such a way become a Muslim.
To a Hindu
From the cotton of compassion,
Spin the thread of contentment,
Tying the knot of continence,
Give it the twist of virtue,
Such a sacred thread, O Wiseman,
Fabricate for your inner self.
I again thank Dr. Muthu Mohan for sharing his thoughts.
Please allow me to congratulate Colonel GB Singh for his insightful comments on Professor N. Muthu Mohan's excellent article, Guru Granth Sahib and Unity of Mind. Col. Singh has clearly stated the essence of Guru Nanak's advice to Muslims and Hindus on how to become a true Muslim and a true Hindu. Many Sikhs while speaking at interfaith conferences invariably misquote this advice.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the editor, the team, and the management of SikhSpectrum.com for bringing out this great publication, which not only includes high quality articles on a wide range of subjects but also lets readers express their opinions freely.
As you call yourself a Sikh and are proud of Sikh history, I am sure that your intentions were not to offend people but to get publicity. Whether you acted as an artist or a businesswoman you must know the answer. I am sure you are not too happy with the abuse that your family has been subjected to because you care about your family. I wish you luck, and I hope you will find some time do read and understand
Gurbani.
There are real issues facing your community, your country, and this world. As an artist you have the freedom to choose but with freedom comes responsibility. If being an artist is just a profession for you to make money then you can’t make the arguments you have made.
I hope you will do more introspection. Was it not your duty to ask the cops to release people who were demonstrating peacefully? If you want
peace you must preach peace.
Now you are trying to act as a martyr, but your heart knows the
truth. And what in your heart is not hidden from your guru.
I have gone over the whole article on Swami Vivekanand and Ramakrishna
three or four times. In this country this kind of an article will be
considered hate propaganda and people like you are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Thank your stars you live in India. Let me give you just one example from your article.
"He remained oblivious to the repercussions of his often misinformed
misunderstood speeches that will cause havoc to an already violence ridden Hindu populace."
All 900 million Hindus or do you mean a few hundred million Hindus, Mr. Singh?
Any man that maligns a whole group of people like that is a bigot and
that is the kindest thing I can say. "People know what they do, they
frequently know why they do, what they do. But what they do not know is
what they do does." Let me give you a little idea what it does.
In early forties there were some people whose only job was to spread venom in the name of religion. That brought about the division of India. I will talk about Punjab only because that is where I lived then. It cut the heart out of Punjab and brought untold misery to millions. I wish I could say that was the end of it. No, the venom spreaders were able to cut it up further this time on the basis of language and God help me, again on the basis of topography. So the parts of Punjab became Haryana and Himachal. All this bore fruit in the 1980's and brought the blood bath. This is what happens Mr. Singh when you denigrate and defame other people's icons. I am not defending either of the two people in the article. They were flawed human beings, just like all human beings are flawed. But they were icons of a large group of people. You would not know that because you are so perfect.
Let me finish with one of the arguments that you used to put down
Ramakrishna: Worship of penis you called it. I thought coming from a Sikh that would have been your last choice of an argument. Mr. Singh what is the difference between the worship of penis and the worship of body hair. People who live in glass houses. And Mr. Singh we all live in glass houses.
Thank you for opening up with me. Frankly speaking I am baffled at your
response but not surprised. I hope you will take due time with me and make use of this opportunity to learn something about the issues at hand. My article was about Vivekanada and Ramakrishna. It was not about penis and hair. Yes Ramakrishna worshipped his penis, what does that have to do with hair? I hope you are not bald headed. I certainly do not worship hair even though I have head hair probably longer than yours but certainly not longer than your rishis and yogis.
I will urge you to open up the Hindu scriptures and read them. Also I urge you to take a closer look at Vivekananda and Ramakrishna
critically. Yes they were human beings. But how many human beings do you know can match these two loonies?
Brotherly,
-- GB Singh
5
In answer to your last question...
-Amrit Khajuria
from Amrit Khajuria
Dear G.B. Singh,
In answer to your last question one immediately comes to mind. But I am
not very good at this. I am sure you have already guessed it. About the
second, I am sure you will find the second one. You seem to be so good at spotting them. As they say it takes one to know one.
-- Amrit Khajuria
5
I am not here to insult you, nor...
-GB Singh, USA
Dear Amrit,
Namaskar
I am not here to insult you, nor am I here to let you insult me. I hope you understand this.
I am here to answer you concerning Vivekananda and Ramakrishna.
You ask me a specific question and I will do my best to answer you. If you want to indulge in other areas I am available at your service. Rest assured you will learn here. The subject matter that I deal with is never intended to insult you as a person. I can assure you of this.
Again I urge you to take my challenge and let's open the Hindu scriptures and let the journey begin. We will all learn from this process.
While you think about it you may want to visit this website:
Where I sit I find Vivekanand, Ramakrishna, Gandhi, Nanak, Gobind Singh and
many others worthy of praise. They were great reformers working under most
difficult circumstances. You consider some of them loonies. I am sure there
are people who will disagree with you. I for one. They will point to others
on the above list not only as loonies but terrorists and much worst. This
kind of name-calling leads to discord in a multi religious society. I cannot be a party to that kind of a discussion. My mother used to say look for
the best in people. It is a great advice. So let us end and agree to
disagree.
-- Amrit Khajuria
5
I don’t have much to say on the discussion...
-Preet Mohan S Ahluwalia, USA
I don’t have much to say on the discussion on Vivekanand and Ramakrishna. However, something Amrit said has caught my attention. Amrit shares with us his mother’s advise to look for good in people. Although I agree with it, I must state that a statement like this must be clarified further.
Looking for good in people does not absolve some people of the harm they have caused others. For example to some people Saddam Hussain was a good man, but does that mean his actions as a leader of a nation of millions cannot be questioned. I could say the same thing about Adolf Hitler.
What about genocides and massacres that we continue to witness in many countries? Why do we have human rights organizations if we must overlook the bad and focus on the good? Should all leaders who are responsible for the suffering of the masses, and did not do anything to bring about a positive change when they had the power to do so, be forgiven because of a few good deeds attributed to them. I ask this question because Amrit’s suggestion brings forth a moral dilemma that most intelligent and well-meaning people face.
Perhaps, Amrit’s mother meant that every person has the potential of becoming good if given a chance. Unfortunately, as we have witnessed throughout history, some people are incorrigible.
In order to stop bad from happening, people who facilitate and promote it should be questioned, and there should be no feeling of guilt in doing so.
-- Preet Mohan S Ahluwalia
5
Thank you again for your words...
-GB Singh, USA
Dear Brother Amrit,
Thank you again for your words. In keeping with your wishes for an end, I will oblige. I am glad you mentioned the advice your mother gave you. Over the years I have met people who too have claimed similar words attributed to their parents.
I wonder if children use their parent’s advise in the way it is meant. My feeling is that your mother instructed you not to waste your time and resources in looking for faults in people who are essentially good. I believe her advice was not meant for people of disrepute.
Of the five names that you mentioned in your last email, not a single one, if I can recall, was labeled a terrorist or worse in their contemporary societies. Where are you getting your history information?
Just last year, before my Gandhi book was published, a Hindu editor of a monthly Indian newspaper called Gandhi a "terrorist". He did this because of the contents of my book, which I told him telephonically. But I never called Gandhi a terrorist in my book or in my conversation. I believe we should use these labels very carefully and not abuse the English language.
I am available to you as your brother. In the future if you decide to open the Hindu scriptures for discussion please reach me. I believe you will have no objection to this suggestion. We will start our discussion with the Vedas.
You won't hear from me unless I hear from you first. Till then, stay safe and healthy.
I am speechless and stunned after reading this article. The
interpretation is superb and decorated with finest vocabulary. It would
be great if this article is written in other languages and with
simple word so that people like me can understand it. It would be my
personal desire to get in touch with Mr Darshan Patel.
Twenty years have elapsed and I ask myself are we are better off than we were
back on June 23, 1985. We still have murderers and cowards amongst us.
We harbor them as we harbor those who committed atrocities in Punjab
during the 80's be they either Hindu's or Sikh's alike, and we allow them
to live free lives while those whom are the real martyr's through the Air
India flight 182 bombing have been left without recourse and a voice. I
say every Sikh needs to look in the mirror and remember what our faith
tells us "treat everyone and everything as you would want to be treated".
I no longer visit the Gurdwara's due to the blasphemous pictures of supposed
martyr's that hang in the langar halls. I seek my solace with God on my
own not through the halls where cowards and murderers lie and deceive
people who come to pray.
I seek justice for not only my sister Kiranjit Kaur Rai (11 years old) whom out of no fault of her own was victimized by these thugs amongst us. Justice will be served one day if not here in this life it will be in the afterlife and I have no hatred for those who
have committed the ultimate sacrilege known to mankind, I pray that God
will forgive you and that he will have mercy on your soul(s) as you will
have your day of judgment surely as I will have mine. I know what I will
say when I am before my Lord all Mighty, I will ask him to forgive me of
my sins and forgive those whom have committed crimes against me and my
fellow brethren be they Sikh, Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jew and
all other religions. I have finally realized for myself that I no longer
want to be a Sikh where murderers and cowards roam freely, I wish to be a
pupil of God where I can turn to him for guidance during my times of need
and through him I will live my life to the fullest of my potential and not
through the halls of Gurdwara's that are filled with deceit and lies.
-- Satrajpal Singh Rai
~~~~~
Dear Mr. Rai,
There is no emotional censorship here and neither did we refuse to publish your views. Your email was vague about the people you call thugs. Referring to people who are behind the Air India tragedy you stated, “we allow them
to live free lives while those whom are the real martyr's through the Air
India flight 182 bombing have been left without recourse and a voice.” You are accusing the community of harboring those who have committed the crime.
This being a serious matter we request people to contact RCMP or CSIS if they have any additional information. To suggest that Sikhs are harboring culprits is improper without evidence in support of your claim. Please note that both at the beginning of this trial and after the recent verdict, Sikh organizations have called for an impartial investigation of this tragedy so that the truth is known. Sikhs share your sadness at the loss of your sister, and we hope that someday the real culprits will get apprehended.
Because of the sensitive and emotional nature of the recent verdict, we are hoping that people will refrain from making unfounded allegations and hence our concern for publishing material that can be questioned for its authenticity. We hope that you will understand our need to be cautious, as we understand your desire for a closure.
Respectfully,
Editors
SikhSpectrum.com
~~~~~
Dear Editor,
Typical.
I wrote the letter with the anticiaption of you adding it to the website but
as usual I encounter people who are empathtic however unwillign or unable
to accomodate the simplest of requests. Is your site a trully open site in
the sense you wish to have a open dialogue regardless of what the writer has
to say or is it one that encounters editaorial censorship such that a
letter such as mine is not worthy so you simply do not add it to the record
of what is needed to be said to the Sikh polulace?
I ask you in the name of Guru Grantrh Saib why do you stand?
--Satrajpal
5
I commend you for writing and expressing...
-G.B. Singh, USA
from GB Singh
Place: USA
Dear Mr. S. S. Rai,
I commend you for writing and expressing your views. I sympathize with your tragedy and the grief process that will last with you for as long as you live.
Let me share with you some pertinent information relating to the Air India # 182 tragedy. In 1989, four years after the tragedy, two Canadian journalists from Toronto published a book, Soft Target: How the Indian Intelligence Service Penetrated Canada. This book was a result of active investigation by those who were familiar with what happened. You should read this book.
About five years ago, I was invited by a Hindu group to celebrate Diwali. Little was I prepared when one Hindu gentleman approached me and poured out his anger and grief at me with respect to the Air India tragedy. Apparently this individual, like you, had lost one of his loved ones. He was sure that some Sikhs in Canada had planted the bomb. But when I asked him what evidence he had he could only cite the published reports in India Abroad and other Indian newspapers he had read. At that moment, I related to him the contents of Soft Target—pointing out that the evidence is strong that Indian government masterminded the operation to blow up the Air India plane. He asked me some pointed questions. Thereafter our conversation ended.
Next day I telephonically called the same individual and offered him the entire evidence in my possession including the full reference to Soft Target and its authors. This gentleman was no more interested in talking to me and hanged up the telephone. His actions surprised me to the least. I had experienced similar circumstances before and after.
I wonder why so many educated Hindus refuse to accept the evidence contrary to their wishful thinking. Without even reading the book, they would go ahead mindlessly and ritually to point fingers at Sikhs. I hope you are better than them.
In light of the recent verdict, I am witnessing the same parrot-like propaganda from the Indian media. I caution you not to become a victim of this propaganda.
Wow, it's well said. True, the audience will decide, thanks, it
will open more avenues for Asian-Americans artists. Praise the Lord for
everyone has unique talents to share!!!
Evan D'Angeles will be awesome, after "Pacific Overtures". Will be
there.
Thank you for your very informing article. I applaud you for your work
and research, and I hope that you will continue. We need honest
historians especially in a time in which we now live.
May God Bless you with good health and prosperity.
I have read through the whole article about Shudhi and Sanghaton. Actually
I reached this article by a posters reference who was commenting on my
post "The document of independence" on the following
forum: http://forum.atimes.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1183.
This article aided my claim, why we departed from the Indian
union and formed our own Muslim country.
I appreciate your courage in writing about senior political leaders. What Capt. Amrinder Singh is doing is great; our vote is for him only. We need leaders like him. But I must say that in remote areas people think
that Akali leaders are panthic - that is religious and pious. We have to remove this
false idea from their minds.
I enjoyed reading your article and would like to share my thoughts.
In 1999, to celebrate the 300 years of the Khalsa Panth, I initiated a
program with a Catholic Church to feed the needy in our area, something
that the church wanted to do but could not motivate its own Parish. I
took the responsibility to start feeding the needy on every second last
Saturday of the month. With Waheguru's blessings we started with feeding 50 people
and now average around 250 every month only by requesting my friends to
sponsor the meal which costs $300.
I was not successful to motivate the sangat in the two Gurudwaras to contribute and volunteer. In their eyes seva is limited to the Gurudwara langar. I was blown away with what the Sikh did in the religious conference at Barcelona last year.
Anyway, I have experienced the concept of "sava-lakh", a Sikh holding the fort and making a difference at St. Colman Church, in Cleveland.
I draw a parallel between the Jews and the Sikhs and wish we could
unify like the Jews. In America, Jews who are a minority of 6 million, have
tremendous voice in the U.S. Government. I visualize that the same thing
could happen in India if we adhered to the message that our Gurus left
with us. But pride, ego, and greed have dis-empowered Sikhs. Is there
any research available on what makes the Jews so focused on their faith and
they have everything you have listed in the last segment of your
discourse.
It is equally important that our Gurudwaras allow people like you to talk to our kids in English and build their self-esteem in the Sikh faith.
For the benefit of our kids and non-Sikhs, I am in the process of preparing
a chart entitled "Sikhism at a Glance". I can send it to you
for your comments and input if you can provide me with your email.
Over the years I have seen that Sikhs...