vikramjitsingh

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, Post the Gujarat riots there has been tremendous Media attention. The cases against the perpetrators of the Gujarat riots are moving full steam ahead. Some cases have been shifted out of Gujarat to ensure that justice is not derailed. Whereas in the 1984 genocide the Media at that time was Government run (electronic) and controlled (censorship of print media) and today the Media has just forgotten this genocide. Compare this to 1984 Genocide. None of the perpetrators have been brought to justice. Investigations were botched up on purpose and the Government did its best to do a cover up. What happened in Gujarat was a riot because both Muslims and Hindus loss their lives, of course there were more Muslims. But in the 1984 genocide only Sikhs loss their lives. I think it is in the 1984 genocide that people have got away with mass murder. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, Here is a photograph of brave Sikh soldiers doing a Bhangra on top of a Pakistani tank after the Battle of Longewala. And I think what Santji was against was Singhs and Kaurs dancing on the roads in marriage processions. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, Bhangra is our 'dance of joy'. However, there is a time and place for expressing joy. Where physically you should not break into bhangra your heart may do the needful. I stay in Chandigarh and whenever Guruji blesses me with a trip to Darbar Sahib my heart breaks into a Bhangra. Dancing is a human urge and Guruji mentions this in Asa ji di vaar: nachan kudhan man kaa chaao || They dance and jump around on the urgings of their minds. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, My beard started turning white after I crossed forty. I do not dye my beard and today at 53 its what you can call half black and half white. I think its your genes that dictate your graying. My son developed a health problem and in a matter of few months my wife's kess turned white. So stress can make you age faster. Permit me to interject some humor.... a man died and when he appeared before God he said ' Almighty why did you call me back so suddenly.... you should have at least given me some warning.' God responded ' I kept sending you warning after warning but you simply did not pay heed. I made your hair turn white and you dyed your hair then I made your teeth fall and you got dentures then I made your knees give way but you got them replaced.....and now you have the gall to tell me that I did not send you warnings.' Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, This article appeared in Chandigarh Tribune: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091006/cth1.htm#5 I think its okay if they make a memorail. Only problem is that golf tends to kickstart exclusivity and if this memorial is part of the golf range/course then the memorial will not be open to Sangath. There is every possibility that some Akali Leader/s have land in this area and he/they may have mobilized the villagers. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, I had penned this article some time back: http://www.panthic.org/news/129/ARTICLE/1332/2005-05-15.html "Sadstic" Humor Sunday 15th May, 2005 Vikramjit Singh - Guest Columnist (KP) I recall sometime back I attended a party and the guests were predominantly Punjabi Hindus. I was the lone Sikh and as I hopped from one group to another I noticed one similarity in all the groups, and the similarity was that all of them had a huge stock of Sikh jokes. From innocent to bawdy to down right insulting, the jokes made me go red in the face, but alas the guests took pleasure in my discomfort and continued with their Sikh bashing vide their jokes. I quietly excused myself and left the party. A month later I attended another party and this time the host of the party where I had to bear the Sikh bashing was there. Only this time the tables had turned and in this party he was in a minority as majority of the guests were Sikhs. I think he remembered what had transpired at his party and he gave me a couple of sheepish looks. Here too I hopped from one group to another. From politics to sports to holidays were the topics of discussions. No jokes at the behest of any religion. Nearing the end I met my Hindu friend, whose party I had attended, and he literally hung his head in shame as I shook his hand and bid him adieu. Quite some time back in my college days I had a Punjabi Hindu friend who was habituated to cracking Sikh jokes. It so happened one day that while walking out of a restaurant we frequented, he skipped a step and fell down and hurt himself badly. All the others after fussing on him for some time walked off and ultimately it was me and another Sikh boy who took him to the hospital and as his parents could not be contacted we waited for a good six hours in hospital, being his attendants. Thereafter this lad never cracked another Sikh joke in my presence. I was traveling in the local train in Bombay a group of youths were teasing a Sikh boy by showing him their watch. It was noon time and they were teasing him that it was 12 o’clock. I got up and accosted them and asked them if they knew the history behind 12 o’clock. I told them that when marauders came into Hindustan and took captive thousands of Hindu women it was bands of Sikh warriors who attacked these marauders and freed the Hindu women and then returned them respectfully back to their homes. They did this at risk to their own lives and as they were outnumbered by the marauders they attacked them tactfully at a time when humans become slow in the responses. This is either at noon or midnight. Looking at the Sikh youth I told him to wear the 12 o’clock joke as a medal as our ancestors had done us proud and to pity these guys who were actually laughing at the cowardice of their own ancestors who did not have the guts to try to free their women. The group of boys slunk out at the next station. Just recently there was an article about a jathedar who had married twice. I met a Hindu friend and he immediately said that now I could marry twice. I kept quite and just shrugged and changed the topic. But, this fellow smelt the blood of my hurt and so he just went on and on. When it got too much I just questioned him if Hindu ladies could marry four men? He was shocked and looked hurt. I informed him that Draupadi had married four men and so had set the precedence for Hindu women to marry four men. I then told him that recently the Shankacharya was in the news for all the wrong things but, had I ever made a mention of this? What hurt me was an article penned by a columnist of the Hindustan Times, Mr Vir Singhvi, in which he says that stopping Sikh jokes would be an infringement on his right of speech. What about our rights? What Vir does privately is none of my business, but if such jokes are cracked in public then Sikhs have every right to object. The problem is that people like Vir have a warped sense of humor and a sadistic streak. They have to hurt someone to laugh. I recall I was aboard a plane and a large South Indian group was aboard this plane. One of them got up and standing in the aisle cracked a Sikh joke. As he settled in his seat I went up to him asked him if he realized what he had done? Now as I looked at him threateningly he shrunk into his seat. Imagine he had a group with him and I was alone and he was shivering. Seeing his sorry state and the worried look on his wife’s face I shook his hand and calmed him and informed him that humor was the ability to laugh at oneself and not at someone’s expense. As I left I could hear his wife admonish him. As he deplaned at Madras he passed me and shook my hand and apologized profusely. It is time that we stopped accepting this sadistic humor and taking it in our stride. Remember to be sadistic is bad and equally bad is to bear sadism. Vikramjit Singh can be reached at vikramjit.singh@panthic.org Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, I feel Guruji mandated kess as he created an Akal Purakh di Fauj of Sant Sipahis. Unshorn hair is the hallmark of Sants. A Hindu can pass off as a Christian or Muslim or Christian and vice versa, but a Sikh is a Sikh. This identity comes with responsibility. Why do you think when a Sikh errs in Society people admonish him 'Being a Sikh you are doing this'? And one must keep in mind that Amrit and Baana (kess) are tools to an end and not the end. The end being achieving oneness with Ek Onkar. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, After making the suggested modifications I've faxed the letter to Sukhbir Badal. Surprisingly the Office of the Deputy CM is not to be found on the Punjab Government's Website. My request is that all those concerned about this issue should fax their letters to : 91-172-2747212. Surprisingly even though this is a dedicated fax number when you dial the number someone picks it up instead of the fax tone and if you say put on the fax tone he'll ask you what message you want to send or from which mehekma (Office) you are.... just say you want to send a fax for Sukhbir Badal. Surprisingly our Leaders prefer to create walls when it comes to contact with people. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, Any Sewa done with love and selflessly makes the Sewa the best. Please do keep in mind we all have differing 'physical strengths' and so some Sewas are more difficult to perform. And please once one does Sewa its between Sewaadar and Guruji, not for Public consumption. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, I lost my Mom three years back. She singularly brought up my Dad's side of the family. Practically all her nephews and nieces got her help and affection. She did a lot for her sister. To the extent that she did not press for any share in her parental property and let all go to her sister (she lost her only brother in the 1970's). A day before her death anniversary in a sad state of mind my Dad told me that 'just see no one will even remember this day'. Early in the morning I got on the phone and spoke to all my cousins and requested them to call up my Dad. What shocked me was that none of them remembered my Mom's death anniversary. Not even her own sister. Really very depressed by this. I know it’s a reality but when it hits you it really hurts. Does time really heal or is our memory shelf life limited? And then from our minds memory of our loved one's is automatically omitted. Will after my passing all my near and dear forget me that fast? Is it that only for a few years our memory does last? Don’t they say our deeds linger on after we’ve gone? Shouldn’t people be remembering us for what we’ve done? Anyway thankfully once we go it’ll not matter to us, That in the memory of the one’s we loved our memory misses the bus! I'd posted this message on another Sikh Forum yesterday. After posting the message I went to Sector 34 Gurudwara to attend the Bhog of a friend. And the first shabad that Ragi ji sang was : (536-15) jagat mai jhoothee daykhee pareet. In this world, I have seen love to be false. I've got the answer. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro ji, I'm planning to send the following email (draft) to Sukhbir Badal who is the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab. Will be sending this letter to the Media too. Look forward to your comments so that I can finalize and send the email. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, Absolutely right, Zee Punjabi is not a Channel dedicated to Sikhism. Hindu Punjabis believe in Devis and Matas. I just feel that many Sikhs view such programmes ( channel surfing is a well known addiction) many of them must be looking up and thanking Guruji for giving them birth as Sikhs. Guru Rakha

Has your plan worked before? Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, One of the best ways to make them sit up and notice is use the Media. Please do not take this as trumpet blowing...in many Indian ads they were lampooning Sikhs. I got the email addresses of all the major ad Agencies in India and sent them emails on this issue ( in case you want the email matter please PM me and I will email it to you). I recall there was an ad in the IPL Cricket league which lampooned Sikhs. I took up very strongly with the Ad Agency that made this ad and they withdrew the objectionable ad. What I am requesting is bring this issue in the Public Domain as Sikhs not as a newspaper article. Petition the Governor and Chief Minister. Do your best and do not take the stand ' will they notice' or will it work. Even if it does not you will know in your heart that you did your very best. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, I'm and avid golfer with a reasonably good handicap and I live in Chandigarh. I love the game but this love pales in front of my love for Sikhi. In case anyone feels strongly on this issue I think then they must put this in writing and send their objections to Newspapers : Tribune, Indian Express, Hindustan Times and Times of India (Chandigarh Editions) Hopefully some Sikh Body will take up this issue and could even go to Court. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, I am not questioning God. But, tell me how do you explain a baby with deformations or diseases. What is the Karam of the baby to get such a punishment? Well I'm just trying to say that HE knows what HE is doing. We do not know what we've done in our past births. I too have my share of problems. And I know I'm paying for my past deeds. The Poem is to accept HIS Will with no questions asked. There are many who feel that 'they did not deserve what's been meted out to them'. Hope this clarifies my poem. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jioy, A dimwit gets all the riches and many intelligent people dont even have jobs, Honest man suffers and robber enjoys though he robs, One gets sons and grandsons and another at the loss of his only son sobs. Who can question HIS WISDOM or tell HIM how it should be done, HE is the MASTER and as per HIS WISDOM HIS creation HE does run. One has all the vices but enjoys longevity while another despite being cautious dies young, One cannot think straight though hes in his senses and another thinks straight in nashaa of bhang, One is horrible in all ways and still finds love and another is pure but does not get any sangh (partner) Who can question HIS WISDOM or tell HIM how it should be done, HE is the MASTER and as per HIS WISDOM HIS creation HE does run One works hard but still cannot make ends meet and another doing nothing makes money, One is happy though hes not well off and another despite being stinking rich finds everything unfunny, One has been a bad son but he get an obedient son and another though being obedient gets a ruffian sonny. Who can question HIS WISDOM or tell HIM how it should be done, HE is the MASTER and as per HIS WISDOM HIS creation HE does run The cow eats grass and gives milk what does to the dog do to deserve malai? One who has bad karams has a Midas touch and another who is good whatever he touches turns to chai (dirt), One who digs khais for other is unharmed and another who saves people form falling into khais dies when he falls into a khai Who can question HIS WISDOM or tell HIM how it should be done, HE is the MASTER and as per HIS WISDOM HIS creation HE does run HIS will is Supreme and should be accepted no questions asked, We do what for us HE has tasked, And when we go yonder the reality of this Human Birth will be unmasked. Who can question HIS WISDOM or tell HIM how it should be done, HE is the MASTER and as per HIS WISDOM HIS creation HE does run Guru Rakha

Fateh Parwaan karro jiyo, Utt ja nikamaya aa gaya amrit vela ( get up you useless fellow Amrit Vela has come), Na jaan dayi iss vele noo vela ( Don't this time pass off idly), Utt ja nikamaya aa gaya amrit vela, Karr leh Uss de naal aapna mela ( Enjoin yourself with Him). Eh vela hai Waheguruji di insaana lehi asees ( This time is a blessing on humans from God), Utt ja teh nivha leh apna sees ( Get up and bow your head), Eh vela hai Waheguruji di insaana lehi asees, Ais vele di nahi koi rees ( There is no equal to this time). Soanda reh jainga teh ik dinn rohe gaa taatte maar ke ( If I keep sleeping I will one day repent and lament), Mere khoe hooe amrit vele mainoo Sache Patshah lauta de (Oh! God return to me my lost Amrit Velas), Soanda reh jainga teh ik dinn rohe gaa taatte maar ke, Sochen ga janam sawar jaanda jeh jaag jaande mein je (I'll think I would have succeeded in this birth if I had gotten up). Jaag moorkha jaag ( Foolish man get up), Chedh apne andhar bhakti da raag ( Within in yourself star the music of devotion), Jaag moorkha jaag, Lagha leh amrit vele di laag ( get addicted to Amrit Vela). Guru Rakha ps I address this poem to myself

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, I prayed for a bicycle, I got it and then I’d ask for a mobike as I would cycle. He gave me a mobike, And then I prayed ‘ Dear God a car I would very much like’. He gave me a car and after sometime I started praying for an upgrade, And then he gave me for what I prayed. Now I drive about in a swank car but now for a Merc I’m praying and a desperate voice, And once I get a Merc I’m sure I’ll be requesting him for Bentley or Rolls Royce. If only I’d mentally place myself on the cycle that he had blessed me, If only His Blessings I were to see. In my greed I did not say shukar and if I did say shukar it was while asking for more! Despite this with me He never showed that He was sore. Problem with us we are never satisfied and want more, And I’m surprised that despite our greed and thanklessness He does not show us the door. And if you are recognized by your car, Then in life you really still have to go very very far. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro ji, There's an old proverb in Punjab that says ' when money comes it kicks the individual in the back making his chest pop out (pride) and when it goes it kicks him in the stomach and makes the individual a kubba ( hunchback... signifying a loser). When money comes in we tend to forget the usage angle when we buy. Then its the price tag.... phones costing $ 5000 or watches costing $ 10,000. Its the price tag that matters. And then when we are in public we do our very best to show 'the watch and phone'.... meaning we lose out identity to these things. I recall an elder telling me ' if you can afford a Mercedes then by an Accord or Octavia' or keep leg room in case tomorrow you are forced to downgrade. One who does 'shukar' and treats his 'kamai' as blessing from Guruji will never fall prey to 'the price tag' phenomena. His or her recognition is being a Gursikh and he or she will prefer to utilize the money meaningfully....investing and sharing. We all have the urge to splurge, But Naam helps us to control this urge. Don't let things be your identity... your identity should be your Dharam, And then don't forget ' kirat karro, naam jappo, wandh chako' is our karam. And then don't forget when we die expensive watches, phones and jewelry are removed from the body, That's because the atma has left and this body from somebody is nobody! Our Atma does not need expensive adornments.... its adornments are our asli kamai (true earnings) in this birth! And you may adorn yourself with millions but asli kamai is your true worth. Art of spending.... before you decide to spend on something big do Simran for a few minutes. Keep in mind 'man makes things , things do not make man'. Quantify in you mind.... when I did not have this kind of money what would I have done if I got this kind of money in those days (helps keep you feet firmly planted on the ground). Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, Yesterday I was playing golf and an elderly gentleman commented that Akal Academy Baru Sahib is akin to a 'madrassa'! Nothing can be further from the truth. No doubt this is a Sikh Institute but the courses offered are at par with the best schools in the Country. The teachers are selected by a very strict process and religion is not a criterea for selection. Sant Iqbal Singh who runs this Academy is a bachelor and so the question of nepostim does not arise. And he's totally apolitical. Please do try to go to the Academy when you are in India and see first hand how a Sikh educational Institution is run. http://www.akalacademy.in/ My request is please do try to apportion some of your Daswand to this Academy. Guru Rakha Disclaimer: I am not involved in any way with Akal Academy.

Fateh parwaan karro ji, Some of us when we return from Kirtan or Katha say 'ajj teh kirtan jatha or Gyani ji ne kamaal karr ditta'. What we tend to forget is its Guru's Bani that is the kamaal. Gyani Thakur Singh ji must be terrific. But please do remember its Guru's Bani that he is expounding on. Only Bani is King. Sants are Kings sewadars and a person like me cannot even qualify to be the dust under Sants feet. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro jiyo, I feel it is very wrong to attach King before Gyani. I feel a Gyani would loath such a title. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro ji, The couple are seated as the Hukam is read and then they mathaa tekko and take the laaw. A very apt analogy of the laaw is that the couple as 'two bodies but one belief' via the laaw say ' balihaar' (we are a sacrifice) to Guruji's Hukam. Many after tekoing maata do a round of Sri Guru Granrth Sahib Ji. They do this so as to say that they are balihaar of Guruji. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro ji, And imagine Sikhs are not allowed in the 'NSG Guards' that guard the Indian Queen aka Sonia Gandhi. Though I would like to add here she's proven better than her husband and mother in law towards Sikhs. Guru Rakha

Fateh parwaan karro ji, They say there is a very thin line between bravery and tyranny.... and that is the line of compassion. Before any external fortification we need to fortify ourselves with Amrit and following Rehat. And make the Gurudwara your Center Point. If possible try to go to Guru Ghar everyday. Guru Rakha