What Rights Does a Sikh Woman Have Today?

[Simran9]

source:

http://www.panthic.org/news/133/ARTICLE/12...f89973ca41f4fca

What Rights Does a Sikh Woman Have Today?

Sunday 10th April, 2005

Yashpal Kaur - Panthic Weekly Columnist

(KP) – What rights does a woman get to enjoy if she is a Sikh?

She is equal to man.

She has religious rights.

She has independence.

But sadly, these basic rights are denied to many Sikh women today.

In some cases, even before a girl is born she is killed by abortion because of a desire for a male child. Upon birth, many relatives will not even have been informed for days that a daughter has taken birth. Yet, in the same family, if a son is born, everyone will know by the end of that day. The following year Lohri will be celebrated and ladoo and sweets will be distributed in the village—if a SON was born. Nothing is done in celebration for many daughters who are born in Sikh families.

This gender discrimination is at its best today when Punjab has many abortion clinics. Female infanticide, which was earlier the norm, has been replaced by female foeticide. According to the National Commission for Women (NCW), the sex ratio in Punjab is 874 females per 1000 males, and is still declining. Surprisingly, Punjab—the homeland of Khalsa, has the worst sex ratio in all of India.

As if the situation was not bad enough, a Sikh woman is yet again humiliated on one of the most special occasions in one’s life—her wedding. A Sikh wedding is conducted by reading of Laavan from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and after each Laav, the bride and groom will circumambulate around Sri Guru Granth Sahib JI. The common practice which continues today is that at least four brothers of the bride will each take turns walking their sister. This practice has been adopted from Indian society and is absolutely prohibited in Sikhi!

If a Sikh man is capable enough to walk on his own, then why should the woman be held and walked as if she is fragile and might faint!? I urge Sikh women to read their history and the legacies of brave women of Khalsa Panth. Would Mata Bhaag Kaur have walked on her own two feet for her wedding, or would she have submitted to be walked by her brothers? History stands proof that our women have been courageous and brave warriors. Sadly, today we are downgraded and held and walked by men because we have been programmed in our heads from childhood to do the traditional Indian thing.

I urge Sikh woman who have yet to be married to challenge this tradition. On your wedding, let no brother get in between you and your husband. Marriage is about the husband, wife and the Guru who will lead and guide their life together.

Due to this sort of lack of understanding and knowledge many Sikh women are not independent.

Ideologically, a Sikh woman has full religious rights. She may participate in the reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji during Akhandpaath, Sehaj Paath, and sing kirtan in the Gurudwara Sahib. She also has the right to be baptized by the Panj Pyare.

However, today there are much less Sikh woman who are baptised. The biggest issue here is parents do not want their daughter to become Amritdhari because they will have a difficult time finding an Amritdhari man to marry her. In another scenario, an Amritdhari woman is married to a man who drinks alcohol. Many women who are married in this situation eventually stop following Rehat Maryada because it is not practiced in the husband’s family.

The best solution to this is women need to be firm in what they believe and not let go of it. We need to take action and change the outlook of our coming future. If you are ready then do not hesitate to take Amrit because:

The Lord God has arranged the marriage ceremony;

He has come to marry the Gurmukh.

He has come to marry the Gurmukh, who has found the Lord. That bride is very dear to her Lord (SGGS 775).

With full faith in Sikhi, the best is possible!

Yashpal Kaur can be reached at yashpal.kaur@panthic.org

[Simran9]

oops, got double posted..1st time gave me error message so i posted again, admins delete one thread maybe, thanks

[Princess]

source:

http://www.panthic.org/news/133/ARTICLE/12...f89973ca41f4fca

What Rights Does a Sikh Woman Have Today?

Sunday 10th April, 2005

Yashpal Kaur - Panthic Weekly Columnist

(KP) – What rights does a woman get to enjoy if she is a Sikh?

She is equal to man.

She has religious rights.

She has independence.

But sadly, these basic rights are denied to many Sikh women today.

In some cases, even before a girl is born she is killed by abortion because of a desire for a male child. Upon birth, many relatives will not even have been informed for days that a daughter has taken birth. Yet, in the same family, if a son is born, everyone will know by the end of that day. The following year Lohri will be celebrated and ladoo and sweets will be distributed in the village—if a SON was born. Nothing is done in celebration for many daughters who are born in Sikh families.

This gender discrimination is at its best today when Punjab has many abortion clinics. Female infanticide, which was earlier the norm, has been replaced by female foeticide. According to the National Commission for Women (NCW), the sex ratio in Punjab is 874 females per 1000 males, and is still declining. Surprisingly, Punjab—the homeland of Khalsa, has the worst sex ratio in all of India.

As if the situation was not bad enough, a Sikh woman is yet again humiliated on one of the most special occasions in one’s life—her wedding. A Sikh wedding is conducted by reading of Laavan from Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and after each Laav, the bride and groom will circumambulate around Sri Guru Granth Sahib JI. The common practice which continues today is that at least four brothers of the bride will each take turns walking their sister. This practice has been adopted from Indian society and is absolutely prohibited in Sikhi!

If a Sikh man is capable enough to walk on his own, then why should the woman be held and walked as if she is fragile and might faint!? I urge Sikh women to read their history and the legacies of brave women of Khalsa Panth. Would Mata Bhaag Kaur have walked on her own two feet for her wedding, or would she have submitted to be walked by her brothers? History stands proof that our women have been courageous and brave warriors. Sadly, today we are downgraded and held and walked by men because we have been programmed in our heads from childhood to do the traditional Indian thing.

I urge Sikh woman who have yet to be married to challenge this tradition. On your wedding, let no brother get in between you and your husband. Marriage is about the husband, wife and the Guru who will lead and guide their life together.

Due to this sort of lack of understanding and knowledge many Sikh women are not independent.

Ideologically, a Sikh woman has full religious rights. She may participate in the reading of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji during Akhandpaath, Sehaj Paath, and sing kirtan in the Gurudwara Sahib. She also has the right to be baptized by the Panj Pyare.

However, today there are much less Sikh woman who are baptised. The biggest issue here is parents do not want their daughter to become Amritdhari because they will have a difficult time finding an Amritdhari man to marry her. In another scenario, an Amritdhari woman is married to a man who drinks alcohol. Many women who are married in this situation eventually stop following Rehat Maryada because it is not practiced in the husband’s family.

The best solution to this is women need to be firm in what they believe and not let go of it. We need to take action and change the outlook of our coming future. If you are ready then do not hesitate to take Amrit because:

The Lord God has arranged the marriage ceremony;

He has come to marry the Gurmukh.

He has come to marry the Gurmukh, who has found the Lord. That bride is very dear to her Lord (SGGS 775).

With full faith in Sikhi, the best is possible!

Yashpal Kaur can be reached at yashpal.kaur@panthic.org

93111[/snapback]

<_< very nice post

Actually i've been wondering for quite some time now Does the groom have to walk infront? Or is that adopted from hindu religion as well, y can't they walk side by side?

Bhul Chuk Maaf

[Guest Lohgarh Singh]

wjkk wjkf

unfortunatly, this post simran penji has made is correct. women are discriminated wen we are commanded to treat kaur no less. there is actual bani written by pelay paatshai about this. "from women, kings are born" a quote from this bani. from a women, the guru was born. at least you know i dont treat penjis any less. :TH:

[Sher Khalsa]

grooms gotta be infront... sant jarnail singh bhindrawale addrssed this in one of his speeches...

also...

the husband has the duty to protect his wife etc, so he walks at the front, the parents of the girl give her away to the husband... so now the husbands family becomes the girls family...

[Gupt daasan daas]

thisis not fromm hindu dharm

this is the way anand kaaraj has been going on for a long time

sant jarnail singh je said that women leading in lavaan is wrong

the reason tot hat i dont know, i nveer asked

all i think in my man is har harjan due aik hai bib beechar kachh nahi

bhula chuka maf

[GuruManeyoGranth]

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!

Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!!

This Shabad is by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Aasaa on Pannaa 473

ma 1 ||

First Mehl:

bha(n)dd ja(n)meeai bha(n)dd ni(n)meeai bha(n)dd ma(n)gan veeaahu ||

From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married.

 

bha(n)ddahu hovai dhosathee bha(n)ddahu chalai raahu ||

Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come.

bha(n)dd muaa bha(n)dd bhaaleeai bha(n)dd hovai ba(n)dhhaan ||

When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound.

so kio ma(n)dhaa aakheeai jith ja(n)mehi raajaan ||

So why call her bad? From her, kings are born.

bha(n)ddahu hee bha(n)dd oopajai bha(n)ddai baajh n koe ||

From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all.

naanak bha(n)ddai baaharaa eaeko sachaa soe ||

O Nanak, only the True Lord is without a woman.

jith mukh sadhaa saalaaheeai bhaagaa rathee chaar ||

That mouth which praises the Lord continually is blessed and beautiful.

naanak thae mukh oojalae thith sachai dharabaar ||2||

O Nanak, those faces shall be radiant in the Court of the True Lord. ||2||

<_< :wub: :wub:

"all i think in my man is har harjan due aik hai bib beechar kachh nahi" :TH:

Waheguroo

[naam_jap]

Some of the cases, of male and female childs, those types of cases happen in uneducated families and very rare in the world we live in. Society has changed

[Gupt daasan daas]

who called the women bad?

r u saying sant jes calling the women bad?

this is goonna go into a debate

leave me out of this

bhula chuka maf

[Harnek Singh]

Waheguru Jika Khalsa, Waheguru Jiki Fateh,

Yes, female infanticide is still happening today. But how long has these practises been there...long before Sikhi was there. Our Gurus put a stop to this but some people are still into it. Lohri is not a celebration originating from Sikhism....some of our people are still backwards that they still practise these old rituals that are supposed to have become obsolete for Sikhs.

So pls pheji, the title should be "What Rights does an Indian Women have today?".

I cannot stand the word Sikh being used so frequently with negative events when the Sikh religion put the end to these things in the first place. Do we ever hear about Christians having abortions? We shouldn't tie an event to a Religion that prohibits it in the first place.

Waheguru Jika Khalsa, Waheguru Jiki Fateh