The Making Of Sikh History - Literally. A Translation.

[Jonny101]

Do you really think so?

Personally I'm fascinated by this stuff but I'm not sure about the majority of apnay. I mean even a thread about farting gets more attention than one like this ...... lol

Sad but true. In the west majority of apnay don`t read Punjabi language literature. So translations like this are very badly needed. I remember some time ago someone was posting English translation of Prof Sahib Singh`s Japji Sahib steek. That is the kind of seva that is really beneficial for Sikhs in the west and will help non Sikhs to also understand Sikhism on a whole new level.

[VanHelsingh]

Do you really think so?

Personally I'm fascinated by this stuff but I'm not sure about the majority of apnay. I mean even a thread about farting gets more attention than one like this ...... lol

This is the kind of work that will allow Sikhi to reach those people who simply have no idea about the faith or lump it in with the other dharmic religions. Academics and professors will lap this up.

[Singh559]

Interesting read, thanks for sharing and translating. Sikhs have to take the role of researching and producing historical analysis of our own history and of Gurbani otherwise there is an endless list of people who are willing to impose their own take on who Sikhs are and what our history is.

[dalsingh101]

Interesting read, thanks for sharing and translating. Sikhs have to take the role of researching and producing historical analysis of our own history and of Gurbani otherwise there is an endless list of people who are willing to impose their own take on who Sikhs are and what our history is.

More disturbing is the simple minded way some of our own people lap up outsider narratives when it inflates their sense of ego.

I feel that certain outside communities twigged onto this a long, long time ago and try to manipulate it to their own advantage whenever they get a chance. Especially via the academic forum or occasional documentaries through institutes like the BBC.

[Singh559]

More disturbing is the simple minded way some of our own people lap up outsider narratives when it inflates their sense of ego.

I feel that certain outside communities twigged onto this a long, long time ago and try to manipulate it to their own advantage whenever they get a chance. Especially via the academic forum or occasional documentaries through institutes like the BBC.

I can kind of see what you mean and can think of some examples myself (perhaps the attempted creation of a controversy on Dasam Granth Sahib). Would you classify The Sikh Story by Sonia Deol as a such a documentary? If not do you have any specific example you can share?

[dalsingh101]

I had in mind the general portrayal we get here in England which rarely seems to get beyond the 'loyal sepoy' stereotype. Or when it comes to partition and 1984 - the impression that our politics is inherently violent, in a way dangerous to peace loving people. Often these documentaries I see appear to be little less than barely concealed army recruitment affairs. At some stage I'll try and post some examples of what I mean.

In the UK, it appears as if the only 'militant' Sikh identity that is acceptable is one that is being 'soldierly' strictly for Anglo causes. Any one that involves Sikhs fighting for Sikh causes is 'fundamentalist' etc.

When I think about it, underlying all this is the simple matter of being 'controlled'.

I read Edward Said's Orientalism recently and it sort alluded to the way colonialists helped foster particular stereotypes/identities that worked to their favour. Flattery was a common tactic, and I can't help but think that our people really fell for that one. I mean how many apnay were so busy fighting an essentially European war (WW2), without focusing on their own homeland. Sikhs came back from winning a war for outsiders and lost a massive chunk of their own homeland straight after. Apnay seemed to have been focusing on other people's causes to the detriment of their own. As a people that is not very astute.

There is a case for our lot being so caught up in the image of 'loyal stalwarts of the empire' that they lost the plot about matters closer to home.

[Singh559]

I had in mind the general portrayal we get here in England which rarely seems to get beyond the 'loyal sepoy' stereotype. Or when it comes to partition and 1984 - the impression that our politics is inherently violent, in a way dangerous to peace loving people. Often these documentaries I see appear to be little less than barely concealed army recruitment affairs. At some stage I'll try and post some examples of what I mean.

In the UK, it appears as if the only 'militant' Sikh identity that is acceptable is one that is being 'soldierly' strictly for Anglo causes. Any one that involves Sikhs fighting for Sikh causes is 'fundamentalist' etc.

When I think about it, underlying all this is the simple matter of being 'controlled'.

I read Edward Said's Orientalism recently and it sort alluded to the way colonialists helped foster particular stereotypes/identities that worked to their favour. Flattery was a common tactic, and I can't help but think that our people really fell for that one. I mean how many apnay were so busy fighting an essentially European war (WW2), without focusing on their own homeland. Sikhs came back from winning a war for outsiders and lost a massive chunk of their own homeland straight after. Apnay seemed to have been focusing on other people's causes to the detriment of their own. As a people that is not very astute.

There is a case for our lot being so caught up in the image of 'loyal stalwarts of the empire' that they lost the plot about matters closer to home.

Harsh but the truth nonetheless.

[Premi5]

Bump

@dallysingh101

[dallysingh101]

8 hours ago, Premi5 said:

Bump

@dallysingh101

I feel ahead of the curve, looking back at the thread over a decade later.......