Sikh ends hunger strike over lockout

[akjforever]

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/...68678232521.xml

The reporter at the end mentions that only the Gurus kept their hair, implying there is no need now. Please send some feedback to the reporter, his email is at the end of the article.

Sikh ends hunger strike over lockout

Tuesday, October 05, 2004

Michael O'Malley

Plain Dealer Reporter

Bedford-A Sikh protesting a lockout at a temple has ended a hunger strike after more than 40 hours, saying he got what he wanted.

Kunwar Karanbir Singh, who is engaged in a factional fight that has temporarily shut down the Guru Gobind Singh Temple on Tarbell Avenue, said his intention was to free the Sikh Holy Scriptures from the temple.

On Sunday, the faction holding the keys allowed Singh, 38, of Twins- burg, and his follow ers to remove the Scriptures - six holy books - and take them to an other Sikh temple in Richfield.

Sikhs regard the books as living prophets, and they must be opened ev ery day, at dawn and dusk, for readings and prayers.

Singh, camping out in a tent pitched on the lawn of the locked temple, vowed Friday not to eat until the books were liberated. The books were removed about 10 a.m. Sunday, 44 hours after he began his hunger strike.

"Saturday night was cold," he said in a telephone interview Monday. "I was unable to sleep. I was saying prayers."

'font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>An ongoing power struggle in the temple has triggered a raging battle over which side is more devout to hold leadership roles. The protesting faction wants temple leaders to wear beards, turbans and traditional dress as dictated by the religion's early prophets. The faction that holds the keys does not believe leaders are required to do so.

The feud has been violent, with a fistfight last month involving more than 100 people. Bedford police have been called to the temple 11 times this year.

At the request of city officials, the temple was closed Sept. 26 to allow tempers to cool. It is expected to reopen this Sunday.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

momalley@plaind.com, 216-999-4893

[Akaali]

Its not the author, its the people causing this rukkess.

Who are these bahmans anyway?

[Pheena]

Who are these bahmans anyway?

was that an insult....??

[S1ngh]

Who are these bahmans anyway?

was that an insult....??

If one doesn't look like sikh, then he/she sure does look like a bahman.. no hate here.. just plain simple fact !

[Pheena]

Who are these bahmans anyway?

was that an insult....??

If one doesn't look like sikh, then he/she sure does look like a bahman.. no hate here.. just plain simple fact !

I thought a Sikh is suppose to be against or not recoganize the Caste system, and yet when it comes to an insult we resort to ones caste to lay down an insult. Either you recoganize the Caste or you don't. If you don't there is no Bahman in the eyes of a Sikh, there is only a Man who is making a wrong decision. 100% of this forum who are sikhs are against the Caste system, but yet why this double standard? If you are against it then be against it.