Sikh Protest Birmingham.....

[Singh_Shiromani]

Fateh Da Jwaab... Fateh Vich Dena..... Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa!! Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!!

Sikh Federation (UK) Birmingham Branch (Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick), Young Sikhs (Birmingham), National Council of Sikh Gurdwara and many other Sikh organisations are involved in organising a Protest at Birmingham Repertory theatre of the showing of a Behzti (dishonor) which makes mockery of Sikhism.

It will be on Wednesday 15th Decmeber 2004, 5pm – 9pm outside the theatre but a meeting will be held in advance by Sikh Federation (UK) Birmingham @ Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick.

The Birmingham Repertory Theatre supported by an Asian Arts association are promoting a play which is showing at the Birmingham Rep from December 9 – December 30.

The play called Behzti (dishonor) is a black comedy by a Sikh play write, Gurpreet Bhatti.

Some Sikhs including Council of Sikh Gurdwaras have been in discussion with the theatre and imploring on them to make changes as the play makes a mockery of the Sikh religion, its institutions and community.

The theatre and writer have refused to make changes to the setting of the play in a Gurdwara wherein acts of rape, abuse, murder are conducted and sacred Sikh symbolism is dishonored. For example the turban is stored in a shoe rack and scriptures are recited in such a provocative setting.

The theatre has alleged that as the writer is herself a Sikh not all Sikhs disagree with the play. The theatre is promoting and condoning inflammatory material by first commissioning the play, and then providing a platform for its enactment. SAMPAD as an Asian arts agency is

exacerbating the blasphemy by promoting the production and thereby hurting the sensitivities of a significant proportion of Asians who SAMPAD supposedly represents; Ironically SAMPAD rarely promotes positive Sikh images or Sikhs artists.

You are urged to join the protest on Wednesday 15 December outside the Birmingham Rep from 5pm to 9pm. Please join the protest to make it clear that such plays are not only misrepresentative but will provoke racial unrest in the otherwise relatively harmonious race relations we have in Birmingham.

JOIN the PROTEST against our Behzti.

See below for information……………

http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/core_asp/s...e.asp?theid=161

Behzti (dishonour)

A play by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti

The Birmingham Repertory Theatre is presenting the black comedy Behzti which is being promoted by SAMPAD (an Asian arts association).

The theatre has taken a decision to use public money to mock and ridicule the Sikh community and its institutions. Behzti is a remarkably appropriate title of the clear intent of both the writer and the Theatre administrators towards the Sikh community. There has been a determined strategy to ‘dishonour’ the Sikh community by placing within the context of the Gurdwara and associated imagery acts of blasphemy, and depicting those who selflessly devote and dedicate years in contemplation of humanity and its creator as ignorant bigoted hypocrites.

Hypocrisy, lies and artistic values

Upon commissioning this play the Repertory Theatre’s managers realised that the play posed offence to the Sikh community and chose to consult the Sikh community. Even though the views expressed by representatives of the Sikh community came in clear and to the point, after two months of discussion, it has become evident that the consultation was a tick-box ex

ercise to only please the funders and cover their own back: there was never any intention to listen to nor implement the concerns raised.

The theatre has alleged that as the writer is herself a Sikh not all Sikhs disagree with the play. This would suggest that arts representatives from the Rep are representative of the arts world, however, representatives of Sikh institutions are only as important as an individual despite how upsetting that one individuals’ views may be. In fact the ttrhetare is using this argument to condone their own actions in promoting and condoning inflammatory material by first commissioning the play, and then providing a platform for its enactment. SAMPAD as an Asian arts agency is exacerbating the blasphemy by promoting the production and thereby hurting the sensitivities of a significant proportion of Asians who SAMPAD supposedly represents; ironically SAMPAD rarely promotes positive Sikh images or Sikhs artists. How representative is SAMPAD of all sections of the Asian communities and what is the need for SAMPAD if it cannot embrace the specific sensitivities that diverse communities have?

Any right ‘not to be offended and abused’

The realisation of the opportunity to offend and alienate the Sikh community wasn’t enough. The Rep still agreed to censor plays that other writers had written for the Rep on the basis of ‘artistic merit’. The right to ‘freedom of free speech’ has been seen as a right greater than the right ‘not to be offended and abused’. With these sort of sensitive policies, one can’t wait for the BNP to come to power!

Nepotism?

Interestingly the writer’s previous play was titled ‘Besharam’ (Punjabi for unashamed), again a wonderful word to express her and the theatres feelings about the Sikh community, and had also been commissioned by the Rep.

Same writer same theatre, same community at the receiving end. Networking really does work, or is that Nepotism?

Bumming N

ep

The writer in presenting such a controversial play has provided an essential service, after all we here of rape, murder and abuse taking place in Sikh Gurdwaras every day. Don’t we? The writer says that she believes drama should be provocative and relevant. One of two in this case is a failure of huge magnitude. The theatre should be renamed Bumming Nep, with all the nepotism, boys & girls networks, and titillation that takes place behind closed doors.

A Beacon of Truth and Hypocrisy

There is no place for hypocrisy in any quarter; the writer has concentrated on a minority faith community, less than 1% of the population in the UK, less than 2% in India and less than 0.25% worldwide, and not considered the impact on the community of its minority status and the impact this sort of mockery has on a continually victimised community. For example, Sikhs are still classified as Hindu under Indian law, any attempts by Sikhs to extol their own practices have been hindered and subjected to violent vilification. Only 20 years ago the government of India destroyed the Sikh reference library in a deliberate effort to subjugate Sikh culture. In efforts to submerge Sikh practice the government of India gave equal prominence and public funding to right wing Hindu organisations to extol Hinduiastion of Sikh practice during the tri-centenary celebrations of the Sikhs in 1999.

Tabloid Values

The playwright Goraprit Batty, the angelic beacon and protagonist of truth couldn’t have been more hypocritical. In her desire to unearth and make a stand for the ‘losers’ amongst the Sikh Diaspora, Goraprit hasn’t gone out and dedicated her time to voluntary work nor has she established a charity to help alleviate poverty from those faced with adversity. She and the Bumming Nep have instead chosen to use tabloid style titillation to deliberately mock Sikh practice. Could the intention be the same as tabloids- sex and racism sells tabloid newspapers; are you buying or have yo

u already bought your ticket?

Playwright or Social Policy Maker

The drama quite remarkably indirectly makes a suggestion that social research agencies have lost the plot. Public scrutiny has found that public agencies, including the welfare state, are socially exclusive, do not respond to the needs of minorities, and continue to be inherently discriminatory through the practice of historical infrastructural commitments which do not respond to the changing demographic needs of diverse communities and those most in poverty.

Batty comes up with such a remarkably simple finding, she would have us all believe it is amazing that so many others missed the obvious. The play suggests that the evils in society stem from the Gurdwara, because the people who run these immoral places only display outer imagery of Sikhism and do not make any effort to actually change their inner beliefs and practices. Thus rendering their practice of Sikhism meaningless, and this impact on Sikhs and their everyday lives is leading to winners suppressing losers. By virtue of this suggestion, is the Sikh community to blame for the fact that many Sikhs couldn’t get jobs after the demise of heavy industry and had to invest their redundancy packages on businesses, usually corner shops, in order to provide a roof and food to their families? Many mature Sikh men and women still are unable to get jobs outside of businesses owned and managed within the community. Many second and third generation Sikhs have to be twice as qualified and work twice as hard to gain career progression in both public and private employment. It is this discrimination that has led to Sikhs enterprising in British society. Many of those the playwright describes as ‘losers’ have not been allowed to move into employment by the institituitional racism that has been paramount in British society and is still rife in arts establishments.

Perfection of Guilt

Unfortunately not everybody can be as perfect as Gorapri

t, and as such most Sikhs do have their inadequacies. Goraprit has chosen to discard outer Sikh practices and in doing so, maybe out of a feeling of guilt or some other psychological trauma, feels that those who do show outer practices are usually hypocrites.

Another interpretation of the outer practice of Sikh imagery could be perceived to show commitment and, though we are all sinners, seen as one step towards perfection. Clearly Ms Batty has already found perfection and is now in a position to condemn the practices of others and Sikh Gurus. Why does she not just find another label that suits her better if she doesn’t want to follow Sikhism, after all Sikhism is one of the only faiths that does not forcibly inculcate at birth: the follower is free to choose his or her own path. However, the Gurus who Batty says were ‘brave revolutionaries with the finest minds, warriors who propagated values of egalitarianism and selflessness’ also made it clear that there was no room for hypocrisy and that God was not interested in labels.

‘‘Only he (or she) is a Sikh who lives by the discipline.’’

This means that the outer practice that Goraprit is so uneasy about is as important as the inner practice. The loss of either at the expense of the other is considered hypocrisy in Sikhism.

The Preacher at theTheatre

We are all sinners Batty, it’s just that some don’t need Gurdwaras to preach, just ignorant, Eurocentric theatres, who have no real interest in diversifying their audience. The custodians of the arts enjoy playing to their colonial history and depicting ‘the natives’ as they see not as they are. They need loyal servants to do their work, in the days of the Raaj they gave land and titles to those who betrayed their community, today some will dishonour themselves and their community for the sake of a job.

[amarjit]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa

Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

how many people want to go but are busy,

how many people want to go but are tired,

how many people want to go but can't be bothered,

how many people want to go but think enough other people are there,

how many people really want to go and be counted.

We need to take a stand, no one is going to fight on our behalf .

Our religion needs you

Funny how we need 2 or 3 weeks to fit a Gurdwara program into our schedule, but have no problem adjusting for a social event at the last minute. (taken from - http://forums.waheguroo.com/index.ppa?act=...=8300&hl=funny)

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa

Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

[Singh_Shiromani]

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa!! Waheguru ji ki Fateh!!

The Protest might have been a success depending on what the Chief Superintendant of the police decides today. All I can say is that Yesterday Sikh Youth Lost All confidence in the Chairman Of Sikh Gurdwaras Council In Birmingham Mr Seva Singh Mandla, and all the Sikh Youth Asked him to resign, as he would not take a stand with the Sikh you and kept going to the back and at one point was ready to leave.

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa!! Waheguru ji ki Fateh!!

[sarblohsingh2004]

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh !

A Singh just emailed me to put this up:

Check out the birmingham rep message board to put feedback, but make sure you don't post anything silly as to drag the cause down:

http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/core_asp/f...ack_message.asp

Vaheguru Jee Ka Khalsa, Vaheguru Jee Kee Fateh !

[AK-47]

Sikhs from across the midlands (even one from scotland!) have been peacefully protesting outside the rep for the last 2 days.

ON the first night, the rep refused to listen or agree to any of the requests of the protestors, and just did their best to ignore things. But jakareh shook their walls and caused the desired effect. Letting these people know that we will not quietly stand by and let things like this happen.

Another incident was that a member of the staff of the restaurant made some comments against one person which may be deemed racist, upon complaining to the police, the singh was told that THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING. in fact some officers didnt seem to know that racist comments are a criminal offence. One officer said that they could not do anything since they had NOT SEEN the offence!

LOL What hope is there for our judicial system if police only investigate crimes which they themselves witness!! It was a complete joke, the person was in a room just 2 metres away from the police, yet they refused to go and get him or give his name so that a complaint could be lodged.

DAY 2

The police had promised an injunction the night b4, but in some meeting with the rep, the cops and apparent 'elders', the play was still to go ahead.

Protest in afternoon led to some singhs being arrested for taking part in a peaceful protest!!! The police chatting about some sections in order to disperse protestors!! Funny how ANY other community can protest without being dispersed but we turn up and they lock us up!

Evening saw another peaceful protest with many people from thw white and black communities stoppi

ng and congratualting the protestors for standing up for their beliefs and faith. Even the public said they were HUGELY SUPRISED at the size of the police presence!! they wondered if there had been a riot or something!!!

Can u believe another young sikh was arrested for waering a scarf!!! The police using bully boy tactics threatened him then threw him to the floor and cuffed him and dragged him away. They said they can do so if they deem a threat, when asked where the threat was or who it came from they couldnt answer, when told that they should arrest every other person with a scarf on, they refused to comment.

Despite this and much other aggravation from the police including bouncers pushing their weight around, the protest was peaceful.

Benti to the sangat from everyone who has been there for the last 2 days is that we need your support. Everyone has agreed to meet on THIS saturday at 5 outside the rep for another protest. Even if the drama cannot be banned, we need to show unity and strength, please please please attend, bring ur familes etc, we need you all there.

The last 2 days has seen the same faces that you see at all protests and demo's.... where are the rest of you SIKHS hiding?

Respect to all the brothers and sisters who turned up and showed their love!!

3 of your brothers can be arrested, and if u guys still cant be bothered to make an effort and turn up... well thats your choice people. the uk aint that big, saturday 5 onwards be there.

[Singh_Shiromani]

THANK YOU GURU NANAK NISHKAM SEVAK JATHA (SOHO ROAD GURDWARA) & CHAIRMAN OF GURU NANAK NISHKAM SEVAK JATHA "BHAI SAHIB" MOHINDER SINGH, RAMGARIA GURDWARA - GRAHAM STREET BIRMINGHAM, MR SEVA SINGH MANDLA THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF SIKH GURDWARAS IN BIRMINGHAM

WHO ALL KNEW 4 MONTHS IN ADVANCE BUT COULD NOT TELL THE SANGAT..........

AND

ABOVE ALL

GURPREET KAUR BHATTI WHO WROTE THE PLAY!

[Panth Da Sevadar]

Singh Shiromani you will be the cause for starting rows and riots between Sikhs.

Don't preach without reading and then understanding the Bani of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and remember, Guru Granth Sahib Ji is not only for Sikhs, it's for the whole of humanity.

As for the Ram Katha - Who told you Guru Granth Sahib Ji was taken to the Ram Katha? Get your facts right as I have stated in revious messages.

Can I ask you something? What seva have you done for the panth except for taking part in protests?

You can splash as much dirt as you want on the 'Nishkam Sewak Jatha', it won't effect the Gurdwara in any way, because Maharaj Ji Rakvala He.

I will do ardas for you - Maharaj Ji Sannu SAreannu Soji Bhakshan.

If your so concerned about what happens at the Nishakm Sewak Jatha, why don't you go and speak to Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ji like a civillised human being.

I'm not writing this message in anger, but in love.

Please don;t further divide the Panth.

The UK should be setting examples, something which the Akal Takhat and SGPC have failed to do.

Regards

Guru Panth Da Nimana Nitana Sevadar

[s s Jhamka]

vaheguru ji ka khalsa

vaheguru ji ki fateh

dear sadh sangat ji

BENTI lets not fight between ourselves please please we getting diverted from our goal.

cool it down we will sit down afterwards and sort out what went wrong etc, at the moment the play is going on singhs are arrested.

LETS GET OUT THERE AND PROTEST

THERES ANOTHER PROTEST ON SATURDAY 18th DEC 5pm onwards

take care

stay cool

maharaaj is watching up

Gur Bar AKAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL