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Summary of Question:	Why Sikhs Frown Upon Being Called A Sardar
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Saturday, 1/19/2008 1:26 PM MST

Guru Fateh,

I was jus wondering why do generally sikhs in india(me included) do not feel good when some one addresses as ..Hey Sardar..but have no problems or would have no problems if some one siad.....Hey Sikh..
I donno if the Hey Sikh address would not be offensive to me..but Hey Sardar..in front of people../girls etc..it is offensive..
is it due to associatin of word sardar with jokes..
so inthat case..should we work on the being strong mentally on being addressed Hey Sardar..
I know of a Vice president of very big company who sent out a letter to his subordinates asking them to address a Sikh Guy as Sikh Guy not a Sardarji in official letters where name of the Sikh guy is not known...was there a hidden insecurity some where...

let me know please..if i am sounding co herent in my qustion

<<<<< REPLY >>>>>

There's a big difference between "Hey, Sardar" and "Sardar Ji."

A lot has to do with tone of voice as well. What is the real intention of the speaker?

When I moved to a new city, people would yell at me, "Hey Ayatollah! Go back to Iran!" At first I reacted and felt angry. Then I started smiling at them and raising my hand in blessing saying, "God bless you." They were just trying to see if they could 'get my goat'... you know, get a 'rise' out of me. They were actually testing me to see how I would react. What they wanted was for me to be angry or offended. Then they were in control of me. When I responded consciously in a completely non-reactive way, they were nonplussed and they never forgot the Sardar in the turban who smiled and blessed them.

So, I see being called "Hey, Sardar" as an opportunity. It's an opportunity to shift the other person's frame of reference through your own conscious response. How you respond is a matter of choice. You have the power.

.....G