Previous

Next

Ask a Question

Summary of Question:	Apostasy And Sikh Boys And Girls
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Sunday, 6/08/2003 12:42 AM MDT

On this subject, I came across an article written by Brig Hardit Singh Kapur and posted by a young Gursikh on another egroup. I think it addresses the issue of "clean" and other shaven rather well and am taking the liberty of posting it here in the hope that the moderators would permit its posting.

quote:

During Bhai Vir Singh's time (1872-1957), a Sikh youth settled abroad, sheared his hair and sent his photograph bearing a solar hat to his parents with a justification that one should change according to necessity of life and circumstances.

The parents, who were greatly perturbed, approached Bhai Sahib for help.

Bhai Sahib was known to have brought the famous intellectual Prof. Puran Singh back to Sikhism from Buddhism. The letter which Bhai Sahib wrote in Punjabi to the apostate is given below:

"Respected Sardar Sahib,

We are greatly surprised and disturbed to read your letter. Bowing against one's faith and form is the result of slavish mentality, which had been caused by our continuous subjugation under foreign rulers.

Guru Nanak embarked to take this weakness out of us.

In spite of utmost regards for the wishes of his respected parents and elders to remain at home to look after them and his young family, he preferred to go out on his hazardous mission of world-emancipation.

He did not accept superstition, and demonstrated the omnipresence of God in all directions. He did not bow to Kauda rakshas, but sat in his cauldron filled with boiling oil.

Guru Angad boldly faced Emperor Hamayun's drawn sword, and reminded him of his cowardliness in front of Sher Shah Suri.

Guru Amar Das did not agree to comply with Emperor Akbar's instructions to preach Hindu mode of worship.

Guru Arjun did not include Prophet Mohammed's praise in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, but faced death and severe tortures inflicted on him by Emperor Jahangir.

Guru Hargobind refused to part with Emperor Shahjahan's falcon which fell into the hands of his Sikhs, but fought a battle at Amritsar which he won to assert the rule of game.

Guru Gobind Singh created the Khalsa and taught them to stand on their ideals, to fight injustice and oppression and never to give in. He blessed his Khalsa with a dominating personality and strong character which does not bow to any physical, mental or moral weakness.

Bhai Taru Singh had asked his executioner to remove his scalp along with hair rather than cut his hair.

Bhai Mani Singh preferred to have his limbs cut to pieces to save his hair. Other martyrs like Bhai Shubag Singh did not abjure their faith.

The British ruled India for three centuries, but they never wore Indian dress.

We, the Indians, due to slavish mentality, started wearing Pathans' dress during their rules, and adopted European dress during the British regime.

Our Gurus taught us to remain firm to our convictions and resolve. This spirit of independence which they inculcated, helped the Sikhs to establish an empire in Northern India.

Hair is our uniform, our identity and symbol of devotion and dedication to our Gurus. Hair with a turban bestows sardari. Guru Gobind Singh had made the Sikhs as lions (Singhs). Do not lose this privilege and identity, and do not break your relationship with the Gurus. Please grow your hair and come to meet us in your original form to gladden our hearts."

On receiving this letter, the Sardar returned to his original form and faith.

About 45 years ago, in response to someone lamenting on the Sikhs' plight and apostasy, Sant Jwala Singh of Harkhowal, Hoshiarpur District, had remarked that there were only 18 real Sikhs present at that time, and the rest were all malechhas (barbarians).

The situation has not changed today.

The Sant in his comment had implied the qualities, the strength and purity of character required of a Sikh. There are numerous incidents in Sikh history where a lone or a few determined and inspired Sikhs stood their ground against heavy odds justifying Guru Gobind Singh's fiat "Sava lakh se ek larayoon, tabe Gobind Singh naam kahayoon". "If I, Guru Gobind Singh, deserve my name, a single Sikh will confront hundred and twenty five thousand."

Bhai Bachittar Singh alone drove away an intoxicated elephant at Anandpur Sahib; cook Kirpal Chand battled with Raja Bhim Chand, a known warrior and killed him with his cooking spoon (karchha), and Bhai Bota Singh dared to collect passenger tax in the enemy territory, thereby claiming suzerainty of the Khalsa.

Unquote

Perhaps if we were to follow the message in this note, this subject line would be closed as we would all be sikhs of the guru and follow his rehat...so no debate on "clean shaven" (an oxymoron - how can a shave not be clean?) boys and eyebrow doing girls !!

Or is that expecting too much?

********
REPLY
********
Sat Siri Akaal. I appreciate this post a great deal! Thank you.

I have one thing to say; in an earlier post on this site some (cut-hair) youths explained how hard it is to be understood as Sikh because their families/communities have raised them without full hair and turban and to go against family is a big step for any youth. It is important that we not judge the hearts of other Sikhs just because they don't look Sikh. This is something I must do myself. I urge you to look for this post, and to acquire some understanding that some folks don't know any other way of being Sikh. Some will see this as an excuse, but changing a lifestyle known since birth is no easy task. It takes courage, conviction, and a lot of moral support. Guru ang sang,
-DKK