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Summary of Question:	Afghani Sikh Refugees In India
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Saturday, 7/06/2002 11:21 AM MDT

Sikhs who were deserted from afghanistan are living in india as refugees and indian govt. thinks that they should not be considered as part of indian sikhs as according to indian government,history says that Guru Nanak Dev Ji went to afghanistan once to preach sikhism so the sikhism originated there, but they dont realise that at that time khalsa was not in origin. and now afghani sikhs in india are harrased and are told to leave india and go back to afghanistan which is a muslim country,they are told that they are burden on indian govt. girls are harassed by indian police.(i can prove that too as i have experinced this act, though i am not afghani, but engaged to an afghani, and i felt ashamed).

but the genuine fact is this that almost all of them went to afganistan during partition of india and pakistan.
indian govt. helped people from kuwait when they were in crisis(they sent planes from india to carry them back),then why not sikhs from afghanistan.just because they are not that well furnished with wealth as them. when countries like america,australia,germany and UK has invited people from afghanistan for permanent stay,then why not india,which as i think should come forward(they should be the first to come) to preserve its culture.
please post this question,this will help our sikh brothers who are in real bad situation in india .
if you can't post then please atleast tell me the reason ,i will be grateful to you.

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REPLY
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Sat Siri Akaal Ji.
It is clear that Afghan Sikhs ARE indeed refugees in India. Indian government is not rising to the challenge of assisting because of its history concerning (Indian) Sikhs, and because of the internal politics of Pakistan/India concerning Kashmir, and external politics of your geographic area since the terror attacks in USA on 9/11/02. It is obviously unfair, but the Afghan Sikhs' numbers are small compared to other refugee groups, and Indian government can get away with it in the court of world opinion. Helping Kuwaitis put Indian government on oil kingdom Kuwait's good side.

Never be ashamed of your gender or ethnicity, or the ethnic origin of your spouse. God made this world and filled it with different kinds of people for a reason. It is important for women everywhere to combat harrassment in whatever way they can. For example, many men are not expecting a woman to slap them in response to harrassment. This can stop a man cold; he often expects women to take harrassment lying down! While each situation needs to be assessed as far as a practical response, it is your duty as a Sikh to defend your honor and wellbeing, and that of your family. Sometimes it falls to women to do this, not men. Recite JaapSahib daily to build fearlessness, and train both your mind and body in self-defense if you can.
Guru rakha,
-DKK