Previous

Next

Ask a Question

Summary of Question:	Re: How Can Violence Justify An End?
Category:	General Q's from Non-Sikhs
Date Posted:	Thursday, 1/13/2005 10:14 AM MST

I was interested to read what has been written by both Peter Cork and the response given by DK (in principle!) regarding the above topic.

Now without wishing to sound pedantic, I have never had any issues with any of the responses given by any of the moderators up until now.

Now I have state here that I was not directly involved in the protests which occured initially, or with the violent protests which marred the theatre. But I was in direct contact with Singh's and Singhni's who were part of protests from the beginning.

There are certain things that I find 'interesting' about the whole affair. Initially, when the theatre's production company first started production of the play, it asked the local Sikh community about the controversial content of this play. At that point, the community leaders and others highlighted issues with whach they had problems with. Those suggestions made by the local Sikh community were totally ignored. One community leader said it was if "the theatre company had come for a box ticking exercise".

When the play did go ahead, there were peaceful protests for a week beforehand outside the theatre, which were totally ignored by all local, national and international press. Well I guess people in turbans complaining about a play which mocks their holy book is not newsworthy!

Now I am not trying to place blame, because I do feel that we have to take collective responsibility for so-called Sikhs actions, but when I spoke to people who had attended the protests, they had all stated that it had been overtaken by people who do not practice Sikhi (i.e. hot-headed Punjabi youths with the latest short cropped hair styles), led by self-styled influencial preachers (who don't practice any religion).

Now I do not condone violence, but the response from the theatre was one f sheer arrogance. They had/have treated the Sikh community as a bunch of illiterate morons and the violence was a culmination of anger and frustration as a response.


Now lets talk about this violence. From reading the media, it would seem as though there was serious damage done to the theatre and that 3 people were arrested. In actual fact the truth is that only a few eggs were thrown, a couple of windows were smashed and the 3 people that were all arrested were released without charge. But again I guess that is somewhat of an anti-climactic ending to the 'serious' events that had occured.

If Gurpreet Bhatti had been sincere in her claims that she had wanted to tackle a serious issue that surrounds the Sikh faith, then why did she not tackle the issue of female infanticide or honour killings or even the issue of drug-abuse within the community. Instead she opts for a rape in the Gurdvara whilst there is Gurbani being sung. These were the only 2 issues the community as a whole had a problem with. Innitially that a rape had occured in the Gurdvara and that whilst the rape was taking place, Gurbani was being played. Now you may know different, but there has never been a recorded instance of rape or abuse in the Gurdvara in the UK.

Finally DK's comment (i'm afraid to say) that "Freedom of speech is a uniquely western cultural value" is absolute rubbish! The concepts of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of expression and related issues were around in the east before the west even knew what they meant. You do not have to look further than our Guru's for the perfect example of this.

My feelings on this are that I refuse to let anyone criticise Sikhi and bring my Guru into disrepute.

Finally I want to add that before you (or other moderators) start agreeing with a westerner who is not in total possession of the facts, I insist you find out what they are first.

**********
reply
************
Sat nam. My experience and observance of freedom of speech in Indian culture is that it is conditionally OK, not categorically OK. Quite a difference. I agree that our Gurus, especially Guru Gobind Singh, understood that freedom of worship is indeed a form of freedom of speech, especially when politics and religion are so intertwined as they have historically been in India. My original reply did not mean to ignore this Sikh value, but frankly, freedom of worship is not the heart of the issue in Cork. I'm not sure what is, quite honestly, but I didn't want to simply delete the post. Now I think I should have, since the Youth Forum is not really the place for this. That said I am sure others will be grateful to read of your experience with Cork. Thanks for your reply.
-DKK