Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Avtar Bhanearawala
Avtar Bhanearawala
Background
Avtar Bhanearawala first started his cult back in 1980 in village Dhamana in Roopnagar. During the Sikh movement he operated quietly just like every other human “guru”. After the decline of the movement he forcibly took over 19 acres of land in the village and expanded his dera. He started attracting many followers from the local area and gaining some popularity. He would not have gained much popularity had it not been for greedy leaders. According to a report: “A controversial person Piara Sio Bhanearawala became famous when Minister Boota Sinh went to beg for votes. He was the first leader to visit the dera. Boota Sinh wanted to secure his dalit votes since majority of the followers of Bhanearawala were dalits.” (Desh Sewak, 7 October 2001)
Besides his numerous “female companions”, he has three legal wives Kusam Devi, Rupinder Kaur and Surjeet Kaur. He has three sons. The youngest keep matted hair like a sanyasi and the eldest shows off a Hindu lifestyle while the middle son has adopted a Sikh form. This is done to attract followers from Sikhi and Hinduism. He has property worth billions of rupees some of which is distributed among his three wives based on the condition that the property could not be sold but only passed on to the heirs.
Challenges to Sikhi
His direct opposition against Sikhi came forward in a form of his “holy book” called “Bhavsagar Samundar Amar Bani” which was filled with false and nonsensical stories and insulting remarks about Sikh Guru and Sikh practices. It was put together by 21 government sponsored people including policemen and teachers. Five of 21 people were women. Bhanearawala has resorted to insult Sikhi practices on daily basis. He encouraged his followers to desecrate saroops of Guru Granth Sahib. His followers acting on his words burnt hundreds of saroops in many cities of Punjab. Report published in Desh Sewak newspaper exposed his true face. According to his followers Jaswinder Singh, Bindar Singh and Ashok Kumar:
Piara Singh Bhanearawala was enraged at Sikhs for burning his granth. To seek revenge he appealed to us to burn Guru Granth Sahib. When we refused, he forced us to do it at gunpoint and threatened to kill us. We stole a saroop from Ratangarh and burnt it at a dera in Rasoolpur. (Desh Sewak, 14 October 2001)
Burning of saroops continued for many months in Punjab. Bhanearawala was not arrested by the police for inciting hatred and disrespecting another religion. Instead, he was provided with security forces by the government.
He has also established a place in his local dera which he says is more powerful and holier than Darbar Sahib. According to a report published by Vijay Chandan: The notorious Bhanearawala has built a place in his dera where his followers come to disperse the remains of their dead. There exists a pond in which the remains are thrown. It is believed by the followers that person whose remains are put in the pond goes straight to heaven. Bhanearawala charges Rs. 1000 to use the pond. (Desh Sewak, 28 October 2001)
He claims that his filthy granth has no derogatory comments about the Sikh faith which is far from the actual truth. Here are some stories from his granth.
An Amritdhari used to go to Gurdwara everyday. He was in a dire situation and prayed everyday but no avail. At last, Bhanearawala blessed him with his vision and brought him to Bhaneara. (Page 27)
Bhanearawala blessed Amritdharis with his visions, impressed them with his spiritual powers and destroyed their false ego. (Page 116)
One time an Amritdhari came to the dera and questioned Baba Ji (Bhanearawala) as to why Guru Granth Sahib was not kept there. Baba Ji replied, “It is of no importance.” Amritdhari became angry and left the dera. After some time his legs were broken in an accident. God blessed him with a vision in form of Baba Ji and told him to serve at the dera. His legs were healed by Baba Ji. He used to work at Mehta Gurdwara then why didn’t God bless him with a vision in form of Amritdhari? (Page 701)
An Amritdhari named Yugraj Singh had been yearning for God’s vision. Baba Ji blessed him with a vision. (Page 909)
Karamjit Singh used to work as a granthi. Due to some illeness he lost his eyesight and his wife became paralyzed on one side of the body. They had Akhand Paath at Darbar Sahib and did immense seva at Gurdwaras but nothing turned to their benefit. Baba Ji Bhanearawala cured their illness. Karamjit had prepared to go to Anandpur Sahib at 300th centennial and wanted to take his wife along with him but she refused and came to Baba Ji instead. Baba Ji told her that those who go to Anandpur Sahib never get salvation and remain in the cycle of life and death. If there was a benefit of going to the Gurdwara they would’ve been cured there. (Page 995)
On the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Manjit Kaur was blessed with a vision of Bhanearawala. She saw Guru Arjan Dev Ji sitting on a hot iron plate and the entire body was full of blisters. Then the image of Guru Arjan Dev Ji took the form of Baba Piara Singh and told Manjeet to do seva at dera Bhaneara. Then the form turned back to Guru Arjav Dev Ji and said to Manjeet, “Look what the humanity have done to me. They have not spared me of their injustice.” (Page 1107)
One time a lady was going to Gurdwara. Guru Arjan Dev Ji revealed Himself to her and said, “Why are you going to Gurdwara? There is nothing there. Go to dera Bhaneara instead. True Satguru resides there. You shall reach liberation there.” (Page 1240)
One person told Baba Ji Bhaneara to summon before Akal Takhat but Baba Ji refused and said, “I don’t accept any Akal Takhat. God has told me that falsehood shall perish.” (Page 1240)
These are some of the contained in Bhavsagar granth. Bhanearawala was greatly opposed by the Sikhs which resulted in decline in his followers. Few of his followers were killed in jail and Bhanearawala was attacked by a knife but luckily he survived.
Altering Gurbani
Besides preaching against Sikhi and insulting Sikh Gurus at his deras, Gurbani is misused to mislead the people into thinking that he provides correct interpretations. Some examples are below:
ਦੀਨ ਗੁਆਇਆ ਦੁਨੀ ਸਿਉਂ ਦੁਨੀ ਨਾ ਚਲੀ ਸਾਥ, ਰੱਬ ਨੂੰ ਭੁੱਲ ਕੇ ਬੈਠ ਗਿਆਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਨਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸਾਥ । (Page 134)
ਕਰਨੀ ਆਪੋ ਆਪਣੀ ਲੇਖੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਿਸਾਬ, ਰੱਬ ਨੇ ਲੇਖਾ ਮੰਗਣਾ ਦੇਣਾ ਪਵੇਗਾ ਜਵਾਬ । (Page 144)
ਹੁਕਮੈ ਲੈ ਅੰਦਰ ਸਭ ਕੋ ਬਾਹਰ ਹੁਕਮ ਨਾ ਕੋਇ, ਜਿਥੇ ਰੱਖੇ ਪਰਮੇਸਰ ਸਵਾਮੀ ਉੱਥੇ ਰੱਬ ਕਰੇ ਵਾਸ । (Page 1325)
Sikhs need to unite together and eliminate such nefarious groups for the sake of Sikhi’s survival. While Sikhs continue to waste time in seeking justice from the government he continues to spew hatred towards Sikhi while enjoying the security of the government.
Sikh Child Suspended Indefinitely by Montreal School Without Investigation
Independent Eye-Witnesses to Incident Report Sikh Never Touched kirpan; Several Media Outlets Misreporting Incident
Montreal, Quebec, Canada: A thirteen-year-old Sikh boy was suspended from school on September 11th after being accused of threatening another student outside school with his kirpan (a short steel or iron blade that is carried as one of five articles of faith). The school in Le Salle suspended the Sikh student without properly investigating the matter, as it has become apparent that multiple independent eye-witnesses to the incident confirm that the Sikh boy never touched his kirpan. UNITED SIKHS is assisting the family by working with local Montreal Sikh community activists and eminent human-rights lawyer Julius Grey to have the Sikh boy's suspension lifted and also to thwart incorrect media reports which have misreported the incident and are using it to reignite the debate about the kirpan in Montreal schools.
The incident occurred when a few students, including the Sikh boy, left school for lunch. Two boys followed the students and began taunting and bullying the Sikh boy, as they have on numerous occasions in the past. When the Sikh boy was adjusting his loose pants, the bullies notice the boy's kirpan, which was securely wrapped in a long cloth and had multiple rubber-bands around it. Upon returning to school, the Sikh boy and another student reported the bullying incident to their teacher, who responded that she would investigate the matter, but did not have time today. Shortly thereafter, police arrived at the school and began questioning the Sikh boy. It is believed that the bullies reported that the Sikh boy threatened them with his kirpan to their mother, who in turn called the police. The Sikh boy was suspended by the school for an indefinite period of time, and police have yet to file any charges.
Assuming the allegations against the Sikh boy were true, the Montreal Gazette, among other news agencies, reported that the incident "raises questions about [the] court ruling," referring to the Multani decision in which the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the right of Sikh children to wear the kirpan to school in 2006.
Commenting on the school commission's hasty decision to suspend the boy without investigating the incident, Julius Grey, the lawyer representing the family stated, "It appears that there is no substance whatsoever to these claims, and I am shocked at the cavalier way the [Sikh] boy has been treated when in fact independent witnesses confirm these allegations are false. This is an attempt to undo the kirpan case [Multani] without any legitimate reason."
Initially concerned that the allegations were true, UNITED SIKHS contacted the family who were already receiving assistance from local Sikh community activists involved with the Multani case in 2006, including Chattar Singh, Kiranpal Singh, and Hardev Singh. After speaking with those involved and determining that it was necessary to take immediate action, we contacted Julius Grey, who held conference with the family, representatives from the local Sikh community, and UNITED SIKHS on Friday and immediately issued a letter to the school demanding that the Sikh boy be allowed to return to school.
The school, citing formal notice from Sikh student's attorney, cancelled a meeting with the Sikh student's parents and stated that they will need to meet internally about the matter. "What is particularly troublesome about the school's reaction to the bullying incident is that school officials have allowed their prejudices against the kirpan to override their duty to properly investigate this serious matter. The same prejudices are now hindering them from allowing the Sikh student back in school after independent witnesses to the incident have come forward showing that the allegations are false," remarked Jaspreet Singh, Staff Attorney for UNITED SIKHS.
Commenting on the incident, Manjit Singh, Director of Chaplaincy Services, McGill University and one of the advisors to the family stated, "The reason why our community is being treated in such an inconsiderate manner by the school is because the education system in Quebec previously only focused on the Judeo-Christian tradition with the result that those people in decision making roles do not have an understanding of Sikhism. That is our challenge."
The father of the accused, Kamaljeet Singh, expressed distress at his son's suspension stating, "My son's education is suffering because of these false allegations. Wearing the kirpan is taken very seriously and it is preposterous that my son would threaten anyone with this most important article of faith. My son keeps asking me, what did I do to deserve this? I don't have an answer."
http://www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/P...-09-2008-00.htm
Montreal, Quebec, Canada: A thirteen-year-old Sikh boy was suspended from school on September 11th after being accused of threatening another student outside school with his kirpan (a short steel or iron blade that is carried as one of five articles of faith). The school in Le Salle suspended the Sikh student without properly investigating the matter, as it has become apparent that multiple independent eye-witnesses to the incident confirm that the Sikh boy never touched his kirpan. UNITED SIKHS is assisting the family by working with local Montreal Sikh community activists and eminent human-rights lawyer Julius Grey to have the Sikh boy's suspension lifted and also to thwart incorrect media reports which have misreported the incident and are using it to reignite the debate about the kirpan in Montreal schools.
The incident occurred when a few students, including the Sikh boy, left school for lunch. Two boys followed the students and began taunting and bullying the Sikh boy, as they have on numerous occasions in the past. When the Sikh boy was adjusting his loose pants, the bullies notice the boy's kirpan, which was securely wrapped in a long cloth and had multiple rubber-bands around it. Upon returning to school, the Sikh boy and another student reported the bullying incident to their teacher, who responded that she would investigate the matter, but did not have time today. Shortly thereafter, police arrived at the school and began questioning the Sikh boy. It is believed that the bullies reported that the Sikh boy threatened them with his kirpan to their mother, who in turn called the police. The Sikh boy was suspended by the school for an indefinite period of time, and police have yet to file any charges.
Assuming the allegations against the Sikh boy were true, the Montreal Gazette, among other news agencies, reported that the incident "raises questions about [the] court ruling," referring to the Multani decision in which the Supreme Court of Canada upheld the right of Sikh children to wear the kirpan to school in 2006.
Commenting on the school commission's hasty decision to suspend the boy without investigating the incident, Julius Grey, the lawyer representing the family stated, "It appears that there is no substance whatsoever to these claims, and I am shocked at the cavalier way the [Sikh] boy has been treated when in fact independent witnesses confirm these allegations are false. This is an attempt to undo the kirpan case [Multani] without any legitimate reason."
Initially concerned that the allegations were true, UNITED SIKHS contacted the family who were already receiving assistance from local Sikh community activists involved with the Multani case in 2006, including Chattar Singh, Kiranpal Singh, and Hardev Singh. After speaking with those involved and determining that it was necessary to take immediate action, we contacted Julius Grey, who held conference with the family, representatives from the local Sikh community, and UNITED SIKHS on Friday and immediately issued a letter to the school demanding that the Sikh boy be allowed to return to school.
The school, citing formal notice from Sikh student's attorney, cancelled a meeting with the Sikh student's parents and stated that they will need to meet internally about the matter. "What is particularly troublesome about the school's reaction to the bullying incident is that school officials have allowed their prejudices against the kirpan to override their duty to properly investigate this serious matter. The same prejudices are now hindering them from allowing the Sikh student back in school after independent witnesses to the incident have come forward showing that the allegations are false," remarked Jaspreet Singh, Staff Attorney for UNITED SIKHS.
Commenting on the incident, Manjit Singh, Director of Chaplaincy Services, McGill University and one of the advisors to the family stated, "The reason why our community is being treated in such an inconsiderate manner by the school is because the education system in Quebec previously only focused on the Judeo-Christian tradition with the result that those people in decision making roles do not have an understanding of Sikhism. That is our challenge."
The father of the accused, Kamaljeet Singh, expressed distress at his son's suspension stating, "My son's education is suffering because of these false allegations. Wearing the kirpan is taken very seriously and it is preposterous that my son would threaten anyone with this most important article of faith. My son keeps asking me, what did I do to deserve this? I don't have an answer."
http://www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/P...-09-2008-00.htm
Friday, 19 September 2008
Akhand pathh in memory of our brothers
Akhand Path Sahib at GNG Sedgley Street In The Loving Memory of Our Three Brothers - Harvinder Singh, Satvir Singh & Tajinder Singh
Arambh - Friday 19th September 2008 at 10:30am in Hall 1
Bhog - Sunday 21st September 2008 at 10:30am followed by keertan
BENTI TO ALL SANGAT TO PLEASE COME ALONG WITH FRIENDS &FAMILY IN MEMORY OF THE THREE YOUNG GURSIKHS WHO PASSED AWAY IN THE LAKE DISTRICT TRAGEDY ON THE 23rd SEPTEMBER 2006.
Thursday, 18 September 2008
The Dastar & how it is related to Sikh women
Dastaar (turban) is a very important part of the Sikh religion. To Sikhs it is means more then a crown means to a king or queen. The Sikh Gurus showed great respect to turban. But some people think it is only for men and women are not required to wear it. This article will explain why Sikh women should wear Dastaar (turban).
First I will quote from Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Ji says "Saabat Soorat Dastaar Sira" means "Let your total awareness be the turban on your head" (Ang 1084). This clearly states that a Sikh is instructed to live a natural life and have unshorn hair and to protect and keep those hair clean he/she must wear a Dastaar on his/her head. This Ang does not make an exception to women. Sikh Gurus gave women equal rights. If we are Sikhs of Guru Granth Sahib Ji then we must wear Dastaar doesn't matter if you are male or female.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Rehtname make very clear points about women wearing the Dastaar. Guru Gobind Singh Ji said "Jab Lab Khalsa Rahe Niara, Tab Lag Tej Diyoon Mein Saara" which means "As long as Khalsa preserves its uniqueness and follows the path of true Guru I will bless them with all of my powers." Our Bana makes us unique from the rest of the human race.
when Bhai Jait Mal Ji presented the head of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Guru Ji said "I will give my Sikh a distinct and unique appearance which will allow him to be recognized while standing in millions". This uniqueness comes from following the path of Sikhi which is to have unshorn hair and wear the Dastaar on the head. One can easily recognize a Sikh by looking at their appearance and most of that does come from Dastaar. Guru Ji did not say that he would give uniqueness only to men. When Guru Ji said "Khalsa" he meant men and women both. Men and women both are Khalsa. Guru Ji gave the same Rehat Maryada, same uniqueness, same message, same symbols, same religious Bana (dress) and same rights then how are women excluded from wearing the Dastaar.
Furthermore, Guru Gobind Singh Ji said "Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khaas" which means "Khalsa is my own self image." Again, Khalsa means men and women both.
Right up to the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Sikh women had been steadfast in following the edicts of the Satguru in respect to their spiritual inner life as well as dress, including the Dastaar. That is what J. D. Cunningham himself saw and wrote in the middle of the Nineteenth Century when he wrote his book, History of the Sikhs. He writes: "The Sikh women are distinguished from Hindus of their sex by some variety of dress but chiefly by a higher top knot of hair covered with a turban."
Even after the
Many famous Rehatname also support wearing of Dastaar. Here are some quotes:
"Each candidate for Baptism be made to wear kachhehra, tie hair in a topknot and cover the same with Dastaar; wear Sri Sahib (Kirpan) in Gaatra (shoulder belt). Then he/she should stand with folded hands." (Rahitnama Bhai Daya Singh Ji)
"(A Sikh) who eats food with turban removed from the head (i.e., bareheaded) is destined for 'Kumbhi' hell." (Rahit Rama Bhai Prahlad Singh Ji)
"One who combs hair twice a day, ties turban fold by fold and cleans teeth everyday will not come to grief." (Tankhah Naama Bhai Nandlal Ji)
"Whosoever roams about bareheaded, takes food bareheaded and distributes the 'prasad' bareheaded is considered punishable." (Uttar-prashan Bhai Nandlal Ji)
It is a historical fact that there was a time when a price was put on the head of a male Sikh. Greedy and unprincipled people, both Hindus and Muslims, availed of this opportunity to make money. When they could no longer find male Sikhs in the villages and towns, they started beheading Khalsa women and presenting their heads as the heads of young unbearded teenager Sikh lads. Even in those dark times Sikh women did not stop wearing Dastaar.
A Glimpse of Khalistan
My Beautiful Dream - Khalsa Raj
After five or six months of doing simran with the Sangat at the Gurdwara, in a dream one day, I reached Sri Harmandar Sahib. Sri Harmandar Sahib was decorated with white, red, blue, green and orange diamonds. I wanted to continue seeing it. I cannot describe the splendour of the scene before me. The building was studded with such shining stones, that their light was many times more than ordinary electric bulbs. Yet it was not glaring but soothing. They were not hot like bulbs. At that time there was a slight drizzle and I thought that my clothes were wet; but when I touched them they were dry. I bowed before Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, did matha tekan and sat down.The raagi Singhs were doing kirtan of this Shabad:
“The Supreme Lord God, through the Divine Guru, has Himself protected and preserved His children. Celestial peace, tranquillity and bliss have come to pass; my service has been perfect. || 1 || Pause || God Himself has heard the prayers of His humble devotees. He dispelled my disease, and rejuvenated me; His glorious radiance is so great! || 1 || He has forgiven me for my sins, and interceded with His power. I have been blessed with the fruits of my mind's desires; Nanak is a sacrifice to Him. || 2 ||” (SGGS Ang. 819)
I became so immersed in kirtan that my only desire was to keep listening. On completion of the Shabad, I realised that I had come to see Khalsa Raj. I got up and went to see Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. Akal Takhat is such an Immortal Throne of Spiritual and Worldly Sovereignty, that there Truth reigns and truth is the final outcome.
“There, only the Truth is judged true; the sinners are picked out and separated.” (SGGS Ang. 463)
“True in the Primal beginning, True throughout the ages. True here and now. O Nanak, forever and ever True.” (SGGS Ang. 1)
The Panj Piaray were doing simran at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib. I announced Gur Fateh “Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.” When they replied, it seemed to me that the resonance of the Gur Fateh was coming from the whole of Des Panjab. After darshan of the Panj Piaray, I was in a state of bliss. I felt as if I was doing darshan of my Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji through the Panj Piaray.
“Khalsa is in my image.
In Khalsa do I reside.”
(Sarab Loh Granth)
I can never forget this scene all my life. They said, “Have you come to see Khalsa Raj?” I confirmed asking them to help me. Then I had a conversation with them.They sent a Khalsa Singh with me. First of all he took me into an underground tunnellike cavity. As I stepped in, a melodious chant of “Waheguru” started and I was so emotionally struck that my eyes flooded with tears. I could not contain myself. These were tears of bliss and happiness. I did not have the courage to step further. From where I was standing, I bowed to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and sat down.The throne of Guru Ji was decorated many times more resplendently than the most majestic Thrones of the ancient Maharajas. The gold Palaki (structure on which Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is placed) was studded with many varieties of diamonds and rubies; the glitter of which had a charming effect on the mind. The overhead Chanani too was covered with star shapes and pearls. I was left completely amazed.
The Gursikhs sitting in this massive underground place were doing simran of Waheguru to the accompaniment of a large variety of natural musical sounds. There was divine bliss in these sounds and I became completely absorbed in them.
“The Sound-current of the Naad (octave) vibrates there, and countless musicians play on all sorts of instruments there. So many raags (musical “moods” of the Indian musical system), so many musicians singing there.” (SGGS Ang. 6)
I was not conscious of myself and my concentration was totally in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Darshan of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji made me feel that Waheguru Ji, Akal Purakh (the Timeless Being), was present right in front of me. From the Prakaash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, rays of soothing light were radiating on the Gursikhs.
“Light radiates from the place where sits the Holy Congregation (Saadh Sangat)” (Bhai Gurdas Ji)
In the radiance, I saw the image of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Guru Ji spoke, “My blessing will be on any Gursikh who does Waheguru simran.” Hearing this, I saw before my eyes a war scene in which Mata Sahib Kaur Ji asked, “I can see all Singhs but not the Sahibzaday (Princes of Guru Ji).” Guru Ji waved towards the Khalsa and said, “Why lament the death of the Four, thousands are alive. Due to the sacrifice of the Four Sahibzaday, thousands of Gursikhs who do simran have been born.” Guru Ji prayed to Akal Purakh, “I promised that thousands of Singh’s will do simran, but today, with Your Blessing, hundreds of thousands are doing simran.” The Khalsa Ji who was with me said, “Singh Ji! Be alert!” After the completion of simran, most Singhs got up and left, but about 15 to 20 remained deep in simran. I asked Khalsa Ji, “All others have gone, why are these still in meditation?” Khalsa Ji replied, “They have gone to see the fantastic sights of Sach Khand. They have left their physical bodies and their ethereal bodies have flown through dasam duar (tenth gate) to Sach Khand. Some, for two days, some for four and others for a longer time. They go for darshan of Akal Purakh (the Timeless Being i.e. God) and return. To see Sach Khand it is necessary to do continuous simran.” Khalsa Ji told me that at 2.30 in the morning, five Singhs do the Prakaash of Guru Ji in the underground chamber. The Prakaash is located at the same place at the beginning of the tunnel at Sri Amritsar Sahib. The early morning (Amrit vela) Mukh- Vaak - Main Order - is heard by all Sangat on speakers. All the Sangat heed and act according to this Vaak. Three o’ clock swas-swas simran starts. From
After this, Khalsa Ji took me to the Gurdwara. I was amazed to see such a beautiful Gurdwara. It was built of stone more beautiful than marble. I went inside and performed matha tekan. The Palaki (on which Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is placed) was decorated with many coloured glass. The overhead Chanani cloth was decorated with star shapes, rubies and pearls. Two Anand Karaj ceremonies were taking place in the Gurdwara. The only difference was that one Panjabi Singh was being married to a white Singhani, while a white Singh was being married to a Panjabi Singhani. There was a lot of Sangat here from the two villages of the brides and the grooms to bless the marriages. They all seemed to have great regard for each other. The Panj Piaray from both villages were also present. Gurbani Kirtan was going on and it was so sweet that one did not feel like leaving. The ceremony was simple and in complete accord with Gurmatt. There was no question of any dowry being given. I asked Khalsa Ji, “What is the meaning of these mixed marriages?” Khalsa Ji said, “In order to eradicate any colour distinctions, such marriages are taking place. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji is all knowing. Guru Ji is creating such a Khalsa who remain staunch in their belief. The people of Panjab do not have total faith in the Guru. White Singhs will remain faithful and will not turn their backs on the Guru. They will be fit to run the Khalsa Raj because in them there is no discrimination between high and low. They will practise the Words of Guru Ji. “It is noticed, that after taking Amrit, the White Singhs keep their rehat. In this way in one or two generations the complexion of the Khalsa would be the same. Differences and the caste system would be eradicated.”
After the Anand Karaj the Sangat went to langar shakan (eating food in the Langar). The langar had been made in iron utensils and was very tasty. I asked, “How is the langar (food in the Langar) prepared for so many Sangat?” Khalsa Ji told me, “Food items for the Langar are prepared in the food factory and sent to the Gurdwara. In this way peeling potatoes, cutting vegetables, grounding flour (atta), preparing yogurt etc., all this is done quite quickly. Recipes for everything are ready regarding ingredients like salt, pepper and masala etc. and all food is prepared by machines, and washing etc. is all done by machines. There are special machines for making prasaaday (rotis) as well. And so langar is prepared quickly for hundreds of thousands of Sangat.” I was able to see some of the food preparations and was amazed at the efficiency and the automation used.
After eating langar, people from the two villages were seen strolling in a park and the atmosphere and social niceties were like a happy fare. All seemed healthy and happy and very friendly towards each other. Khalsa Ji told me, “The tunnel extends from Sri Amritsar to
Then Khalsa Ji took me to see a hospital. It was beautifully designed and very clean. It was many storeys high. There were large beds in the rooms but they were empty. There were machines for doing all sorts of checking of illnesses. I was surprised and remarked, “But there are no patients here.” Khalsa Ji said, “The medicine for all illnesses is Naam (Sukhmani Sahib)” “All the Khalsa here, get up in the morning and do Naam simran. For this reason they do not fall ill. Due to the power of simran they are not worried about anything. The average life of a Khalsa is 150 years and after that they achieve salvation.”
I was then taken to a shopping centre, There were many large shops but no one appeared to be running them. I asked about this. Khalsa Ji took me to the gate. He said, “All things in the shops are uniformly priced. You make the payment in advance for all the things you wish to buy and the payment is put into a machine. The gate opens. The weight of the person entering is automatically measured. There are other machines inside and you can buy further items etc. The control is through weight measurement of in-coming people, and outgoing people with their goods. The machines can detect dishonesty, the fines for which are heavy (ten times the value of the goods stolen).”
---------------------------
Cow Centre
“You save the beasts, demons and fools, and even stones are carried across. Slave Nanak seeks Your Sanctuary; he is forever and ever a sacrifice to You.” (SGGS ang. 802)
Khalsa Ji took me to an animal farm and told me that arrangements had been made for the salvation of animals. He said, “The simran in the morning can be heard by them through speakers. There is no shortage of milk and butter. The cows are brought in from other countries. A special place has been made for the cows, and there are employees who look after them. There is a special tunnel through which the cows can come and go. There are automatic fountains for the cows. As the cows step in, these fountains switch on; a little further, a current of warm air dries them. Much attention is given to cleanliness. There is a special train for the cows to be taken out to the countryside for grazing. They are brought back by train in the evening. They wash as in the morning and are given their fodder. They remain happy and give a lot of milk.”
I reflected that in
O’ human being! If animals can get human life by listening to Naam, why do you not recite Naam and achieve salvation.
Having shown all this, Khalsa Ji took me in a special vehicle to show me the motorway. It was very wide. Both sides were lined by colourful roses. For example, for one mile white flowers, then for the next mile red flowers and so on. They made the air fragrant. There were stones in the middle of the motorway painted in the same colour as the flowers. There was no need for any lighting as the stones radiated light. After every 25 to 30 miles there were beautiful stopping places for eating food which was free. Khalsa Ji said that there were free travel passes for the elderly people.
Khalsa Ji said, “There will be one rule in Khalsa Raj. When a child is born it will get child allowance. But this allowance will not be retained by the parents but by the Khalsa. When children grow up, then the expenses of marriage, house and car will be given by the Khalsa. Any shortfall will be made up by the Khalsa. Before they commence work, they will be given six months holidays for travelling abroad. Their holiday travel expenses will be paid by the Khalsa (administration). On return they will take up the jobs allocated to them by the Khalsa. Free flying lessons will be given to Gursikh children.”
I asked, “How would the shortage of electricity and water be resolved?”. Khalsa Ji, “When the Khalsa Raj spreads to the whole of
I asked, “How would 960 million people be initiated into the Order of the Khalsa?” Khalsa Ji, “When Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s spiritual Light merged with the Universal Light, the Hindus claimed he was their Guru and wanted to cremate his body; and the Muslims claimed him to be their Pir (religious leader) and wanted to bury his body. When the sheet covering Guru Ji’s body was lifted, only a heap of flowers were found underneath. The Hindus and the Muslims divided the sheet in two and took one half each.
“I dye myself in the colour of the Lord, and sew what has to be sewn. Without the Lord's Name, I cannot live, even for a moment.” (SGGS ang. 485)
“Science has proven that the Gurbani uttered by Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji five hundred years ago, has spread in the global atmosphere. Wherever there are Gurdwaras, Bani is being read. Through the resonance of that, the world is continually being saved; otherwise by now, the nature of Kalyug (which is fire) would have burnt and destroyed everyone. As Guru Nanak Dev Ji says in Asa di Vaar:
“In the Age of Sat Yug, contentment was the chariot and righteousness the charioteer. In the Age of Treta Yug, celibacy was the chariot and power the charioteer. In the Age of Duapar Yug, penance was the chariot and truth the charioteer. In the Age of Kalyug, fire is the chariot and falsehood the charioteer.” (SGGS ang. 470 )
“Meaning that the nature of the Age of Kalyug, being the vehicle of fire, is hot and the Name of Waheguru is cool and soothing for the soul. For this reason, contentment is achieved through Naam simran.
“The chant of Naam which resounds through the “tunnel” (
“The Baba (Guru Nanak Dev Ji) is venerated in every home, the difference between the Hindu and the Muslim has been lost (forgotten)” (Bhai Gurdas: Vaar 1.34)
“The map of
will be looked after and supplied with food and clothes, free of charge. “Khalsa would educate girls not to commit the sin of undergoing abortions. These are the girls who are not in a position to bring up children for economic or other reasons. Instead, Khalsa will look after unwanted children until they are mature. In this way, mothers and children would be attracted to Sikhi. They would develop deep links with the Sikh nation. Some of them would adopt Sikhi and marry into Sikh families in Panjab. “And so Sikhi will spread to a Khalsa population of 960 million.”
I asked, “When negotiating or holding talks with other countries, who would lead?” Khalsa Ji, “Panj Piaray from Akal Takhat will take the lead in any talks.” I asked, “Would the same Panj Piaray continue to hold that position?”Khalsa Ji, “Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji was all-knowing. Guru Ji will so guide people’s behaviour, that no one would have any self-centred ambition to hold high positions. Whoever wishes to be included will be considered. First, the Panj Piaray at village level would be selected. The names of those wishing to do the sewa will be put on pieces of paper and five names will be selected by drawing lots. The village Panj Piaray would select the Panj Piaray of Akal Takhat in the same way. All villages will be run by the selected Panj Piarays. Selection process would be repeated after five years.
“After Punjab, Khalsa will also start preaching Sikhi in other parts of
“First, Allah created the Light; then, by His Creative Power, He made all mortal beings. From the One Light, the entire universe welled up. So who is good, and who is bad?” (SGGS ang. 1349)
These people of other faiths will accept Sikhi and the Sikh faith will spread.” Khalsa Ji said, “As one has to apply for a visa to visit another country, so people would have to apply for a visa to visit
-----------------------------------
The Punisher of Evil-doers: Guru Gobind Singh Ji
I asked, “Khalsa Ji, I would ask one more question.
Khalsa Ji, “Tyrannical arrogance is not acceptable to Har Ji (God)
“Acting in egotism, peace is not obtained. The intellect of the mind is false; only the Lord is True. All who love duality are ruined. People act as they are pre-ordained. || 1 || I have seen the world to be such a gambler; all beg for peace, but they forget the Naam, the Name of the Lord. || 1 || (SGGS ang. 222)
“Everyone knows that there was a war between Ram Ji and Rawan. Rawan was arrogant that there was no warrior greater than him. That he had so many sons. “Ram passed away, as did Raawan, even though he had a very large family. Says Nanak, nothing lasts forever; the world is like a dream[4].” (SGGS Ang. 1429)
“A fortress like that of
“He was proud that his city of
“Secondly, Daryodhan was very proud that he had on his side the great warriors and war equipment, and that the Pandav’s had nothing. That he was bound to win. Daryodhan did not understand that Bhagwan Krishan did not like his arrogance. To humble him, Krishan supported the Pandavs. Daryodhan was killed with his army and the Pandavs were victorious.”
“Thirdly,
“As Guru Gobind Singh Ji granted divine power to Banda Singh Bahadur and instructed him to avenge the death of the younger Sahibzaday; and, that no one would withstand him. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s words are:- “I shall give a single Khalsa the strength and courage to fight sawa lakh (i.e. one hundred and twenty five thousand: symbolic of unlimited courage). Only then shall I be called Gobind Singh.”
“Banda Singh Bahadur did avenge the martyrdom of the younger Sahibzaday. Guru Ji gave one Banda Singh Bahadur so much power that no one could stop him. The Muslims ruled the whole of
Guru Ji said:- “No-one offers anyone sovereignty (on a plate!) Anyone who gets it, grabs it through own prowess.”
“As Ram Ji and Krishan Bhagwan crushed the pride of Rawan and Daryodhan, so Akal Purakh destroyed the pride of these people and established Khalsa Raj.”
----------------------------------------
“May my family live happily”
(Chaopai Guru Gobind Singh Ji)
Khalsa Ji said “The promise of Guru Ji has now been fulfilled. All sit and eat together in the morning and evening. After taking Amrit we are now the citizens of Anandpur. Our parents are Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Mata Sahib Kaur. We are all the family of Guru Ji. All our worries are over. Now, simran will destroy all our sins and lead us to salvation. Now, in the Khalsa Raj, the Panj Piaray manage all the affairs of the Panth.
“The chosen ones are acceptable, the chosen ones are supreme. The chosen ones are honoured in the (Lord’s) Court. The chosen ones look resplendent in the courts of kings. The chosen ones meditate on the Guru alone.” (SGGS ang. 3)
“The authority of the Khalsa shall prevail in all
“I shall make kings of these poor Sikhs
Thus shall they remember my Guruship.”
(Sr Guru Panth Prakash)
Wondrous Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, bless and support your Khalsa, that these sights of Khalsa Raj (second Sach Khand) are seen by the whole world. I regard it as important to mention that when I went for darshan of Khalsa Raj, of the Panj Piaray sitting at Akal Takhat, three of the Singhs were white. In the tunnel too, and in the Gurdwara, there were white Singhs and Singhanis. By adopting the rehat of Satguru Ji, they qualified for the highest sewa of the Panth. Why are we so lax? When are we going to understand? There is still time Sikhs, steady yourselves!
Look after your Sikhi.
Sadistic story but true - How a Sikh girl went insane for her evil revenge (84)
84 made Preetam Kaur go Insane and seek revenge.
He cautiously approached the reception desk and said to the Nurse on duty, "My name is Gurbachan and...."
"Gurbachan Singh?" the Nurse jumped up the chair, "Perhaps you are just in time. Please come quick, follow me."
He entered the room and saw another Nurse very closely watching the patient lying on the bed. A thin rubber tube emanating from an inverted bottle fixed on a stand next to the bed, containing some liquid, was connected to a needle pricked in her, visibly lifeless, left hand. The patients eyes were sunk in deep with the thick black rings running around. The dimples in her cheeks were almost exposing her teeth. Had he not known who could be in that bed he would have not recognised her.
"Is she....?" but her heaving chest did not let him complete the question. He bent forward, held her thin and lean right arm in his hand and said, "Satiyavati, Satiyavati please open your eyes. I am here, Gurbachan."
But there was no response. He repeated, "Satiyavati, Satiya..." but suddenly he remembered something and said, "Preetam Kaur."
The Nurse looked up, "But...."
He put his finger on his lips pointing not to ask and repeated, "Preetam Kaur, Preetam, Preetam, Preet please open your eyes. Look who is here."
A slight movement appeared on her eyelids.
"Yes, yes. its me, Gurbachan. Please open your eyes. Sorry I could not come earlier. You sent your post-cards to my old address. Just by chance, last week, I passed that way and came across them all."
She opened her eyes, looked at his face for a couple of minutes and then closed them. Perhaps she could not recognise.
"Its me, Preetam, its me, Gurbachan. I am pooran Gursikh now, a perfect Sikh with all my hair uncut and turban on."
A year ago Satiyavati's agent had met him at the Truck Terminal in
At that time, when Gurbachan entered Satiyavati's inner chamber, he had his beard shaved off and wore no turban. When Satiyavati went behind the screen, obvious to Gurbachan to take her clothes off, but discretely and as usual, she wanted to add this client's name in her diary.
"What is your name?" she yelled.
"Why?"
"Come off it. Don't be scared. I am not like others; you come in, have a dip and away you go. I am not like that. We are going to relish sometime together. Don't you want to enjoy?"
"Well, I am Gurbachan."
"What? Gurbachan? You are...."
"Yes Gurbachan Singh. I am a Punjabi, a Sikh."
The Diary in her hand, she abruptly jumped out. She still had all her clothes on.
"Are you a Sikh? What have you done to your hair? Where is your turban?" she was furious and demanding, "If you were in Sikh Form, my door-man would never have let you in."
He got up, "If you hate Sikhs so much, I better go."
"No," she pushed him to sit down, "I DON'T hate Sikhs."
She picked up her wallet, took out a key and said, "Come, come, I show you. You are the first Sikh to be allowed in since I... I came to this stage." Through the hallway she led him to the back of the building.
She picked a large scarf, put it around her head and threw a kerchief to him, "Here, cover your head with this."
She pulled the curtain on the wall to one side and unlocked the door behind it, "Take your shoes off and come in."
He was dumbfound. It was an elegantly and piously decorated room. In the middle on a gilded palanquin, the Sikh Holy Book, Guru Granth Sahib was placed. It was covered with beautifully embroidered pieces of cloth. Quietly, both went down on their knees, and bent their heads to touch the ground to pay their obeisance. They walked back out of the door. She relocked and pulled over the curtain. He was standing with his hands on his face.
"Come back to the front room." He followed. "Please sit down."
"Satiyavati, I am confused and puzzled," he said.
"I am not Satiyavati. My name is Preetam Kaur and I beg you not to ask any questions. Just tell me why did you become a renegade."
"No, I am not a renegade. I am still a Sikh at heart. It was the circumstances which forced me to.... You know how the Hindu mobsters treated the Sikhs in
"But now the circumstances are near normal. What keeps you away from the proper Sikh Form? How would you face Sacha Padshah Kalgianwala, the True King? Who would save you There from the clutches of Yamraj, the angle of death?"
"I thought over many times.... Just laziness, its easy...."
"Shame on you...."
"You are telling me? Look what you are doing yourself. How would you face the True Lord? Aren't YOU ashamed of yourself?"
"Gurbachan Singh, I am on a special mission. My Satguru, the True Lord knows all?"
"What is your mission?"
"Gurbachan, please don't ask me now. I am getting week and exhausted. The end is not very far. There is no one with whom I can open my mind in confidence. I am always pleading with my True Lord to send me some emissary of his to convey my message to the culprits of
The grandiose living, religious zeal, hate for the culprits of anti-Sikh riots and above all this occupation, it must be a mission of some importance, he thought and asked, "Can I help you in any way?"
"Perhaps you can if you first become the worthy-son of my Satguru."
"Yes, I will. On my honour and on the honour of my Satguru, I will lay down all my energy, even sacrifice my life. Tell me, tell me the mission of the Satguru which you are trying to accomplish this way."
"No, not so quick. Leave me your address. I will definitely write to you to come and take charge when I am ready, ready to go and kiss the feet of my True Lord, the one with celestial crest. But you must first give me a solemn pledge that you will soon be an Amrtidhari, Baptised Sikh, and will not divulge my secrecy."
And today when Gurbachan walked in the hospital he was in perfect Sikh Form.
"Preetam, Preetam, please keep your eyes open. I am a pooran Gursikh now."
`Gurbachan,' `Preetam,' and `Pooran Gursikh' penetrating her ears had electrifying effect. The wrinkles dancing on her forehead and flicker on her eyelids indicated the turbulence going on in her mind, the rings round her eyes were loosing their blackness, the dimples in her cheeks started to inflate, and her colour began to regain the hue of a healthy human being. She pulled the eyelids up and down; her eyes were sparkling. She looked at his face constantly and a smile ran through her lips. She raised her right arm and waved her fingers asking him to lower his head. He kneeled down. She moved her hand a few times on his nicely tucked and fixered beard. Then she took her hand above his head and felt the bun of the hair under his turban. She smiled and whispered. He lowered his head further towards her face to hear.
"Now you look like a worthy-son of my Satguru. My Kalgianwala Guru will bless you." She looked to the nurse and pointed towards the drawer of the table besides the bed.
The Nurse pulled the drawer, took out a packet and said, "There, in this sealed packet there is one diary, her will and a letter. Since the time she was admitted to the hospital, two months ago, she had been asking to take care of this and to hand over to Gurbachan Singh; I presume that is you. On her instance the office had sent letters to you. In case you didn't come and she had expired, she had requested this to be handed over to the Bhai Sahib Vir Singh Charitable Trust in
He took the packet in his hand, bent down and kissed on her forehead. By the time he straightened his body, she had closed her eyes. Nurse fumbled to feel her pulse, "Oh, my God, she is gone." and she pressed the emergency bell.
Preetam Kaur was born in a Sikh family. Religiously they steadfastly believed in the Sikh ethics and tenets. But politically they were sternly attached to the Congress Party. Her grandfather had been imprisoned twice, by the British Government, during the struggle for the freedom of
Soon after her graduation in political science from
Unexpectedly the Court declared the election of Indra Gandhi to the Parliament as void citing the irregularities committed by her during the election campaign. Instead of bowing to the rule of law she overrode the Court-order and declared Emergency. Almost all the political parties succumbed to her action. Even the leader of the pro-Hindu fundamentalist organisation, R.S.S., after a little ordeal, advised his rank and files to cooperate with her.
The Sikh representative body, Sharomani Gurdwara Parbandhik Committee along with its political wing, the Sharomani Akali Dal, was the only one organisation through out
But the Sant Bhindrawale soon realized the injustices meted out to the
But she was totally dismayed when she heard the news of the destruction of the Akal Takht in the army's Operation Blue Star, although the action had annihilated the Sant and most of his associates. Listening to the Government run radio and T.V. she was swayed to believe that the militants had forced the army to take such a drastic action.
In the month of August she went to the
Her thought was interrupted when she heard a clean shaved man in sparkling white clothes telling a few visitors how Indra Gandhi had been benevolent and she was spending millions of rupees to rebuild the Akal Takht. Who were these people? They were handling all the arrangements and seemed very enthusiastic in Guru Ram Dass Free Kitchen. She came to know from the shops outside the precincts that they were the army officers in mufti as almost all the people rendering services before the army action, both paid and voluntary, had been disbanded. Were they all militants? Why was the Karseva, the voluntary rebuilding service, entrusted in the hands of a drug addict and doubtful character such as Nihang Santa Singh? A few prominent Sikh Congress supporters like Amarinder Singh of
On the morning of Wednesday Preetam bid her husband, Sohan, good bye to go to his office on his scooter. He was going there after a week's holiday which he had taken to celebrate Diwali. Reminiscing, she got busy in clearing the kitchen. This year the holiday was not worth its while. For the last five years, they had been living in this house; whole street celebrated the occasion collectively. All the families gathered out in the street enjoying the fire-works. Every house used to have twinkling diyas, the earthen oil lamps, out side their doors and on the parapets. They all shared linseed-sugar-candies, roasted peanuts and sweetmeats. This year it was a sordid affair. Except Preetam and her husband, all the Sikh families kept themselves aloof; uncalled for destruction and killings at the
After spending long time in the kitchen she diverted her attention to her lounge and bedroom. She put herself in the sofa, relaxed and switched on the radio. She was petrified to hear that an attempt had been made to assassinate Indra Gandhi, and she had been rushed to All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Without further thought she jumped out and hurried to Sita's house next door. The radio was on there too, but Sita was on telephone. Seeing Preetam coming in she put the handset down.
"Have you heard? Indra Gandhi has been shot at?" puffing Preetam asked.
"Shot at! She is dead," and sarcastically added, "Your Sikhs have killed her?"
"Killed her? She is dead? What are you talking about? Are you sure?"
"Yes, my husband just rang. Two of her Sikh bodyguards put dozens of bullets through her body."
Preetam sat down in the chair with her face dug in her hands.
"Why are you so sad? You Sikhs should be happy." Sita's remarks baffled Preet.
"Sita! What are you saying? You know how big an admirer of Indra I have been."
"May be... perhaps... but you all Sikhs are same inside."
"Oh, my God. I never expected this, not at least from you.... Any way can I use your 'phone? I want to ring Sohan." Sita nodded in affirmative.
"Halloo. Nathoo," she recognised the voice of her husband's peon on the other end, "It is me here, Preetam. Please call the Sahib.... What? The office is closed already and he has left for the home... How long ago..." She looked at the clock on the wall, "That's alright then. He should be home any minute," and she hung up. Sita's last remark was looming in her mind, without saying anything she just left the place.
Her radio was on. She was puzzled as it was still broadcasting the news of attempted assassination and the messages received from the heads of states of foreign countries condemning the act. Her husband had taken longer than usual to reach home. Every minute was adding to her apprehension. It was extra half an hour of hell before she heard the voice of the scooter.
"Why did you take so long today? I was so scared," she asked after opening the door and letting the machine in.
"I couldn't help. On all the major road-junctions Hindus were getting together and shouting slogans against Sikhs. I had to go round and round the side streets. The situation is getting worse. Good thing office is closed till her funeral. We shall better stay indoors."
In the evening they heard the news of the arrival of President Zail Singh and the Prime Minster's son Rajiv Gandhi in the capital, declaration of the death of Indra Gandhi and swearing in of Rajiv Gandhi as the Prime Minster of India.
Kartar Singh, who lived five houses down the street, came after dark and told them that thousands of Hindus had amassed outside the A.I.I.M.S., where Indra Gandhi's body was kept. The President's car was bombarded with bricks and stones when he came to see her. When Rajiv Gandhi emerged from the hospital he said, "My mother has been shot dead. What are you doing here? Go, and take revenge. No turban should be seen."
Kartar informed them about the rumours circulating that the Hindus were planning to raid Sikh houses and kill them all. But there was nothing to worry about in this locality as the Hindus and the Sikhs had quite amicable relations.
`Do they?' Preetam thought and whole night she could not sleep.
Half heartedly she prepared breakfast and then lunch. All the time radio was playing the mourning music, vedic discourses and religious hymns. Repeatedly, it was broadcasting the killing of Indra Gandhi in the hands of Sikh bodyguards.
On Sundays and other holidays, they normally used to join their neighbours to play cards. But Sita's remarks were resounding and they decided to stay put in their own house. Lying down on the sofas they dozed off. In the late afternoon they heard a knock at the door and let Kartar in. He was breathing heavily.
"They... they are coming?
"Come on... keep calm... sit down.... Who are coming?.
"Narain Dass just telephoned me. You know Narain Dass, a Congress worker living in the yellow three storey house at the corner of the street." It was a cul-de-sac and Preetam's house was the last one.
Kartar continued, "He told me in confidence that the Hindu mobsters have burned down almost all the shops belonging to the Sikhs in Samri and they have laid siege outside Sikh dominated streets. They are carrying cans of kerosine oil and are burning the houses belonging to the Sikhs. Any Sikh who goes out they just pore oil over the person and light the fire. They are carrying lists in their hands and sparing the houses under the ownership of Hindus."
"What shall we do then?" Preetam asked.
"Narain advised me to stay put and not to worry as both, yours and mine, houses are owned and registered in the names of Hindus. There is only one house in this street which belongs to a Sikh Army Officer, even he does not live there himself and has let it to Hindu couple. Some Congress boys are leading the assaults. They are holding the lists of the houses which are owned by the Sikhs. Most of the raiders are from the hut-ments around
"Why such a big reaction now against the Sikhs? They did not kill even one person from
"I think it is a part of big conspiracy against Sikhs." Kartar added, "We wait and see."
"What should we do now? Why can't we take scooters and go to our
"In the first place, most of the street entrances have been blocked, and secondly, Narain told me that the Gurdwara were the first to be hit by the mob."
"Why didn't you telephone the Police."
"I did, immediately, but I was told, most of the Police was busy in the funeral arrangement of Indra Gandhi. They would come if they are called for.... My friend Inspector Ujjagar Singh and two other Sikh constables in Samri Police Station had taken day off, I learnt."
"God bless us all."
They went on discussing the eventualities till the darkness brightened the sky with flames coming out of the burning buildings along with the voices of slogans and cries. They kept lights off and kept looking out into the street; hardly any body was walking. Preetam's heart started to bounce when she saw a neighbour's teenager boy, Tilak, stopping out side her house, and waving to somebody to come forward. Within seconds, quietly, couple of dozens of roughnecks joined him.
She turned her head in, "Sohan, Kartar, come, look out, they all are looking at our house."
"Oh, God! What shall we do now." They heard a knock at the door, "They... they are going to kill us. Where shall we go now?"
"Please keep calm. I'll go and talk to them," Sohan suggested.
"No, don't go out. Let them knock. They will think that no body is home. I am sure they won't break the door; after all the house belongs to a Hindu."
But the raiders started to push hard to break the latch.
"Come, let's go in the bedroom, under the bed. You Preet go and hide in the large wardrobe."
They were in dozens and soon discovered Sohan and Kartar under the bed.
"Take them out in the street," a powerful voice ordered, "Is there anybody else in the house?"
"Doesn't look like."
"No, Kanti Bhiya she must be here, somewhere," Tilak shouted, "I saw her walking in the house about an hour ago."
"Yes, she is here in the wardrobe," a voice came.
"Take her out as well." She started to shout.
"Put her scarf through her mouth. She shrieks too much," and her voice was suppressed.
She staggered and nearly fainted to see Sohan and Kartar in the middle of the street. Both were tied together back to back with Kartar's own turban. Their mouths were gagged with the kerchiefs.
"Bring the scissors," a mam shouted.
"Look baby, look, we are going to make men out of your Sikhs," one of the persons holding Preetam said. She elbowed fiercely but the force of the people holding her was much greater.
Sohan and Kartar were shaking their heads vigorously and jostling their bodies. "Bring a tyre and put around them, saaley, don't stand still," the man cropping their heir shouted. Everybody around was giggling and dancing.
"Oye, take the canister there," a man holding her asked a boy walking towards the house with canister of oil, "we don't need it here, it is a Hindu house we are not going burn it. Give it to him," he pointed towards the man busy cutting hair.
He took the can, pored over Sohan and Kartar and lit a match.
The crowd was seized in a frenzy. Preetam jumped hard to get out of their clutches.
"Shall we throw her there, too?" A man holding her asked Kanti. Kanti thought over for a few seconds, looked at her from head to feet, licked his lips and stealthily winked and whispered, "Take her in." In the delirium no body noticed them pushing her in and closing the door behind.
"Put her on the bed," ordered Kanti, "saaly, does not stay still. Tie her there."
Four of them pushed her on the string-bed, taking her head-scarves from the clothesline tied her feet and hands with the sides of the bed. Kanti went forward, opened the knot of the string and pulled her trousers down. He ripped her blouse and broke apart the brasier. "She looks ugly with this gag on. Untie the knot and remove the cloth from her mouth," Kanti ordered one of his accomplices.
He unbelted his trousers, unzipped and jumped up. She spit on his face. With his fist as big as the hammer of an iron-smith he hit her hard on both the cheeks. She was almost unconscious. He went down after a few minutes and the other one came up and then another and another and....
She regained consciousness and tried to pull her hands, they were still tied but she could move her leg, they were free. She moved her head right and left and started to cry, "Oh, my True Lord, what have I done to deserve this punishment. I have been an ardent devotee of yours and have recited holy hymns every morning and evening.
I was just a baby when you snatched my mother, took away my father immediately after my marriage and... and... even you did not leave for me my unborn baby and left me to have no more children in my life... and now my husband... why? why?" She was again in void.
When she opened eyes again after a long time she saw him sitting in the chair, smiling.
"Now what else you want from me?" she shouted.
"Baby, you are great. What a body God gave you, solid like rock. It was a great experience...."
"You all bastards, divine wrath be upon you."
"Kanti was right, you are like a tigress. He warned me not to untie you.... Look baby I have been waiting here to tell you to forget what happened to you in the house. Except my boys no one knows. No body will believe you. We can produce witness to say that, to save yourself, you invited the boys in... no body is going to identify them anyway. I am Master Chandra Shah. All Police, Government Officials and even some of the Ministers are in my pockets. When I am gone a Policeman will come and discover you. You better go with him quietly. He will take you to the camp which is being established for the victims. I have already made the arrangements for the proper funeral of your husband and his friend; there is nothing lying in the street." He got up, "Yes, I heard you talking. You have been left alone in this world. If you need any type of help, come and see me. Here, I leave my card on your mantelpiece.... Before I go I will untie your one arm. Don't try to run after me as I would be gone on my car. You better cover yourself with respectable clothes and wait for the Policeman."
Three months had passed since she was dumped in the camp by the Police. She would have finished her life had she not met Dr. Sankat Singh who had volunteered to help people in running the place. She started to work in the camp office too. Dr. Sankat Singh had taken premature retirement on health grounds and he was, right now, completing a book on the history of the Sikhs; he had been a Senior Secretary in the Intelligence Branch of the Government of India and had lot of inside information. Apart from running the camp she helped him in revising his manuscripts as well. More she read, more she was sickened with the breaking of pledges taken by the Congress leaders. There were times when the Britishers were ready to consider a safe zone for the Sikhs. But the Sikhs were taken in by the promises given by Jawahar Lal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. According to the British Cabinet plan the Sikhs, to that matter all the states in
"How much in dark she had been," Preetam thought. She was baffled to learn about the Nehru family's lineage; they were the descendent of the Gangu Brahman, Ganga Dhar Kaul, who was once the domestic servant at the house of Guru Gobind Singh and had betrayed Guru's mother and his two sons to the Mughal Rulers, which culminated in the martyrdom of three of them. Her eyes were full of rage when she read about Mahatma Gandhi's anti-Sikh comments, particularly during his last days at Birla House,
"Thousands of the Sikhs has been killed but not a single person is punished," she lamented. Day in and day out prayed, "Oh, my True King, give me power to take the revenge, endow me with the vitality to teach them, the Hindus, who took to the killing of thousands of the innocent Sikhs, an ever lasting lesson."
According to the notes on the envelopes, Gurbachan opened the first envelope. It contained the will. All the money she had put in the fixed deposit, she wanted to be given to the Chief Khalsa Diwan, a premium Sikh Educational Trust. She desired most of this to be spent on the education of the orphans of the 1984 carnage. The palatial house, she lived in, was to be handed over to Bhai Sahib Vir Singh Old People Home, on the condition that the room she used for religious purposes would be kept intact with full sacred Sikh decorum.
The packet containing her diary was to be taken to the
The other letter was strictly for Gurbachan and was to be opened after he had performed the last rite as specified in the will. If Gurbachan did not turn up the letter was to be burned along with the diary.
Gurbachan was always apprehensive. He wondered what could there be in the letter. He kept to the letter and spirit of Preetam's wishes religiously. It took over six months to complete all the assignments and, at last, the day came to find out what was there in the envelope. With shaking hands he opened. It was in two parts. In the first, she had given the brief account of her life up to the time she reached the camp and the six months she had been there. Gurbachan turned over to the second part.
"During the six months I was in the camp, people from Red Cross Society often came to request for the donation of blood. I had been a coward and hid away myself every time. When Dr. Sankat Singh learnt about my cowardice, he convinced me about the necessity of this human cause.
"As I was very shaky the nurse took only half a bottle. Two days later I was surprised to see the Doctor and the nurse coming to my room. They shut the door and talked to me for more than an hour. They wanted to have further tests and asked me to wait for them in a week's time. I could not sleep three nights. Pretending to be sick with headache I did not go to the camp office. By the fourth morning I had made up my mind, I packed up a small suit case and left the camp. I informed everybody that I was going to
"I stayed at the
"It was dusky when I reached Chandra's house. It looked like a mini palace. I was scared to approach the door-man. But when he saw me looking curiously at the house, he came forward ans asked, `Coming to see the boss, Baby? For the first time, I suppose?'
"I could hardly say, `yes'.
"`Come right in Baby. Probably he is waiting for you,' he welcomed me and wide opened the gate.
"`Couldn't be, how could he....' He did not let me finish the sentence.
"`Don't worry Baby, he is always waiting for good people like you,' he was sarcastic. I just followed him.
"Chandra Shah was lying in his bed. A pious looking man was standing nearby. I recognised the person. He was Karam Chand. He had come to the camp a few times to hand out blankets and other clothes to the refugees.
"Chandra winked at the nurse to leave and looked at me and said, `Hallo Baby. At last you have come. I knew you would. Make this as your own home. Since I fell ill everybody is running away. You can take over.'
"I was shocked. I did not know he was already on the death bed. I was confused, should I go back or stay. Go back where? No where. There was no place for me now. And I decided stay put.
"On the second morning I was still in my bed in the elegant room assigned to me when Karam Chand came in. Without asking me, he sat down on my bed and started superfluous conversation and then, later on, added. `Perhaps you don't know Baby, I was in the car outside when Master Chandra Shah was with you in your house.' "I felt like spiting at his face but did not interrupt.
"He continued, `Very first day when I went to the camp I recognised you. Master Chandra asked me to do something to get you for him but, bad luck, he fell ill and abandoned all his plans. He is a dying man. No body, except his Doctor, knows what is wrong with him. But the rumours are in the air that he has only a few months to live. In spite of all his illness he is still yearning for the girls. His body is becoming uglier every day. Let alone sleep no girl would like to stand near him.... I just wanted to warn you.'
"Late in the evening he came again. I was lying in my bed. He sat down and started to caress my hair, I did not move. He touched my cheeks, I stayed still. He slithered his hand under the blanket. `What a beautiful body. Why are you wasting it?' he whispered.
"`I am not,' I replied and he pulled over the blanket and slipped in, under the dhoti he had nothing on.
"After finishing the job, he said, `You know what this place is?'
"`Master Chandra's house. What else?'I asked.
"He replied, It is high society brothel, high society girls come in in the evening through the back door. The high society gentlemen come to meet the kingmaker politician, Master Chandra Shah, and quietly slip into the rooms occupied by the girls. It is a billion rupee business.' I became placid and he left the place.
"Soon I understood the operation. I assumed the name of Satiyavati and started to entertain the high society clients myself. Chandra was very happy to see my progress and slowly and steadily full rein was in my hands. With the news of Chandra's illness, officials and high flying business community drifted away. This effected Karam Chand's income and he indulged in blackmail of some dignitaries. Two month before Chandra breathed his last Karam Chand was found dead in a mysterious car accident. Chandra's will gave me all his property and money.
"I wanted to carry on till the last day of my life. I engaged a very influential pimp as agent and continued to receive the customers myself. Only the people with money could afford to come to my place. I had strictly instructed the agent and the door-man not to allow a Sikh and, as much as possible, a Muslim by asking his name. They thought I hated the Sikhs.
"Now when I am totally exhausted, I am giving enough money to the agent and the door-man and shutting the door for ever. In a few months, when I realize my end is nearing I will prefer to go and stay in the hospital. The doctors and all the rests will come to know that I cannot not be cured.
"We were innocent victims in the hands of the fanatics and cruel miscreants. I had no power and no sword to fight. I always prayed to my True Lord to help me to punish them. I have already incarcerated over one thousand persons, and till the time they multiply and reach the figure of one hundred and twenty-five thousands my soul will be roaming around.
"I wanted to payback and I distributed among them what they gave me, the AIDS."
The End
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
