Who should Indian Muslims Vote?

The title should have been, who should Indians Vote? As the essay is not about Muslims, but Muslims are a part of it as much as Hindus, Dalits, Sikhs, Adivasis, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Bahai's, Parsis and Jews.

Please review the following items; Ravish Kumar's appeal, Dr. Shariff’s latest research. Dalit Leaders call, Rajesh Khanna’s filmi speech and what kind of India does one want? 

India’s problem is like any other nations’ problem; the Majoritarian arrogance. A few among the majority feel threatened that their way of life is going to disappear. Their short-sighted solution is not dialogue, but showing other people their place or "Auqat" and sometimes resort to killing, maiming, harassing, lynching and raping, as if it will solve the problem, no, it does not, it will aggravate the situation further.

The best solution is hanging on to the values that gave India its stability, a growth economy, stability and a respectable place in the community of nations. We cannot exist by ourselves, we need consumers beyond our borders for us to thrive,  and we need to buy the things from others to grow, as we cannot produce them effectively.  We have a stable constitution, the constitution that guarantees every Indian to live his or her life as he or she chooses.  In simple words, every human is free to breathe, drink, eat, wear and believe whatever he or she wants.

The foreign direct investment poured into India because the investors felt safe with their investment. If they see the communal riots, lynching, harassment, discriminations against fellow Indians, they will pull out as they did in Apartheid South Africa. All of us will lose.

Muslims along with Dalits and Christians are in the most challenging situation, and I know the moderate majority of Hindus do not gloat over this; they want all to prosper and feel secure.

The smartness of Muslim, Dalit, and Christian leaders has not gotten anyone out of the ditches. Muslims being the second largest group in India need leaders who could lead the people in the right direction. The ugly rhetoric by some has created more barriers than the goodwill.  No more emotional slogans to deceive people in the heat of the moment, we need pragmatic solutions. 

Given the current situation, let’s collectively figure out how to get out of the mess and how we can handle the 2019 Elections for the good of all Indians.  Let’s look at becoming relevant again.

Let’s go with the idea of an ideal democracy and work our way towards it.

In such a democracy, Muslims don’t need anyone to represent them; the Christians don’t need a Christian to represent them, Dalits don’t need a Dalit to represent them, a Brahmin does not need to represent Brahmins, a Kashmiri Pandits does not need a Pandit to represent them. Similarly, no Adivasi, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Bahá’í, Zoroastrian, Jews and others need their own to represent them because the elected representative serves all people.  We need to nurture such individuals, India is blessed with too many good people.

Let me be clear; when Hindus, Muslim, Christians, Dalits, Sikhs and others are mentioned, I am talking about the majority of each group.  They mind their own business by taking care of food for their families, their children's education, healthcare, home,  and living a life of their own.  The troublemakers are a small percent of politically oriented men in each group; we should never use the phrases that Muslims, Hindus or Sikhs are wrong because that is false. 

We are all from Adam and Eve, and it is mentioned in Quran, Bible, and the Torah, and that makes all of us, the 7.5 billion of us, members of the same family.  I don't know if they believe in it, if they did, they would not treat another human any different. Neither the Muslims nor the Christians of India have expressed that thought boldly.

Swami Vivekananda also failed to communicate the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum to the people of India. Had he emphasized that we are all one people regardless of the color of the shirt or saree we wear, whether we eat roti with Pyaaz or Keema, whether we wear a topi,  turban, pallu, Hijab or whatever, we are still one people!   

Each group claims there is only one creator and they come to refer him as Eshwar, Allah, Yahweh, Jesus, Mahito, Ahura Mazda, Wahe Guru, Budhha, Mahavir and on and on.  However, when they are talking,  their mouths twist and say Hindu God, God of Israel, Muslims God or a Christian God,  what kind of talk is that? By the way, these are not majority of the people in any group, it is the tiny minority within each group. 

Muslim votes were rendered ineffective in the 2014 general elections. Muslims don’t need to blame anyone; instead, they need to find a way to become participants and contributors towards the well being of the nation.

Dr. Shariff’s latest report brings shame to our democracy. In the state of Karnataka alone 18 lakh Muslims are missing from the voter's list.  How significant that number is if that kind of research is done all over India?  Do we have caring Indians who can fund this research and work on registering the disenfranchised? A real democracy succeeds when all are participating. Let the funding come from the public and not the political parties as they would want a pound of flesh.

The political parties from BJP, Congress, JD, SP, AIDMK, Trinamool and other regional parties have their manifesto that they want Indians to subscribe.  It is time, we the people, the Indians of all hues develop our manifesto, not a Muslim or Christian manifesto, but an Indian proclamation for all Indians, and vote for those individuals who would subscribe to most of the items on the manifesto. 

Do we have a manifesto?

Together, let’s create one.

Let’s make a checklist and look to the candidates who would fit in, let’s not look to the parties, they have betrayed us before. It’s just not us; we appeal to all Indians to consider the grassroots list. Let’s make it meaningful again.

We can make a table for all the MP candidates across India, and publish a list where these candidates stand on issues critical to all Indians.

Does the candidate;

1. Stand up for any Indian when access to education is denied?

2. Stand up for any Indian when access to a job is denied?

3. Stand up for any Indian when access to housing is denied?

4. Stand up for the rights of individuals when they are violated?

5. Let's develop a comprehensive list - that benefits all Indians

We can develop a table for all the 545 contestants listed by the States in Alphabetical order; then across the columns, we will record the criteria and check mark the items that the candidates will commit to abide. 

 It should be our government by us for us, and they need our support. 

We need to vote those candidates who are clean and are willing to bring Indians together and not pit one Indian against the other. We don't need those guys, they are impregnated by the British mentality of divide and rule.

There are good individuals among BJP, Congress, BSP, JD, and other regional parties.   As Indians, we need to vote those candidates who are 1) Financially clean 2) Want to work on bringing Indians together and 3) subject themselves to investigation. If anyone is questionable, we need to disqualify them from our table until they prove they are clean.  Then we can expect the nation to move forward.

My appeal to BJP supporters is to seriously consider saving our democracy, we have the freedoms because that is the foundation laid by our founding fathers. Each one of you is a beneficiary of the great democracy created and nurtured in the last 70 years. Let's not give any party a landslide victory, let's deliberately provide a significant opposition to question the "mun-mani" raj by any party. If we do that, corruption will be checked; nepotism will be stopped, accountability of government will begin.  Let this be our government by us for us. 

Whether Congress or BJP, if you give them a majority, they will become arrogant and do things that are not good for the country. 

What do we have to lose by doing the right thing? 

Please write your comment in the comment section below for development of such a manifesto. This is not copyrighted; you can do it on your own or joins us in a team effort.

Articles Worth Reflecting: 

• Dr. Shariff’s Latest Research http://m.deccanherald.com/?name=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/667082/karnataka-elections-2018-ngo-says.html
  
• Ravish Kumar’s call  http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2018/03/ravish-kumar-emotional-appeal-to-muslims.html
  
• Have Muslims stood up for the Oppressed? A Dalit Leaders call - http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2018/03/have-muslims-stood-up-for-oppressed.html
  
• Rajesh Khanna’s movie speechhttps://www.facebook.com/krishna.thapa.5036459/videos/1356318007847508/?t=5
  
• What Kind of India do we want?http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2018/01/indias-pluralistic-ethos.html
  
• Minorities Dilemma whether to support Congress by Naushad Khan
  http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2018/03/minorities-in-dilemma-on-whether-to.html

Mike Ghouse is an Indian American committed to building cohesive societies where people can live without fear and prosper together.  His work is listed at www.CenterforPluralism.com and http://MikeghouseforIndia.blogspot.com

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http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2013/08/potent-memories-from-divided-india.html

Its a difficult story of rape, murder and inhumanity in us.

I heard the sad story of migration first hand from Sunder Lal in 1972. That was the first time, I have had any contact with people from Pakistan in my 19 years of life. His story was a very sad one, his sister was killed on his way from Lahore, the old man cried, but he was not bitter about it, he accepted it as his Karma. He built a huge empire in Bangalore - Sunder Chemical Works, where I worked, and his Son Harbans Lal is my eternal friend - it was his encouragement and stoking that made me a writer. I owe my gratitude to him.

My friend Shri D. D. Maini was born and raised in Kasur near Lahore. His family walked part of the route, he was a young man out of high school then. Thank God, his family arrived in Delhi Safely without incidents.

Since 1993, I have been in the Desi Community and started the Asian News Paper, the first Desi Paper that ran for about 7 years, and Asian News Radio commenced in 1996, the grand daddy of Fun Asia Radio. That is where I got to know the people of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, almost after the full Banvas.

I got to hear the painful stories of partition from both sides. There is a huge number of Indians who were born in Pakistan, and like wise there are many Pakistanis who born in India. Both people have had agonizing experiences.

Dr. Akbar Ahmed wrote a beautiful poem called Suspended, and I wrote the  review for the same. http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/06/dr-akbar-ahmeds-poetry-suspended.html

Dallas has a reservoir of people who have the paritioin experience, both good and bad,   and I hope someone chronicles this for posterity.
I have a difficult suggestion for you: If you hear the stories without hatred for the other - Indians for Pakistanis and Pakistanis for Indians, you'll realize a great human in you full of compassion, kindness and understanding. You will feel good about yourselves. Try it.
Mike Ghouse
www.MikeGhouse.net

Potent Memories From a Divided India

By SOMINI SENGUPTA

Courtesy NY Times
Published: August 13, 2013

BERKELEY, Calif. — Growing up, Guneeta Singh Bhalla heard a terrifying story from her grandmother. In August 1947, as British India was being partitioned into independent India and Pakistan, her grandmother fled Lahore, in what was soon to become Pakistan, for Amritsar, in what was soon to become India. All around her was carnage. Clutching her three young children, she looked out the train window to see bodies strewed along the tracks. The memory haunted her until she died.

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Margaret Bourke-White/Time Life Pictures, via Getty Images

Sikhs migrating to a new homeland after the violent partition of British India in 1947.

For years afterward, Ms. Bhalla regretted not recording her grandmother’s story, and it spurred her to begin recording other people’s memories of that time. The project, known as the 1947 Partition Archive, has grown far bigger, far quicker than she ever imagined. Since its inception here two years ago, its dozens of volunteers have video-recorded 647 oral histories from more than seven countries and stored them digitally. It describes itself as “a people’s history” of that wrenching time.

“It’s something that’s been brewing in my mind since high school,” recalled Ms. Bhalla, a research physicist who is now 34, about the same age as her grandmother in 1947. “As I was growing up, it was always in the back of my head, and bothersome, as family members were passing.”

The partition, which carved up British India roughly along religious and political lines, uprooted over 10 million people. Hindus and Sikhs escaped to India; Muslims to Pakistan. Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians were left to choose where to live as minorities. The dead were difficult to count; estimates range from 250,000 to two million. No one knows how many were raped.

The oral history project is equally remarkable for being the first of its kind. As much as the partition hangs over the politics and psyche of the Indian subcontinent, there is no memorial — digital or analog — to mark it. This homegrown, volunteer-run project, directed from a few cubbies at the University of California here, is one of the first efforts to collect those memories. Now, because most of the partition’s witnesses are gone — most subjects are in their 70s and 80s — the project has taken on new urgency. At least 20 of the 100 people Ms. Bhalla has interviewed have died, she said. And so, with help from donors, the archive plans to dispatch 20 story gatherers this year to several cities in South Asia to collect stories while their tellers are still alive.

Video by 1947PartitionArchive

Radhika Kishin Chehnani on her move from Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan to Mumbai, India.

Many stories come from South Asians now living in the United States, though most are from those still living in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh, which was part of Pakistan until 1971. The accounts, once they start pouring out, are one to four hours long. They are told in Urdu and Punjabi, Hindi, Bengali and English.

Having spent the last two years collecting stories, the project is now planning to develop new ways to share them. Its Web site will soon feature a “story map” with migration routes, excerpts from individual accounts and a tool to help partition migrants connect online with one another.

Some of those interviewed have never told their stories before, not even to their families. A Zoroastrian woman from Karachi recalls how her grandmother hid her Hindu maid from family members who wanted to convert her against her will. A Hindu man from a village near Lahore recalls surviving the train journey to India only because a Muslim man, a stranger, hid him in his first-class compartment; other Hindus on that same train were killed or wounded. A Muslim man from what is now Indian Punjab describes watching a mob stab his mother as she tried to protect her older son.

Video by 1947PartitionArchive

Ravi Chopra on his move from Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan to Firozpur, Punjab, India.

Video excerpts from a handful of interviews can be viewed on the Web site. Streaming all of them, in their entirety, will cost more than the project now has: about $56,000 from community donations and a grant from the American India Foundation. Ms. Bhalla hopes that one day the stories can be housed by libraries or research centers worldwide.

Like Ms. Bhalla, most story collectors are two generations removed; many are Americans of South Asian descent. They have fanned out to mosques and temples across the United States to solicit accounts from elders, and recorded them on hand-held video cameras and smartphones. One volunteer, Farhana Afroz, flew from Fremont, Calif., where she lives now, to several cities in Bangladesh, where she was born, to collect stories, leaving her husband and children back home.

Volunteers are sometimes asked: Who are you? Why are you doing this? Their answer: Because we must not forget. They are backed by no government, which helps. The goal is to record oral histories without judgment or analysis — or, indeed, corroboration.

Their list of questions include: When did you first hear about the partition? Did you have to defend yourself against violence?

And: Did you help drive out people from your area?

Video by 1947PartitionArchive

Abdul Jabbar on his move from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India to Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. 

In California, Ms. Bhalla came upon two men — one Sikh, one Muslim — who had spent their childhoods in neighboring villages in what is now the state of Punjab in India. Ali Shan, a Muslim who fled to Pakistan, was living in Fremont, south of here. Hardev Singh Grewal, a Sikh who remained in India, was living in neighboring Union City. Ms. Bhalla asked if they wished to meet. Of course, they said.

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Margaret Bourke-White/Time & Life Pictures via Getty Images

During the partition period in British India, Muslims pass the dead of a previous caravan and the bones of their buffaloes.

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Margaret Bourke-White/Time & Life Pictures via Getty Images

A Muslim woman being carried as her family flees her homeland.

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Margaret Bourke-White/Time & Life Pictures via Getty Images

Sikh refugees in 1947.

On a rainy Saturday evening, they shared samosas and tea at the Grewal home. Mr. Shan, 72, sat stiffly at first on a white leather sofa. For the first couple of hours, they reminisced about an annual fair in Jurrahan, where Mr. Shan once lived. They remembered the names of the local schools. As the evening wore on, the more difficult stories trickled out. Mr. Shan told Mr. Grewal how a mob stabbed his mother and brother before his eyes when he was 6 — and then how a man in that mob inexplicably took him home.

Mr. Grewal, 76, inched close to him, patted him on the shoulder. Mr. Shan’s eyes filled with tears. He kept going. He remained with the stranger’s family for months, he said, and then an uncle took him to Pakistan. Mr. Grewal kept his arm on Mr. Shan’s shoulder.

Mr. Grewal recalled that the elders of his village, Gujjarwal, barely four miles from Jurrahan, had offered to save its Muslims if they converted to Sikhism. “They meant well, but looking back, I don’t think it was a good thing,” Mr. Grewal told Mr. Shan.

Nor did it save them. They were attacked as preparations were under way for the conversion ceremony. Mr. Grewal had no idea how many were killed, only that there were enough bodies to fill ox carts and a mass grave. Mr. Grewal remembered, too, that his older brother had taken home three of his school friends, all Muslims who had been injured in the attack. They stayed in the Grewal home until they were fit enough to travel to Pakistan. He has no idea what became of them.

“Ali, I want to ask you,” Mr. Grewal finally ventured, “do you get nightmares?”

Mr. Shan shook his head: “As soon as I forgave the people who killed my family, I was a new man.”

Ms. Bhalla took it all in. This year she left a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to devote herself full time to the project.

“Both survivor and citizen oral historian come away changed,” is how she put it.

Sikhs Genocide observation in Dallas

Request to fellow Indians: If you are not inclined to read the whole thing and then decide how you feel about it, please do not read the following piece. Also posted at DallasIndians@yahoogroups.com and http://MikeGhouseforIndia.blogspot.com

URL:: http://wisdomofreligion.blogspot.com/2012/10/sikhs-genocides-observation-in-dallas.html

Last week, I  posted an upcoming event "Remembrance and Reflection: 1984 Sikh Genocide (posted below)" at Dallas Indians, a 1800 member group in the Dallas area for all Indians. I am glad a few friends called in and sought clarifications. It is always good to inquire and find out before building up emotions against it. The event is on Saturday, November 3rd at Noon.

Then I read a beautiful personal story by Kirpal Singh from Melbourne, who shared the story of stereotyping Muslims in Nigeria and alluded to bringing a closure to the Sikh Massacre in India. I have included that story below.

The humorous part of the story was, one of the callers was cursing Muslims that they do not understand free speech, and yet, he asked me not post events like this, he believed it was divisive.  Indeed on the surface it does sound like it, but when you read the entire note, you will find otherwise.

You might get away refusing to oblige your spouse or a child's request... or even compel them to obey you...but it builds resentment if not dealt with squarely, it puts a damper on the enthusiasm of the relationship and no one lives in peace. If there is a murder, child abuse or sexual abuse in the community, we cannot sit quite, we have to find a resolution so the victims can leave in peace, and justice is meted out to the abuser.

Taking the example to India - The Kashmiri Pandits, Dalits, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs have been treated unfairly and unjustly on occasions, especially when it comes to killing a large number of people. The wounds remain unhealed for the communities and every one lives with un-ease, discomfort and apprehension. Silence or Money compensation is not the way to repair the damage, but an acknowledgement is the way to go. An apology will heal the wounds for the entire society. We need to seek Mukti from the gnawing conscience, and no ones Karma will go unbalanced.

When Queen Elizabeth visited India a few years back, she apologized for the Jalianwala Bagh Massacre, that was the right thing to do and we welcomed it. There have been many more good examples of healing like that.

About six years ago a film was made by Memnosyne Foundation, "One source many paths" where I represented the Muslim community and 47 other people represented other faith traditions. Uma Mysoreaker, president of the Hindu Temple in New York represented the Hindu Community. The Hindus and the Native Americans shared their pain about the forced conversions by Muslims and Christians alike, while Muslims also have been a target of prejudice after 9/11. I apologized for the wrong doings done by Muslims kings like Aurangzeb and Ghaznavi and individuals like Bin Laden.

The healing was done when a Native American offered a Bandana to be received as a closure, a Christian minister gracefully accepted it, .. every one remained silent and absorbed the moments, some of us cried, including me, it was indeed a relief. It is also an acknowledgement that we the people (living now) have nothing to do with what was done, and yet, we owed an apology as the wrong doing was committed in the name of the religion or the land we shared.

The Chapters on Pandits, Dalits, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs can be brought to closure by acknowledgment of the wrong doing, its not going to go away by hiding from it. Humility builds bridges, that is what every religion teaches; to be humble. It is wrong, and dead wrong to believe that we are all against each other, we are not, some of us are, but we need to work cohesively to make India a greater nation by being on a higher moral ground of shedding the arrogance or pretending that, we do not have a problem.

The Sikh Massacre is obviously not brought to the closure,  mass graves have been discovered and the identified remains have been given back to their families, but there are hundreds of kids, women and men missing from that period. An accounting needs to be done to bring a relief to families as to what happened to their loved ones. We are all in this together without blaming the past and to find solutions.

The bad guys are not Muslims, Sikhs, Christians or Hindus, the bad guys are those who went on a rampage and hurt fellow Indians be it in Delhi, Gujarat, Bihar or Orissa. No one should go Scot free,  an apology from them individual wrong doers, forgiveness from the victims or lawful action is in order to restart
 

STEREO TYPING

This is the most common form of ignorance that surfaces every minute of the day in our lives. Our freedom to think is lost when we stereotype people and fall in the ditch when we justify it. If we want others to treat as fairly, we have to do it too.

If I murder someone, it is my heine that needs to be hauled off to the jail and mete out the deserved punishment under the law and serve justice. Stereo typing in this instance would be to blame my race, parents, siblings, spouse, nationality or religion, it is not wise, is it?? Yet we do it and let others do it without even imploring them to think. What has India or Islam got to do with my criminal act?

Shame on you and I to allow the mind to believe that the murder by a black man allows us to gossip that blacks are criminals, and start justifying some creepy facts to suit our beliefs. Oh well, the educated ones are not… that is even wronger than the first statement…Are all white people ruthless and war mongers? Are Muslims terrorists? Jews will get you one way or the other?

Catch yourselves in your stereotyping, where you make judgments about a people

We reflect on Holocaust and genocides every year, and one of the element is stereotyping. Details about the VII Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides at www.HolocaustandGenocides.com

Mike is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, interfaith, politics, foreign policy, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. He is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, commentator on national radio network, writes weekly at Dallas Morning News and bi monthly at Huffington post and several periodicals. His daily blog is www.TheGhousediary.com

TRUE MEANING OF GURBANI
On Oct 24, 2012, at 3:13 AM, kirpal singh kirpal2singh@ ..> wrote:

Dear All,

It was in Nigeria in mid 1980s, Dr. Iyengar, a colleague of mine in the Science Faculty of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU met with an accident in which a family of five while crossing a road outside the main Gate of ABU struck against his car while a speeding heavy truck was coming from the opposite side with full lights which blinded Dr. Iyengar who was driving with his wife in the car. As a result of impact two children died on the spot, mother, and two others were badly injured.The driver of the heavy truck fled away in the darkness. Dr. Iyengar stopped his car and while he and her wife were panicking a policeman appeared on the spot and he arranged injured and dead to be taken to the University hospital. The police arrested Dr. I and dropped his wife at their residence.

Next morning Mrs. Iyengar came to our house also on the university campus and told what had happened. I had known Dr. Iyengar as a polite and decent person who never consumed alcohol and a careful experienced driver. Certainly he had no intention to harm or kill any one. This was to happen but it created a mystery.

I had known a Sikh medical doctor (Dr. Sandhu) and Mr. Gowon, a businessman who was younger brother of Gen. Gowon who once ruled Nigeria. Dr. Sandhu and Mr. Gowon met the Nigerian Lady magistrate (who lived in their neighbourhood) and appraised her about the circumstances in which accident happened, in addition to the police report. Dr. Iyengar was released on bail but was not sure about his and his wife's security from the victims family members, who were Muslims..

As a courtesy, Dr. Iyengar wished to visit the other members of the victims family. But none of his close friends (north or south Indian Hindus) supported his idea and so none was willing to accompany him to the family who lived in a village near the university campus. Dr. Iyengar asked me and I told him that on the strength that you were not drunk driving and you had no enmity what so ever against the victims family, I am inclined to go with you to visit the victims family. My wife was terribly upset that as a turbaned Sikh I will become their target because of my conspicuous appearance. She went on to say that they might forget Dr. Iyengar but the victims family and their other relatives can go after you.

We had daily Parkash of Guru Granth Sahib (GGS) in our house and used to read the GGS and pray for a while every day. I told her that it was not Dr. Iyengar who wanted this accident but this was to happen - but why did it happen? We did not know the answer?

I advised Dr. Iyengar to take along some rice, kasawa, sugar, oil and tin fish for the aggrieved family. After enquiring we reached the right house in the Samaru village. Some members spotted us and the ushered us in to the house. Walking through several interconnected rooms we finally entered a room where the lady (lying) and two children were with bandaged legs and arms. We both were quite nervous that any thing could happen to us. As we finished exchange of greetings and paying our condolences, we were served a soft drink each.We were not sure whether to drink or not? But somehow I took a sip and Dr. Iyengar followed me.

We told the family that we were sorry for what had happened. The lady in crutches wasted no time and in a brave tone told us "it was Allah's Will that all this happened. We have no ill-will against Dr. Iyengar (pointing towards him) - it is Allah only who gives and takes away life". The next day was fixed for hearing in the court and she added that they have no intention to pursue any case against Dr. Iyengar.

On hearing this I had tears flowing in my eyes to learn of such a strong faith and devotion in Allah from an ordinary Muslim lady. I was also ashamed that even on daily reading of Gurbani I had not developed such a strong faith in Waheguru. The following verses from Sukhmanee Sahib sounded differently and clearly after that encounter:-

ਮਾਰੈ ਰਾਖੈ ਏਕੋ ਆਪਿ ॥ਮਾਨੁਖ ਕੈ ਕਿਛੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਹਾਥਿ ॥ (Raag Gauri Sukhmanee Sahib, GGS. 281-4).

Maarai Raakhai Eaeko Aap ||Maanukh Kai Kishh Naahee Haathh ||

मारै राखै एको आपि ॥मानुख कै किछु नाही हाथि ॥

The One Lord Himself destroys and also preserves.

Nothing at all is in the hands of mortal beings.

ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਬੂਝਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਇ ॥ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਖੁ ਕੰਠਿ ਪਰੋਇ ॥

This Kaa Hukam Boojh Sukh Hoe ||This Kaa Naam Rakh Kanth Paroe ||

तिस का हुकमु बूझि सुखु होइ ॥तिस का नामु रखु कंठि परोइ ॥

Understanding His Order, there is peace.

So take His Name, and wear it as your necklace.

ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋਇ ॥ਨਾਨਕ ਬਿਘਨੁ ਨ ਲਾਗੈ ਕੋਇ ॥੧॥

Simar Simar Simar Prabh Soe ||Naanak Bighan N Laagai Koe ||1||

सिमरि सिमरि सिमरि प्रभु सोइ ॥नानक बिघनु न लागै कोइ ॥१॥

Remember, remember, remember God in meditation.

O Nanak, no obstacle shall stand in your way. ||1||

- This Muslim family taught me the meaning of Gurbani more than any Teeka or Gyani or Parcharak.

There was a change in my perception of Gurbani ever since - a great lesson from a Muslim Family for which I am grateful to them; and Dr. Iyengar for taking me along to witness such a blissful experience.

The court case lasted for four months and finally Dr. Iyengar was cleared.

I do believe that there are good Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Jews, Budhists and Sikhs in the wide world.

- In addition, I learnt the meaning of the expression," Dekh ke un-dith keeta", which is part of the Sikh daily supplication (Ardas.) It is one of the highest ideals by any standard.The Sikhs repeat in their daily supplication (Ardas) by admiring those who see or witness an evil being done to them yet they turn their attention away from that evil/unfortunate incident. The Gurbani teaches us:-

ਕਰਣ ਕਾਰਣ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਏਕੁ ਹੈ ਦੂਸਰ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਸੁ ਬਲਿਹਾਰਣੈ ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਸੋਇ ॥੧॥(Raag Gaurhee Sukhmanee, M. 5. 276).
karan kaaran prabh eaek hai dhoosar naahee koe ||Naanak This Balihaaranai Jal Thhal Meheeal Soe ||1||

करण कारण प्रभु एकु है दूसर नाही कोइ ॥नानक तिसु बलिहारणै जलि थलि महीअलि सोइ ॥१॥.

God alone is the Doer of deeds - there is no other at all.

O Nanak, I am a sacrifice to the One, who pervades the waters, the lands, the sky and all space. ||1||

"Dekh ke undith keeta" - is a virtuous act though a very difficult one. Those who lost their loved ones in 1984, it is not easy to forget and brush aside their grief. However, we do remember those who are imbued with the spirit of forgiveness in our daily supplication (Ardas). I think it is time to give practical shape to our longing for fulfilment of "Dekh ke undith Keeta".

As Gursikh of Gurbani, we should be guided by the message of Sabad Guru. All that happened in 1984 was as per the Divine Hukam (Waheguru ordained).

In the light of the Gurbani then how should we treat the saga of June and November1984 (killing of thousands of innocent Sikhs) in which various parties (sikh leadership, government of the day and some hooligans) should share blame in any rational terms? It has both legal and spiritual dimensions. The legal part is for the security forces and law enforcement agencies to handle, whereas the spiritual side belongs to all of us who profess Hindiism or Sikhism.

I think that the well meaning Sikhs and Hindus can bring about reconciliation between the two communities a lot better than politicians who have failed to do so far.

Although it is very hard for the families of those who lost their beloved ones to come to grip with the situation yet spiritually speaking the agrieved parties shoud forgive the perpetrators of such henious crimes to invite spiritual strength as a solace.

I would suggest that just like Guru Nanak Dev Ji himself went to Sajjan Tugh, Haridwar and Kabba etc to show people the right paths; Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Guru Teg Bhadur ji sacrificed their lives for upholding unity and spiritual values, it is time to say a collective Ardas to Waheguru for the forgiveness of all those involved in killing of fellow human-beings. This will be in keeping with the highest Ideal and Spirit of Sikhi.

An Ardas could be suitably worded somethink like the following and publised in media in Indian Dailies from Shiromani Gurduara Parbhandhak Committee, Amritsar and Delhi Sikh Gurduara Management Committee, Delhi and Haryana Gurduara Management Committee etc :-

"May Waheguru forgive all those who somehow lost their sanity and became instrumental in killing of innocent people in 1984. Please give a sense of direction to those who became part of such criminal act and grant peace to them and their near and dear ones who have been suffering since and help restore sense of unity among fellow human-beings."

ਜਬ ਧਾਰੈ ਕੋਊ ਬੈਰੀ ਮੀਤੁ ॥ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਚੀਤੁ ॥ (Raag Gauri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, GGS. 278-17).

Jab Dhhaarai Kooo Bairee Meeth ||Thab Lag Nihachal Naahee Cheeth ||

जब धारै कोऊ बैरी मीतु ॥तब लगु निहचलु नाही चीतु ॥

As long as he considers one an enemy, and another a friend, His/her mind shall not come to rest.

I do hope such an initiave will bring solace to both the Communities in keeping with the message of true spirit of the Sanatan Dharma and Sikhi alike, which stand for FORGIVENESS.

"It is well known that forgiveness removes unhealthy emotions that would otherwise cause harm & creates emotions with a wholesome effect."

The various Hindu Organizations can also come up with some suitable gestures towards the Sikhs in general upholding their ancient Spiritual traditions of peace and reconciliation.

With best wishes.

Kirpal Singh

New Zealand

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October 28, 2012

THE VII ANNUAL REFLECTIONS ON HOLOCAUST AND GENOCIDES WILL HIGHLIGHT THE SIKH MASSACRE AND THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

Remembrance and Reflection: 1984 Sikh Genocide

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The DFW Sikh American Community extends its invitation to you for our event "Remembrance and Reflection: 1984 Sikh Genocide". We aspire to share the tragedy which unfolded and provide recognition to an event which has withered away in the annals of history. We seek to provide conversation and engage with our audience to ensure dark moments such as these never occur again and that justice prevails. As the great Martin Luther King stated, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

We urge and request everyone to attend

When: Saturday, November 3, 2012 from 12 PM – 1 PM Where: Gurdwara Sikh Sangat 1400 West Euless Blvd. Euless, TX 76040

All our educators, our law enforcement officials, our elected officials, people of faith and in short all our fellow Americans are humbly requested to take advantage of this opportunity. We will highlight and recognize the fundamental principles of this great nation which was on prominent display during and in the aftermath of the Wisconsin massacre of how a nation is to respond and respect its citizens. This fundamental principle must be brought to the forefront for all to appreciate and fathom.

Sikh Americans have been an integral and constructive part of the DFW community for over 50 years and we invite you to share in our experiences and a history which permeates within all of us.

The institution of langar (community kitchen) will be in full effect in which everyone is requested to partake and have a delicious vegetarian meal. So please come by and ask your questions, eat and drink some food, or just engage with your neighbors.

For any questions or comments please contact: 1. Gurvinder Singh 469.222.6288 gurvinder.singh@unitedsikhs.org 2. Manmohan Singh 469.733.5190 m.singh.180@gmail.com 3. Manpreet Singh 972-415-7897 kingmani15@yahoo.com 4. Pritpal Singh 214-505-6375 pritpaltx@yahoo.com
We will be honored and look forward to your presence.

Muslim Condemn beheading of Sikhs by Taliban

PRESS RELEASE

Muslims Condemn beheading of Sikhs by the Talibans

Dallas, Texas, February 24, 2010.

In behalf of the World Muslim Congress and Muslims in general, we strongly condemn the Talibans for killing two members of the Sikh community in Pakistan. Jaspal Singh and Mohan Singh, who were beheaded for not converting to Islam. Continued: http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2010/02/muslim-condemn-beheading-of-sikhs-by.html

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