Sikh

Sardar Tujhe Salaam - by Vijay Nair

Jazz — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:47:07 GMT

Sardar Tujhe Salaam

Vijay Nair is an organisational coach, consultant, fiction writer, critic and theatre director. A collection of his plays and a novel have been published

Vijay Nair Posted On Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 07:31:56 PM

Nothing has saddened me more in recent times as the brutal slaying of the two Sikhs by the Taliban and their subsequent vicious gesture of sending the mutilated bodies to a gurudwara in Pakistan. Sikhs have always been a part of my life from the time I was growing up in a cosmopolitan town. We had Sikh neighbours, Sikh classmates and Sikh friends. Bad jokes about Sardars were our staple diet and we usually cracked the Barah baj gaye ones in their presence. It's all kind of baffling in retrospect.
For I have never met a dumb Sardar in my life.

I have known hard working Sardars, Sardars with business acumen, mild and affable Sardars, sturdy and macho Sardars who opted to be in the police or armed forces and Sardars who own dhabas that serve yummy food. And yes, I know of a Sardar who is undoubtedly the most civil and upright Prime Minister this nation has known. You can have difficulty in comprehending some of Manmohan Singh's policies, but I doubt if even the opposition parties can find fault with the gentleman's personhood. A Sardar is also an integral part of the literary background of this nation and sometimes we find it difficult to separate him from the history of Indian writing in English. I am talking about the irreprisible Khushwant Singh of course, who at 95 continues to be an icon and his book, Train to Pakistan, a must read for any aspiring novelist.

It's difficult to understand when and why other religious affiliations started alienating the Sikhs, not just as it turns out in this country but in the sub continent as well. We all know about the festering couldron Punjab had turned out to be in the 80's and the bitter aftermath that resulted in Operation Bluestar and the assassination of Indira Gandhi. But surely the policy of the ruling Congress party that created a Frankestein like General Bhindaranwale was responsible for the misguided aspirations. And then of course the plot played out in familiar ways.

The separatists received training across the border and yet the government of the day displayed little patience and understanding as compared to what fundamentalists and separatists of contemporary times seem to enjoy. The recurring argument to counter all this is the horror of the two bodyguards gunning down the Prime Minister to retaliate against the descration of the Golden Temple . But the entire community paid for it with the son of the slain leader egging on the rioters with statements like

"When an enormous tree is felled, there are bound to be tremors." Some secular statesmanship that!

Despite the persecution, the Sikhs have continued to pour into the public and armed services and do their bit towards strengthening the country.

We only need a bit of history to understand and value this community.

The first hymn of the Guru Granth Sahib, the revered holy text of the Sikhs, says, "There is one supreme eternal reality; the truth; imminent in all things; creator of all things; immanent in creation.

Without fear and without hatred; not subject to time; beyond birth and death; self-revealing. Known by the Guru's grace."

The Gurudwaras welcome non Sikhs and members of any religious affiliation or socio economic background to participate in all their ceremonies. Can there be a better testimony to the inclusive nature of this religion and its members?

The paradox is the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Tej Bahadur Singh lay down his life to protect Hindus from religious persecution in this country and the Hindus turned against the Sikhs a few centuries later.

What is not as well known is that during the numerous Hindu-Muslim communal riots this country has witnessed, the Sikhs have very often risked their lives to give shelter and protect their Islamic friends and neighbours. And now the Islamic terrorists are targeting them. A community that evolved to settle differences between two feuding religions now finds itself at the receiving end of the ire from both of them.

The Sikh gurus were mystics. They preached affection and tolerance.

The community has internalised it. They are charitable, fun loving and gregarious. They also have one unique quality other Indians don't have. They can laugh at themselves. Since we Indians are masters of subversion, we have used this commendable quality of theirs against them by evolving a set of jokes in bad taste against them. Little do we know the joke is on the rest of us.

After all what is more heart warming in this country than meeting a young turbaned sardar burdened by his school bag and smiling at you in your child's bus stop?

AJAI ALAI Meditation

Jazz — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:50:28 GMT

Listen to music @ Ajai Alai Meditation and Lectu...

AJAI ALAI

Ajai Alai Invincible.
Indestructible

Abhai Abai Fearless. Everywhere.

Abhoo Ajoo Unborn. Forever

Anaas Akaas Indestructible. Within
everything.

Agunj Abhunj Invincible.
Indivisible.

Alukh Abhukh Invisible. Free from wants.

Akaal Dyaal Immortal. Kind.

Alayk Abhayhke Unimaginable. Formless.

Anaam Akaam Unnameable. Free from desires.

Agaahaa Adhaahaa Unfathomable. Undamageable.

Anaatay Parmaatay Without a master. Destroyer
of all.

Ajonee Amonee Beyond birth & death.
Beyond silence.

Na Raagay Na Rungay More than love itself. Beyond
all colors.

Na Roopay Na Raykay Formless. Beyond chakras.

Akaramung Abharamung Beyond karma. Beyond doubt.

Aganjay Alaykhay Beyond battles. Unimaginable.

This is from Guru Gobind Singh's Jaap Sahib, which rouses the soul and
the self. This brings great sensitivity to the Being and gives the
ability to be able to compute what people are actually saying
automatically. Once you recite this mantra correctly, it will give you
the power that whatever you say must happen. When you chant this mantra
you have the power to surpass anything.

Sardar jokes - answer that you may not forget

Jazz — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 12:28:18 GMT

We all love Sardar jokes. But do you know that Sikhs are one of the hardest working prosperous and diversified communities in the world.

My friend told me about the following incident which I wish to share with you.

It has had a deep impact on my thinking.

During last vacation, his few friends came to Delhi . They rented a taxi for local sight-seeing. The driver was an old Sardar and boys being boys, these pals began cracking Sardarji jokes, just to tease the old man. But to their surprise, the fellow remained unperturbed.

At the end of the sight-seeing, they paid the cab hire-charges. The Sardar returned the change, but he gave each one of them one rupee extra and said, ''Son, since morning you have been telling Sardarji jokes.. I listened to them all and let me tell you, some of them were in bad taste. Still, I don't mind coz I know that you are young blood and are yet to see the world..
But I have one request. I am giving you one rupee each. Give it to the first Sardar beggar that you come across in this or any other city.'

My friend continued,* ' That one rupee coin is still with me. I couldn't find a single Sardar begging anywhere.'
MORAL:

The secret behind their universal success, is their willingness to do any job with utmost dedication and pride. A Sardar will drive a truck or set up a roadside garage or a dhaba, put a fruit juice stall, take up small time carpentry, ... but he will never beg on the streets.

DO FORWARD IT TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS JUST THE WAY YOU FORWARD JOKES

Langar at Harimandir Sahib

Jazz — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:31:34 GMT

Langar (Punjabi: ਲੰਗਰ) is the term used in the Sikh religion for the free, vegetarian-only food served^[1] in a Gurudwara and eaten by everyone sitting as equals, including Sikhs and non-Sikhs. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langar_(Sikhism)

It is no ordinary feat to serve a meal to thousands of people in a day and that too round-the-clock.
Forty to fifty thousand people, on an average, partake of langar every day at Harmandar Sahib.

"On Sundays, festival days and Masya, the number exceeds 1 lakh (100,000) ," says jathedar Harpinder Singh, who is in charge of the langar.

Serving such a huge gathering is not an easy task. But, the devotion and Selfless service of the sewadars makes the job simple.

"We have 2300 permanent Sewadars who work at the langar. They knead dough, cook food, serve people and perform a number of other jobs. Also, there are a good number of volunteers, both men and women, who work in kitchen and Langar hall. They also wash and wipe the utensils. "In the washing hall we have four sewadars to supervise the work," adds Harpinder Singh. Of course, an elaborate arrangement is in place to cook and serve food at such a large scale.

The langar at Harmandar Sahib is prepared in two kitchens, which have 11 hot plates (tawi), several burners, machines for sieving and kneading dough and several other utensils. At one tawi, 15 people work at a time. It is a chain process - some make balls of dough, others roll rotis, a few put them on the Tawi and rest cook and collect them.

It is all done so meticulously that one is surprised to see that on one hot plate, in just two hours, over 20 kg of flour is used to make rotis. The kitchen also has a roti-making machine, which was do nated by a Lebanon-based devotee. The machine is, however, used only on days that are likely to witness huge crowds. The machine can make rotis of 20-kg flour in just Half-an-hour. To get the flour, there are two machines in the basement of the langar hall and another that kneads one quintal of flour in just five minutes. It is this fine team of man and machine that makes it possible for the gurdwara to provide 24-hour langar on all days.But, what about putting together the raw material?

"About 50-quintal wheat, 18-quintal daal, 14-quintal rice and seven quintal milk is the daily consumption in the langar kitchen. We have utensils that can store up to seven quintal of cooked daal and kheer at a time," says assistant in-charge Kanwaljeet Singh. Items needed in langar are bought in huge quantities from Delhi. The purchase mainly includes pulses, while other every-day requirements are met from the local market. A stock of all items is maintained for two months, he adds.

"Desi Ghee comes from Verka Milk Plant in the city Also, the devotees. Make donations. In a day we receive, over eight quintals of sugar and seven quintals of dal. Often, people also donate money in langar funds. For instance, we recently received a donation of Rs 2 lakh from a devotee who wanted to bear all langar expenses for a day," says in-charge Harpinder Singh. "Besides dal-roti, kheer and karah prasad is prepared on alternate days. On an average, seven quintals of milk and an equal quantity of rice is needed to prepare kheer. On festive occasions, we also distribute jalebis.

Every day over 100, gas cylinders are needed to fuel the kitchen. For making tea, 6 quintals of sugar and 20 kg of tea leaf are consumed," adds Kanwaljeet.

But, all this wouldn't have been possible without the20grace of Waheguru: "Loh langar tapde rahin" (may the hot plates of the langar remain ever in 20 service) are the words that every devotee says in his prayers at the Gurdwara. At a time, over 3,000 people are served on the two floors of the hall. Everyone is welcome at the darbar to share Te meal, with not distinction of caste or religion.

The Sikh practice of Guru ka langar was strengthened by Guru Amar Das, the third Sikh guru. Even Emperor Akbar, it is said, had to take langar with the common people before he could meet Guru Amar Das. Langar or community Kitchen was designed to uphold the principle of equality between all people regardless of religion, caste, colour, creed, age, gender or social status. In addition to the ideals of equality, the tradition of langar also aimed to express the ethics of sharing and oneness of all humankind.

On the other hand, following the principle of division of labour, the Sewadars in the hall make sure that sangat gets the complete meal, from pickle to rice and dal. The whole thing is highly organised - from arranging the material to cooking and then serving.

After eating, the utensils are collected in one part of the hall in huge bins from where they are taken away for washing. Once cleaned, the dishes are quickly but neatly stacked in huge, wheeled storage bins, ready to be used again for the next sitting. ?

Aashima Seth Captured on film Belgian filmmakers, Valerie Berteau and Philippe Witjes were so impressed with the langar at the Darbar Sahib that they made a documentary film on it. Entitled Golden Kitchen, the film has impressed audiences at numerous film festivals in Europe. On June 6 this year, it was adjudged 'Outstanding' at the Festival of Short Films organised at the New York Museum of Modern Art. Critics have praised the film for bringing out the beauty of what is for western audiences "an endeavour that is remarkable in scale, the clockwork efficiency with which the kitchen is organised and the fact that all the people manning the Kitchen are volunteers who are inspired to undertake the heavy labour by their religious convictions." IN THY SERVICE around 3,000 people are served Meals at a go. It wouldn't be possible without sewadars, who look for no return except Waheguru's blessings.