Jammu, May 23: Perturbed at Supreme Court questioning whether turban is mandatory for Sikhs, Sikh community is at pains for same being asked in the land Khalsa Panth took birth to stall the horrific religious repression unleashed by Aurangzeb for Islamisation of India. Distraught, S.S. Bijral former IGP lamented that why the question over turban-Sikh identity.
Bijral referred to SC response questioning turban was integral to Sikhism, in a Sikh cyclist's petition on being denied permission to participate in racing competition without helmet. Lamenting, sharing Sikh community hurt feelings, expressed in a meeting, he wondered why wasn't there this question: when turbaned Guru Tegh Bahadur with followers challenging Islamic ruler might opted martyrdom over conversion, hearing woes of forcible conversions of Kashmiri Brahmins, on Nov. 24, 1675 at Delhi Chandni Chowk; when Daya Ram, a baniya, Dharam Das, a farmer, Himmat Rai, a water carrier. Mukham Chand of Cheembha caste, and Sahib Chand, a barber, in all five in succession, offered their head to Guru, only to get baptised and to latter as Panj Payarasas baptise their Guru Gobind Rai to Guru Gobind Singh raising Khalsa Panth in 1699 Baisakhi public congregation at Anandpur to be forefront in service of nation. When less than1.5% of the pre - independence country population, out of 121 patriots hanged 93 were Sikhs; Of 2626 awarded life-imprisonment 2147 were Sikhs; Of 1300 martyred in Jallianwala Bagh 799 were Sikhs; 60% of those joining Indian National Army of S.C.Bose were Sikhs. |
