FRUSTRATED

nyAfter the defeat of Sikh rising many of our young boys [and a few girls also] are rebelling right against the religion and cutting their hair though some of them feel that they look smarter that way. Gurinder Singh Johal has carried out a survey to know the reasons. We find they are disgusted with their leaders though most have respect for humanitarian religion of Nanak. We give students' views followed by our comments in etalics..1.Sikhism has very lofty concepts and I confess I can't reach to that height.-Gurdip Singh Padda, BA-III Khalsa Col, Amritsar.

[So you want to be a bad man.]

2. Religion means observation of certain principles. It is not necessary that you attain those principles after you are baptised or you show your externals.-Swinderpal Singh B. Tech. GNDU Amritsar.

[Principles will have to be practised while externals is a part of the discipline, like a soldier obeys and wears uniform as well]

3. Humanism is the best religion. How to live life, should we learn it from your leaders? -.Iqbal Dhillon, MA [Pol.Sci.] GNDU Amritsar.

[Every religion has its own values. For example Mannu's Brahminism is very discriminatory towards the so called shudras. Then Islam is very harsh towards unbelievers or kafirs. It is Sikhism that says every living being is a part of the greater God and the body is the real temple/church/mosque/Gurdwara.]

4.It is none of my concern what the religion says. But as a girl I know we have to present an attractive personality for matrimonial prospectuses.-Miss Rajbir Dhillon-MBA GNDU Amritsar.

[Even the modern beauty contests have ultimately come to the realise that real beauty lies inside, in the intellect, in the behaviour and your outlook. Religion teaches you the secret of life.]

5.I am proud of Sikhism but at the same time I am disgusted to see our preachers who give a very distractive image. -Harry Gill, E.Com Khalsa College, Amritsar.

[Search your ideals in Guru Nanak or Guru Gobind Singh or Sahibzada Fateh Singh [Who voluntarily laid down his life at the raw age of 7 years] and not those corrupt jathedars.]

7.I am devout Sikh and I do path everyday. I believe Guru never prohibited cutting hair.-Mandeep Kaur, BA-III, S.N.College Amritsar.

[No you are mistaken. Our lords have very categorically commanded through their 'hukamnamahs' not to defile the hair; a gift of nature.]

8.I come from Mukatsar where there is no preaching of Sikhism. Our preachers are in a race for money. Unfortunately whatever the little number of our preacher, they are all illiterate. .-S.S.Sandhu, MBBS SGRD Medical College, Amritsar.

[We are happy you have hit at the root of the problem. Guru said only the blessed intelligent will understand Gurbani. The one who could not get proper education and thereby no job finally learns to read and recite Gurbani and becomes granthi.

Jatha raja tatha praja. As the ruler so are the ruled. There is overall degradation in values because people have forgotten religion.]

9.Guru Gobind Singh ordered his Sikhs not to cut hair because it was the need of the hour. Now where is the need?-Gurinder S. Sahota; MBBS -Govt Med. Col. Amritsar.

[The concept of Nanak is beyond the boundaries of time and space. In what way the world is different today? The religion or the good was then under attack whereas the invasion is now intensified but in a very concealed way. You see all the films and TV serials show Sikh a cleanshaven man while his name bears the suffix of Singh.]

10. Guru's main command to the Sikhs was to shed their ego. Are not our baptised Sikhs more egoistic? So what is the use of hair?-R.S.Bhullar MBBS SGRD Medical College, Amritsar.

[It is really sad if a baptised Sikh gives more importance to externals than the true behaviour. Keeping hair intact is the injunction of Guru.]

11.Religion should be flexible. Our Gurus were not fanatic.-Gagandeep S. Bhullar B.Sc. Agr. Khalsa Col., Amritsar.

[A true religious person will not be fanatic. He loves all including his enemies even. But religion can't teach flexibility. It can't suggest that at times you can tell lies, steal or be corrupt.]

12. We want to look smart and younger and you know why? [To attract girls]--Maninder Singh,10th and Charanjeet Singh 10th SSSS School and Amardeep Singh 12th Khalsa College Amritsar.

[You are mistaken if you feel that you look younger by cutting hair. Do you feel Vajpayee looks younger than Captain Amrinder Singh?. One can't hide ones age by cutting hair.]

13.Our those friends who had trimmed their hair would tease us and call us 'Baba'.-Vikramjeet Singh BA_II, Bhupinder Singh BA-II Khalsa College Amritsar

[In fact some people cultivate jealousy towards those who are complete.'If I am corrupted why should he escape?' They don't want that you should be better than them. so they would coin such terms.]

14.There always have been revolutions against rigidity and fanaticism and there is a need for one in Sikhism too. Why are Radhasoamis flourishing because they are liberal.-Prabhjot Singh, BA_II Khalsa,College Amritsar

[You are mistaken Guru Nanak raised his cry against fanaticism. Religion teaches love, truthful and rightful living. Even Radhasoamis prohibit their followers from drinking. But it is strange they don't forbid from smoking. Basic feature of Sikhism is submission to the will of God through good deeds and no special postures, dresses and ceremonies. But our respected Radha Soamis suggest certain postures and samadhis and their Guruji wears white cloths. What is that?]

15.I had health problem and I had to cut my hair. -Jaspinder Singh B.Sc. -II Khalsa College- Amritsar

[Parts of our body are complimentary to each other. They are in perfect harmony. Skin is never allergic to its own hair. Some times people have nail disease. The hair glands can develop infections. Thus it is most likely that your problem is 'deep rooted'.]

16.You create some example and we will follow you. Sant Bhindranwale was a man and people flocked towards him. -Sukhdeep Singh B.P-II, GNDU Amritsar

[Why you expect that some one of your class should come and lead you. Is example of Sahibzada Fateh Singh not adequate.]

18.I want to look smart. You convince me that I will look better with hair and I do that. I haven't come across a single book preaching the tenets of the religion where as others are distributing free. Jatinderpal Singh BPT-II,GNDU Amritsar

[Arnold Toynbee the Nobel laureate scholar once wrote, 'The most handsome person of the world is a Sikh, the complete Sikh.' The same Toynbee when saw some clean-shaven Sikhs with the turban said, 'The ugliest person on the earth is a Sikh who has defied his face.'

There have been several surveys in the West where the girls said that they liked bearded men more. Unfortunately the mainstream media in India is out to finish Sikhism and thus the media gives a very ugly image of the Sikhs. Most jokes are being coined on Sikhs. You are right. We have learnt that that the Govt doesn't the SGPC to start their own channel.]

20. Sikhism is the best religion of the world. But Sardar turban dealer in Amritsar is cheating the Sikhs.-Deshpal Singh 12th DAV college Amritsar

[Would you give up food if your grocer is a cheat?]

21.What is special in Sikhism that is not there in other religion?-Roop Sidhu and Amanpreet Kaur B.Tech. GNDU Amritsar

[A religion that tells you to love all and to live a respectful and happy life without any worries, illusions, ceremonies and rituals.]Ð