I was standing at Jalandhar station when my attention was drawn towards a Sikh youth standing near me wearing a Black turban, sporting a long beard and wearing a kirpan (knife) over his shirt.
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After a while, one local train arrived, totally packed.
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The Sikh youth tried to board the train but failed to do so.
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Just then a voice was heard from the back of the coach 'Sardarji Baran Baj gaye' (Sir it's 12 o'clock!).
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The Sikh youth looked over at the speaker (who was a young person) and instead of showing any anger, smiled at him.
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The smile was so enigmatic that it seemed as if there was some hidden truth behind it. Not able to hide my curiosity, I walked towards him and asked why he smiled at the person who teased him. The Sikh youth replied, 'He was not teasing me but was asking for my Help'.
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I was surprised with these words and he told me that there was history behind those words. I was eager to know what he was talking about and the Sikh youth narrated the following :
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"During 17th Century, when Hindustan was ruled by Mughals, all the Hindu people were humiliated and were treated like animals. Mughals treated the Hindu women as their own property and were forcing all Hindus to accept Islam or face death.
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During this period our ninth Guru, Sri Guru Teg Bahadarji came forward, in response to a request of some Kashmiri Pandits to fight against these cruel activities. So our Guruji went to the Mughal emperor and told him that if he succeeded in converting him to Islam, he would ensure that all the Hindus would accept the same. But, if he failed, he should stop all these atrocities. The Mughal emperor happily agreed to that, but even after lots of torture to Guruji and his fellow members, he failed to convert him to Islam, and Guruji along with his other four fellows were tortured and sacrificed their lives in Chandni Chowk.
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Since the Mughals were unable to convert them to Islam, Guruji and his four companions were tortured to death. Thus our ninth Guruji sacrificed his life for the protection of the Hindu religion. In history, can you show me any instances of anybody laying down his life for the protection of another religion?
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This is the reason he is still remembered as "Hind Ki Chaddar", shield of India . The people for whose sake he had sacrificed his life, did not have the guts to come forward to lift his body, fearing that they too would also be assassinated. Seeing this incident our 10th Guruji, Sri Guru Gobind Singhji (Son of Guru Teg Bahadarji) founder of Khalsa (the Pure) made a resolution that he would convert his followers to such human beings who would not be able to hide themselves and could be easily identified.
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At the start, the Sikhs were very few in numbers as they were fighting against the Mughal emperors. At that time, Nadir Shah raided Delhi in the year 1739 and looted Hindustan and was carrying lot of Hindustan's treasures and nearly 2200 Hindu women along with him. The news spread like a fire and was heard by Sardar Jassa Singh who was the Commander of the Sikh army at that time. He decided to attack Nadir Shah's Kafila on the same midnight. He did so and rescued all the Hindu women and they were safely sent to their homes.
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It didn't happen only once, but thereafter whenever any Abdaalis or Iranis had attacked and looted Hindustan and were trying to carry the treasures and Hindu women along with them for selling them in Abdal markets, the Sikh army (although fewer in numbers) attacked them at midnight, 12 O'clock and rescued all the women.
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After that time when there was a need, people started to contact the Sikh army for their help and the Sikhs used to attack the raiders at Midnight, 12 O'clock.
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Nowadays, these "smart people" have spread these words that at 12 O'clock, the Sikhs go out of their senses.
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This historic fact was the reason which made me smile over that person, as little did he realize that he was asking for my help saying 'Sardarji Baran Baj Gaye' and it meant that his Mother, Sister, Wife or Daughter was in trouble!"
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Please do forward this mail to all ur friends so they can know about Sikh history.
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"Its easy to joke about a Sardar, but It's tough to be a Sardar"...
Received from C R Mohan Raj
Dear Veterans,
ReplyDeleteSuch jokes may offend the sentiments of Hindus of Punjab, Haryana & Kashmir, more than the Sikhs themselves. Kindly go through the historical facts, given in line below.
Guru Tegh Bahadur was a contemporary of Aurangazeb. He was able to gather many disciples & became powerful in Punjab region. At the same time, Hafiz Adam, a Muslim Fakir of Sufi order of Shaik Ahamed Sirhindi, was also gaining popularity in Punjab . The Royal News Writers of Aurangazeb’s Court sent complaints to the Emperor that two Fakirs, one Muslim & the other Hindu, were levying forcible exactions from the public.
According to the Sikh version, which is based on contemporary evidence, (including that of Guru Govind who was to become the Tenth Guru), that a group of Kashmiri Pandits approached Guru Tegh Bahadur to help them out of their predicament of Forcible Conversion to Islam by Aurangazeb. Tegh Bahadur, had advised them to inform the Mogul Officials that if the Guru accepted conversion they would follow suit. The Guru was summoned to Delhi & on his refusal to accept conversion to Islam, was beheaded.
Emperor Aurangazeb was not in Delhi at that time, though there is no doubt that it was his order which was implemented. Two of the guru’s followers were also executed along with him. At the time of execution, the Chief Kazi asked the Guru to perform some miracle, so that his life could be saved. Thereupon, the Guru wrote something on a piece of paper & tied it with a string round his neck. This, he said would prevent the executioner from cutting off his head. When the Guru’s head was severed, the piece of paper was opened. It read, ‘sis diya par sirr na diya’ meaning that “I gave my head but not my secret”.
Before his body could be quartered & exhibited to the public, it was stolen by one of his devotees, under the cover of darkness. The site of the execution, in Chandni Chowk, Delhi was marked by Sis Ganj Gurdwara. The site where the body was cremated was marked by Rikab Ganj, which is next door to Parliament House of today. But the head of the Guru was taken to Anandpur where it was cremated by his son Govind. The Gurudwara there is also called Sis Ganj.
Guru Govind wrote the following verse on the martyrdom of his father (abridged)
“To protect their right to wear their caste marks and thread,
He gave his head but never cried in pain,
He suffered martyrdom for the sake of his faith,
He lost his head but revealed not his secret”
Jai Hind,
Veteran Raman
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteLet us not make mountain out of a mole hill. You seem to be very good at it.
Let me make it clear.
There was no repeat no, malicious intent what so ever in forwarding a post like that. Nor do I see any joke in that. It was not written by me. Not one word. It was a forward and in any forward I do, needless to say, opinions are not mine. One of the advantages of Internet is, we keep receving forwards and we keep sending forwards, - passing time.
I repeat it again. I have no malicious intent on any religion whatsoever. Got it? Is that sufficient?
I am surprised that such an innocuous forward is being used to flaunt individuals' bias by verbose fulminations and imputations of uncalled for motives and unnecessary inferences projected mischievously in para 1.
Once I say that there was no malicious intent in that forward, and it is just a forward, the matter may please be treated as closed and not blown up wasting everyones' time.
I see no need for people using my innocent posting as an excuse to show off their presumed in depth religious knowledge with a big scholarly and authentic looking irrelevant treatise on the subject as if he was waiting for just such an opportunity to show off [ With copy to IESM Governing body. I wonder why, if not for show off?] .
I am sufficiently impressed by the erudite rejoinder. I am sure others also will be. The purpose is served!
Now can we please close the topic and move on.
Please spare the patience of others by not replying to this.
Thanks and Regards
Mohan Raj
Dear Veterans,
ReplyDeleteI got the following inputs from a very senior retired IAS officer who has done extensive studies on Sikh history.Thought of sharing it with you all.
"I have been reading Sikh history for my essays on "Sikh Philately", as you know. Apart from this, I have been a student of Dr. Hari Ram Gupta, who has written 5-6 monumental History Of The Sikh series and thrown light on the dark periods of Sikh History. No where have I read or even heard of this interpretation of 12 o'clock. it is false and being put into history to perpetuate a joke into historical fact. Do please enlighten me of any historian who supports this story. Are there some modern historians whose interpretation is brighter than the history of the period? Even McLeod, a known mis-interpreter has not mentioned this, he would have written a thesis, (as he has written on so many thesis accepted abroad) had he known of such a story.
regards.
Air Cmde Raghubir Singh(Retd)
Sardarjis and their sacrifice
ReplyDeleteDear Mohan Raj Sir,
1. Please stop this written debate. You have got what you wanted to achieve,by making fun of sardars and now you are still debating on it.
2. This reflects your mind set, why a joke should start with your own brothern Community name why not PAK, PATHANS, and if you still feel you are Mr right then why not Panditjee,Molvi,Baniyan,Jaini and others.
3. High time to put an end and stop wasting our time with your silly logics and showing your anti-Sardar feeling to the veterans. God bless those sardars who have served under your command,if you had an opportunity to command
Regards
Khera
Exservicemen Joint Action Front Sanjha Morcha
Respected Veteran,
ReplyDeleteJai Hind.
I salute Colonel A Sridharan; for, I have known him as a MAN of Action and one who tolerates no nonsense.
Now coming to the point of controversy about the story regarding the Sikhs, my take is as follows:
As a student of History, I have always believed that Sikhs are the Sword Arm of the Hindus. I for one have no doubts in my mind that, if not for the Sikhs & the Marattas, and their sacrifices in standing up for what is RIGHT and their resolute fight against oppression & tyranny by the Mughals, there would have been no Hindus left. The Hindus owe a debt of gratitude to the Sikhs & Marattas.
I have known Veteran Wg Cdr CR Mohan Raj for the past year & a half. He is senior to me by way of Commission & age and a gentleman to the core; and, I consider him my elder brother; and I hold him in high regards & respect.
I also have the privilege of knowing Veteran Col Charan Jit Singh Khera, a true KHALSA, rendering yeoman service to the Community of Veterans by maintaining SANJHA MORCHA, an extremely informative blog; and I consider it a privilege in calling him my younger brother.
Having known Veterans Wg Cdr CR Mohan Raj and Col Charan Jit Singh Khera, both, men of un-impeachable integrity, men of Honour and Gentlemen to the Core; the controversy is more on account of slight lack of understanding, differing perceptions and communication gap; and, I assure one & all that there is no malice or ill will in either of them. I consider them both, as GEMS. And hence, it is best to put an end to the controversy; which at best can be termed as 'a storm in a tea cup'.
Regards,
Col Rajan
Bangalore,
9449043770
Sir,
ReplyDeleteLets not circulate such jokes on community / Religion based, its too childish.Its a witty way of cracking a joke on the martial KAUM.
Thanks
Khera