OPINION
Fundamentalism, its different facets
J.Shriyan
Some moths ago there was this news item in the print media “Sikh called ‘Osama’ and attacked in U.S”. This was the story of one Jiwan Singh, a 59 year old employee of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), who was attacked in a moving train, travelling from Richmond Hill to work in Brooklyn, on 30th May, the U.S. Memorial Day. He has been working in the U.S. for over 30 years and fathered some 5 children, all living in the U.S. But despite living in the U.S. for over 3 decades he did not compromise his practices of Sikh code of physical attributes, like turban, flowing beard etc. We have always blamed Muslims for burqua or veil. Of course all face covering veil can be a security risk. However there is a single bottom line that is identifiable by these attributes of religious diktats is the identity politics. Centuries ago when these religious beliefs started, the need for such marks of identification was felt for a particular purpose. Veil, apparently became a necessity to protect women folks from lecherous, barbaric men folks. But we are in 21st century, the world has undergone massive change. Men are better protector of women than women themselves, aberrations apart. So there is, truly speaking, no need for full face covering burquas. Besides even burquas these days are designer made and body hugging. Don’t they become tantalising?! Of course there is whole lot of Muslim women, who simply abhor the veil or burqua, but it is the miniscule minority who create unease in society.
Similarly the Sikh turban and beard or even kirpan. All of them are a relic of the past. There are any number of them who have given up these. You find turbanless, beardless and kirpanless sardars. Here again, it’s the minority who keeps uncut hair of the head, uncut long flowing beard and probably even kirpan. While they are all expected physical attributes as per the diktats, happily there is a great deal of tolerance among Sikhs towards those who do not practice them. However let us see the difficult side of these diktats. To maintain the uncut hair on the head and long flowing beard is a management nightmare, purely from the hygiene point and from the point of time consumption. A head with properly cut hair, like most men and a clean shaven face is certainly a logical option from any angle one sees. Again wearing turban and tying beard with designer finishes also is another part of the management problem. They are time consuming and certainly unhygienic if not properly washed everyday. Besides, the problem these practitioners of Sikh faith face all over the world, especially Europe and the U.S. If only this Jiwan Singh did not have his white long flowing beard, he would have saved his three teeth that he lost. Here it is very pertinent to recollect what happened to his eldest son, 25 year old Jasmir Singh. The son sardar was targeted post WTC attack in 2009 and knifed, because of his traditional turban and beard. Of course, the police will attend to the law and order issue and probably succeed in booking these attackers, but the issue remains. So how does the affected community takes upon itself, at self help, to improve law and order, especially when we are in an alien land? So isn’t there lesson, within the acceptable limits of decency and good look, for the good of all.
J.Shriyan
Some moths ago there was this news item in the print media “Sikh called ‘Osama’ and attacked in U.S”. This was the story of one Jiwan Singh, a 59 year old employee of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), who was attacked in a moving train, travelling from Richmond Hill to work in Brooklyn, on 30th May, the U.S. Memorial Day. He has been working in the U.S. for over 30 years and fathered some 5 children, all living in the U.S. But despite living in the U.S. for over 3 decades he did not compromise his practices of Sikh code of physical attributes, like turban, flowing beard etc. We have always blamed Muslims for burqua or veil. Of course all face covering veil can be a security risk. However there is a single bottom line that is identifiable by these attributes of religious diktats is the identity politics. Centuries ago when these religious beliefs started, the need for such marks of identification was felt for a particular purpose. Veil, apparently became a necessity to protect women folks from lecherous, barbaric men folks. But we are in 21st century, the world has undergone massive change. Men are better protector of women than women themselves, aberrations apart. So there is, truly speaking, no need for full face covering burquas. Besides even burquas these days are designer made and body hugging. Don’t they become tantalising?! Of course there is whole lot of Muslim women, who simply abhor the veil or burqua, but it is the miniscule minority who create unease in society.
Similarly the Sikh turban and beard or even kirpan. All of them are a relic of the past. There are any number of them who have given up these. You find turbanless, beardless and kirpanless sardars. Here again, it’s the minority who keeps uncut hair of the head, uncut long flowing beard and probably even kirpan. While they are all expected physical attributes as per the diktats, happily there is a great deal of tolerance among Sikhs towards those who do not practice them. However let us see the difficult side of these diktats. To maintain the uncut hair on the head and long flowing beard is a management nightmare, purely from the hygiene point and from the point of time consumption. A head with properly cut hair, like most men and a clean shaven face is certainly a logical option from any angle one sees. Again wearing turban and tying beard with designer finishes also is another part of the management problem. They are time consuming and certainly unhygienic if not properly washed everyday. Besides, the problem these practitioners of Sikh faith face all over the world, especially Europe and the U.S. If only this Jiwan Singh did not have his white long flowing beard, he would have saved his three teeth that he lost. Here it is very pertinent to recollect what happened to his eldest son, 25 year old Jasmir Singh. The son sardar was targeted post WTC attack in 2009 and knifed, because of his traditional turban and beard. Of course, the police will attend to the law and order issue and probably succeed in booking these attackers, but the issue remains. So how does the affected community takes upon itself, at self help, to improve law and order, especially when we are in an alien land? So isn’t there lesson, within the acceptable limits of decency and good look, for the good of all.
Comments