How would Sikh women fair in a Khalsa Raj to a secular India?
As I read the news story below of discrimination against women in Punjab police, I start to think about the role of Khalsa women in a truly run Khalsa Rule! The key word here is truly run! and not a pseudo Khalsa Raj of Maharaja Ranjit Singh or a pseudo –democracy of India which is full of corruption, bias, casteism, chauvinism, and other problems that work against betterment and respect of women. Sometimes, I even wonder about the authority and role of women within the framework of SGPC and Akal Takhat. When I say true Khalsa rule, I mean, the one envisioned by our Tenth Master. Even though at times it seems like a very idealistic world and far removed from reality, but somehow my heart tells me that it very possible depending upon how much a person has belief in the daily Ardas and how close the person leading Sikhs and non-Sikhs would be to being a true Gursikh. And, that is the million dollar question? Is there such a thing called a perfect person or a true Gursikh? We all have some faults and impurities of some sort. A Gursikh (man or woman) would have to be truly pure and the definition of this purity would depends upon interpretation of Guru’s teaching. Sometimes I think Sikhs can even make democracies, autocracies, dictatorships and all other forms of other governments etc. work in their favor to make them into Khalsa rules wherever they live. This would mean the Khalsa men or women that lead and serve in their professions may it be as mayors, councilmembers, managers, coaches, teachers, senators, Memebrs of Parliament or congressmen and congresswomen or council members, sarpanchs, panchayat members, adminstrators, granthis, sevadars, Presidents, Prime-ministers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, farmers or whatever would have to really truly be of very high caliber and true model Gursikhs. In real world, that would mean i.e. honest, truthful, caring, loving, and brave, and virtually free from lust, anger, greed, worldly attachments, and false pride. It just all depends upon thinking and doing the right thing towards betterment and treatment of humanity, which in actuality is another name for Dharma and is part of what is enshrined in our Guru Granth Sahib's teaching. Look at it this way, what if you are given an opportunity to lead? How would you lead? Would you try to do the right thing, try to be a Gursikh (honest, humble, strong, righteous, caring, visionary etc.), follow Guru’s teaching, and treat everyone equal? If you will, then you in people’s eyes you will be a Gursikh and a true Khalsa and would be leading a Khalsa nation in a sense. If you fail to lead people the right way, it would be the failing of the Sikh values. This is what I wish to teach my children but at times it feels it is not working. If all Sikhs strive toward these qualities that Gurus have been trying to instill in us for 500 years, then we already are sort of living in a Khalsa rule and don’t need to keep fighting for some hypothetical Khalsa nation. I don’t remember the exact quote, but Abraham Lincoln even once said, it is not “Might is Right”, but it is the right that men do makes them might. That is also one of the things our Guru’s have been trying to teach us for all these centuries, but somehow we tend to forget or ignore in daily scheme of things. The thoughts of the post may seem farfetched to some, but I think it would be worth exploring given our belief in our Guru’s teachings and the ardas we do for a Khalsa rule which is free from tyranny, corruption, materialism, chauvinism, machoism, casteism, alcoholism, anger, hatred, fear, false prides and all those other illusions of maya that this World offers us everyday. Somehow, I truly believe that Sikhs are capable of leading the World towards righteousness, love, and compassion as they themselves are guided by Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060228/punjab1.htm#4
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060228/punjab1.htm#4
2 Comments:
These ideals are what I think about everyday and pray to God that I can manifest them in my life. I appreciate the post!
Thanks! I know what you mean about thinking Sikhi everyday and all the times!
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