A function was organised recently in Washington D.C. by the Sikh Council on Religion and Education to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak and to honour 50 prominent Sikhs in USA. Over a dozen members of the US Congress were present in the huge gathering, in which Sikhs were praised for enriching America and contributing to its progress.
I too am a great admirer of the Sikhs. Although only a small community of 1.72% of India’s population of 1.35 billion people, Sikhs have made an outstanding contribution to our nation in business, agriculture, armed forces, academia, law, Urdu and Punjabi poetry, music, etc.
I have not found the spirit of service in any community in the world equal to that of the Sikhs, and that is because of the teaching of ‘seva’ (service to mankind) of the great founder of the Sikh religion, Guru Nanak. Although a tiny community, yet whenever and wherever there is a calamity, Sikh youth are often the first to appear on the spot to help the victims, like good Samaritans, without asking for anything in return. For instance, in the floods in Bihar a few months back (in which much of Patna had become a lake), Sikh youth could be seen on the internet helping the victims.
The video of Gagandeep Singh, the police sub inspector, who saved a Muslim youth from being lynched for having an affair with a Hindu girl in Uttarakhand, by shielding him and taking the blows directed at the Muslim youth on his own body, had gone viral. Many more such instances can be given.
The word ‘ Sikh’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘shishya’ which means disciple. Sikhs claim to be disciples of Guru Nanak, and I have often said that if India is to prosper all Indians must become disciples of the Sikhs, i.e. Sikhs of the Sikhs. In other words, all Indians must develop the spirit of service.
However, having offered my praise, I must also levy my criticism of the Sikhs. Sikhism arose as a revolt against the inhuman caste system. Guru Nanak preached equality of all humans. But do the Sikhs of today practice this teaching? No, they do not.
The truth is that Sikhs practice the caste system, and Jat Sikhs, who comprise of over 50% of all Sikhs, and are relatively prosperous farmers and businessmen, look down upon dalit ( mazhabi ) Sikhs, who are about 30-35% of all Sikhs, regarding them as inferior. It is dangerous for a dalit Sikh youth to have an affair with a Jat Sikh girl, as that is inviting ‘honour killing’.
In the Indian army even today there is a Sikh Regiment comprising of Jat Sikh soldiers, and a Sikh Light Infantry comprising of dalit ( mazhabi ) Sikh soldiers, obviously because if they were kept together there would be frequent brawls and fights. Is this not directly against the teaching of Guru Nanak ?
At a function a few months back in a gurdwara in Milpitas in the Bay Area of California in which I addressed a large gathering of Sikhs, I said “ You are fake Sikhs, since you practice the caste system and look down on dalit Sikhs. I am a real Sikh, though I shave my face and do not wear a turban, since I regard all humans as equals. So I am a real disciple of Guru Nanak, which you are not “.
This statement stunned the Sikhs assembled there, many of whom protested against it, saying it was incorrect. But then a handful of young Sikhs rose up and said “ Justice Katju, we are ashamed to say so, but what you said is true."
I also said in the function in Milpitas “You Sikhs foolishly demand Khalistan as an independent state, though it is not feasible or viable, and can never be conceded by the Indian government. I instead want the whole of India to become a Khalistan, in the sense that all Indians must become disciples of the Sikhs and learn the spirit of service and sacrifice from them “