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Conversation about this article
1: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), October 07, 2010, 12:48 PM.
This has left me speechless. All I could think presently was why you were named Sher Singh. A cub of Sher has to be Sher Singh. I shall return with a matching story but presently I am tongue-tied, and when that happens, I am usually speechless. However,to show signs of recovery, let me share the well known exchange of remarks, endorsed by Fakir Azizuddin Sahib between Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Akali Phoola Singh, the fearless one, when the Maharaja was passing under Phoola Singh's balcony, and shouted down at him. "Oye kaaneya - (one-eyed one) - who gave you that he-buffalo to ride on?". Ranjit Singh looked up smilingly and with mock humility: "Your Honour, it is a gift from you!" [The Akalis did not recognize the suzerainity of the Maharaja. Even though they served in his army, they emphasized their independence by holding him in contempt, particularly in public. Ranjit Singh had lost an eye to small-pox in child-hood and did not have a handsome face. A true 'man of the people', he chose to humour their idiosyncracies.]
2: D.J. Singh (U.S.A.), October 07, 2010, 5:32 PM.
Guru Tegh Bahadar taught us, "Fear no man, nor make one afraid." Your lesson is valuable too! "You should never let the other person know you're afraid. Because if you do, then they'll walk all over you."
3: Baljit Singh Pelia (Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.), October 08, 2010, 1:57 AM.
T. Sher Singh ji: Your father was a true hero in that he truly practiced his faith by keeping his arms (Tegh) and was able to protect the Degh. However the crooked politicians figured a way to disarm the Sikhs by having them register their weapons and later confiscating them to render them defenseless in 1984. There is a big lesson to be learned from your experience: Never give up your right to defend what is rightfully yours. One solid reason for the U.S.A. being what it is today is the right to bear arms. I see a lot of amritdhari Khalsas with a small knife as a symbol. "Degh Tegh Fateh!" Right to prosperity, Right to defend, these rights shall prevail. May we all start practicing our faith religiously like your father.
4: Taran (London, United Kingdom), October 08, 2010, 4:31 AM.
Your Dad was a real SARDAR. This is how the Sikhs were known to the world and India - fearless and always standing up for what is right. It has always been a tradition for Sikhs to keep weapons for these kind of causes.
5: Dolly (New Delhi, India), October 08, 2010, 8:24 AM.
Guru Gobind Singh ji wrote in Persian: "Chu kar az hamah heeltey dar guzasht/ halal ast burdan ba shamsheer dast"! - "When all other peaceful means have failed, it is then righteous to draw the sword." Your father lived up to this high ideal perfectly. If only we could all live by this principle!
6: Zoravar Singh (New Jersey, U.S.A.), October 08, 2010, 8:28 AM.
I wish there was some way we could get all the Sikhs around the world to read this piece. It reminds us so beautifully what Sikhi is all about.
7: Nimrata Kaur (Birmingham, United Kingdom), October 08, 2010, 8:32 AM.
You have illustrated so succinctly that ours is not a religion that turns its other cheek to the tyrant. It is what sets us apart - and it is what we need to be if we are to successfully overcome all the challenges that come our way as a minority. Where are all those bahaadar Sikhs gone? It's time to stand up.
8: Guri Singh Dhanoa (Australia), October 09, 2010, 5:15 AM.
Just one line in honour of the true Sardar ji: "Jithe vi jaana punjabi, puri toor naal rahnde ne!". I think I'm following the same footsteps. Very interesting.
9: Tejinder Hansra (Sydney, Australia), June 17, 2012, 9:35 AM.
A great memory. I respect your father. Sikh or not a Sikh, Punjabi or not a Punjabi, anyone with his character, personality and past experience would have done the same. He had lost everything once, he could not lose it all again. Those words are inspiring to me as well - "But you should never let the other person know you're afraid. Because if you do, then they'll walk all over you."
10: Jaswinder (Brier, WA, U.S.A.), June 17, 2012, 12:15 PM.
"shastaran ke adheen hai raj!"
11: Nav Kaur (Australia), June 17, 2012, 10:32 PM.
A hero indeed! To me this is a story about standing up for your rights, fighting for justice in a fearless manner, as exemplified by our Gurus with all their sacrifices. However, I do not think this article is in any way suggesting that 'arms' are always necessary to fight for your rights!
12: Roopinder Singh Bains (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada), June 18, 2012, 1:15 AM.
Thank you for your article, T.Sher Singh. It is true that khadi was made famous by Mahatama Gandhi. The home spun movement, however, was started by Baba Ram Singh forty years before. The Congress party merely adopted his policy - as it later did the Non-violence Movement, which was also a Sikh concept being promoted by Baba Ram Singh.
13: Roopinder Singh Bains (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada), June 18, 2012, 3:30 PM.
Baba Ram Singh also asked his followers to use their own postal system rather than use the postal service of the Government.
14: Harinder Singh 1469 (New Delhi, India), June 18, 2012, 3:44 PM.
Amazing personality ... True spirit. No wonder you have so much in your jewel box. Please keep sharing.
15: Amarjeet Singh (Napier, New Zealand.), June 18, 2012, 10:59 PM.
Truly inspiring ... if only the Sikhs of today where like your father.
16: Jagdeep Singh (Chandigarh, Punjab), June 12, 2014, 5:48 AM.
Indeed, to guarantee peace, one should always be prepared for war. That is the Way of the Sikh, and what sets us apart from the desis who (over)populate this land. It is the path Guru Gobind Singh put us on.
17: Ajit Singh Batra (Pennsville, New Jersey, USA), June 12, 2014, 2:28 PM.
The basic rules of morality are truth and non-violence. If they are accepted with absolute rigidity, the world would never be safe from rascals. So, exceptions have to be made. Truly brave are those who fight for morality. In the case above, it was the bravery of Sher's father who did not let the principle of his business broken.
18: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), June 12, 2014, 6:15 PM.
For the son, father is a hero. For the daughter, he is the first love. "Baal kanyya kou baap piaraa / bhaa-ee kou at bhaa-ee" [GGS:596.20] - "The father is dear to his daughter and brother to his brother." Happy Father's Day.
19: Rup Singh (Canada), June 12, 2014, 9:17 PM.
Sher Singh ji: very inspirational. You must be very proud of your dad. If even only 50% of Sikhs are courageous and stand up for what is right when it matters, as your father did, and be ready to defend themselves, if it becomes necessary as a last resort -- a fundamental right every Sikh has from the Guru -- where would our nation be? Maybe better decisions would have been made during Partition, and perhaps so much loss of life and property been avoided. Would the invasion of the Darbar Sahib in 1984 and the government sponsored pogroms that followed, have happened? Would there be as many addicts, would our institutions be run properly? Would the enemy dare to interfere? Would we be in control of our destiny? @ 12 & 13: I would be interested to know more about Baba Ram Singh and his followers. Was he not a Sikh? His followers? Does that mean they don't believe in Guru Granth Sahib to be the one and only eternal Guru of the Sikhs? Don't mean to offend, just curious. Thanks. Happy Father's Day.
20: Manjeet Shergill (Singapore), June 13, 2014, 7:38 AM.
Happy Daddy's Day.
21: Gurman Singh Bal (San Ramon, California, USA), June 13, 2014, 7:34 PM.
Fantastic essay, Sher! The imagery is really compelling. The hardships your Dad overcame are inspiring. Keep up the excellent writing.
22: Gurinder Singh (Stockton, California, U.S.A.), June 17, 2014, 10:09 PM.
Your father was a true Khalsa who followed the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh ji. Guru Sahib writes in Dasam Granth: "Kharag hath jin taje / kharag dhara saho" (Those who slacken their hand on the hilt of the sword have to suffer the blade of the sword.)