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Columnists
Of Super-Heroes & Mutants
by T. SHER SINGH
Be forewarned, lest you be corrupted by all that follows hereinafter:
This is a tale of super-heroes. A la Superman and Superwoman. Batman and Robin. Spiderman and Mighty Mouse. And my personal favourite: Speedy Gonzales!
And of mutants, the kind that populate the very same comic-book pages, Saturday morning TV screens, and many of the current blockbuster hits.
Here's the story.
The Spinning Wheel Film Festival - a celebration of films by, about or for Sikhs - was founded in Toronto, Canada in 2003 to cater to the many, growing and urgent needs of a global community.
I helped start the Festival, now a spreading world-wide movement, with the help and indefatigable backing of a dear friend, Dr. Birinder Singh Ahluwalia - a medical doctor, entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Toronto.
But, those who know me well will confirm that all the shortcomings of the project are mine and mine alone. Hence, the following mea culpa.
The idea was to, inter alia, use the film media to engage
a) our young and interest them in things Sikh, and
b) the general populace in each of our respective homelands in the diaspora and draw them into a better awareness about things Sikh.
To achieve this, we have strayed away from the traditional telling of "Who is a Sikh?", "What is a Gurdwara?", "The Role of the Guru in Sikhism", and the like.
We have approached our task from a PR model: we tackle Sikhi tangentially, through all the different aspects of daily life: the arts, culture, music, dance, sports, humour, education, careers, the challenges of age, women's issues, societal concerns, business and economy ... and, of course, religion and politics.
We've been very successful, even though it is I who says so with unabashed immodesty.
Thousands already flock to Spinning Wheel festivals across this continent.
We are now in our seventh year.
Festivals have been repeatedly held, many on a regular, annual basis, in Toronto, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. New chapters have also tried their hand in New York, San Francisco and Miami. Once even in Calgary, Alberta.
Further new chapters are cooking in London (England), Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Serious head-scratching is also afoot in Punjab and other parts of India, Australia and elsewhere.
And imitations and divergences have already started to surface, showing that many outside our immediate circles also like the idea. New York is off on its own frolic, as of this year. An online short-film festival offshoot has already experienced success. Folks in Amritsar are actively talking about a novel idea: a Sikh Film Festival. And so on ...
The formula we have implemented seems to be working. Not only are tens of thousands enjoying the films ... we've shown almost a couple of hundred hitherto unseen and unheard of films to date ... but new filmmakers are coming out of the woodwork and bringing their latest creations to each new event.
And, most importantly, each festival is being planned and implemented by bands of young volunteers, many of whom have already gone on, we're pleased to note, to leadership roles in their respective communities.
Egotistical though we are and tending to hog the credit, the real accolades should go to these young men and women who have become the backbone of the Spinning Wheel movement.
It is with this fact in mind that we design our materials ... so that they are attractive and exciting and alluring and inspiring to our young.
I confess: we do not put too much energy in preaching to the converted and the die-hards. Why? Because, firstly, they do not need us, and secondly, we feel that it is time to move on from their age-old methods and try something new.
This is exactly what we have done during the last six years, and it is exactly what we did in the most recent gala and festival in Toronto this past October.
While designing this year's materials, we chose to combine two themes which seem to invigorate our young today: comic-book superheroes and science fiction.
We put the task before Bicky Singh's team of artists based in Chandigarh, asking them to produce a Super Hero Sardar family in cartoon form, by combining elements of Superman et al. and the Star Wars iconography.
It produced exciting results, though in early draft form.
The skirts were too short. The hair of the SuperSardarni and the young girl did not look unshorn. The beard of the SuperSardar looked inappropriately trimmed. And surely, Sikh Superheroes couldn't possibly be minus their kirpans, could they?
Changes were made.
And more ... surely, the young ones were too young to be given kirpans. So, they were removed. The females still seemed to have retained the physical characteristics of the original comic book heroes ... to put it bluntly, they were overly well-endowed.
Further changes were made.
Bicky Singh liked it. Dr. Ahluwalia liked it. I gave it my final go-ahead.
The image seemed to excite everyone. The young on our volunteer team simply loved it and couldn't unglue their eyes from the huge posters we had created.
We showed it to a few septuagenarians ... and each loved it, commenting that it was exactly what our young needed to see: that is, how to live like full-fledged Sikhs in an alien society.
It became the central theme for our materials ... our website, posters, tickets, invitations, sponsorship packages, advertisements, banners ... everything.
Accolades poured in from every direction.
Our Los Angeles chapter loved it all and wanted assurances that they could borrow our banners for their event a month later!
All went well for the month or more that these materials circulated.
The image in question is reproduced hereinabove ... Exhibit A.
Then, less than two weeks before the festival, an e-mail was received, baldly stating that the images contravened the norms of Sikhi and demanding that we remove them "IMMEDIATELY".
It was from an individual, with no information about him. No organization, no phone number, no address, no location. The e-mail address had no tell-tale info as to who he was or what authority he wielded.
We asked for chapter or verse from the Rehat Maryada, to check if indeed we had done some wrong. We were told they had none, but they still felt that we needed to give in to their demands summarily.
When we refused, a petition was started by the fellow. A handful signed it. We received a few threatening calls. "We will protest!" we were warned.
The e-mails, each with exactly the same wording and with some sinister undertones, were sent to all involved at the Festival.
We knew then, based on past experience - some with these very people - that we were dealing with a talibanic mentality.
Here are the exact objections that slowly trickled in, changing focus from day to day:
1 The Sardar's beard should not be "tied", but should be "flowing".
2 Neither he nor the Sardarni should be allowed to wear the kirpan.
3 How come the kirpan doesn't have a "gatra"?
4 It is wrong to wear a kirpan on a belt.
5 The kirpan should be replaced with another kind of weapon.
6 The Sardarni's and the young girl's head should be covered.
7 Their hair shouldn't be "flying".
8 The girl's hair should be in a "joora".
9 She should be wearing a "chunni".
10 Each of the four should be wearing a pinecone- or beehive-shaped dastaar, in the style of the Nihangs.
11 The women should not have their ears pierced or be wearing jewelry.
12 The women's legs should not be showing.
13 The four should be wearing "Punjabi" clothes only. That is, salwar, kameez, pyjama, kurta, jutti, etc.
14 They are wearing "kachera" over their pants ... it should be inside.
15 It is not a "kachera" ... why does it look like underwear?
16 These "superheroes" look like villains.
17 How dare we create new superheroes?
18 Our superheroes can only be the Gurus.
19 How can they save the world while having "their hair uncovered"?
20 These images incite "immorality".
And so on and so forth.
Then ... and then, the authors of the petition redesigned the poster for us, had it sent to us, and demanded that their revised image be used to replace our own one.
It is reproduced on this page and marked as Exhibit B.
We were warned: if we refused, they promised that: 1) they would boycott the festival; 2) they would ensure that others do not attend; 3) they would march outside the theatre in the thousands to protest; 4) they would alert the media.
On the night before the Gala ... scheduled to be held in the heart of Toronto's fashionable district ... we received a final threatening e-mail: "You will definitely see us in bloom tomorrow night!"
At this point, it is important that you need to know how depraved I am ... frankly, honestly, I find all ... yes, ALL ... of their objections sickening.
This is not what Sikhi is about.
They are, of course, free to think and believe whatever they want, but to impose their bizarre and convoluted talibanic distortions on the rest of the Sikh population ... 99% of it, I might add ... is simply unacceptable.
It is just not Sikhi. And I simply cannot let this go by without raising my voice against it. There is something gone terribly wrong and this cancer can simply not be allowed to spread through the Sikh body politic.
Let me show you two more exhibits.
Exhibit C depicts the images used recently to greet young children at a so-called "Sikh Youth Camp".
It may be acceptable to some fringe groups, and that is fine with me. But these images of Nihangs has little to do with proper, mainstream Sikhi as taught by the Gurus.
All I can say is that no wonder my daughter, when a child and when sent to such a camp and confronted by such mutants, announced "Never again, Dad, please!" to any further attempts at sending her to any camp!
If we want to drive our children away from us and from Sikhi ... and we're doing such a wonderful job so far, believe me ... let's stick to these outdated, talibanic eighteenth-century caricatures of our real heroes.
But, if we want to do something good for our children, let me show you a sample - marked Exhibit D - of what will work.
Imagine what our children would feel if they were greeted by this image when they arrive at a Sikh camp!
I may be wrong, and the mutants may be right ... but thank you for at least giving me the proverbial ear. That's all I need to do ... to voice my concern.
And, ah yes, one more thing: no one turned up to protest on Gala Night. Or at any other time.
Pity.
Because, we had tea and biscuits ready for them. It was a cold night, after all.
November 19, 2008
Conversation about this article
1: Manjit Kaur (North Potomac, Maryland, U.S.A.), November 19, 2008, 9:02 PM.
Way to go, T. Sher Singh. I can't believe that a piece of creative art was received with such disrespect by a few in the community. It definitely goes to show that such segments do need art and culture awareness. Maybe they will now log on often onto sikhchic.com and learn something chic about their culture and have an open mind for their future generations. Makes one wonder how they may be raising their own. I can't wait to read other comments and see a healthy debate develop over this issue. By the way, what was the response to the poster at the Spinning Wheel in California?
2: Parm Singh Chahal (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), November 20, 2008, 12:24 AM.
I love the SWFF picture ... my four-year-old loves the picture; my nine-year-old nephew also loves the picture. We cannot wait until a cartoon is made, not about just Sikhi but about the said SuperHero family that happens to be Sikh!
3: P. Singh (Vancouver, Canada), November 20, 2008, 3:45 AM.
While I have no real issue with the vast majority of what you have written, one of your comments is worth further consideration. In reference to Exhibit C, you state: "But these images of Nihangs have little to do with proper, mainstream Sikhi as taught by the Gurus." Why not? Are those individuals wearing nihang-style banaa not Sikhs? Are those who choose to wear this particular banaa as their preferred clothing, somehow "talibanic", or acting improperly? (Keep in mind, many that wear this type of clothing do not have any affiliation with nihang jathas). While my own mode of dress is probably closer to Exhibit D, I do not find anything offensive, negative, or in contrast to "Sikhi as taught by the Gurus" depicted in Exhibit C. If Exhibit C is somehow counter to mainstream Sikhi as taught by the Gurus, or if there is something else inherently offensive about it, please clarify. [Editor: True, there is nothing wrong with someone choosing to parade around town in the twentyfirst century, costumed in eighteenth century garb. And there would be nothing wrong, say, if he or she also chooses to ride around in downtown Manhattan on a horse, with a spear and a bow-and-arrow slung across the shoulder, either. But for the person to then claim piety for being so dressed, and then to start harassing others on the strength of that misplaced piety, that's another thing ... and not acceptable behaviour!]
4: Jasbir Singh Khurana (Philadelphia, U.S.A.), November 20, 2008, 5:47 AM.
We must look at the problems concerning the next generation of Sikhs - not only in India but throughout the diaspora. The image of Sikhs projected must be in conformity with the basic tenets of the faith and not as desired by the old 'diehards'. Sikhs in the 21st century must not be seen as aggressive militants, which they are not, but as the 'do-gooders' they are mandated to be. I think The Spinning Wheel Film Festival is doing some excellent work. Keep it up. I would like to get involved in your activities to the extent that I can manage.
5: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), November 20, 2008, 10:03 AM.
Where I find Exhibit A cool and appealing, I find Exhibit B equally awesome. Sikhi is inclusive; since when did it become this or that? It is okay to dress in a banaa for a gurdwara service and dress in modern day clothing where appropriate. Just as one can't be comfortable wearing office clothes and shoes to hiking or horseback riding. There is a time and place for everything. For tradition and for style. For history and for art ... For freedom of religion and freedom from religion.
6: Dr. Birinder Singh Ahluwalia (Toronto, Canada), November 20, 2008, 1:28 PM.
Great article, stating the facts. On a personal note: I too had received a letter signed by the managing entities of some local gurdwaras protesting the poster and stating that the Gurus are our superheroes and we don't need any others to be depicted as such. I chastised these misguided individuals because our Gurus represent divinity and should not be labelled as superheroes or compared to comic-book characters, ever. For the most part, those who protested from amongst the gurdwara crowd were civil during their discussions. And, believe me, I enjoyed the exchanges immensely. It was quite an experience.
7: Jagdish Singh (Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.), November 20, 2008, 1:44 PM.
Sikhs trying to prevent others from wearing a kirpan? That's a first! Never thought I'd live to see the day ...
8: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), November 20, 2008, 5:03 PM.
For those who boycotted the wonderful event, I have this to say to you. You do not help Sikhi by such acts. You hurt the cause and you hurt yourself. By missing out on the wonderful works by Sikh filmmakers from around the world, you missed an opportunity to learn, enjoy and appreciate. By deterring other people to participate, you hurt the cause of the filmmakers who pour in their sweat, money and tears into their work. The Spinning Wheel Film Festival serves as a very important launching platform for our emerging filmmakers. If they don't get encouragement and support from their own community, how will they ever take their work to the next level? Can't we as a community learn to present differences of opinion in a way without hurting the very cause that is so close to all of our hearts? I should add however that I was there, all the way from Atlanta, Georgia and, despite everything, the event was well attended and an unequivocal success!
9: P. Singh (Vancouver, Canada), November 20, 2008, 11:05 PM.
Neither I nor the author referenced piety or harassment when discussing Exhibit C. My question quite clearly pertained to the author's comments wherein he indicates the clothing worn in Exhibit C is counter to mainstream Sikhi as taught by the Gurus. I do not see how this is the case and asked for clarification. If the individuals harassing the film festival organizers were doing so on the strength of their own traditional clothing, then that is deplorable and very un-Sikh-like behavior. However, I found your comments disparaging to those who choose to wear such traditional clothing and equally deplorable. There are many Sikhs who choose to wear such clothing for any number of personal reasons. Some, I'm sure, wear it because it helps to further accentuate their Khalsa uniform (5 K's, turban). Others may wear it because it helps them focus on the Sikh path, a further external aid of sorts. There are probably many and varied reasons, and unlikely they are all shared by all who choose to wear such clothing. Given the context of the article, I will assume your comments are colored more by recent, unpleasant correspondence with individuals who were wearing or championing the clothing in question, than any general stereotype you may hold. At least I hope you do not see all Sikhs wearing this type of clothing, with such negativity and condescension - that too would be quite un-Sikh-like. [Author: my comments were directed against the shenanigans of those who think they own Sikhi and would demand that others comform to their distortions. I meant no more, no less.]
10: Arvinder Singh Kang (University of Mississippi, MS, U.S.A.), November 21, 2008, 1:57 AM.
Hmmm-mm. Although I think all the images are inclusive of Sikhism, but the modification of the original poster did crack me up. :) It is an issue I find myself divided on. On one hand, many of us have fear of loosing the image, of identity being dissolved into the crowd of a multi-cultural world; on the other hand, is the reality of changes happening in a timely fashion. How do we keep in pace with the times, yet remain attached to our legacy. Being recognized by the looks of belonging to a particular faith, puts pressure on ous to stand up to our ideals and be truthful. Guru Nanak's bani, on the very first page of Guru Granth Sahib, raises the same question: "So how can you become truthful? And how can the veil of illusion be torn away?" And the Guru gives the answer in the following line: "O Nanak, it is written that you shall obey the Hukam of His Command, and walk in the Way of His Will. ||1||" Change in time is happening by His Will; ideologing the past and opposing the present is plain stupidity. What should be the perfect look of a Sikh? Again, refer to Guru, p50:"Meeting with the Guru, be a sincere student of proper conduct, and suffering shall never touch you. ||3||" Thats all. Conduct, not dress is how my Guru, my teacher defines my path. That said, there'll always be differences of opinion. Especially now that Sikhism is widespread, out of Punjab to lands far and beyond. Two Sikhs now might have nothing in common (culture, looks, race, language) except just the faith in the principles. Defining one as right and other wrong, in my opinion is simplemindedness. It is irrelevant for the so called hard-cores to define the image of the rest, and vice versa. Sher, what you are doing is invaluable to the community, and same is the effort of the "hard-core" jathas. Both of you represent totally different thought-streams of Sikhism, yet both with very noble causes. I actually love the fact that some of them choose to bring the issue to you, rather than ignoring it completely. And after meeting you in person, I know you will always be ready to listen to their part. It is a modern form of "Khund-Charcha?(village talk)! If someone thinks it should conclude without conflict, you have never lived in a pind (village).
11: Harjinder Singh (U.K.), November 21, 2008, 5:43 AM.
I would just like to clarify something about Exhibit C. The comment made by the author of the above piece, 'All I can say is that no wonder my daughter, when a child and when sent to such a camp and confronted by such mutants, announced "Never again, Dad, please!" to any further attempts at sending her to any camp!' Questions to the author - Are you based in Coventry, U.K.? Did your child go to this particular camp? If so, why did you not make any representations to the camp organizers regarding the cutouts at the door? Just for your information, the Sikhs who drew and produced the cutouts are just simple gursikhs who spent a large amount of time in a few weeks to make something special for the camp! They are what we would call monai Sikhs but have that much pyaar for the roop of the Khalsa that they made the cutouts according to what they thought gursikhs should look like! If you think, in your pompous attitude, that they re 'mutants', then so be it! The sangat that attended that camp was 100% positive with the Khalsa family characters and they have been used in other camps all over the U.K. [Author: My comments re "mutants" were directed against the mutation of the comic-book type charcaters by certain do-gooders who feel they can rail-road the community into conforming to their distorted view of the world. I'm sure the good souls at the Coventry camp do not fall into that category and are certainly not the subject of my piece. A suggestion, though: it may be time for our camp organizers - no one specific, but all - to seek help from professional educators and children's specialists in designing the materials and course plans for our camps. We've relied too long on just "pyaar" - which is integral, but simply not enough by itself - and never thought out the implications of what we say, what we project, what we teach, what we show to our impressionable children. But this is a subject for another day ... In the meantime, you've managed to hit the nail on the head: I apologize for my pomposity, and promise to get working on it right away.]
12: Suzy Kaur (Oxford, England), November 21, 2008, 9:27 AM.
T. Sher Singh ji: I offer you and your colleagues my congratulations for the success of the Spinning Wheel Film Fstival, and I offer you my deepest support for your endeavours in the face of the intolerant, threatening, talibanic campaign initiated by certain individuals. I believe that if we Sikhs stand together whenever these kinds of mob-rule protests arise, with their underlying threats and irrational intolerance, I believe we can defeat them and leave the public space of the Sikh imagination and culture free of bullies. Because, at the end of the day, they ARE bullies. It is a very important issue, and once again, we need to stand firm against this kind of mentality. You have my support and, I believe, the support of the majority of the Sikh community in the diaspora who are tired and fed up with the bully-boy mentality and actions the taliban-copying Sikh individuals who do this. God bless you!
13: Rajneet Singh (New Jersey, U.S.A.), November 21, 2008, 11:37 AM.
I hereby decree that no baana is complete without the Sikh sporting a baaz - falcon - on the shoulder, while himself riding a horse. And yes, the horse should be blue! Let's go all the way, fellas. Bows and arrows, swords and bairaagins. Let's not stop at the Five Articles of Faith and the turban ... or what the Rehat Maryada says. We know more than the Guru. And certainly more than the learned and inspired Elders who distilled the Maryada from the baani, hukamnaamas, and the like. Let's us all get really goofy ... and then, let's all look behind us to see if our children are anywhere in sight. Who am I to decree? Well, everyone else seems to have got into the act. I might as well too!
14: Ishmeet Kaur (Singapore), November 21, 2008, 11:43 AM.
I suggest we all take a break from the gatka tournaments, and all rent a film called "Life of Brian", and enjoy ourselves this weekend. There's a lot to be learned from it. (But remember, it's a comedy and a satire ... which means, people, it is not to be taken SERIOUSLY. Okay?) I think it's the best thing on religion I've come across. Please view it, and then stand before a mirror on Monday morning and check if you're still holding up a sandal on a stick!
15: I.J. Singh (New York, U.S.A.), November 21, 2008, 6:58 PM.
This is an important topic - defining the place where tradition and modernity intersect. But the tenor of the debate seems to have been reduced to verbal fisticuffs and thunderbolts hurled to destroy the other, rather than to enlighten. The best that I can do is to capture it in the metaphor of two men - brothers yet - inside a telephone booth, fighting each other, each armed with a sharp knife. The results: predictable and inevitable, with no winners.
16: Suzy Kaur (Oxford, England), November 21, 2008, 8:57 PM.
But I.J. Singh ji, only one side initiated the 'debate' with threats and ultimatums and bully-boy tactics. This response is entirely rational and respectful and measured.
17: Bhagat Singh (Brampton, Canada), November 23, 2008, 12:00 AM.
I think a lot of the above comments were really unnecessary. I felt the people making the comments were brainwashed. I was totally shocked to see such a reaction from Sikhs. Come on, people, our Gurus have taught us logical thinking over blind faith! Remember when Guru Nanak goes to Hardwar? Or when he rejects the janiew? Or when he cooks meat during the "unlucky" solar eclipse in Kurukshetra? Or when Guru Gobind Singh throws his karrey in the river? Or when he opens his hair to become the pir after Machhiwara? If Guru Granth Sahib is proving difficult to fathom, then let the Sakhis teach you.
18: R. Sandhu (Brampton, Canada), November 29, 2008, 10:57 AM.
It is time we started taking direction form The Guru Granth, which may be the only unfiying force in an increasingly individualistic and ever-widening sphere of the Sikh diaspora. The urge to control via strictures and fanciful edicts is not going to work for too long. The horizontal divide amongst the lacklusture leaders of the community and the actual adherents is becoming more acute as we hurtle forward in this new millenium. Thanks, T. Sher Singh, for registering your concerns; it is a breath of fresh air!