To say that these last few days have simply been eventful would be an understatement, from enjoying the sights of Covent Gardens in London; to pumping iron in the Derby Sikh Gym to enjoying a cup of chaa, as a free man; a man on annual leave.
And the month that had bidded us adieu was one heck of a month! From forming new alliances and learning from one another. To sleeping somewhat longer than normal, or trying to, may I add, to just simply thinking of nothing, nothing at all, in an attempt to reach a matter less mind. But alas, times like these do not last forever; for the ability to have all of the listed above requires one to spend a good fortune of time in the workplace, as I have now found out so early on in my career.
But all is not gloom, nor has my spirit been eaten by exhaustion, my mind still weaves sentences; my brain keeps seeking answers to questions being formulated and my passions are still ignited: perhaps further by this discovery.
A quote from the novel titled, ‘The Portrait of a Lady’ written by the author, Henry James, a book I had read this time last year had brought itself to my attention, to the centre of the mind earlier today.
Though I rarely remember the plots of most fiction books I pick up, I’m not sure exactly on how I could remember a quotation, hence why I find this all most peculiar. Any-who, in this story, Isabel Archer, the main protagonist, a young lady, is asked on what she believes success to be and to which she replied and I quote…
‘It is to see some dream of ones youth come true.’
Dream - ‘a wish to have or be something, especially one that seems difficult to achieve.’ (Oxford)
Dreams, what a spectacle!
During the latter end of the month of December, during the early days of the month of Poh: I was able to spend a lengthy period of time listening to the Kirtan Smagams in memory of the young princes, the chaar sahibzaade, held at various Gurdwaras of historic importance near Sri FatehGarh Sahib, Panjab. These Smagams not only involved Kirtan but also some discussion/s led by the Head Granthi of which I really enjoyed and listened to attentively.
On one occasion, Head Granthi Jee was discussing upon how great both the Grandmother & Grandfather of the Khalsa Punth were, and that made me think of what ‘sikhiya’, or learning, have I taken from my 'worldly' grandparents. And it made me think of their legacy, and it made me think inwards and to question whether I too am following in the same path as the path they chose?
During my University Years I started to take an interest into the history of those who looked; talked and thought the way I thought and this led to a somewhat political intellectual awakening and organisation. And through the start of work relating to a political nature, I came to understand that my grandfather had towed a similar line and his stamp as General Secretary of a wing/faction of the Shiromani Akal Dal; the Shromani Akali Dal U.K is seen standing upon Turgenev's masterpiece "Fathers and Sons' as does my stamp during my tenure as president of the Aston SU affiliated Khalistan Society.
Though this written monologue has gone on far too long, another interesting thought/s navigating its way through my mind is the difference in the tone of how the langar hall felt at three different asthans, the Khalsa Jatha British Isles; to GAD Derby, to GNG Walsall. At GNG Walsall on New Year’s Day, the langar hall was full, yet silent as if 2021 was a person and we had all attended it’s Bhog, or final rites.
An interesting sight was seen that day nevertheless, with three young children of very white complexion seen eating guru ka hangar and this made me think and wonder of what strides the Sikh Punth U.K. Faction has made since the arrival of our forefathers in this ‘blessed land’, a centenary ago, a though that often leaves me quite saddened and diasspointed.
The ‘vibes’ at Derby Gurughar were slightly more eccentric whilst I marvelled at captions of portraits of the last batch of Shaheed Singhs, which made me think in the next hundred years, will a new row of portraits be hosted of more youthful faces like mine?
Or would the Khalsa Punth finally be free from the clutches of slavery and establish themselves once more as a formidable political entity and rise above in fighting to lay claim to domains of the world?
The feelings at the Central Gurdwara were different all together; as would be expected at a Naujawan Kirtan Darbar, and the meeting of old Sajjans (companions) and newly formed Sajjans is always a delight. I whole heatedly thank the President of the UEA Sikh Society, for the invitation to join them on the auspicious occasion of remembering the four young princes; I applaud the effort of all those involved in this initiative.
I find that my heart is carved into numerous pieces. These pieces are seemingly unequally sized; they are seasoned differently, but at the very core, they are equal and one of the same, sharing a common foundation… quite like paneer. Paneer is paneer, whether it be accompanied by saag or simply served on its own!
Pun aside, my heart yearns for one thing and one thing only. But to my disappointment, the mind can become easily distracted and forgetful though, this is a work in progress! I find slices of my heart being ceded to many different groups of individuals, to family, to companions, to work colleagues, to strangers who become my patients and to those with superb culinary skills!
I now live in a land where if I peek outside my bedroom window, all I see are fields and countryside, a spectacle worth seeing. And in return, the townsfolk are privileged to see the sight of a Sardar, and I envision, that I may be the only Singh in town, or rather at a 30mile radius!
I do not give this ‘fact’ much of a ponder at all, though no doubt, at times I do miss the blessed presence of Sangat. With the meeting of Sangat, I am always awestruck & I was discussing on what truly epitomises true sangat with a companion a few days back, which can perhaps be quite a rare find these days.
Sikh Imagery plastered on walls always brings me great delight and as they say, walls whisper but with photographs of Singhs of old, the walls roar and so, it was very delightful to be able to see some photographs of Nihang Singhs affixed to walls of the Panjabi Restaurant in Taunton alongside some fancy cushions!
It’s these little things in life, that always bring a smile to my face and it doesn’t take much for me to rejoice in laughter. As was hilarious, when the respected head chef upon entry had asked me why I hadn’t brought my wife along, knowing too well that I am still young!!
After most days after work, I return to my resting quarters, my flat, and listen attentively to the evening diwaan streamed live from the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Southall located some 100 or so miles away.
And Friday of the week that has now departed was of the exact same nature. Though on this occasion, I found myself multi tasking through conversation with a companion on WhatsApp. I had told this companion that though I had some things to attend to, I wished to hear to the end of the Kirtan Hazree.
To which she replied, perhaps; ‘watch it back later?’
My response was quite emotive and follows… I feel like I’m sitting in sangat along with all my brethren if I watch it live.’
The four walls of my flat will and can simply hear the praises of the Guru from the lips of the Kirtanee Jatha via the T.V. and from my own lips, but at the Gurus Court, hundreds of voices can and were heard in consonance - the beauty of Sangat.
But with Guru Sahib's blessings I was able to spend December 9th in their presence & the blessed Sadh Sangat's presence...
After a trip to the Victoria & Albert Museum, I boarded the 23 bus from the Royal Albert Hall to Paddington Station, the bus drove down Edgware Road whilst en-route to Westbourne Park, if I recall correctly. This was my second time aboard the red buses of London and though there was much traffic & delays, I simply poked my head right against the top deck window of the bus and marvelled at the sights of the city.
Edgware Road seemed to feature many different middle eastern owned businesses, from restaurants, convenience stores, money exchange sites and also an Internet cafe which was quite surprising! Whilst at the Gurdwara Sahib, I couldn’t help but take notice of the different Pagh styles that adorned the heads of the faithful. From Paghs denoting one’s geographical place of birth - Kenyan, Panjabi, U.K., Afghan to Paghs of certain Sikh thought Taksal, Nihang.
And this thought, brought me back to Edgware Road whereby, it was quite interesting to see how so many different business owned by men & women of different nations could be grouped onto one road. And I wonder if they exist in peace, harmony and unison. And if yes, is this something the Sikh Nation has achieved, and if no is the answer, how does the nation go about achieving this, I wonder?
Finally it was quite pleasant to hear some thoughts from Giani Harpal Singh Jee, Head Granthi at Sri Fatehgarh Sahib yesterday evening! Whilst on annual leave in the latter half of December, I was quite fortunate to be able to tune into the programmes marking the young princes martyrdom at & near Sri Fatehgarh Sahib where Giani Jee gave spoke very lovingly and with respect, and so it was very nice to see him in the flesh!
Thanks be to Guru Maharaj always!
Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Jee Maharaj
'With a view to removing this shameful cowardice from the minds of men, Guru Gobind Singh had given the gift of the sword to the Khalsa and made it a part of their religion. For the past so many centuries, our countrymen had felt terrified at the very glitter or the sound of the sword. It was regarded as a symbol of tyranny, and the weapon of the tyrants.
But Guru Gobind Singh transformed it into a weapon of courage and protection. He gave it's glitter and sound of a new colour and a new meaning. Now the glitter of the sword began to produce a divine glow on the face of the Khalsa. On seeing it, the feat of invaders began to disappear, and people began to take courage in the thought that as long as they carried this weapon, no foreign invader would fare commit and excesses on them.' - Dr Ganda Singh (Sardar Jassa Singh Alhuwalia)
This exquisite whisk holder, pictured, was one of the many objects at the museum that caught my eye. This artefact caught my eye for reasons beyond that it included gold, silver, white sapphires, rubies, and other extravagant stones.
The provenance of which is said to be from Rajasthan, India (1870), and this made me wonder as to what sort of whisk was used in the presence of Guru Maharaj over the centuries since 1469.
I remember reading some time ago that the Maharaja of the Premier Sikh State, Patiala, during the reign of Bhupinder Singh, had an income estimated at £900,000 a year, making him one of the world’s richest men at the time.
And Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s lavish lifestyle needs no introduction, as his golden throne greets all visitors on entry at the V&A museum. And so, one can marvel at the thought of being in the Darbaar of the Guru during either of these times, when perhaps a Sikh State still existed on the map!
There was a tale I was told long ago at a summer sikh youth camp here in the Midlands, this tale was set during the British Raj in the Indian Subcontinent or perhaps prior to the signing of the Treaty of Lahore (1846). And in this story, a supposed British Officer had asked ‘religious leaders’ to bring their ‘religious texts’, as they wished to see them, supposedly?
And so, an Imam, a Pandit had arrived with their respective texts and then came a Jatha, a faction of Sikhs with Guru Sahib hoisted on a canopy and with a whisk being flown. This British Officer was supposedly shocked, and then him and his posse went about enlisting Sikhs into the British Indian Army in numbers whilst simultaneously beginning work on converting the faithful few to Christianity (though this part was omitted from the narrated tale).
And so, from an early stage, I and fellow campers gained an understanding into what Guru Maharaj meant to Sikhs and I do still remember when the beadbi occurred in Bargari, Panjab and then began the Bargari Morcha led by Jathedar Dhyan Singh Mand, ex M.P., which unfortunately seemed to lead to nothing at all and perhaps ended Mand’s political career, once and for all.
I was driving back home on December 18th, 2021 and having stopped at the services and having attended to my phone, I understood that a failed assault on Maharaj had occurred at Sri Darbar Sahib, Sri Amritsar.
I am part of a generation that had not seen 1984, but the bullets fired up on Sri Darbaar Sahib & Sri Akaal Takht Sahib had still managed to penetrate my heart despite not having being present there or even born, may I add. But the eyewitness accounts & photographs, no doubt show the bigger picture.
\On December 18th, I understood that I would once more be a silent spectator to the happenings in the Sikh Homeland. The passion and anger I felt at that time; no doubt would have resonated with those army officers who deserted their Cantonments in June 1984 and whom had a desire to reach Sri Darbar Sahib and to destroy the cowards who wished to assault the hearts of the Sikh Nation! One wonders what the world would have looked like had this occurred…
So, this year; I look to continue freeing my mind of splurges of thoughts, as I convert these into sentences and serving these on a platter for my readers, if there are any, whilst simultaneously remembering the one and not forgetting the task/s at hand.
‘This has been fun’ states the author as the final words of this blog are typed up. He then turns on the ignition of his car, he waves a silent goodbye at his parent folk and off he goes, with the sounds of kirtan echoing through the sound system, as the author thanks the king of kings for a beautiful month in the masters will and eternal-presence.
Simranjeet S. Rahi
16/01/2022
Thoughts on NYE
As my eyes wander around today, they gaze above at the changing colours of the sky, in search of the ever shining sun, but instead, finding a blue sky, innocent, with wisps of cloud whispering away, a sight that formulated a festive mood within.
and whilst penning the above, i thought of bhagat sheik fareed jee,
ਏ ਦੁਇ ਨੈਨਾ ਮਤਿ ਛੁਹਉ ਪਿਰ ਦੇਖਨ ਕੀ ਆਸ | (1382)
‘But please do not touch these eyes; I hope to see my Lord.’
ਕਾਗਾ ਚੂੰਡਿ ਨ ਪਿੰਜਰਾ ਬਸੈ ਤ ਉਡਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥
‘O crow, do not peck at my skeleton; if you have landed on it, fly away.’
ਜਿਤੁ ਪਿੰਜਰੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਸਹੁ ਵਸੈ ਮਾਸੁ ਨ ਤਿਦੂ ਖਾਹਿ ॥੯੨॥
‘Do not eat the flesh from that skeleton, within which my Husband Lord abides.’
There is much yet to ponder upon, and to be actioned upon, whether that be today or tomorrow, day or night, or in ‘2021’ or ‘2022.’
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