Sikhi Beyond the unshorn hair

Sikh by definition is follower of light, when Baba Nanak Dev ji laid the foundation of Sikhi then it was more to do with equality, purity and peace which is apparent with the stress he has laid on common kitchen and the practice of Langar. When Guru Gobind Singh Ji formed Khalsa Panth, then my lord created a warrior race with a lifestyle of having accepted the almighty natural creation by keeping the unshorn hair, doing paathh, not indulging into fornication etc.
As a result we adapted a pulchritude which is different from others. I believe the reason behind all this was ignoring the physical beauty as it is corporeal and keeping it intact as blessed by the all mighty, not to be different from others. But Sikhs largely consider themselves different from others, they want separate acknowledgement on a piece of paper which when denied is being taken as disrespect. I strongly believe that the path directed by our Gurus is so noble that a trifle acknowledgement will not even minutely affect its sanctity. But, it is an overt fact that Sikhs want to be different they don't take their pulchritude as a symbol of purity, majority take it as pride, as power. The values imbibed particularly in the young generation is not beyond keeping unshorn hair and keeping a pagdi. Punjabis consider going on a booze binge as a matter of pride. I have never had alcohol in my life and people question me," tu sardar hoke daru nahi peeta?" Showing off financial muscle is a trend these days . There is maximum amount profligation in Punjab. This is even applicable to the gurudwaras . In Raipur within a radius of 2 Kms there are three sprawling Gurudwaras, one with a gold plated palki Sahib worth Rs. 30 lakhs. Does my Guru Granth Sahib derive Guru's pride through this show off. Can't that money be used in some more noble cause like schools for underpriveledged children , drug rehabilitaion centres ?
Perhaps the most misunderstood and to me disrespected aspect of Sikhism is the way our Khanda Sahib has been projected. The symbol actually means Deg-teg-fateh. Quoting from Wikipedia.org-

The emblem of Sikhism represents the Deg (cauldron or kettle) used to prepare food, Guru ka Langar initiated by the founder of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak to remove caste barriers, teach people equality and humility before each other and to feed all and sundry on an egalitarian base so that no body sleeps with an empty stomach.

The two swords on the outside represent the Miri--Piri (Bhagti and Shakti) doctrine of Sikhism, revealed by Guru Nanak and put into practice by his sixth successor, Guru Hargobind indicating the integration of spiritual and temporal powers together and not treating them as two separate and distinct entities.

In the center is the Khanda, the double-edged sword, used by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh to prepare Amrit to initiate the Sikhs. Khanda has cutting edge on both sides indicative of two swords fused together representing Bhagti and Shakti (spiritual and temporal powers), giving birth to “The Khalsa”, who is a saint-soldier (Sant-Sipahi), the saint meaning scholarly in knowledge of Gurbani and soldier meaning martial in spirit.

I question how many actually take Khanda Sahib as that. We just brandish it on our swanky cars and bunglows, have we imbibed the ideology behind it? We DEMAND respect from others, have we respected ourselves?
I strongly believe the onus is upon the opinion leaders, the supreme bodies that is the gurudwaras to modify our approach towards preaching our religion. People sit in the Gurudwara listening to Bani without understanding a word of it. Gyanis come from all over the country, preach keeping unshorn beard, consider it synonymous to Lions and tigers, mostly don't preach tolerance, peace, a straight edge life style, respect particularly the men for women, love for other religions, contribution beyond the gurudwara compound. This is high time we modify our approach towards sikh lifestyle. Our Gurus wanted us to be spiritual and neglect the material and physical creation, but today many are bothered not beyond that. They wanted us to protect those who need protection, to work for the society, to ensure brotherhood, they definitely not wanted us to show off our gift, our muscle, they definitely not wanted us to take worthless pride in our physical assets. Beard signifies purity and acceptance of the creation of the all mighty, not some lion or tiger and any carnivore animal know for its superior strength and dominance over others. Sikhi is beyond the unshorn hair but Kesh became a propaganda for it that too a misunderstood one. I hope that if my ideology is right then my message reaches to the people who can bring change.
Reading it again before posting I find the tone somewhat general. If you don't agree with me then trust me I will be happy rather delighted to be proven wrong.
Waheguru ji ka khalsa Waheguru ji ki fateh.

The mid summer crisis

My gear is terribly down with gripe. Nose is shamelessly(the nose, not me, though its mine, though sometimes I am also shameless, but not this time) running in public. Throat is aggressive and the body continues to ooze sweat, gallons of it!

Rainy is the season. I am Pisces and supposed to love water, which I do too. Talking about water, I am currently reading The big thirst, awesome book (so far, till page 152). But it over rains here in Sanquelim! Everything is wet, some of which is slippery also, yep I fell, but it had nothing to do with the rain though, I fell in the washroom, bedecked with a band-aid in the forearm. 

Apart from physical ailments, I have other issues also going on in this, what's it called, oh yeah, life. The fad is currently of two, one in the psychological aspect of my existence, and the other one in the circumstantial aspect of my existence.

Let me direct the drift towards the psychological one, which actually can't be cured, it would only get phased out. God give me patience, please make it fast though. See, THE THING IS THAT, that i take a lot of pride in my appearance, wait, let me rephrase, THE THING IS THAT, that i used to take a lot of pride in my appearance, Jeez man! I am confused. Ok, I think I still take, avoid. I usually get compliments, though the sad part is rarely any girl would pass them, but still, a compliment is a compliment. We, the GIMmies, have got this culture, anytime a new batch would come, they are supposed to ask any person from the senior batch for a date.( I just realized there is another issue in my psychological aspect of existence, which i need to mention, so the fad is of three issues now) Last year, when I was a "Junior", i asked one girl out, she said yes, all fine. We have got another culture(this marks the beginning of the other, psychological issue), named the Mid Summer night(though there are no summers, and its raining freaking mother of cats and dogs all the time), where the "Juniors" are supposed to give some performances. One more thing, I "used" to consider myself as funny too. For God knows what reasons I decided to do a stand up. I entered the hall late, pretty late, the performances had already started. The hall seemed pretty good. Ok, what a coincidence, I am next one to be performing. Alright, I am funny you know. And here I go. 

Joke one, delivered, I am smiling, some people are smiling with me. Joke two, delivered, I am smiling, there are blank faces. Joke three, delivered, I am smiling, the blank faces are towards each other. Joke four, delivered, I am not smiling, the faces are not blank. Joke five, remains undelivered, they are literally booing me man, what the f@ck! I am funny!

Ok, the organizing committee throws in the towel, I guzzle down a bucket of poison, and keep quiet. Ok, after the performance, we are supposed to tell the name of our date, and do a ramp walk( there is no ramp as such). This part seems ok, I tell the name of my date, she is there, people are pointing at her, but dude she is not responding, I did the walk alone! or I walked alone?

The rest of the night, the following day, the afternoon, the evening, the night, the other day and the afternoon I just sulked, after that came a point that I started considering myself a fictional character, because a message pops up on my laptop screen, it is from my date, she says, dude I can't come with you for the date, trust me, I did not even ask why. The bastards whom I consider my friends blame it on my stand up, screw you!

Now, I am a senior, a handsome senior, a senior with 14.5'' of biceps (when pumped). I am roaming in the campus with an air around me, proposals can come anytime. OK, day 1, what a bright sunny day, the rainy bitch has also gone to pee somewhere else, wow. Let me put on my crisp white shirt, don't know how many girls would approach me. Ahem Ahem, Day 1 ends with rains, I got wet, no proposals, no issues, may be they are shy. Ok, Day 2, wow, no rains two days a row, this is your day, let me put the crisp cream shirt on. Ahem Ahem, Day 2 ends with rains, I got wet, no proposals, no issues, they are taking their time. The Nth day, bitch its raining again, bitch who the f@ck took my umbrella? bitch this shirt is stinking, who cares bitch leme sprays some extra deo, but wait, think about it, think son, may be some girl is inquiring exhaustively about the senior guys, may be the girls of my batch would tell her about me, may be some one would ask me, wait, let me put on a bright yellow shirt. Ahem Ahem burrrrrrrrrrp, aah ahh hhh ahh aaaaahhhhhhhhchhhhhhhhhhooooooooooo! bitch bitch bitch f#ck! bitch damn! bitch! This new batch has got a weird taste man, anyway I am saving money by not taking a gal out for the date, its stupid i would rather buy another jar of protein, yes that makes more sense, why waste money man, anyways its not exactly a date, ok , yes, who needs a date....i mean....yes....i mean....you know.....ok..control....its alright....ok........here it goes-bitch f#ck bitch bitch bitch! how the f#ck I did not even get even a single proposal, are you freaking out of your mind, every tom dick and paunchy harry is having a date! Come on you gotta be kidding me!

Ok! apart from the juniors, the seniors can also perform at the midsummers. So It was time for redemption. I needed to get rid of last year's embarrassment. This time I was going to rock! Ok! yes! Well, I sing also, actually I dance also, and I sketch also. I have written a song (no, no I don't write also, there are just a few) and every time I have sung it for my friends, they have loved it, and mind it my friends are bastards, they would humiliate me to death if it were not a good song, keeping that in mind, I decided to sing my song in the midsummers....."whistling"...................................."whistling".............................................."whistling".............................................................................."whistling"...........................................yes! it got f#cked!

With this the psychological aspects have been concluded!

Time for the circumstantial ones, that includes the three days since I have not taken a bath, the water is cold man! I have missed two classes this week, which i thought were not there but dude, they were there! the echo of the basement and nocturnal neighbors, lunch that sometimes includes chhole and noodles at the same time, f#cked up internet speed, dearth of good porn, and finally,I have got ten ruppee note in my wallet and have lost my ATM card!( did i just hit myself in the head? )
Ok that would be it, I need to go to the loo, where the horny frogs would be leering at me !
But trust me I love this life, each and every aspect of it! Take care!
( I not blaming any form of existence (actually i mean the girls here) for the apparent overflow of feelings expressed above, it is just a satirical version of a phase of my life)

Memoirs de Dehradun to Saharanpur and back.

This was the first time I got up before the sun in Dehradun. Dehradun which is a beautiful city surrounded by scenic mountain beauty. Neither a metro nor a small town, but FYI, this city has Mc D, KFC, Subway et al, I guess there are two multiplexes and a water park( though in the outskirts) also. My PG is east facing, facing mussourie, which is a town uphill and a wonderful tourist destination. This is  the month of may and a scorching summer by now has engulfed most part of the country, but Dehradun is just WOW! I feel lucky that I got my internship in such a beautiful place and got to explore it. Anyway there was some training which I had to attend in Saharanpur, a small town at a distance of one and a half hours from Dehradun. The training was to start at 9 am, venue, Hotel oasis. That means I should reach leave Dehradun by quater past seven. I set my alarm for half past five. My alarm tone is Jassi Sidhu's Rahe Rahe, the sound of the dhol is a guarantee to wake up a Punjabi lad, getting the drift? I donned on a formal attire with a black turban, grabbed two bananas and left the room. I had to climb the gate to go out though, since Mr. Bhatia who owns the PG had still not unlocked it. The common man of Dehradun commutes through shared autos, called Vikram over here, and it is light blue in colour. At a time it can gorge in 11 people including the driver. The nearest stop from my PG is at a walking distance of ten minutes. Walking in the twilight , eating bananas and breathing in the freshest air, it is like one of the most pacific feelings one can get.
I took Vikram for route number 5 to ISBT bus stand. On the stand the bus was parked in front of me and I got aboard on it just in time. There were not many co-passengers in it and I don't remember when I fell asleep but by the time I got up it was stuffed with people. Finally, as planned i reached Saharanpur on time and my oh my, dude the street was generously sprinkled with people. Vikrams are in Saharanpur also, though with a different structure and there are green colored also there with the blue ones. They are super voracious, thirteen people at a time. It is understood that the Vikram walla will try to stuff his washing machine wagon as much as possible, but why the heck do people get in it? particularly when there are hundreds of others also there on road and if given a thought you can comfortably sit in others. There is funny sight always there inside such pregnant Vikrams. The men are usually smiling at each other conforming understanding while the ladies are staring at each other expressing disdain. I had mentioned to the driver dude that to drop me at Hotel Oasis, to which he replied with his mouth full of gutka, "Haao". But, some how the dude forgot it and dropped me some where else telling me that the hotel was near by, which actually was not! Anyway I reached the session  half an hour later. Overall the session was good.
I left the hotel at about 5.30, again took a washing machine and went to the bus stop. The first bus comes, filled with bodies to the brim, did not stop. The second bus came, same story, sorry. Third came, nope. Every time a bus showed up people ran towards it, hoping to get a seat. Then I decided to ask the traffic policeman that from where the bus is getting its livestock? And quite a surprise, the depot was nearly three hundred meters away. I wonder what made all those people to wait at that place rather than the near by bus depot. Finally, I reached the depot and inherently became a warrior. Trust me the sight of the bus is like a  bugle for a chaaaaaarge. People running for their life, kids getting crushed and crying, ladies fighting with the men for privileges. Uproar, chaos, mayhem!Apparently, nobody gives a hoot about order and understanding. In between I saw another bus and ran with all my stamina being chased by an ornery, disgruntled mob. I was the first person to enter the bus, Glory was mine, cherished it in slow sepia motion. within few minutes all the seats were occupied. And this character sits next to me, lets name him 'beedhi'.
Beedhi insisted me to give him the window seat, since he had to smoke. I agreed. But the bus has not yet started and beedhi has lit his first smoke. I objected since it was a boiler room, and he stubbed the smoke against the seat, giving it a lifelong beedhi love spot. But, let me describe him first. He is a common rural Indian man. short, black, small eyes, tiny white stub. The texture of his skin exposes his usual laborious hard work. Beedhi looks at me and says," Sardarji, look at my foot, it has got swollen this morning." And indeed his foot was swollen, with cracks symbolizing his long journeys on foot. I just told him to consult a doctor. Every few minutes he would press his foot to alleviate the pain. Finally, the bus starts and beedhi gets the opportunity to quench his thirst. Beedhi is a poor man, a labor class it seems, but as the bus crosses a mosque beedhi takes out a five rupee note and drops it on the road. I can't express how strange, sad yet happy I felt at that moment. For the next fifteen odd minutes beedhi rests his head on the seat in front and after that takes out his chinese mobile phone and hits his retro play list. The bus was silent for the rest of the journey except for beedhi's jukebox. I could see a few heads waving in sync with his beats.
Finally, I reached Dehradun, took a usual eleven seater vikram and reached the stop near my PG. The following ten minutes walk was different from the one which I had the same morning. I reached my room by nine, all bushed and famished.
It was a colorful day indeed, good for a one day experience.

We are human beings one of the social creatures living or surviving in this macrocosm. Social, normally we live in groups. Existence of a normal human being attains meaning with coexistence. Give it a thought. I am writing this blog for others also to read it. I am doing a work which is in reality because of others. Often we wear clothes because they are in fashion, even though we are not comfortable wearing it or wanted to wear something more comfortable which we don't. Many a times we talk with each other just for the sake of talking, just as we inhale and exhale air, we intake and out give thoughts. It is like a necessity for living. We buy stuff often just to show off to others. May be my achievement would lose its purpose if it is not admired by others. An award for an example? jewelery? Luxury cars? lavish facades of mansions?Give it a thought most of the things that are giving you happiness are because they let you influence others. Be it love or power, we need others. UBUNTU, I am because we are. What a beautiful and simple thought is ubuntu.
 So, basically presence of others is the most important condition for the survival of a human being and consequently the development of the human race. Coexistence deserves respect. So, why we hate some people? Why we dislike it when we get any counter opinion? Why we just not appreciate a different thinking entity which is actually important for my own survival? Why we want to control everything? Because if relativity is lost then even I can not confirm the absoluteness of my own existence. Then why? Why can't we just accept it and be  happy about it. Rather than getting frustrated, angry, sad and low. But something like this is possible only when the counterpart also adheres to this philosophy. When the counterpart would not try to change me, my ways, my pattern, traits, marks and vibrations. But how often do we get into such a dilemma or quandary which results into a deadlock and a squabble. Is it always that we are aimed at and we are asked to make compromises. Are we always right?

There is beautiful theory which I learned in my Organization behavior course of Management education. Its called the 'attribution bias'. It says that people ascribe their achievement to their internal factors and their failures to their external factors, but while doing the same for others, they ascribe others' achievement to their external factors and their failures to their internal factors. Strange isn't it? But observe it. It happens. In my personal opinion no normal person is that damn insane that they can't be tackled with patience or with an open mind. My sole purpose of writing this blog is that just respect each and every other individual. Respect just because it makes your existence complete. Respect their thoughts their opinions. And there is indeed a difference between respecting and accepting. Open your mind, try and understand the basic reason for some one's behavior. But do try to relate it first with a positive reason rather than jumping straight to a negative one. By true nature nobody is a bad person, its just that they succumb to their surroundings. Shattered so much that to defend themselves they have closed their doors. And can you make an insecure person open the door with force? No. You can only break the door with force. You need love and patience to get that door opened. So, be happy, respect others, appreciate opposition and refrain negativity. You know the spelling of perfect is not perfect, I can spell it as Purfact also. Nobody is perfect, but we can at least be good.