When Romans met the Sikhs

“Pakistan can never defeat India”, the Italian remarked.

That morning in May 1999, on an official trip to Italy, as I had switched on the BBC World News, I had heard the announcement that Indian Air Force had started an offensive on the Kargil peaks and there were fears of a full-fledged war with Pakistan. What had till now been known as a minor incursion by infiltrators was now threatening to engulf the two nations into a suicidal war. My friend Mukul and I had begun our usual tour of the Carrara stone fair; visiting booths of major companies, seeking trade and technology for Indian stone industry. I vividly remember that stall. A company called FMeccanica, and the company owner sitting stylishly having a chat with his clients. These Italians sure are one stylish lot. Brown shoes and a red golf cap. I still have’nt got over my bias for brown shoes acquired during those yearly trips to Italy. As we got on with our promotional lecture the conversation veered off to the Kargil news.

“Pakistan can never defeat India”, he suddenly remarked.
“Oh yes”, we said, “Of Course, we have a bigger army”, we said proudly.
“Oh No!, you got it wrong”, said the Italian
“Is that so? How?”
“You know about Sikhs?”, he asked.
“Of course”, I said, “I am a Sikh”
“Oh, are you?”, he remarked with a surprise, as he suddenly got up from his seat, took off his red cap, “Salute’”, he said in his strong Italian accent; even as he asked me as to why I was not wearing the Sikh turban. I grinned sheepishly in response.
“Hats off, my Sikh friend; you don’t know why Pakistan can never defeat India? It cannot defeat India as long as the Sikhs fight for India.”
We were surprised by his reaction. And we asked him as to how he knew about Sikhs and tried to find out the story behind his view.

And then he started speaking animatedly. “My Grandpapa was in Mussolini’s army in World War-II. And he used to tell me a story. He told me that they were winning the war as they moved into Eastern Africa. They won many battles against the British. And then the British brought a regiment of fierce looking warriors. Men that looked like ferocious animals when in battle, the Sikhs. Their war-cry was so frightening that the Italian army used to shiver when it sounded. They attacked with their artillery; when they finished their artillery fire they attacked with their guns; when they finished their bullets they fought with bayonets; and when their bayonets were snatched they fought with knives; and then even as they were bleeding they fought with bare hands.” I could see the Italian getting more and more excited as he recited the story. He was moving his hands around in the air and acting the part. “My Grandpa used to say that it was the Sikhs that turned the war around. They routed their enemy wherever they went.

“Finally, my Grandpa was captured by the Sikh regiment”, he said. “He was a Prisoner of War, with limited canteen. Even water was scarce. The Sikhs, the ferocious Sikhs that behaved like hungry lions on the field were like benevolent guardians in the camps. They slept hungry themselves but gave their food to the prisoners. They gave them so much respect and love that my Grandpapa used to say that he had never seen men like the Sikhs. So gallant in war and so gracious in victory.”
“As I grew up, my grandpapa inspired me with stories of Sikhs and asked me to meet some Sikhs if I wanted to be a man. So I went to meet Sikhs in India. I roamed in the Punjab, went to the temples and met many. But, I wanted to see the Sikh Army in Action. So I went to your parade, that big parade in New Delhi, where all regiments of the Indian army march in glory. The parade was magnificient, the Indian army marching proudly, regiment after regiment.” he remarked as he took a book in his hand and moved it smoothly across the table in one straight line he said “this is how smoothly each regiment moved, like one unit”
“And then in the distance, I saw the Sikhs”, he said, as he started moving the book across the table. “Boom” he shouted as I saw the book go up an inch, “Boom”, as it went down, even as it moved across in one straight line and he did the entire stretch of the table. “This is how the Sikhs marched, boom, boom, moving like a storm across the road, so disciplined moving like one unit, yet looking so gallant and brave. I have seen the Germans marching, I have seen the march-past of the Russians, but I have never seen an army marching the way the Sikhs do.” He continued for a few more minutes with anecdotes of his grandpa’s and his interaction with Sikhs, as he hammered in the fact that Sikhs were the best fighting force in the world. “So, my friend, you see. Pakistan can never defeat India, as long as the Sikhs fight for India.”
 
Postscript:
This incident has stayed with me for over fifteen years now, and I recount it today not in bravado as a fellow Sikh, but as something that needed to be told as an indicator of the impact Sikhs have on people, both in their bravery and in their graciousness; and as a reminder to us Indians that we have frittered away the Sikh regiment after 1984 by diluting its Sikh character in the name of reducing racism. Sikhs make up 10% of all ranks in the Indian Army, though Sikhs form only 2% of the Indian population. However, the Sikh regiment of Indian Army is no longer limited to Sikhs since 1984. The exclusivity has been discarded in the name of national integration, with a company each of Dogras, Garhwalis and South Indians in the Sikh Regiment.

I read an article today from the ‘Telegraph’ of UK that the Britishers were planning to create a ‘Sikh Regiment’ in the British Army. Perhaps the Britishers know something we Indians don’t.

Source: wordpress

When British Soldier became a Sikh

In 1964, when some of the weapons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji were brought back from England, an Englishman, in complete Sikh form, accompanied them. Out of curiousity, someone asked the Englishman what inspired him to adopt the Sikh form. Was it due to respect for the weapons or was there some other reason? The explanation given by him at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi is something that should be of interest to all readers.

“My name was A. David. I happened to be commanding a Sikh Regiment during World War II. My Regiment suffered very heavy losses fighting the Germans. Most of the Sikh jawaans (soldiers) of my Battalion were killed. Only a few survived and we were all surrounded by the Germans. As there were very remote chances of our survival, I called the Subedaar major of the Battalion and informed him about our precarious situation. Death was facing us and there was no chance of survival.
I suggested to him that the jawans should individually attempt to escape from the enemy encirclement and save their lives.

The Subedaar Major replied, “We cannot bring ignominy to the Sikh Regiment by running away from the battlefield.” However, he suggested that they should perform an Akhand-Paath ceremony and take action as per the Divine Hukam (Holy Command). Accordingly, necessary security arrangements were made and the Akhand-Paath ceremony was completed without interruption. After the supplicatory prayer (Ardaas), the Divine Hukam from the Holy Scripture was explained to me by the Subedaar Major and the religious teacher (Granthi). The Guru’s instruction as per the Divine Hukam was that we should not abandon the battlefield; victory will be ours. Then I conveyed to them the miracle that I had witnessed during the supplicatory prayer. While standing with my eyes closed during the Ardaas, a fully armed Sikh on horseback with a unique grandeur appeared in front of me and ordered “Follow me.”

I pointed out the direction in which the fully armed Sikh went after giving the order and asked them about the identity of the warrior. The Subedaar Major said that from the description I had given, he seemed to be none other than Sri Guru Gobind Singh himself! So, we got ready and launched an attack in the direction pointed out by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. After a short while, we were able to break through the German encirclement and save ourselves. We then got in touch with the Brigade Commander on wireless and requested for additional help.

After the war, I reflected upon the incident and the divine personality who had saved our lives from the impregnable enemy encirclement in a desperate situation by ordering me to follow him.
I made up my mind to follow him for the rest of my life. I resigned from the Army and along with my daughter, embraced Sikh Dharam with the initiation ceremony of the Khalsa. Now my name is Devinder Singh and my daughter’s name is Surjit Kaur. This is due to the blessings of Guru Gobind Singh that he made us his disciples.”


Source: Daily Sikh Updates

Lessons for Life #84

For those who believe in God will agree with me on this. I always believe that everything, even the slightest moment in our lives, happens for a reason. If you are in a situation you didn't expected, or you are striving hard for something, or even if you are just on the edge, you should never leave hope. If you read all of my posts, then you will remember this from one of those :- "Hope is a good thing and probably the best". It is one thing that we can hang on to till we last and we should.

God is there and he knows what you are up to or what you are in. He is never blind to your tears for he has the ability to see right through you and to the distances you can't even imagine or think about. He is never deaf to our prayers or silent to your pain for he never misses out a thing about us. Probably he is the best stalker and understands us better as compared to what we think about ourselves. So have patience, he will hear and will definitely deliver to you what you deserve and that might be more than you expected.

He always know when we need something the most and so let us wait for that. Have faith and wait. Your prayers will never be unheard in his court. :)

Go with your Gut Feeling

Don’t let anyone invalidate or minimize how you feel. If you feel something, you feel it and it’s real to you. Nothing anyone says has the power to invalidate that, ever. No one else lives in your body. No one else sees life through your eyes. No one else has lived through your experiences. And so, no one else has the right to dictate or judge how you feel. Your feelings are important and you deserve to be heard. They are inherently valid and they matter. Don’t let anyone make you believe otherwise.
~Anonymous.

Always go with your gut feeling. If you feel right about a certain thing then go with it and if you don't feel something good about a situation get out asap. You see our gut feel is always correct no matter what.

Source: Lessons Learned in Life

Lessons for Life #83

Everyone is always alone and it will always be you against the world. You will face all kind of people in your life. Those will include Haters, Doubters, Non-Believers with others. They will always want to put you down or never want to see you succeed no matter what.

But you should believe in yourself. Do your best and along the way you will finally prove them wrong. No matter how much pressure you are under, your dedication and hard work are enough to beat it. So never ever give up. You just need to keep moving. :)

Nanak Shah Fakir: Motion Poster.

The first look of film Nanak Shah Fakir in a motion poster. Nanak Shah Fakir a movie based upon the whole life story and Teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Produced by Mr Harinder Singh Sikka

From the makers:
Nanak Shah Fakir, A new Hindi movie 2015 is named after and on the life and teachings of Guru Nanak. Born in 1469 A.D. Nanak traveled the world to spread the essence of ‘Ik Onkar’ (there’s but One God) as a philosophy and way of life. A philosophy that has survived and risen above the flux of conflict and time, impacting over 50 million followers worldwide and giving birth to ‘SIKHISM’ as a way of life. (‘Sikh’ signifies a disciple). Throughout his life, Guru Nanak shared his blessings of divine knowledge through mystic and soulfully divine music. He sang to the Lord and taught us, ordinary mortals, the virtues of peace, love and harmony. Guru Nanak was referred to as ‘Shah’ by the Muslims and ‘Fakir’ by the Hindus, the highest honor given in both religions and hence came to be known as ‘Nanak Shah Fakir’

It is pertinent to mention here that keeping in line with the tradition, Guru Nanak has been portrayed through COMPUTER GRAPHICS only and that too from the back, amidst a ray of light. The extraordinary experiences during the production yet were overwhelming and deeply humbling. While some have been recorded on reels, others are embedded in the heart, forever. Gracefully, the film enjoys full support and Sri Akal Takht Sahib.”

Source: Daily Sikh Updates

Muslim Saint Visited the Future 10th Guru

Pir Bhikham shah (a Muslim Faqir) lived in village Thaska in Karnal (now in Haryana). On the day of Gobind Rai’s (later Guru Gobind Singh) birth at Patna, Pir Bhikham shah did something that shocked the Muslims around him.

That morning, when everyone else was doing NAMAAZ in the direction of MECCA,the pir made a deep and respectful bow towards East in the direction of Patna. His Muslim disciples were surprised on seeing this because Muslims of India bow towards the west in the direction of Mecca. They asked the pir,the purpose of this strange act. The pir replied: "on this day, a beloved of God has been born who will be a saint and a soldier. He has taken birth to destroy evil, sin and falsehood. He will fight for truth, well-being and human rights of the people.

He said,”We shall go to that place to see him." Pir Bhikham shah left for Patna with his disciples. Pir Bhikham reached Guru’s house and sat down near the door. He told MATA GUJRI (mother of Guru Gobind) that he had come from far off place to see the holy child of God. He was permitted to see the child.

Pir bought two earthen pots containing sweets. He bought one pot from Hindu’s shop and other from Muslim‘s shop. On seeing the child, the Pir respectfully made a deep bow, after he offered two pots containing sweets. After placing both the pots containing sweets before Gobind Rai, the Pir sat down with folded hands and looking at the child, Gobind Rai placed his left hand on one of the pots and at the same time placed his right hand on the other pot. The child then smiled and looked at the pir who made a long and deeper bow to the holy child.

The followers of the Pir had watched as the child touched both bowls at the same moment, but why had their Pir offered two bowls instead of one? They asked their Pir why he had placed two bowls before the child. The Pir explained that he wanted to know whether this holy child would favour the Hindus or the Muslims. He explained: “I had placed the pots of sweets before the child, thinking that if he put his hand on the pot of Sweets from the Hindu shop, he would favour the Hindus, but if he placed his hand on the pot of sweets from the Muslim shop he would favor the Muslims. But the holy child wisely touched both pots showing me that both the Hindus and Muslims are equally dear to him. As he grows elder, he will help Hindus whenever they need his help and he will help Muslims whenever they are in need of his help."

Thereafter, he became a life-long follower of Guru Gobind.

Source: Daily Sikh Updates