Sikhs Are The Nation’s Pride

Disclaimer upfront: I am not a Sikh, but I have had the privilege of working and living amongst them. As a combatant, one fought in wars/insurgencies with them as they punched above their weight and numbers in the ‘Uniform’. After retiring and sheathing the proverbial sabre in the scabbard, one had the pleasure of enjoying their unmatched friendship, large-heartedness, and trust.

Qualifying as what Salman Rushdie calls the ‘Midnight’s Children’ in terms of being born around Independence, the wounds of Partition and dreams of ‘tryst with destiny’ are real for us, as the roller-coaster of India yo-yoed from good times to challenging times, intermittently.

Punjab, the ancient land at the forefront of taking on the marauding waves of foreign invasions for centuries, is no stranger to defending what is now holistically, India. Martial spirit amongst its inhabitants was only natural, and its roll call of martyrs who have gone down fighting for the ‘Tiranga’ in modern times, is unmatched.

Far away in the distant Cellular Jail of Port Blair (of ‘Kaala Paani’ infamy), the freedom fighters’ scroll is etched with countless and unsung Sikh heroes who gave up their all, never to be recognised or valorised enough in the Indian struggle for freedom. All this from a populace that was always less than 2% of India’s total population.

Unsurprisingly, and unparalleled, it has three Indian Army Regiments composed of its sons-of-the-soil i.e. the Sikh Regiment, Punjab Regiment, Sikh Light Regiment, and countless others who populate the ‘Sword Arm’ of the nation or the Indian Armed Forces.

Sikh warriors have always acquitted themselves with raw gallantry and rare distinction in the bloody battlefields that have ranged from Continental Europe, African plains, heights of Khyber Pass, unforgiving swathes of Afghanistan to wherever else the profession-of-arms took these ‘Saint Warriors’.

Besides sheer fearlessness in the face of unbelievable odds, there was yet another element that made them unique in the noble profession of soldering i.e., an inviolable and sacred code of faith that guides their thinking, conduct, and even choosing death to surrender. The community has simply internalised, valourised and defined themselves basis certain values and tenets of their faith, amongst which, honour is foremost.

It is this inert sense of ‘honour’ that leads to the belief and truism that one would never seek a Sikh beggar. This is because the Sikh community vests its ‘honour’ in a collective sense and not just individually, which leads all members to put shoulders together in support of brethren in dire need, but never condoning begging.

This is not hubris, but sacred honour, dignity, and self-respect at work. More importantly, this sense of ‘giving’ borne out of three pillars of Sikhism: ‘Naam Jappo’ (keep the Almighty in heart and in every breath), ‘Kirrat Karo’ (work hard and lead a life of morality, purpose and values) and ‘Vand Chakko’ (sharing your all with humankind at large).

This walking-the-talk was exemplified when Delhi was aflame with Hindu-Muslim riots in 2020, and instead of allaying fears and disallowing polarisation, many politicians were fueling fire and spreading hatred. It was the Gurdwaras in the vicinity that generously opened their doors to the riot victims, and those in desperate need for shelter and support.

These ‘Saint Warriors’ never asked about the personal identity or faith of those who walked in, but opened their arms as they always did to anyone in need, anywhere in the world. The holy spirit of ‘Vand Chakko’ manifests whenever the Gurudwaras on their own volition support those who are aggrieved or discriminated, be serving hot food to Veterans protesting OROP or the farmers protesting for their livelihood and sustenance.

However, like all communities, especially those in the border states and of minority denomination, it is given to vulnerabilities and susceptibilities that are sought to be exploited by the enemies of the nation. It is only the reassuring and lofty ‘Idea of India’ which celebrates unity-in-diversity, inclusivity and secularity that can allay such concerns, proactively.

But sadly, it is divisiveness and not inclusiveness that makes for winning politics. The curse of acute partisanship and ‘winning at any cost’ has hit these border states, the hardest.

Punjab too has paid a terrible price as all political parties (without exception) have put their ‘larger interests’ above Punjab’s legitimate rights, even if the same were strictly socio-economic-cultural, to begin with. Unfulfilled promises and reckless politics of the 70's and 80’s birthed a secessionist movement, but thankfully that too ebbed away with a restorative peace accord and due accommodations and acknowledgements.

But Punjab and many Punjabis had to pay a terrible price for the politics of some, vested interests of those across borders, and admittedly, even owing to misguided extremism of some, within. It was eventually the simple, earthy, patriotic and proud Punjabis, and especially Sikhs, who continued reposing faith in the majesty and dreams of India who ended the insurgency, effectively.

However, given the nature of distant diaspora, societal frustrations and follies of youth, that some negligible fringe elements did persist with secessionist aspirations. But the defiant and contrarian optics of India with Sikhs deservingly assuming the highest executive offices of the land, posts in ‘Uniform’ or boardrooms, and routinely returning home wrapped in the ‘Tiranga’ after paying the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ to defend India’s territorial integrity, made the efforts of such misguided youth abroad, meaningless.

But for some time, the Indian landscape and politics is changing dramatically and the auto-instinctive ‘othering’ of anyone who refuses to bend with the times that be, is guaranteed. Proud and patriotic Sikhs too are getting caught in the winds of time as suddenly they were subjected to the regrettable ‘K’ barbs if ever they dared raise their voice, on any issue.

To protest against the dispensation is now tantamount to immediate attributions of ‘K’ and every event and element of faith can get contextualised to the same, be it during farmers protest or any other socio-economic disaffection. Generations that had not heard of ‘K’ were subjected and reminded of the dark past and the shameful actions of some (as it happens in every community) were then slapped onto the entirety of the community.

The agenda of selective and fake history in the making started afflicting the imagination about the Sikhs, and a community with unprecedented history of giving, loyalty and pride onto the making of India, can come under the scanner. A recent unwarranted incident involving the Indian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, where he was heckled by a ‘K’ supporter was widely reported, but the fact that the Gurdwara where it happened disowned the said heckler in the UK, was not reported with matching enthusiasm.

An incomplete narrative emerged. Why should the community be shamed for the misdeeds of a few, who are either supported by enemies of India or do not know the real situation in India, or even of their noble and hallowed tenets, enough.

Extreme care must be observed to not invoke or suggest ‘K’ at the drop of a hat and paint the entire community in a poor light, as it is downrightly unfair and sheer politics of divide-and-rule. India must stand tall and guard itself with complete resolve and steel and the Punjabis and Sikhs will always be at the forefront to do so, as they have done for aeons.

Speaking personally from experience, I have never felt more safer, surer, and assured in battle, peace times, or even personally trying times than being in the company of these ‘Saint Warriors’. No words can ever capture their selflessness, sacrifice and generosity of heart for India or any so-called, ‘others’.

Lt. Gen. Bhopinder Singh (born 30 June 1946) is the former Lieutenant Governor of The Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry and an Indian Army officer who was awarded the PVSM. Views are personal.