Login / RegisterGurpreet Singh: Sikh Canadians try to shame Indian government with blood donations
About 700 people donated blood at camps organized by the Sikh Nation across B.C. in memory of the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom in India.
The Sikh Nation has organized annual blood-donation camps to mark the anniversary of the massacre during the first week of November since the assassination of Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.
The supporters of Indira Gandhi's so-called secular Congress party led mobs who mobbed, robbed, raped, and murdered Sikhs across India. Prominent Congress leaders involved in the mass murders have not been punished even after 28 years have passed.
Ironically, India had its first turbaned Sikh president, Zail Singh, during the pogrom. The country is currently led by its first Sikh prime minister, Manmohan Singh.
Defying rain, many people showed up at the blood-donation camps on Saturday. There was a wait of at least two hours at one camp, according to Dr. Barjinder Singh of Sikh Nation.
A moment of silence was also observed across B.C. at 6 pm. on November 1, 2012, in memory of the victims. I too went silent on air for a minute before my evening news broadcast.
Sunil Sharma, a volunteer associated with the blood-donation campaign, noted that the violence started around 6 p.m. on November 1, 1984: "It was therefore fitting to hold a moment of silence at sharp 6.''
The organizers have sent another message to shame the Indian government by commending Brian Murphy, a U.S. police officer who was injured during recent racial violence at a Wisconsin Sikh temple in which six Sikhs were murdered. The U.S. has recognized it as its own tragedy and lowered its national flag to half-mast.
"The idea is to tell the world that the Indian establishment, too, could have saved many lives if it had a political will," Barjinder Singh said.
Notably, such a massacre did not happen against Sikhs or Muslims in the U.S. even after 9/11, despite isolated hate attacks. At no point in time did U.S. politicians go on a 1984-like rampage against any minority group.
It is a separate matter that the U.S.-led imperialist wars against Afghanistan and Iraq brought deaths and massive destruction.
It is sad that the Indian government, which has repeatedly raised its concerns with the Canadian government over the increased activities of Sikh separatists in this country, has not taken any strong political initiative to bring the culprits of the 1984 violence to justice.
Such indifference and arrogance is actually legitimizing the cause of the Sikh separatists and strengthening their hands. This leaves those who care about social justice with few options besides protesting or organizing events to shame the secular establishment of the world's largest democracy.
Gurpreet Singh is a Georgia Straight contributor and the host of a program on Radio India. He's working on a book tentatively titled Canada's 9/11: Lessons from the Air India Bombings.
The Sikhs were killed in the most inhumane and bone chilling ways, with the MP's and M.L.A's and other major politicans in major cities personally supervising the killings on the streets in broad day light for a full week.
The police were fully involved, so were ALL television news and media involved as government was full owner, celebrities would be brought on Indian T.V and would call for more blood for Sikhs as did famous actor Amitabh Bachan on Doordharsan Channel. (And Remember not a single arrest till date)
The Indian Govt. doesnt care for its own people- be it Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus. They are a self serving group.
Gurpreet is misguided and incorrect cat in saying the Sikhs # 1 priority is to shame the indian govt, infact is probably last on there list for this blood donation drive.
First thing first is to donate blood for all fellow human beings.
The Sikh faith asks its followers to find that juicy silver lining in its many tragedies within its short existence and convert into a positive force for yourself and others.
Thank you Sikhs for giving your blood for others in return of those who so painfully lost theres 28 years ago 2day.
So a Canadian Sikh, an Australian Sikh an American Sikh and all others are part of the Sikh Nation. This is the context the word Nation is being used here.
One very important principle of Sikhism is "sarbat da bhalla" i.e. " doing service for the betterment of all society". By organizing the campaign we are putting that principle into practice. The Canadian Sikhs are proud that this campaign was started in British Columbia and today it is spreading to other provinces and countries. Thank you David for raising this very valid point.
The defination of a "nation" is A community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, or history.
So it makes perfect sense for it to be called Sikh Nation.
Heck I dont care if they called themselves the dildo and vibrator nation, they are donating blood for all Canadians - and thats great, especially when we are so low on blood locally and at a national level.
You are right David that there is nothing like Sikh Nation in Canada specially in the way you mentioned. In fact it's the reference that Sikh's have identified themselves from centuries. Moreover; Sikhs were killed, raped, looted for just been Sikhs and now Sikhs remember victims and survivors around the world, from one end of globe to other, Sikh Nation translation of word " Sikh Qoam " is the most appropriate for global campaign against genocide; especially it's been used for helping humanity from so long and original word has much deeper meaning for Sikhs then one feel.
The Delhi High Court has already slammed the system for letting the culprits roam scot-free and the government for doing little since 1984. I just hope the Sikh witnesses stay firm by their statements and bring success to trials against culprits. We need a fresh insight into the 1984 violence. I wasn't born upto 6 years after that, but I can feel the pain that my city must have gone through.... needless stuff!
Agree with the author that without justice given, demand for Khalistan will continue emerging and will keep getting vindicated. But I sincerely request all Sikhs across the world, some diplomatically proficient, to put aside this demand for Khalistan, for now and join arms to pursue the case of injustice towards 1984 victims and other such legitimate issues. This will certainly draw favor from non-Sikh Indians since the Khalistan movement has clearly overshadowed any legitimate demands leading to feeble support from the common Indians! Of course, people who have Sikhs as friends will know that not all Sikhs support the secessionist movement, but most who aren't in touch with the Sikh people will perhaps only generalize them as separatists.
You can be nice and caring for your fellow human being without being a sikh or hindu or christian. you don't have to have one these labels attached to you to give blood. Be human(e) for the sake of being humane.
By the way, why do sikhs celebrate diwali (a hindu tradition) ?
The Diwali festival took place during the life of the sixth
Sikh Guru Hargobind Sahib. The Muslim Emperor Jahengir, imprisoned the Guru at Gwalior in 1619 (800km away from Amritsar), where he met 52 hindu Kings . The Guru when being released would not leave without the 52, as they were illegally jailed for being hindus. Emperor made a deal who ever would touch the Guru would be released alongside with him. A special coat was made with 52 long strings so all hindus got free. When the Guru made his way to Amritsar the Sikhs threw a pretty Rad party for him with fireworks and firecrackers and the entire city was lite, the Hindus who were terrified for years(scared from Muslims) for celebrating their own diwali festival also joined in, upon seeing Sikhs celebrating.
Sikhs dont believe in superstitions at all. Period. I know u learned a thing or 2 noknok. Good Boi.