Narendra Damodardas Modi (born 17 September 1950) is the 15th and current Prime Minister of India, in office since 26 May 2014.The prime minister is a Hindu nationalist and a longstanding member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Before becoming the prime minister of India, Mr. Modi was a successful chief minister of Gujarat state. Modi's economic policies (credited with encouraging economic growth in Gujarat) have been praised and his message of economic growth of all of India on the Gujarat model was one of the key factor for his election. His opposition has accused him of not doing enough to stop the Gujarat riots that started as a reaction to burning alive of over 50 Hindu pilgrims in a train my Muslim mobs. However the Indian courts have exonerated Mr. Modi of all accusations in the Gujarat riots.
My blog is not about his successes or controversies, but rather about his relationship with the Sikhs and how he represents a new hope for Sikhs. Many Sikhs hope that they will now get justice for the 1984 Genocide and Sikh majority state of Punjab will become prosperous once again.
Narendra Modi - Sikh Turban
Is their hope going to be fulfilled?
Narendra Modi's fascination with Sikhism and specially the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh ji could be based on his RSS ideology which gives high regard to the tenth Guru. When Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency in 1975, all prominent leaders of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and other opposition parties were arrested. Some of the opposition party leaders went underground and several of them tried to deceive police by changing their getup. BJP leader like LK Advani and Subramanian Swamy hid themselves in the Golden temple Complex to avoid being arrested. Narendra Modi disguised as a Sikh and stayed underground in Chandigarh and Punjab for some time.
Narandra Modi in his Sikh Disguise in 1975
The relationship between Narendra Modi and Prakash Singh Badal, the octogenarian chief minister has been built on mutual trust. Badal proposed Modi's name as candidate for BJP leadership and promised unconditional support.
Narendra Modi and Prakash Singh Badal
The attack on the Sikh farmers settled in the border area of Gujarat by local land mafia supported by local politicians did put a question mark on Modi's relationship with the Sikh community. These farmers were allotted farming land close to the Pakistan border as the locals were afraid of farming in that area. These hardworking farmers have made Gujarat their home and cultivated the land sing 1970s.
Sikhs protesting against the attack on Sikh farmers in Gujarat
Recent visit by the Indian Prime Minister to Punjab when he paid respect to Sardar Bhagat Singh and other martyrs at Husainiwala where the British tried to cremate the martyrs after stealthy hanging them a day earlier. Modi paying respect to the martyrs was received well by the Sikhs.
Modi paying homage to the martyrs at Husainiwala, Punjab
Later Modi paid respect to the hundreds of innocent victims of mindless firing by British General Reginald Dwyer at Jalianwala Bagh, Amritsar. This is another gesture that is seen positively by the Punjabis.
Modi at Jalianwala Bagh, Amritsar
Finally Modi made a spiritual visit to Harmander Sahib, more popularly known as the Golden Temple. It was nice to see Modi entering the Harmander Sahib as a common pilgrim and paid his respects. It was also nice to see Mr. Modi not making any political speech during his visit.
Modi bowing down at the entrance to Harmander Sahib
Later the Indian Prime Minister was honored by a ceremonial Siropa at the Harmander Sahib. A sharp contrast to the visit by Indira Gandhi after operation blue star.
Modi receiving ceremonial honor at the Golden Temple
The Sikh diaspora has emotional attachment with India but have also deeply felt the hurt of operation blue star and the Sikh Genocide of 1984. Many Sikhs were black-listed by the then Congress government and feel alienated by the Gandhi government.
During his recent visit to Canada, Narendra Modi reached out to the Sikh community in Canada with a visit to the Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara at Vancouver, BC. He visited the Gurdwara, paid respect to Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and sat on the floor of the Diwan along with Sikh sangat.
Narendra Modi at the Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara, Vancouver, BC, Canada
I also listened to his speech at the Gurdwara. What impressed me most was his heartfelt respect for the Sikh Gurus and him trying to explain his blood-bond with Sikhs as one of the Punj Pyaras of Guru Gobind Singh ji came from his native place. He did not try to make a political speech but rather provided an emotional healing touch to a community that has felt deliberate attempt by previous Congress governments to alienate them.
Nanrendra Modi speech at Khalsa Diwan Society Gurdwara
So far so good, Mr. Modi! The Sikhs supported you and voted for you in the 2014 general elections. The community has a lot of hopes resting on your shoulders. Peace and prosperity of Punjab, Punjabis, and Sikhs is our prime concern. But foremost, we expect justice from the Indian judiciary and government for the Sikh Genocide of 1984. The deliverance of justice to Sikhs will go a long way in providing a much needed and lasting healing touch. We are hoping you will not let us down!
Punjabi Ignorance We, the Punjabis historically have not been documenting our own history. The Muslim Punjabis have almost forgotten their genetic ancestry and now try to connect their gene pool to the Arab aristocracy of Sayeds and Qureshis. The Pakistan government ignorantly names its missiles after the Islamic invaders who dispossessed their ancestors from their land. The Hindu Punjabis have written off their own ancestors, warriors kings, and Gurus and relate more to the Middle-India heroes such as Rama, Krishna, and Shivaji, The Sikhs have done a better job in staying connected to their roots but their historical reach is limited just to the Sikh period. Punjab history has to be taken as a whole, and that includes, Adivasis, Indus valley, Aryan Khatris, Kushans, Rajputs, Gujjars, Jatts, Islamic invaders, Sikh period, British rule, and the post independence era. Trinity of Punjabi Pride What's the Problem? So what? The results of this ignorance is astounding. We never
We all are familiar with Waris Shah (Urdu: السيد وارث علي شاه النقوي الرضوي البهكري البدراني) , ਵਾਰਿਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ (Gurmukhi); 1722–1798) who was a Punjabi Sufi poet of Chishti order, renowned for his contribution to Punjabi literature by immortalizing the love story of Heer Ranjha . His poetic verse is a treasure-trove of Punjabi phrases, idioms and sayings. His minute and realistic depiction of the details of Punjabi life and political situation in the 18th century, remains unique and the entire poem is an album of colorful and enchanting pictures of life in the Punjab, deeply absorbing. Abdur Rehman Chugtai painting of Heer and Ranjha Waris Shah was deeply learned in Sufi and domestic cultural lore. His depiction of story of romantic love is a poetic expression of the mystical love of the human soul towards God – the quintessential subject in Sufism and a recurring theme in both Sufi and Sikh mysticism. The Legend Heer is an extremely beautiful woman, born into a wealthy family
The Khalistan movement is a nationalist political liberation movement, which seeks to create a separate country called Khalistān (Punjabi: ਖਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ, "The Land of the Pure") in the Punjab region of South Asia. But is this concept a reality or just figment of imagination? Imaginary Khalistan Map Background The Punjab region has been the traditional homeland for the Sikhs . Before its conquest by the British it was liberated by the Sikhs after centuries of rebellion against the oppressive Mughal rule. The region had been ruled by the Sikhs for almost 100 years. However, the region also has a substantial number of Hindus and Muslims. When the Muslim League demanded a separate country for Muslims via the Lahore Resolution of 1940, a section of Sikh leaders grew concerned that their community would be left without any homeland following the partition of India between the Hindus and the Muslims. They put forward the idea of Khalistan, envisaging it as a theocratic state cove
Thankyou for providing the informative content.
ReplyDeleteIf you want any information regarding GSEB ssc result then click here Gujarat board 10th result