My Malice and Bias

The Sikh community suffered a massive loss of lives, property, and loss of dignity with the events that exploded in 1984. It all started with Operation Blue Star in June, 1984 resulting in the assassination of Indira Gandhi which then led to the genocide of Sikhs in Indian capital Delhi and other Congress ruled states. The suffering did not stop here and continued in the format of fake encounters of Sikh youths in Punjab in 90s. Grief of Sikh Nation Kübler-Ross Model of Grief The stages of grief and mourning are universal and are experienced by people from all walks of life, across many cultures. The Kübler-Ross model, or the five stages of grief, postulates a series of emotions experienced by people who have experienced bereavement, wherein the five stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. The model was later modified to seven stages as shown below. I would like to apply the Kübler-Ross model to the Sikh nation's emotions and reactions to the Ope

The Taj Mahal meaning "Crown of the Palace" is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658), to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal . The tomb is the centerpiece of a 42-acre complex is set in Mughal style garden bounded on three sides by a wall. Taj Mahal An Husband's Love for His Wife The Taj Mahal was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1631, to be built in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian princess who died giving birth to their 14th child.  The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu . When Mumtaz Mahal died on June 17th, 1631, The death of Mumtaz reportedly affected the emperor so deeply that his black hair and beard turned snow white in just a few months. The emperor was overcome with grief, and vowed to keep his beloved wife’s memory alive forever. He decided to build her a monument of eter

Live by the sword, die by the sword? For brutal dictators, the adage is more often true. In fact, dictators and warlords who indulge in genocides are more likely to die at the hands of an enraged populace or stealth assassin. The concept of dictatorship as well as the use of force and systemic persecution of political opponents to stay in power dates back to the ancient Roman civilization. However, it was the modern history dictators who made it virtually a synonym for gross human rights violations and brutality. Sadly, some of the most brutal dictators in modern history held power not so long ago. Dictators of the World There may be ultimate justice for the wicked, but the deaths of dictators do provide some pretty interesting tales. Here's how 9 of the world's most notorious modern dictators kicked the bucket. 1. Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945) This evil man who rose to power in the 1930s was responsible for the greatest atrocities in human history. He ordered systematic

It's hard being the younger sibling, You are always measured against the bar set by your older sibling. Same is true for the young state of Haryana in India. Its trying to create an image of itself in the shadow of its older sibling - Punjab . It has tried painfully to establish itself as anti-Punjab and anti-Sikh state ever since its conception. In fact, Haryana is one of the wealthiest states of India and has the third highest per capita income in the country at $2,100 . The state is one of the most economically developed regions in South Asia, and it has emerged as the largest recipient of government investment per capita in India. Ignoring Haryanvi Culture Over years Haryana governments have made a concerted effort to disassociate themselves from Punjab. Nothing wrong in it, right? Haryana has the right to establish its own language, culture, and traditions that defines its people as Haryanavis . But this is where they have gone wrong! Instead of developing Haryanvi

About 20 years ago on my trip to India, I had a very interesting conversation with a close family friend in New Delhi. This respectable member of society and a very successful Sikh businessman was oblivious on the impact of 1984 Genocide on the Sikhs of Delhi. I questioned him if he feels the pain of the families who suffered in 1984. To my dismay, he emphatically stated, "Look, I have no empathy for the likes of Sikh taxi drivers. I have no connection with them .. I can't even understand their rural Punjabi accent. I have more in common with my friends in Delhi with whom I grew up .. and meet everyday for business or socially." I was shocked and attributed it to the selective amnesia of a successful man who wants to disconnect from his religious and cultural roots for the sake of financial and political gains. But I was wrong as he is not unique in his thinking process. There is a whole class of Brown "Babus" and "Sahibs" who find it hard to connec

In the late 1960s and 1970s , new streams of religious beliefs came to the United States. The term guru, or spiritual teacher, became a household word. Many gurus came from India to America in these years. They challenged the conservative views on religion and society and promoted new age religions to the rebellious youth. Bell-bottoms, long hair, flowers, free love and psychedelic rock—became the symbol of cultural revolution of the 1960s. Hippie symbols on 1960s Becoming a swami or a guru is not a matter of academic degrees or book learning, but deep spiritual insight that must be confirmed by the authority of one’s own teacher. In India, it is taken for granted that some gurus are more genuine representatives of their traditions of learning than others. In America, all had a chance to attract a following. Some came and went quickly, sometimes amidst controversy. Others came and settled into the American landscape, where their influence is still felt today. Maharishi Mahesh Y