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Thank you for this namji{censored}aur. I really appreciate reading it.  and I totally agree.

I too like it and part of what I like in that is being able to tell Sikh people about how my background (Scottish and likely with a few pagans some hundreds of years ago ;-)) includes a sgian dubh, which means black knife. You see bagpipers wear them to cultural events still, though they aren't used commonly these days, mostly only when in full Scottish dress. But their purpose and meaning is very analogous to the kirpan, without the "religious twist". You are not supposed to take a sgian dubh out of its scabbard unless you are going to draw blood. The meaning of this is you only take it out to defend [yourself or someone else]. People are "superstitious" about how much bad luck it can bring to you to take it out if you are not going to draw blood to the extent that often if they want to "show off the blade" to someone else they are supposed to prick their own finger for a drop.

Scots largely lost a lot of their culture in the 1700's when wearing kilts and carrying weapons (like this knife) and playing bagpipes were outlawed for around 50 years, punishable by death. Luckily Sikhs haven't lost that right entirely with their turbans, Kirpans, tabla/vaja, etc after 1984. Yes there is oppression going on but Sikhs are not mostly being hanged for tying on a turban alone or playing the tabla. Thankfully.

Anyhow this is an interesting discussion, too bad I found it so late!