ISDhillon
SPNer
- Dec 13, 2005
- 192
- 14
Satsriakal Cybersangat Ji
How do sikhs view Kushwant Singh and how do we feel about him writing on sikh history? I have supplied you a news report below please read then tell, its just in the past I have read stuff from him which I find quite upsetting about sikhism especially how he tainted freedom fighters as terrorists, perhaps he is a good example of how people can reform thats if he has reformed, what do you think? I dont want this to be a debate about 1984 just whether you think he has changed alot of his pro-congress views.
http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=218114&cat=India
Khushwant, Manmohan talk the glory of Sikhism
New Delhi | January 13, 2006 3:45:10 AM IST
If getting published by the Oxford University Press is like getting married to a Duchess, what can be the pleasure of a book published by the Oxford being released by the Prime Minister? Celebrated Indian author Khushwant Singh had the best of both the worlds this evening when he received precisely the same privilege -- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh opened the ribbons wrapping the nanogenarian's newest book, 'The Illustrated History of the Sikhs', brought out by the Oxford University Press.
After he finished writing the first edition of the book, the man with malice towards one and all was doubtful if Sikhism would survive the twentieth century. But today as he walked up to the stage to a standing ovation from the audience full of Singh's friends and fans, the feeling was that of elation.
"Twenty years ago, we saw the Blue Star operation, assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi and the massacre of Sikhs. It almost felt we were alienated from the mainstream," he said, talking straight from the past.
"It took a long time to turn around and turn around it did. Today you have a Sikh Prime Minister, a Sikh as the chief of the Army and a Sikh as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission," he said with his sense of pride as a Sikh writ large on his beaming face.
About the Prime Minister, he reserved his special praise. "I have not seen a man who has achieved so much but retains his sense of humility." He, however, was not so forthcoming about the Prime Minister's wife. "Gurcharan Kaurji wanted the book launch to be in her home.
But a book release with tea and pakoras was not my idea of celebration," he said amid roars of laughter.
Though she agreed to shift the launch venue to the Le Meridien Hotel, Mrs Kaur extracted a price for the change "that no liquor would be served". He may have agreed to it, but the flamboyant author, had other ideas. "I hope you will bear with me," he told the audience, adding in the same breath, "We will wait a little".
On his part, the Prime Minister profusely praised the author saying "his has been a truly creative life".
Calling Sikhism as an "intensely humane" religion, Dr Singh said there was a "dark period" in the 80s when some people tried to wean away the Sikhs from the mainsteam. "That dark phase is over. The Sikh community has regained its confidence." The book, which spans five centuries of Sikh history from Guru Nanak to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale to Dr Manmohan Singh, celebrates the life and times of the community till today.
UNI FZ RR RK2012
How do sikhs view Kushwant Singh and how do we feel about him writing on sikh history? I have supplied you a news report below please read then tell, its just in the past I have read stuff from him which I find quite upsetting about sikhism especially how he tainted freedom fighters as terrorists, perhaps he is a good example of how people can reform thats if he has reformed, what do you think? I dont want this to be a debate about 1984 just whether you think he has changed alot of his pro-congress views.
http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=218114&cat=India
Khushwant, Manmohan talk the glory of Sikhism
New Delhi | January 13, 2006 3:45:10 AM IST
If getting published by the Oxford University Press is like getting married to a Duchess, what can be the pleasure of a book published by the Oxford being released by the Prime Minister? Celebrated Indian author Khushwant Singh had the best of both the worlds this evening when he received precisely the same privilege -- Prime Minister Manmohan Singh opened the ribbons wrapping the nanogenarian's newest book, 'The Illustrated History of the Sikhs', brought out by the Oxford University Press.
After he finished writing the first edition of the book, the man with malice towards one and all was doubtful if Sikhism would survive the twentieth century. But today as he walked up to the stage to a standing ovation from the audience full of Singh's friends and fans, the feeling was that of elation.
"Twenty years ago, we saw the Blue Star operation, assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi and the massacre of Sikhs. It almost felt we were alienated from the mainstream," he said, talking straight from the past.
"It took a long time to turn around and turn around it did. Today you have a Sikh Prime Minister, a Sikh as the chief of the Army and a Sikh as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission," he said with his sense of pride as a Sikh writ large on his beaming face.
About the Prime Minister, he reserved his special praise. "I have not seen a man who has achieved so much but retains his sense of humility." He, however, was not so forthcoming about the Prime Minister's wife. "Gurcharan Kaurji wanted the book launch to be in her home.
But a book release with tea and pakoras was not my idea of celebration," he said amid roars of laughter.
Though she agreed to shift the launch venue to the Le Meridien Hotel, Mrs Kaur extracted a price for the change "that no liquor would be served". He may have agreed to it, but the flamboyant author, had other ideas. "I hope you will bear with me," he told the audience, adding in the same breath, "We will wait a little".
On his part, the Prime Minister profusely praised the author saying "his has been a truly creative life".
Calling Sikhism as an "intensely humane" religion, Dr Singh said there was a "dark period" in the 80s when some people tried to wean away the Sikhs from the mainsteam. "That dark phase is over. The Sikh community has regained its confidence." The book, which spans five centuries of Sikh history from Guru Nanak to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale to Dr Manmohan Singh, celebrates the life and times of the community till today.
UNI FZ RR RK2012
