Martial Race-Truth or a sinister Fallacy?

[TheSikhRenaissance]

Whether renegade Sants or foreign conquerors-all have claimed Sikhs are a "martial race," "martial community," "martial faith" to make us dance on their pernicious tunes. But does the "martial race" theory stick in light of Sikh philosophy? Are we inherently more violent than other communities and is Sikhi a conflictual faith? We discuss these issues below:

Pitfalls Of The Martial Race Misnomer by The Sikh Renaissance

Amarjeet and Navjeet critique the so-called Martial Race theory and how it historically wrecked havoc in the Sikh psyche and continues to do so even today. The Sikhs are neither more violent than other communities nor prone to being violent than the next faith in line. Yet, they are stereotyped...

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[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Martial Race definition is not connected with violence. It is basically related to defence. The ones who can defend and then subvert the action plans of the attacker with his all available means which he has learnt from his ancestors or otherwise comes into the category of martial. Punjab has been the soul state which has been bearing the brunt of attacks on India from the central Asian and European attackers for centuries. Their property, wealth and dignity had been in stake in each attack for which they learnt to defend with what they had. They withheld the attacks of Alexander, the Mughals and other central Asian powers for ages. the continuous fight made them battle-hardened. These situations did not occur for central, south or east India to this scale. To face any attack fearlessly even when they have less strength and poor weapons and saving the grace of women and the property and wealth has become their learnt profession since ages. Hence the tag of a martial race was given to the Sikhs.

 

[TheSikhRenaissance]

Martial Race definition is not connected with violence. It is basically related to defence. The ones who can defend and then subvert the action plans of the attacker with his all available means which he has learnt from his ancestors or otherwise comes into the category of martial. Punjab has been the soul state which has been bearing the brunt of attacks on India from the central Asian and European attackers for centuries. Their property, wealth and dignity had been in stake in each attack for which they learnt to defend with what they had. They withheld the attacks of Alexander, the Mughals and other central Asian powers for ages. the continuous fight made them battle-hardened. These situations did not occur for central, south or east India to this scale. To face any attack fearlessly even when they have less strength and poor weapons and saving the grace of women and the property and wealth has become their learnt profession since ages. Hence the tag of a martial race was given to the Sikhs.

One needs to be quite categorical and pedantic when trying to catalogue or comprehend such pertinent matters. Offence and Defense, in the grand scheme of things, are based on force the ultimate expression of which is violence. You seem to be implying concurrence with your second paragraph on the issue of categorizing Sikhs as "martial." No problem, we also concur to a certain degree. Yes, Punjab has a cataclysmic and sanguinary history-we agree. But by no means does this evince that all Punjabis were genetically born purebred martial. As we underscore, the Sikh ideology transformed non-martial castes and races into arms bearing Khalsa. The misnomer of martial race, then, ignores the universal approach of Sikhi to living in consort with certain tenets and dying in defense of those tenets irrespective of your caste, race etc. because it is the Sikh ideology empowering you and not what is in your blood.

The martial race misnomer was lent to the Sikhs to banalize their unique ideology while rendering them cannon fodder for European wars.

 

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Violence is defined as : marked by (a) the use of usually harmful or destructive physical force (B) a violent attack (c) violent crime (d) The peaceful demonstration turned violent. Definition of VIOLENT
Violence attack is to set upon or work against forcefully attack an enemy fortification.

Definition of ATTACK

to set upon or work against forcefully; to assail with unfriendly or bitter words; to begin to affect or to act on injuriously… See the full definition

www.merriam-webster.com

Defence is protection or support against attack, criticism, or infection:

DEFENCE | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary

defence definition: 1. protection or support against attack, criticism, or infection: 2. an argument or explanation…. Learn more.

dictionary.cambridge.org

.

Violence is attached to attack and not to the defence in these definitions.

In Punjab, the built-up environment has been of defence and the culture developed in that environment. Sikh folklore is full of such anecdotes. Also, the Sikh History though initially started with spirituality but accepted the principle of 'Miri-Piri' and then 'Swa Lakh sa ek ladaon. Chidion se main baaz tudaon.' This is the real martial spirit which was developed throughout the Sikh History. To negate history is to negate Sikhism itself.

Sikhs have been defenders of Punjab and the nation from attacks of invaders hence cannot be related to Violent attack.

 

[Sikhilove1]

Martial Race definition is not connected with violence. It is basically related to defence. The ones who can defend and then subvert the action plans of the attacker with his all available means which he has learnt from his ancestors or otherwise comes into the category of martial. Punjab has been the soul state which has been bearing the brunt of attacks on India from the central Asian and European attackers for centuries. Their property, wealth and dignity had been in stake in each attack for which they learnt to defend with what they had. They withheld the attacks of Alexander, the Mughals and other central Asian powers for ages. the continuous fight made them battle-hardened. These situations did not occur for central, south or east India to this scale. To face any attack fearlessly even when they have less strength and poor weapons and saving the grace of women and the property and wealth has become their learnt profession since ages. Hence the tag of a martial race was given to the Sikhs.

Attacked by the Heavily corrupt India itself, which continues to this day.

 

[A_seeker]

Attacked by the Heavily corrupt India itself, which continues to this day.

Please elaborate . Cant relate your venomous hatred for India to the recoginition of martial race of Sikhs and their contribution defending Indian state which is respected by every Indian .

 

[Sikhilove1]

Please elaborate . Cant relate your venomous hatred for India to the recoginition of martial race of Sikhs and their contribution defending Indian state which is respected by every Indian .

Are you completely unaware of the events of 1984 or just purposely and blissful ignorant.

If your relatives were murdered and women raped, children killed and village people tortured and massacred in Harmandir Sahib and on the streets, by military and police on the Hindu nationalist Governements orders, I’m sure you wouldn’t be a fan either.

There are still perpetrators holding high governement positions and the Governement is branding Sikhs as terrorists now worldwide when all they’re doing are peaceful protests. AFTER the horrific crimes and terrorism they’ve committed against sikhs over the last hundred years. Your Government are Neo Nazi animals and criminals, heartless. You have been brainwashed and or have chosen to believe otherwise. But it’s about time someone educated you.

 

[A_seeker]

Are you completely unaware of the events of 1984 or just purposely and blissful ignorant.

If your relatives were murdered and women raped, children killed and village people tortured and massacred in Harmandir Sahib and on the streets, by military and police on the Hindu nationalist Governements orders, I’m sure you wouldn’t be a fan either.

There are still perpetrators holding high government positions and the Government is branding Sikhs as terrorists now worldwide when all they’re doing are peaceful protests. AFTER the horrific crimes and terrorism they’ve committed against sikhs over the last hundred years. Your Government are Neo Nazi animals and criminals, heartless. You have been brainwashed and or have chosen to believe otherwise. But it’s about time someone educated you.

I am not ignorant and don't need education about events in my country from an outsider .

What you mentioned about 1984 is about a planned genocide by than some leaders of Congress party ,Every Indians feels ashamed and that had been the darkest time for the nation.

Coming to the discussion, your arguments doesn't in anyway justify that Martial Status of Sikhs has been attacked post 1984.

Infact Indian Sikhs has given two Army Chief, One Air marshal and One present serving Navy Chief apart from thousand of Sikhs Recruitments to Armed Forces .The ‘changing of the guard’ ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the Pressident held on November 28 was given to 6 Sikh Light Infantry.

Where are yours numbers ???

This itself is enough to negates your false claims .