Antonia Jio,
Gurfateh ji.
Joking ?? Definitley NOT jio...
Let me explain...
A LONG LONG time ago....say about 55 years ago....when I began schooling I was enrolled ina Catholic Church Kiddee class as that was nearest to the GURDWARA where I lived ( incidentally I went through my entire school life up to HSC living in a GURDWARA adjacent to a Catholic Church/and Christian Brothers School Complex..but I digress..)
Anyway at this class, the teacher asked us all to stand up and say what religion each one was... I said SIKH and sat down.... the second last person was also a Punjabi but didnt have a Joorra (top knot). He proudly declared..I am a MODERN SIKH. That was the first time i heard that I was OLD-FASHIONED/out of date/expired....Sikh ??..and those that vut their hair were "modern" Sikhs...
I went back home and had a discussion with my dad...he soon set the record straight...and i continued to go to the same school happy to be the SIKH I am till Today.
On the Sikh Diaspora Forums and elsewhere in Letters to teh editor columns, in the Media..etc etc I am still highly amused to see people who have high educational degrees such as PHd.,s etc behind their names..DR. so and so. Singh....Engineer So and So Singh..Prof. So and so Singh...etc who are the so called "modern Sikhs/Clean Shaven ( Implying that those who dont cut their hair/beards are DIRTY ??) and even Sehajdharees.
Now what has all this got to do with the SIKHS who bheta Aeroplanes to SGGS in order to migrate..get visas to USA ??..and WHY do i call them MODERN ?? Well it all ties up with the earlier "Modern Sikhs". You see.. AMONG the ones I saw Bhetaaing the aeroplanes were wearing uncut hair..dastaars and ahd 3 ft Kirpans pn their persons..OBVIOUSLY "AMRITDHAREES" !!! But just as the "clean shaven Sikhs Modernity didnt impress me... these "Amrtidharees" seem to be MODERN INSIDE !! They are CLEAN SHAVEN INSIDE !!! The earlier ones Cut hair....these have cut their MANN-SIKHEE......and retained ONLy the OUTSIDE as BHEKH...
THAT is why I call their type of Sikhi "Modern"....
I felt like CRYING..not laughing when i saw their actions....the link is from a Daily newspaper that highlighted it on my behest. Hope the GYAAN of SGGS lights up inside their manns....
