06-15-2009, 08:45 PM
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Ramanaji,
Until the 1871 census,the Sikhs had not been enumerated separately in the Punjab.They were returned as Hindus.Most jatt sikhs would have had names like ram lal or kishenlal and were not keshdaris.
<b>The British feared that Sikhism which was born in the womb of Hinduism,as a protest movement,like say Lingayats,would have returned to Hinduism as as a sect like Nanakpanthis.</b>
<b>The Sikhs had fought fiercely in the Anglo-Sikh wars but had been betrayed by the upper caste Hindu leadership(fearful of Sikha Shahi).The British decided to rope in the Sikhs and created the modern Sikh identity.The recruiting officers would insist on Ram Singh with the kesh and the Sikhs were enumerated as a distinct religion from 1871.The British had learned from 1857,the Hindus were the greatest threat to their domination.With all their sects,differences they looked upon the goras as outsiders.</b>
<b>British administrators like John Lawrence,historians like Cunningham played a big part in this process.But we must not forget that since the epic times Punjab has not been the centre of orthodox hinduism for long.Islam has had a strong influence for long time.After the French revolution,the British had a marked contempt for caste system.From the Semitic view point,a 'purified' Khalsa faith would be in British eyes far superior to puranic hinduism.Also this Khalsa faith would better protect the peasant-soldier class of Jat Sikhs from the 'depradations' of the 'depraved' Hindu upper castes.The British set themselves as the protectors of the yeomanry.It would also cut to size any nationalist pretensions from Hindu/Sikh Khatris.</b>
The British could also identify themselves with the fair-skinned manly Jats,while they despised the Hindoos.(This is what Acharya says,that Anglo Saxons think of Punjab as one unit).Inspite of all these,they were generous to many Sikh/Hindu Khatris and Mohyals.
<b>Ofcourse,all these democratic pretensions were never extended to Dalits nor did they attempt to cut to size the muslim nobility of West Punjab.The Sikh rajas who had supported the British were allowed their kingdoms.</b>
The cowardly Pakjabis were extremely grateful to the English for guaranteeing their rights.Also they were happy to be rid of Sikh/Hindu rule in Punjab.
When the democratic process gathered steam in early 20 th century,Punjab was tranquil.<b>The Sikh identity had been strengthened by the Sikh Sabha movement,SGPC,quotas etc.There was some sort of equilibrium between Hindus,Muslims and Sikhs.</b>The Old Punjab also included Haryana.
<b>The British were not averse to a sikh state but sikhs were not a majority in any of the districts in the undivided punjab.Only after partition and ethnic cleansing in both sides,did sikhs become majority in Indian punjab.</b>
<b>Ultimately it were the jatt sikhs who lost the most.The fertile canal colonies in the Majha,Central Punjab,Lahore,Sahiwal,Lyallpur which were developed by the toil of people from Amritsar,Jullundur and Ludhiana districts just a generation back were lost.So was Lahore,Rawalpindi and the Northwest where Hindus/Sikh Khatris had both agricultural land and valuable urban property.</b>
The Muslims in Indian Punjab were far poorer and the property they left were poor compensation for the incoming population.This was one of the reasons for the turmoil in Punjab.
<b>The Sikhs who were 'built' up by the British were also cheated by them.A yeomanry/nobility was given incentive to be different and the Anglo Saxons have always encouraged these separatist tendencies and instigated them have also cheated them most.</b>Unfortunately the Akalis/SGPC do not realise that.One has to give it to the Anglo Saxons.
In modern India with OBC reservations now the norm,the original context which gave rise to the present Sikh identity has no relevance.The remarkable social changes in India mean anti-hindu propaganda has no edge.<b>From the religious viewpoint,Guru Nanak was the Vedantin who brought the message to the common man of Punjab.</b>
In other parts of India,Dalits are converting to christianity or Buddhism for 'whatever' reasons.
Dr Ambedkar thought about Sikhism before deciding on Buddhism.It is sad that the original message of the Gurus is being denied to the dalits.<b>But from the jatt sikh viewpoint,it might be felt that the erosion of Sikh identity might cause the endless 'confusion' of Hinduism and finally the distinctive character of Sikhism which has given a 'homeland',dignity,security and belief system.</b>
We must realise this context before we jump in to accuse Dr MMS on everything.
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Ramanaji,
Until the 1871 census,the Sikhs had not been enumerated separately in the Punjab.They were returned as Hindus.Most jatt sikhs would have had names like ram lal or kishenlal and were not keshdaris.
<b>The British feared that Sikhism which was born in the womb of Hinduism,as a protest movement,like say Lingayats,would have returned to Hinduism as as a sect like Nanakpanthis.</b>
<b>The Sikhs had fought fiercely in the Anglo-Sikh wars but had been betrayed by the upper caste Hindu leadership(fearful of Sikha Shahi).The British decided to rope in the Sikhs and created the modern Sikh identity.The recruiting officers would insist on Ram Singh with the kesh and the Sikhs were enumerated as a distinct religion from 1871.The British had learned from 1857,the Hindus were the greatest threat to their domination.With all their sects,differences they looked upon the goras as outsiders.</b>
<b>British administrators like John Lawrence,historians like Cunningham played a big part in this process.But we must not forget that since the epic times Punjab has not been the centre of orthodox hinduism for long.Islam has had a strong influence for long time.After the French revolution,the British had a marked contempt for caste system.From the Semitic view point,a 'purified' Khalsa faith would be in British eyes far superior to puranic hinduism.Also this Khalsa faith would better protect the peasant-soldier class of Jat Sikhs from the 'depradations' of the 'depraved' Hindu upper castes.The British set themselves as the protectors of the yeomanry.It would also cut to size any nationalist pretensions from Hindu/Sikh Khatris.</b>
The British could also identify themselves with the fair-skinned manly Jats,while they despised the Hindoos.(This is what Acharya says,that Anglo Saxons think of Punjab as one unit).Inspite of all these,they were generous to many Sikh/Hindu Khatris and Mohyals.
<b>Ofcourse,all these democratic pretensions were never extended to Dalits nor did they attempt to cut to size the muslim nobility of West Punjab.The Sikh rajas who had supported the British were allowed their kingdoms.</b>
The cowardly Pakjabis were extremely grateful to the English for guaranteeing their rights.Also they were happy to be rid of Sikh/Hindu rule in Punjab.
When the democratic process gathered steam in early 20 th century,Punjab was tranquil.<b>The Sikh identity had been strengthened by the Sikh Sabha movement,SGPC,quotas etc.There was some sort of equilibrium between Hindus,Muslims and Sikhs.</b>The Old Punjab also included Haryana.
<b>The British were not averse to a sikh state but sikhs were not a majority in any of the districts in the undivided punjab.Only after partition and ethnic cleansing in both sides,did sikhs become majority in Indian punjab.</b>
<b>Ultimately it were the jatt sikhs who lost the most.The fertile canal colonies in the Majha,Central Punjab,Lahore,Sahiwal,Lyallpur which were developed by the toil of people from Amritsar,Jullundur and Ludhiana districts just a generation back were lost.So was Lahore,Rawalpindi and the Northwest where Hindus/Sikh Khatris had both agricultural land and valuable urban property.</b>
The Muslims in Indian Punjab were far poorer and the property they left were poor compensation for the incoming population.This was one of the reasons for the turmoil in Punjab.
<b>The Sikhs who were 'built' up by the British were also cheated by them.A yeomanry/nobility was given incentive to be different and the Anglo Saxons have always encouraged these separatist tendencies and instigated them have also cheated them most.</b>Unfortunately the Akalis/SGPC do not realise that.One has to give it to the Anglo Saxons.
In modern India with OBC reservations now the norm,the original context which gave rise to the present Sikh identity has no relevance.The remarkable social changes in India mean anti-hindu propaganda has no edge.<b>From the religious viewpoint,Guru Nanak was the Vedantin who brought the message to the common man of Punjab.</b>
In other parts of India,Dalits are converting to christianity or Buddhism for 'whatever' reasons.
Dr Ambedkar thought about Sikhism before deciding on Buddhism.It is sad that the original message of the Gurus is being denied to the dalits.<b>But from the jatt sikh viewpoint,it might be felt that the erosion of Sikh identity might cause the endless 'confusion' of Hinduism and finally the distinctive character of Sikhism which has given a 'homeland',dignity,security and belief system.</b>
We must realise this context before we jump in to accuse Dr MMS on everything.
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