Are we really Santa or Banta Singh?

Right from the beginning of Sikhism, we have come out with many beautiful concepts, most of which are the following:

• Langar Seva (Open food service for everyone, regardless of the cast, creed, social status, etc) – Guru Nanak Dev Ji
• All humans are one. (Manas ki jaat sabh eke pehchhan) – Guru Gobind Singh
• Concept of Miri Piri – Guru Hargobind ji
• Importance on the status of mind not the age - Guru Harkrishan Sahib
• Saint Soldier – Guru Gobind Singh ji
• Khandey ki pahaul – Guru Gobind Singh ji
• Red cross - Bhai Kania ji
• Sri Guru Granth Sahib (Includes hymns of not only the Sikh Gurus, but also many other blessed souls)
• And many more. The list is unending. :-)

I hope every Sikh would know about these concepts. I consider them as a result of the thinking of the most positive minds. Each of them is unique in its own self and gives us a new dimension to the word Sikh. These concepts kept on coming after time to time and strengthened the definition of Sikhism.

Our religion has given birth to great souls like Bhai Taru Singh, Bhai Mati Singh, and Soldiers like Mai Bhaago, Bhai Deep Singh, Banda Singh Bahadur ji, and great scholars like Bhai Nandlal ji, Bhai Vir Singh ji and many more.

But, if we look into past 15-20 years, the most prominent and famous personalities that have emerged out of our family are Mr. Santa Singh and Mr. Banta Singh. Isn’t it? What has happened?

This situation makes me remind of one shabad of Guru Sahib:

Jab lag khalsa rahey nyara
Tab lag tej diyo meh sara

Jab eh gahe bipran ki reet
Meh na karoon inki parteet

Here, Guru ji has made it cleared that the Sikhs will only receive his blessings till the time they abide by the Rules and Regulations of Sikhi. And Santa and Banta Singh are the biggest examples to prove that we are getting deprived of our Guru’s blessings. An identity of Saint-Soldier is now getting treated as a Comic character. And why not, how would one treat a Saint who goes to pubs every evening or goes to beauty parlors for getting his hair dressed. This is simple human psychology.

Saints and Soldiers are the last resort for any average person. One is a guide and the other is the protector. A Sikh is a combination of both. Now the question is that, do we actually possess any of the two qualities?

Most of us are 18+ years of age, an adult member of the family (Sikh family). Being adults of the family we all have a responsibility towards our family, right from financial needs to preserving its heritage and culture. The question is, are we responsible enough?

Are the parents nurturing their kids with enough information and knowledge about great sacrifices done by our Guru Sahibs?

How many kids even know the name of our Ten Gurus, name of the first panj pyaras and name of sahibzadaas?

Most important, are we really “One big Khalsa family”?

There are many questions like these.

Our Guru was so proud of his Khalsa family that he dedicated this shabad to us:

Inhi ki kirpa ke sajeh hum hain
Nahi mosey garib karor paren

He has given all credit to the Khalsa even for his own existence as Gobind Singh. He had immense love for the Khalsa because of the values and disciplines his Khalsa followed. He converted a normal human to a roaring Singh (Lion) who is fearless, loving, caring, and truthful, with sabat soorat roop (complete and beautiful appearance), who believed in the principles like “Truth is above all, Highest is truthful living” and much more. I will not mind in calling his Khalsa invincible because his Khalsa was the perfect blend of a Saint and a Soldier.

Saint: He blessed his Khalsa with the right and accurate knowledge of the Divine Lord. He filled his heart with truth, humanity, love and only love for the lord and his creations.

Soldier: He made sure that his Khalsa is capable of fighting for his own and others rights. He blessed his Khalsa with the strength (mental and physical) of a lion. He blessed his Khalsa with the art of Gatka (The sikh martial art, which aims on self defense. It’s a combination of physical strength and deep meditation power).

He blessed his family with the Slogan of:

Deg Teg Fateh!

Countless are his blessing on us. And now let’s see what have we returned for his favor.

• We were the first ones to promote equal rights for women and men. Right now Punjab has the lowest child sex ratio through out the country.
• We were known for our love for the Lord, now we believe more in Stones and Gems and most of our time is spent with astrologers, etc.
• We were the believers of “Manas ki jaat sabh ekeh pehechhan”. Guess what, we have divided ourselves into Jatts, Bhappas, Khatris and what not. Now, we feel proud in using our last name or surname rather than Singh.
• Once, a solution provider is now confused to believe in the saying of Guru Sahib. He is not able to understand to concept of the Shabad Guru.
• Once standing against, now, Liquor and meat are a part of our identity. People assume that a Sikh is supposed to eat non-vegetarian and drink liquor. All most 80% of the Punjab is always sleeping under the effect of drugs.
• Composer of the most beautiful hymns for praising God is now only composing the most vulgar songs.
• This list is also unending :-(

We are the first students who have achieved the University level education and blissfully degraded ourselves to the Kinder Garden again. Now the question is, what do you think, how one should call or show us as? I think this question is easy to answer now.

A Sikh is nothing without the blessings of his Gurus and the Lord. The sayings of the Guru Sahib has not changed, we have changed.

I hope I am able to convey the message I wanted to, and by no means have offended anyone’s feelings because this is not my purpose. And seek your forgiveness if I have mentioned anything wrong.

All feedbacks are appreciated.

Bhul chuk maaf.

Guru Raakha

Gagandeep Singh