Kes
Since my health is better, i started doing the educational programme on sikhism again. I missed it, it gives me so much pleasure to give this introduction.
For the next month again 7 groups are coming to visit our gurdwara.
Sometimes i do this introduction in schools, like last week. I was asked to inform on sikhism to a group of young adults who will graduate as schoolteachers this year.
Afterwards we had a small forum where questions could be asked. Usually it is about turban (which are forbidden in some schools) or kirpans (which are forbidden everywhere), but to my great surprise this time they focussed on kes.
" But it is backwards"
" But it is oldfashioned"
" But is ugly"
" But it is not hygienic"
" But it is dirty"
I could not believe my ears and so couldn't A.Singh who was there with me. These young people will raise our next generation (like my granddaughter) and we were supposed to trust our children with them. And their reaction was this....
So i explained again and again, so did A. He is amrithari and told them how he lives with his 5 kakaars.
In vain....
There is still lots of work to be done!
Tomorrow another group is coming, wish me luck...
For the next month again 7 groups are coming to visit our gurdwara.
Sometimes i do this introduction in schools, like last week. I was asked to inform on sikhism to a group of young adults who will graduate as schoolteachers this year.
Afterwards we had a small forum where questions could be asked. Usually it is about turban (which are forbidden in some schools) or kirpans (which are forbidden everywhere), but to my great surprise this time they focussed on kes.
" But it is backwards"
" But it is oldfashioned"
" But is ugly"
" But it is not hygienic"
" But it is dirty"
I could not believe my ears and so couldn't A.Singh who was there with me. These young people will raise our next generation (like my granddaughter) and we were supposed to trust our children with them. And their reaction was this....
So i explained again and again, so did A. He is amrithari and told them how he lives with his 5 kakaars.
In vain....
There is still lots of work to be done!
Tomorrow another group is coming, wish me luck...
posted by manpreet kaur at Sunday, March 11, 2007
3 Comments:
Are the kids in the know how of the reasons why the 5 K's are worn by Sikhs. And i am not talking of the one reason that the tenth Guru gave them to us - i talk of the reasons that give the logic behind them.
Next time carry the various scientific research papers that have concluded on the benefits of kes.
Lastly, don't try to impress the opinion on kids who aren't mature enough to decide. Show them the way and let them decide. We can't force Sikhi on anyone - not even our kids. Our Gurus too never did it.
Thanks.
" But it is backwards"
Backwards is belittling other people or their beliefs.
" But it is oldfashioned"
Old fashioned is good when it is a tradtion with purpose.
" But is ugly"
How can hair be ugly?
" But it is not hygienic"
Shaving and cutting and mutliating the human body is not hygienic. Keeping the body as God made it is perfectly hygenic.
" But it is dirty"
Actually Sikh's hair is the cleanest because it's covered. Everybody else is exposed to pollution and dirt and oils and all sorts of other gross things that get on their hair. Our hair is clean.
Tejbir Ji
you are so right, one can not force Sikhi on anyone. This is sikhism and as sikhs we accept that all the ways (every religion) is a way to God. Sikhs are not out to convert people. So i am doing an introduction on sikhism, just to make people understand what we believe in and why some of us look different.
My disappointment is that these young teachers have this attitude influenced by fashion industry who make a lot of moneye on telling young people how they have to look and what they have to do. And these young people who will have a responsibility in society very soon, are too dull to see how this game is working.
Prabhu Ji
Your reactions are all to the point. The problem is not at the sikhside, we don't have to defend us on this. It is their problem, it really is. But my worry is what are they going to tell to the kids in the classroom?
If they have this attitude now, how will they welcome little sikhchildren?
Thank you Surinder Ji, we don't give up, but sometimes i am wondering how long one has to fight all this superficiality?
That long?
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