BLACK WEEK OF SIKH HISTORY-31 MAY TO 6 JUNE(1984)

31 may 1984 ,Indian military started the most infamous chapter of of India Being a secular nation.As you all Know what was the reason and what were the demands of Singh soorme's and what our own country did to us and our Akal Takht.So,I will not write it again.
 I was not born when whole seen took place,so I will only write what i have listened from my elders.Here is the whole story for you.PLZ COMMENT IF YOU WANT ANY CORRECTION IN THE FOLLOWING


31 MAY,1984-
Central Reserved Police Force(C.R.P.F) started firing in Shri Darbar Sahib Complex.It was looking like they have reached there with a plan.Though Indian government had always claimed that the operation bluestar was spontaneous,but  everybody knows that the military was planning to attack Shri Harmandir Sahib from 2 years,and they even practiced the whole move at Chakrata,near DEHRADUN where artificial gurudwara like structure was made for practice


1 JUNE ,1984-
At about 12:40,CRPF again started firing in the complex.In this firing,Sardar Balbir Singh Ji(Gurudwara inspectrum Shromoni Committee) ,Bhai Mahinga Singh(Babbar Khalsa), and many more(Sant Jarnial Singh ji's supporters) got Shaheed
Indian government declared CURFEW in Amritsar
  Sant Harchand Singh Longowal ji treid his level best and even called Governer of Punjab and President to solve the matter,but all of his effort got nothing but failiure


2 JUNE,1984-
CRPF was increasing anger in common Sikh community.Even the Pradhan of shromani committee was threatened for life
,and was stopped from entering the Gurudwara Sahib


3 JUNE,1984-
Today,it was the Shahidi Guruparv of Guru Arjan Dev Ji.The intensity of CURFEW was decreased from 6a.m to 10a.m
But government suddenly reversed there orders ,and the civilians who went into Gurudwara during this phase got caught into there trick and they were killed afterwards(they were tagged as terrorist)
Whole of Punjab was under Army,Punjab Borders were sealed,entire telephone and electricity connection were cutted.
In Short ,there was total black out of Punjab.Even Media was not permitted to report on this.This clearly indicate that there intension was to stop any news of to reach in other parts of India or World


4 JUNE,1984-
Firing again started at 4:40 a.m ,but from both sides.There was heavy fighting.Whole day passed in this counter firing but this was indicating all sikhs to some bigger attack.But what this bigger attack could be?
 All of them got answer on5 and 6 june


5 JUNE,1984-
This was the day when military entered Harmandir Sahib with Tanks.The intensity of firing was increased.According to witnesses,They attacked our Akal Takht(It has same position for Sikhs which mecca has for muslims,or vetican City for Christians).The all new laws of indian government were imposed ,which   
were in direction to kill civilians.


6 JUNE ,1984-
According to army Records,number of casualt were
Military-1000 killed,600 wounded
Singhs-292 killed,50 wounded
But unofficial figures were much higher.Today,we lost our 'sir kadd ' soorma,Jarnail Singh Ji Bhindrawale 

Above photo was the result of Millitary Attack


I hope and pray that ,our community would never see that "NEELA TAARA" again

WHOM WE SHOULD VOTE?

Sikhs have two Major Parties for central government ,namely,Bhartiya Janta Party And Congress,but it has always been an issue that whom we should vote.
I too have no clue,its just like we have to  choose from two bad things and we will choose the one which is lesser bad
CONGRESS-
This Party has ruled India for 50 years and everyone is well aware of its widespread corruption,Rajiv Gandhi's fully filled swiss bank accounts,Rahul Gandhi's(Orignal name in his valid passport is Raul Vinci),and anti sikh policies of Indira Gandhi(1980's ,operation Bluestar).
History has vitnesses that nehru-gandhi had never completed there promise,which they did to us,or kashmir and etc

BHARTIYA JANTA PARTY-
Bhartiya Janta Party is very closely related to Hindu terrorist party i.e RSS.The RSS has tried there level best to make sikhs hindu,but they got nothing but failiure and they will find it always.


So ,plz post ur comments that whom you will wait and what is your reason?

Ravidassi parted away from Sikhism,Started new Religion

 Guru Ravidas ,born in14th century,was dalit by birth.He started a new movement called " Ravidas Sampradaya" against Indian Caste System for those who were considered lower caste by Higher caste Hindus at that moment.

SIKHISM AND RAVIDAS SECT- SIMILARITIES

Way of following  religion in Sikhs and Ravidassi is very contradicting,though both  are against the caste system  But some of the resemblence are:

-They speak "Jo Bole So Nirbheya", resembling with our "Jo Bole So Nihal"

-They call there holy book as "Guru Sikhya Sahib" ,and we call it "Guru Granth Sahib"

-There are many things which are same to sikhism

-Langar is also served in there bhavans

          According to me,this shows they are deeply in close relationship with sikhism.Moreover,41 Hymns of Bhagat Ravidas were included in Guru Granth Sahib Ji

PARTING AWAY-

The dera sacha khand of ballan of ravidass sect had officially announced the move away step fro Sikhism.On the occasion of 633rd birthday of the bhagat Ravidas,they announced that 

>They belong to different Religion "Ravidas Dharm"

>They have there seprate Holy book "Amrit Bani Guru Ravidass"

>Different Religious Symbol with hari written on it

>There salutation will be " Jai Gurudev"

>There ultimate place of pilgrimage would be " Sri Guru Ravidass Janam Asthan Mandir seer Govardhan Varanasi

Orignally,Ravidassi were from the form followers of sikhi but due to some anti sikh elements they are inching towards the so called hindutva.

Recently,they have protested against Kirpan(quiet humourous) and they have started using tilak, doing idol worship etc which are prohibited in sikhism

They had suddenly started disrespecting Guru Granth Sahib Ji by removing it from there "Bhavans".After the Vienna,Austria incident,they got into the altercation.

If sikh did not bear the weapon to protect against the islamic fundamentalists,would Bhagat jis Bani would had even existed today.

CONCLUSION-

Clearly,the failiure of SGPC to look into the matter is solely responsible for there partition.There were no steps taken to broaden the gap.As soon as the announcement was done, there was oppositions within the community also

No matter, how much hard ravidassis can try to create a gap from Sikhism , they would always remain deeply attached to Sikhism and they can never apart from us.

I personally know some of the ravidassis those who are totally against this moving away which had always promised them equality,It was the sikhism which imparted them freedom and they walked proudly as the son or daughter of GURU GOBIND SINGH JI

 Recent decision of ravidassi is totally wrong ,and i know not today but after sometime they will fed up of superstitous ideology and will miss the freedom of sikh religion and they will again try to follow the sikh religion .I am waiting for that day

Guru Granth Sahib -At The Highest Position at Library of Congress

World's one of the biggest library i.e Library of congress has given immense respect to the Sikh's holy book and their last guru " SRI GURU GRANTH SAHIB JI ".

HOW? For answer scroll down..........

About Library:

This Library has huge collection of documents,research papers,research reports,circulation services,photos,stastics,helpful links,digitalized book for the visually-impaired,blogs etc.

Today’s customers increasingly turn to the California State Library’s website for research reports, circulation services, grant information, photos, statistics, helpful links, digitized books for the visually-impaired, and a blog.

Respect to Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji;

By Library of Congress:

This Library has 7 floors where books are kept on the basis of importance i.e higher the status of book,higher is its place in the library.You all would be very happy to know that our Granth is placed at the top floor and its prakash was done with great honour and respect.Outside the room,LORD OF THE WORLD is written for adressing guru ji .

It has entire collection of Bhai veer Singh and Bhai Randhir Singh writings in gurmukhi.It also has 2 mp3 collections of full recitation of Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

By NASA-
When father of Late Kalpana Chawla had an opportunity to visit the NASA centre at San Jose, America (in September 2004), he was shown a volume of an English translation of Guru Granth Sahib jee kept at the NASA library.He was also told that when scientists get tired of searching and searching the universe, when they seek inspiration and need to uplift their souls they turn to read the translations of Guru Nanak's poetry and divine-songs which magnificently describe the awe and wonder of the Universe. There is no other poetry, no other divine-song, no other Scripture, such as the Bani of Guru Nanak Sahib

 

Moreover,The Capital of Washinton DC has also passed the resolution to celebrate the week of june 15-21 as the SIKH HERITAGE WEEK .This is done as Sikhs are living there from about 150 Years and now they have become a new flavour of Americas multi-ethinic identity When father of Late Kalpana Chawla had an opportunity to visit the NASA centre at San Jose, America (in September 2004), he was shown a volume of an English translation of Guru Granth Sahib jee kept at the NASA library.He was also told that when scientists get tired of searching and searching the universe, when they seek inspiration and need to uplift their souls they turn to read the translations of Guru Nanak's poetry and divine-songs which magnificently describe the awe and wonder of the Universe. There is no other poetry, no other divine-song, no other Scripture, such as the Bani of Guru Nanak Sahib

AMRITSAR-DEMAND OF GIVING IT STATUS OF HERITAGE CITY

In 2009, Amritsar's MP demanded to shift the status of  Amritsar city from Category 'B' to category 'C'
i.e to give it a status of Heritage city.But the emotional appeal of Sidhu was buried under the technical grounds .But later , it was clear that City of GOLDEN TEMPLE  also qualifies those criterias.Actually,the minimum population of a city should be more than 1 million,and according to census of india ,there are 10.03 lakh people living in amritsar.But UPA government rrejected this demand

One of the question which Mr. Sidhu raised that after partition in 1947,Lahore got place in the heritage list of UNESCO,but its closest city in India ,Amritsar, where top leaders ,from Queen Elizabeth to Canada PM,come to offer prayers is struggliing to get a tag of heritage city
He also asked that ,apart from being an temporal city for sikh religion ,it was also the birth place of Luv and Kush


I am not surprised that UPA rejected the demand of giving Amritsar a tag of HERITAGE CITY.They had always given step motherly treatment to Punjab .It is very sad that sikhs are denied of their rights even though the PM himself is a sikh


I cant find a single real  reason for Amritsar for not being heritage city other than that stupid technical grounds


Benifits of being  a  heritage city:

Funds for development, conservation, preservation and protection of heritage locales, buildings, sites etc. Increased tourism, renewed interest, cultural renaissance and global recognition.Check out this video of Mr. Sidhu giving speech in parliament

142-NRI Sikh Deleted From Blacklist

The Punjab Government demanded to review the blacklisted NRI to unjust denial of common and NRI sikhs .This issue was rasised by Mr. Prakash Singh Badal at 'All India Cheif Minister Conference on International Security' in New Delhi 2010.Central Government deleted 142 sikhs out of 169 from its "blacklist" on May 13.This action was in reponse to Delhi High Court Order to written petition,dated 9 February

REALITY-These blacklisted were those who opposed attack on Golden Temple.Actually ,Government was maintaining the blacklist of those people who were just demonstratin against the attack.They were blacklisted on religious ground,which is not at all fair.In last year,169 NRI sikh were stopped at Delhi airport,though they were having valid passport.After Opeation Bluestar (1984) ,India admitted about black list in 2007.
Indian Government had stooped so low that it is denying visas to Next Generation Sikhs
Some of the question which  suddenly striked my mind are-


-Why Sikh can't protest in an democratic system?


-These people were not Against India but They were demonstrating against Political Party and Officials of that time,so Why the case of being Anti-Indian were charged Against them


-From this step,we can easily conclude that there were 1000's os sikh who would have been dicriminated during 80,s.


-Why India was at War with there own citizen at that time,and what about those innocent people who were killed by Indian army throughout 1984?


-Indian Government has asked Sikhs to forget Operation Bluestar and "move on".Is it not the same suituation that after killing someone,he is asking his family members to forgetRemoving them from blacklist is not full justice,cases are still registered against them,and as soon as they will enter Punjab,they would arrested


-Why Indian government admitted so late,in 2007, of existense of any such blacklist?


-Removing them from blacklist is not full justice,cases are still registered against them,and as soon as they will enter Punjab,they would arrested


-In case of Kashmir,some sanity has prevailed and there is talk of allowing youth,who have adjured violence ,to return India.But why not in our case?

A special thank to the courageous man,SARDAR TRILOCHAN SINGH JI ,whose had always raised this issue in Rajya Sabha .I want to thank him and hope that he will continue his fight against Indian secular democratic system

Sikhs in United States

Sikhs are in huge numbers in America.According to an estimate,there are more than 500000 sikhs living there.Most of them living in south california.This trend of migration from there homeland increased in 1980's to escape from India not due to economic reason but also from fake encounters,torture,or possibly Death and Indian government's anti-sikh policies.
The earliest sikhs arrived there as workers in farm of California.During World War 1 and World War 2,Sikh fought bravely for british army and American Army also recruited them due to there god-gifted soldiers skill which they inherited from there Gurus.The first Sikh gurudwara was built in Stockhon,California in 1912
Sikhism is the 2nd largest religion im Yuba city.This city is also famous for "Sikh Parade" when large rnumber of sikhs gather
Starting life as farm workers,they became land owner,and then successful self employed buissness men.Dalip Singh Saundh was the Asian Born person to be elected in US house of representatives, Some of the Sikh icons in America are-
1-Kashmir Gill
2-Nimrata Nikki Randhawa Haley
3-Bhagat Singh Thind
4-Dalip Singh Saund
5-Preet Bharara
6-Harry Sidhu
Though there is huge stress on sikh community of adapting in American Culture,But I am sure they will surely come over it,Whether it is US,UK or Canada,Sikhs will always remain UNITED

BRANDED SIKH CLOTHES

Everybody(me too) is brand consious these days.Tommy Hilfiger,Armani,Adidas ,Reebok etc are some of those.But they do not have clothing range related to our Khanda aur Punjabism So,yesterday I went market to buy some T-Shirts having KHANDA in front or some other design with PUNJABI slogans written on it,but i found nothing,but only T Shirts  with khanda printed on very cheap cloth.
So,I searched on net of same and found some websites which provide these kind of stuff in very fine  quality.

Whenever i wear these t-shirts ,i feel very proud .Some of the famous designs os sikh designs are-
-Simple Khanda
-Photo of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale(with text written on it "movement starts with me"-
-Punjabi Slogans printed
-Design for girls with text written on it "kudi punjaban" or "Real punjabi girls"

I am sharing these websites with you-
www.rootsgear.com
www.zazzle.com
http://www.g5sikhmedia.co.uk/shop.html

or else you can google it yourself,you can find lots of websites
So,wear it and feel proud of being a sikh,sant ,soldiers and of our rich cultures
          At1 last ,a special thanks to above mentioned companies for providing these Kind of T-shirts.I also hope that  various  big brands will start there "sikh range" for our community soon

Gurmeet Ram Raheem-Jhoota Sauda

Gurmeet ram rahim Singh is the head of dera sacha sauda(according to me ,it should be jhoota sauda
) which opposes donations,but his mode of transport is MERCEDEZ and has security of 25 BODYGUARDS.He disrespected sikh community by imitiating the incident of Baisakhi 1699,founding of Khalsa panth by distributing his "amrit" to his followers.He has numerous case against him of killing,thuging and even raping.CBI is investigating his case.
Guru Gobind Singh Ji Stricly ordered all Sikhs to take Guru Granth Saheb as their last guru.But many of the dera followers are sikh,which bring shame our community.now its our turn to act.We all should join for the this cause.
One of freind told me that Punjab has 10000 babas in whole state.
Please share ur views with me and also you can share your recommendation and steps we should take to stop this.

"21"

I was watching movie "300" yesterday and was very much inspired by their  bravery,as spartans fought till their last breath. But i think our bollywood should  also make "21".Well,confused.
I am talking about Battle of Saragarhi,in which 21 Sikh fought against 10000 afhans and orakzai.All Died but after killing 4600 pathans.Sikhs were asked to do Surrender but they refused and fought till death.Moreover,this incident is also included in UNESCO top ten bravery incidents.It showed the disciplined and fearless quality of sikh soldiers
 So,what are ur views?

 

The names of those  21 recipients of the gallantry award which is presently equivalent to Paramveer Chakra are:

1. Havaldar Ishar Singh
2. Naik Lal Singh (332)
3. Lance Naik Chanda Singh (546)
4. Sepoy Sundar Singh (1321)
5. Sepoy Ram Singh (287)
6. Sepoy Uttar Singh (492)h
7. Sepoy Sahib Singh (182)
8. Sepoy Hira Singh (359)
9. Sepoy Daya Singh (687)
10. Sepoy Jivan Singh (760)
11. Sepoy Bhola Singh (791)
12. Sepoy Narayan Singh (834)
13. Sepoy Gurmukh Singh (814)
14. Sepoy Jivan Singh (871)
15. Sepoy Gurmukh Singh (1733)
16. Sepoy Ram Singh (163)
17. Sepoy Bhagwan Singh (1257)
18. Sepoy Bhagwan Singh (1265)
19. Sepoy Buta Singh (1556)
20. Sepoy Jivan Singh (1651)
21. Sepoy Nand Singh (122)

Sanjay Dutt is also making movie on this incident with co stars Bobby Deol,Ajay Devgan and some actual soldiers of Sikh Batalion

This incident is also include in France High School Syllabus

"SAVA LAKH SE 1 LADAAUN,TABHE GOBIND SINGH NAAM KAHAUN"

Bibliography:Wikipedia

Langar Hall

Langar, or Guru ka langar, is a term found in the
Guru’s writings and there is a reference to Mata Khivi
serving langar (AGGS, Bhatt, p 967). It has been
suggested that its origin may lie in Sufi Islam but to
defend the uniqueness of the founder, the Sikhs often
dispute and reject the suggestion. The concept is
fundamental to his teaching and may be seen as the
corollary of sewa. ‘Langar’ means ‘eating together
without discrimination’, or ‘free kitchen’, and that is a
place where anyone may come to be fed. It fits in
perfectly with the first Guru’s teachings on sewa.
Today, and the tradition the practice is based on goes
back a long way, langar is characterised by three things:
pangat, eating in lines sitting on the ground, facing one
another; a vegetarian meal so that no one need feel
threatened by the diet provided, and the donation of
food by members of the sangat (Congregation).
Responsibility for langar, some giving food, others
preparing and cooking it, while others serve and wash
up - or, where it is served on leaf plates, clear away the
debris is the point where langar and sewa converge
Waheguru ji ka Khalsa , Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Conditions of War in Sikhism

The five conditions of a righteous war (dharam yudh)
are:
1 It should be a last resort when all other means have
failed, (as expressed in Zafarnama).
2 It should be waged without enmity or the desire for
revenge. (Here one might be reminded to the
desireless action, nishkamakarma, which Arjuna
was called upon to pursue by Krishna in the
Bhagavad Gita.
3 Territory should not be annexed but returned when
hostilities have ended. Captured property should be
given back. Looting and the taking of booty are
forbidden.
4 The army should comprise only soldiers committed
to the cause. There should be no use of mercenaries.
It should act in a disciplined manner. The Rahit
Namas of the Guru, codes of conduct, such as no use
of tobacco or alcohol, or the molesting of their
adversaries women folk, should be adhered to
strictly.
5 Minimum forces should be used, only sufficient to
achieve the objective. This done hostilities should
cease.
These rules have always guided Sikhs in their military
actions during the Mughal period, in the days of the
Sikh Empire, and when they took part in the struggle for
an independent India. A Sikh soldier must be a santsipahi,
a ‘saint-soldier’, with the word ‘sant’ coming first
in order. The Sikh reputation for courage should never
be allowed to overshadow the importance of spiritual
principles. Though Sikhs have often been regarded as a
warrior nation, especially by the British, many Sikhs
have adopted a policy of non-violence in the pursuit of
justice, as the Christian missionary, C F Andrews
observed [4]. In 1921 during the Gurdwara Reform
Movement when Sikhs were claiming the control ofGurdwaras from private owners who had been granted
possession by the British, Sikh reformers staged a nonviolent
protest at the Guru Ka Bagh Gurdwara near
Amritsar. They were met by force from policemen led by
two English officers. The Sikhs faced them silently, their
hands placed together in prayer. One Englishman felled a
Sikh using his brass tipped lathi. The demonstrator
scrambled to his feet only to be knocked down again. The
same treatment was meted out to the other Sikhs by the
officers or their men

Sikh 5 kakkars

Guru Gobind Singh instructed his amritdhari

(meaning ‘baptised’ ) Sikhs to keep the five Ks

(‘kakkaar’) to mark their transformation:

1. Kes Uncut hair. This expresses Nature as

reflecting God’s Will and God’s design for

humans as the most beautiful.

2. Kangha A small wooden comb which a Sikh

should use twice a day, which symbolises

cleanliness. It reminds Sikhs that just as a

comb cleans hair, then they can get rid of

impurities of thought by repeating God’s

Name in their mind.

3. Kara An n iron or a steel bracelet worn on the

wrist of the hand the person would write with.

It is a symbol of a Sikh’s unbreakable bond

with the Guru and the Khalsa. The circle is a

symbol of restraint and a constant reminder of

ideal behaviour, while the use of steel is a

symbol of strength and equality (steel, rather

than silver or gold, can be afforded by all

Sikhs).

4. Kachera A pair of breeches, often worn as

under-shorts, .symbolising high sexual

morals.

5. Kirpan Literally, “sword of mercy”. This is

used to defend the weak and uphold

righteousness, and follow the Guru’s teaching

that a Sikh should “fear not, frighten not”.

Reasons For Sikh Migration

Migration is a very personal issue and no two cases are the same in terms of factors

leading up to the decision to leave Punjab/India. However there seem to be some criteria

which become evident. A major variable is the time horizon. In later years migration

became easier and more importantly there was the comfort of increasing numbers of

fellow migrants. Initial spear-heading by an immigrant, is soon followed by others so that

family presence gets increased and in many cases gets skewed in favor of overseas

compared to India.

While earlier major migration from Doaba, Majha and Malwa regions of Punjab were due

to economic and financial reasons due small land holdings and because these people

had more exposure to overseas through Army and in the case of South East Asia via

police recruitment. From Lachhman Singh’s family story, the main reasons for migration

can be summarized as:

1. This immigration is post independence phenomenon and in fact post 1970’s

phenomenon which accelerated in the 1980’s, 1990’s and is continuing to be so. With no

children settled abroad, the grand children are almost equally split between India and in

this case USA.

2. Earlier going abroad was for studies mainly higher education. Scholarships for

graduate work (Assistantships and Fellowships) were easier to get while financial

assistance for undergraduate work was difficult and rarely covered full expenses. The

situation changed somewhat in later decades when Mini got almost full financial

assistance for undergraduate work.

3. In 1960’s going overseas was at a more mature age (twenties) for higher education

than at undergraduate level (teenage). The chances of returning were more in the former

case when one was less vulnerable. It was also difficult to get immigration till

liberalization of the mid 1960’s. USA appeared on the horizon as a more favorable

destination than the UK because of financial support offered to overseas students.

4. Migration to Canada or UK was possible but US laws were more stringent up till mid

1960’s and even that to highly qualified persons. Relatives and dependents were

allowed a bit later which opened the flood gates to exponential growth in immigration.

5. Marriage was another avenue for migration particularly for girls. In this family case, it

just happened that the bridegroom was from overseas These marriages were to

professionals and hence were not motivated by migration. In fact there were

considerable doubts on getting married abroad. One positive factor of marrying abroad

was expectation of better job satisfaction and husband-wife relationship equity (contra to

experiences at lower income group or marriages to non professionals in Canada and

UK).

6. Some migration such as Mini Kahlon’s was basically for life style purposes. She felt

the social environ more conducive to her value system and provided her with a wider

canvass to explore job opportunities and relationships both at personal and societal

levels.

7. In some cases migration took places as a part of job opportunity and upgrading by the

husband though initially this was not a factor in getting married.

8. In case of relatives from the villages, the motivation was to have better living standard

and to have more income in comparison to earnings in India. The land sub-division

amongst children was looming large whereby living standards were expected to be

under pressure. More over with other relatives being there as a result of marriage

alliances, it was felt that migration was merely shifting from the India based cluster of

relatives to overseas cluster with the support system already in place. Better future for

off-springs was an added incentive. In Canada the old age benefits were attractive for

senior citizens.

9. The motivation per se for each person to strike a new course (and emigration is

certainly so) may not be sufficiently strong where local affluence or opportunity is

attractive enough. Efforts to migrate at a later age have not been less successful, with

men having more difficulty than women. For some years, a woman parent, in fact, is

sought after by migrant children for obvious reasons. How long for, is a different matter?

Sikh Migration Story

A TYPICAL SIKH FAMILY STORY – MOVEMENT ABROAD

SARDAR LACHHMAN SINGH

A TYPICAL SIKH FAMILY STORY - MOVEMENT ABROAD

Sardar Lachhman Singh (1900-1984) from Sialkot/Sargodha Districts of West Punjab

was a typical Jat Sikh background who moved from Narowal to Sargodha in the newly

set up canal colonies by the British. This was also Migration. Being the only son, the

land inheritance was sufficient to dig roots. This got fortified through a degree in

Agriculture and a Government job. His sisters got married to Jat Sikhs one with inherited

farm land and the other to a graduate with a Government job. Lachhman’s wife was from

a well-to-do farming family. There was no incentive to migrate abroad because of

sufficient farm holdings and because of continuing up ward movement socially through

Government jobs. The first exposure of Lachhman outside Punjab was the appointment

for 3 years in Bharatpur state of Maharaja Era. Partition of Punjab in 1947 was an up

setting event and the various members of the family had to readjust like several others.

There was still no urge or incentive to migrate abroad. However exposure of family

members settled in Doaba region was to have an impact but much later. The children by

and large did better in financial or employment terms, as will be evident from details to

follow, resulting in upwards social status. No migration overseas took place. The next

generation moved outwards. Why? Read on and draw your own conclusions. My views

appear at the end.

The first foray was by Lachhman Singh’s second son, Swarn, to USA for higher studies

in 1958. It was an aberration in a way. The commitment was to get a higher degree, get

some valuable job experience and return to follow the traditional route of settling down in

India hoping for better prospects through overseas qualifications. A full scholarship

helped as otherwise it was a “No Go” deal. On return in 1961, there were short term

irritating hiccups in settling down, and getting a satisfying job. Being selected by a British

multinational, Imperial Chemical Industries, the largest foreign enterprise in India at that

time, settled the issue of India v/s USA. These Corporates called Companies provided a

western working environ, with good salaries and more importantly excellent perquisites

and life style with memberships of elite Clubs, social or golf. You were in India but part of

an elite set up with western oriented job and social environ. Expatriate staff was still

present in significant numbers. Calcutta was a city with excellent clubs, restaurants and

cocktail party culture. This is several decades before this culture became popular with all

and sundry (at that time we felt like that). Even money could not buy this life style except

for in Bombay to some extent which had plenty of wealth in Indian hands. It was a heady

feeling comparable in exclusivity to Army in some ways but more up market in affluence.

Childrens’ admission to the best schools was not an issue for a “Box wallah”. IAS was

respected for their power but even they were looking for son-in-laws from the

multinationals. IIM’s had not yet been set up in India. Despite the initial problems

because of American background as against the more prevalent British education, one

settled down to an exciting and privileged life. I was perhaps the first recruit, certainly so

in the commercial stream, with American degree – something to be pitied because of

misplaced American culture when looked through the British eyes. In 1980’s I had a

serious look at leaving India but it was not seriously followed up.

The impact of association with ICI on children was that to them a white person was just

like any one else. I am mentioning this because even some of the IIM, Ahmedabad,

trainees with us were very much overawed, to put it mildly, even up to the 1980’s with

white expats. So for our daughter Mini to seek to go to USA, Bryn Mawr, Pa., in 1987 for

under graduate studies was a natural progression. Mini is now an American citizen.

I have jumped the gun a bit on time horizon. I got married to Livleen in 1967 whose

mother was born and brought up in Burma. So there was a foreign connection of sorts.

Livleen’s “Maasi” got married to a Pharmacist who settled in Canada after trying to find a

satisfying livelihood in Bombay.

Back to 1982 when a closer connection with overseas through younger generation

developed via Lachhman Singh’s older son Harbhajan’s ( retired as Lt.General, Chief of

Signals, Indian Army) daughter Tina got married to an American, Harry Brar. Harry’s

grand father had migrated (illegally to start with) in the 1930’s to California via Mexico.

That is a story in itself to be expanded separately. The General was not looking for a

match for his daughter in USA i.e. it was not a migration deal but it just so happened.

This set in motion a green card for the General and his wife and student sponsorship of

their younger son Andy. The later then got married to a recent Sikh Immigrant’s daughter

and so the clan is now well established as US citizens. To complete the General’s story,

his older son who is working in Merchant ships is a possible migrant to USA.

Lachhman Singh’s oldest daughter Surinder has now interest overseas through her

daughter Harpreet’s marriage in 1989 to an IITian in Houston, thereby starting another

immigrant chain. The only exception is Lachhman’s younger daughter Kuldeep Hundal,

whose two children have not migrated overseas. Probably there was no strong

motivation to do so. Same is the story of Lachhman Singh’s youngest son, Manmohan,

who had considerable overseas exposure through Merchant Navy but preferred to stay

in India. Their elder son is settled in India but plays golf mostly abroad and the younger

one is working in the Gulf countries.

Their have been major changes amongst Lachhman Singh’s nephews and nieces (our

first cousins) many of whom are now abroad. The story starts with Sidhu clan where

youngest daughter Gurmeet’s husband, Dr.Dhillon, emigrated in steps from PAU,

Ludhiana to USA. She sponsored two of her brothers to USA for better prospects. Her

other brother’s widow is in Canada. Only one sister and a brother remain in India.

Lachhman Singh’s other sister married to a Chatha have a daughter in Canada while the

two sons remain in India having inherited valuable agricultural land which has now been

urbanized.

From Lachhman Singh’s wife Dhanwant Kaur’s side all three of the brothers are abroad

but a sister remains in India.

There is the case of reverse migration. Mila, a Bulgarian, has migrated to India where

she is living in Bombay with Gurtaj, son of Swarn and Livleen and grand son of Sardar

Lachhman Singh. This is a migration for love or marriage or more likely both.