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Educating Sikhs
Nanak Singh Nishtar*
Since 1994, we have been representing before the Andhra
Pradesh Backward Classes Commission to include Sikligar
community in the list of backward classes, but the list
is yet to be finalised. In January 2006, we successfully
got included the Sikligar community in Andhra Pradesh list
of Central Backward Classes Commission. The State Commission
visited their places for physical verification of the facts;
I would like to share with you an observation made by the
then Chairman, Justice Puttu Swamy. He said, “ We
were astonished to see their living conditions. I know the
Sikh people spent crores of rupees on festivals and buildings,
I can not understand how can they ignore their own brethren
like this? ”
This situation is not confined to this particular community
only, but most of the common Sikhs are living around the
poverty line. To substantiate my contention, I would like
to draw your attention towards the Government of India Census
2001, showing the literacy percentage of the Jains 84.1%,
Christians 69.46%, Buddhists 62.16%, Sikhs 60.55%, Hindus
54.92% and Muslims 48.05%. Among the Sikhs, the illiteracy
is much higher in Punjab. For census purpose, a person is
considered literate if he is able to read and write with
understanding in any one language; regular education is
not necessary. This alarming rate of 39.45% illiteracy among
Sikhs is just because of poverty only. This shows that about
half of the Sikh population is living in poverty or below
poverty line. They are ranked third from the bottom, i.e.,
slightly better placed than people who do not have shelter
on their heads and do not get even one square meal a day.
They can not dream of educating their children, and are
prone to conversion into other religions due to their attractive
incentives. The May 2008 issue of The Sikh Review is an
eye opener. An article “ Are Sikhs being targeted
for conversions? ”, shows the fact that even after
crores of rupees are spent in the name of Guru and Panth
every year how terribly are Sikhs being aggressively converted
into Christianity in their own home land of Punjab. Let
us frankly admit that we have utterly failed in resisting
the conversion of our people in other parts of the country
as well.
I appreciate some organisations and individuals who are
rendering services for the Sikligar people. Their present
services are like watering a plant from their own sources,
whereas making them avail the benefits is like spreading
the plantations at the cost of the Government. It will be
more beneficial for the Guru Panth, if they could extend
their activities among the under-privileged Sikh people
also, whom they need to search and serve. Let us start a
crusade against illiteracy and poverty among the Sikhs at
our own individual level. Kindly do not blame others for
not doing any community welfare activity, just think how
much you are capable of doing, which are not doing presently
?
The minorities including Sikhs throughout India are given
handsome scholarships by the Government of India from class
1 to 10. Under this scheme, the last date of submitting
application is 31st July 2008. Date for submission of applications
for post-matric scholarships, up to doctorate level will,
be notified shortly. I would like to suggest you to acquire
and provide the information to the deserving students, locate,
teach and help them to avail all the Government benefits,
fixing them within the prescribed framework of the Government.
For availing these opportunities for minority scholarships,
the procedure is very simple. The income of the parent should
be less than one lakh per annum and the previous final examination
marks should not be less then 50%. The candidates of class
1, need not submit any marks. More than 2 candidates from
a family are not entitled. For obtaining the religion’s
certificate and income certificate one need not go to any
tehsildar or any other officer, your personal separate declarations
are sufficient. We can visit the website www.minorityaffairs.gov.in
for details and application format. We have to just fill
up and submit with enclosures to the head of the institution,
where the candidate is studying. The offices of every district
collector, minority welfare department or Minorities’
Finance Corporation may be in a position to welcome and
help you. Now-a-days, information in detail and application
format is available on internet and we can visit and download
from our own State website also.
Today’s burning topic of the country is the recent
agitation of the Gujjar community’s claim for inclusion
in the list of Scheduled Tribes, which took many lives and
crores of private and government properties are lost so
far. The agitation was started in Rajasthan, and soon spread
to the nearby states. From this we can understand the importance
and benefits of getting reservations for the community’s
welfare. After the Justice Sachar Committee’s recommendations,
some of the Muslim communities have been given Backward
Class status in almost all the states and the Muslims got
reservations in admissions and services.
On these lines, some of our leaders are demanding a committee
to be appointed to survey the economic and social status
of the Sikhs and inclusion of Sikligar, Banjaras and Satnamis
in the list of Scheduled Castes. I am afraid, if such a
committee is appointed, we may be losing the advantages
for which we are now entitled as a minority at par with
Muslims and other minorities of the country. I would like
to refer to the constitution of Shah Commission for looking
into the discrimination and grievances of the Sikhs. The
terms of reference were not in accordance to our demands.
Master Tara Singh and the Khalsa Panth rightly boycotted
the commission. Even now, if any such committee is appointed,
it will meet with the same fate.
I would like to share a few words about Sikligar, Banjara
and Satnami Sikhs. The Sikligars have been the keshadhari
Sikhs for generations. The Banjaras and Satnamis are Hindus,
who when they embraced Sikhism had to be looked after by
our people and at the cost of our funds. Initially, when
the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were listed and
those who embraced Sikhism were kept out from enjoying the
privileges. A strong agitation under the able guidance of
Master Tara Singh compelled the Government to change its
stand. Now the Government of India and all State governments
are also extending the benefits to people who embrace Sikhism.
Here in Andhra Pradesh, we have successfully represented
the cases of converted Sikhs from Banjaras who are listed
as Scheduled Tribes and are now enjoying the benefits of
the community they belonged to previously. Similarly, throughout
the country, we should stand by them and represent their
cases for getting the conferred rights and facilities after
embracing Sikhism. Banjaras and Satnamis are listed as Backward
in some of the States; we should get the list from the Social
Welfare Department and help them to get the government facilities.
The Sikligar community is listed as Scheduled Caste at least
in three states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.
In most of the other states and Union Territories, the Sikligar
community is listed as Backward and eligible for all sorts
of reservations in admissions and services, other benefits
and scholarships at all levels. Any number of members from
a family are eligible for scholarships, no minimum percentage
of marks is required for them and a different income limit
is also prescribed. The Head of the Institution, District
Social Welfare Officer or the District Collector office
may be contacted for further details. Now-a-days, information
in detail and application format is available on internet
and, as mentioned earlier, you can visit and download from
your own State website.
Our problem is that we are not aware of utilising the conferred
privileges nor we try to get acquainted with any such information
which the government is providing to the deserving people
for which we the Sikhs are also entitled. In Punjab, Haryana
and Himachal Pradesh, some of the communities of Sikhs are
listed as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward
Classes. We are not at all bothered to make them avail the
government facilities, which will continue for them lifelong
and even for their next generation.
Unfortunately, Sikhism has been converted in to a religion
of enjoyments, pomp and show in festivals and celebrations
to boost the ego of the office-bearers of the leading Sikh
institutions, who have become Event Managers for arranging
the spectacular shows. The object of Sikhism is for the
individual person to change one’s own life style according
to Gurmat. Instead of that, we have formed several committees
for Kirtan Smagams, Rein Sabais and Yatras to historical
places, whereas all these practices are repeatedly condemned
in Shri Guru Granth Sahib. We don’t want to spare
any time to do social service or at least show the needy
Sikhs the right way simply by collecting and passing on
the information about schemes for betterment of an individual
introduced by the Government or by any other voluntary organisation.
We have a tradition of not learning any lessons from the
observations or experiences of others nor from our own.
Instead of the fruitless discussion on the role of Sikh
organisations and gurdwaras, I would like to draw your attention
towards the service you can render in your personal capacity
on the basis of “One To One” formula. This is
not any imaginary theory, but proved to be most successful
outcome based on my personal experiences, experiments and
achievements during more than half a century’s working.
Kindly make up your mind to donate your offerings to those
trusts that serve the poor and disadvantaged instead of
dumping your daswandh in the ritualistic manner in the hands
of those persons who criminally waste your most valuable
contributions for non-productive activities in vulgar show
of wealth and strength to boost the image of few individuals.
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