Roundtable
Our Future:
The Roundtable Open Forum # 49, Nov 2 - 8
EDITOR
The following is this week's (November 2 - 8) topic for discussion.
OUR FUTURE
Chardi Kalaa - the central pillar of Sikhi - was never meant for the good times.
By sheer definition, it is to come into play during tough times, when the present and future look bleak and no solutions are in sight.
It is true: we are indeed facing some monumental challenges today.
Not unlike when a price was on the head of every Sikh, brought dead or alive, and a much decimated Sikh populace lived a nomadic life for decades, out-smarting the rulers of the land.
When Sikhs were betrayed by the Hindu Dogras and lost their kingdom to the new rulers of the land.
When Sikhs lost much of their nation due to the machinations of the new rulers of the land.
When Sikhs faced genocidal pogroms at the hands of the rulers of the land.
And, you know, each time, true to the tyrant Manu's complaint three centuries ago, we've grown after each setback ... bigger and better and stronger!
"Manu is our scythe, we the crops before him,
The more he cuts us down, the more we multiply!"
Are today's problems any more challenging than those we've overcome in the past?
True, once again we are being subjected to the whims and the short-sightedness and the narrow-mindedness of the rulers of the land.
But isn't it also true that we are, this time around, not dealing with the brightest lights in the firmament?
There's only one thing going for this latest lot - their greed is insatiable, their corruption limitless.
But they are a godless bunch, not very intelligent, lacking foresight and a long-term vision. A billion of them, and they have nothing in common amongst themselves, except their poverty - material, spiritual and intellectual.
Remember, Hitler has come and plagued this earth ... and was gone in a few years. There's no naam or nishaan - no trace - of him left anywhere
Indira Gandhi too came ... and was gone in a few years, followed by her progeny, whose remnants couldn't even be found to deserve a decent funeral.
As sure as day follows night, the current crop of scoundrels will also come to pass.
POINTS TO PONDER
Armed with your Chardi Kalaa, tell us how you envision the future of the Sikh community around the world!
Tell us how and where you see the Sikhs of the world fifty years from now ... say, in the year 2060.
Put aside your distress at the recent setbacks, and dip into our well-springs of strength, our determination, our commitment, our spirituality, our Sikhi ... and share with us how you see our future, shaped by nothing but your chardi kalaa!
November 2, 2010
Conversation about this article
1: Charan Singh (Glasgow, Scotland), November 02, 2010, 12:06 PM.
Here's what I see happening within 20 years or so: India will breakup into a number of parts, including an area around Punjab. Sikhs abroad will see opportunities in Punjab and will help rebuild it as a leading power in the region. Sikhs abroad will be at the top of their heaps in each of their respective homelands. I see them putting the "low" period under the Hindus behind them. They will regain their status as a nation-building elite. I should add that this not a mere dream - I see the energy currently unleashed amongst our young generations easily leading to this outcome.
2: Jasmeet Kaur (Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.), November 02, 2010, 4:24 PM.
We cannot just rest on our past laurels, but we can certainly see a pattern in history - our strengths and weaknesses, and build on our strong points. We are a hardy lot and have survived many a difficult time. Despite all the challenges today, I don't feel as down about the present as some others feel. I think all of us need to refocus our looking glasses and study things in their proper context and from a realistic perspective. I truly like where we are as a community, despite our many detractors - and distractions - and I feel more optimistic about the future than I have ever been in more than four decades of my adult life to date.
3: Sukhbinder Dhiman (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada), November 03, 2010, 2:21 AM.
I see Sikhism in 2060 as the leading 3rd option for worldwide reform. I see a Khalsa that will not tolerate oppression and tyranny from any government/ state/ person. I see a Khalsa that is well prepared and organized and will fight, not just protest, for the oppressed. In short, I see the Khalsa as not just UN peacekeepers but peace enforcers.
4: K.D.S. (India), November 03, 2010, 4:42 AM.
In anticipation of the inevitable breakup of India, we Sikhs should concentrate on maintaining our numerical strength in the next 20-30 years. Large number of interfaith marriages, adoption of Hindu practices, following deras, etc. could take a heavy toll on Sikh numbers.
5: Bicky Singh (Ontario, Canada), November 03, 2010, 12:33 PM.
In fifty years, I see a radical change in Sikhi. The way things are currently progressing in India in regards to female feoticide, rampant drug use, the abandoning of Sikhi principles and values (including the abandonment of wearning the turban), I forsee Sikhi being extinguished in India. Having said this, I see Sikhi flourishing in (primarily) the West. The current institutions (not gurdwaras) that represent Sikhi and that are fighting for our rights (especially in the U.S.) have come a long way and I see a very bright future for Sikhs here. Young Sikhs are making a tremendous contribution to seeing Sikhi flourish in their upcoming times - I think this is where Sikhi will prosper. Besides making the pilgrimage to the various gurdwaras in India, Sikhi there will be non-existent (and I don't mean that there won't be any turbaned Sikhs there), if things continue the way they are going there.
6: Amardeep (U.S.A.), November 03, 2010, 1:00 PM.
I see light. I see fulfillment of our 'ardaas'. Some say, I am a dreamer but I am not the only one.
7: Axeman (Ayton, Ontario, Canada), November 08, 2010, 11:46 AM.
I notice none of the opinions are from Indian residents. I worry about a stronger community outside of India and a waning community resident of India. We don't want to become a group of wandering people. That said, I also worry about North American gurdwaras failing to make an effort to be relevant to North American Sikh youth. So many subjects are taboo and not addressed. Moreover, our practices seem to have fallen into the trap of blindly clinging to format rather than exploring the pith and substance of the Guru Granth and helping ourselves evolve to meet our changing needs.