Roundtable
Sikh Culture vs. Punjabi Culture
The Roundtable Open Forum # 35, June 30 - July 6
EDITOR
The Rules of the forum are posted here on the right, and need to be followed strictly by all participants.
The following is this week's (June 30 - July 6) topic for discussion, which should focus on the questions posed therein:
SIKH CULTURE vs. PUNJABI CULTURE
Is there such a thing as ‘Sikh' culture? What are some examples of cultural practices one could identify specifically as 'Sikh'?
Is there a fine line between religion and culture, or are the two intertwined?
Does Sikh culture have elements which are distinctly different, or differ in any way, from 'Punjabi' culture?
How?
Conversation about this article
1: Zorawar Singh (Richmond Hill, New York, U.S.A.), June 30, 2010, 1:34 PM.
I think when we look at it from a distance Sikh and Punjabi culture maybe seem similar, but once we take a closer look, we find out that they are parallel and not closely connected to each other. The major difference is that in Punjabi culture all Punjabis, regardless of religion, follow certain similar practices. Sikh culture would be one in which Sikhs who are retaining their religion and abiding by the rules of the Sikh rehat maryada - even while letting go the 'Punjabi' mores and practices.
2: Jaimal Singh (Paris, France), June 30, 2010, 1:40 PM.
Sikh teachings have shaped the Sikh mindset ... all the way from emphasis on seva and respect for other faiths, to living in the here and now and not being pre-occupied with previous or future 'births', to living life to its fullest! All of this is the stuff of culture, though it has been formed in the matrix of our beautiful Faith!
3: Noni Kaur (Chandigarh, Punjab), June 30, 2010, 1:53 PM.
It is here in Punjab that you see the distinction most clearly, between Punjabi Sikhs and Punjabi Hindus, for example ... and it clearly goes beyond religion. It has to be culture. Sikhs celebrate their high holidays differently. Just think how unique it is the way we commemorate Guru Arjan's shaheedi! Then, the big-heartedness of Sikhs, the joie de vivre, the openness to change and modernity, compassion for the needy and the underdog, the ease with which we forgive the worst of things done to us, the complete absence of brahmin-like deviousness in the Sikh character ... I could go on and on.
4: I.J. Singh (New York, U.S.A.), June 30, 2010, 2:15 PM.
Three brief points. 1) Even though we rightly rue the unfiltered transfer of Punjabi cultural traits to the diaspora and in our Sikh institutions here - the gurdwaras - we need to recognize that religions take root in cultures. It, therefore, becomes difficult, at times impossible, to separate the two, even though we must; 2) I am not the first to make the observation but in Punjab, no matter what the religion - Hinduism, Islam or Christianity - it has been influenced by Sikh practices and world view. In Punjab, everyone and every faith gets somewhat Sikhized; 3) We often and rightly rue the fact that Hindu practices have corrupted Sikh ideals over the past 500 years in India. We need to see that now that we have made a home for at least a 100 years in the diaspora, our Sikh practices will now come under the increasing influence of our Judeo-Christian neighbors and their practices.
5: Joti Kaur (New Jersey, U.S.A.), June 30, 2010, 2:50 PM.
I agree with all that's been said. Sikhism is a way of life for many Punjabis BUT surely not all. There are many "rituals", for lack of a better word, that take place in a Punjabi Sikh wedding that are not within Sikhi's rehat maryada but are carried out by Sikhs. Whenever I visit Punjab, I mainly experience the Punjabi culture without any religious bounds attached. I have visited Darbar Sahib and seen Punjabi Hindus taking part in seva along with Punjabi Sikhs. I feel some Punjabis, both Hindu and Sikh, come above their religious differences and partake in each other's joyous celebrations. But clearly there are bitter feelings that still remain. Let's pray for a better world.
6: S.S.N. (Georgia, U.S.A.), July 01, 2010, 12:03 AM.
Again, I have to agree with Zorawar Singh here! A friend of mine who comes from South India and lived in Delhi once joked that I was more of a Sikh than a Punjabi! I thought his statement was very insightful. I stay away from drinking binges, do not have a maverick and fiery temper. Though I love life; I am not exactly joie de vivre (I would describe my Brazilian thus)! I think the differences are palpable and quite natural. I would say calling yourselves a "Sardar" and calling yourselves a "Sikh" are two totally different statements! A topic for another day but which has parallels to this one!
7: Taran (London, United Kingdom), July 02, 2010, 5:54 AM.
Well, today when you look around at our community, you would observe that it's all about Punjabi culture. Some of the good traits of Sikh culture are also hijacked and then brought into Punjabi Culture. This culture is the culture which is there from pre-Sikhi times. Some of the practices are still prevalent; irrespective of that, families adopted the Sikh religion at the time of the Gurus. Some of the practices of Punjabi culture have no place in Sikh religion. Look at our marriages, celebrations, non-stop alcohol flowing in Punjabi weddings, then you have these dances or performances bringing you a taste of Punjabi culture. Then, you have the practice of exchanging expensive gifts; dowry is still common in some Punjabi (Sikh) circles. Interestingly, we mostly emanate from Hindus, we changed our religion to Sikhi but we still carried on with the practices of Hinduism or of Punjabi culture. We need our people identify and zero in on what is SIKH in our culture and get rid of all that doesn't make sense!
8: Balbir Singh (Grünberg, Germany), July 03, 2010, 5:59 AM.
Sikhi is learning, not culture. Punjabi is the language. People using the Punjabi language may belong to any culture.
9: K. Singh (United Kingdom.), July 05, 2010, 5:06 AM.
There is no Sikh culture, but a Sikh way of life centred on the teachings of Guru Nanak, finalized by Guru Gobind Singh and encapsulated in the Guru Granth Sahib. It is to become a saint-soldier, that is to engross yourself in Simran/ Seva. Contemplate on the vichaars of the Guru Granth Sahib until you become enlightened and then by Grace, the Lord may show his creation in all its glory to you if you have reached a pure state. There may be pockets of these kinds of Sikhs in Punjab, but look elsewhere in the world for them, as in many countries, they are following the Guru's path. The prerequisite for this path is to offer your head to your Guru, while living a life of a householder, and taking Amrit which means you adhere to the Guru's Will. Then you immerse yourself in Naam.
10: Balbir Singh (Germany), July 05, 2010, 1:52 PM.
Naam is not at the end. The teaching of Guru Nanak begins with jupp of Naam. Many of the practices are rituals, as we practice them today. They were not introduced by our Gurus. That is why there is the feeling of owning a culture.
11: Aryeh Leib (Israel), July 06, 2010, 2:22 AM.
I'm looking at this important question from the vantage point of being (at this stage) part of a Jewish community that's experienced several thousand years of diaspora, yet remains a cohesive entity. I'm sure it's already quite evident that those who've been born outside South Asia have much weaker ties to the "home country" than those who grew up in Punjab; they are products of their place of residence, complete with the cultural familiarity and mindset of other native-born Americans, Canadians, Britons, Malaysians, etc. The answer is that Punjabi culture is already being filtered out, slowly but surely. Considering the plethora of languages in the Guru Granth, I find it difficult to believe that the object was to weld Sikhi inextricably to Punjabi culture; true, it was the cultural context in which the Gurus lived and taught (although they did travel quite extensively beyond Punjab's borders), but I think it represents no more than a jumping-off point. The culmination of this 500 year "start up" can be seen now, with Sikh communities the world over. Presently there is considerable overlap, due to the influx of Sikhs from Punjab, who bring that cultural baggage with them and attempt to replicate such conditions in their new host countries. This situation is likely to continue as long as the governments of India and Pakistan continue their policies that make remaining there less and less of a viable option for non-Hindus and non-Muslims respectively. The new generation must find the correct balance of local culture and determine that which is worth preserving of Punjabi culture - so as to be able to co-opt the (necessary) support of the Punjabi newcomers, and not alienate them.
12: K. Singh (United Kingdom), July 06, 2010, 11:23 AM.
Naam is everything, beginning, middle and end. Behind Guru's shabad is Naam, when you reach that state, then you see Naam in everything. Naam holds the creation, the universe, all unseen worlds, together.
13: Sanmeet Kaur (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), July 06, 2010, 5:01 PM.
There exists Sikh culture born from Sikhi - a Sikh's sensibility and way of life, and sense of community, our Guru Panth. This exists alongside and independent from Punjabi culture. Then there is the diaspora. We assimilate viewpoints, adjust our way of thinking, our lives, aligning ourselves to our adopted countries; ingraining their cultures in our children. Our culture is an intricate tangle of all we were, are and are becoming - Sikh, Punjabi, Canadian, African, Afghani, Malaysian, American ... Yet when two Sikhs born and raised from opposite ends of the world get together, they have more in common in spite of all their immediate differences. Mr. Leib points out, "I find it difficult to believe that the object (of our Gurus) was to weld Sikhi inextricably to Punjabi culture..." We are welded to God and Guru. Given all our challenges, Sikhs flourish across the world because our religious and spiritual roots run deeper and stronger than our earthly ones.
14: R. Singh (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), July 06, 2010, 11:50 PM.
I would agree with Areih Lieb. We are confusing issues.