Arshdip Singh of SMK Sri Andalas (right) with Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad branch manager Chua Hwa Soon in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. – Pic credit AJBC
By Asia Samachar | Malaysia |
Arshdip Singh from SMK Sri Andalas in Klang was in his best elements when he took part in the qualifying round one of the Allianz Junior Badminton Championship (AJBC).
He won both the boys’ Under-15 singles and doubles titles, improving on his performance last year when he won the Terengganu leg Under-15 singles title but lost in the doubles final.
“I am happy to win both titles, making up for last year’s disappointment in Terengganu. I worked harder this year on my game to prepare for the event,” he told NST.
The tournament is supported by the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM). The grand finals will be held at Juara Stadium, Bukit Kiara on Nov 16-19.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
Hum Har Krishan Amada Sar-Buland Azo Hasil Amadi Har Mostmand That’s the head-glorious Harkrishan, From which the desire of every needy person is fulfilled.
— Bhai Nand Lal Goya (a great poet in the court of Guru Gobind Singh ji)
EARLY LIFE
Guru Har Rai Sahib had two sons and one daughter: Baba Ram Rai Ji, Guru Harkrishan Ji, and daughter Bibi Roop Kaur Ji. Guru Har Krishan Sahib was born on July 20, 1652, in Kiratpur Sahib to father Guru Hari Rai Sahib and mother Mata Sulakhni Ji. During his childhood, Guru Har Krishan Sahib displayed remarkable virtues and talents. The education of the three children of Guru Hari Rai Sahib was entrusted to the supervision of Dewan Dargah Mall.
Guru Sahib followed in his father’s footsteps and always had armed Singhs accompanying him. Guru Hari Rai Sahib thoroughly tested his children and found that only Harkrishan Sahib was worthy of becoming the eighth Nanak.
However, the elder son, Ram Rai, decided to alter the Bani (teachings) of Guru Nanak Sahib before Emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi. As a result, Aurangzeb granted Ram Rai a jagir (land grant) in Dehradun. Upon hearing this news, Guru Har Rai Sahib was deeply saddened by his elder son’s lack of truth and courage. The Gurus declared Ram Rai ineligible for the Guruship. Guru Sahib sent a message to Delhi, instructing Ram Rai not to show his face. Although Ram Rai later came to seek forgiveness from Guru Sahib, he remained deprived of the Guruship. Ram Rai stayed in Kiratpur Sahib for some time and later went to Delhi with Aurangzeb. During Ram Rai’s stay in Delhi, Guru Har Krishan Sahib transferred the responsibilities of Gurgaddi to Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. The exact date of Guru Har Krishan Sahib’s ascension to the Guruship is clearly mentioned in the “Guru Kian Sakhis.” Guru Har Krishan Sahib left this mortal world on March 30, 1664, after instructing Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib to assume the responsibilities of Gurgaddi.
TESTING TIMES, FALL OF MASANDS, RISE OF BABA RAM RAI
During a tumultuous period, the influence of Masands declined, and Baba Ram Rai rose to prominence. In February 1660, Emperor Aurangzeb returned to Delhi and became concerned about the growing power of Sikhism in Punjab. To counter this, he invited Guru Hari Rai Sahib to Delhi, but the Guru sent his elder son, Baba Ram Rai Ji, to his place and proceeded to Kashmir via Sialkot, where he stayed for approximately four months. This move by Aurangzeb marked his initial success against the Sikh community. However, Baba Ram Rai Ji made a significant effort to alter the teachings of Guru Nanak in order to maintain his favor with the royal court, with the support of Gurbakhsh, a Masand from Delhi. As a result, Aurangzeb granted Baba Ram Rai Ji a jagir (landed estate) in Khurwadi (Dehradun) to widen this divide.
Following the transition of Guruship from Guru Hari Rai Sahib to his younger son, Guru Harikrishna Sahib, the Sikh community faced a challenging period. Brahmins, who were fixated on caste distinctions, had long held animosity toward the Guru-ghar. They saw an opportunity for the resurgence of Brahminical worship. Baba Ram Rai’s acquisition of the jagir was only fueled by their hopes. Aurangzeb, in particular, was optimistic when the child Guru Har Krishan Sahib assumed the Guruship.
The Masand tradition was established by Guru Arjan Sahib, and it contributed to the growth of the Sikh community, which spread across distant and scattered regions. Now, it was time to test the loyalty and integrity of the knowledgeable Sikhs for the propagation and expansion of Sikhism. Each Sikh would contribute a portion of their earnings as tithes, which would be sent to the central treasury of the Guru Ghar through the Masands. This responsibility became increasingly significant, and the fame of the Masands grew accordingly. Unfortunately, some individuals fell into the trap of self-glory and delusion, leading them to deviate from the Guru’s teachings.
Maintaining a secret alliance with the mighty Mughal Empire was no small matter. Certain Masands persuaded Baba Ram Rai to establish this alliance, including Masand Gurbakhsh from Delhi. They convinced Baba Ram Rai that making minor alterations to the Guru’s Bani (teachings) would have no adverse effects. Consequently, his authority within Sikhism waned, and he was stripped of the vital responsibility of Gurgadi.
According to various sources, the practice of Chhadyantar (altering the Guru’s Bani) persisted among some Masands. Sikh history attributes the pioneering role in this practice to a Masand named ‘Gurdas.’ Baba Ram Rai Ji complained to Aurangzeb about the injustice done to him, seeking the king’s intervention to reclaim his rights. To pique the emperor’s interest, Masand Gurdas remarked that a five-year-old Guru would be unable to govern the Sikh community effectively.
CYCLE OF BRAHMINS
Guru Nanak Ji observed that the root cause of suffering for the poor people of India lay within three factions: Brahmins, Kshatriya workers, and Turk rulers. He repeatedly exposed their atrocities and provided courage to the poor. The subsequent Gurus followed the same path, gradually alleviating the influence of these factions on the people.
When Guru Har Krishan Sahib, the Eighth Jot, assumed the Guruship as a child, the local Brahmins believed that their influence would be restored. These cunning Brahmins often took advantage of opportunities to mislead the people, claiming that the Guru’s abode was now quiet. Sikh history recounts incidents where the poor, who typically suffered from hunger, weakness, and diseases, were led astray by the clever Brahmins. These Brahmins would identify sick or distressed individuals near Kiratpur and tell them to go to Guru Nanak’s house, where they would be healed.
According to Sikh chronicles, one day Guru Har Krishan Sahib was riding in a palanquin for a walk when a leper, sent by the Brahmins, approached and pleaded for a cure. The purpose of Guru Nanak’s abode was to liberate the poor from the clutches of the Brahmins. Guru Ji understood that the common, impoverished people should not fall into the trap of the Brahmins again. Thus, the child Guru gave his handkerchief to the “Leprosy Brahmin” to wipe his hands and mouth and instructed him to spread the handkerchief over his village, claiming that everything is available at Guru Nanak’s house. The leper agreed, and this trick exposed the deceit of the Brahmins, further enhancing the magnificence of the Guru’s abode.
Another incident involving a Brahmin occurred in the village of Panjokhra when Guru Harikrishna Sahib was invited to Delhi by the royal court. During his one-night stay in Panjkhera, a Brahmin named Lal Chand, who boasted his knowledge of the four Vedas, six Shastras, eighteen Puranas, and 27 Simritis, learned that the Sikhs considered Guru Harikrishna Sahib as the eighth Nanak. Lal Chand, intrigued, believed that if Guru Harikrishna Sahib truly embodied Krishna, he should recite the words of the Gita with its meaning.
Pandit Lal Chand arrived at the Guru’s court carrying the book of the Gita on his shoulder, determined to recite it with the meaning. To his surprise, he encountered an aged Guru with attendants fanning him with chavar. Satguru smiled upon seeing Pandit Lal Chand and said, “Learn, my brother! Let him come forward. He has come to discuss the Shastra-artha with us.” Pandit Lal Chand, being older, understood that the child Guru possessed divine insight and had understood his thoughts. Satguru instructed Dewan Dargah Mall to inform Pandit Ji that Guru Sahib would not interpret the scriptures himself but through someone else. They were to bring an illiterate commoner for that purpose. By the order of the venerable Guru, the scriptures would be interpreted through this elderly individual.Upon hearing this, Pandit Lal Chand summoned a man named Chhaju Ram Jhale from the village. Chhaju Ram stood before the Guru and Guru Sahib, looking at him, said, “Pandat Chhaju Ram Ji, please sit.” Chhaju Ram saluted Guru Sahib and took a seat.
Satguru placed his stick on Chhaju Ram’s head, endowing him with the ability to see the past, present, and future. Guru Sahib then instructed Chhaju Ram to explain the meanings of Geeta.
DEPARTURE TO DELHI
The historical account is related to the Guru Har Krishan Sahib. It describes the departure of Baba Ram Rai to Delhi, the arrival of Diwan Paras Ram from the Delhi Darbar to Guru Har Rai’s residence in Kiratpur Sahib, and the subsequent visit of Guru Har Krishan Sahib to Delhi. It mentions the interactions between Guru Har Krishan Sahib, Baba Ram Rai, and Emperor Aurangzeb. The narrative emphasizes the respect and admiration Emperor Aurangzeb had for Guru Har Krishan Sahib and his desire to meet him. Baba Ram Rai, while attending the royal court, explains to the king that the Guru is not a personal possession but the successor to Guru Nanak Sahib and that they should be subject to his authority.
The presence of various individuals such as Bhai Ani Rai, Bhai Jasu, Bhai Ganga, Bhai Hajuri, Bhai Nihchalu, Diwan Dargah Mall, Kanwar Ram Singh, Gurbakhsh, Bhai Mani Ram, and others during these events.
ENTERING RASAINA NAGAR
Guru Har Krishan Sahib visits the bungalow of Raja Jai Singh Ambri in Rasaina Nagar. The queen, Pushpa Devi, decides that she will accept Guru ji as the form of Sri Krishna if he sits on her lap first. She disguises herself as a maidservant and removes her royal attire for the examination. Guru Har Krishan Sahib, being omniscient, understands her intentions and goes to her lap first. He acknowledges her devotion and says, “Mother! You have remembered what you desired, and I have come.” Pushpa Devi is filled with joy and accepts Guruji’s Sikhi.
News of Guru Har Krishan Sahib’s arrival reaches Baba Ram Rai ji, who visits the bungalow and pays respects to both the mothers and Guruji. Meanwhile, Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib travels from Patna to Punjab with Mata Nanki Ji, Mata Harin Ji, and others. They stop at Bhai Kalyan Sikh Dharamshala, where devotees come to visit them. On the 21st of March 1664, they reach Raja Jai Singh’s bungalow in Saina Nagar. Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib expresses condolences to Guru Har Rai Sahib and learns about Baba Ram Rai’s visit to Delhi.
Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib advises Baba Ram Rai not to rely on logic and reminds him that while Baba Ram Rai has been to Delhi many times, it is Guru Har Krishan Sahib’s first visit. Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib entrusts Guru Har Krishan Sahib well-being to Baba Ram Rai and departs for Mader Desh (Punjab), where they will stay in Bakala Nagar. Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib arrives in Bakala, a famous city in Majha, and delivers sermons on Nam-Bani. The congregation celebrates their arrival by lighting Deepmalas (rows of lamps) at night. The news of Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib’s arrival spreads, and devotees flock to Bakala Nagar, creating a lively atmosphere.
SELFLESS SEWADARS
There were numerous sewadars (volunteers) dedicated to serving the Guru. Some of the selected sewadars were Dewan Dargha Mall, Bhai Mehn, Bhai Mani Singh, Bhai Gurbax, Bhai Gurdas, Munshi Kalyan Das, Bhai Dariya, Bhai Jugu Chuhan, Bhai Nanu Singh Dilwali, Bhai Sangat, and many others.
GURDWARAS, SHRINES, MONUMENTS
When Guru Har Krishan Sahib traveled to Delhi upon a royal invitation, he visited several cities during his journey. Along the way, Guru Sahib encouraged people to preach the religion and improve the economic conditions of the people. As a result, the Sikhs of Guru Sahib built several gurdwaras, shrines, and towns in his memory. Some of these include: Ambala, Karnal, Kiratpur Sahib, Kurukshetra, Thanesar, Delhi, Panipat, Punjukhera, Ropar, Banur. These locations hold significance in Sikh history and are associated with the life and teachings of Guru Har Krishan Sahib.
HUKAMNAMA
Hukmanama is the rare capital of the Sikh community. An edict of Guru Harikrishna Sahib is available to the Khalsa Panth. A copy of it existed in the Sikh Reference Library, Amritsar before June 1984. This edict was the Jog of the Sangat Patan (Faridkot) by the permission of the eighth Guru Harikrishna Sahib. Its original words are:
“Lord Satguru It is the permission of Shri Guru Har Krishan Jiu, Bhai Ani Rai, Bhai Jasu, Bhai Ganga, Bhai Hajuri, Bhai Nihchalu, and Sarbat Sangat of Patan. All the intentions will be fulfilled. Keep sending gifts. Sangat keeps coming to Dharamsala. Performing Aarti is the true happiness of Sri Guru .”
MERGIN WITH ETERNAL LIGHT
Guru Har Krishan Sahib, the eighth Guru of the Sikhs, played a significant role in helping and serving people during a smallpox outbreak in Delhi in 1664. Despite the risk to his own health, Guru Sahib selflessly provided assistance to the sick, suffering, and poor individuals affected by the epidemic. According to historical accounts, Guru Har Krishan Sahib eventually contracted smallpox, and his condition worsened day by day. On the fifth day of his illness, he instructed Baba Ram Rai to bring five paise naliyer lao and touched it, stating that the Guru of the Sikh Sangat after him would be Baba Sri Tegh Bahadur Ji of Bakala. He then merged into the eternal light of Akal Purakh, signifying his spiritual union with the divine.
Following Guru Sahib’s passing, his body was cremated on the bank of the Yamuna River near Bhagalpur City by Baba Ram Rai, Diwan Dargah Mall, and other Sikhs. Mata Basi Ji, Guru Sahib’s mother, then called upon Bhai Gurdas (son of Bhai Bahl) to recite from the Guru Granth Sahib. The news of Guru Sahib’s passing was conveyed to Punjab by Diwan Dargah Mall and Munshi Kalyan Das, who first informed Bibi Roop Kaur in Kiratpur Sahib and later informed Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib in Bakala. Mata Basi Ji, along with Diwan Dargah Mall and other Sikh Sangat from Delhi, arrived in Bakala in August 1664 to meet Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, who had been residing there for five months. The Sikhs requested Guru Sahib to assume the role of the Guru, and he imparted words of patience to the mothers who had lost Guru Har Krishan Sahib.
A grand fair was held in Bakala during the Amavasya of the Bhadarva month, attracting Sangats from various places. Baba Arjani from Goindwal, Bhai Garhian and Bhai Gurditta Randhawa from Ramdas Nagar, Baba Deep Chand and Nand Chand from Kiratpur Sahib, and Baba Ram Rai from Garhwal Desh were among those who attended. The Sangats from Delhi, including Mata Basai Ji, performed Pachavali together. During this time, Makhan Shah Banjara, accompanied by his wife and sons, arrived with seals as an offering to Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib. After presenting the seals, Makhan Shah exclaimed, “Forget it, Sangat, Guru Ladho Ray” (I have found the Guru).
Bhai Nand Lal, a renowned poet and a devotee of the Gurus, elaborated on the qualities of Guru Har Krishan Sahib, highlighting his mercy, grace, and divine connection.
“His eighth kingdom is the crown of his devoted and pure lovers and the government of his beloved ones. His pious miracles are world famous and the light of his pious presence illuminates the truth. The special and the near are sacrificed to him, and the pure and holy sacrifice at his door. There are select men from the three peoples and six sides who praise his many authentic and firm qualities and those who choose the scraps left from the anchor of his glories are not included in any number or enumeration. He is associated with the good end and truth.
“Guru Har Krishan is the personification of mercy and grace, the most praised of God’s special close friends. Between him and God there is only a veil of a leaf, His entire existence is the blessings of God. All his followers are in question of divine favors, the earth and the world are all obeying his commandments. By His grace both the worlds succeed, By his grace the sun shines in every particle. His protection is a great blessing for all special loved ones, from the underworld to the sky, all are obedient to him.”
Dr Jasbir Singh Sarna, a native Kashmiri, is a retired Indian agriculture officer. He has authored more than four dozen books, including Sikhs in Kashmir and The Sikh Shrines in Jammu and Kashmir. He can contacted at Jbsingh.801@gmail.com
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here.
Akhand Path: 21 July (Friday) to 23 July 2023 (Sunday) at Gurdwara Sahib Melaka
Akhand Path arambh (begins) at 9.30 am on Friday, 21st July 2023
Path da Bhog on 23 July 2023 (Sunday) at 9.30am followed by Kirtan Diwan till 12pm at Gurdwara Sahib Melaka
Contact: Anil 012 678 1912 Pinky 019 212 4196
Our late mum, fondly known as Jindo was a strong and courageous women. A devoted mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, aunt and most importantly a humble and loving person in the community. Her kids success and achievements are the testimony of her devotion and virtuous upbringing. Her passing has left a void in our lives and it can never be filled. She has touched the hearts of many who owe her a lifetime of gratitude. Our hearts are heavy for losing you mummy, but as we mourn your passing, we also pray to Waheguruji to bless your good soul. Till we meet again mummy. We love you.
| Entry: 14 July 2023 | Source: Family
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
A prominent Sikh leader was brazenly murdered last month outside a temple in British Columbia (BC), Canada. The death has outraged his supporters and intensified global tensions between Sikh separatists and the Indian government.
On a mid-June summer evening in the busy parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in the city of Surrey, Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead in his truck by two masked gunmen.
A month later, the unsolved killing continues to reverberate, in Canada and across borders. Hundreds of Sikh separatists took to the streets in Toronto, along with a handful others in cities like London, Melbourne and San Francisco, just last weekend to protest the Indian government, which they believe is responsible for his death.
The Indian government has not commented on such allegations.
The outrage following the 45-year-old’s killing has brought to light a long-standing issue of some groups demanding a separate homeland for Sikhs, who are a religious minority that make up about 2% of India’s population.
The movement was at its peak in the 1980s in the state of Punjab, which witnessed several violent attacks and deaths. It lost steam after armed forces ran special operations against the movement – but supporters in the diaspora community continued their calls for a separate state, which have intensified in recent years.
India has strongly opposed the Khalistan movement. All mainstream political parties, including in Punjab, have denounced violence and separatism.
Mr Nijjar was a prominent Sikh leader in BC and a vocal backer of a separate Khalistani state. Supporters of his have said that he was a target of threats in the past because of his activism.
India said he was a terrorist and led a militant separatist group – accusations his supporters call “unfounded”.
Canadian investigators said they have yet to establish a motive for his murder or identify any suspects, but they have categorised the killing as a “targeted incident”.
Canada is home to the largest Sikh diaspora outside the state of Punjab. On 8 July, hundreds protested Mr Nijjar’s death in Toronto outside India’s High Consulate building. They were met with a smaller counter protest in support of the Indian government.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
Some 70 participants from Britain, Kenya, Singapore and Australia will be joining Malaysian Sikhs for a three-day Sikh prayer gathering in Kuala Lumpur.
The event, called the Gurmat Semagam Malaysia 2023, will run from 14-16 July 2023 at Gurdwara Sahib Parliament.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
The spanking new Leicester gurdwara is up and running. On June 30, the local Sikhs brought the Guru Granth Sahib from the old gurdwara in Meynell Road to the new complex in Hamilton.
This was a momentous event for Sikhs in Leicester and its surrounding area, with the local team working on the project for the last one decade. They had been operating from Meynell Road since 1972, but the increasing Sikh population demanded a larger place.
The Ramgarhia Board Leicester & Leicestershire, which runs the gurdwara, bought a piece of land in Hamilton in 2015. And one decade later, they have managed to put up the new gurdwara complex on a 2.8 acre site, costing some some £4.6 million.
“The old Gurdwara was a heavy vehicle garage that had been converted into a temple. For 51 years we lived there, but with the congregation increasing, that place was not suitable because of the lack of space, facilities and car park space – so we decided that we needed to move,” gurdwara committee president Inderjit Singh Panesar said told the Leicester Mercury.
The development was carried out by the trustees of the Ramgarhia Board Leicester (RBL) who borrowed £2.1 million to part-fund the new building. It committed £800,000 of its own money, and the rest was donated by members of the Sikh community, it reported.
The new site’s car park is currently under construction, but once complete, will have up to 150 car park spaces, coach parking and cycle racks. The previous temple had one main worship hall, whereas the new site has two worship halls, one which can hold up to 600 people and the other which accommodates 300.
Both halls contain seats at the back for elderly worshippers, and those unable to sit on the floor due to disabilities, as well as a lift that travels between all floors. There are also purpose-built classrooms for children to learn Punjabi, and a creche for new mothers to bring their children to be supervised by a qualified childminder.
The building also contains a library which stores the holy scriptures and historical books.The Langar hall which is used for dining also seats up to 600 people, and will be used for daily meals, as well as special events such as weddings, the report added.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
In our hearts, she remains an adored wife, mother, and cherished aunt, spreading love throughout our family. We find solace knowing that you have always watched over us. Your presence is deeply missed, and our love for you endures forever.
| Entry: 13 July 2023; Updated: 18 July 2023 | Source: Family
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
Our family humbly invites you to join us in prayers and to remember Ishvinder Singh Brahm (Ishy) for all he was.
Akhand Path: 4th to 6th of August 2023 at Gurdwara Sahib Shah Alam
Program details. 4th August 2023 (Friday) Commence of Akhand Path at 9: 00am 6th August 2023 (Sunday) Akhand Path da Bhog will be at 9am. Diwan and Kirtan start at 10am followed by Ardass and Guru ka langgar.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
Book: VAJPAYEE: The Ascent of the Hindu Right, 1924–1977 Author: Abhishek Choudhary Publisher: Picador India (10 May 2023) Hardcover: 432 pages
By Harjeshwar Pal Singh | Book Review |
If there is one Indian Politician whose legend has grown over the years, it is Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the former Prime minister.
Vajpayee cut his teeth in the RSS before his poetry, journalism and oratory propelled him to the leadership of Jan Sangh and BJP. He ended up becoming the first right wing Prime Minister of India in the late 90s.
Vajpayee divided opinions during his lifetime. His supporters saw him as pragmatic, genial and liberal, an epicurean in a party of ascetic spartans, a “right man in the wrong party” while his critics saw him as a double faced “Mukhota” who provided respectability to an otherwise diabolical outfit.
After the inauguration of the Modi era in 2014, Vajpayee’s cult has only grown with even left-liberals joining his bandwagon, bemoaning the passing away of a fellow liberal constitutionalist in the Nehruvian mould. A couple of sympathetic biographies — Jugalbandi by academic Vinay Sitapati and Atal Bihari Vajpayee by the journalist Sagarika Ghose have further added to the Vajpayee cult.
Vajpayee: The ascent of Hindu Right, 1924-1977 by Abhishek Chaudhary, the first part of a two volume biography on Vajpayee demolishes many of the myths which have provided the gloss to Vajpayee over the years.
Chaudhry’s meticulous research over 8 years using a vast array of interviews, documents, Vajpayee’s speeches and writings in early RSS publications like Rashtradharma, Panchjanya and Organiser and newspaper reports has illuminated the obscure early career of one of the greatest hindutva icons.
Vajpayee, the son of a lower middle class Brahmin spent his early years in Bateshwar and Gwalior during the 1920s and 1930s in a conservative milieu where a nascent RSS was spreading its roots. Contrary to the early myths around Vajpayee which he himself fanned during his early political career, Vajpayee was mediocre in studies, physically frail and only played a peripheral, non heroic role in the Quit India movement. However his felicity as a poet and oratory brought him into early limelight in the RSS fraternity.
His early exposure to RSS shaped his worldview fostering hindu victimhood and anti-Muslim sentiments. As a journalist, he played a prominent role in fanning a virulent anti Gandhi campaign in the newly launched RSS publications “Rashtradharma” and “Panchjanya” immediately before the Mahatma’s death.
Vajpayee’s early ascent to Jan Sangh leadership owed as much to his hard work and oratorial skills as much to the paucity of leadership in Jan Sangh due to the early demise of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and the patronage of Deen Dyal Upadhya. At the same time Vajpayee’s pragmatism and compromises helped him to edge out more ideological and brash rivals like Balraj Madhok after the tragic death of Deen Dyal Upadhya in 1968 and occupy the top position in Jan Sangh.
Vajpayee’s world view widened and he became more cosmopolitan and liberal after becoming an MP and traveled widely. He also found a niche for himself as a foreign policy expert which made him stood out in a party of “petty traders”. However he was never averse to floating conspiracy theories and defending the lumpen elements of his party during the various communal riots which periodically erupted in India.
Contrary to the urban legends which have taken root in the last few years, Vajpayee remained a bitter critic of Nehru on such issues as Kashmir, China, Hindu Code Bill and Cow Protection. There is little evidence for Nehru’s prophesy of Vajpayee becoming a future PM or even the more widely quoted “Durga” praise for Indira Gandhi in the wake of 1971 war. Vajpayee even mocked Nehru for his “sirsasana” responsible for his inverted view of Sangh. Ironically, it was Vajpayee, never an enthusiast for Yoga or any other physical exercise who seriously injured himself during emergency while trying to learn “Sirsasana” in jail!
The book also throws invaluable light on the early affinity and porous boundaries between RSS and Congress conservatives led by Patel and it was only after Patel’s demise and the ascendency of progressives in Congress which finally led RSS to hitch its wagon with the Jan Sangh.
The urban legends and speculations over Vajpayee’s private life and his domestic arrangements have also been laid to rest in the book. Rumours about Vajpayee and Mrs Kaul being lovers in college were floated by them to socially sanctify their later conjugal bonds.
Overall this meticulously researched biography is a must read by any serious student of Indian Politics and history. One can barely wait for the second part scheduled to be released in December which saw Vajpayee and Hindutva scale the commanding heights of Indian Politics and Society.
Harjeshwar Pal Singh is an assistant professor at Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Chandigarh, where he teaches history. He is an avid political commentator.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here.
