I had a dream, then I grew up!

Pussycat Dolls (PCD) once sang... "When I grow up, I wanna be famous, I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies! When I grow up, I wanna see the world, drive nice cars, I wanna have groupies!"

At least his dream materialized two over

scores years later! 

Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that one day over the rose hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and former slave owners will be able to sit together in the table of Brotherhood and that his four children would not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character!
Dream merchants like Walt Disney gave people a form of escapism through his Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck characters. Soichiro Honda managed to pull his war torn bankrupt and defeated nation to be at par with its victors till of recent. From a humble bicycle repair shop, his company is now venturing into artificial intelligence and robotics!
I too had a dream... which remains a dream.

Growing up in the post May 13 era, what was fed on the mass media to us was pure propaganda and we were all made to accept it as the gospel truth. We were made to understand that everything was hunky dory and the Government was serious in their zest to eradicate poverty and foster muhibbah (interracial understanding) via their 5 year plans, paving the way to make this country a developed nation by 2020. Soaked in that kind of hope day in and day out, I actually envisaged Malaysia to be clean, mild weathered,  modern, its courteous mild mannered smiling educated citizens in impeccable designer clothes talking to each other without malice and suspicion, with skyscrapers, shiny expensive vehicles streaming the seamless highway to everywhere. Then the bubble burst and there was a reality thud on my head!

Asimo

Fast forward to the 21st century and a decade later... What do we have now?

Poverty eradicated? I think it is far from it. Over the years, a new set of obnoxiously nouveau rich have emerged. They have no qualms about throwing their orange peels out of their chauffeur driven imported cars. The poor rich are still aplenty in the form of some who were displaced off their homes in the name of development. There are also many illegal immigrants who either ran away from their legal employers to become illegals or came via trawler boats under cover of darkness of the night to occupy strips of land (settlements) in the edge of city where even police fear to enter. Thanks to the lax or non-existent enforcements, these settlements prosper. They may appear poor but they have loads of cash stashed away to be sent home. Just wait for a mishap to happen, either in the form of disease outbreak (the children do not complete the mandatory vaccinations) or violence to happen before heads will roll. But, will they?

Malaysians, generally have improved by giant strides from an economic stance but there will always be a small recalcitrant group who would forever indulge in self pity and escapism. There are still people wondering around town with no identification papers. And they say, "We are Malaysians, yeah, just that my Malay is not so good. Isn't Mahathir the Prime Minister?" And I say, "Sure and I am Rajnikanth!"

Communication between Malaysians is still an issue as it was in the newly independent Malaya. Young adults, in spite of completing Malaysian education system still need interpreters when dealing with civil servants just like their grandparents 50 years previously.

Skyscrapers we have but its maintenance leaves much to be desired. We employ security guards who are too old, too sick, too incompetent to hold any other job or foreigners.

Wearing short pants, singlet and Japanese slippers could get you anywhere in the 60s and 70s. Fashion sense has not changed much since. Throngs of visitors to malls, clinics, offices are still dressed like this; just that the fashion police would say it is cool, trendy and metro-sexual. Anyway, their idols on Hollywood and Californians also dress like that and we are both in hot climates! Well, the 'holier-than-thou' Government offices have strict guidelines on dressing at their premises. They have set their air-conditioners way down low to be dressed down.

People are still suspicious of each other. In those days, it was whether you were a communist; now it is general stereotyping and that the other is going to cheat them blind. It is compounded by many Nigerian 'students' promising to convert white paper to green back (USD)! Just see how many Malaysians drug mule girls are counting bars caged in foreign gaols from Japan to Peru. Why is the word 'students' is in inverted commas? That is because these so called students do not act like students. They wear branded clothes smelling of expensive perfumes splashed all over the body liberally, sporting buff muscular physique, forever with female company and drinking alcoholic beverage like a fish drinking water. They pay their bills from a stash of RM50 bills. These 'scholarly students' do not speak very good English for a start. Can you imagine students of English courses describing their predicament as, "My stomach is paining me, Doctor!"? And what is this with their frequent treatments for sexually related ailments? Have you the local girls going hand and glove with them? 

I better stop before this becomes a nightmare.... 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-432551007277565829#docid=296921882672273931

Caste System - Blame history for the 'divisions'

by (Sanatan Dharam Sabha Kuala Lumpur)

Friday February 11, 2011 NEW STRAITS TIMES (NST) - LETTERS Pg 19

Caste System - Blame history for the 'divisions'

I REFER to the article "Who are the 'Paraiyars', really?" by Universiti Sains Malaysia vice-chancellor Professor Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak (NST, Feb 6). 

He shed new light on the "Paraiyars", after making references to a book by Abbe Dubois. It was a good attempt to explain the issue but, as a history lover, I found the article slightly misleading.

All those who had argued about this subject, whether Indians or non-Indians, have not explained it clearly enough for the nation to understand this issue of "Paraiyars". Many are not clear about the caste system where the word "pariah" is said to originate. 

One would be surprised to know that the caste system does not exist in Hinduism. In Hinduism, there is a system known as the "varnashrama", which divides society into four natural groups -- Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra -- depending on individual characteristics and disposition. 

Every human has certain tendencies by natural inclination and choice. These are divided into four divisions known as "varna" (colour). It does not relate to skin colour but to a person's aura or consciousness.

After reading a student's aura and his tendencies, the master would decide which job would suit him most, where it would allow the student to serve society in a harmonious way and not frustrate him. 
A student is placed in the varnashrama of either the Brahmana also known as Brahmins (intellectuals, academics, priests), or Kshatriya (rulers, administrators, soldiers) or Vaishya (businessmen, farmers, bankers, those engaged in commerce) or Shudra (ordinary workers, those engaged in physical labour, dancers, singers).

It was never a condition that birth determines a student's division. This was a system of self-discovery and development in assisting a person to find his place in society, where he could contribute to it by doing a job in accordance to his nature.

This system is sanctioned by a book that no one commenting on the issue had referred to, namely the Bhagavad Gita, where Sri Krishna talks to the warrior Arjuna at the battlefield of Kurusethra. 
It states: "According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me" (4.13).

"By following his qualities of work, every man can become perfect... By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all pervading, man can, in the performance of his own duty or occupation, attain perfection" (18.45-6).

Clearly, no one is forced into the work he dislikes. Neither is birth a criterion for determining the division he would enter for work purposes. The underlining principle in Hinduism is that work is worship and one is allowed to change the division one is in.

For example, if a soldier has had enough of battles and wants to become a priest, he will leave his Kshatriya division and enter the Brahmin division. It's as simple and flexible as that. This system allowed everyone to work according to his nature and bring happiness to himself and society. It was never meant to divide society according to materialistic divisions. The sole object was to unite people in a cooperative society in the service of God. Every individual in the divisions had equal rights.

From the above verses, there is no mention of "pariah". So what happened then?

As time went on, the varnashrama system was abused by the Brahmins, who made it a condition that those born of a parent who worked in a particular division would remain there. Switching from one division to another was not permitted. In that way, the Brahmins gained control over power and money.

This new condition was against the teachings of Hinduism. Some Brahmins and Kshatriyas opposed these new conditions. However, by this time, India was invaded.

These invaders not only massacred people, but burnt down great libraries that contained most of the information regarding the varnashrama.

A new materialistic caste system was born. When the British arrived in India, they saw the system as an opportunity to divide society further to suit their interest and twisted it with a view of converting the Hindus.

The British then created another theory -- the Aryan theory -- which stated that European nomads came by chariots and conquered India and later composed the Vedas.

Dzulkifli touched on the origin of the word Brahmin, but it was misleading. First, the Brahmins are not followers of Brahma. They, and all other Hindus, pray to the one supreme God known to them as "Brahman". Brahma and Brahman are different entities.

Second, he said the Aryan Brahmins carried out "conversion" and those who refused to convert were "cast out". This is misleading.

Scientifically speaking, there are no Aryan or Paraiyar races. The three primary races are Caucasians, Mongoloid and Negroid.

Both the so-called "Aryan Brahmin" and "Paraiyars" are related branches of the Caucasian race, which is in the same Mediterranean sub-branch. Biologically, they are of the Caucasian race.

"Aryan", or its correct term "arya", was discovered in the Vedas of the Hindus. The term "arya" means noble or spiritual and it never meant a race of people. Those who followed the noble Vedic way of life or arya dharma may be termed as arya. It is a term of respect, something similar to a "datuk".

During the 19th century, many Europeans believed that they belonged to a superior race and their religion was the best. With the racial theory of man in vogue, they thought that the fair-skinned Indians were different from the dark-skinned Indians.

At that period, similarities were discovered in Sanskrit and the European languages. Therefore, they thought that since Sanskrit was related to their languages, it must have come from a white race and not the darker-skinned Indians (compared with the Europeans).

It was a linguistic theory adopted by the British to hold power. They began interpreting the Vedas in the same racial manner. The forces of light against darkness were interpreted as white race against dark race.

Hence, their theory of an Aryan race from Europe that invaded India and gave them the Vedas. Terms were mistranslated to suit the British objective, which was to convert Hindus and to justify their rule.

Many archaeologists and researchers forwarded theories of the location of this Aryan homeland but it kept changing. An exact time period when the so-called Aryans came to India was never established.

This was also because, to the Europeans, the world was created at 9am on Oct 23, 4004 B.C. The great flood of Noah occurred in 2500B.C. So the philologist Max Muller and the rest gave the Aryan invasion date at 1500 B.C. In short, everything was mere speculation which, unfortunately, became part of Indian history.

New archaeological and scientific studies indicate that the Indus civilisation that preceded the Aryans, was Vedic and centred, not on the Indus, but on the banks of the Saraswati river and its language was Sanskrit.

The Rig Veda praises the Saraswati river in its hymns. The river dried up around 1900 B.C., which means Hinduism and those who composed the Rig Veda were there before 1900 B.C. and if the Aryans arrived in India about 1500 B.C., how did they know about this river and build their culture on its banks if the river did not exist any more?

The latest studies also indicate that the Indus sites were wiped out not by war or invasion but by a drought. The skeletons unearthed there showed no signs of injuries caused by war but by starvation or dehydration. This was the drought that wiped out civilisations in Sumeria and Mesopotamia.

Similarly, in Mohenjo-Daro, there was an absence of any signs of war, like extensive burning or weapons or any remains of armour-clad soldiers. Interestingly, evidence of temples and seals of Shiva and Vishnu exist which mean that the Vedic religion had been part of these people and not brought by any Aryan Brahmins.

In short, scholars are rejecting the invasion theory based on this emerging evidence.

Coming back to the "Paraiyars", they were indeed once land owners who lost their land, advisers to the kings, farmers, musicians, singers and members of the manual workforce who were suppressed by the British in the light of their divide-and-rule policy.

They were exploited by the British and later, "Paraiyars" was mispronounced as "paria" just like Singapura became Singapore, Pulau Pinang became Penang, Mumbai became Bombay and orang utan became rang a teng.

The term "pariah" signifies colonial oppression of farmers, musicians, singers and the manual workforce.

ARIFF SHAH R.K.

Penang.

P/S: Does that mean that Lord MacCaulay's report to the British Parliament as a spy to gauge the enemy before the coup de grace is after all true? Again to prove a point on how man manipulates religion to satisfy personal motives. Cultural practices over time becomes God's unspoken truth and words of wisdom. That is, if there is truth in this article!

The saga up to Bukit Saga...

Many people go places just to get the adrenaline flowing and to get away from it all - Away from the hustle and bustle of the city and away from the annoying ring tones of the ever buzzing mobile phones (cannot live with it, cannot live without it). With the convenience of the cell phone, things that can wait till tomorrow suddenly becomes life threatening and need to be done on the double! So, locking the phone and being closer to nature undisturbed (except for chirping birds and chattering monkeys among others) is simply rejuvenating and therapeutic as well.

Taking a breather en route to the summit

Last Sunday, the running kakis (buddies) decided to go the whole nine yard during our trekking. Once in a while, we used to climb the hill just behind our housing estate. It is one of the last remaining green belt still left in the city of Kuala Lumpur. It was actually bigger till the last ruling party decided to re-gazette a part of previously designated forest reserve. It is part of the main range of mountains that form the spine of the peninsular of Malaysia. We normally do a 1 and half to 2-hour route up the hills and back but this time we did a full 3-hours'trip.
The trail took us along a winding ascending track paved by roots of tropical trees which in turn gives a cool shady environment even at 3 pm in the afternoon. In spite of this, we were all perspiring like pigs as the path took us over 5 or 6 hills. The path is quite a hit amongst many local exercise buffs and is a haunt on every weekend. Members of various Hash House Harriers (HHH) groups would roam these terrains like the back of their hands and actually set up markers along the way so that novice climbers would not go astray. Despite all these, you still have jokers and smart alecs getting lost for a day or so before search parties discovered them. These people start their journey later in the evening when visibility is an issue.

Everybody has a different name for the hill - probably so because it is over many hills - Bukit Apek for the earlier hill nearer to our Taman to Bukit Saga to Gunung Nuang right on top. There are many make shift tents along the way to rest the tired  legs. There are 6 levels of climb but it does not depict the difficulty of the climb as a climber can pick and choose the plethora of trails available to be tailor made to his level of endurance and availability of time.

Our walk (climb) past the 6 levels and landed us at Bukit Saga. It was a gruelling 3-hour satisfying exercise. Along the way, besides enjoying the peace and serenity of Mother Nature, we were feasted to the sight of foamy white splashing waterfall with its hypnotising rhythmic beat of water on the hard granite rock. As we approached Bukit Saga, we noticed that the vegetation somehow appeared greenier and fresher than what we usually saw on the flat terrains as the air here was damp and cooler.
About half an hour before our destination, we stopped at a big shed set up by ardent climbers. It is called 'Communist Village'. It does not live up to its name as it is not a village at all - nobody stays there! It is probably named so as it is self-sufficient - cooking utensils, clean stream and underground water, toilet facilities (the traditional type), trappings for fresh water fish as well as the yearned peace and quiet to enjoy their alcoholic poison.

At the Communist Village out in nowhere!

Reaching the summit was not half the fun trying to reach there.

Coming back was an easier task as we took an alternative route which was shorter and less gruelling. A good  evening of satisfying clean, healthy and guilt-free fun.

Bukit Saga - Mission accomplished!

The sad story of a legend...

If you have the time and are swatting flies like me right now, then you would have watched the whole documentary above as it appeared on the History Channel. It is a sad rendition of a piece of Malaysian history, especially towards the end of the documentary.
A few bits of juicy stories were omitted either to sanitize the icon's life or were unconfirmed hearsay. I remember that one of the first songs that he composed for a talent show during his carefree days in Caunter Hall / Kampong Rawa, Azizah, was actually penned to serenade on of his love interest then. Apparently, his love was rejected by the girl's family as he was a loafer and was hanging around the village doing nothing but singing and humming! Legend has it that Azizah later got married later and the offspring of the marriage was my form mate.
A few years ago, I had the privilege and honour of attending my alma mater's old boys' annual dinner. As P. Ramlee also attended his secondary education in Penang Free School, that year, the society decided to honour him by having the theme of the dinner based on the golden era of the Malay movie, i.e. when P. Ramlee was at the height of his career. Some of the older teachers there was describing P. Ramlee (of the cuff, course) as a student who was in his own world, singing and humming to himself all the time. Some of the teachers taught that he was off his knockers and basically 'wrote him off'. Furthermore, he was in always sitting at the back of the class in the last class of the form, disinterested in studies!
I remember reading somewhere that our hero was not really getting along well with his then wife, Junaidah. He was at the height of his career and pretty girls were around and aplenty in the the 60s, flaunting their hour glass assets in their body hugging baju kebayas. When Junaidah was gravidly pregnant with Nasir, they had a big argument. P. Ramlee uttered the dreaded word and left to stay with his then girlfriend, Mariani (Miss Singapore winner).
In the early 1970s, P. Ramlee made some social dramas for TV Malaysia. Most of them bring out the bad traits of the Malays with the hope of changing their mindset. I remember one where P Ramlee, an illiterate farmer, won the 1st prize in the now defunct National Lottery of RM 1 million. Listening to his friends and self appointed managers his whole simpleton life changed. His antics of opening a current account was so funny - He used to poke a hole in the paper as his signature! He left his village to town to start a business (what business? Import-Export! He did not know what it was but his friends told him he could make lots of money!) Then he build a house, treated all his friends, changed his wardrobe, bought a Mercedes and married a new young wife. When the time came to start his business, all his prize money had finished. At the end of the drama, he had to wind up and return to his village to continue working as a farmer.
P. Ramlee, one of my favourite performers, did what generations are trying to do in many lifetimes single-handedly in a span of 25 years till his untimely demise at the age of 44. Many of us, the 70s and 80s children, have many fond memories of watching his black and white movies shown regularly on Friday nights over RTM 1.
As always there are always a few cues to be learnt from the rise and fall of this legend. The window of opportunity is only available for a short while, the window is ajar for a short duration for us to seize and opportunity will not wait forever for us to reap. People love you when you are famous, you are infallible but the moment the fame dwindles, nobody would give you another look. Opportunists will be pouncing to bring you down, hoping to make a killing your misfortune.
Beauty and talent has a shelf life. Just like David Bowie and Madonna, stars should always re-brand themselves to move with the flow. Like many present day stars (J. Lo and Britney Spears), we should make hay when the sun is out- they diversified into fashion and perfumes. Nobody knows what is in store in our future.
Friends who laugh with you will be many but they may also laugh at you, louder, when the tide is high. Friends who cry with you are far in between but you can probably rely on your dear family when it rains on you. In the documentary above, I wonder, where these people who are shedding crocodile tears now, were when P. Ramlee was done and out.
There is no such thing as a free lunch, everything has a price. Businessmen will be businessmen. Their every action is skilfully calculated with only only one thing on their minds - profit! This commodity overpowers other virtuous virtue of humanity like compassion and unbiased sincere advice. What appears as genuine aid is actually shrouded with background ulterior motives like tax-relief! Now all of P. Ramlee intellectual property is in the hands of business tycoons.
Nasir (P Ramlee's biological son) should have been more pro-active. Having a father who succumbed to coronary events at an early age (44), he should have taken adequate precautions. But, no! He died at a reasonably young age of 56 in 2008 due to diabetes and heart disease.
Treasure your family, save for your later age when you are at the pinnacle of your career and are the prime of youth. Time and tide waits for no man.

          

The Battle of Malaya

by HARCHAND SINGH BEDI

Sikh troops disembarking from ships into Malaya

When the history of this titanic struggle comes to be written in mature perspective, none of its many sides will, we believe, excite more wonderment and more ungrudging admiration than the part the Sikhs soldiers have played in it.

As of December 7, 1941, the summary of the strength of the Allied army in Malaya was 86,895 troops. Two third o f the total force were Indian soldiers. Sikhs represented more than 60 percent of the total Indian force.

December 8, 1941 at 12.15 am local time, Japanese 18th Divisions troops hit the beaches of Sabak-Badang, Kota Bahru and at 4 am (Tokyo Time) Japanese 5th Divisions forces splashed ashore unopposed at Singora (now Songkhla) and Patani.

As the first disgorging invaders hit the junction of the Badang and Sabak beaches, they came under withering machine gun fire from pillboxes manned by the Indians. The invaders lost one third of their initial assault forces of 5300 men in fearful beach fighting before annihilating the Indian defenders who died in their pillbox positions, refusing either to withdraw nor to surrender.

An armoured train, with 30 men from the 2/16th Punjab Regiment and some engineers, advancing into Thailand from Padang Besar in Perlis reached Khlong Ngae, in southern Thailand, and successfully destroyed a 200 foot bridge before withdrawing back to Padang Besar.

Sikh gunners in a rubber plantation in Sahum, Kampar Perak

On December 22, the 3/2nd Punjab Regiment engineered an ambush on the Japanese at Grik Road, Perak which resulted heavy casualties on the invaders. The regiment fought fierce delaying actions against the Imperial Guards.

From December 30, 1941 to January 2, 1942, a battle between 3000 British personnel and over 6000 Japanese soldiers erupted. The 11th Indian Division managed to delay the Japanese advance at Kampar for a few days, in which the Japanese suffered severe casualties in terrain that did not allow them to use their tanks or their air superiority to defeat the British.

A Sikh company of the 1/8th Punjab Regiment throw back a furious attack with a classic bayonet charge through massive mortar and machine-gun fire. Only 30 members of the company survive the action but the position held. The Japanese lost more then 500 men here and Japanese commanders, for the first time in the war, consider retreating.

On January 30, 1942, a Sikh Battalion made an ambush on a strong Japanese party north of Kluang, Johor. The Japanese squealed with absolute panic when charged with bayonets. Sikhs captured 250 motor cycles and 150 bicycles when they charged the Japanese positions and machine-gun post. Further details of the attack made by the Sikh Battalion North of Kluang reveals that the enemy casualties numbered at least 400..Two small field guns and many mortars which were tied on their bicycles and tommy-guns were also destroyed.

During the Battle of Muar, members of both the Australian 8th Division and the 45th Indian Infantry Brigade were making a fighting withdrawal when they became surrounded near the bridge of Parit Sulong. The Allies fought the larger Japanese forces for two days until they ran low on ammunition and food. Able-bodied soldiers were ordered to disperse into the jungle, the only way they could return to Allied lines.

This photograph was found among Japanese records when 

British troops re-entered Singapore. It depicts the inhuman

brutality practised by the Japanese on Sikh prisoners of war. 

The wounded prisoners of war were kicked and beaten with rifle butts by the Imperial Guards. At least some were tied up with wire in the middle of the road, machine-gunned, had petrol poured over them, were set alight and, "after their incineration - were systematically run over, back and forwards, by Japanese driven trucks." Anecdotal accounts by local people also reported POWs being tied together with wire and forced to stand on a bridge, before a Japanese soldier shot one, causing the rest to fall into the Simpang Kiri River and drown. 110 Australians and 35 Indians were massacred by the Japanese. In the face of death, the Sikh prisoners sat with dignity.

History speaks for itself on the valour and bravery displayed by the Sikhs. The never-say-die spirit of the Sikhs gave us the impetus and inner strength and resilience to face any challenges that came our way. Sikh soldiers adhered to the faith and never flinched nor surrendered in the face of adversity.

Reference: http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/history-of-sikhism/30494-the-battle-of-malaya.html

Conversation about this article

1: Jarnail Singh (North Carolina, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 5:45 AM.

The British, Australians and Americans have made epic movies about the war in Malaya - but they all depict themselves as heroes ... and not a mention of the Sikh soldiers who bore the brunt of it all! The West is so adept at rewriting history and usurping the glory of others!

2: Surinder (Massachusetts, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 11:06 AM.

Am I the only one who sees an irony here? The Sikhs went on to fight for the British, they won Burma, China, SE Asia, Turkey, Iraq, North Africa ... and in Europe. All for the glory of the British and British security and British independence. But when time came in 1947, the same Sikhs could not protect their own land, houses, women, hearth and had to flee from Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala. Cities of their ancestors became enemy territory instantly. You talk of conquering the world, but could not protect your own earth and women and children? When a Sikhni became Fatima Bibi, where was this mighty Sikh army, full of unrelenting courage and valour?

3: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 1:39 PM.

I believe Surinder ji is looking from the results point of view for Sikhs. When other parties (all the countries including India for which Sikhs fought) became selfish and not thankful for the sacrifices of Sikhs. No one can stop them. These people are, to use a Punjabi word - akiratghan. A good recent example will be the 1984 Sikh holocaust. These people keep on changing history. Unless and until Sikhs bring the truth out to the world through the media, movies and books and by stopping to fight amongst themselves, no one can help. Sikhs have all the resources but they need to use them in this direction.

4: Chintan Singh (San Jose, California, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 3:31 PM.

I have a similar question as Surinder ji. What has happened to us in the recent past? Where have we lost our spirit and saroop? We are the sons and daughters of Guru Gobind Singh and our ancestors fought for Malaya, Singapore, Britain, France, Scotland and India but we could not protect ourselves in 1947 and 1984? Forget about protecting ourselves, despite this glorious heritage, why did we become so hostile to our co-citizens? Furthermore, today when the whole world is becoming globalised, we are becoming isolated and we cannot even keep our own youth motivated with our own history and preserve our heritage? What has gone wrong with us? Where is our spirit of Chardi Kalaa? How do we re-align ourselves with our Guru?

5: Harjit Singh (Perth, Australia), May 20, 2010, 7:56 AM.

Surinder, Sikhs were not there in 1947? Are you joking, mate? I think you might need to read up on your history because you are just about to learn something! Out of 121 patriots hanged for fighting in India's freedom struggle, 93 were Sikhs. Of the 2626 awarded life-imprisonment 2147 were Sikhs. Of the 1300 martyred in Jallianwala Bagh, 799 were Sikhs. Considering that the Sikhs were hardly 1.5 per cent of the total population of India at the time, their sacrifices amounted to 90 per cent of the total sacrifices made by ALL Indians. Where were they, Surinder? They were fighting openly and dying openly, but when the time came for the Sikhs to be given equal status, the politicians looked the other way and rewrote the history to not include these facts. We were betrayed!

6: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), May 20, 2010, 11:56 AM.

Again, Surinder ji, please watch the movie GANDHI which was released almost three decades ago. That movie shows the scene of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. As Harjit Singh mentioned, out of 1300 killed there, 799 were Sikhs. But the movie dilutes - and at times completely ignores - the Sikh involvement in that incident, and in others depicted throughout the movie. History is being changed in front of our very eyes and our 'leaders' are doing nothing, because all they want is personal power.

7: Surinder (Massachusetts, U.S.A.), May 20, 2010, 1:40 PM.

The comment section of articles is too limiting a place to put forth an argument. (Maybe sikhchic.com can allow me to write an article?) [Editor: We're always open to considering articles by our readers.] Forget about 1984, let us not clutter the issue here. Of course, I know that Sikhs were disproportionately higher in the number of freedom fighters. But also note that a very large number of Sikhs enrolled in the colonial army. Not once, but twice - World War I & II. They essentially fought somebody else's wars. Wars that had little, if any, to do with issues that mattered to them. The result is that hundreds of thousands of Sikhs were soldiers for the British crown, defending Britain and its interests. Within two years of the end of World War II, Partition of India an d Punjab took place. Muslim mobs on the streets cleansed Western Punjab and drove the Sikhs out. They took over our gurdwaras, including the holiest of our holy places like Nankana Sahib. About a million people were killed; 10 million were forced to quit their homes; hundreds of thousands of women were brutalised. Where were these brave soldiers at that time? Those who had shown gallantry in Malaya, Singapore, Italy, Belgium, North Africa, were nowhere to be seen when Rawalpindi and Lahore had Sikhs lying butchered on the streets. I am sorry to have posed a question which has made many uncomfortable. But ask yourself, what good is this bravery? If people like the British have fooled you, who is the fool, really?

8: Dya Singh (Melbourne, Australia), May 21, 2010, 12:50 AM.

I commend Harchand Singh Bedi on the effort he has put into uncovering all this amazing proud history of Sikhs in the old Malaya. I met Harchand a few days ago and was amazed at the wealth of photographs and information he has on Sikh 'military' history. I have also read some of the letters above ... it is up to us (Sikhs) to keep highlighting the 'qurbaani' of Sikhs around the globe, immaterial whether they fought "someone else's" war, etc. The fact is they carried out deeds of valour, of daring, of sheer bravery - to inspire our generation and future generations through greater knowledge of our proud heritage. Harchand also holds impressive exhibitions of Sikh military history. His exhibition is soon (in September) to be held at various venues in the United Kingdom. I am hoping to get him to do similar exhibitions in Australia where we 'know' that Sikhs fought alongside the Australian/ New Zealand forces at places like Gallipoli (Turkey, WW1) which has led to Australia's Anzac Day celebrations and commemoration in April every year. This man has a great exhibition which every Sikh youth, child and elder should see. Shabash, Harchand, for all your efforts.

9: Yashdeep Singh (Ahmedabad, India), May 21, 2010, 9:45 AM.

I think that the main reason for Sikhs being killed in Jallianwala Bagh, and again in '84, is our loyalty to our country. And yes, we should be loyal; doing bad to someone is not in our blood. Sikhs actively took part in WW1 and WW2 because we knew that it was to protect the soldiers' "karmabhoomi". We sometimes couldn't protect ourselves because of lack of unity. I remember that when the shoe-throwing issue of S. Jarnaul Singh was in the news, at that time I saw sum Sikhs sitting behind Jagdish Tytler as his supporters. It is a known fact that the whole Sikh world is against Tytler, so for what reason were those Sikhs doing there? Doesn't the lack of unity seem to be here?

10: Ian Grantham (Sydney, Australia), November 23, 2010, 8:27 AM.

I can understand how frustrated Sikhs may be. One day I would like to make an actual account of what happened day by day in the Second World War, and NOT from a special perspective - the truth would be absorbing and as to yet, I think, remains unpublished! As an Australian, I am proud of our achievements and upset with the preponderance of U.S. material which distorts the facts. Many Pacific battles were fought and won by Aussie personnel but the U.S. got the credit in order to keep them in the war - I feel the Sikhs and other Indians have in the same way been left out of the accolades that are rightfully theirs! P.S. No one believes what you say if you are not from the U.S.A., so we NEED contemporary facts to back up what we say - e-mail me if you would like and let's start to build a machine that gives facts and truth and dispels popular myth!

The Battle of Malaya

by HARCHAND SINGH BEDI

Sikh troops disembarkimg from ships into Malaya

When the history of this titanic struggle comes to be written in mature perspective, none of its many sides will, we believe, excite more wonderment and more ungrudging admiration than the part the Sikhs soldiers have played in it.

As of December 7, 1941, the summary of the strength of the Allied army in Malaya was 86,895 troops. Two third o f the total force were Indian soldiers. Sikhs represented more than 60 percent of the total Indian force.

December 8, 1941 at 12.15 am local time, Japanese 18th Divisions troops hit the beaches of Sabak-Badang, Kota Bahru and at 4 am (Tokyo Time) Japanese 5th Divisions forces splashed ashore unopposed at Singora (now Songkhla) and Patani.

As the first disgorging invaders hit the junction of the Badang and Sabak beaches, they came under withering machine gun fire from pillboxes manned by the Indians. The invaders lost one third of their initial assault forces of 5300 men in fearful beach fighting before annihilating the Indian defenders who died in their pillbox positions, refusing either to withdraw nor to surrender.

An armored train, with 30 men from the 2/16th Punjab Regiment and some engineers, advancing into Thailand from Padang Besar in Perlis reached Khlong Ngae, in southern Thailand, and successfully destroyed a 200 foot bridge before withdrawing back to Padang Besar.

Sikh gunners in a rubber plantation in Sahum, Kampar Perak

On December 22, the 3/2nd Punjab Regiment engineered an ambush on the Japanese at Grik Road, Perak which resulted heavy casualties on the invaders. The regiment fought fierce delaying actions against the Imperial Guards.

From December 30, 1941 to January 2, 1942, a battle between 3000 British personnel and over 6000 Japanese soldiers erupted. The 11th Indian Division managed to delay the Japanese advance at Kampar for a few days, in which the Japanese suffered severe casualties in terrain that did not allow them to use their tanks or their air superiority to defeat the British.

A Sikh company of the 1/8th Punjab Regiment throw back a furious attack with a classic bayonet charge through massive mortar and machine-gun fire. Only 30 members of the company survive the action but the position held. The Japanese lost more then 500 men here and Japanese commanders, for the first time in the war, consider retreating.

On January 30, 1942, a Sikh Battalion made an ambush on a strong Japanese party north of Kluang, Johor. The Japanese squealed with absolute panic when charged with bayonets. Sikhs captured 250 motor cycles and 150 bicycles when they charged the Japanese positions and machine-gun post. Further details of the attack made by the Sikh Battalion North of Kluang reveals that the enemy casualties numbered at least 400..Two small field guns and many mortars which were tied on their bicycles and tommy-guns were also destroyed.

During the Battle of Muar, members of both the Australian 8th Division and the 45th Indian Infantry Brigade were making a fighting withdrawal when they became surrounded near the bridge of Parit Sulong. The Allies fought the larger Japanese forces for two days until they ran low on ammunition and food. Able-bodied soldiers were ordered to disperse into the jungle, the only way they could return to Allied lines.

This photograph was found among Japanese records when 

British troops re-entered Singapore. It depicts the inhuman

brutality practiced by the Japanese on Sikh prisoners of war. 

The wounded prisoners of war were kicked and beaten with rifle butts by the Imperial Guards. At least some were tied up with wire in the middle of the road, machine-gunned, had petrol poured over them, were set alight and, "after their incineration - were systematically run over, back and forwards, by Japanese driven trucks." Anecdotal accounts by local people also reported POWs being tied together with wire and forced to stand on a bridge, before a Japanese soldier shot one, causing the rest to fall into the Simpang Kiri River and drown. 110 Australians and 35 Indians were massacred by the Japanese. In the face of death, the Sikh prisoners sat with dignity.

History speaks for itself on the valour and bravery displayed by the Sikhs. The never-say-die spirit of the Sikhs gave us the impetus and inner strength and resilience to face any challenges that came our way. Sikh soldiers adhered to the faith and never flinched nor surrendered in the face of adversity.

Reference: http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/history-of-sikhism/30494-the-battle-of-malaya.html

Conversation about this article

1: Jarnail Singh (North Carolina, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 5:45 AM.

The British, Australians and Americans have made epic movies about the war in Malaya - but they all depict themselves as heroes ... and not a mention of the Sikh soldiers who bore the brunt of it all! The West is so adept at rewriting history and usurping the glory of others!

2: Surinder (Massachusetts, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 11:06 AM.

Am I the only one who sees an irony here? The Sikhs went on to fight for the British, they won Burma, China, SE Asia, Turkey, Iraq, North Africa ... and in Europe. All for the glory of the British and British security and British independence. But when time came in 1947, the same Sikhs could not protect their own land, houses, women, hearth and had to flee from Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala. Cities of their ancestors became enemy territory instantly. You talk of conquering the world, but could not protect your own earth and women and children? When a Sikhni became Fatima Bibi, where was this mighty Sikh army, full of unrelenting courage and valour?

3: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 1:39 PM.

I believe Surinder ji is looking from the results point of view for Sikhs. When other parties (all the countries including India for which Sikhs fought) became selfish and not thankful for the sacrifices of Sikhs. No one can stop them. These people are, to use a Punjabi word - akiratghan. A good recent example will be the 1984 Sikh holocaust. These people keep on changing history. Unless and until Sikhs bring the truth out to the world through the media, movies and books and by stopping to fight amongst themselves, no one can help. Sikhs have all the resources but they need to use them in this direction.

4: Chintan Singh (San Jose, California, U.S.A.), May 19, 2010, 3:31 PM.

I have a similar question as Surinder ji. What has happened to us in the recent past? Where have we lost our spirit and saroop? We are the sons and daughters of Guru Gobind Singh and our ancestors fought for Malaya, Singapore, Britain, France, Scotland and India but we could not protect ourselves in 1947 and 1984? Forget about protecting ourselves, despite this glorious heritage, why did we become so hostile to our co-citzens? Furthermore, today when the whole world is becoming globalized, we are becoming isolated and we cannot even keep our own youth motivated with our own history and preserve our heritage? What has gone wrong with us? Where is our spirit of Chardi Kalaa? How do we re-align ourselves with our Guru?

5: Harjit Singh (Perth, Australia), May 20, 2010, 7:56 AM.

Surinder, Sikhs were not there in 1947? Are you joking, mate? I think you might need to read up on your history because you are just about to learn something! Out of 121 patriots hanged for fighting in India's freedom struggle, 93 were Sikhs. Of the 2626 awarded life-imprisonment 2147 were Sikhs. Of the 1300 martyred in Jallianwala Bagh, 799 were Sikhs. Considering that the Sikhs were hardly 1.5 per cent of the total population of India at the time, their sacrifices amounted to 90 per cent of the total sacrifices made by ALL Indians. Where were they, Surinder? They were fighting openly and dying openly, but when the time came for the Sikhs to be given equal status, the politicians looked the other way and rewrote the history to not include these facts. We were betrayed!

6: Gurjender Singh (Maryland, U.S.A.), May 20, 2010, 11:56 AM.

Again, Surinder ji, please watch the movie GANDHI which was released almost three decades ago. That movie shows the scene of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. As Harjit Singh mentioned, out of 1300 killed there, 799 were Sikhs. But the movie dilutes - and at times completely ignores - the Sikh involvement in that incident, and in others depicted throughout the movie. History is being changed in front of our very eyes and our 'leaders' are doing nothing, because all they want is personal power.

7: Surinder (Massachusetts, U.S.A.), May 20, 2010, 1:40 PM.

The comment section of articles is too limiting a place to put forth an argument. (Maybe sikhchic.com can allow me to write an article?) [Editor: We're always open to considering articles by our readers.] Forget about 1984, let us not clutter the issue here. Of course, I know that Sikhs were disproportionately higher in the number of freedom fighters. But also note that a very large number of Sikhs enrolled in the colonial army. Not once, but twice - World War I & II. They essentially fought somebody else's wars. Wars that had little, if any, to do with issues that mattered to them. The result is that hundreds of thousands of Sikhs were soldiers for the British crown, defending Britain and its interests. Within two years of the end of World War II, Partition of India an d Punjab took place. Muslim mobs on the streets cleansed Western Punjab and drove the Sikhs out. They took over our gurdwaras, including the holiest of our holy places like Nankana Sahib. About a million people were killed; 10 million were forced to quit their homes; hundreds of thousands of women were brutalized. Where were these brave soldiers at that time? Those who had shown gallantry in Malaya, Singapore, Italy, Belgium, North Africa, were nowhere to be seen when Rawalpindi and Lahore had Sikhs lying butchered on the streets. I am sorry to have posed a question which has made many uncomfortable. But ask yourself, what good is this bravery? If people like the British have fooled you, who is the fool, really?

8: Dya Singh (Melbourne, Australia), May 21, 2010, 12:50 AM.

I commend Harchand Singh Bedi on the effort he has put into uncovering all this amazing proud history of Sikhs in the old Malaya. I met Harchand a few days ago and was amazed at the wealth of photographs and information he has on Sikh 'military' history. I have also read some of the letters above ... it is up to us (Sikhs) to keep highlighting the 'qurbaani' of Sikhs around the globe, immaterial whether they fought "someone else's" war, etc. The fact is they carried out deeds of valour, of daring, of sheer bravery - to inspire our generation and future generations through greater knowledge of our proud heritage. Harchand also holds impressive exhibitions of Sikh military history. His exhibition is soon (in September) to be held at various venues in the United Kingdom. I am hoping to get him to do similar exhibitions in Australia where we 'know' that Sikhs fought alongside the Australian/ New Zealand forces at places like Gallipoli (Turkey, WW1) which has led to Australia's Anzac Day celebrations and commemoration in April every year. This man has a great exhibition which every Sikh youth, child and elder should see. Shabash, Harchand, for all your efforts.

9: Yashdeep Singh (Ahmedabad, India), May 21, 2010, 9:45 AM.

I think that the main reason for Sikhs being killed in Jallianwala Bagh, and again in '84, is our loyalty to our country. And yes, we should be loyal; doing bad to someone is not in our blood. Sikhs actively took part in WW1 and WW2 because we knew that it was to protect the soldiers' "karmabhoomi". We sometimes couldn't protect ourselves because of lack of unity. I remember that when the shoe-throwing issue of S. Jarnaul Singh was in the news, at that time I saw sum Sikhs sitting behind Jagdish Tytler as his supporters. It is a known fact that the whole Sikh world is against Tytler, so for what reason were those Sikhs doing there? Doesn't the lack of unity seem to be here?

10: Ian Grantham (Sydney, Australia), November 23, 2010, 8:27 AM.

I can understand how frustrated Sikhs may be. One day I would like to make an actual account of what happened day by day in the Second World War, and NOT from a special perspective - the truth would be absorbing and as to yet, I think, remains unpublished! As an Australian, I am proud of our achievements and upset with the preponderance of U.S. material which distorts the facts. Many Pacific battles were fought and won by Aussie personnel but the U.S. got the credit in order to keep them in the war - I feel the Sikhs and other Indians have in the same way been left out of the accolades that are rightfully theirs! P.S. No one believes what you say if you are not from the U.S.A., so we NEED contemporary facts to back up what we say - e-mail me if you would like and let's start to build a machine that gives facts and truth and dispels popular myth!

Gandhi speaks!