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Today, as I see calls for a Sikh genocide, lumping together of a whole community, torrents of hatred and a free flow of hate speech after the occurrences of yesterday, it seems like a good day to share a personal experience. Happened to me six years ago. Contd.
So, six years ago, I along with my whole family had gone from Ludhiana to visit some relatives in Jalandhar. On the way back, lies the town of Guraya where a small shop is very famous for selling Barfi, an Indian delicacy. So we decided to buy it. The shop was on the main highway
I parked my innova, which I was driving off the shoulder of the road, on the grass by the side of the road and ran down to the shop to buy a box of Barfi. As I was about to pay, I heard a loud bang. And I looked back to see that my car was shrouded in dust.
Immediately concerned, I ran back to the car to see what has happened. The whole back side of the car was damaged. In the car was my father, a heart patient, my mom, my wife, my younger brother, his wife, who was pregnant at that time. I made sure they were all alright.
Then after making sure they're alright, I asked the small group of bystanders who had gathered about what happened. One guy told me that a Swift car, of white colour just came off the road, crashed into my car, backed up and immediately ran off in the direction of Ludhiana.
I asked if he had noted down the number. He said he had and he gave the license number of the car. I thanked him and started calling the police so that the car can be intercepted at Sutlej bridge where there's always a police presence.
As I was dialing the police helpline, the guy who had helped me and told me the number of the car, walked up to me and said "Bhaji, that guy over there is fighting with me"
"Who?" I said, puzzled.
"Who?" I said, puzzled.
"That fat guy over there" he pointed.
"Why?" I asked, obviously distracted
"He said why did you give the Sikh the car's license number. A Hindu was driving it."
I couldn't believe my ears. It shook my foundation. In Punjab. As my family was shaken. My car damaged. Hindu-Sikh....
"Why?" I asked, obviously distracted
"He said why did you give the Sikh the car's license number. A Hindu was driving it."
I couldn't believe my ears. It shook my foundation. In Punjab. As my family was shaken. My car damaged. Hindu-Sikh....
That incident was ugly. But it didn't shake my faith in the goodness of all people who belong to the Hindu faith. How could it? One person's bigotry does not make everyone who prays to the same God bad. My brother is married to a Hindu girl. I have relatives who are Hindus.
And now, I see open calls for a genocide of all Sikhs on Twitter. I see people say a repeat of 1984 is required. I see them say that Rajiv Gandhi and Tytler who carried out a massacre of over 3000 Sikhs who were outnumbered in Delhi, had a good idea.
And so I ask you, who are you going to be? The person who told me the license number of the car, or the guy who fought with him?
I myself will always be me. The man who has Hindu friends. Who has made a mandir of lord Krishna in his house for his sister in law. And who's a Sikh.
I myself will always be me. The man who has Hindu friends. Who has made a mandir of lord Krishna in his house for his sister in law. And who's a Sikh.
