Gurbaj Singh Multani, a Sikh student in Québec, was playing during recess when, oops, his kirpan, a ceremonial Sikh dagger, fell out of his clothing. The mother of another student noticed, and minutes later the principal of the school, Danielle Descoteaux, informed Gurbaj that he would not be permitted to attend the school so long as he continued to carry this “weapon” on his person.
The school board agreed with Descoteaux’s initial reaction, stating that the kirpan violated its code of conduct, which prohibits the carrying of weapons. The boardÂ’s council of commissioners upheld that decision, but told Gurbaj and his parents that Gurbaj would be permitted to wear a kirpan-shaped pendant or a kirpan that was made of some other material (e.g., plastic or wood), not metal. Gurbaj’s father sued, claiming his son’s rights under the Canadian Charter were violated.
The Supreme Court of Canada unanimously sided with GurbajÂ’s father, holding that, “The council of commissionersÂ’ decision prohibiting [Gurbaj] from wearing his kirpan to school infringes his freedom of religion,” as guaranteed by Section 1 of that Charter.
The Court described the importance of this specific right as applied to Gurbaj:
Religious tolerance is a very important value of Canadian society. If some students consider it unfair that [Gurbaj] may wear his kirpan to school while they are not allowed to have knives in their possession, it is incumbent on the schools to discharge their obligation to instil in their students this value that is at the very foundation of our democracy. A total prohibition against wearing a kirpan to school undermines the value of this religious symbol and sends students the message that some religious practices do not merit the same protection as others. Accommodating [Gurbaj] and allowing him to wear his kirpan under certain conditions demonstrates the importance that our society attaches to protecting freedom of religion and to showing respect for its minorities. The deleterious effects of a total prohibition… outweigh its salutary effects.
Balancing an individualÂ’s general right of conscience (manifested by religious expression or moral objection, for example) against competing considerations of the general public, such as health or safety, is a difficult and problematic exercise, one which will not result in a satisfactory outcome for all interested stakeholders.
Complicating matters is the fact that, as Dahlia Lithwick noted recently in Slate, “The right of conscience, ultimately, is a subjective one.” And, as the Supreme Court of the United States stated in addressing an individual’s refusal to receive a mandatory vaccination for smallpox:
Real liberty for all could not exist under the operation of a principle which recognizes the right of each individual person to use his own, whether in respect of his person or his property, regardless of the injury that may be done to others.
Similarly, some argued that GurbajÂ’s kirpan presents a safety threat to others in the school and that his religious beliefs, however sincerely held, do not outweigh this threat:
[GurbajÂ’s] presence at the school prompted about 30 parents to yank their children from school in protest, insisting that a kirpan was a dangerous weapon.[link]
On the other hand:
The Kirpan is an ingrained part of the Sikh religion…. The Kirpan has been an integral part of the Sikh religion since it’s early inception and has a very sacred religious symbolism for Sikhs. To suggest that it is a ‘dagger’, or a ‘weapon’ or merely a cultural symbol is both misleading and offensive to Sikhs.[link]
Gurbaj and his family should be thanked for taking this case all the way up to the Supreme Court, and for convincing that Court to hand down a decision that protects the rights of all Canadian Sikh students. Respek.
A point of personal privilege: I would like to thank the ballers at SM, particularly Sajit, for inviting me to contribute to this important substantive forum. I noticed that some of the commenters called for a female or lesbian/gay guest-blogger. I am neither, but I hope that I will able to present a unique perspective to certain issues and enrich the existing intellectual dynamic on this exceptional site. Let’s do this!
The 1/8th inch (was it?) kirpan idea is good …. except that the grenade guy would also want a 1/8th inch grenade now 🙂
Oh Canadians,
A few hours ago, I converted myself to Rastafarian.
Will my kids be allowed marijuana in the school? My religion considers it to be a “wisdom weed”. We got to be consistent. We are very peaceful people.
Regarding baseball bat, if you carried it in the hallways just for the sake of it, you will be pulled over and punished, in the field it is for playing.
There are inner-city schools in America where they use plastic ware instead of silver ware, hell not only in inner cities, even on airplanes. They use metal detectors, kids in suburbia kill kids and there is always the first time – I guess that is the real context and consistency. How about carrying kitchen knives in the middle school all the time? Nobody has used them in past.
I am glad Jas agrees that ceremonial kirpan should be shorter (shortest possible) when used in schools with children – no matter what. That is the right attitude.
I take Hindus on a case-by-case basis. On the one hand we have Sachin Tendulkar. He is a fine man. On the other we have the baby roasters and racists from Gujarat. All Hindus must be treated on a case-by-case basis.
It’s amazing isnt it? They are like attack dogs with erections waiting to start biting. Anyway, I dont generalise. I take them on a case-by-case basis.
“kids in suburbia kill kids and there is always the first time”
You cannot kill with a ceremonial kirpan. I still think that most people here canÂ’t simply comprehend that the ceremonial kirpan has evolved from a fully functional kirpan into a safe ceremonial kirpan because they have never held one. If folks here had the opportunity to see and hold one, they would realize that the ceremonial kirpan is safer than the scissors, metal rulers and metal protractors that many students carry in their bookbags all the time (at least in my suburban school they are allowed too).
“Will my kids be allowed marijuana in the school?”
Catholic and Jewish schools allow students to have alcohol (albeit in minute amounts) during communion and passover seder and other sabbath rituals. Native Americans are allowed the use of peyote even though it is an illegal drug. I will support your right of your kids to use of marijuana in minute amounts if it can be proven to be safe and is as part of bonafide religious ceremony. Sikhs arenÂ’t asking for the use of unsafe kirpans. If Sikhs can demonstrate that the kirpans in question are safe and are not of danger to others or to themselves, they should be allowed.
Native Americans are allowed the use of peyote even though it is an illegal drug.
Are you sure?
It is really strange, when I offer beefburgers to my Hindu friends (carefully selected on a case-by-case basis) they get mad, even though they eat chicken and lamb. I just don’t understand why they get mad when I try to stuff beef down their mouths. But…nah….can’t expect them to think rationally without getting mad at me. Selective taboos – surely they don’t have them too? Nah….can’t expect them to think rationally. That’s why you have to take them on a case-by-case basis.
See http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode42/usc_sec_42_00001996—a000-.html
Since this thread focuses on the issue of kirpans and I therefore don’t want to take matters further off-topic, I’ll keep this brief. There is currently a concerted campaign in some quarters of the mainstream Indian entertainment media to deliberately portray gross distortions of Sikh religious tenets and practices. These programmes reach a huge audience of tens of millions (probably more) within India itself, with further viewers amongst large sections of the diaspora overseas who have access to Indian satellite/cable channels.
The distortion and propaganda is extreme enough to be comparable to (for example) showing Christians praying towards Mecca 5 times per day, or Muslims praying towards paintings of Mohammad while referring to him as “Allah”.
The activities of certain right-wing Hindu groups in endeavouring to “re-absorb” Sikhism into Hinduism are also widely known. Perhaps the producers of the aforementioned television shows are allied to such groups, or at least have sympathies with some of their aspirations; the evidence indicates that the latter, at least, may well be the case. And yes, as has been mentioned earlier by another commenter, the “repeat offenders” happen to be Punjabi Hindus*, who are also simultaneously involved in depicting some of the most regressive, hypocritical, and superstition-ridden depictions of Hinduism within television soaps which unfortunately have huge viewing figures. Exactly the same individuals and production companies are involved.
*This is in reference specifically to the producers/directors of the shows concerned, and is in no way directed negatively towards any Hindu Punjabis on SM.
For anybody who is interested, the British “Pickled Politics” blog has also been having a debate about the Canadian kirpan case in parallel with Sepia Mutiny.
Thanks Jai for the link to “Pickled Politics” blog which has a picture of the kirpan in question. That sure don’t look like an 8” kirpan too me. The sheath doesn’t look like its more than 3″ inches, so the blunt blade inside is probably no more than 2″ or 2.5″ long.
please do not link ‘slang’ that everyone knows just to flex your knowledge of wikipedia and urban dictionary. not hip! interesting post, however.
Jas,
Yes, you are correct that Native Indians are allowed peyote but in strictly controlled environment (as Jews and Christians for their ceremonies). They manage it when kids are involved. It is not allowed in public schools. I am thinking going to a Native Indian ceremony as an observer when Pacific Northwest Narions visit OSU.
I brought Rastafarian for a reason. Use of gnaga is very core of their religion. However, US Supreme Court has not allowed them free us.
I personally think a grown-up Sikh has full right to a 8 inch or larger kirpan as any American/Indian/Canadian has to a gun. In Punjab and Delhi, you always see grown-ups with fairly large sized kirpans. That is not an issue even. I have personally in all the comments on this thread like ALM talked about “freedome of religion”.
However, not a kid (this whole post is about children and use of certain objects). As a kid, they should have smaller one for safety of themselves and everyone – more importantly for consistency and general laws govering schools.
How can you in a high school that may become Columbine of tomorrow allow one group (even if its ia a model minrity) a (even a blunt) weapon and diallow others. You cannot enforce laws in schools if you start making exceptions, as least we should agree on that.
Kush Tandon,
Not according to your link: “While there is a clear belief in the beneficial qualities of cannabis, it is not compulsory to use it.” Therefore, the Rastafarian use of ganja is not comparable to the the compulsory requirement of the kirpan for baptized Sikhs.
The federal law does not limit native Indians from holding cermonies involving peyote in their schools.
Whose arguing against that? Certainly, not the Sikhs in Gurbaj’s case. The court clearly states that Gurbaj is willing to have restrictions on the kirpan.
There is no evidence that a small ceremonial kirpan, which is the equivalent to butter knife as some have put it, will lead to Columbine. Whereas, there have been cases of students using pens, rulers, and chemicals (from lab classes) as weapons yet those are not banned.
I disagree I’ve already mentioned some of the exceptions that exist. For almost every law there is an exception. I do agree that the exceptions should be reasonable and should take into account the rights of all involved.
When Guru Nanak started Sikhism, Sikhs did not have to carry a kirpan. The kirpan came later in Guru Gobind Singh’s time. Why this difference between Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh? Because the Sikhs underwent persecution.
Later Sikhs became as a good as a martial race. Even now Sikhs are present in the military in large numbers. As a Hindu growing up in India, I psychologically thought of Sikhs as my protectors. So I never grudged the Sikhs their kirpans.
But Caucasians, blacks and Native Americans don’t know all this. They are not used to Sikhs being in the military in large numbers. They are not used to thinking of Sikhs as their protectors. So they are not able to relate very well to the kirpan.
The Canadian law may allow Sikhs to carry kirpans. But Caucasians, blacks and Native Americans will need to be reassured only if they have the same picture of Sikhs that I do. That means the Sikhs need to do more PR.
This is totally off-topic but from Kush/Jas’ rasta link:
no kidding
In Canada the Khalistani movement was not a fringe section but a large minority, and that may have to do with it being brought out frequently. Like it or not the outcome is going to be the same as in india where a majority of sikhs dont wear the kripan, and many of those who do wear a symbolic kripan.
Then the school will ask you to carry a water pistol.
But Caucasians, blacks and Native Americans don’t know all this. They are not used to Sikhs being in the military in large numbers. They are not used to thinking of Sikhs as their protectors. So they are not able to relate very well to the kirpan.
The Canadian law may allow Sikhs to carry kirpans. But Caucasians, blacks and Native Americans will need to be reassured only if they have the same picture of Sikhs that I do. That means the Sikhs need to do more PR.
it seems that many non – sikhs in general don’t know this, nor do they choose to accept it maturely.
It’s amazing isnt it? They are like attack dogs with erections waiting to start biting. Anyway, I dont generalise. I take them on a case-by-case basis.
OMG…lol…i find it’s a lot of people in general -i’ve dealt with quite a few christians. i go a person’s action, that’s what i take case by case….but it sure is amazing.
and pk, great posting.
Why not just wear a small “symbolic” dagger on a necklace? As a non-amrtidhari Sikh, we can argue whether or not I am even considered a sikh by some people’s definition of the word lol later. I am sad that Sikhism has been relegated to this, the 5 K’s. I appreciate their symbolic value, but we have to project our egalatarian ideals and tenents to others and our youth rather than be mired in these symbolic elements. There can be an easy compromise, just wear a small ornamental dagger around ur neck, no bigger than an inch or so.
correction, a few inches
critical time this…..time for the moderate sikhs to voice their opinon and not let a subset dictate the agenda………i am a sikh and acknowledge the symbolism of the 5 k’s but i CANNOT let mere symbolism take away from what was the essence of this beautiful religion
didnt guru nanak himself rebel against mindless ritualism that hinduism in the middle ages was getting mired in??sikhism drew heavy inspiration from vedic and geeta’s philosophy but it was the simplicity of its practice that made it a force…..its just sad to see people take away from their simplicity and blocking heads over this…..
for all those who cherish their right to wear kirpan and all ,i am sorry folks,people rallying against wearing kirpans in public places are not all rabid xenophobic rednecks that they are being projected out to be….i think their concerns are genuine and sikhs need to adderess those concerns rather than indulge in chest-thumping and crying wolf over ‘identity in danger’…….compromise on size/material/make of kirpan for god sake but please do not let this issue define your identity…….
i stand corrected….platisc kitchen knives are out. i came, incited and read what others had to say. some make sense and i agree that i wrote earlier in haste. i apologize and thank u folk for showing me the light. if sardars stay away from smokes and stick to fire water then its their problem, same goes for cow loving hindus. i still dont care much for religion but cant expect everyone to be like u (that would make life boring anyway). Hopefully the Supreme Court has set some guidelines regarding the symbolic Kirpan..the bluntness, size etc. some positive PR would help…not aggressive posturing.
but a few things, people are sore about 1984. well partition happened, 1984 happened..but do we have to make it happen again? I’m willing to listen and change and hope the same goes with you.
and please..i dont need Sardars to protect me. Anyway Sardars never counted as a factor in South India and we didnt need anyone to save us from the Moslem horde. 40% of Hyderabad is Muslim and we co-exist pretty much peacefully..thank you.
hey just to troll further…do holy chosen people get to carry the “self respect” inducing kirpan thingy on aeroplanes?
Chetan K,
Good for you. Sikhs protect individuals/groups who are unable to protect themselves, regardless of their religious, regional, ethnic or national background.
That’s not quite true. The Sikhs — along with the Marathas and those Rajput states that decided to rebel — took up so much of Aurgangzeb’s (and the associated Mughal political/military heirarchy’s) resources that the Emperor was sufficiently distracted from his expansionist aspirations further into the Deccan and his associated campaign of forcible conversion of the entire subcontinent to Islam. This was a deliberate move by Guru Gobind Singh, not only for the sake of his Sikh followers but to prevent all of India’s inhabitants from falling under the rule of the most austere and tyrannical version of orthodox Islam. It’s the reason why the Mughal Empire collapsed under its own weight (over-stretched resources, along with internal corruption) and one of the Emperor’s generals decided to split off and form his own kingdom in…..yes, Hyderabad. However, all this is separate issue.
dear chetan k whatever,
its funny how u are patting urself in the back for the ‘oh-so-harmonious-city-of-hyderabad’……
post-independence story is different but historically what u consider co-existance started as a naked rape and pillage of ur culture……now if ur ‘south indian'(ur phrase not mine) ancestors chose not to do anything about it,the adjective should probably be ‘coward’ and not ‘non-violent’.
as a sikh i myself hate to be considered a ‘body-guard’….however,i am proud that for the most part,my ancestors responded to the call of the hour and chose a path of valour and sacrifice while the rest of their countrymen were content ‘co-existing peacefuly’.
40% of Hyderabad is Muslim and we co-exist pretty much peacefully..thank you.
Did you see your fellow Hyderabadis carrying posters of Bin Laden while protesting Bush’s visit and wishing death upon America? Bin Laden is a sworn enemy of India. Much of Hyderabad’s prosperity is owed to its export of IT services to America. What’s good for you is apparently not good for your Muslim brothers.
I agree with what people have said about how the onus is on Sikhs to restrict the size and nature of the kirpan at schools so that it is a benign symbol and engage in PR to explain this. Also, I think all the Khalistani talk is alarmist – as has been said Sikhs accept that restrictions should be placed on this article of faith in these circumstances. I also agree with whoever above stated that Sikhs need to slowly step back from a defensive attitude to a certain extent. Hopefully when these issues are settled this can happen.
I also think it is very very sad and rather squalid that a civilised conversation on this cannot take place without arrogant sniping and references to 1984. It is time for everybody to be more mature and less defensive and offensive. If desis go for each others throat in the diaspora then it is very bad. And I also think that those who use things like this as an excuse to generalise are the biggest saps of all.
Peace and Love to all Sikhs Hindus Muslims and Christians of Sepia Mutiny
Sat-Sri-Akalji
This topic is close to our struggle. The account of our struggle is now online. The battle lines have been drawn and we shall persevere. We shall win over the Quebec persecutioners.
Typo in my post no. 74: that should obviously say “Aurangzeb”
Groan @ Lund Man – not as funny as you think it is chaddi wallah 😉
Groan @ Lund Man – not as funny as you think it is chaddi wallah 😉
i agree. I also think it is very very sad and rather squalid that a civilised conversation on this cannot take place without arrogant sniping and references to 1984. It is time for everybody to be more mature and less defensive and offensive. If desis go for each others throat in the diaspora then it is very bad. And I also think that those who use things like this as an excuse to generalise are the biggest saps of all.
i have already apologized for my comment. sheesh. anyhoo, yes, it IS time that WE ALL are more mature. and it does no one any god to point out who the biggest saps are, because we’re all imperfect human beings, and we’ll always be someone else’s sap. perosnally, people who have to point out who are saps lose a few points. anyhoo….
Pattie Kaur, I wish I saw this earlier to offer my support. Good on ya for standing up.
Pattie Kaur, I wish I saw this earlier to offer my support. Good on ya for standing up.
thank you very much!
Is this really about religion ?
Is this really about religion ?
no, more about rights, but this happens to be an example.
ratboy, the baseball bat analogy was provided for the discussion on safety concerns. whether or not the functionality of the kirpan is apparent to others, the kirpan has a religious function within the dictates of the sikh faith. the central point of the courtÂ’s decision from my understanding is that given that the burden of proof has been established that the wearing of the kirpan is a safe practice and given that there are other potential sources of danger within the public school environment, by disallowing sikh children from wearing the kirpan in a public school, the state prohibits a sikh child the right to practice his/her faith fully and simultaneously attend public school. pattie kaur is correct, this issue is about rights, specifically the right to religion.
on the discussion of length which some are engaged in, some sikhs consider the length of 8 inches to be of ceremonial nature. a few decades ago it was common practice to wear a kirpans of up to 3 foot length. these days a large majority, but not all sikhs, wear a much shorter version of what the tradition has been. in terms of schools, small children should be given the right to wear a kirpan of a length commensurate with their age and maturity. these are issues which still need to be resolved and that is where the current court decision is at. and i am confident that sikhs within canada can come to a mutually agreeable situation which falls within the lines of the sikh rehat maryada (code of conduct).
i’ll finish on the discussion of “moderate” sikhi, which some are mentioning. i think this call for “moderate” sikhi to separate the wearing of the 5kÂ’s from sikh practice is either an effort to assert that the sikh faith in its most essential form is irrational or it stems from not understanding the full relevance of the 5kÂ’s. there are not various levels of sikhi from which to choose to subscribe. there is one faith, as prescribed by the rehat maryada. whether or not one chooses to follow this singular faith in its full form is oneÂ’s personal decision. the sikh way of life is defined by the current day rehat maryada and the 5k’s are a central part of the faith as described in the rehat maryada. to be a baptised sikh and to uphold the 5k’s does not set you diametrically opposed to a multicultural modern rational society. to uphold the faith within the confines of its entire requirements does not set you apart from being a contributing and important part of a peaceful society. from my own reading of comments by sikhs that the 5k’s are only symbolic in nature, i would like to add that the 5k’s are not just symbolic, though that is a convenient way of explaining the nature of the 5k’s to strangers to the faith. for a baptised sikh, the 5k’s become not just part of your daily uniform but are also often described as limbs of the body- a metaphor on how the 5k’s play a part in forming the identity of a sikh ascribing to the full ideals of the 10 gurus. these practices are not merely symbolic. there are prescribed functions, both spiritual and worldly, for each of the 5 k’s. please read the articles on the kirpan website for a more in depth understanding: http://www.kirpan.ca/
peace. out.
Legally Canada’s Supreme Court made the right decision. But I don’t like the idea of kids/teens carrying blunted daggers to school.
If it’s blunt, sheathed properly and hidden away then I don’t have a problem with it. But in Gurbaj’s case the knife fell out of its sheath during recess and wasn’t blunted so you can see why parents were alarmed.
I actually remember getting suspended along with a bunch of friends once for bringing a ‘super soaker’ to school (we planned to use them after school).
Most Canadian school boards have a very strict policy on ‘symbols of violence’.
thanks, pk! once again, well put. and to bend into what society wnats, by sacraficing these things, at least as i understand, correct me if wrong, is against the sikhs commitment to stand up for beliefs and virtues. what looks like knives, bracelets, boxers, etc. to some people is really a slap in the face. also, i felt bad – i visited the kirtan site, and in the guestbook, people had already decided to leave hate speech and whatnot. that really hurts, cuts below the belt.
And I also think that those who use things like this as an excuse to generalise are the biggest saps of all.
also, forgot to point out – where does it put one to sit and complain, and call others names, instead of helping those of us who screw up once in awhile to correct our mistakes?!
After reading this, I remembered an earlier case in the US where there was a similar incident – Sikh students were kicked out of school for insisting on wearing their kirpans. A Federal appeals court ruled that the students could carry their kirpans as long as they were secured in such a way that they couldn’t be used as a weapon.
I have no idea what happened after that though, in terms of how the students actually went about securing their kirpans. Anyone?
There was a case dealing with the kirpan at WSU earlier this year too. I had sent this to the tip line a while back but it wasnt picked up. Heres the link http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060110/METRO01/601100336/1026/SCHOOLS
To follow up on #90:
That California case was CHEEMA v THOMPSON (1995) in the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
In the case there was a back-and-forth between the Circuit Court and the District Court. Eventually the compromise reached between the Cheema family and the school district regarding the kirpan was as follows:
The dissenting opinion is fairly extensive and, at one point, alleges that it is possible to remove the kirpan from the sheath even when it’s sewed in, so I remain curious as to what actually happened after the ruling.
the student’s privilege of wearing his or her kirpan may be suspended
curious, indeed. priveledge of wearing a kirpan. hmm…..interesting wordng there. (on the part of the court)
Are kirpans allowed on domestic flights? NO. BECAUSE, LIKE IT OR NOT, THEY ARE WEAPONS. Try feeding this religious crap to the TSA, they will laugh in your face. And I fully support them. I also would not want my kids going to schools with other kids who are “packing”. Even with the best of guidance, in the heat of the moment, a kid may suddenly decide to bust out his kirpan if sufficiently provoked. The consequences could be disastrous.
First of all, the SCC did not demand that schools boards allow unrestricted Kirpans. Boards may impose reasonable limits on Kirpans. In Canada, this has traditionally meant that the Kirpan is immobilized in a cloth binding and that it is carried only under the clothes.
These reasonable restrictions on Kirpans in school, which have been around a long time in English-Canada, will probably be imposed in Quebec as well. The Kirpan is no big deal.
The more important issue, in my mind, is the anti-Kirpan, anti-Sikh, pro-conformity backlash in Quebec. The population, from radio talks shows to intellectual a is almost uniformly opposed to the decision, and it has broughtr out the ugly racist side of French-Canada. (E.g., Denise Bombardier writing about the ‘silent majority’, TQS show on whether minorities have to many rights, any francophone comment board on any paper or blog). Scary and depressing. If you are a francophone Sikh, your services are desparately required in La Belle Province.
(For those Canadians with long memories, the whole shebang reminds me of when the Canadian Legion prohibited Sikh WII veterans from wearing turbans in legion halls — supposedly disrespectful to the queen! But this is worse becuase Quebec’s intellectual class is on the wrong side.)
Hey Jai,
Could you give me the name of the program you’re talking about in #59, please ?
Thanks.
Quebec has a tradition and history of being extremely protectionist regarding its own culture to the exclusion of anglophones and minorities in the province (remember Premier Jacques Parizeau blaming the “ethnics” for Quebec not being able to secede from Canada).
Ritam: The TSA allows Sikhs to pack their kirpans in their checked luggage when they’re traveling. It’s a compromise with Sikhs that the TSA has allowed in order to increase the sense of security on airplanes as well as be sensitive to the Sikhs’ religious practice. Similarly, the school boards have also reached compromises with Sikhs, allowing children to wear kirpans that are secured under clothing.
Interesting that you “agree” with one over the other, though the judgements by both are quite similar and consistent. Your comment is quite telling as to your own perceptions and biases.
Fusion,
I’m referring specifically to a Saas-Bahu serial called Kesar on the Star Plus channel. If you have access to it, note in particular how there’s a consistent, deliberate effort in practically every single episode to portray paintings of Guru Nanak (you’ll recognise the picture, it’s familiar to all of us) as depicting a Hindu-type “avtaar” — which some of the main characters pray too — and, even worse, the fact that he is deliberately referred to as “Waheguru”, not “Guru Nanak”. I can’t believe the creaters of that show are managing to get away with this.
There are other things shown such as one of the main elderly female characterd (supposedly Sikh) involved most frequently in the above also engaging in orthodox Hindu practices such as wearing sindoor in her hair parting, occasionally praying to “murtis” of various Hindu gods such as Ganesh, and so on.
Jai,
I also dislike how they mock (and distort) the Punjabi language in those shows. As Manish said in his critique of Rang De Basanti, the fake Punjabi used in Bombay productions sucks (although Rang De Basanti did it better than most). Sadly, both in Bollywood and in the realm of Indian television, it seems the only characters given dignity and portrayed as normal human beings are the Hinglish-speaking, urban, educated, mainstream Hindu ones i.e. the central characters. The Sikhs, Gujaratis, South Indians, and servant-class people (of any background) are all portrayed as buffoons in their own way. I’m not normally a politically-correct kind of guy but I can’t wait until India gets a bit more PC, at least in these regards. Sikhs are mocked mercilessly (although I admit there are some good portrayals too, especially in commercials).
Like it or not ~20% of sikhs do that in punjab and surrounding area.