© 2007 Institute of Current World Affairs
The Institute awards long-term fellowships to develop a deep understanding of an issue, country, or region outside the US and to share that understanding with a wider public.
Institute of Current World Affairs - Home Page

Below is a hobbled text version of a PDF document.
In order to read the actual document please click the link below and register if necessary.
(One-time registration is free and very quick.)
Read article

4/1/1991 - Tests of Faith by Stephen B. Maly

INSTITUTEOFCURRENTWORLDAFFAIRS SM Tests Faith April Vancouver B C Peter Bird Martin Institute Current World Affairs West Wheelock Street Hanover New Hampshire Dear Peter I finding increasingly difficult distinctions becoming crucially important It enough given interest nationalities apart Japanese Chinese Canadians streets Vancouver What worse trouble distinguishing white truths subtle helpful distinction sizing someone character story Sometimes I I difference between brazen utmost sincerity This general problem reaching implications I agree In context experience members Canada Sikh minority discerning difference between peaceable violence prone factions turned headache Trying settle related question differentiates terrorists freedom fighters another brain A similar difficulty arises evaluating various responses mostly white mostly Christian Canadian majority growing troublesome Sikh element their midst there often between patriotism xenophobia What exasperates I learn about Sikhism religion Sikh nationalism India abroad including canada Sikh identity mixture ethnic ideological economic historical fact6rs addition politics religion certain I become about Sikhs about I losing faith capacity accurate generalizations about particular group Canadians about every other ethnic cultural minority Canadian mosaic Stephen Institute FeliOw sUdying ethnic cultural nation Canada Since theInstitut eofCurrentWorldAffairs theCrane RogersFoundation ovidedlong termfellowships enable outstandingyoungadultstoliveoutridetheUnitadStatesandwriteaboutinternationalareasandissues Endowed bythelateCharlesR Crane theInstituteisals0supportedbycontributionsfromlike mindedindividualsand foUndations The broader perspective despite survey opinion polls world despite accepted dogma sociology political science despite jargon reporters blithely obfuscative phrases The Kremlin Yugoslavs Ottawa thinks despite knowledge about nations states people speak authority about sentiments intentions groups The Dalai Lama qualified I suppose about aspirations Tibetans Because Newfoundland fairly homogeneous culture premier Canadian province actually score Atlantic Most tries however diverse subgroups figurative infinity individuals Who articulate anymore national interest multinational state without imperious pretension without resorting crass threats force The decade century shaping increasing political fragmentation deepening social cleavages spreading sectarian violence progressive fracturing hitherto seemingly stable federations The Soviet Union could apart directions The Indian subcontinent similarly fissiparous state The process integration started partition independence Britain continued bloody birth Bangladesh still engaged panoply religious ethnic territorial conflicts plague India Author V SNaipal published political travelogue about India subtitled A Million Mutinies Now Canada again collision course Quebec separatism barring political miracle there turning fateful crash contrary views means nation Whose Country Sikhs doubly visible minority They figure prominently India fractious political environment occupying position economic geopolitical terms sharing responsibility Indian troops Hindu extremists thousands killings recent years Sikhs played several minor insignificant roles protracted drama Canada identity crisis still Back example group wealthy Sikhs chartered Japanese named Komagata Maru sailed across Pacific Vancouver harborwith deliberate intention testing British rules regarding migration between different dominions Empire The Sikhs believed right British subjects Canada The allowed however The passengers board suffered hunger disease months Indian police returning their failed mission It sordid incident revealed nastiness British Canadian racism vulnerability Sikhs persecution their homeland Now militant Sikhs attempting carve independent state northwest India their compatriots coreligionists Canada themselves cutting majority attitudes towards multiculturalism immigration rights duties Canadian citizenship A Supreme Court Canada decision Charter Rights Freedoms Bill Rights attached Constitution applies anyone residing Canada including refugee claimants waiting processed immigration officials The plaintiff Sikh The Singh decision known important precedent popular In Western Canada particularly readily associated controversy Third Worlders should admitted country extent should persuaded compelled conform certain national standards Turbans daggers offer recent cases point Sikhs baptized Khalsa brotherhood I explain later required their turbans times In Royal Canadian Mounted Police recruit named Baltej Singh Dhillon requested change Mounties uniform regulations allow headgear instead standard Stetson After dithering indecision request granted mainly basis legal arguments would violate Charter guarantees against discrimination basis religion This bending rules newer outraged Canadians especially stern provinces where Mounties history serve provincial police Over signatures gathered petitions protest change dress In March group three retired RCMP officers filed lawsuit federal court alleging exemption basis recruit religious beliefs violation Charter It anybody guess outcome court challenge It important however people opposed allowing turbans insist their argument concerns culture A member Parliament Calgary The feling dress uniform RCMP heritage Canadian culture preserved Contrast statement following admonitions little Sikh catechism I picked underlying dilemma If wealth nothing If health something If character If HERITAGE YOU For Sikh wearing turban least important white Canadians sacred image Mountie Last November Calgary Alberta school board voted favor baptized Sikhs right their religious daggers called kirpans classroom Several restrictions apply knife sheathed blunt under clothing seven inches A similar decision taken recently Canada largest school board Toronto suburb Peel Ontario No violent incidents involving kirpans reported Canadian schools I00 years resistance permissive policy understandably strong Before Peel board changed rules Ontario teacher named Harbhajan Singh Pandori fired having protested against barring kirpans He reported I think people understood country people earth should understanding respect Is Canada become repository detached disinherited nations exist Whose country In effort accommodate every culture faith philosophy value system moral defining myths nationhood Canadians themselves country without binding vision future This Reginald Bibby sociologist University Calgary author Mosaic Madness published As Western Canadian Bibby opinions congruent masses We losing control borders common complaint Canadians their country altogether decade ahead The Taint Terror I fighting quite successfully temptation Sikhs together convenient verbal molds adjectives militant extremist moderate local newspaper reporters I trying sensitive Sikh complaints about labelling misinter pretation their cause Singhs straight There contradictory reports media about represents which faction The World Sikh Organization International Sikh Organization International Sikh Youth Federation Khalsa Diwan Society Babbar Khalsa organizations active Vancouver openly supportive independent Sikh state Khalistan although differ sometimes violently achieve Several prominent Vancouver Sikhs weeks The president Khalsa Diwan Society temple gunned East Vancouver driveway hospital under police guard Another elbow shattered shotgun blast fired through kitchen window Authorities believe would assassin after husband holds positron authority temple governing committee According local press violence stems December election temple officials wherein radical elements moderates funding fighting civil Khalistan India The ensuing investigations involve shadowy figures frequently operate secret Nobody arrested There ascertaining degree internal feuding fueled disagreements Khalistan simpler petty squabbling money power local Sikh community Some Sikhs argue intra temple rivalries relate Punjabi kinship origins ideological conflicts Factionalism achilles Sikh struggle independence Give Sikh unity months I deliver Khalistan Talwinder Singh Parmar preached Canada He charismatic leader still widely believed mastermind behind downing Air India acquitted formal charges Canadian court present whereabouts unknown There umbrella group representatives different organizations called Council Khalistan regularly binding authority There thing apparently Meanwhile Reyat trial I about involving placed luggage bound India still going Sikh leaders upset which unproven allegations terrorist activity persons implicate broader community In letter Vancouver Sun example president World Sikh Organization Toronto complained journalists unfairly assuming Mr Reyat culpability smearing Sikhs general The Sikh community wrote willing alleged guilty association And guilty party found should identified religious affiliation Would headlines condemning Jew robber Anglican rapist The point taken I believe Sikhs themselves contribute problem distinguishing public fashion between their religious beliefs their cultural norms their political aspirations The Sikhs approaching society I former Canada Multiculturalism ministry They believe anything there legal moral limits tolerate Advocating breakup India technically against Canadian using bombs pistols political point violates cherished Canadian ideals about peaceful ordered society This testing boundaries acceptability going years since Komagatu Maru arrived human cargo during which indicted murder convicted attempted assassinationi running illicit narcotics trade immigration fraud including movement illegals through called Punjabi pipeline B C Washington Oregon California I where I Sikhs I They friendly forthcoming disavowed violence connection political chicanery Canada In visit local temple representative instance I couldn favorably impressed willingness answer questions seemingly genuine sense humor He spoke openly advocacy independent Sikh state nothing positive about violent means achieve There noticeable twinkle It sounds corny Aiice commented later Because cheerful demeanor I trusted Sikh spokesman implic I reason still since brief discussion I across several written accounts others meetings Sikh leaders which specific references twinkle inspire confidence Clark Blaise Bharati Mukherjee suggest The Sorrow Terror twinkling cipher something sinister That merry twinkle eerie charm assertion simultaneous opposites peaceable rhetoric terrorist familiar anyone tracked leaders It rarely comes across print sanctimonious denunciation violence Ambiguous smiles coded words winks crucial understanding message With caveat imbedded I longer certain about verisimilitude Sikh I fully confident first impressions accurate Narinder Singh Dhillon refugee Punjab showed class weeks eager learn English He arrived Canada Sikhs traveled overland Europe boarded freighter Rotterdam Holland spent several miserable weeks crossing landed shores Nova Scotia As story gleaned books press clippings Narinder patchy recollections first thing these bedraggled aliens Toronto The second thing claim refugee status Immigration officials straight Canadian geography faced quandary could these qualify refugees democratic country strong trade diplomatic Canada Indian officials insisted Sikhs simply economic migrants people suspected terrorists Well Mr Dhillon among those ultimately accepted refugees political persecution across Canada Van couver landed immigrant Cana citizenship He halting broken English wants young people avoid drugs eating crime I believe I catch myself wondering doing years since obvious spent people speak English He energetic student repeating words often sound right listening patiently I attempt explain several meanings crazy English words still still breathing still still night sitting still whiskey still Sometimes Narinder sparkling closing bowing slightly second I think gentle saying I could wrong about gentleness INDIA induding areaclaimed Khalistan eAhmadabad ND A In numerical terms there about number Sikhs world approx million there Jews The majority Sikhs million northwest Indian state Punjab diaspora scattered across continents As religion Sikhism relatively young started about years nationalist cause Khalistan In Indian Prime Minister Indira Ghandi ordered military assault against Golden Temple Amritsar Sikhdom holiest shrine principal redoubt militant leaders Several hundred Sikhs killed brutal melee called Operation Bluestar Some months later deftly executed revenge Mrs Gandhi Sikh bodyguard riddled bullets The assassination followed massive crackdown Sikhs India New Delhi Sikh riots three thousand From forward Khalistan Si ascendancy Operation Bluestar Sikhs today burned gassed village Holapjah probably embittered Kurds Iraq years There roughly Sikhs North America reside Canada mostly Ontario British Columbia A little Canadian Sikhs B C Vancouver These numbers fuzzy owing inconsistent census varying official estimates sense disproportion Sikhs percent India population million percent Canada million countries command attention their relatively small numbers would normally warrant The Sikhs minority profile continents I cannot imagine countries different another Canada India My exposure India limited vicarious travels mainly through television I think country I think sepia tones rivers people incongruous mixture jungle I smoke rising outdoor funeral pyres throngs people bathing Ganges River India mostly crowded Canada mostly almost empty comparison In recent edition Los Angeles Times British historian Paul Johnson described India unwieldy divided faith caste income differences Canada huger still three times India population unwieldy country broad middle class narrower range religious ethnic economic differentiation It disturbing witness fraying civility Canada I shudder televised pictures Indian peasants hacking another knives bamboo staves Despite these differences physical scale social character Ca India common former dominions British Empire wards worshippers Queen Victoria inheritors political traditions Westminster model parliamentary democracy Both countries maintain their Commonwealth chase other United Nations Non Aligned Movement substantial amount trade another worth million During years India consistently ranked countries origin immigrants Canada Since nearly I00 Indians thirds Punjabi Sikhs Hindus opted Canadian citizenship Most attracted Canada living standards relative peace India increasingly dangerous place especially Sikhs enamored Khalistani movement In alone Sikhs murdered their religionists This number comparable Sikhs slain aftermath Indira Gandhi murder Widespread sectarian violence threatening undermine political virtues India traditionally shared Canada As University British Columbia professor K C Holsti points unpublished conference paper Canada India among countries world policies expend national resources sustain cultural uniqueness ethno religious minorities assure legal equality among India Canada federations trouble Holsti generous observation placed tense I plenty months about Canada internal divisions The thing lacking Lord Durham famous Canada adage about nations warring bosom single state 1990s Canada nations counting immigrant groups aboriginal peoples Moreover modern English Canadian nation turning collection fractious region groupings hurling insults another common language India worse shape To better sense going there I lecture Dr Harjot Oberoi professor Asian Studies UBC Sikh The event sponsored Royal Commonwealth Society unofficial profit organization whose members maintain interest Britain former colonies Professor Oberoi delivered remarks spartan crowd basement meetin Christchurch Cathedral downtown Vancouver He about ongoing dangerous struggle supremacy Kashmir between India Pakistan about bloody feuding between Sikhs Hindus Punjab about fights between Muslims Hindus mosques built ancient temples about between Tamils Sinhalese Sri Lanka which India involved about inter ethnic conflicts eastern state Assam border Myanmar Burma Why asked internecine violence after years Indian independence Dr Oberoi thoughtful complex answer The which struck having immediate relevance Canada something Two opposite strains ideology surfaced India secular nationalism Indian elites people employed government bureaucracies commercial higher education sectors communications media ethnic religious fundamentalism which particularly strong rural areas Secularism legacy British Raj there other govern society split Hindu caste system presence Muslim minority create religious state could order render impartial justice The problem state never reflect society supposed govern internal pressures nearly always breaking point Hindus fearful oaching Muslim fundamentalism fueled mullahs distant Iran transported India Pakistani agents ulterior motives Sikh fundamentalists similar peril Hindu revivalism adopted nuder Muslim inspired tactics muzzling press forcing women veils practice basis Sikh religion intimidating moderates threats violence Thank heavens paranoid absent Canada growing between state society applies India English speaking Canadians forever complaining about having government mandated bilingualism shoved their throats They ALWAYS anatomical reference Quebec separatists repeat again federalism kaput Canada The aboriginal people faith Canadian justice system gearing another summer roadblocks confrontations police The British North American formula rnance dysfunctional century Canada British legacy seems already India The Empire still crumbling Inside Inner Sanctum Punjabis constitute thirds immigrants India While these people Sikhs those immediately noticeable mainly because their dress Naturally newcomers gravitate toward friendly familiar surroundings neighberhoods already densely populated Sikhs The electoral constituency Vancouver South highest concentratien East Indians Canada This provided point convergence departure locations immigrants since early 1950s because sawmills situated banks nearby Fraser River Most I0 residents riding profess Sikh religion speak Punjabi A strip mostly Sikh owned operated shops Main Street known Little I This Vancouver location largest Sikh place worship outside India Alice I visited temple Ross Street chilly Sunday early spring We parked street approached large square building trepidation The surroundings plain enough colored houses aging Chevy Iipalas Rusting tricycles windblown papers litter1 lawns We joined irregular stream worshippers funneling through front immediately immersed exotic sounds flowing gowns pungent smells curious stares The enryway crowded abuzz Punjabi small I appointment Mr Singh before I realized nearly Sikhs carry appellation I asked behind small directions temple office He looked little notebook which making notations summoned young throng Th shepherded downstairs through series unadorned meeting rooms where older around tables conference They stopped talking passed through I remember steely whiskers broad smiles twinkling We brief small office youngish about basic tenets Sikh religion about prospects Khalistan He hopeful His I mentioned already positively sparkled As talked other popping issuing rapid questions Punjabi digging various drawers pamphlets about Sikhism about human rights abuses India All while there pitched singing praying emanating loudspeaker corner ceiling getting broadcast religious ceremonies above On fashioned salesman style calendars showing Golden Temple Amritsar instead Jerry Buick ealership Pepsi Cola Handy Andy Hardware We interrupted fellow wearing overcoat Floursheim shoes those socks called hosiery He reminded Basil Rathbone playing Sherlock Holmes disguised Hindoo fakir Mr Gian Singh Bans introduced visiting scholar India official temple guide After exchanging apologies waiting front group Montanans signals crossed followed leader upstairs Like everyone entering temple sanctuary shoes cover heads The taking notes front issued white unisex scarves We followed Gian center aisle sorts shuffling between large groups mostly women children sitting burnt orange colored carpet covered entire floor There chairs The place sparsely adorned hanging flower mirror panes glass suspended ceiling canopied altar which stood singing preachers single microphone stand For reason I expected shadowy alcoves splendor bright reminded right oversized junior school gymnasium At altar collection coins small bills sitting cross legged front looked porridge Our leader bowed toward altar indicated should squat hands together receive gruel which turned rather tasty combination flour sugar butter Everyone little stuff sgnifying equality communion God gifts humanity After washing hands battery simple sinks corridor Gian explained altar squarish roofed platform covered brightly covered fabric simply provided daytime resting place Sikh bible known Adi ranth First Book The hymns being actually passages granth music We proceeded upstairs sacred bedroom Each night Temple Society dozen copies Sikh bible placed canopied double covered night During while placed altar church services others usually being straight through shifts Any Sikh woman eligible engage which takes hours complete Every Adi Granth pages The compilation sacred verse written languages Punjabi Urdu Sanskrit Farsi Hindi others It centuries regarded message God living messenger Guru In methodical didactic fashion Gian great about Sikh religion It obvious trained might Sunday School tradition I relate learned capsulized I brutalized version Sikhs known their martial spirit recognized their outward appearance Sikhism being during period religious revival India century It originally founded Hindu Guru Nanak preached about fundamental truth religions whose mission religious strife between Muslims Hindus H rejected formalism Islam Hindu caste system Nanak followed Gurus succession tortured apart killed various ghastly The Guru Gobind Singh whose father executed India Moghul rulers embracing Islam Gobind decided Sikhism would survive encroachme Hinduism enticements secularism least persecution bloodied hands militant Islam tough He established Khalsa brotherhood defenders faith This origin often referred Five K Kesh uncut turban Kangha clean Kachha soldier underwear symbol readiness chastity Kara steel bracelet right wrist Kirpan dagger defense summon courage These symbols initially meant differentiate Sikhs other sects difficult Sikhs pretend Hindus times crisis Today Five K stand Sikh scholar exteriorization Sikh religious psyche commitment appear Unwittingly Gobind Singh created designations Sikhs Keshhadhari toughies baptized Khalsa Sahajdharis la99ards wimps IIslow adopters bifurcation source internal friction This human Guru stabbed enemy About without followers Adi Granth should forever after considered going Guru living guide Sikhs From power would invested Khalsa based blood inheritance Gian could Canadian Sikhs Khalsified seemed perhaps three quarters temple wearing turbans He showed bracelet kirpan little thing maybe inches fancy wooden scabbard We about underwear After exhausting ourselves questions stairs basement where scores people having lunch communal kitchen known langara Every Sikh temple guest rooms travellers shelter charge Alice I issued washed plates coffee thick plastic which volunteer cooks ladled large portions curried lentils soupy yoghurt We given fried pretzel thing turned sweet The water After benches alongside wooden tables carrying bucket tongs rushed deliver chipatis delicious discs bread cooked pancake This great price right Nobody seemed presence although Gian after pointing paintings dining walls various Gurus being butchered burned stake abandoned group associates stepped howdy We rejoined guide after lunch He showed around still unfinished grounds outside temple We stepped piles concrete block steel reinforcing materials fountain There Mercedes parked nearby Looking mostly industrial estate Fraser River distance Gian Singh Bains supporters Khalistan exploiting people ignorance collecting money Divining Future The viability Sikh state highly questionable Wedged between Muslim Pakistan predominantly Hindu India south strategically located Kashmir source rivers considered vital India total economic space Punjab never relinquished Sikh control without fight By continuing their armed struggle Khalistanis genocidal violence against Sikhs It unlikely foreign government would intervene their behalf Great Power interests would served helping Sikh militants undermine stability world largest democracy Many Canadian Sikhs support Khalistan guarantee cultural security homeland religious fundamentalists This I Professor Oberoi He Sikhs Canada desire intention return India Khalistan should their sympathies Irish American support IRA It difficult imagine creation Khalistan would improve Sikhs status Canada certainty violence India would cause demonstrations against Indian consulates could easily provoke terrorism Canadian Such action would raise Sikhs profile higher guarantee firmer resistance their acceptance Canadian society One vexing aspects modern Sikhism defies reductionist analysis We Western secularists accustomed dissecting complex social phenomenon order understand nature beast separate religion politics church state because compretend perhaps mistakenly society We segregate ethnic racial factors political economic interests order arrive satisfying rational explanation behavior forever useful terms classification right progressive reactionary But Sikh religion often appears wholly indistinguishable political cause Sikh independence In respect Sikh militants militant Zionists before creation Israel It still possible absolutely necessary distinguish between modern Judaism varieties contemporary Zionism contradictory manifestations intellectual exercise anything enervating leaving sense having worked accomplished little As offshoot Hinduism hefty Islam mixed Sikhism doubly offensive those religious groups doubly exotic North Americans What Westerners might attractive about Sikh faith universality truly spiritual paths God within acceptance equality women objuration class caste distinctions disdain miracles other supernatural mumbo jumbo disregard compulsory fasting drives Hindu revivalists Muslim fundamentalists They think heresies anathema stamped At theocratic nature Sikh nationalism makes unattractively anachronistic preference secular pluralistic democracy It thing accept legitimacy Sikhs resistance Indian state tyranny religious zealotry another condone abstract terms creation conceivably powerful religious state Vatican armories granaries geography where spiritual temporal power The Sikhs obvious place evolution Canadian state They heavy hitters regular sense phrase sufficiently organized united politically break politician chances success along figure significantly power struggle between I SM Zl Quebec Canada When Liberal Party leader Jean Chretien British Columbia months visit Sikh temple Vancouver Island itinerary The Vancouver Sun color photograph Chretien draped makeshift turban silly another grandstander trying curry favor coterie potential voters It would dismiss Sikhs large number minorities suffer enjoy Canada double edged approach multiculturalism which celebrates diversity helps ethnic groups margins society This would mistake I think Since early century Sikhs played important testing liberal attitudes white majority Canada The vaunted tolerance toward called visible minorities wearing A concern about balance color creed Canada growing steadily People proud their Anglo Saxon Anglo Celt Quebecois heritage worried about thickening wedge Third Worlders country demographic profile Sikhs always sharper wedge I before I safely I understand Sikh mentality Confident predictions about future Sikhs India Canada equally distant So I intrigued notion activities Sikh minority Canada reveal great about fragility country national identity strength durability religion inspired nationalism highly volatile state present world order which lacks institutional mechanisms allow groups Sikhs Kurds Armenians Tibetans Palestinians their determination without resorting terrorist violence My faith alternative means attaining political cultural autonomy dwindling belief Canada itself model multicultural federation This chaos confusion clouded distinctions pervasive doubts about future It Cheers Received Hanover