I wear a Kirpan to school now to give me spirit of strength, as the Kirpan symbolises self-defence, dignity, sardaari, respect and being a warrior. I FEEL PROUD TO WALK DOWN TOWN AND IN THE STREETS. PEOPLE MAY STARE BUT MOST PEOPLE SMILE AT ME, WHILE OTHERS LOOK AT ME AS IF I AM ASYLUM SEEKER OR SOMETHING!
Around March time there was an Akhand Paat Sahib at our Gurdwara in Banbury. I went there late on Friday night. I walked to the Gurdwara. Down town, I met up with someone I knew from school. He asked me whether I was coming out for a night out. I explained I was going to the Gurdwara. The weather was mixed that day. I expected it to rain so I carried an umbrella. My friend said if anyone says anything to me because of my pagh that I should get my umbrella and gauge their eyes out and beat them up. I laughed and took little notice of his comment. I got to the Gurdwara listened to paat, did sewa and had langar. Afterwards I spoke to the Paati Singhs, because they were interested in seeing a keshdhari child. We spoke about Sikhi, Panjab and todays Sikh Youth. It got late, about 10.30pm. I made a move and started walking. I had to walk through town, and it was a Friday night. When I got near the end of town-centre, I saw people from my school including a boy, who thought he was tough and macho. That day he was drunk and he usually thinks he’s hard and that he can bully people. Well, he shouted to me, “what the f*ck u got a towel wrapped around your head”. Walking along I realised that I shouldn’t allow someone like that who is so disrespectful and arrogant to get away with what he had said. I had to stop this boy, because he could swear at an elderly Sikh gentleman or harass a Sikh lady. So I asked him, “What did you say”. He repeated his racist remark and laughed . I got my umbrella and with anger and rage I went up to him with my umbrella and was going hit him and shove the umbrella in his eyes. My friends and classmates shouted, “leave him, he is drank, he’s jus a pathetic racist.” I told him that I was going to kill him and that my brothers where going to kick the hell out of him. I walked away and met my mum on the way home and got a lift in the car.
Arriving home, I regretted what I had done and felt confused about how I had responded to the racist boy and whether it was a wise move or not. To be honest I didn’t have any support or backup if I did ever get into a fight. My brother and cousins were actually at university so I didn’t really have anyone to help me out. Knowing what type of lafangaa, a loafer the boy was, I had to prepare myself for the worst. When I went to school that week I wore a small Kirpan underneath. This was not for show or us, but to raise my spirit, give me josh and inspiration to stand up and fight for righteousness and justice.
That same boy who used to be a loud mouth and pick fights with everyone, kept a low profile. When I saw him, he lowered his head and walked on. I thought to myself ‘Raaj Karega Khalsa, Aakee R’hai Naa Koye… The Khalsa shall rule, and anyone who oppose them will fail miserably.’ Waheguru Ji had guided and helped me, and instead of feeling low about myself, I had become more confident and brave. If you want something THEN MAKE A START! You will never achieve something like keeping Kesh if you don’t make a start! Believe me, I feel like a Sikh now, and I feel part of the Sikhs.
In the first week of going back to school with a pagh, I requested the Head of the Year to allow me to do an assembly about why I have chosen to keep a turban and what Sikhi is all about. After I had done 10 minute talk about the Sikh turban and what Sikhi is about, the whole assembly hall full of students and teachers clapped so loudly, that it was the loudest applause from an audience I have heard. Everyone congratulated me that the talk was good. Someone said that I must be proud to be Sikh, and that I was brave to do a talk in front of about 300 students.
Appreciate this post. Will try it out.