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The Vaisakhi challenge
by Gurpreet Singh
Vaisakhi is not only a harvest festival of India, but has a great significance in the Sikh religion. The Khalsa, or the ultimate form of the Sikh religion, was born on a Vaisakhi Day in 1699.
The tenth master of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh baptized five Sikhs and laid the foundation of the Khalsa, which denounced the age-old caste system of India and vowed to sport long, unshorn hair.
Members of the Taraksheel Society, who challenge the blind faith and encourage people to adopt a scientific approach, have decided to join the Vaisakhi parades being organized this year in Metro Vancouver.
They will distribute leaflets at the Surrey Vaisakhi parade on April 12 this weekend, and also at the Vancouver Vaisakhi parade a week later on April 19.
Ironically, the Taraksheel Society is often attacked by religious fundamentalists as a “bunch of atheists.” In Punjab, India, where the Taraksheel Society was formed in 1984, the Hindu extremists have intensified their campaign against them.
Recently, the fundamentalists marched through the streets with swords unsheathed accusing them of blasphemy and seeking a ban on their books. The right wing government of Punjab, supported by the Hindu nationalist BJP, is considering their demand.
While the two Vaisakhi parades will follow religious processions, the members of the Taraksheel Society have resolved to distribute their leaflets containing information that will enlighten people against superstition, the caste system and rebirth. The leaflets will throw a challenge to the sorcerers to show their miracles and claim a reward from the Taraksheel of $100,000.
Though the Taraksheels have been organizing annual events in B.C., this is the first time they have decided to join the Vaisakhi parades. The task remains challenging as it is hard to change the thinking of people who are influenced by strong religious beliefs and age-old traditions.
Since Guru Gobind Singh also challenged the conventional thinking of his time, and so, the community should strengthen the hands of the Taraksheel Society and do some introspection on caste system and superstition which have made inroads in the Sikh community against the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, who were against discrimination and miracles.
South Asian Post columnist Gurpreet Singh is a talk show host with Radio India (1600 AM). His program airs each weekday from 10 a.m. - noon and every Sunday’s from 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.
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