The Aged Priest

 There was a very unkind Mughal ruler. His kingdom has very cruel laws. Once, there was a famine in his kingdom. He issued an order that all the citizens have to dump their old relatives in the forests and leave to die to save the food.

            There lived an old and poor Brahmin priest and his disciple in a temple outside the city. Their devotion to God and each other was exceptional. The poor disciple loved his aged Guru with warm care, and the order of the unkind ruler filled his heart with pain and anxiety. But nobody dares to defy the order of the king. So, with great pain and hopeless anguish, the disciple prepared to abandon his Guru in the forest to meet the death. This was considered the kindest mode of death by the king to the old people.

            Just at sunset, when their day's rituals ended, he took some bread, given by devotees which was the food for the poor Brahmin priest and his disciple. He dried them and tied them in a strong cloth which he hung in a potli (bag) on his shoulder along with a bottle of sweet- clean drinking water. Then he lifted his feeble old Guru on his back and started his sad and difficult voyage to the forest. The road was muddy and rocky. The narrow lanes and by-lanes were crossed and re-crossed by many corridors made by dacoits, hunters and woodcutters. Many times, the disciple was confused and lost his path but he did not care. One path after the other path, he kept on marching. The disciple went, moving blindly forward - even forward towards blind turns - even deeper towards dense dark forest what is known as "Mukti Dhaam," a place where "aged are abandoned. "

            The eyes of the old Brahmin priest were not very weak. He noted the fast and quick pace from one lane to another lane. His learned and experienced heart grew restless. His disciple did not know the many zigzag paths of the forest and his back journey might be one of the hazards. So he stretched forth his long arms and plucking the soft twigs from the plants and the bushes as they passed, he gently dropped a handful past a few steps of the passage, so that as they passed, the narrow lanes in the forests were strewn at recurrent intervals with small heaps of twigs.

                        At last, they reached the designated place. Exhausted and sad by heart, the disciple quietly released his Guru from his back. He tried to make a place of comfort as his last 'karma' for his Guru. Collecting fallen soft twigs and leaves he made a soft bed and gently lifted and seated his old and feeble Guru onto it. He tightened his old sheet more tightly about his bending back and with teary eyes and a crying heart, he said goodbye to his dear disciple.

            The shaky Guru's voice was packed with generous love as he delivered his last sermon. "Don't cry, my son." He said. "The forest path is packed with hazards. Move carefully and take the path which has the heaps of twigs. They will direct you to the right path back home." The disciple's stunned eyes looked farther down the path, the poor old Guru, his wrinkled hands all hurt and soiled by his work of love. His heart shattered and bowing to his Guru he cried: "Oh, Worthy Guru, your kindness smashes my heart! I can't leave you. Together we will track the pathway of twigs, and together we will breathe the last!"

            Again he lifted his Guru on his back (it seemed very light now) and moved fast to the path, through the moonlight and the shadows of the trees, to the little temple outside the city.  

            He digged beneath the kitchen, a hidden hole in the ground, concealed from the view of the people. There he kept everything they needed. The disciple was concerned that he would be discovered by the men of the king. Months and years passed. They begin to feel secure. The luck ran out. Again the king sent forth another harsh order to show his might. He ordered that all the citizens would show him a pot filled with the ashes of the dead old people. 

            The entire kingdom shuddered with horror. The order must be abided. Who in the kingdom could show a pot filled with ashes? One evening, the disciple, in great anguish, whispered the dreadful order to his hidden Guru. "Wait!" The Guru said. "Let will think, Let me think." The next day, he told him, what to do. "Bring an old pot," he said. "Burn some manure cake on a calm night." The disciple called upon the guards of the King and did as told by the wise Guru when the fire was extinguished. There in the pot, with everything showing perfectly, kept the pot of ashes.

            The king was delighted at the intelligence and loyalty of the disciple and commended him immensely. However, he asked how he had got these great qualities. "Alas! Alas!" wept the disciple "The reality must be revealed honestly!" and with a long sigh narrated his act. The king listened seriously and pondered in quiet about the wisdom of the old Brahmin priest. Lastly, he spoke. "Intelligence is more significant than power in youth." He said seriously. " Alas! I must have kept in mind the well-known motto, " With the crown of thorns, there comes the wisdom." That very moment that brutal law was scrapped and law remained to allow the old to live peacefully.

 

             

A Forgotten Holy Land

 No matter how bold and aggressive Sikhs are in India, no matter how anxious Sikhs are to be perceived - nothing can justify the silence of Sikhs on the desecrated Gurudwaras in Pakistan, mostly in Pakistan-occupied Punjab. It is the real Sikh homeland because it's where Sikhism originated. There is no pondering, nor even any mention in their discourses of what Pakistan and Muslims did to gurudwaras. Indiscriminate desecration or razing of gurudwaras, misusing them as stores and using them as offices or schools. Is this not terrorism, what is?  

The rationale of this article is not to question the bravery of Sikhs. But, it is the silence of Sikhs on their real homeland. Nankana Sahib is also in Pakistan-occupied Punjab.  Support of Hindus for Sikhs is undeniable and they have the right to claim the Pakistan-occupied Punjab. Sikhs suffered a lot in Pakistan in 1947 and it is their right to get back the Pakistan-occupied Punjab.

One such gurudwara is 'Sri Rori Sahib' in Lahore which is in a very bad condition. It illustrates the construction of the Golden Temple of Amritsar on its ceiling.  Some of the famous gurudwaras like Nankana Sahib, Panja Sahib, and Kartarpur Sahib are properly cared for and visited by many devotees around the world now, thanks to the Modi government in India. The majority of the gurudwaras in the small towns and villages need care and reconstruction.  Most of these gurudwaras are related to the first six Gurus of Khalsa Panth.

At present, there are around 350 gurudwaras in Pakistan, of which nearly 140 are honestly associated with the first six Gurus of Khalasa Panth. But shockingly, at present only 20 are properly serviceable where proper 'puja' is performed. However, this is another story that no Sikh organization or any Sikh dares to raise this issue at any platform who are otherwise very aggressive and vocal on very insignificant issues. Situation of gurudwaras is much more miserable in Afganistan.

Sikhs are very lucky. They have powerful and loyal friends, India and the Hindus. This is because Hindus are secular, peaceful and loyal people. Sikhs should be intelligent enough to understand that this support is not unconditional. It should be mutual trust and loyalty. Nobody cares beyond a limit. Sikhs should reciprocate honestly.

Some part of Sri Rori Sahib gurudwara was crumbled in the monsoons and some part was damaged by the toxic elements. Gurudwara Daftu Sahib, situated in the village Daftu of Kasur district, collapsed due to neglect and no visitors. It is said that the honored Sufi poet of 17 th century, Baba Bulleh Shah took shelter here to save himself from violent Muslims. Sikhs should show some courage to save and get back control of these gurudwaras. There is a gurudwara in Handiara village which was visited by the sixth Sikh guru - Guru Hargobind in 17 th century. This shrine famously known as Gurudwara Chhevin Patshahi portrays the scenes from the battle of Kartarpur between Sikh and Mughal forces in 1935. Now, it is occupied by Muslims.  

Sikhs should be made conscious of the brave and aggressive narrative of Sikh belief on which these gurudwaras were built. A strong sense of pride and belonging should be created for these monuments. Sikh diaspora has almost surrendered to the Islamic fundamentalists of Pakistan and Afghanistan. They have no courage to do anything. It is very difficult work due to the violent local opposition and encroachment. Very bold and aggressive efforts are needed by the Sikh community. In these historic gurudwaras, Sikhism originated were destroyed one after the other due to fear and weakness of the Sikh community.

The majority of the Sikhs fled away from Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Punjab after the Partition in 1947 and afterwards, almost all the gurudwaras caved in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Although, the government of Pakistan has a department to look after the assets and gurudwaras it is simply an eyewash. It does nothing rather it is a happy partner in the destruction of those assets and heritages.

Lahore is the nursery and cradle of Sikhs and their history. But, now anything related to Sikhism is preserved properly. The biggest problem is that Sikhs are not ready to live in Pakistan due to fear. Minorities in Pakistan are brutally repressed and persecuted. As a result of this hardly two dozen gurudwaras are functional. In other gurudwaras are left unattended by the Sikh community. Sikhs from India and abroad should migrate and settle in Pakistan and Afghanistan and take care of their gurudwaras. These holy gurudwaras symbolize the origin of the Khalsa faith spread by Guru Nanak and other gurus.

Not only this, some of the gurudwaras are converted into schools, housing complexes, libraries and mosques. A municipal library was opened in Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha on Kashmir road in Mansera city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state. Likewise, in Sargodha town, the Government Ambala Muslim High School was opened. There are many such instances where gurudwaras are used and occupied by Muslims. The fallout is that the sacredness and the history linked to these places will be forgotten forever. 

It is very surprising to see the timid attitude of Sikhs and Shromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee toward these sacred gurudwaras who are otherwise very vocal and aggressive even on minor issues in India. The Sikhs left behind these holy shrines while fleeing. It is high time that Sikhs demand to restore all the gurudwaras and their properties. After that, they must demand the Pakistan-occupied Punjab as their homeland.

 

Tags: gurudwars, Sikhs, Pakistan, homeland, holy.

Breaking down the barriers in families and offices

 World needs the participation of women and balance in family responsibilities and office. From working in offices to looking after family responsibilities, women are the most important link for the happiness of the family and the positive environment in any office.  On the one hand, the world needs gender equality laws to make a more inclusive and effective society and on the other hand positive discrimination in favour of women to make a more vibrant office working environment. 

Yet, though women are joining the workforce in a very large numbers as men, their growth to the top is much slower and less for women in the workforce due to some wrong policies and family responsibilities. For example, due to erroneous transfer policy in banking sector, family life of female employees is disturbed. So, they are almost compelled to leave the job. So, female employees must be posted near their families or the places of their choice.

This talent dearth is a national problem. It is very important to exploit their talent in this age of high-skill deficiency and low employment. The government and the authorities should form female workforce-friendly policies, environment and support systems at the workplace with admirable packages and a well-built commitment to inclusion to attract and retain more women in the workforce and to break the barriers. 

Companies and authorities have to attract and retain women in the workplace, they should offer good salaries, positive development opportunities, posting with parents, husbands and families, liberal pre & post maternity leaves and flexible working days and hours. It is this support and flexibility that are mainly desirable as still women are primarily homemakers and caregivers to families other than working. It is very important to address this issue of working women with liberal policies. 

It is neither the lack of women in the workforce nor a lack of female talent but it is the breaking of unfriendly laws and crude transfer system those force women out of office. Companies must visibly articulate and make transparent laws, skills and experiences needed at working levels and identify an appropriate mechanism for helping women and build a state of affairs, women needed to progress and balance their family and office life to break the barriers and stereotyping.  

The new technological expansion has created a large number of new openings, right from Artificial Intelligence to coding. This also needs to increase the number of women joining these new fields to meet the increasing demand with proper training and skill development. For filling the spacious range of STEM jobs available, the government and companies have to frame women-friendly laws. DTEM jobs are very thrilling, well-paid and are at the front position of development and innovation- so it is equally important to break the barriers for the participation and excellence of women force.

Companies and the authorities need to ensure preferential treatment for women to fill the vacancy requirements with a diverse talent for future roles and necessities. Women employees need to be adept in the new order. Digital technology can also ensure adaptable changes. In this direction Work from Home is a revolutionary system in the direction of women-friendly flexibility. This only needs digital literacy and skills and not always physical strength and presence.

The biggest barrier to women's progress is the transferred system that is based on the demands created by men, shaped by largely male standards. One this must be kept in mind is that males and females are not rivals but buddies to each other. So happiness and harmony at home ensure excellent performance at the workplace. Company leaders need to understand this veracity and need to eliminate bias and barriers and ensure fair assessment criteria and work culture with all employees in mind.

One of the finest policies for the government and the authorities is to ensure support to lift women and progress and help them break barriers. The leaders are responsible to bring changes so that the rules, laws, actions and decisions are fair, inclusive and women-friendly to encourage and promote women. A workplace must help everyone - regardless of identity and background so that their voices are respected and heard and actions valued.

So, let's all join together to challenge the status quo and break the barriers to construct a truly all-encompassing and compassionate environment where women force can shine and stand out and relentlessly use their potential and skills in nation-building and making their office and families as an institution of excellence and contentment.