We're Going To Hell In A Handcart
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
29 August
2023
The
Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has raised strong objection to a
Hindi movie scene where an actor is seen sporting a kirpan in an “objectionable
manner”. The scene is from the movie “Yaariyan 2”, whose first song “Saure
Ghar” was officially shared by the makers on YouTube on Sunday.
Sporting a
kirpan (a dagger or a poniard) in an 'objectionable manner' (!)......What does
it mean?
These
fanatics are bothered about how to carry a dagger according to Sikhism or
Khalsa Panth but are least concerned about the deplorable State of Punjab.
Youngsters are leaving Punjab and going abroad. Drug mafia is active. A large
number of young Sikhs are taking drugs.
Christianity
is making inroads into the hinterland of Punjab. Now churches are coming up
even in big cities as well. Sikhs are embracing Christianity. But SGPC is more
worried about how to give respect to a mere piece of metal.
American
Political Scientist Samuel P Huntington believed that the religious intolerance
of a particular group or faith would invariably spread and eventually infect
other groups. This is what we've been observing for many decades, nay
centuries. Sikhism used to be a peaceful religion and its followers were also
peace-loving. I'm not talking about the Khalistanis. They're lumpen elements
and blots on the escutcheon of Sikhism. But of late, Sikhs have also become
pretty intolerant. They don't like jokes to be cracked on them. They don't want
to see you smoke (but they can drink to their heart's content) as tobacco is
prohibited in their faith.
The malady
(or should I call it Metastasis?) of religious intolerance started with Islam.
It's still light years ahead of all other faiths in terms of religious intolerance
and zealotry. In fact,
Islam has
been the pioneer in this dubious field. The fanaticism of Muslims affected
Hindus and Christians. Now Hindus are on a par with Muslims in getting offended
at the drop of a hat. Religion has completely blinded us. We're missing the
woods for the trees. So many pressing issues need to be attended to. But we're
still stuck in issues like how to sport Ek Mutthi, Dhai Mutthi Daadhi,
Halaal, Jhatka, Phatka, Matka and all that rubbish.
Religious
symbols and totems are overwhelmingly important for the asinine followers of
all man-made useless faiths. Religion has made us forget our priorities. We're
going to hell in a handcart. But to quote Isaac Asimov, " Religion is
already a hell on earth and the fictional god is its doorkeeper. " I've
pasted this quote on the wall of my pad.
----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/hell-handcart-sgpc-kirpan/d/130554
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