Saturday, October 6, 2007

The 12'O clock story

Had to post it.

I was standing at Dadar Station (New Delhi) when my attention went towards a Sikh youth standing near me wearing a Black turban having a long beard and wearing a kirpan over his shirt looking similar to a Terrorist. After a while one local train arrived, which was totally packed. The Sikh youth tried to alight the train but failed to do so. Just then a voice was heard from back coach 'Sardarji Barah Baj gaye' (Sir its 12 o'clock!)

The Sikh youth looked over at that voice maker who was a young mischievous type of person and instead of showing any anger made a smile towards him. The smile made was so enigmatic that it seemed some type of truth lies behind it. Not able to resist my temptation I walked towards him and asked why did he smile at that person who teased him. The Sikh replied 'he was not teasing me but was asking for my Help'. I was surprised with these words and he told me that there was a big history behind that which one should know. I was eager to know the History and the Sikh youth narrated:

During 17th Century when Hindustan was ruled by Mughals all the people were humiliated and were treated like animal. Mughals treated the Hindu women as there own property and were forcing all Hindus to accept Islam and even used to kill the people if they were refusing to accept.

That time our Ninth Guru Sri Guru Teg Bhadarji who came forward, in request of some Kashmir Pandits to fight against all these cruel activities. Guruji told the Mughal emperor if he could succeed in converting him to Islam all the Hindus would accept the same but if he failed, he should stop all those activities . The Mughal emperor happily agreed to that but even after lots of torture to Guruji and his fellow members he failed to convert him to Islam and Guruji along with his other four fellow members who were also tortured for the same sacrificed their lives in Chandni Chowk. Since the Mughals were unable to convert them to Islam they were assassinated. Tthus Guruji sacrificed his life for Protection of Hindu religion. Can anybody lay his life that too for protection of some other religion. This is the reason he is still remembered has Hind Ki Chaddar . For sake of whom he had sacrificed his life, none of the them came forward to lift his body with a fear that they would also be assassinated .
Guru Gobind Singh

Seeing this incident our 10th Guruji, Sri Guru Gobind Singhji (Son of Guru Teg Bahadarji) made a resolution that he would make such a human who would not be able to hide himself and could be easily located in thousands, THE SIKH.

At the start Sikhs were very less in numbers even though they were fighting against the Mughals emperors. At that time Nadir Shah raided Delhi in the year 1739 and looted Hindustan and was carrying lot of Hindustan treasures and nearly 2200 Hindu women along with him. The news spread like a fire and was heard by Sardar Jassa Singh who was the Commander of the Sikh army at that time . He decided to attack Nadir Shah's Khafila on the same midnight. He did so and rescued all the Hindu women and they were safely sent to their homes. It didn't happen only once but thereafter whenever any Abdaalis or Iranis had looted Hindustan and were trying to carry out treasures and Hindu women along with them for selling them in Abdal markets, the Sikh army quite few in numbers but were bravehearted attacked them in the midnight,12 O'clock and rescued women.

Sikh fighterAfter that time when there occurred a similar incidence people started to contact the Sikh army for their help and Sikhs used to attack the raider's at Midnight, 12 O'clock. It continued and became a fame that at midnight nearly at 12 O'clock it is very difficult to fight against Sikhs as the Sikhs get some Extra Power to save Religion, Nation and Humanity. Nobody can fight and win against them at midnight, this continues till now. Nowadays these smart people and some Sikh enemies who are afraid of Sikhs, have spread these words that at 12 O'clock the Sikhs goe out of their sense.

This historic fact was the reason which made me smile over that person as I thought that his Mother or Sister would be in trouble and wants my help which he was unable to provide and may be he was reminding me by saying off 'Sardarji Barah Baj Gaye'

As he was narrating the incident I was feeling ashamed of myself as I used to click and enjoy the jokes on Sikhs and too made fun of them. But now I have got the truth that these Sikhs are born for others and they are real patriotic to Humanity and Religion. What are we all doing to these great Saints and Soldiers ???? instead of thanking them we all are making fun.

Earlier the Sikh youth appeared as a Terrorist but now I could see the reflection of real Patriotic person in him.

This story was printed in celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa.

Friday, October 5, 2007

My income, Your INCOME

I had a long GD (group-discussion) with my friends over “Will you have any problems if your partner (hopefully female for all of them) earns more than you??”

If this was the question asked a decade earlier our answer might have been obvious. Back then there would have been issues even with her being employed. Let’s see what this (my) generation has in their mind.


  1. HE is the Bread-earner: one of us put forth this point that Male ego is hurt if is unable to provide for his family. He is supposed to be the one Earning and supporting his family. It’s a failure for him if it requires his wife to work in order to do that. His ego is hurt.

Who decides these Roles anyway? Let me take a guess, the so called Society we live in. Who made these roles and is there some kind of a RULE BOOK for this??? I would love to have to look at it. The whole structure of this Society is Rigid (I don’t say it’s not changing or something).

One of us was worried what the Society will say if she is earning more than me. Why does society interfere in every little personal matter?? But again if one has to live in a society one has to follow the norms hai naa!!! My answer would be- don’t let THIS SOCIETY know anything about your salary. Screw the people who ask the FIRST question, on hearing about a job, about the Package. Rather Ask about the company profile and the profile offered. Ethics to Ghaas charne jaate hain naa iss time par.

2. Job satisfaction: another argument was what is MY job profile and am I satisfied or not. Of course, this would be an important factor. Now even if I m earning a little (or very) less than her but my Profile is good and interests me, I would not have any problems. Some good Govt. posts like IAS might pay a little less but one can’t compare its prestige with any (and I mean ANY) software job.

3. Her attitude: this might be the biggest factor according to me. If she makes you feel inferior to her then my friend your marriage is screwed (hope I m not using the word that frequently). You are in real crap then (this is one of Justin’s favorites). But the same should apply to the MALE counterpart. It’s a delicate balance between the two parties. It’s like a Coalition govt. with none having complete majority to form a GOVT. lolz.

No wonder people are Scared about marriage decision. Perhaps the toughest decision one has to make in his/her entire life.

Sometimes I feel we might be too young to worry about such issues. Its been a long time since i wrote something . This seemed like a worthy context.