Adil Najam
[UPDATE: Unfortunately the story of Gulab Singh has not been a pleasant one since the great start that this post originally reported on. Current, and still evolving details, here.]
A few days ago a reader sent me a link to a BBC story about Dr. Gulab Singh Shaheen who has been inducted into the Pakistan Punjab traffic police and has become a celebrity on the roads of Lahore where he is quite literally stopping the traffic as Lahoris stop to embrace and greet him.
I felt real good about the continuation of this trend towards reintegrating minority communities who have been systematically sidelined in the past, and even more about the wonderful reception Lahore is giving to Sub-Inspector Gulab Singh. And, of course, my fascination with traffic cops is well known to ATP readers (here, here, here, here, and elsewhere).
However, I hesitated because I wanted an on the ground confirmation. That came today from the Lahore Metroblog (yes, in general, I have more respect for the three Pakistani Metroblogs than for BBC!).
(By the way, I am intrigued by the fact that he is a homeopathic doctor since we had earlier carried another post and video report on the Khalsa Dawakhana and Hakim Sarbir Singh; of course, Sikhs have a long history in what is now Pakistan - here and here - but I wonder whether and why this community has a particular focus on traditional medicine studies).
It turns out, in fact, that Daily Times had a wonderful story on him last week which I had missed earlier. Here is what it said:
“Since yesterday, I have been hearing different greetings, such as sat sari kaal, jo bolay so nihal and ballay ballay from car and bus drivers, motorcyclists and children. Lahoris are really very loving people and these are unforgettable moments for me,” remarked Dr Gulab Singh, the first-ever Sikh to be appointed traffic police warden in Pakistan, in an exclusive interview with Daily Times.
Gulab, the 25-year-old Sikh traffic warden, who hails from Nankana Sahib and now lives in Defence Housing Authority, said that joining the force as a sub-inspector was a dream come true for him. Pledging to do his duty wholeheartedly, he said that the loving welcome he had received from the public had added to his joy. He said he had joined his duty station on Wednesday, and by the second day, dozens of children had forced their parents to stop the car so that they could meet him. Singh is deputed on Alif Laam Meem Chowk on Aziz Bhatti Road in Cantt.
Gulab said he was born in Nankana district in January 1982. His father, Manna Singh, is a farmer and a father of seven - five boys and two girls. Gulab is the youngest of the siblings. Gulab completed his matriculation in Nankana district, graudation in Lahore and then received a doctorate in homeopathy from Bahawalpur. Gulab said he also operated a homeopathic clinic, which he might have to shut down because of his new and demanding posting.
Gulab said he applied for the sub-inspector post when announcements inviting applications appeared in newspapers, but did not tell his family. He informed them only after he was appointed, which translated into a delightful surprise for them, he added. Commenting on his training process, Gulab said, “The attitude of my fellow trainees and officers was very good towards me. Nobody ever forced me to do anything against my religious beliefs.” He said he had no problems wearing his kara (bangle), or keeping his kirpan (dagger) on him. He added that, as he was a vegetarian, green meals were arranged for him in the mess during the training period. “I am very grateful to my officers for this gesture,” Gulab said.
Gulab is multilingual and has command over Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Seraiki, and Sindhi. He added, “I can also speak English, but not very fluently.” Gulab also said that he was fond of Punjabi bhangra music and that his favourite singers are Abrar-ul-Haq, Harbajhan Maan and Waris Baig. In terms of the future, Gulab said, “I will do my duty honestly, work like a true and dutiful citizen, and dream of a corruption-free atmosphere.”
Its high time for the ETHICAL Muslim population of Pakistan to rise up and defend minorities communities, and prove that the are not thankless to their Sikh counterparts. during maharaja ranjit singh’s time, when the Sikhs controlled everything, muslims were not driven off or persecuted, WE ACTED ETHICALLY, and ruled justly, giving major military and administrative roles to Muslims. and even today Sikhs on the other side of Punjab have embraced Indian Muslims wholeheartedly and stood with them in the worst of times…Babri masjid/Kashmir/Gujrat (ONE OF THE ONLY PROTEST TAKEN OUT DURING BABRI MASJID DEMOLITION WAS BY 1000 SIKHS, LED BY SIMRANJIT SINGH MAAN) not to mention Jammu Sikhs that have fought along side the Kashmiri mujahideens against Govt. oppression. also, you may not know, countless Masjids have been returned/ressurected by Sikhs for their fellow Muslims in east Punjab(majha specifically) …
WE HAVE DONE OUR PART ITS TIME TO FOR THE PAKISTANI POPULATION TO DO ITS…
UPDATE:
Nearly a year ago, we had written this post and the ensuing discussion had mostly echoed the sentiment of the post that Pakistan is for all Pakistanis and the re-inclusion of minority candidates into public services, such as the police, is something to be applauded and encouraged.
A year later, it seems things have gone sadly wrong. The news from The Daily Times this time is rather sad. Different sides tell different stories, but no matter what story you believe, it is a sad one:
Practicing multiculturalism (as the US is discovering this President election) is never easy. It is especially difficult in a country like Pakistan where we have a history of anti-multiculturalism. But this must not be used as an excuse. It is, instead, reason to try harder to allow people who have historically been included the space to be included and to feel comfortable in that inclusion. This has to be a learning exercise and it cannot possibly be easy. But it is a learning that has to happen. It will not happen unless we, as a society and as a nation, take the effort seriously and try hard. We obviously have not been doing so.
Just to add, I just read today that Gulab Singh has resigned from his job after some of his fellow police men misbehaved with him by tossing his turban in the air.
How disgusting.
There are also many muslims who are treated well in India, for instance they have got jobs at the airport.
We shouldnt hate the other religions, as our religion is also hated and our ppl are also suppressed in some parts of earth.
yaar bas main khena chauna hai ki saare mil ke ro te kush raho
ladayii de wich kuch nahi milna pave oh sikh , muslim hai ya phir hindu bas khushi khusi raho JO BOLE SOHNIHAAL SAT SIRIYAAKAL !!!!!!!!!
[...] he is quite literally stopping the traffic as Lahoris stop to embrace and greet him source: Lahore Embraces Sikh Traffic Cop, All Things [...]
Subject: A proposal to build a South Asian Union (SAU) like European Union by expanding SAARC states.
His Excellencies,
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings, Head of Governments & States, Political & Religious Leaders, Intellectuals, Educationists, Economists, Welfare Organizations, Mass People of South Asian region.
Peace be upon all of you, history is repeating from the creation of human life till now and will be repeated until the last final judgment of Creator. Actually, Creator created us as his best creation of life but we divided it into different nations, religions, cultures, languages, ideologies, etc in several thousands of years since the appearance of 1st human Adam (PBUH). We don’t know when the human life on earth will be finished for ever on dooms day, but some think that human life never stop repeating it’s wrongs. Now we have seen that the days of the human being are becoming more critical, insecure, divided among our selves in different ideas, increasing of poverty, and destruction of economy of some nations in comparison with the economy of some rich countries of the west. So the time for South Asian nations to unite as a strong body which is most caring for the inhabitants of this region has come, and in this way, we can develop ourselves. I have no right to waste your valuable time, but my heart is pressing me to place this proposal or advice to the holy hearts of our great rulers of the people of SAARC countries.
Proposal for future South Asian Union (SAU)
1. The mass people of this region want to abolish visa system for them selves in order to enjoy traveling facility freely and free trade among the regional countries like EU states. We can include Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan & Philippine. The Afghan president his Excellency Mr. Hamid Karzai and his Government also shows interest for entering into SAARC.
2. If we can include thirty seven more countries (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan & Philippine) with the seven countries of SAARC (Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives), then this organization or union will be one of the strongest unions. Then we can establish a powerful single currency like EURO as, for example SACU (South Asian Currency), dollar, or any other selected by the forum. And currency value can be fixed by averaging the currency values of the nations concerned.
3. All states will keep there own national flags as state flag and one common union flag, like that of EU.
4. We can establish joint military command council for the defense of the whole region like EU. That means we can unite in a union to ensure human life security along with a strong economy like European Union.
I do not know when the people of this region of South Asia will start to feel love and affection for each other, and will be united. But we should try to establish a golden future for ourselves. If successful, then generation after generation of this region will remember you for your kindness. God bless us with eternal & external peace.
Yours,
Saulat Kamran
E-Mail Address: saulat@dhaka.net
Website: http://www.southasianunion.net
House No -28, Road No-4, Dhanmandi R/A.
Dhaka, Bangladesh.