Guest Post by A. H. Cemendtaur
In the history of South Asia, 1947 was a blood-soaked year – hundreds of thousands got killed while millions were uprooted from their ancestral lands. Prior to 1947 Sikhs lived everywhere in North-Eastern area of what is today Pakistan. I hang my head in shame knowing that presently there is only a small number of Sikhs left there.
I have been a great fan of Sardars – more so after a community of them saved my life in Lusaka, the year was 1992. I got sick while traveling and sojourned at a Gurdwara (Singa Singa Mesquita). The family that took care of the temple took me to the hospital and fed me. I don’t recall their names, but I remember there was a young man who pursued a modeling career and wanted to go to the US.
Compared to followers of other faiths, a practicing Sikh must find it very hard to conceal his identity. And that is the reason I always wondered what professions Sikhs in Pakistan took, and how they kept a low profile in the rising tide of hollow religiosity of the majority.
In my last trip to Pakistan I ran into a very colorful Sardar. He was a hakim who ran a Yunani matab called “Khalsa Dawakhana.”
Here is video footage of Hakim Sarber Singh.
“Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh.”
Besides writing fiction, A.H. Cemendtaur writes on contemporary issues, both in Urdu and English. This post was originally posted at Karachi Photoblog; thanks to iFaqeer for suggesting it for ATP.
A clear warning no doubt..:)
Dear Sirs,
I Zeeshan Sikandar Film/TV actor would like to bring your immediate attention to the news which has been published in NAYA AKHBAR LAHORE Pakistani Evening Urdu newspaper on the 04-05-07
(Original news) Film/TV actor Zeeshan Sikandar committed suicide his body found after few days back in Karachi and he was living a life of a semi retarded human from couple of months. Zeeshan Sikandar was famous doing Film Inteha by Samina Peerzada, and Ghar Kaab Aho Gha by Shazad Gul.This news has been published on the front page with my picture the paper gets distributed in all major cities of Pakistan. This news has shocked the society, everyone in my family has suffered so much pain and grief, all of my family members colleagues, friends, neighbors, fans, admirers, relatives, has been gone through from a great trauma because of this life threatening news. Someone has to take the responsibility of publishing this news in public newspaper so boldly; this is a humiliation of a human act and very immoral news. I would like to press charges against this newspaper and need written information why this news has been published without any authentication of any legal authorities. My soft image of being an actor in the socity has shattered badly.
I need full help support, assistance, in future.
Thank you
Best regards,
Looking forward
Zeeshan sikandar
Mob: 0322-4723367
[quote comment=”3599″]I was emailed about this post by a couple of people. Good to see this. I am a Sikh who grew up in Peshawar. Came to London for my studies and now work here. Most of my family is still in Peshawar. Most Peshawar Sikhs speak Hindko, although many also speak Pushto. Many are traders supplying wholesale goods.[/quote]
I am interested in talking or emailing with Peshwawari sikhs (or any Sikhs from NWFP). Could you contact me at sps 22 at yahoo dot com
Thanks.
Surinder
The old Gurdwara in Mansehra is not misused, it is used as a library by the public, and is very well looked after in its original form. It would be great if Sikhs started to move back to their ancestral lands in Pakistan, because this is where they belong. People were uprooted by the sheer madness of politicians for their own gain. Every community has its problems but we all co-existed for hundreds of years until the British arrived, that was the sadist time for India!
I am a practising Sikh and visited Pakistani Punjab in April this year. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and have written about it at:
http://sidhusaaheb.blogspot.com/2006/07/pakistan-v isit-part-8.html
…in addition to the seven blog posts preceding it.