Lahore Embraces Sikh Traffic Cop

Posted on May 2, 2007
Filed Under >Adil Najam, Law & Justice, Minorities, People
114 Comments
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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.”

114 responses to “Lahore Embraces Sikh Traffic Cop”

  1. Aamir Ali says:

    The Sikh rule of what is now Punjab and NWFP was a cruel and harsh one. Sikhs may have appointed a few Muslims in top administrative positions, because the Sikhs needed it. But by no means is Sikh rule something Pakistanis view as acceptable. Ranjit Singh closed the famous Badshahi Masjid in Lahore and used it to store gunpowder.

    That said, minorities in Pakistan deserve full rights, full support and full integration.

  2. Jas says:

    God never forgives those who hurt the feelings of others.

    Remember history is witness to the compassion offered to all by the sikhs, and also the courage with which they fight when oppressed. Sikhs have always helped all fellow humans no matter what their religion, and there are the facts given by previous poster on help to muslims…. so why do some (not all)muslims still dont realise sikhs are their friends?…Did you know sikhs holiest shrine – The Golden Temple – the foundation brick was laid by a muslim?….

    Throughout Sikh history there are numberous examples of when muslims have been offered compassion and jobs of respect eg. Maharaja Ranjit Singhs senior advisor (one of) was a muslim, and even during wars with muslims its been documented that a sikh offered help to all wounded muslim and sikh by giving water and first aid – reason is war only happens through misunderstandings and different opinions/views, but remember we are all humans and the decisions made to battle are not done by those who fight on the battle field!

    Realisation: Live and Let Live.

  3. PRABHSHARANBIR SINGH says:

    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…

  4. Adil Najam says:

    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:

    LAHORE: Ghulab Singh, the only Sikh traffic warden in the provincial metropolis, finally submitted his resignation on the weekend on account of which the higher authorities held an enquiry. The high-ups issued a show cause notice to traffic warden Mubasher, who allegedly knocked off Singh

  5. Muhammad Saim says:

    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.

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