The issue of preserving hair and other Sikh symbols became a matter of serious concern when in 1926, a Sikh friend from the United States addressed a letter too the Sikh interlligentsia in India, Punjabi translation of which was published in the popular Sikh daily Akali te Pardesi of 20 October 1926. In the letter the young friend explained his dilemma that as a devout Sikh he was not prepared to resolve the controversy by discarding his religious symbols as most of the Sikh pioneers has done while Staying abroad. At the same time he was unable to find coherent reasons in support of the traditional symbols in an alien and hostile atmosphere. He prayed that the thinking Sikh minds should help him get out of the impasse. Gyani Sher Singh took the initiative of circulating the English version of the letter to some eminent Sikh scholars of that time to get their opinions. Relevance of Sikh symbols, especially the turban, is being questioned time and again by the host societies in UK, Canada and USA. On the Calgary-based group of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) veterans filed a suit in a Federal Court challenging the constitutionality of changing the dress code regulations in the force that allowed Sikh officers to wear turbans instead of Stenton hats. A few years later a California school principal questioned the Sikh students’ right to wear the Kirpan. However, in both the cases the Sikhs got the right to wear turbans and Kirpans as a result of peaceful legal battles and support of the Sikh societies and non-Sikh friends and sympathisers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mohinder Singh
Mohinder Singh is a renowned climber and mountaineer award winner. Civil Engineer by professional and retired as Commandant (G.D.) after having served in ITBP for 35 years. Born on 12-03-1944 at village "Raj Pur Bhayan" in the foothill of shivalik ranges. Dist. Hoshiarpur (Punjab State) India. He has done extensive trekking in Indian Himalayas for continous 25 years and also climbed in Alps (Europe). He has the distinction of being successful leadership of the First every climb of "Mount Everest", 29028 ft. from the route of North-Col Tibet (Chine) side in the year 1996 (pre honoured with the covered title "Khan Grid" by government of Mongolia in 1995 under the Culture Exchange Programme between India & Mongolia. He has rendered commendable services many years in the mountain area of Leh-Ladakh (J & K), Uttar Pradesh (Garhwal & Kumaon), Himachal Pradesh extending from Karakoram to Kumaon Himalaya. Few of the mountain achievements and adventures are mentioned below: Special rock climbing course, 1966, Basic mountaineering course at H.M.I. Darjeeling, 1967, Leader of Gangotri / Badrinath trek-king expedition via Kalandikhal 19995 ft. high peak (Garhwal Himalaya) in 1968. Climb of ferry peak (Sikkim), Advance mountaineering guide and rescue course at Australia (Europe) and climbed 03 peaks on "Alps" (Europe) 1971, Dy. Leader of Neelkantha 1974. Set a world record by his first ascent tovirgin peak. “Saser-Kangri-I in 1973 on 7th June. Climb of Trishul peak (7120 mtrs.) in 1970, unnamed peak (6065 mtrs.) in Kakbhusand range (Garhwal) and Pancha-Chulli-I (6037 mtr.) both in 1972. He has been pioneer to establish mountaineering & Ski-ing Institute at ITBP Auli (Joshimath) and worked as Training Officer and later on as Principal / Commandant of this Institute. He has been with foreign joint expeditions such as: Tunni peak in 1975, Gangotri peak, 1976, Nanda Devi (Main) two times in 1978 and 1979, Bhagirathi-I 1980, Nandakot 1981, East-Nanda Devi-1982. Participated Seminars and International Mountaineering Camps, Administrative officer duty in IMF 1991, leader successful expedition to Mt. Bamba Dhura (6355 mtrs) 1991, leader of successful team to Mt. Un-named peaks 6172 mtrs. & 6075 mtrs. In (H.P.) State 1992, Liaison officer and member of Indo-Ukraine (Russia) expedition to Mt. "Kangchen Junga" April-June 1993, overall leader of joint successful expedition Indo-Mangolia to Mt. "Joanli" (21760 ft.) in November 1994, Summiteer of peak, "Mana, 23860 ft. in August 1995, Summiteer of three unnamed peaks, 6725 mtrs. 6489 mtrs. & 6449 mtrs. In Leh-Ladakh in November 1995. Mohinder Singh has been awarded more than fifteen Commendations / citation, appreciations different occasion of challenging / special assignments. He has carried out meticulously mountain rescue works many times. He has been decorated with Indian Police Medal (IPM) for meritorious services in 1997 and Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Award by Punjab State Government in 1998.
There are no reviews yet.