Sikhism

Published on 1st August, 2021, in Mid-day. I am often asked if there is such a thing as mythology in Sikhism. The simple answer is, yes. But this answer often confuses people. For most, mythology continues to be a 19th century colonial Orientalist definition—fantasy tales of pagan polytheistic primitive people, as opposed to ‘truth’ of refined people who follow monotheism and reject idolatry. These are pre-science definitions. For those with updated 21st century knowledge, informed by science and postmodern philosophy, every culture imagines itself differently and expresses itself through stories, symbols and rituals. Sikhism is no different. It is a community with a history, and ..

Published on 9th June, 2019, in Mumbai Mirror. WHO IS A HINDU? If you ask a Hindu extremist, he will say that Sikhism is very much a dharmic religion like Hinduism, under the umbrella term, Sanatan Dharma. However, if you speak to a Sikh extremist, especially in the UK and Canada, he will deny this, completely. This division has been especially amplified since the tensions between the Indian state and the Sikh community in the 1980s. In the West, most white people confuse Sikhism with Islam as beards and ‘turbans’ are seen as common. Extremists always follow simplistic, binary concepts. They cannot, and will not, ..