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2017-07-23 04:23:27 -0500	received badge	● Famous Question (source)
2017-07-03 13:38:43 -0500	received badge	● Notable Question (source)
2017-07-03 10:51:45 -0500	received badge	● Notable Question (source)
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2017-06-30 02:13:23 -0500	commented answer	Who will help the Afgani Sikhs? My brief and superficial experience in Kashmir over 12 years ago echoes what you are saying. All the Hindus had fled Srinagar and the only Sikhs remaining was one family running a restaurant. Yet, Muslims in India have more freedom to practice their religion as they fit than in any Muslim country!
2017-06-30 01:53:47 -0500	asked a question	kushwant Singh and other historic writer's reputations Who among you has read his book 'History of the Sikhs' volumes I and II? I borrowed it from my public library but because it was on inter-library loan never finished it I always thought of Kushwant as a joke book and fiction writer. I want to read a non-romanticized history of the development of Sikhism, its schisms and military-political history especially. Much of the history of Sikh gurus appears to be idealized and uncritical. I would like to learn what decisions they made that helped the advance of Sikhism and Punjabi nationalism, and those that did not, also their personal strengths and weaknesses viewed neutrally by non-devotees. Also, I am skeptical of the claim that Guru Nanak founded Sikhism. In my limited understandings I would say other later gurus did and Gobinda Singh formalized it. Nanak dev didn't found anything ideological or organizational, any more than Kabir did. Is Kushwant's book the best introduction for this or are there other uncensored books on Sikh gurus? I am not looking 'for the dirt' on the gurus just a rational assessment, particularly for in the context of Islamic jihad and being a jizya (tax) paying non-Muslim dhimmi (second class citizens) in the Mughal state.
2017-06-30 01:38:04 -0500	received badge	● Editor (source)
2017-06-30 01:34:59 -0500	asked a question	What are the kinds of headwear that are acceptable for a non-Sikh man to wear in a Gurudwara? brief question: What is the minimum versus the recommended head wear for a non-Sikh non-Indian adult male to wear at Gurudwara? I am not Sikh, and although I do respect the ten Sikh Gurus, I am secular. I am a westerner. In my hometown of Greater Vancouver area (BC, Canada) as well as in Southeast Asia I observe the following... Gurudwaras at special functions and Sunday langar offer simple white handkerchiefs to male guests (both Sikh and non-Sikh) who do not wear turban. Indian young men often wear very casual kerchiefs of same. Sometimes I am a bit taken back, as if they are mocking by wearing eccentric attire accompanied by less than stellar behaviour in a house of worship. Or maybe I am a just a rather conservative old man. Who am I to interpret what is acceptable headgear? They are not drunk or obscene yet somehow I view them as juvenile delinquents. And American Muslim converts wear baseball caps to Masjid, so why not Sikh teenage boys wear rock star kerchiefs? Most Sikh men wear full cotton turban, 'from scratch', and if at Gurudwara simple or no design, nothing 'flashy'. This is different at parties, weddings and sporting events where I see some Bollywoodish turbans. Non-Khalsa Namdharis wear smaller, very different looking turbans, usually white Sikh businessmen in Thailand tend to wear token turbans (i.e. not made from scratch every morning) in plain colours, especially black. Some appear to be a kind of cap really. At the Dhaka Gurduwara in Bangladesh I arrived for Sunday service wearing a woven beret. Even though my then long hair was flowing out of it, I was not asked to tuck it up nor replace it with anything else. I was also under the impression that Muslim men's caps were acceptable heard wear. So, which is more important - the intention of respect or some technicality of whether all head hair is gathered up and covered? I would sincerely like to know. If it is a technical matter then any cultural standard (Jewish, African, Rasta Caribbean etc) should be acceptable as long as the hair is covered. Even a blonde wig? Or do Punjabi cultural norms apply before universal religion? Why do Sikhs not wear linen turbans? I prefer this fabric to cotton for many reasons. Is there any prohibition? The reason I am asking this is because when in Malacca, Malaysia I attend a yearly festival there, and I want to be properly dressed as I feel silly wearing a handkerchief. Also, I want to visit a Gurudwara on a shaheedi feast day such as one for Arjandev (my interest is more socio-political than religious). I wish to behave respectfully but have no pretenses to be Sikh myself. So, I was thinking of just getting one of those quasi-turbans that are popularly worn by overseas Punjabi Sikhs integrated into Thai society (often they even have Thai wives who convert). There is even the super mini version which is really just ... (more)