The crisis of Sikh identity was once described to me in very simple terms; most Sikh males no longer want to look like Sardars and most Sikh girls don't want to marry Sardars. In fact, I distinctly remember several Sikh guys that I went to school cutting their hair for the simple reason of "getting girls".
Over the past few years, we've seen efforts on many fronts to confront this trend, including beauty pageants (Mr. Singh International), Sikh models (Sunny Singh Caberwal of Kenneth Cole and now GQ fame). Now, in a twist on the standard Sikh dharmak or religious song, Taranmpreet has released a track called "Teri Meri Bas: Sat Sri Akal".
In the video, the female singer/actor Sardarni warns her Sardar "friend", that he better not think about giving up his dastaar, losing your Sardari, or cutting his beard, otherwise she is out of there. Interestingly, she also does a bit of a Punjabi rap slamming the tendency of guys in Punjab who 'modernize' but end up looking like B-grade Bollywood stars, with long slicked back hair, scruffy facial hair, multiple piercings and ridiculous clothing.
The first time I watched the video, I honestly found it a bit disturbing. However, having seen it multiple times (while I did the translation below), I found it growing on me. Like it or not and criticize the superficiality, but I believe that if more Sikh girls actually made explicit their desire to date and marry Sardars, I think more Sikh guys would keep their outward Sikhi long enough to discover the inner Sikhi.
On a random note, here's two other thoughts I had while watching the video:
1) The song somehow reminds me of Shania Twain's I'm Outta Here
2) What's with the guitar girls in the background?
Here are the lyrics:
If you take your turban off your head, lose your Sardari, cut your beard, lose your dignity, then you and I are finished, boy.
If you can't handle being a Sardar, cut your beard, and ruin your appearance, then you and are I are finished, boy.
Sat Sri Akal
You and are I are finished, boy.
I'm the proud daughter of the 10th Master
A member of the larger than life Khalsa
If you've made plans to discard the sacrifice of the Sahibzadas and the wall of the Sirhind,
Then you and are I are finished, boy.
If you can't handle being a Sardar, cut your beard, then you and are I are finished, boy.
Sat Sri Akaal
(RAP) You cut your hair, you've shaved your face, you wear a nose piercing, and ear rings? Waheguru, Waheguru,
Giving up names like Chand, Lal and Ram, the Gurus have given you the name Singh
To the Gurus' Singhs, people have given the title of King (Singh is King)
Sikhs have been cut limb by limb and given their heads for Sikhi
If you can't handle being a Sardar, cut your beard, and ruin your appearance, then you and are I are finished, boy.
We've been the gift of fearlessness and bravery
Forsaking upper and lower classes, we have all been made equals
Never forget the Khalsa's legacy
Make yourself worthy of being called a Singh of the Guru
Mother, father, children, the one (Guru Gobind Singh) who sacrificed his whole family, for you his beloved,
If you're ready to betray him, lose your dignity
Cut your beard and lose your Sardari,
Then you and are I are finished, boy.
Sat Sri Akaal
1 comments:
Main ggs nai main deep sng v nai…na he mere vch apnea di shadat den di himat hai…mere vch kisse de cause leyi apni desires nu maaran di v himat nai. Ol religions hav had martyrs v jus seem to b harping on the fact tooo much, blue star ws the fault of an over ambitious man hu had the audacity to fortify the harmandir sahib n sit on top of thr roof of a building tat housed sri guru granth sahib.
I thnk our religion is mor thn jus sacrifices, turban n hair hnstly hw lng do u thnk ths propaganda cn sustain, lets find sumthng mor concrete in our religion tat v cn tel our kids tat inspires thm to hav the Singh at the end of thr names. If the lars of my pagg or the length of my beard mk me mor sikh thn I am, bt id rather b a sikh hu undrstnds wat the gurus wntd to achieve by startin the sikh panth than a social joke n jokers hus only connect to gurus or religion is hair,..,vr so obsesd with pagg n hair tat most of us dnt evn kno a 2nd thng abt sikhi. delhi or mumbai Sikhs dnt evn kno gurmukhi …if v r a martial race as sum ppl sugst thn y r v in2 busines driving BMWs…y r v using comps n me typing in eng,..,y r ths changes acepatbl n othrs not. Lts ol buy horses wear kacheras n kurtas not jeans n business suits learn gatka not internet lts not email lts snd pigeons n eat in iron utensils….NOT DRINK Y is abt lukin sikh thn being 1. mainu nai lagda pagg kisse tarah mainu sona bnandi hai…I prsnly thnk its ridiculous n embarssin. Pagg is nt my identity my morals n kirat are…
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