Karachi Photo Blog

Thursday, September 28, 2006



Khalsa Dawakhana

In the history of South Asia 1947 was a blood-soaked year—hundreds of thousands got killed while millions were uprooted from their ancestral lands. Prior to ’47 Sikhs lived everywhere in North-Eastern area of what is today Pakistan. I hang my head in shame knowing that presently there is only a small number of Sikhs left there.

I have been a great fan of Sardars—more so after a community of them saved my life in Lusaka, the year was 1992. I got sick while traveling and sojourned at a Gurdwara (Singa Singa Mesquita). The family that took care of the temple took me to the hospital and fed me. I don’t recall their names, but I remember there was a young man who pursued a modeling career and wanted to go to the US.

Compared to followers of other faiths, a practicing Sikh must find it very hard to conceal his identity. And that is the reason I always wondered what professions Sikhs in Pakistan took, and how they kept a low profile in the rising tide of hollow religiosity of the majority. In my last trip to Pakistan I ran into a very colorful Sardar. He was a hakim who ran a Yunani matab called ‘Khalsa Dawakhana.’ Here is video footage of Hakim Sarber Singh.

“Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh”

1 Comments:

At Sun Dec 03, 08:51:00 PM PST, Blogger Manzoor Khan said...

In the state of Punjab in today's India, you also have very little population of Muslims - thanks again to partition.

Not to mention the great Mughal city of Delhi which was ruled by Muslims for generations. The Muslims still live there, but in a relatively small number. Besides, today's Delhi is completely dominated by the Punjabi culture (the butter chicken and beer) bought in by the migrant Punjabi hindus.

The scars of partitions are to be seen in both the places, unfortunately.

 

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