SIKHS in IRAN - An Open Letter from Pervinder Singh Chandhok
~Shyrone Kaur~
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh.
Sat Sri Akaal Sadh Sangat,
Below are excerpts from personal emails from myself and Pervinder Singh
Chandhok, a GurSikh brother whom lives in Iran.
Please note: "I AM NOT AN IRANIAN SIKH, BUT I AM A PROUD CITIZEN OF
INDIA, RESIDENT OF IRAN BY BIRTH."
The writer has given his permission to post the following.
This is my concluding submission of articles/emails to the thread query
of Sikhs in Iran.
The www.sikh-history.com message thread link is:
http://www.sikh-history.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000547.html
It is indeed hopeful that through these mails and articles, we have
gathered a better and truthful understanding about the Sikhs living in
Iran.
Chardhi Kala,
Shyrone Kaur
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-------Mail Message------
From: NEELABANA (NEELABANA)
Date: Mon, Jul 11, 2001, 9:43am (EDT+8:30)
To: KaurSingh
Subject: Re: Sat Sri Akaal Brother (Sikhs in Iran - Sikh History
Discussion Forum)
Respected sister Shyrone Kaur Ji,
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh,
I have made some corrections and added few lines you may continue with
your sewa in whatever way you wish in joint coordination to avoid any
misunderstandings and the respect I have for the place where I stay in
every manner.
With warm wishes and best of luck in your Divine Sewa,
Your brother,
Pervinder Singh
....
Respected Shyrone Kaur Singh Ji,
Wahe Guru Ji Ka Khalsa,
Wahe Guru Ji Ki Fateh!
Sat Sri Akaal to Sister Shyrone Kaur Singh Ji,
I am indeed touched by your courtesy and thanks for the encouraging
reply. I also appreciate that you have considered to share with me your
frank views. It would be a great honour for me to share our mutual
experience and I would rather ask your apology in advance, wherever I
fail to express in the manner and style appropriate to your kind
satisfaction and
sentiments.
It is Great to learn of the love of Guru Nanak who has blessed you.
However, if you believe being "New" or being born to Sikhism may not
have much difference, except what Guru Nanak's Message was spread to the
world; without good deeds, none has the value. The deeds of human beings
for which the Power of the Lord has bestowed you, already is visible
within yourself, as it is within the destiny that you should have become
moderator for this cause. Please use this power of household of Guru
Nanak - The Ten Gurus and Ever Alive, Divine Guru Granth Sahib; to
give you all the courage in whatever you do.
I can feel the need of every Sikh for sangat and what pain transpires
within oneself when this need is unbalanced and the situation and
distance you are in, that you find no Sikhs in your locality. But look
around... who so ever you see there; don't look at the appearance of the
persons or Sikhs "visible". See them through the flame of love bestowed
in you by the Holy Gurus. Just Try and imagine Pray to Wahe Guru and
he will show them to be the Sikhs too, the way you would be in sangat.
Sikhs must use this power to see the Love of Gurus in Every human soul
who is no
less than Sikh and this is it what you have.
Our Dress code and appearance of Sikhs is separate issue and our need
for that is paramount without which we are incomplete too. Together with
those in this uniform, assigned by the Tenth Guru; we are The Force of
Truth like thousands of lights together. But light is light alone either
you put it in thousands or by one itself like bulbs or candles, the
flame and the brightness is always there.
I personally share your opinion and the need for people like your
esteemed self and me on this part of world to be on the cyberworld to
exchange and share the basic needs through the modern tools like the
internet.
You would be amazed to know I belong to small Indian Community in Tehran
and was born here though I have been travelling a lot and have second
home in New Delhi, India too.
Fortunately here we have Gurdwara Sahib among majority of Indians here
being only Sikhs, about 100 families more or less from the Old times
(three generations).
It is difficult for anyone to believe that we have the love and
compassion of the Islamic Republic of Iran and we have absolute
freedom of faith and protected in every form. I believe the liberty we
have is not less than what you can imagine at your place. Perhaps we are
the only
Gurdwara Sahib existing in the Great Islamic Country, which was in the
global coverage marked by the Historical visit of Shri Atal Behari
Vajpayee, Honourable Prime Minister of India [April, 2001].
Vajpayee Ji led to the awakening of Sikhs to research the Visit of Guru
Nanak to Tehran, Iran. The historical findings may be another
attraction for pilgrimage for Sikhs. The visit of Guru Nanak on
his return from Baghdad to Tehran in transit to Kandhar via caravan is
acknowledged on the the site of http://www.sgpc.org .
The people are really very nice and everyone is good and we treasure
the best hospitality in the world, in our civilization where anyone else
would fail. I believe the media did not reflect the truth and this part
is most misunderstood from the Truth. It is a world within itself,
everything is peaceful and nice; only one can believe if he/she sees it.
So as a Sikh, I would fail in doing justice
to the Truth if I fail to express the real Truth without any Fear; and I
swear by my Gurus, this is really True.
We require residence permit and work permit renewal every year. The
second one which has got a bit complicated by adding some additional
fees/special taxes etc since few years, which one has to bear for the
place he/she is born and compromise to the extent within ones means.
However should this be removed, it would make us comfortable as local
residents as irrespective of income etc. These need to be paid, and God
Forbid, one may not be able to pay in the event of any misfortune one
has to risk his future.
The Sikhs here command rare respect and are called Sardars before their
name, the roots of the Sikhs can be found here from the Second World
War, since both faiths believe in One God The Supreme and have quite
identical beliefs. Perhaps this is the reason we are the only religion
from India blessed with survival in this part of the world.
I started my career from job to business and continuing the course of
life with the courage of Gurus to face all the ups and downs. Now in my
44th year with family: wife, son over 19, and daughter 17, both
continuing graduation in India; and son 11 years in the sixth grade.
We have our own Indian School promoted and founded by Gurdwara Sahib and
which has been converted to Embassy of India sponsorship because of the
change of Licensing procedure for Foreign Schools. It is run by
management from the Indian community and His Excellency the Ambassador,
is The Chief Patron. Co-patrons are Representative of Gurudawara Sahib
and Guru Nanak Trust (which is still inactive and custodian of all Sikh
Properties).
The School launched its Golden Anniversary Celebration marked by the
Historical Visit of Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Honourable Prime
Minister
of India, and by the Grace of Guru Nanak, and the support of
visionary Ambassador of India - Pripuran Singh Haer. Prime Minister
gifted the School with aid of Equipment for Rupees One Million.
It was surprise for me that The Honorary and Social Services rendered by
me as the (Honorary) Manager for the School, to transform it for the
academic
development and excellence of children was recognized in the welcome
speech to Prime Minister and all the dignitaries; which would strengthen
my commitment to serve humanity further on the footsteps of The
Secular Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
We still have Punjabi classes and Divinity Sikhs Teachings for Sikhs,
compulsory dress code for Sikhs with Turban and Moral Science for others
in Secular manner.
I had the sewa to promote the site and conceive the idea:
http://www.indianschool-tehran.com and we have now around 250 students
of multi-ethnic society and students from International diplomatic
community residents in Iran.
It is worthwhile to note that the news coverage I saw in the
http://www.sikh-history.com forum (posted above in this thread from news
articles) projected the Sikhs as the wealthiest, needs to be contested
as we have plenty of students in the School who enjoy fee concessions
because of economic conditions which are met from funds from voluntary
donors.
The School is now headed by Principal Sridharan S.R with a mission to
reengineer it into Pride of India Educational Foundation and new team of
teachers recruited by me from India through Edcil- Educational
Consultants India Limited, a World Class Professional Organization in
Education consultancy.
You would be encouraged to know that its for the first time a Gursikh
has been appointed as The Ambassador of India to Iran His Excellency
Sardar Pripuran Singh Haer, a great son of India; is a
complete Sikh with roots from the Holy family of Sikhs (Bhai Kan Singh
author of Mahan Kosh). I am sure with Divine blends of Sikhs, he would
set rare example of service to India and both countries. He has
demonstrated Religion is a personal and private matter, and he has only
one mission: to Serve and to add to the Glory and Prestige of India in
every manner. He is highly honoured by the both sides for rare
achievements for promotion of the Business interest.
The Sikhs in Iran have made great contribution to both India and Iran,
their presence in Iran during the nasty Iraq-Iran war proved their
loyalty to both Iran and India when all other nationalities had deserted
Iran twice, once during the Dawn of Great Islamic Revolution; and
secondly, during the War. They shouldered moral support and within means
with all Iranian local brothers and sisters.
Their presence whatsoever small was a Pillar of Symbol of Indian
Nationals being the Major Minority community present in Iran. I believe
this presence in
all the good and bad times has deep value within the hearts of Local
people and authorities.
Gurudwara Sahib Tehran has not left behind in its duties when thousands
of people left Iraq, Kuwait and took Tehran as alternate route and still
lot Afghan Sikhs transit from Tehran and the Sikhs here within their
limited means have shared the love of their Gurus with the people;
irrespective of caste, creed, or religion, transiting Iran.
I would fail if I donot record the Nishkaam Services of Bhai Makhan
Singh ( My Grand Uncle) who dedicated entire of his life for the
Gurudawara Sahib and Indian Institutions and expired in London last
year.
Well my being on the internet more and more is that the sangat here,
would take time to catch up the electronic communications and my
personal needs of communication and thirst for exchanging on the
cyberworld cannot be defined in words. I have been blessed by the Gurus
with vast resources and severe test at every time, in every sphere, so I
keep balancing between them.
I am blessed with being International Patron for the Foundation Sarab
Sanjha Khalsa Third Centenary Environment Trust to project the Sikhs as
Eco friendly, supported Punjabiat-Panthak Samachar Punjabi news. You
can find them on http://www.chandhok.com/panthak-samachar .
Conceived Kalghidhar Human Appeal International concept of
www.gurugobindsingh.org and
www.gurugoindsingh.net. Probably www.Gurugobindsingh.org would be handed
over to London Sikh University Dr.Sukhbir Singh Kapoor, whom I had the
honour to meet during my last visit to New Delhi in ceremony to
recognize his contribution to the Sikh Panth.
These domains and ideas are
open to share with all the lovers of Humanity and the Household of
Guru Nanak and anyone willing to come forward for same, is welcome to
activate them.
>From the sewadars of Kalghidhar Human Appeal International humble aid
was
gifted for Gujrati Relief to the PM fund.
Recently I have been appointment as the President of International
Punjabi Society Middle East-Iran and Ambassador Pripuan Singh Haer has
kindly consented to be the Patron for this Society which needs to be
formed with local framework. Once the formalities are completed, it
would serve the interest of Punjabi linked with Persian the Official
language of Punjab for several hundred years and could share its role in
the dialogue of civilizations.
Sewadars of http://www.gursagar.com for sewa of Hemkund Sahib. Many
things needs to be done, exchanged and the heart is absolutely with
them. Also sewa of Indian school children here and worldwide to whom I
could bring into the cyber culture and online education.
I got so much involved in all these sewas
during last three to four years, that It did a lot of damage to my
business operations. And now I am caught up between both and rare
happenings, have made me convinced that My Gurus will take the care of
the other part. It is a great test one has to pay the price of not
attending to business.
The Service sewa of School was such an important issue for me, that I
did not wish to compromise with the future of 250 children and my
business, because the time and career of children cannot be gained in
any manner. The curriculum they could have missed and arranging teachers
for them from India; although business can be re-established in low
profile once again.
I believe as we join hands together, maybe some justice could be done to
the mission of love of Gurus in our hearts with complete subordination
of the souls.
When I sit to draft on the computer frankly sister, its not me there,
but someone else, I guess???
I assure you that it would be an honour for me to join your egroup for
learning process that I need in the course of my life. And if I could be
of any service to you, to all there and all here; and together we are
One; the children of God.
I hope you would accept this humble offer of your brother for continued
patronage and support with love and affection to the cause we both have
in our heart and with your support, I may be able to help in every
manner with solutions. I need to give out everything from my soul to the
cyber sangat and share the experiences and rare blessings of Guru Gobind
Singh Ji and his loving people in the world.
I have sincere wishes for all the members you have and I repeat our
vibrations are the outcome of Divine Gurus Power. Just keep using it for
service to humanity and keep in constant touch.
I pray for the Prosperity of the Sikhs and the entire Humantiy to set an
example in the World for Universal bortherhood. The need of the hour is
love and compassion as the Sufferings of mankind have added with Money
power. There is plenty to support and share with every one within one's
means and thats where Sarab Sanjha Khalsa, the real Secular belief of
Guru Gobind Singh Ji, emerges to serve the Mankind.
With respectful regards,
Gurfateh!
Pervinder Singh Chandhok
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