Distortion of Sikh Faith in films calls for systemic approach by formulating guidelines, not just jerk reaction

 

(Above three pics are self0explanatory)

Distortion of Sikh Faith in films calls for systemic approach, not just jerk reaction

Ground Zero

Jagtar Singh

Yet another instance of  distortion of Sikh Faith in a film has surfaced this week.

It is not alleged distortion but distortion going by the video of the song of the said film Yaarian 2, although the producer has tried to refute this charge.

Provoked by this distortion, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the highest elected statutory body of the Sikhs that was constituted to voice Sikh concerns, has lodged complaint against makers of Yaarian 2.

As per the newspaper reports, seeking ban, the SGPC has approached the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

In the official statement released by the producer that has appeared in the papers, it has been denied that the actor concerned was wearing a kirpan asserting it is Khukri that is carried by the Gurkhas.

The actor who is wearing it is clean-shaven and not a Sikh.

The short-blade kirpan that the actor is carrying is in a Gatra that is worn by the Sikhs to carry this small kirpan. The Gurkhas don’t wear Gatra to carry Khukri that is also different in shape from Kirpan.

This is the issue at present that has generated controversy.

And it is not for the first time that such issue has cropped up.

It is being  made clear here that distortion of Sikh faith in films is different from lampooning of Sikh characters at times.

One has to go to the roots of this issue.

The Hindu religion is not monolithic  and there are several deities.

Moreover, nobody  objects to shooting of even romantic scenes near centres of Hindu religion and at times, even within the complex.

Remember the scene in Sholay in a village Shiva temple?

There are reasons for Sikhs raisng strong objections.

The Sikhs have made supreme sacrifices to maintain sanctity of their places of Faith. Even inch of the Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib) complex in Amritsar has blood of the Sikh martyrs. This is not the only reason.

The issue is how to address such concerns.

It is for the SGPC to take the initiative as custodian of this Faith.

Till a few years ago, even a primer educating the non-Sikhs about this religion was not available in English. One can’t say whether this basic step has been taken so far or not.

There are no dos and don’ts for the mass media. There are no guidelines in black and white for film world.

The SGPC should set up a committee of Sikh scholars to prepare the draft for this purpose. The language must be vetted so that people in film industry can understand the issues rather than using the religious terminology.

Once finalized, the guidelines should be first released in Mumbai to the film industry followed by Delhi.

In the absence of guidelines, such issues would continue to crop up.

Of course, it is not just in case of Hindu religion that liberties are taken by the film world.

A film like Da Vinci Code can’t be produced in India that concern private life of Jesus Christ.

It is pertinent to recall that earlier, some film unit had tried to shoot in the plaza in front of the main entrance of the Golden Temple.

Scenes are shot of characters worshipping pictures of the Sikh Gurus despite the fact that Sikh Faith is opposed to the idol worship.

And such violations are too frequent and are ignored even by the SGPC and other Sikh institutions.

Such distortions have creeped in at several levels.

The issue is complex but the beginning should be made by the SGPC by preparing guidelines for the film makers as the first step. It calls for systemic approach.

Lodging complaint with the police is not the answer.  It is just jerk reaction.