We eventually found a row of shops. As I had not been around that town much, I had never seen these shops before. My colleague wanted to go into an off license to buy some food and snacks so I went in with her. I didn't want to get anything to eat - I just came out for the exercise!
As I entered the shop I suddenly heard a "Oh kiddda Singh! Why Khalsa Why Fateh!" As I turned around, I noticed it was an 'Amritdhaari Singh' who I've known for a few years was sitting at the till. I will keep the Singh gupt. He had a Blue Dhumalla and a nice long dhaari. Behind him was a big cabinet of cigarettes and just to his left was a whole isle filled with sharaab (alcohol).
I felt really uncomfortable saying Guroo's Fateh and generally talking about Sikhi in such an environment.
He then started telling me how him and his family owned the whole row of shops and his chacha owned some on the main road (like he was really proud!). I didn't say anything. He always referred to me as an "extremist", and I could tell he knew I was feeling uncomfortable.
He then said to me "Have you chilled out in your Sikhi?", the word 'Haaain?' came to mind. I asked him what he ment. He said "When you start of in Sikhi you get really pumped up and extreme, then after a while you relax a bit and do your own thing". To be fair I sort of understood what he was saying, I have witnessed this many times with other Singhs and Singhnia. I remained silent, as I have learnt over the past few years never to argue with such people. He then said "I'm the one who's making a living and making some money. All the other Singhs that were chatting about 'nimrata, pyaar, humility' are the ones that aren't doing anything." I have to say that made me chuckle a little bit. Then he said something that really worried and haunted me...
"I know I'm selling shaarab and stuff but it doesn't bother me. I'm only selling it to everyone apart from apne. Eh gore, kale, chine sareh ne sanu bahuth jada jutia maarriaa, (These whites, blacks and chinese have all hit and destorted our religion) what does it matter if I sell them alcohol?" He then started talking about how they have "messed up" our religion. My heart just totally sank. I could not, and still can not, belive how people can Amrit, wear the Sikhi Saroop, have the audasity to call yourself a Sikh and not even understand the basic principles of Sikhi - To recognise all of human race as one.
To even think that one race is superior to others is absolutely obsurd.
He continued "The Gurdware come to me and say, bhaij we need £10,000, they don't care where I get the money from or that the money has been collected by selling alcohol." I think this totally sums up the state of the Gurdware committees. They do not care how the money is raised. I should imagine a great amount of the money is raised through such visious means from the stories I have heard. Unfortunately, the genuine Gursikhs are being run out of Gurdware and these people that clearly have no idea are running them.
Guroo Kirpa karen that a) Singhs finally wake up and realise that selling alcohol and cigarettes is not going to get you anywhere, and is strict violation of the Rehat Maryada. and b) Gurdwara committees become more strict with who they take donations from.
