4/22/2003 3:18:51 PM

" This weekend Babbu Mann came to Toronto, as much as I used to love his music, I can't help but feel saddened at his conduct and comments toward Vaisakhi and Sikhi in general" - Gurmail Kaur - Scarborough Ont. Canada.

Babbu Mann show:

“Vaisakhi Around the world” – a Disgrace



During his physical presence here in this world, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji outlined a refined set of standards for a true Saint Soldier. In the name of freedom, equality and God, he devoted his life to the betterment of the humanitarian state in South Asia of that time. He sacrificed the lives of thousands of his comrades, his 4 sons, and ultimately his own life. By far the greatest and most symbolic of all his endeavors came in 1699 on the blessed grounds of Anandpur Sahib where he knelt down on one knee to request the most sacred gift of Amrit from the hands of the Panj Piyaaray. Hence forth this day has been celebrated by Sikhs worldwide as the day of Vaisakhi.

Vaisakhi – the commemoration of the most significant moment in the history of the Khalsa. The Khalsa went on after Guru Sahib’s physical departure from the world to uphold freedom and equality in the holy name of Waheguru by means of the sword and through the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of Sikh lives.

Somewhere along the line, something went wrong. Today Vaisakhi is being “honored” by shows depicting themes where women dance provocatively half naked around drunken 60 year old men who seek to entice what appear to be teenaged girls. On the very same stage, it is questionable whether the singing of a shabad written by Guru Sahib himself “Mitr Piyaaray Noon” was meant to honor or further offend the pride of Sikhs everywhere when it was sung by a woman who couldn’t so much as show the symbolic gesture of respect in covering her hair while singing.

In this same disgraceful display of a Vaisakhi celebration Babbu Mann, the hit kalakar from Punjab, delivered a forceful blow to both Sikhism and Hinduism when he appeared on stage wearing a shirt depicting the Hindu religious insignia “Om”. I’m sure that in the hearts of most Hindus worldwide who understand the level of symbolism Vaisakhi holds for Sikhs abroad, it was with great regret that this show had been allowed to play out as it did, and Hinduism aloud to be vilified as it was. Through one swift blow, the producers of “Vaisakhi Around the World” misrepresented Hinduism, and disgraced Sikhism – a blow that, for many, reopened wounds inflicted on Sikhs in the 1984 incident in Amritsar. Although many performances were met with boos from the audience, it was clear that a significant effort was placed in attempting to please the crowd (bollywood themes and characters), but not one gesture of respect toward the true meaning behind Vaisakhi was shown. However, the show was portrayed in such a manner that it seemed like everything was done to disrespect Sikhi and Punjab, and nothing was done to honour the commemoration of Vaisakhi.
From:
Balraj Sandhu



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Comments:
From:
Sher Singh

At the Vaisaki Around the World Show In Toronto Canada I was shocked and put into feelings of revulsion as I witnessed Babbu Mann appear on stage wearing a shirt with "OMs" on it.
Being the symbol for the Hindu community I feel this was not appropriate for a Vaisaki function. If Sikhs are to wear pro-other religions products to Vaisaki shows we are headed toward nothing but destruct. Never would you witness such an incident with another other religion, this would never happen with the Muslim, Christian or Hindu community. We must analyze and document our weaknesses, in order to eliminate them.

BABBU MANN IS A WEAKNESS – he has lost the respect of his supporters in Toronto and across Canada. We in Toronto feel he made this pro-Hindu statement to get the attention of the executives in Bollywood, and if that is what he is after – he can go ahead and leave the Punjabi scene all together. We would gladly exile him from the Sikh community also.

At a vaisaki function, he didn’t even take the time to sing a Dharmak song. Vaisaki along with the Sikh Religion received another slap and we are sick of this. This is scandalous and I on behalf of everyone who was at the show, we say

“BABBU MANN YOU ARE A BETRAYER TO SIKHS, PUNJABIS AND YOUR MOTHERLAND OF PUNJAB”

Sher Singh
City: Brampton
Province: Ontario
Country: Canada
Email: xxsingh@hotmail.com
Date: Thursday April 24, 2003
Time: 10:39 AM -0700