A Sikh cowboy?
I don’t really know what to make of this, so I won’t even comment. I’ll just let you form your own opinions.
Paramvir Singh Chattwal, of central Hounslow, who claims to be the world’s only Sikh rodeo star after taking up the sport while living in Texas has hung up his spurs for now to track down information about his decorated forefather, who he believes died in or around [Hounslow]. …Paramvir has already spent years researching the life of Risaldar Major Sher Singh Sirdar Bahadoor, who was an original member of the Punjab Frontier Force, formed in 1849. [link]
I’m more interested in Paramvir’s cowboy-ness, than his hunt for his great great grandfather’s legacy, though Paramvir’s view of his ancestor is a bit twisted. Paramvir seems to be equally proud of his cowboy activities, as his grandfather’s fighting for the British in 1857, against his
fellow Indians, and also escorting the Kohinoor to become part of the British treasury.
But Paramvir believes [his ancestor] earned his peers’ respect by escorting theKoh-i-noor diamond, then the largest in the world, on a perilous mission across India to Calcutta before it became part of the British Crown Jewels in 1877. “I couldn’t believe he’d been breaking social barriers in 1887 by mixing with the British aristocracy and five generations later I’m doing the same by taking up rodeo,” said Paramvir. (emphasis added) [link]
I’m not trying to promote a tribal mentality (not that that’s a bad thing). But, since when is “mixing with aristocracy” breaking a social barrier?? Slaves “mixed” with their slave owners. Prisoners “mix” with the guards that keep them locked up. Paramvir, you’re confirming my suspicion that all cowboys are stupid, and I really don’t like to generalize. (Ok, one comment.) I hope this article has misquoted you.
Oh and if you have any more information about that might help Paramvir in his search for his ancestor’s legacy:
The 34-year-old horse breeder is determined to find out where his grandfather stayed and get in touch with any descendants of the British leaders like Sir Sam Browne, General F S Roberts and Sir Dighton Probyn. If you know anything about the history of the Punjab Frontier Force or where Risaldar Bahadoor may have been stationed, call 020 8538 2227 or email robertcumber@trinitysouth.co.uk [link]
Yeehaw! (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
4 Responses to “A Sikh cowboy?”
By Singh on Aug 20, 2008 at 5:55 pm | Quote
I think it’s great that he’s a horse breeder. This, of course, has absolutely nothing to do with the British. Horse breeders have been as long as horses themselves. Now the issue of being in the rodeo - this worries me slightly as well. I hope it’s not a rodeo that exploits animals. But nowadays show me a rodeo that DOESN’T. I think the values and priorities of the rodeo scene are quite often antithetical to the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib ji. But to the point of the article - yes, it’s a little bit of a shame being proud of a person in a ruled class for mingling with the ruling class. That is not much of a feat. However, maybe his great-grandfather was in fact a very courageous, brave, disciplined soldier and for that he should be honoured. In Sri Dasam Granth Sahib ji, Guru Gobind Singh ji honours soldiers for their discipline and their skill, regardless of which side the soldier was from.
By baingandabhartha on Aug 20, 2008 at 9:07 pm | Quote
He is an anglophile that all. His great grandfather or whatever -was a mercenary. Sikhs became professional soldiers after Ranjit Singh and the misl system. Before that they were fighting for faith-after,for property. Ranjit Singh changed the face of Sikhism for ever. We became paid mercenaries for the Brits and put down the 1857 rebellion (if it can be called that). Of course they were siding with the Brits against people who had traditionally never been staunch Sikh allies or anything.
The Brits fed us the ‘martial race’ BS and used us as cannon fodder-and guys like turban cowboy are still brown nosing.
By Pavanjeet Singh on Aug 31, 2008 at 12:05 am | Quote
I believe the first Sikh cowboy and “turban cowboy” might be Navtej Singh, a journalist at the Minot Daily News in Minot, North Dakota, in 1986. Source: Minot Daily News.
By Karmavir Singh on Sep 22, 2008 at 1:59 pm | Quote
Paramvir aka Pankake is a first class con artist. Please do notfall for any of his BS!
He is using the story of his apparent great grandfather to dupe people.