One Sikh’s Act of Bravery
Karambir Singh Kang, the general manager of the Taj Mahal Hotel, acted with great courage during the recent Mumbai tragedy. (Thanks for the tip, It’sM
e)
Karambir Singh lost his wife and two sons in the hotel when they were forced to barricade themselves inside a room on the 6th floor. They died from asphyxiation while hiding in the bathroom of their hotel residential suite. Karambir called his mom in Mohali, Kanwaljeet Kaur, to tell her what had happened. Her words, “Go save the others,” gave him the courage to help other hotel guests while his wife and children could not be reached.
It was, he said, his mother’s words of courage that prodded him to fight back after watching his world blow into smithereens in front of his eyes. “I got a call from Karambir and his voice was shaking,” his mother Kanwaljeet Kaur said, tears rolling down.”He told me that terrorists have entered the hotel and his family is stuck on the 6th floor and that he can’t save them. I just said, ‘You are a brave boy, go save the others.” [Times of India]
Karambir followed his mother’s advice and saved many guests at the hotel.
“He saved many amid firing and grenade explosions, but he could not reach the sixth floor where his family was trapped in their residential suite,” said Kamaljit. [Indian Express] Yet even after he learned of the death of his wife and children, the hotelier, originally from the Punjab, stayed at his post. On Saturday morning, when the final gunman holed-up in the landmark hotel was killed by commandos, Mr Kang was still working. Reports said that the hotel’s owner, the industrialist Ratan Tata, had to personally tell him to go home and be with his relatives. [The Independent]
Ardaas was held for Karambir’s wife and son at a gurdwara near their farmhouse in Kandala, Mohali. Outside of the gurdwara, the family installed a board where guests could pay tribute. Their message to the well-wishers was: “Now time has come to stand united and forget all differences, may it be political, ideological or religious to give a befitting reply to terrorism and those who perpetrate it.”
All those, who came to attend the antim ardas (last prayers) were seen queued up before the board to express their sentiments against terrorism. With the picture of Hotel Taj Mahal in flames on its masthead, the board read, “Now time has come to stand united and forget all differences, may it be political, ideological or religious to give a befitting reply to terrorism and those who perpetrate it.” [Express India]
When asked, “what now?” Karambir has asked for support and prayers, stating that blame was futile. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Asked what now, he simply replied, “Blaming someone won’t help make up for the irreparable loss that the family has suffered. Much has already been said and written about terrorism and the (Mumbai) incident and now all that we want is everybody’s support and prayers.” [Times of India]
30 Responses to “One Sikh’s Act of Bravery”
Indeed commendable, but lets not claim and project it as a Sikh's act of bravery. lets leave it as a great human valor story.
Indeed commendable, but lets not claim and project it as a Sikh’s act of bravery. lets leave it as a great human valor story.
But I do believe only a Sikh could have carried out this brave act.
But I do believe only a Sikh could have carried out this brave act.
“Now time has come to stand united and forget all differences, may it be political, ideological or religious to give a befitting reply to terrorism and those who perpetrate it.”
dis msg isnt understood by gentleman up above(Mr Singh)
“Now time has come to stand united and forget all differences, may it be political, ideological or religious to give a befitting reply to terrorism and those who perpetrate it.”
dis msg isnt understood by gentleman up above(Mr Singh)
I agree with Narinder Singh, respect him for who he is rather than putting a spin on it; "a great human valor story".
I agree with Narinder Singh, respect him for who he is rather than putting a spin on it; “a great human valor story”.
Sikhs are indeed a brave people.
Sikhs are indeed a brave people.
We need a million Kangs now to save us from these cowardly and ruthless set of people.
We need a million Kangs now to save us from these cowardly and ruthless set of people.
repots said that the hotels owner,,,,,,,,,,, the industrialist ratan tata,,, had to personally tell him to go home and be with his relatives
repots said that the hotels owner,,,,,,,,,,, the industrialist ratan tata,,, had to personally tell him to go home and be with his relatives
i wanna write a response about karambir singh kanga general manager taj hotel. i dont think he is a sikh beacause person cutting his hair cannot be sikh than how u all r saying that he is a sikh ,he is brave but not a sikh .i dont know which religion he belongs to hindu ,muslim, jewish or christian .but im dam sure he is not sikh .
i wanna write a response about karambir singh kanga general manager taj hotel. i dont think he is a sikh beacause person cutting his hair cannot be sikh than how u all r saying that he is a sikh ,he is brave but not a sikh .i dont know which religion he belongs to hindu ,muslim, jewish or christian .but im dam sure he is not sikh .
Have u been appointd a Judge by Guruji to decide who is a Sikh and who is not?
Have u been appointd a Judge by Guruji to decide who is a Sikh and who is not?
Haridner – Every Gursikh who follows Gurujee's guidelines is an appointed person. It is like in a family, a father sets up a certain guidelines so that the children can follow. In this family, one child follows and another one doesn't. The child that follows can be an appointed proxy for a father to tell their brother/ sister that doesn't follow. Guidelines are simple and are documented in Sikh Rehet Maryada. Kakkar are the basic ones (especially the kesh since they give us an individual idendity).
If you are following the guidelines, you can be an appointed one as well as you are just telling other brothers what our Dassam Pitta told us all to follow.
The question that each and everyone of us need to ask ourselves before we ask someone else is… "Are we the Good Children following what are father is telling us?"
Haridner – Every Gursikh who follows Gurujee’s guidelines is an appointed person. It is like in a family, a father sets up a certain guidelines so that the children can follow. In this family, one child follows and another one doesn’t. The child that follows can be an appointed proxy for a father to tell their brother/ sister that doesn’t follow. Guidelines are simple and are documented in Sikh Rehet Maryada. Kakkar are the basic ones (especially the kesh since they give us an individual idendity).
If you are following the guidelines, you can be an appointed one as well as you are just telling other brothers what our Dassam Pitta told us all to follow.
The question that each and everyone of us need to ask ourselves before we ask someone else is… “Are we the Good Children following what are father is telling us?”
jashpal singh jee tuhadey warge log kadey nahi badal sakdey….and to say anything to you is like hitting your head against the wall….i wanna say so much but its pointless to even argue with people like you who divide the sikh kaum rather then uniting them…shame on you
jashpal singh jee tuhadey warge log kadey nahi badal sakdey….and to say anything to you is like hitting your head against the wall….i wanna say so much but its pointless to even argue with people like you who divide the sikh kaum rather then uniting them…shame on you
"Indian Sikh" a quick question for you… If your 10th Guru gave an order to every Sikh to keep hair, then why do you think that every Sikh shouldn't listen? In my opinion, shame is on everyone who doesn't listen to the hukum of his Dassam Pitta and thinks that everyone that does and reminds other MunnMukkhs is trying to divide the Kaum.
[This thread has gone off topic, if you continue this discussion – we will close the thread. Admin]
“Indian Sikh” a quick question for you… If your 10th Guru gave an order to every Sikh to keep hair, then why do you think that every Sikh shouldn’t listen? In my opinion, shame is on everyone who doesn’t listen to the hukum of his Dassam Pitta and thinks that everyone that does and reminds other MunnMukkhs is trying to divide the Kaum.
[This thread has gone off topic, if you continue this discussion – we will close the thread. Admin]
This is beig hypocritical.
See Punjabs Tribune and see the "CASTEISMS" which is openly being propounded in the sat and sunday news paper.
And read what our 10 Furuji had to say on it :–
CASTE AS PER GURU GOBIND SINGHJI ( The 10th Master)
JAAP SAHIB :—
The Jaap Sahib has evolved as the product of extensive reflection, cogitation and deliberation through moments of awe and reverence experienced by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In this creation the various attributes of God almighty have been depicted ö He is without caste, without creed, without community, without religion and he is Îfearlessâ. He is the destroyer of enemies too.
AKAAL USTAT :–
The second piece of writing included in the Dasam Granth is called the Akaal Ustat. Herein a major myth has been removed and proved wrong by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The false belief that some people by virtue of belonging to a particular religion, region, history, culture, colour or creed are superior to others is strongly refuted. Instead, he has very clearly and firmly stated that all human beings are one.
At various points, in this composition Guru ji has spoken out against the caste system. Perhaps no other writer has so boldly and fearlessly negated caste distinctions, the name of Guru Gobind Singh Ji will always stand out in history for this courageous and bold attack on the caste system.
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Dasam_Granth
Correction to above :-
And read what our 10 Furuji had to say on it
for this please read:–
And read what our "10 Guruji" had to say on it
regrets
[This thread has gone off topic, if you continue this discussion – we will close the thread. Admin]
This is beig hypocritical.
See Punjabs Tribune and see the “CASTEISMS” which is openly being propounded in the sat and sunday news paper.
And read what our 10 Furuji had to say on it :–
CASTE AS PER GURU GOBIND SINGHJI ( The 10th Master)
JAAP SAHIB :—
The Jaap Sahib has evolved as the product of extensive reflection, cogitation and deliberation through moments of awe and reverence experienced by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. In this creation the various attributes of God almighty have been depicted ö He is without caste, without creed, without community, without religion and he is Îfearlessâ. He is the destroyer of enemies too.
AKAAL USTAT :–
The second piece of writing included in the Dasam Granth is called the Akaal Ustat. Herein a major myth has been removed and proved wrong by Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The false belief that some people by virtue of belonging to a particular religion, region, history, culture, colour or creed are superior to others is strongly refuted. Instead, he has very clearly and firmly stated that all human beings are one.
At various points, in this composition Guru ji has spoken out against the caste system. Perhaps no other writer has so boldly and fearlessly negated caste distinctions, the name of Guru Gobind Singh Ji will always stand out in history for this courageous and bold attack on the caste system.
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Dasam_Granth
Correction to above :-
And read what our 10 Furuji had to say on it
for this please read:–
And read what our “10 Guruji” had to say on it
regrets
[This thread has gone off topic, if you continue this discussion – we will close the thread. Admin]
I agree with the admin that we are going way off the topic but it is worth mentioning that caste is a byproduct of Indian society but Sikhi Swaroop as ordered by Guru Gobind Singh ji has nothing to do with caste. You are either Sikh or not.
Bringing focus back to the topic; bravery goes beyond religions. Any person belonging to any religion can be brave but let's put the praises for any allegiance to any religion correctly.
I agree with the admin that we are going way off the topic but it is worth mentioning that caste is a byproduct of Indian society but Sikhi Swaroop as ordered by Guru Gobind Singh ji has nothing to do with caste. You are either Sikh or not.
Bringing focus back to the topic; bravery goes beyond religions. Any person belonging to any religion can be brave but let’s put the praises for any allegiance to any religion correctly.