Murder of Elderly Punjabi Sikh Man: Rethinking Elderly Care In The Diaspora

Random Posts

• Tuesday, December 1, 2009 -- Find an Urge to Help on World AIDS Day (1)
• Tuesday, May 5, 2009 -- From Peru to Punjab (2)
• Wednesday, April 16, 2008 -- Towards a Sikh Civil Rights Agenda (7)
• Monday, December 7, 2009 -- UPDATES – Murdered Sikhs – The Day After Ashutosh and Ludhiana (10)
• Tuesday, July 21, 2009 -- Navigating Identity as a Sikh Child (0)

This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.

5 Responses to “Murder of Elderly Punjabi Sikh Man: Rethinking Elderly Care In The Diaspora”

1. Camille says:

   Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 7:37 am

   When I speak to other AB-Sikhs, there’s often an assumption that our community values/respects and cares for our elders and that there are social stigmas for those who do not. I find this is often untrue when it comes to how people actually treat our older community members, both in India and in the diaspora. This story is horrific and terrifying and reminds me of a recent story in CNN about a pregnant woman with mental disabilities who was slowly abused to death by her “caretakers,” who profited from and pocketed that woman’s social security payments (she was much younger — her 20s/30s, but I think the analogy re: those who require assisted care is similar)

   I often wonder how much of this is socio-cultural and how much of this is rooted in really disgusting ideas of business practices, materialism, wealth accumulation, etc.

   But I also think it’s amazing that Mr. Kahlon was supporting his (presumably adult) children at his age. I know it’s not atypical, but I’m disappointed in his children as well. Are we a “gimme” generation that extends our childhood and leaches off of our parents until they die?

   Reply
2. Sundari says:

   Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 11:33 am

   This story is extremely disheartening and does bring to light the need we discussed earlier about ensuring our elders are looked after. It seems that his wife and son were living in India, but two of his daughters were living in Canada. He had been living at the Calgary gurdwara for the past five years,

   While living rent-free at the temple, he would perform whatever tasks were needed of him, from helping with services to making tea for visitors.

   While I would advocate for the creation of facilities for the elderly members of our community, it seems that in this case, the Gurdwara really was a place of comfort for him and fulfilled an important need. It also speaks to the issue that while he had his daughters living in the same country as him, he probably could not live with them because within our culture it is somehow inappropriate for parents to live with their daughters after they are married. We won’t know if that’s the case because quite possibly, his daughters could not look after him in their homes. I just wish it was just as acceptable for daughters to look after their parents as it is for sons….but now I’m off-topic…

   Reply
3. Roop Rai says:

   Friday, March 28, 2008 at 7:48 am

   May he RIP.

   Reply
4. Guest says:

   Monday, October 26, 2009 at 3:39 am

   I'm from that area and the last place he was seen was where I work. This has disturbed me deeply since it happened and i am heartbroken to say that no progress has been made to hold who is behind this responsible. I just can not understand how you could so brutally beat, decapitate and skin someone who is defenseless. The person/s capable of doing this are still free, putting us all at risk.

   Reply
5. Waheguru Ji Bless the Father thats worked so hard says:

   Monday, October 26, 2009 at 1:14 am

   Waheguru,

   Any of us reading this lets just pray for Khalon Ji.

   They should check the bank videos, or people around at that time, and in the vicinity.

   This is a very violent act, its seems to be made worse that no one has a clue about this crime or just stopped investigating it.

   Someone must have heard or known that Khalon Ji had that much money. Crimes like these are usually common against older people but not as violent.

   Whoever did this seems like they were filled with tremendous hate, and I wonder if Khalon Ji was able to fight back, since the right hand sustained damage. And there is possibly a chance that the perpetrator(s) face(s) may have been seen.

   It doesn’t seem like an indian or a punjabi would have done this. I wonder what the rest of the areas make up is, white, black, italian, latino, mexican.

   Camille you must not be punjabi or indian. I don’t know what it is about this site, but why are you attacking the son’s. People try to survive in india, sometimes on less than $100 a month, and that can be after working very hard to gain even that much money.

   I find it deplorable that you would take this time to admonish the family.

   My prayers are with the family, a father that was working so much and doing Sewa shouldn’t have this crime go unsolved.

   Reply