Turban Exploitation

Rajinder_Singh._001.jpgIn some way I know I shouldn’t even be writing this.  I am giving an idiot the fame that he seeks, but doesn’t deserve.  Oh well, here we go.

So Rajinder Singh is an idiot.  Rajinder Singh wants to be the first non-white to join the British National Party (BNP) in the UK.  To those from elsewhere, the BNP is similar to the KKK, without the sheets and ropes.  For years they had limited (if that’s the right word) their membership to people of “Caucasian origin.”  The Equality and Human Rights Commission had threatened them with a court injunction if they did not open up their ranks.

Playing on the issue of anti-immigration and Muslimophobia, the fast blinkers (read conservatives) are making some noise in the wake of the economic downturn.  However, due to a court ruling and a willing lackey, it seems the BNP is about to gain Rajinder.

For the cameras, Rajinder has decided to label himself a Sikh and wear a turban.

Singh – admits he’s only wearing it for my ¬ benefit. He’s not a religious man and is clean shaven, but he wore a turban the first time he ever had “media exposure” – on BNPTV, the party’s online ¬channel – and has decided to do so whenever speaking to the media because “the message carries more weight” coming from a turban-wearing Sikh.[link]

My question – does wearing a turban give him more ‘weight’ amongst Sikhs or non-Sikhs?

The strange thing in all of this nonsense is that Rajinder even knows he is a lackey.  Asked about the BNP’s exploitation of him, he quipped:

“I may be being exploited,” Singh says, “but there’s a good underlying cause.”

One wishes that he could be questioned about the exploitation of the pagh.  Still Rajinder’s lunacy doesn’t stop there.  When questioned by the Guardian if party members in the BNP even know the difference between Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims:

“They might think of me as a Paki,” he replies. “I’ve had people shout ‘Paki Go Home!’ when I walk down the street.”

Oh well, I would shout “Lackey go home!”  Oh well, so I end it here after extending Rajinder’s 15 minutes of fame


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26 Responses to “Turban Exploitation”

  1. Jinder Singh says:

    It's so obvious that BNP is playing Divide n Rule policy hoping that it may work as it worked in India prior to independence. Either Rajinder Singh knows what he is doing and has a better plan than them or he is a fool to join them. Turban is just being used for attention and he does not represent Sikhs if he is under that impression. He may be a sikh but definitely not Singh and just like his Singh surname is not for real so is his Turban.
    Please don't give a bad name to sikhs for your personal benefits and individual actions.

  2. Jinder Singh says:

    It's so obvious that BNP is playing Divide n Rule policy hoping that it may work as it worked in India prior to independence. Either Rajinder Singh knows what he is doing and has a better plan than them or he is a fool to join them. Turban is just being used for attention and he does not represent Sikhs if he is under that impression. He may be a sikh but definitely not Singh and just like his Singh surname is not for real so is his Turban.
    Please don't give a bad name to sikhs for your personal benefits and individual actions.

  3. Harinder says:

    This is a challenge for SIKHI "UNIVERSALIST" philosophy.
    The British nation is at war with certian countries over certian issues.
    Now as a British citizen he is fulfillig his obligation as a citizen is required to do for his nation .
    Now the quesion is in this war which the planet is currantly witnessing .

    " Who is right and who is wrong "?

    And whom should SGPC support..
    One simple answer is
    "MIGHT IS RIGHT"
    However I guess some times certian questions have no straighforward answers.
    SIkhs as far as I can recollect in history have fought for "
    FREEDOM TO PRACTISE ONES RELIGION"
    even at the cost of loosing vast tracts of their ancestors land.

  4. Harinder says:

    This is a challenge for SIKHI "UNIVERSALIST" philosophy.
    The British nation is at war with certian countries over certian issues.
    Now as a British citizen he is fulfillig his obligation as a citizen is required to do for his nation .
    Now the quesion is in this war which the planet is currantly witnessing .

    " Who is right and who is wrong "?

    And whom should SGPC support..
    One simple answer is
    "MIGHT IS RIGHT"
    However I guess some times certian questions have no straighforward answers.
    SIkhs as far as I can recollect in history have fought for "
    FREEDOM TO PRACTISE ONES RELIGION"
    even at the cost of loosing vast tracts of their ancestors land.

  5. Harinder says:

    Another points for thought are :–

    1) Friendships are tested in crisis.
    2) Is the world really fair as we think it to be.
    3) What is the real name of GOD
    4 ) Are not religions warring gangs (oops)
    5) Can all wars be won and what will be the victory point .

  6. Harinder says:

    Another points for thought are :–

    1) Friendships are tested in crisis.
    2) Is the world really fair as we think it to be.
    3) What is the real name of GOD
    4 ) Are not religions warring gangs (oops)
    5) Can all wars be won and what will be the victory point .

  7. jasvinder says:

    why are we so possessive? what if he is using pagh for his selfish purposes..why we focus so much on others, what are others doing.?.we never point finger toward ourselves..what are we doing judging what he is doing.why don't we do the right thing and focus on our deeds..he will get his share for doing what he doing..but we are doing wrong by judging people all day..which we start as soon as wake up. let it be. if we stop trying to change people..focus on our self..everything in this world will come right. Love

  8. jasvinder says:

    why are we so possessive? what if he is using pagh for his selfish purposes..why we focus so much on others, what are others doing.?.we never point finger toward ourselves..what are we doing judging what he is doing.why don't we do the right thing and focus on our deeds..he will get his share for doing what he doing..but we are doing wrong by judging people all day..which we start as soon as wake up. let it be. if we stop trying to change people..focus on our self..everything in this world will come right. Love

  9. Gur says:

    Politics is the last resort of a scoundrel. He is not the FIRST one to play Turban politics. Our own Akali's are masters of this game. Its commendable that Sikhs on Globe are openly rejecting this man conveying the message that we are not a "religion" defined vote bank. When any society chooses to become a VOTE BANK its decline begin. e.g Muslims of South Asia before partition (to Jinnah), Muslims of India after partition (to congress).

  10. Gur says:

    Politics is the last resort of a scoundrel. He is not the FIRST one to play Turban politics. Our own Akali's are masters of this game. Its commendable that Sikhs on Globe are openly rejecting this man conveying the message that we are not a "religion" defined vote bank. When any society chooses to become a VOTE BANK its decline begin. e.g Muslims of South Asia before partition (to Jinnah), Muslims of India after partition (to congress).

  11. Rajinder Singh says:

    The worldly wise tend to go with the flow. It is easier to be a Red Sox fan in Boston and a Yankee fan in NY, than the other way around.

    Leaving individuals and personalities aside, which we need to, there is an interesting article – Is Sikhi Being Wasted on Sikhs? by Jogishwar Singh asking similar questions of the larger community.

    http://sikhchic.com/faith/is_sikhi_being_wasted_o

  12. Rajinder Singh says:

    The worldly wise tend to go with the flow. It is easier to be a Red Sox fan in Boston and a Yankee fan in NY, than the other way around.

    Leaving individuals and personalities aside, which we need to, there is an interesting article – Is Sikhi Being Wasted on Sikhs? by Jogishwar Singh asking similar questions of the larger community.

    http://sikhchic.com/faith/is_sikhi_being_wasted_o

  13. Harinder says:

    Today Sikhs are enjoying religous freedom only in western countires and to some extent in India.
    Britian is fighting forces and countries which seek to deny this religious freedom.
    Sikh will be the bigggest causality if Britian looses this war.

  14. Harinder says:

    Today Sikhs are enjoying religous freedom only in western countires and to some extent in India.
    Britian is fighting forces and countries which seek to deny this religious freedom.
    Sikh will be the bigggest causality if Britian looses this war.

  15. justasikh says:

    Maybe we need to look at finding more ways to highlight the Pagh for good purposes instead of being quick to feed the PR monster that the fellow above is trying to do.

    It's no surprise that people are sastay and can be easily purchased, it has been that way even in the times of the Guru Gobind Singh when one of his letters specifically asked for "A few good singhs". Stress on the word good.

    As for uncle here, I am reminded of the stories I've heard where the men in a community used to take a micreant Sardar to the gurdwara and cut his dhari and hair off and take away his turban. While I'm not sure that would help, I can't help but wonder what else anyone could, really do.

    Turbans are just a hat for many Brits and we should see this shoddily wrapped example of a Turban for what it is. A cheap marketing ploy that the masses won't be able to tell.

    In the end this is the will of the universe. We are the ones we have been waiting for. Sitting at a keyboard while someone else is happening to the world is not the way of Sikhs.

    Sikhs are makers (and poor recorders) of history, if they don't someone else will gladly step up for their purposes.

    Bhul chuk maaf,
    Justasikh

  16. justasikh says:

    Maybe we need to look at finding more ways to highlight the Pagh for good purposes instead of being quick to feed the PR monster that the fellow above is trying to do.

    It's no surprise that people are sastay and can be easily purchased, it has been that way even in the times of the Guru Gobind Singh when one of his letters specifically asked for "A few good singhs". Stress on the word good.

    As for uncle here, I am reminded of the stories I've heard where the men in a community used to take a micreant Sardar to the gurdwara and cut his dhari and hair off and take away his turban. While I'm not sure that would help, I can't help but wonder what else anyone could, really do.

    Turbans are just a hat for many Brits and we should see this shoddily wrapped example of a Turban for what it is. A cheap marketing ploy that the masses won't be able to tell.

    In the end this is the will of the universe. We are the ones we have been waiting for. Sitting at a keyboard while someone else is happening to the world is not the way of Sikhs.

    Sikhs are makers (and poor recorders) of history, if they don't someone else will gladly step up for their purposes.

    Bhul chuk maaf,
    Justasikh

  17. Harinder says:

    Sikhs are a multidimensional people ( ? aliens ) having had some of the most unique experiences on this planet :–
    1) Good and bad times under Mughals.
    2) Good and bad times under the Britishers.
    3) Good and bad times with Indians .
    It will require a Brahmgyani in us to make a sense out of this
    1) Topsy turvvy world we live in and
    2) Also of each others different experiences we have had in life and approach toward life.

  18. Harinder says:

    Sikhs are a multidimensional people ( ? aliens ) having had some of the most unique experiences on this planet :–
    1) Good and bad times under Mughals.
    2) Good and bad times under the Britishers.
    3) Good and bad times with Indians .
    It will require a Brahmgyani in us to make a sense out of this
    1) Topsy turvvy world we live in and
    2) Also of each others different experiences we have had in life and approach toward life.

  19. Pierre says:

    hello,
    First off I am a complete outsider to the community, and I'm quite curious, since this post raised the term, about "clean shaven". Outside of the context of this individual, when someone has NOT taken on the 5Ks BUT identifies/participates with the community, is there a distinction drawn between one who shaves completely, one who TRIMS the hair of whatever length, and does the general community think it matters in such circumstances whether they publicly identify as 'sahajdhari'? I cannot say I have seen any clean-shaven "men-who-identify-as-Sikh" in a dastar, but I've definitely seen guys with trimmed facial hair and dastar.

  20. Pierre says:

    hello,
    First off I am a complete outsider to the community, and I'm quite curious, since this post raised the term, about "clean shaven". Outside of the context of this individual, when someone has NOT taken on the 5Ks BUT identifies/participates with the community, is there a distinction drawn between one who shaves completely, one who TRIMS the hair of whatever length, and does the general community think it matters in such circumstances whether they publicly identify as 'sahajdhari'? I cannot say I have seen any clean-shaven "men-who-identify-as-Sikh" in a dastar, but I've definitely seen guys with trimmed facial hair and dastar.

  21. Pierre says:

    I should have typed a clearer distinction between one who is clean shaven and one who trims, sorry.

  22. Pierre says:

    I should have typed a clearer distinction between one who is clean shaven and one who trims, sorry.

  23. Jasmine says:

    This man is very tragic man. His mind is locked in hatred over partition and he has no rationality. He is looked at with bizarre bemusement by Sikhs. The idea that Sikhs are sympathetic to the BNP is laughable.

  24. Jasmine says:

    This man is very tragic man. His mind is locked in hatred over partition and he has no rationality. He is looked at with bizarre bemusement by Sikhs. The idea that Sikhs are sympathetic to the BNP is laughable.