Sikh Film Haters – and the trashy newspapers that love them
On many occasions, I have noted my dismay at the joke of journalism that calls itself the Times of India. They never cease to provide stupid nonsensical and ill-researched articles. Here is one more example.
It appears that the writer ‘Divya A’ has recently been making his/her rounds at various Sikh film screenings and festivals. Instead of lauding a young community on its tenacity to promote arts and encourage creativity in the community, the author can only wonder:
But how healthy is it for a community to focus on a painful past and present itself to the world as a suffering and wronged people?[link]
Who is the author to decide what is right or wrong for the community?
The author continues to push a nonsensical ‘Khalistani’ conspiracy theory as the raison d’etre behind the shift to visual arts. Instead of looking at the broader context of the proliferation of youtube with film and television being the visual media of the masses, the author believes there is something far more sinister.
The author sees the ‘Khalistani’ hand in the Sikh Art and Film Foundation (SAFF). Can you find people more pro-Indian Government than AS Marwah, Tejinder Bindra, or Sant Chatwal, all of whom are patrons of the SAFF? I mean even the honorary patron was a member of the Indian Government (Tarlochan Singh) with his own checkered past with regards to Sikhs. Not content there, there are subtle accusations against Sikhnet’s tremendous Youth Online Film Festival. The 3HO is hardly the den of Khalistanis. Finally, the author takes aim at the movies shown at the Jakara Movement’s “Visions of Truth” film festival on 1984. Even cursory internet searches would hardly suggest these were propaganda pieces.
Storming the Temple was produced by the History Channel in Canada.
Amu was produced by a non-Sikh, secular Bengali woman.
Still the author turns every rock to malign – again in his/her paranoia:
But isn’t it maudlin for Sikhs to focus so acutely on 1984? S P Singh says there may be another angle to this. He says that playing up the 1984 imagery serves the vested interests of those who sought political asylum abroad in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star. “If the movement dies down, all facilities and aid extended to them will be terminated.”[link]
Again nothing, but nonsense. The films produced for Sikhnet’s Youth Online Film Festival are often by kids that were not even alive in 1984. The Jakara Movement’s “Visions of Truth” films were mainly produced by non-Sikhs and screened by the youth, also not yet alive in 1984. I don’t know what ‘facilities and aid’ have been extended to these youth that were born in the United States and not yet alive in 1984.
Unfortunately what we have here is a trashy article, by a trashy journalist, in the piece of trash called Times of India. The editors should be well-aware of the propagandists they hire as journalists, interested in little more than sensationalism.
25 Responses to “Sikh Film Haters – and the trashy newspapers that love them”
well said
living in australia i have often felt that the quality of the journalism in india reflects the nature of the closed society. the conscience of india is dead and to the masses what appears in the times of india is 'news'.
well said
living in australia i have often felt that the quality of the journalism in india reflects the nature of the closed society. the conscience of india is dead and to the masses what appears in the times of india is 'news'.
Congratulations Divya- you've insulted art, journalism and the idea of compassion all at the same time.
Congratulations Divya- you've insulted art, journalism and the idea of compassion all at the same time.
I dont understand why Divya has a problem with people remembering something that happened 25 yrs ago, when Hindus keep enacting Ram Lilas every year – for an offence that happened thousands of years ago.
Every year on Dussera people shoot an arrow in Ravans navel, and Divya has no problems with that !
Well said Jodha.
I've never heard of Ms. Divya – but going by her writing, what an exceptionally poor journalist.
Even if you're not going to write the truth or don't want to angle towards something positive, there are better ways to write deceitful, anti-Sikh articles. Poor writing, and almost more grieviously, poor effort. Lying, spreading b.s. is not easy to do properly; it takes careful thought, a balance of tying truths with half-truths at times, and genuine effort.
I won't lie – I'm very disappointed with the quality of propoganda and anti-Sikh journalism coming from India lately. At least in the 80's, even if there was no subtlety to the garbage being spewed, there was a real sense of purpose and committment to pushing forward lies. Now, we have Indian journalists like Divya half-assing it – so little heart in the propoganda/lies being pushed. We have definitely left behind the golden-age of 1980's Indian journalism. Thank God Lala Jagat Narain isn't alive to witness this decline.
Well said Jodha.
I've never heard of Ms. Divya – but going by her writing, what an exceptionally poor journalist.
Even if you're not going to write the truth or don't want to angle towards something positive and uplifting, there are better ways to write deceitful, anti-Sikh articles. Poor writing, and almost more grieviously, poor effort. Lying in journalism is not easy to do properly; it takes careful thought, a balance of tying truths with half-truths at times, and genuine effort.
I won't lie – I'm very disappointed with the quality of propoganda and anti-Sikh journalism coming from India lately. At least in the 80's, even if there was no subtlety to the garbage being spewed, there was a real sense of purpose and committment to pushing forward lies. Now, we have Indian journalists like Divya putting so little heart into their work. We have definitely left behind the golden-age of 1980's Indian journalism. Thank God Lala Jagat Narain isn't alive to see this shocking decline.
I dont understand why Divya has a problem with people remembering something that happened 25 yrs ago, when Hindus keep enacting Ram Lilas every year – for an offence that happened thousands of years ago.
Every year on Dussera people shoot an arrow in Ravans navel, and Divya has no problems with that !
Times of India must understand that Sikhism, it's people and their history are very much part of India. India needs to try to learn from its historical tragedies, understand why they occurred, and address the concerns of the hurt and deprived people.
Times of India must understand that Sikhism, it's people and their history are very much part of India. India needs to try to learn from its historical tragedies, understand why they occurred, and address the concerns of the hurt and deprived people.
India like a snake is trying to swallow Sikhism, it has tried it’s hardest to squeeze all the life out of Sikhs.
These minor movements by the Sikh youth make the Snake realize that its work has not been accomplished.
Sikhism carried out by Sikhs anywhere in the world means that Sikhs have not reached the state of being called a victim.
While many Sikhs are moving away from the faith, the concentrated few must remember that the key to survival will always be in being a Sikh.
No matter what failures any Sikh goes thru on an individual basis if the Singh/Kaur remembers the Truth in Sikhism then no other force will ever be able to squeeze the Guru from their life.
India like a snake is trying to swallow Sikhism, it has tried it’s hardest to squeeze all the life out of Sikhs.
These minor movements by the Sikh youth make the Snake realize that its work has not been accomplished.
Sikhism carried out by Sikhs anywhere in the world means that Sikhs have not reached the state of being called a victim.
While many Sikhs are moving away from the faith, the concentrated few must remember that the key to survival will always be in being a Sikh.
No matter what failures any Sikh goes thru on an individual basis if the Singh/Kaur remembers the Truth in Sikhism then no other force will ever be able to squeeze the Guru from their life.
Thankyou for this article! I was very upset by the Times of India Article, who does this Divya think he/she is anyway? Bravo, you pinpointed my feelings exactly!
Thank you for posting this up! Very well written response.
Thankyou for this article! I was very upset by the Times of India Article, who does this Divya think he/she is anyway? Bravo, you pinpointed my feelings exactly!
Thank you for posting this up! Very well written response.
"Nobody ever kicks a dead dog "
How to keep from worrying about criticism .
Unjust criticism is often a disguised compliment. It often means that you have aroused jealousy and envy. Remember that no one ever kicks a dead dog.
Do the very best you can; and then put up your old umbrella and keep the rain of criticism from running down the back of your neck.
Let's keep a record of the fool things we have done and criticize ourselves. Since we can't hope to be perfect, let's do what E.H. Little did: let's ask for unbiased, helpful, constructive criticism
BY DALE CARNEGIE
Everything is OK in The End,
if it is not Ok, its not The End
"Nobody ever kicks a dead dog "
How to keep from worrying about criticism .
Unjust criticism is often a disguised compliment. It often means that you have aroused jealousy and envy. Remember that no one ever kicks a dead dog.
Do the very best you can; and then put up your old umbrella and keep the rain of criticism from running down the back of your neck.
Let's keep a record of the fool things we have done and criticize ourselves. Since we can't hope to be perfect, let's do what E.H. Little did: let's ask for unbiased, helpful, constructive criticism
BY DALE CARNEGIE
Everything is OK in The End,
if it is not Ok, its not The End
Jodha, my congratulations on voicing the feelings of all those (including myself) who were turned off by "Divya A's" piece.
I agree with Harinder — "Divya A's" write-up is an indication that the increasing awareness in the community about our place in the world and in history is rattling those who are working to ???? ??? ??????? of Sikhs.
Jodha, my congratulations on voicing the feelings of all those (including myself) who were turned off by "Divya A's" piece.
I agree with Harinder — "Divya A's" write-up is an indication that the increasing awareness in the community about our place in the world and in history is rattling those who are working to ???? ??? ??????? of Sikhs.
[…] previous articles on The Langar Hall, I have written about how certain Sikh-film haters groan in jealousy and spew hatred, about the Sikhs’ taking advantage of new forms of media. […]
When slanderers of the Gurus existed when they were alive, we shouldn't feel so outraged. When you irk the very things you are out to expose, it's progress. Consider it a good measuring stick of how far and well the message of truth is being spread. As Guru Nanak said, Khilar Jao.
When slanderers of the Gurus existed when they were alive, we shouldn't feel so outraged. When you irk the very things you are out to expose, it's progress. Consider it a good measuring stick of how far and well the message of truth is being spread. As Guru Nanak said, Khilar Jao.