Consumption of Alcohol Amongst Sikhs

Recently I was sent a form from DSGMC (Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee) for inclusion of my name in the voters list for election of DSGMC. Among other things that I was asked to fill, was a declaration that I am a Sikh who:

1. Maintains untrimmed kesh
2. Does not smoke or consume tobbacco
3. Does not consume alcohol.

While the first two may be generally true for the Sikhs of Delhi, the third point is false for a very large majority of Sikhs.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/34450-consumption-of-alcohol-amongst-sikhs.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34450

I had no problem with the last point so I signed the declaration without hesitation. But lakhs of Delhi Sikhs will be signing a false declaration!

 
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Lakhs of Sikhs are indeed FALSE SIKHS..or what is called BHEKHI SIKHS. This is true worldwide..not just in Delhi. Anyone who disputes this just attend a SIKH Wedding..anand karaj and see first person just how much alcohol atypical sikh gathering can drink..in MALAYSIA attend the Malacca Anniversary/Barsee of Local Sant Ji Late Baba Sohan Singh Ji...it is said that Malacca Town sells 10 times more alcohol during the 3 day Barsee than in an entire year. In fact NO Sikh wedding is complete if no alcohol is served..a BAR is essential in nay wedding hall and is a feature of amny Sikh homes much more than a Baba Jis room for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Parkash. Sad but TRUE.

Personally I would rather see a Sikh participant who had a trimmed kesh but didn't drink or smoke there.

Is the matter of maintaining Sikh identity a matter of 'at personal level'! At personal level, drinking and smoking too can be OK for a Sikh!

With the indulgence of all 4 who have posted so far This is exactly what causes confusion in the young. Notice that the 3 points above are taken from the list from the SRM definition of "Who is a Sikh?" All of the tenets are not listed. Not listed is "believes in one God." If gambling were permitted, I would wager, that a year from now, because of this list, we will be discussing why someone who includes a little idol worship here and there and then and again, either was on the ballot, or got elected. Maybe even discussing how an "atheist" got elected.

The interesting to notice is that many Sikh women are into drinking alcohol now a days as well, both in India and abroad. At my niece's reception which was held in Boston by the groom's parents, alcohol was served. We at our parties which were four in total, no alcohol was served. The sitting arrangement was a mixture of both families. I sat next to the groom's aunt who had been married to the groom's uncle-his mum's brother- who had unfortunately passed away because of cancer. I had known her from IIGS (International Institute of Gurmat Studies) in Los Angles. She was the main person doing keertan at their monthly divaan and had taken Khandei de Pahul. In fact I took the same at IIGS on the Vaisakhi day of 1988.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34450

A couple of things I noticed that made me bewildered. First the person she got married to again is 18 years her junior and he used to call her Behnji in Los Angles and he is the son of Capt. Sahib, the head of IIGS. Both I knew had taken khandei di pahul.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34450

The second thing that shocked me was that it was only Jaskeerat, Trimaan and myself with soft drinks. The rest of the lot which included seven, four of them women, who have been known to carry Kirpans and sing Shabads loudly were sipping champagne.

Hypocricy working at its best.

So, Harbans ji, you are right about people lying on the forms.

Tejwant Singh

Randip ji,

Guru Fateh.

A person who has trimmed beard and kesh would most likely be also a drinker at least.

Tejwant Singh

I found your response interesting. I feel like if I was a devout Sikh I would share your sentiment. (I also have to agree with the poster above me, chances are, if you're clean shave—you drink; but the common perception now is that chances are, if your punjabi—you drink.) Lol, in highschool, as a tongue in cheek response to students who were ignorant of punjabi culture, we use to say "Punjabi people are alot like the Irish, they love to eat potatoes, dance, fight and drink." Of course, I realize thats just a stereotype—but that goes for the post above me as well.

I found the list of requirements interesting though and a "confirmation" of sorts of what I have been saying for a long time on this site. The question of what it means to be a "Sikh" is largely a superficial one.

If you treat drink as part of food (some westerners do!), I personally would think it is OK.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34450

But if you know you are drinking to get into a fight, insult people, harass or do other such deviant behaviors, then at a personal level you rather not drink.

In the matter of DSGMC (Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee), apparently a very corrupt organization, to send these letters forcing people to lie is hypocritical.

The saying (I just made it up but has some logic to it) is " If a law is made to serve the people and 99% break it, then the issue is with the law and not the people".
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34450

For me it is personal.

Sat Sri Akal.