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Sikh History & Heritage
Sikhs In Assam, Ignored By Mainstream Sikhs
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<blockquote data-quote="faujasingh" data-source="post: 112679" data-attributes="member: 9450"><p>The <strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Today, many <strong>Assamese</strong> are concerned about their identity. Their concerns mainly arise out of the reality they see emerging before their eyes. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Over the last so many decades, we have witnessed mass migrations of Bangladeshis into Assam. During this same time, Assam has also seen migrants from other states in India who have come to Assam for jobs or business. This influx of people into the state has often been fractious, and sometimes resulting in tragic loss of life and property.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">In the midst of all this, we sometimes forget certain minority groups of immigrants who have not only fully assimilated in Assam’s culture, but are <strong>Assamese</strong> for all purposes. One such group is a small minority group of <strong>Assamese</strong>, generally known as <strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong> or Oxomia Punjabi. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The first <strong>Sikhs</strong> came to Assam around 200 years ago, from the Punjab. However, the majority of them were supposed to have come during the battle of Hadirachaki (1820-1822).</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">They were the forefathers of the present generation of <strong>Assamese</strong></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong>Sikhs</strong>, and were invited by the Ahom ruler, Chandra Kanta Singha, to</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">defend Assam against the Burmese. A good many of these <strong>Sikhs</strong> were killed during battle. The survivors, however, stayed back and married into <strong>Assamese</strong> families. These <strong>Sikhs</strong> have become more and more <strong>Assamese</strong> and today they consider themselves fully <strong>Assamese</strong>, built Gurdwaras, and held on steadfastly to the Sikh religion. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong> are unique from other immigrants to Assam. They are unique because, probably more than any other minority group in Assam, they have been very proactive in assimilating with <strong>Assamese</strong> culture and language.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Though they have ardently been following the Sikh religion, in all other</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">aspects, the <strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong> are very much <strong>Assamese</strong>. They speak <strong>Assamese</strong>, marry into mainstream <strong>Assamese</strong></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">families, celebrate Bihu, and dance to melodious Bihu songs as any true</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">blooded Oxomia.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Himadri Banerjee of Jadavpur University, who has conducted extensive studies on the <strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong>, writes. </span></span></span>(<span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><strong>Page 4</strong></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px">Assam Society of America </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px">November 2004)</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“They participate in Gurpurabs [birth and death anniversaries of Sikh</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">gurus], Baisakhi [the harvest festival] as well as <strong>Assamese</strong> festivals. They speak <strong>Assamese</strong> and generally follow the local code of conduct regarding marriage, food, social discipline, anddress. They, however, are no less aware of their Sikh identity and do wear the five Ks. Their gurdwaras (often called namghars) follow some of the Sikh traditions and try to make room for the local style of worship as well.”</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The <strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong> also have their share of problems. The mainstream Punjabi <strong>Sikhs</strong> do not generally consider the <strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong> of their own community. Indu Kaur, a young writer from Tinisukia, writes in one her columns in the Sikh News Network,</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“The <strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong> speak <strong>Assamese</strong> and marry local girls from their own communities (generally Punjabi-speaking <strong>Sikhs</strong> do not give their daughters to them). I asked some of them why the Punjabi <strong>Sikhs</strong> do not give their daughters to them. They told me that they do not regard them as their equals. There is also a sharp break in their physical structure. The Punjabi <strong>Sikhs</strong> are well-built while the <strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong> have slighter physiques. The <strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong> are</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">mainly rice eaters while the Punjabi<strong>Sikhs</strong> primarily eat wheat. <strong>Assamese</strong><strong>Sikhs</strong> are often closer to local Hindu rituals relative to the Punjabi <strong>Sikhs</strong>. “</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Most of the <strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong> are concentrated in Nagaon District. They have formed the Assam Sikh Association to address some of their problems. They are often battling identity problems. The Association would like a minority status for the<strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong>, as well as representation in local and state political setups. All along these <strong>Sikhs </strong> have been farmers, but now, many of them are finding careers in other fields as well. These realities have opened up new opportunities as well as challenges for this small community.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong>References:</strong></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Himadri Banerjee: “The <strong>Sikhs</strong> of Assam”, Sikh Times, 08/25/03.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Surjit Hans : “The Identity of North- E a s t</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">S i k h s ” . TribuneIndia.com/Spectrum, 08/24/03.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Indu Kaur: “The <strong>Assamese</strong> <strong>Sikhs</strong>”, Sikh News Network, 07/03/04.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 9px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><em>By <strong>Ram Sarangapani</strong>, Houston, Texas</em> <a href="http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:X76PjWRWBUsJ:www.assam.org/newsletter/november2004.pdf+assamese+sikhs&cd=11&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=in" target="_blank">Mahapurux Srimanta Sankardev?s Tithi Celebration in the Northeast</a></span></span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="faujasingh, post: 112679, member: 9450"] The [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=1][FONT=Arial] Today, many [B]Assamese[/B] are concerned about their identity. Their concerns mainly arise out of the reality they see emerging before their eyes. Over the last so many decades, we have witnessed mass migrations of Bangladeshis into Assam. During this same time, Assam has also seen migrants from other states in India who have come to Assam for jobs or business. This influx of people into the state has often been fractious, and sometimes resulting in tragic loss of life and property. In the midst of all this, we sometimes forget certain minority groups of immigrants who have not only fully assimilated in Assam’s culture, but are [B]Assamese[/B] for all purposes. One such group is a small minority group of [B]Assamese[/B], generally known as [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B] or Oxomia Punjabi. The first [B]Sikhs[/B] came to Assam around 200 years ago, from the Punjab. However, the majority of them were supposed to have come during the battle of Hadirachaki (1820-1822). They were the forefathers of the present generation of [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B], and were invited by the Ahom ruler, Chandra Kanta Singha, to defend Assam against the Burmese. A good many of these [B]Sikhs[/B] were killed during battle. The survivors, however, stayed back and married into [B]Assamese[/B] families. These [B]Sikhs[/B] have become more and more [B]Assamese[/B] and today they consider themselves fully [B]Assamese[/B], built Gurdwaras, and held on steadfastly to the Sikh religion. [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B] are unique from other immigrants to Assam. They are unique because, probably more than any other minority group in Assam, they have been very proactive in assimilating with [B]Assamese[/B] culture and language. Though they have ardently been following the Sikh religion, in all other aspects, the [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B] are very much [B]Assamese[/B]. They speak [B]Assamese[/B], marry into mainstream [B]Assamese[/B] families, celebrate Bihu, and dance to melodious Bihu songs as any true blooded Oxomia. Himadri Banerjee of Jadavpur University, who has conducted extensive studies on the [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B], writes. [/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]([FONT=Arial][SIZE=1][B]Page 4[/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=1]Assam Society of America November 2004)[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=1][FONT=Arial] “They participate in Gurpurabs [birth and death anniversaries of Sikh gurus], Baisakhi [the harvest festival] as well as [B]Assamese[/B] festivals. They speak [B]Assamese[/B] and generally follow the local code of conduct regarding marriage, food, social discipline, anddress. They, however, are no less aware of their Sikh identity and do wear the five Ks. Their gurdwaras (often called namghars) follow some of the Sikh traditions and try to make room for the local style of worship as well.” The [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B] also have their share of problems. The mainstream Punjabi [B]Sikhs[/B] do not generally consider the [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B] of their own community. Indu Kaur, a young writer from Tinisukia, writes in one her columns in the Sikh News Network, “The [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B] speak [B]Assamese[/B] and marry local girls from their own communities (generally Punjabi-speaking [B]Sikhs[/B] do not give their daughters to them). I asked some of them why the Punjabi [B]Sikhs[/B] do not give their daughters to them. They told me that they do not regard them as their equals. There is also a sharp break in their physical structure. The Punjabi [B]Sikhs[/B] are well-built while the [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B] have slighter physiques. The [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B] are mainly rice eaters while the Punjabi[B]Sikhs[/B] primarily eat wheat. [B]Assamese[/B][B]Sikhs[/B] are often closer to local Hindu rituals relative to the Punjabi [B]Sikhs[/B]. “ Most of the [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B] are concentrated in Nagaon District. They have formed the Assam Sikh Association to address some of their problems. They are often battling identity problems. The Association would like a minority status for the[B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B], as well as representation in local and state political setups. All along these [B]Sikhs [/B] have been farmers, but now, many of them are finding careers in other fields as well. These realities have opened up new opportunities as well as challenges for this small community. [B]References:[/B] Himadri Banerjee: “The [B]Sikhs[/B] of Assam”, Sikh Times, 08/25/03. Surjit Hans : “The Identity of North- E a s t S i k h s ” . TribuneIndia.com/Spectrum, 08/24/03. Indu Kaur: “The [B]Assamese[/B] [B]Sikhs[/B]”, Sikh News Network, 07/03/04. [I]By [B]Ram Sarangapani[/B], Houston, Texas[/I] [URL="http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:X76PjWRWBUsJ:www.assam.org/newsletter/november2004.pdf+assamese+sikhs&cd=11&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=in"]Mahapurux Srimanta Sankardev?s Tithi Celebration in the Northeast[/URL][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT] [/QUOTE]
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