ਸਿੱਖ ਬਣੀ ਅਫਰੀਕਨ ਬੱਚੀ ਨੇ ਉਠਾਇਆ ਵਿਤਕਰੇ ਦਾ ਮੁੱਦਾ

ਅਫੀਰਕਨ ਬੱਚੀ ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਨੇ ਗੈਰ-ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਿਆਂ 'ਚ ਹੋ ਰਹੇ ਵਿਤਕਰੇ ਬਾਰੇ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਗਾ ਕੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਦਰਦ ਬਿਆਨਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਸ਼ਰਮਨਾਕ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਬੱਚੀ ਨੇ ਅਜਿਹਾ ਮਹਿਸੂਸ ਕੀਤਾ। ਇਹ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਾਹਿਬਾਨ ਦੇ ਸਿਧਾਂਤ ਦੇ ਐਨ ਉਲਟ ਹੈ।

ਸਭ ਸਿੱਖਾਂ ਦਾ ਫਰਜ਼ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਅਜਿਹੀਆਂ ਕੁਤਾਹੀਆਂ ਖੁਦ ਵੀ ਨਾ ਕਰੀਏ ਤੇ ਜੇ ਕੋਈ ਕਰਦਾ ਦਿਸਦਾ, ਓਹਨੂੰ ਰੋਕੀਏ।

Here is a copy of the poem read in the video.

By: Gurpreet Kaur

This isn’t what I expected

This is not what the videos online projected

“Everyone is welcomed at the Gurdwara” they proudly say

No matter you’re skin color or how you pray

But this is not what your actions portray

All I’ve been getting is silence, giggles, or stares all day

This makes me miss the religion of my youth

Yes, this is most definitely the truth

Where people shook hands, talked, and supported each other

Where some were like sisters and where some I called “brother”

They say “Only go for your Guru, the Guru Granth!”

But last time I checked, isn’t the Guru also the Khalsa Panth?

Maybe I don’t belong here, why should I stay?

I tried to do seva but then was pushed out the way

I should have known when I had called

And the secretary said, “There’s no point of coming here at all.”

“No one speaks English here” she hurriedly tells me

But knew that this just could not be

Sitting here listening, eating silently in the Langar Hall

It was apparent that that was a lie and I think it’s time for me to go awol

“We don’t wear that here”, one Aunty voices

“It might not be Punjabi” (I think to myself) but I made modest clothing choices!”

How dare you have turned my Guru’s house into a cultural center!

Designed for people solely of your ethnic group to enjoy and enter

I’m here to learn while you’re here to gossip

Am I coming back? Well, that is most definitely a toss up

And for those who are reading this, you’re part of the problem

You might agree with me, but have done anything to solve ‘em?!

“It’s the Gurdwara committee!” you say like they control YOUR actions

You don’t need their permission to let compassion be your reaction

What I want is change, Sikhs to be part of the solution

To start looking outside of ourselves, a Gurdwara revolution!

But maybe.....my words our falling on deaf ears

Do you not realize my longing for Sangat? My sorrow can you not hear?!

Gurbani says constantly to join the Company of the Holy

And since it’s my Guru’s command, I try to follow it fully

But until then..I’m just lonely

I’m at the Gurdwara and I am lonely