Bhatti’s “Behzti (Dishonor)” hurts Sikh Sensitivities

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

Gill sahib, thanks for bringing the topic here. I read about last night only. Hope this raises some relavent dicussion.

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

To add....If the play is really set in the main Gurdwara hall along with depicting the Granth there, that is really dumb. Main halls are usually open 24/7 and people come and go most of the times...if murder and rape is shown in some other part of the Gurdwara like guest house, residential areas, management building etc, then it is more realistic depiction as these cases have happened in Gurdwaras in the past although scale of such events has been very small. I have heard only 3/4 cases in the last few years. Some of them actually were at Deras(priviate religious complex) of some self proclaimed Saints. I just Googled using 3 words in various spellings : Rape Sikh Gurdwara, rape sikh gurudwara, rape sikh gurudawara, rape sikh temple and have come up with only one relavent news.

Dera chief held on rape charge
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030719/ldh1.htm

Other news like the following are not directly related to the issue. People who go to the gurdwaras can go elsewhere to rape. That is not a

Two members of a strife-torn Sikh temple in Bedford pleaded not guilty
http://www.cleveland.com/crime/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1102501804219520.xml

Even if 25% of the cases are reported which is almost impossible in this day and age particularly in countries like England even then 3/4 cases over a period of few years, no doubt deserved condemnation but does`t classify it as a systematic problem. particularly when other issues exist.

On the other hand murders in the Gurdawaras due to fight between two opposing groups usually over politics of the management, are more common. 3 or 4 cases has happened in USA and Canada only in the last 4/5 years.

What is most common is corrtuption of money stealing of the funds and assets, using funds for political purposes, using instituition of Gurdwara to bring people into western countries who then go illegal. These are the problems which are more rampant and need to be tackled head on.

Manto and Ismat Chughtai did not become `great` after writing `Thanda Gosht` and `Lihaf`. They were already great, they just gathered more publicity after that. This does not necessarily mean that writing about sex was in some way linked to their `greatness`.

Aap nay tu saaron ko he aik line mai khara kar diya :)

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

Now that the play has been written, prepared and scheduled it MUST go on no matter who objects to it. Even though it may be excessive protrayal of the issue, stepping back would mean religious figures and palces are out of reach for criticism. That should not happen. Sikhs instead of concentrating on this play should do something to cleanup the corruption and mismanagement going on in the gurdawaras. The corrupt managers, greedy Bhais and kirtaniyas, corrupt management committees using Gurdwara resources to get people illegally into these countries, using money for political purposes, stealing money from the cash boxes etc should be fought head on and anyone found guilty needs to be put behind bars and not let go by excusing that it will defame the community.

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

If the setting had been a temple or a mosque, there would have been protests then too.

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

Now, it is the turn of our beloved sikhs to raise questions about whether we desis are capable of living in the West by western rules. It may be a small part of our community which is responsible for the resulting withdrawal of the play, but unless there is a rising tide of protest from the sikh community itself against the behaviour of those who took to violent means to show their protest, sikhs too will be considered as intolerant.

This is all about free speech, which includes the freedom to offend. Yes, the sikhs who felt offended had a right to demonstrate their protest, but not to break windows or cause problems for the safety of the actors, technicians and the audience.

In any case, murders have taken place in the gurudwaras, including in the Golden Temple itself. But even if this is totally far fetched, it should not have been forced to withdraw. Remember guys, when we show our intolerance, we are abusing the tolerance of the societies which enables us to live in these countries and practice our religions, our customs, our foods, our cultures and even our prejudices.

According to the latest news, free speech has been silenced. Both Birmingham Rep and Soho Theatre have ceased playing behzti for fear ``of fomenting violence.`` ``The law abiding - the thetre management and the play`s writer, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, have lost out to the law breaking: the protesters who smashed windows, set off fire alarms and pelted the building with eggs.``

Raj karay so Khalsa baaqi rahay nah koi.

Mohammad Gill

I think that the you would have had the same reaction if a similar play had been made with the Gurdwara being substituted by a temple, church or mosque.

I think that the Sikh community is as primitive or advanced as any other community. Why should we expect anything different from them ?????

There is a very thin line dividing what issues and sensationalism is. Unless one sees or reads the script of the play who are we to judge.

Kauray and DM ji: I think I know the difference of a Dera...most of the rape cases etc came forward were on Deras....during violent days of 80`s and early 90`s, murders in Gurdwaras were common...but since then, there has been fights and quarrels but number of murders is really down....everything else like nepotism, mishandling of the funds, money laundering, kabzas, misuse of institution is going on for years...that is true aboute most of the gurdwaras....big politics and power is associated with Gurdawaras now....there has been very few cases that came to light of rape etc but how do we know how bad it is? where ever money and power is involved sex and women are involved too you know.

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

It came as a surprising shock to me to know that sikhs can write and stage plays now. God what a development. I thought only hindus were the true drama baaz people.