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Educating Sikhs
Nanak Singh Nishter
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The author shares his personal experience about the initiatives
he has undertaken in the field of education for the Sikh
community and gives details of steps and actions that need to be
immediately taken by individuals and organisations interested in
the spread of literacy and education amongst the Sikhs. |
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 If
you want to see one hundred percent literacy, go to Kerala. If one
has to talk of a more educated society in India, go to the South.
What is the perception about Sikhs, even with Manmohan Singh as the
Prime Minister and Montek Singh Aahluwalia as the Deputy Chairman of
the Planning Commission? Let us ignore the perceptions and have a
thorough look at reality.
In
this article, I will share my personal experience about the
initiatives I have undertaken in the field of education for the Sikh
community and give details of steps and actions that need to be
immediately taken by individuals and organisations interested in the
spread of literacy and education amongst the Sikhs.
Since 1994, on behalf of the Sikh Graduates Association, I have been
representing before the Andhra Pradesh Backward Classes Commission
to include the Sikligar community in the list of backward classes.
This is still to take place, but I have not given up. In January
2006, we were successful in obtaining the inclusion of the Sikligar
community in Andhra Pradesh list of Central Backward Classes
Commission. The State Commission visited the places of residence of
this community for physical verification of facts. I would like to
share an observation made by then chairman, Justice Puttu Swamy.
He said, “We were astonished to see their living conditions. I know
the Sikh people spend crores of rupees on festivals and buildings; I
cannot understand how they can ignore their own brethren like this?
”
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As a minority, Sikhs throughout India are entitled to handsome
scholarships by the Ministry of Minority Affairs Government of
India. All students from class I to X are eligible for the
scholarships. |
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The
situation is not confined to this particular community, but a
majority of the common Sikhs are living around the poverty line.
Their poverty status has a direct impact on the level of education.
To substantiate my contention, let us ponder over the Government of
India Census 2001 relating to education and literacy. It shows the
literacy percentage of Jains 84.1%, Christians 69.46%, Buddhists
62.16%, Sikhs 60.55 %, Hindus 54.92 % and Muslims 48.05%.
Among the Sikhs, illiteracy is much higher in
Punjab.
For census purposes, a person is considered literate if he is able
to read and write with understanding in any one language and regular
education is not necessary. This alarming rate of 39.45% illiteracy
among Sikhs is because of poverty and a sense of indifference
amongst the religious and political leadership.
According to a committee of experts, comprising leading
academicians, who had come up a document entitled, Vision Higher
Education -2020, the government of Punjab was reducing budgetary
support to higher education every year. In the year 2000-2001, it
had and outlay of Rs 2.5 crore on education but only Rs 1.17 crore
were actually spent, most of which was on maintenance expenditure!
. The Committee which was formed to monitor the state of higher
education observed that “there was no announced policy of investment
in education. Not only this, there was a mismatch between objectives
of development of education and the allocation of funds by the
Punjab Government.”
Statistics show that about half of the Sikh population is living at
poverty or below poverty line. They are ranked third from the
bottom, i.e., slightly better placed than people who do not have
shelter on their heads and do not get even one square meal a day.
They cannot dream of educating their children, and are prone to
conversion to other religions due their attractive incentives.
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Let us start a crusade against illiteracy and poverty among the
Sikhs. Each one of us should do our bit. It is not fair to
blame others if one does not oneself care for community welfare
activity. |
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An
article in the May 2008 issue of The Sikh Review is an eye opener.
“Are Sikhs being targeted for conversions?” it asks and then shows
the fact that even after spending crores of rupees every year in the
name of Guru and Panth, Sikhs are aggressively being converted into
Christianity in their own homeland of Punjab. Let us frankly admit
that we have utterly failed in resisting the conversion of our
people in other parts of the country also.
I
appreciate that some organisations and individuals are rendering
services for the Sikligar people. It is necessary to extend their
activities further. Let us start a crusade against illiteracy and
poverty among the Sikhs. Each one of us should do our bit. It is
not fair to blame others if one does not oneself care for community
welfare activity.
It
is not easy to partake of government funds for any purpose, least of
all for education. In the year 2007-2008, out of the 20,000 total
scholarships due on merit-cum-means basis, only 5,588 scholarships
were given to minority community students for pursuing professional
and technical courses. The Sikh Community had a quota of 2,540 and
only 50 was the number of Sikh beneficiaries. According to
information given by the Minister of Minority Affairs, Mr. A. R.
Antulay on the floor of the house of the Indian parliament, there
was not a single beneficiary from the state of
Punjab!
However, if one can do one’s paper work well, it is not that
difficult. We need to spread awareness and make things happen. The
government of India may be toying with the idea of declaring
minorities at the State government level, but that is not going to
happen so easily. Till then, Sikhs, like the four other minorities
must obtain all the facilities and support from the government.
As
a minority, Sikhs throughout India are entitled to handsome
scholarships by the Ministry of Minority Affairs Government of
India. All students from class I to X are eligible for the
scholarships. The last date for submission of applications is
31
July 2008.
Now
is the time to swing into action. Now is the time for socially
minded individuals and organisations to locate such deserving
students and help them avail all the benefits accruable I would like
to suggest you to acquire and provide the information to deserving
students, locate, them and help them to avail all the Government
benefits, fixing them within the prescribed frame work of the
Government.
For
availing these opportunities for minority scholarships, the
procedure is very simple. The income of the parents should be less
than Rupees one lakh per annum and the previous final examination
marks should not be less then 50%. The candidates of class I need
not submit any marks. More than 2 candidates from a family are not
entitled. For obtaining the religion’s certificate and income
certificate you need not go to any Tehsildar or any other officer.
Students, parents and activists need to log onto
www.minorityaffairs.gov.in for details and application format.
All you have to do is to fill up and submit with enclosures to the
head of the institution, where the candidate is studying. The
offices of every district collector, minority welfare department or
Minorities’ Finance Corporation also have the details. Detailed
information and application format is available on internet and we
can visit and download from our websites of state governments too.
We
have a tradition of not learning any lessons from the observations
or experiences of the others nor of our own. Instead of fruitless
discussion on the role of myriad Sikh organisations and Gurdwaras, I
would like to draw your attention towards the service you can render
in your personal capacity on the basis of “One to One” formula. This
has proven to be quiet successful. This has been my experience for
the last half a century of work. Instead of fretting and fuming,
cribbing and yearning, it is best to work for the Chardikala of the
Guru Panth oneself and not dumping your Daswandh in a ritualistic
manner in the hands of those persons who criminally waste your most
valuable contributions for non-productive and destructive
purposes. I say this with “tears of blood” dripping from heart
watching helplessly the spectacles happening all around in the name
of our Gurus.
 (Nanak
Singh “Nishter” is a
Hyderabad based orator, writer and Urdu poet. He is an
activist-academician making immense contribution to the social and
cultural welfare of Sikh society. He has presented papers at
national and international seminars on Sikhism and social problems.
He is director of International Sikh Centre for Interfaith
Relations. He may be contacted at nanaknishter@gmail.com)
18
June,
2008
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