Foreword To 'Essence Of Sikhism' By Mahindar Singh

S. Mahindar Singh has aptly titled his scan of the lives of the 10 Great Gurus as "THE MARCH OF GOD ON EARTH". Having worked for the Indian Foreign Service for 34 long years in far-off, but politically important postings in CHINA, USA, GHANA, MALAYSIA & SINGAPORE, the paradigm of the government's apathy and knee-jerk approach; is humourously presented in his book "UN-DIPLOMATIC MEMOIRS".

The concern for social justice and literary training, is evident from the articles by his son, published regularly & with respected authority, by major publications. His daughter-in-law, is equally popular in jour­nalistic activity & presently is the Senior Editor of the Indian Express.

I can with pride and total agreement quote the thoughts of respected S. Patwant Singh in his summation in "THE SIKHS".

"If a vital and energetic community like that of the Sikhs is irretrievably estranged, India will be pushed back into the medieval times from which it is trying to extricate itself."

In fact, the lives of the Ten Gurus demonstrates how a movement of peace got transformed by necessity, into one, which placed military values alongside the spiritual. He further observes that Sikhism, which grew out of Hindu compassion and Islamic brotherhood, provoked the wrath of both Hindus and Muslims. Three of the nine Gurus who suc­ceeded Nanak, met violent ends, and the Sikhs have seen much death and destruction, since, as the violence to the Golden Temple in 1984 testifies to.

Do we all see a similarity when NANAK says in Sarang; Kali hoi kutte muhi khiiju hoya murdiir.

(In this Kali age men have faces like dogs that eat carrion)

At another place Nanak says;

"There is no one who

Receiveth or giveth no bribes.

The king administers justice only When his palm has been greased. "

About The Author Of 'Essence Of Sikhism' 

Sardar Mahindar Singh was born in Gilgit, Kashmir, on the 4th June 1916 but he was brought up in Simla and New Delhi since 1920. He graduated from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and post­graduated in Political Science and International Affairs from New School of Social Research, New York, USA. He joined the British Department of External Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi in 1941 and became a member of Indian Foreign Service in 1947. He was, thus, witness to the birth and development of the Indian Foreign Service.

During his 34 years service in the Ministry of External Affairs he served abroad too for twenty years in Indian Diplomatic Missions in Nanking and Peking (China), New York (USA), Accra (Ghana), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and for some months he was Acting Deputy High Commissioner of India in Singapore. His last foreign postings were as First Secretary, Embassy of India, Warsaw, (Poland), and Embassy of India, Stockholm, (Sweden). At the Headquarters he served as Deputy Chief of Protocol. He has authored a book; "Un-Diplomatic Memoirs", on his life in the Foreign Service.