SardarJi 12 baj gaye`

[anshulseth]

I got around this article from net, which is really interesting, in a sense it gives a totally different perspective to an issue which is taken as comical, in most of the cases.
Read it, u'll not curse a sardar again....


I was standing at jalandhar station when my attentionwent towards a Sikh youth standing near me wearing a Black turban having a long beard and wearing a kirpan
over his shirt looking similar to a terrorist.

After a while, one local train arrived, which was totally packed. The Sikh youth tried to alight the train but failed to do so. Just then a voice was heard from the back coach 'Sardarji Barah Baj gaye' (Sir it's 12 o'clock!)

The Sikh youth looked over at that voice maker who was a young Mischievous type of person and instead of showing any anger made a smile towards him.
The smile made was so enigmatic that it seemed as if some type of truth lies behind it. Not able to resist my temptation, I walked towards him and asked why did he smile at that person who teased him. The Sikh youth replied, 'He was not teasing me but was asking for my Help'. I was surprised with these words and he told me that there was a big history behind that which one should know. I was eager to know the History and the
Sikh youth narrated:
During 17th Century, when Hindustan was ruled by Mughals, all the Hindu people were humiliated and were treated like animals. Mughals treated the Hindu women as there own property and were forcing all Hindus to accept Islam and even used to kill the people if they were refusing to accept.That time, our ninth Guru, Sri Guru Teg Bahadarji came forward,in response to a request of some Kashmir Pandits to fight against all
these cruel activities. Guruji told the Mughal emperor that if he could succeed in converting him to Islam, all the Hindus would accept the same.

But, if he failed, he should stop all those activities . The Mughal emperor happily agreed to that but even after lots of torture to Guruji and his fellow members he failed to convert him to Islam and Guruji along with his other four fellow members, were tortured and
sacrificed their lives in Chandni Chowk. Since the Mughals were unable to convert them to Islam they were assassinated.

Thus Guruji sacrificed his life for the protection of Hindu religion. Can anybody lay down his life and that too for the protection of another religion? This is the reason he is still remembered as "Hind Ki Chaddar", shield of India. For the sake of whom he had
sacrificed his life, none of the them came forward to lift his body, fearing that they would also be assassinated
Seeing this incident our 10th Guruji, Sri Guru Gobind Singhji (Son of Guru Teg Bahadarji) founder of khalsa made a resolution that he would convert his followers to such human beings who would not be able to hide themselves and could be easily located in thousands. At the start, the Sikhs were very few in numbers as they were fighting against the Mughal emperors. At that time, Nadir Shah raided Delhi in the year 1739
and looted Hindustan and was carrying lot of Hindustan treasures and nearly 2200 Hindu women along with him. The news spread like a fire and was heard by Sardar
Jassa Singh who was the Commander of the Sikh army at that time. He decided to attack Nadir Shah's Kafila on the same midnight. He did so and rescued all the Hindu
women and they were safely sent to their homes.

It didn't happen only once but thereafter whenever any Abdaalis or Iranis had attacked and looted Hindustan and were trying to carry the treasures and Hindu women
along with them for selling them in Abdal markets, the Sikh army although fewer in numbers but were brave hearted and attacked them at midnight,12 O'clock and
rescued women.
After that time when there occurred a similar incidence, people started to contact the Sikh army for their help and Sikhs used to attack the raider's at Midnight, 12 O'clock. Nowadays, these "smart people" and some Sikh enemies who are afraid of Sikhs, have
spread these words that at 12 O'clock, the Sikhs go out of their senses. This historic fact was the reason which made me smile over that person as I thought that his Mother or Sister would be in trouble and wants my help and was reminding me by saying off 'Sardarji Barah Baj Gaye'

"Its easy to joke on a Sardar, but It's too difficult to be a Sardar"

[Editor]

Amazing Anshul...I never knew the real story behind the 12 o clock episode related to sardars. In fact as it comes out that there is nothing comical about it but the brave and helpful nature of the sikhs which is highlighted in the above account.

In the same light, i would reiterate the fact mentioned above that:
"Its easy to joke on a Sardar, but It's too difficult to be a Sardar" Quite rightly said.

[dsha9]

i know the story, though i have not teased a Sardar (about barah bajgaye), but have heard many jokes about them. There are hundreds of jokes on them specially the barah baje wale. But they are just jokes, i think many of them(sardars) donnot mind it. I appreciate what our sikh brothers have done for hindustan. But still today you can see more sardars in the indian military than any other conmmunity. They still are protecting India. Way to go Sardarji, ab dushamno ke barah bajado

[Aditi77_k]

We hear sardar jokes and we seem to enjoy them a lot...i didn't know the story so it was good to know one thing is for sure that the sardars don't mind these jokes as they might be knowing the fact behind it.

[garcons]

I had heard this story long back but kinda forgotten about it. I call all my surd friends Sardar and none of them mind it. Infact this close friend of mine who happens to be a sardar lovessss the Sardar jokes

[dinesh1947]

Hey Anshul, thanks for enlightening me with the story ... I didnt knew that a sardar joke has a historical connection. Looks like you have done extensive research on "Sardar Jokes"...tell me about it buddy, did you trace every joke back to its origins.

But you have to admit that the sardar jokes are so popular among the masses. No wonder they are depicted in the same way is some of the hindi movies. For eg. If you see the movie - Kuch Kuch Hota Hai - a Sardar kid is shown counting stars . Moreover prominent sardarjees are always associated with fun elements and for doing wierdest of things ..the inimmitable Jaspal Bhatti or the ex playboy editor Kushwant Singh. The jokes are all harmless, similar to the 'blond' jokes in the West...No harm intended or implied. In fact there are many such jokes on South Indians (idli-sambar jokes), Biharis, Gujratis, Nepalis,...... so just enjoy..

[anshulseth]

Hi Dinesh,
Nothing of tht sort, i hv not got ne origins of sardar jokes.
But very right, these jokes r really interesting n hilarious to the core.
the one think i like abt sardars is they r pretty casual abt jokes on them, n take it in their strides.
Its not 2 easy to laf at oneself.
So, in tht sense, they shud b appreciated.

On the other hand, these jokes hv been n will b there with us for long.
They will never die.

[garcons]

Anshul, you really think most Sardar's take these jokes sportingly? Not that i have a lot of Surd friends, but as far as i know, most of them get offended.

[anshulseth]

Well, i hv interacted with most surds who are thus

[Aditi77_k]

I don't think the surds take offence, i have seen some of them even come up with sardar jokes.