7-BOOK REVIEW: THE NATION’S TORTURED BODY; (Part2)

VIOLENCE, REPRESENTATION, AND THE FORMATION OF A SIKH “DIASPORA”:
BRAIN KEITH AXEL (2001) [297P] ISBN: 0-8223-2615-9

A BOOK REVIEW: KAVNEET SINGH

 _Glassy Junction appropriates and transforms familiar and powerful_ _signs of Englishness:_

_the pub and the pint………The centerpiece of the pub is a map of Panjab that hangs on_ _the wall opposite the bar in the main room. The map stands five feet tall and_ _projects……… On one of the walls, above a few agricultural tools, are two clocks: one_ _displays “Southhall” time, and the other “Panjab” time…………._
Axel weaves the narrative in this chapter by explaining the proximity of Panjab and Britain in the Sikh mind playing out eventually into the Khalistani overtones. All over North America there are Irish, German, Dutch and various other European pubs-bars which are extremely ethnic in nature; right from picture signs or poster signs in ethnic costumes, national flags hung along with the American flag, all kinds of ethnic implements, costumes, pictures to remind the patron if he/she is from the old country and create a nostalgia and an atmosphere whereby to making them stay as long as possible to spend money. I wonder if all these pubs are making political statements and creating political activists out of their respective regular patrons?
_“These protestors were themselves diaspora Sikh men whose activism was organized by_ _several Sikh professors from_ _various institutions_ _in the_ _United States and Canada, most_ _of whom were avowed Khalistanis, representing a different group of scholars than those_ _invited to the conference.”_
It is interesting to note how Axel could figure out that all the protestors outside the conference venue were “avowed Khalistanis.” It never occurred to Axel that there could be Sikhs present who are there, purely to protest, because of what had been written for years by the so-called scholars sitting inside the hallowed halls of the University of Michigan where the Sikh Studies conference was being held. In order to get a balanced and fair outcome an open conference and discussion will always, in any setting bring out a balance for the audience to finally decide for themselves. A meeting of all the scholars with a particular view will only bring about a lopsided outcome and the closed doors will only create more hostility and further suspicion of an agenda with ulterior motives. _“Oberoi’s book is_ _a_ _through_ _analysis_ _of the culture, identity, and diversity_ _in Sikh_ _tradition.”_
This claim by Axel in reference to Harjot Oberoi’s book, “The Construction of Religious Boundaries: Culture, Identity and Diversity in the Sikh Tradition”, shows his depth of understanding in relation to the Sikh Faith and History in general, otherwise his above comment would be very different.
_“The public and private batterings_ _have made the names of W.H.Mcleod, Harjot Oberoi_ _and Pashura Singh_ _commonly known names to Sikhs all over the world. In fact, I have_ _been often questioned about them,_ _and more often plainly told about their supposedly_ _malicious practices, by Sikhs in India and Europe. Very often, I have_ _been told about_ _them by people who nevertheless refuse to read their work.”_