Dear Sumit,
Please see this thread which I had started in Dec 2005. But like most other relevant threads, even this died its natural death.
http://www.jatland.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11006
However, this is what I had felt and still believe strongly in:
(13 Dec 2005) "Most communities in the world have something common to identify with. All religions have a particular symbol that helps people rally behind it. Even the different sects of Hinduism: Buddhists, Jainis & Sikhs have been succesful in charting their own path by breaking away from main stream Hinduism and are having their own symbols. I think Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a very smart and far sighted thinker and the Tenth Guru, Guru Govind Singh Ji realised that in order to optimise the communities strength he needed to do something different. That's why you had the Guru declare "Guru Manyo Granth" and the five symbols of Sikhism.
Even the Moslems all over the world identify themselves with the Holy Koran and nothing else. There is some problem with the Shias though but they too rally behind the Holy Koran.
I feel we as a community lack a common symbol. This point was briefly touched upon during the Second Mumbai Jat Meet. I feel that we JATS should have such a symbol so that the whole community can rally behind and unite together. The symbol could be a place. The Sikhs have their Gurudwaras but we don't have anything. JATS hardly go to a Mandir and it is actually hilarious to see a JAT praying. He just can't do so because we weren't brought up like that. Though Arya Samaj Movement did a lot of good but still it did not leave us with that 'One Symbol', to which we could be subservient.
Do the members feel that we should have a symbol like that or is it OK to be the way it is, each one to his own.
This is a very serious topic and I would request members to please give their considered opinion after taking into account all aspects. Let us see what we feel.
(15 Dec 2005)Thanks for the views. I feel I have not been able to explain the real meaning of ‘Symbol’ or may be members misunderstood. Let me give an example or two to make myself clearer.
We all know the following Satya Sai Baba of Puttuparti attracts worldwide. How it happened? Why was he able to attract even Presidents & PMs towards his ‘Sangathan’? Has he not used the reverence he attracts or commands for the betterment of humanity? (By the way I am no Sai Bhakth). But one thing that he has achieved is ‘Networking’ and those of you who are in the know will agree that being a Sai follower has tremendous advantages.
Then see the Jainis. They all have only few Jain Mandirs where every Jain must visit or visits regularly. They all contribute towards common causes and are one of the richest communities.
The Dalits have their Ambedkar.
See the Refugees. They are these ‘Jai Mata Di’ walas. They identify themselves with that Goddess. Say ‘Jai Mata Di’ and a refugee will give you instant discount.
May be by a JAT Symbol I meant ‘Symbolism’. Like you have the Moslems revering Mecca. They don’t raise any objections to the teaching of the Prophet.
It was this symbolism that I meant. Because we JATS hardly believe in anything else except our own selves or reprogramming the TAI. An identity card can’t be a symbol to which we can identify with. We need something that is capable of uniting all JATS together without the fear of being exploited. May be a place that was important to us in the past or may be some ‘Granth’ or ‘Book’. The sole aim: to unite us as a community. I don’t believe that by making the community stronger we would be making the nation weaker.
May be some place where a JAT can bow in submission. I know there is no place like that but is there a need? Is it possible?"
Warm regards,
JS Malik