[warrior]

Here's a piece of news published few days back. What do you say is it justified in a free society as ours to ban something forcefully or ois it justfied in a secular country as ours to target a particular community.

Buoyed by a successful campaign against a publisher of joke books, members of the Sikh community have now approached the Mumbai police to block any form of humour on the net targeting them.

The cyber cell department of the crime branch has received a plea asking it to "ban jokes on the internet" which portray Sardars as objects of ridicule.

Community heads feel the jokes, many of them bordering on the obscene, have begun to have such a demoralising effect on Sikh youths that they feel "ashamed when they interact with members of other communities."

The latest provocation was the publication of the Santa and Banta Joke Book found stocked by a Matunga-based book publisher. Ranjit Parande had been selling copies of the book for the last year and a half.

On Sunday, nearly 25 Sikh youths from a youth body, Sikh Media and Culture Watch (SMCW) gathered in front of the Shivaji Park police station demanding Parande's arrest.

Based on a complaint filed by Sikh businessman Mohinderpal Nanksingh Kakar (42), the police have now arrested Parande under section 295 of the IPC which is non-bailable in nature. The section deals with "hurting religious sentiments."

The Sikh community heads feel the arrest vindicates their position that such jokes, although circulated for years now, have got out of hand with TV and internet precipitating the situation.

The concern is that the stereotypical idea of a dim-witted Sardar tends to generate a certain degree of prejudice and negates the positive traits which are commonly associated with the community.

"We have excelled in all fields and even done yeoman service in the freedom struggle. Our members are a real asset to the armed forces and today one amongst us has become the prime minister," Karnal Singh, the president of Dashmesh Gurdwara at Sion-Koliwada, said. "These jokes are clearly tasteless and cause deep anguish."

Some among Mumbai's 2 lakh strong Sikhs hold their own icons responsible for perpetuating a certain image. Swaranjit Singh Bajaj, who is also the VP of SMCW, puts the blame on commentators and satirists like Navjot Singh Sidhu and Khushwant Singh.

"Though some jokes were created by the Sikhs themselves, now it has gone out of hand," said DGP Pasricha. He said he would support the call for action if similar complaints continued to surface.

And now the community is protesting at last. About time too. Ideas Publishing house actually published a Sikh joke booklet! This upset the community greatly and they went to thecops. In fact Sikhs have also asked the police to ban sardar jokes on the net. I am all for this because these jokes have no basis in fact. They originated in Punjab ofcourse, and some say that they were started by the Punjabis because they were jealous of the Sikhs who were brave, strong, extremely intelligent and enterprising. I do not know the truth of this rumour but this did the rounds in army circles.

Its strange that in our country we make such a hue and cry when certain communities and castes are targeted and made the butt of jokes, but making jokes about Sikhs never raised any protests. I think this reflects on the liberal attitude of the community and also the fact that they are confident that the jokes are absolute nonsense and do not in any way show the community in a true light. However, there are limits and I think in today’s day and age of political correctness and the widespread reach of the internet, it is important that we are sensitive to the feelings of ALL communities, be they Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Parsis, Christians or Jains.

People who did not know any Sikhs personally seemed to feel that there was nothing wrong in making fun of the community. It wasn’t just Sikhs. They targeted Parsees and South Indians too. because the Sardars had that liberal attitude, the jokes against the community never died down.

[amit_vce]

Originally Posted by warrior

Here's a piece of news published few days back. What do you say is it justified in a free society as ours to ban something forcefully or ois it justfied in a secular country as ours to target a particular community.

Buoyed by a successful campaign against a publisher of joke books, members of the Sikh community have now approached the Mumbai police to block any form of humour on the net targeting them.

The cyber cell department of the crime branch has received a plea asking it to "ban jokes on the internet" which portray Sardars as objects of ridicule.

Community heads feel the jokes, many of them bordering on the obscene, have begun to have such a demoralising effect on Sikh youths that they feel "ashamed when they interact with members of other communities."

The latest provocation was the publication of the Santa and Banta Joke Book found stocked by a Matunga-based book publisher. Ranjit Parande had been selling copies of the book for the last year and a half.

On Sunday, nearly 25 Sikh youths from a youth body, Sikh Media and Culture Watch (SMCW) gathered in front of the Shivaji Park police station demanding Parande's arrest.

Based on a complaint filed by Sikh businessman Mohinderpal Nanksingh Kakar (42), the police have now arrested Parande under section 295 of the IPC which is non-bailable in nature. The section deals with "hurting religious sentiments."

The Sikh community heads feel the arrest vindicates their position that such jokes, although circulated for years now, have got out of hand with TV and internet precipitating the situation.

The concern is that the stereotypical idea of a dim-witted Sardar tends to generate a certain degree of prejudice and negates the positive traits which are commonly associated with the community.

"We have excelled in all fields and even done yeoman service in the freedom struggle. Our members are a real asset to the armed forces and today one amongst us has become the prime minister," Karnal Singh, the president of Dashmesh Gurdwara at Sion-Koliwada, said. "These jokes are clearly tasteless and cause deep anguish."

Some among Mumbai's 2 lakh strong Sikhs hold their own icons responsible for perpetuating a certain image. Swaranjit Singh Bajaj, who is also the VP of SMCW, puts the blame on commentators and satirists like Navjot Singh Sidhu and Khushwant Singh.

"Though some jokes were created by the Sikhs themselves, now it has gone out of hand," said DGP Pasricha. He said he would support the call for action if similar complaints continued to surface.

And now the community is protesting at last. About time too. Ideas Publishing house actually published a Sikh joke booklet! This upset the community greatly and they went to thecops. In fact Sikhs have also asked the police to ban sardar jokes on the net. I am all for this because these jokes have no basis in fact. They originated in Punjab ofcourse, and some say that they were started by the Punjabis because they were jealous of the Sikhs who were brave, strong, extremely intelligent and enterprising. I do not know the truth of this rumour but this did the rounds in army circles.

Its strange that in our country we make such a hue and cry when certain communities and castes are targeted and made the butt of jokes, but making jokes about Sikhs never raised any protests. I think this reflects on the liberal attitude of the community and also the fact that they are confident that the jokes are absolute nonsense and do not in any way show the community in a true light. However, there are limits and I think in today’s day and age of political correctness and the widespread reach of the internet, it is important that we are sensitive to the feelings of ALL communities, be they Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Parsis, Christians or Jains.

People who did not know any Sikhs personally seemed to feel that there was nothing wrong in making fun of the community. It wasn’t just Sikhs. They targeted Parsees and South Indians too. because the Sardars had that liberal attitude, the jokes against the community never died down.

Well ,, you know warrior, This will also become a joke.

One thing which is coming to my mind is , I believe the jokes are not on sikh community as whole. So hopefully that will not becomes a matter of tussle between the sikh community and other communities.

Other thing , I dont feel it should be banned forcefully.

[Apurv]

Sigh... wonderful. There are jokes on Gujjus, Marathis, Bengalis, hundreds of jokes on the French, lawyers, engineers... you name it. Movers and Shakers or Jay Leno's Show makes fun of everyone in the world to brutal levels. Do all of them now crib and protest?

For each Sikh who went to the police station that day to complain, there are equal number of Sikhs who themselves take great pleasure in telling Santa Banta jokes. The point at the end of the day is that a joke is a joke and some people will never get it and always take it personally. This in my opinion is a non-issue and discussing it is the pastime of empty minds (like mine )

I remember an incident last month... Shah Rukh Khan was making light banter at an awards function and generally teasing many people including filmstars and politicians. Amar Singh of Samajwadi Party was one of them and he took it so personally that he sent goons to Khan's house the next day to pelt stones. It tells you a lot about Amarji's thought processes.

[abhi_g1]

Will not wonder if it will be used by the poilticians for the vote bank.thet they will stop this you please give vote to us lol:satisfie:

[Mahip]

No thread will be supported against any community or anything which promotes community :argue: If we want to discuss about Indian mentality then go on the thread which deals with problems with Indian at large -> http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/chit-c...conundrum.html

Prevention is better than cure. Locked.

[Apurv]

Originally Posted by Mahip

No tread will be supported against any community or anything which promotes community :argue: If we want to discuss about Indian mentality then go on the thread which deals with problems with Indian at large -> http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/chit-c...conundrum.html

Prevention is better than cure. Locked.

Not yet

[Mahip]

Originally Posted by Apurv

Not yet

Ohh And I thought I am unable to lock it

[13thwarrior]

Originally Posted by Apurv

Sigh... wonderful. There are jokes on Gujjus, Marathis, Bengalis, hundreds of jokes on the French, lawyers, engineers... you name it. Movers and Shakers or Jay Leno's Show makes fun of everyone in the world to brutal levels. Do all of them now crib and protest?

For each Sikh who went to the police station that day to complain, there are equal number of Sikhs who themselves take great pleasure in telling Santa Banta jokes. The point at the end of the day is that a joke is a joke and some people will never get it and always take it personally. This in my opinion is a non-issue and discussing it is the pastime of empty minds (like mine )

I remember an incident last month... Shah Rukh Khan was making light banter at an awards function and generally teasing many people including filmstars and politicians. Amar Singh of Samajwadi Party was one of them and he took it so personally that he sent goons to Khan's house the next day to pelt stones. It tells you a lot about Amarji's thought processes.

well..found this thread while searching for jokes on PG..was surprised that the thread hadnt been locked/deleted...being a sikh i advocate killing of this thread...even i crack all santa banta jokes...all my sikh frnds do...even the near n dear ones in my family crack santa banta jokes...khushwant singh himself features them in his joke books...he too is a sikh...bcos as apurv mentioned, even we all believe that a joke is a joke..ntn more...so please take it like that only....

cheers!!


pushpreet

[jasbirs]

I dont agree, sardar is directly related to religion Sikhism.......and no one should hav the right to ridicule any religion......be it a hindu or sikh or muslim
.
by generalising jokes on sardars, it is an issue as sardar is direclty related to SIKH's

no issues if jokes are on santa and banta, even i enjoy it.....

i am sure no hindu wil like any joke on hindu and no muslim will like a joke on muslim....this hurts religious sentiments and it shoule be banned.

rgds

Originally Posted by Apurv

Sigh... wonderful. There are jokes on Gujjus, Marathis, Bengalis, hundreds of jokes on the French, lawyers, engineers... you name it. Movers and Shakers or Jay Leno's Show makes fun of everyone in the world to brutal levels. Do all of them now crib and protest?

For each Sikh who went to the police station that day to complain, there are equal number of Sikhs who themselves take great pleasure in telling Santa Banta jokes. The point at the end of the day is that a joke is a joke and some people will never get it and always take it personally. This in my opinion is a non-issue and discussing it is the pastime of empty minds (like mine )

I remember an incident last month... Shah Rukh Khan was making light banter at an awards function and generally teasing many people including filmstars and politicians. Amar Singh of Samajwadi Party was one of them and he took it so personally that he sent goons to Khan's house the next day to pelt stones. It tells you a lot about Amarji's thought processes.

[murty001]

Originally Posted by Mahip

Ohh And I thought I am unable to lock it

. So you are still alive and searching for threads that can be locked

Cheers..