Amar Khalsa
"Amar Khalsa"
This 2 hours long tele-movie is based on the perception and vision of Bhai Veer Singh as depicted in his famous novel "Bijai Singh". The hardships and humiliations that a handful of Sikhs of a new religion had to undergo for their survival against the onslaught of state repression by Mughal ruler Mir Mannu.
Under Mir Mannu's repression life became so difficult for Sikhs that they had to abandon their homes and take shelter in jungles and caves. They were being hunted down with handsome rewards doled out for their severed heads or for any information about their hideouts. Unable to capture or annihilate the Sikh menfolk, hair-raising atrocities were committed on their womenfolk and children primarily to finish the Sikhs and their new religion by destroying their seeds, i.e. mothers and children. Sikh women were dragged out of their homes and were forced to grind heaps of wheat as punishment for being a Sikh. Limbs of their young children were torn apart and garlands made with their own children's flesh were hung around the necks of young mothers who remained undeterred and defiant.
In though his turban and beard made him very vulnerable, the Singhs would not cut their hair or discard their turbans just to save their lifes.
As I see it this tele-movie vilifies the argument, even among Sikhs, that Kesh (hair) and turban are not relevant in todays world.
On the contrary this would have been more appropriate in that era when Singhs could even loose their lifes because of his turban and beard, whereas now they as a part of the Five K's they are the emblem of a religion with distinguished traditions.
