Sajid Khan questions Sikh Tradition
On the TV Show India's Got Talent, the Series 2 Judge Sajid Khan, a Bollywood director said that Sikhs should not give swords to their kids as it sets wrong example for kids who are watching them on TV. He made his comments after watching a performance by the Sikh Jatha Bir Khalsa Dal, a Gatka Group from Tarn Taran performed the Sikh Martial Art called Gatka on the Colors Channel. The Jatha had performed with great enthusiasm, to loud cheers from the audience. All three judges watched with rapt attention as the group even included some amazing acrobatics with one member even giving a fire eating performance. While the two female judges showed an occasional sign of fear, Kirron Kerr even used the pallu of her sari to hide her face during some of the more dramatic action on the stage, judge Sajid Khan had sat with a blank expression on his face while the masterfully choreographed fight sequences, flashed across the stage.
However when 5 year old started to spar with the 9 or so year old boy twice his height, Khan hit his button flashing the red X , signaling the groups only negative vote.
Sajid Khan thought that it was wrong to have a 5 year old child using a sword on stage, that it would set a bad example to children across the country and would promote violence like this.
Kawaljit Singh, the lead of the Jatha said that gatka was only for self defense and that even children needed to learn to protect themselves. Kirron Kher, the wife of Anupam Kerr, who has played a Sikh more than once in her movies, was obviously more familiar with Sikh traditions. She tried to impress on Khan that the martial art was only for defense and that as the Jatha leader had stated, it was far better at keeping the kids of Punjab from turning to drugs and alchohol. Kerr even yelled out the Sikh cry Jo Bole So Nihaal, which got a resounding response from the stage and the mixed audience as well.
The participants further stated that the martial skills of the Sikhs was for Self Defense only and said that they would also continue to the skill to their kids, as this was also the command of Guru Gobind Singh to remain ready (Tyar Bar Tyar) for any situation, including this, as well.
Kirron Kher and Sonali Bendre (the other judge) agreed to pass the Jatha on to the next round of the competition, each with a resounding Yes. However they had one condition, that the Jatha not include the two children in their next performance. Group admits, but not aplogized and said in loud voice that they will play like this only.
After the group had left the stage, Kirron Kher kept up her pressure on Sajid Khan to understand that the Sikh martial art was not about spreading violence, but Sajid Khan had closed his mind to any further discussion; he shouted one more time as he walked of the set. One viewer was left wondering if the whole thing was just a publicity stunt designed to increase the audience at the expense of the Sikh group.
There were other discussions too:
Topnews.in on their website said, But the actor-director Sajid doesn't like the dangerous performances of small children with harmful weapons like swords in their hands. He expressed his (in) sensitivity towards a martial arts group from Punjab, which used swords and exhibited their fighting skills. As the performance was liked by Kiron Kher, thus, a minor argument started between the two and Sajid left the set.
Sources also said, Sajid's comment ticked Kirron off. She, not being the one to take it lying down, gave him a good dose. The argument went so overboard that Sajid left the jury podium and walking off sets!
Online Forums Responses:
People were stunned and one can find this on online forums where they were Sajid was ignorant of Sikh culture and Tradition, thats why he showed this behavior. Before this performance belly dance was going on in which girls were shaking their hips and bellies does that set anything to indian culture?
In many forums, People commented that bollywood shows thousand of rape scenes, fights, nude scenes, does this set any example for kids?
Some people also said that the Bir Khalsa Group Should not continue on in a show that ridicules someone's culture or traditions, on any condition. Sajid himself does adult comedy on shows, even telling Sardarji jokes in his movies.
Some people commented that it's just for TRP nothing else.
