Portrayal of Sikh in Soap Opera Raises Objections

November 12, 2005

Source: SikhSangat.org/TOI

http://www.sikhsangat.org/publish/article_581.shtml

On November 12, 2005 TOI reported, "Already annoyed about objectionable portrayal of Sikhs in movies, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has now trained their guns at a TV soap opera, Desh Mein Nikla Hoga Chand, for showing a Sikh in poor light... Waryam Singh, secretary, Dharam Parchar Committee (DPC) of SGPC, says the SGPC's main objections are to [the] portrayal of Sikhs [as] hilarious characters, disgrace to Sikhs' religious symbols, showing 'parkash' of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in violation of maryada (Sikh code of conduct), non-baptised actors playing roles of baptised Sikhs, showing a Sikh as [a] criminal and drug addict. He says the SGPC and DPC had both passed resolutions, demanding incorporation of Sikh intellectuals into the censor board. But the SGPC is yet to hear any positive response from the ministry concerned... Jodh Singh, a Sikh scholar and editor-in-chief of Encyclopaedia of Sikhism said media should act more responsibly and avoid airing such objectionable scenes. No particular community should be targeted, he added."