On a secluded section of the Yavatmal National Highway, a ‘langar’ that served over two million hungry migrants during the first lockdown year has been destroyed, reportedly to landlord issues.

Based on the heartbreaking development reported by various media, Karnail Singh Khaira, an 84-year-old Sikh’sevak’ who has kept the ‘langar’ running with the aim of serving the masses on the Yavatmal NH-7 for the past 35 years, has been evicted and is now virtually living on the street.

The ‘langar,’ which became a lifeline for millions of destitute villagers, tribals, and migrants fleeing the lockdown that began on March 24, 2020, was known as ‘Dera Kar Seva Gurdwara Langar Sahib,’ or simply ‘Guru Ka Langar,’ and was located near Karanji village.

Run by Khaira, known as ‘Khaira Baba’ in the region, this langar was responsible for feeding droves of hungry people who arrived there after the initial statewide lockdown. Depending solely on donations, he was able to provide free food and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A despondent Khaira Baba told the IANS (Indo Asian News Service) that the authorities came and demolished the entire 3,000 sq ft ‘langar’, which he had started from zero, nurtured, and built for 35 years a few days earlier due to some conflicts among the land owners.

Khaira Baba, for his part, claimed that it is astonishing that, despite the fact that the dispute between the owners was still ongoing in court, the government ordered the destruction and booted him out.

According to media sources, Shiv Sena (UBT) farmers’ leader Kishore Tiwari had rushed to the now-demolished site for an assessment and blamed the state administration for demolishing the ‘langar’ linked to the historic Gurudwara Bhagod Sahib in Wai, some 11 kilometers away in a forested area. Tiwari, who was fuming at the occurrence of the tragic event, stated that while there was some bickering among the proprietors, this ‘langar’ had been running uninterrupted for over 35 years. According to him, the langar served millions of hungry people before, during, and after the lockdown. He blamed the administration, claiming that the current state government only arrived seven months ago and ordered its demolition.

The Sena (UBT) leader informed Khaira Baba that he would demand proper rehabilitation in the same area, adequate recompense for all his losses, and that the ‘langar’ be resurrected to serve the needy once more. Tiwari went on to say that this is a highly delicate topic that the state administration has handled carelessly and he will take the issue seriously with the relevant departments and ministers.

The saviour during trying times

The coronavirus pandemic-induced lockdown had thrown many people’s lives into turmoil, particularly migrant workers, who were forced to return to their homes on foot, with no food or drink.During such tough times, many individuals and organizations stepped up to assist those in need. Baba Karnail Singh Khaira was one such person.

Khaira Baba, who is from Karanji in Maharashtra, served free meals from his rickety hut on National Highway 7 – the only facility that offered meals for 450 kilometers.Since the Indian government declared the first lockdown on March 24, the regular langar, managed by Khaira Baba, had been a lifesaver to more than 20 lakh people.

Those who stopped for meals here were provided a nutritious meal of tuvar dal, aloo-vadi, and aloo vanga, along with soaps and borewell water. Many news reports also provided that every day, the team also fed stray dogs, cats, calves, and other animals.

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As I coordinate with someone in Delhi who wanted to make a donation of rice to a Sikh Langar intended to serve riot hit people in North-East Delhi, I get asked for the 100^th time- “How do Sikhs do it? How, despite all the persecution they have been through, they are always looking to help others in times of crisis? How do Gurudwaras never run out of food for Langar?” As the pogrom against Muslims unfolds in the nation’s capital, for some Sikhs, the memories of 1984 are all too fresh. We, as a people, have seen endless violence in the name of religion. We know what it looks like, we know what it does to people- the generational trauma lives in our very bones.

I grew up with stories about the Sikh Gurus and their followers. The best story that illustrates why Sikhs are always ready to extend a helping hand is that of Bhai Kanhaiyya ji. He was a disciple of the ninth Sikh Guru- Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, and continued living with the Sikh community after his death. During the ongoing skirmishes between the Mughal army and the Sikhs in 1704, the Mughal armies surrounded Anandpur, where the tenth Guru- Guru Gobind Singh Ji- was living, and cut off all food and water supply to the city to starve out the Sikh soldiers.

Every day, the armies would battle and hundreds of wounded soldiers would be seen lying in the battlefield begging for water. Bhai Kanhaiyya would go around the battlefield with a mashak (goat skin bag to carry water) and quench the thirst of wounded soldiers irrespective of which side they were fighting for. The enemy soldiers and generals also started recognizing him and his bag, and thus he became like the Red Cross- providing help to anyone who needed it, gaining right of way from both sides as the battle raged on.

While Bhai Kanhaiyya was providing water as Sewa(service) which is one of the core principles of Sikhism, fellow Sikhs did have their doubts. Some even complained to the Guru pointing out that with Bhai Kanhaiyya’s help, the fallen enemy soldiers would recover more quickly and start fighting again. They were also worried about sharing their water supply with the very people who had cut off the passage of food and water to their city. Guru Gobind Singh ji summoned Bhai Kanhaiyya and explained that he had received a complaint about his actions on the battlefield.

The Guru asked him, “These brave Sikhs are saying that you go and feed water to the enemy and they recover to fight them again – Is this true?”

Bhai Kanhaiyya Ji replied, “Yes, my Guru, what they say is true. But Maharaj, I saw no Mughal or Sikh on the battlefield. I only saw human beings. Guru Ji, they all have the same God’s Spirit. Guru Ji, have you not taught us to treat all God’s people as the same? Our Sikh heroes destroy enemies by killing them, but I destroy enmity by giving them water.“

With a smile, Guru Gobind Singh ji blessed him and said,“Bhai Kanhaiyya Ji, you are right. You have understood the true message of Gurbani“. He gave a medical salve to Bhai Kanhaiyya to provide further help to the wounded, and told the Sikhs to follow Bhai Kanhaiyya’s example of selfless service.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji cited the words of the fifth Guru- Guru Arjan Dev Ji, who wrote-

“I have totally forgotten my jealousy of others,

since I found the SaadhSangat (the holy congregation).

No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger. I get along with everyone.

Whatever God does, I accept that as good. This is the sublime wisdom I have obtained from the Holy.

The One God is pervading in all. Gazing upon Him, beholding Him, Nanak blossoms forth in happiness.”

(Guru Granth Sahib Page 1299 line 55528)

I still don’t know what to say when people ask me about the state sanctioned pogrom in Delhi. I have always lived in fear of markers that identify religion. A Sikh’s turban, when identified in the right context can mean that you know you can reach out to this person for help. This is partly why Sikhs had originally started wearing turbans and dressing in a particular way, so that in times of battle, people knew who they could trust, so that people could identify the friendly community. For a long time, I questioned the identifying markers of Sikhs and wondered why they are important in contemporary life. I would exclaim, “But we are not at war anymore!”, yet, years later, we are. We are at war. The Sikh’s turbans were identified as targets and cost them their lives in 1984. Today, the Prime Minister tells us to recognize terrorists by the clothes they wear. Somewhere, a man is shaving his beard, and a woman is contemplating whether to wear her hijab, a child was burnt inside a house and an 85-year-old woman who survived the Partition, was killed by the mob in 2020.

Will Langar solve these problems? Will it bring back the people and livelihoods and memories lost? Maybe not. But at least people are doing what they can. If you are a civilian and want to help out but don’t know where to start- volunteer at the nearest Gurudwara. When the state washes its hands off its responsibility, unfortunately, we need common people to be heroes. As I remember and salute the acts of Sewa by my Sikh brothers and sisters, I wish for the day their service will no longer be needed, and my child will be able to say, “We are not at war anymore”.

Related articles:

1. Stories of Harmony over Hate: Delhi violence
2. Sikh-Muslim friendships started with Guru Nanak Dev Ji
3. Is the Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, so intrinsic to Delhi, being made irrelevant?

The post ‘Seva’, the Sikh langar, from Bhai Kanhaiya to Delhi Violence, 2020 appeared first on SabrangIndia.