Ujjal Dosanjh raises concerns about Assam detention camps

Ujjal Dosanjh

Attorney General of British Columbia and former Canada Federal Minister Ujjal Dosanjh set the cat among the pigeons when he spoke about Assam’s infamous detention camps and raised questions about liberty and justice at an international conference celebrating the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde was on the dais at the time at the event organized by the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana.

Stories of concentration camps at Auschwitz and detention centers in Assam found a noticeable mention at the event. Dosanjh delivered a talk focusing on Guru Nanak Dev’s teachings in the context of detention centers in India and around the world. He also recited German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemollar’s poem, ‘First they came for…” and spoke of how Guru Nanak who stood for the rights of the people, would’ve opposed such detention camps over the globe.

Speaking about the relevance of Nanak’s teachings in today’s world Dosanjh said, “I cannot imagine Nanak sitting day in and day out reading poetry…spiritual poetry. My Nanak would ask me… you have read it, understood it… what will you do to change the world? Nanak’s verse is ‘pavan guru pani pita mata dharat mahat (air is our teacher, water our father, and Earth, the great mother)’. He did not say Punjab was mahat. He did not say India was mahat. He said dharat mahat. He would have never said Punjab is for Punjabis and Assam is for Assamese, Hungary is only for Hungarian white people. Nanak would have never stood silent in face of all that is happening in this world.”

He also said that had Guru Nanak been alive today, he would have been on the frontlines and said that in the light of what was happening today at the detention camps in China, Assam or America. Nanak would’ve asked, “Are you speaking up… did you just read… did you just make a speech or did you go fight on the frontlines and find change in the world?”

Mentioning the crimes against the Jews, Romas and Gypsies by the Nazis, Dosanjh recited the poem, “First they came for…” and ended his speech saying, “We must stand up for freedom, liberty, justice and equality… Isn’t that what Nanak is all about. If you want to pay true homage to Nanak, then let Guru Nanak speak.”

In his address CJI Bobde said that Guru Nanak was a rationalist and one who championed the cause of equality. He said that if people followed in the path of Guru Nanak’s message on protection of the environment and ecology, the country would’ve been better prepared to deal with the environmental crisis it was facing today.

Justice Surya Kant of the Supreme Court said, “Guru Nanak’s teachings are more relevant in contemporary times, when humanity is passing through all shades of serious conflicts. Many of us consider themselves, their caste or religion to be superior to others. This is root cause of all crisis. It has descended to such a level that we are living in the lurking fear of third world war. The need of hour is that everyone – regardless of caste, creed or religion, should imbibe the philosophy of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji in letter and spirit and practice universal brotherhood and social justice.”