CO129-418 - Public Offices & Others - 1914 — Page 208

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من

Dear Sir,

I have been directed bym my coadjutors todray your attention to the indiscriminate closing of the Hong Kong Gurdawara( a place of worship) to the Sikh employees of the Government in the Military and Police Services. It is the gravest outrage and slight ever committed on the Sikh Religion by the Authorities,thate be, and it was never expected that resort would be-had ever be had under the British Rule to such a wicked,mean and base design in

depriving the People of their Religious freedom, which was so explicitly promised them in the roolaimation of 1858 bx.th8-1918.9¥•er Astoria of Blessed memory on her assuming

This present iterference with our Religion is quite in contradiction of the Policy that has ever since been followed and upheld by the successive Sonerign and is an encroachment upon our rights as British citizens.It iis a mistake of most greivous and datard nature. Do not the

ittaiers feel feel this slur on their Religion? It is not only the Sikh that has been alarmed as to the Government regarding his Religion but it has arroused doubts of the worst charaohter in the minds of the Indian People re- the Governments Religious Policy with regards to other religions and a great excilement, consternation and alarm has bee n caused among them. To them it seeme evident that the closing of a Gurdawara to Sikhs to-day means closing of other place

of worship to the rest tomorrow. How is'nt it alarming and disquietning?Is it not high time that the authorities refrai refrained from wounding our Religious feelings?We do feel most for our Religion over and above every thing else. Is it meant to win our hearts to the Government in this manner? Is our humiliation before the Civilised World by you people not complete yet?Religion is the only thing left to us but that too seems to be in danger now. But if it is really so the result will not be agreeable to the British Remember it is only the Sikh who saved your entire annihi- lation and extinction in India in 1857 The scenes would not have been forgotten and many an old Englishman would still be living in England to present the vivid picture of the days to the present generation. These are very trying times! Dont you know that you are your own enemey for you are under undermining the foundations of your Government yourselves, by yourown silly and cowardiah rash acts like the present

RECEIVED

11 Ark 1914

one. The consequence will be far reaching and will create widespread discontent and lack of confidence in the govt. in the minds of the Indian People as a whole. These germs of discontent are likely to be carried far and wide,

It is clear interference in our Religion whispers are round in the Soldiersas to the safety of their Religion for from this they infer that the authorities in other word dont wish them to follow their Religion,Hasthe freedom of Tommy Attkins in this respect ever been interefered with, nay on the other hand a big Ecclesiastical Establishment is maintained with this sole object out of the Indian Revenus Have the consequences of the forcible biting of the greagg greased cartridges been forgotten so soont Our Religious

Sanotuaries are being defiled and demolished to make room for your Parks and Roadsand now this closing of the Gurdew ra has come like a bolt from the blue. It has roused the bittereat indignation and heartburn in all Indian hearts