Turban not about religion, but about Punjabiat, say students

Gurvinder Singh

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 23

Turban Day was celebrated with enthusiasm by the youths in Ludhiana today. Sporting colourful turbans, they marched around the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) raising slogans with pride.

Narjit Singh, one of the organisers of the event, said the day was the result of an online campaign. “The importance of turban has been central to Punjab and Punjabi culture and is a part of our heritage. It is the legacy of honour and uprightness,” he said.

Former president of the Punjabi Sahit Akademi Gurbhajan SIngh Gill said it was now perceived that turban was associated with Sikhs. But turban and Punjabi language is part of the heritage and legacy of Punjab, of the people living in this part of the world irrespective of the religion. He said turban was not a gift, but the heritage of all Punjabis who sought honour and respectability. Wearing the turban was an act of Punjabi defiance during the Mughal rule, as only Mughals were given the right to wear the turban during their rule.

Wearing the turban brought with it the responsibility of living an upright and righteous, intrepid, disciplined and honourable life, Gill added.

Even Punjabi and Gurmukhi are considered to as languages of Sikhs, yet these are the languages of the people of this soil, of Punjabis, he added.

Girls wearing Punjabi dresses also joined the celebrations in large numbers. “We feel a sense of pride about turban, of people wearing turbans. Turban is about Punjabiat and its rich legacy and honour. That’s why we are here to celebrate the turban day,” said Ramandeep, a student. Turban and ‘chunni’ (dupatta) are part of the Punjabi culture and tradition, not necessarily associated with religion, she said.

Another student Gurpreet Singh said turban was important to Punjabi identity, irrespective of religion. Punjabi community needs to remember and become steadfast in saving their culture, heritage and legacy, he said. Punjabi community not only needs to salvage its roots, but to deepen them, if it wants to rise high, Singh added.