(Boney Bindra) “Sikh Hoye Topi Sir Dhare, Sat Janam Kusht Hoe Mare” this couplet form eleventh and present Guru of Sikh religion, Guru Granth Sahib.

This can be decoded into “If a person wears a cap as a Sikh, he shall suffer and die off leprosy for seven future births”.

What is the place of Pagg in a Sikh’s life, no one has to tell anyone, it is the dearest thing to a Sikh but what if I tell you that in the Sikh-Land, Punjab, hundreds and thousands of people are dishonouring this crown of Sardars, and that too officially, then what will be your reaction?

I met a person a few days back at my house, my father introduced him to me, he is a special “pagadi trainer” in Punjab Police, he teaches non-Sikh police personnel how to tie a “Jhallardar Pagg”.

He was a fascinating person, as we were drinking our beverages, he told me a very moving story, I told him, I am going to publish it to which, he requested anonymity, which I am giving to Sukha (Fake Name).

The Tale of Two

Sukha told me that “Jhallardar Pagadi” is way more difficult to tie than the normal one, it takes at least three men to perform the tying ceremony.

“The training course takes as many as six months to complete, and even after that it takes years of practice to master this art, many young boys aren’t that patient, they can’t spend one and a half hour daily on turban alone” said Sukha with his eyes locked with mine as he took a sip of tea.

Punjab Police trainer told me that recruits during their training make him tie a turban which works like a cap so that they don’t have to tie one every day.

He finishing his tea said, “They wear it like helmet or cap during duty and then remove it as soon as they get home, put it in a poly-bag and store it to keep it filth free.”

How Do They Even Keep Their Turbans Clean?

I asked Sukha. “Bau Ji, it is a very sorry statement to accept as a Sikh, but they don’t wash it for months, years sometimes, they simply re-colour their turbans when they get dirty” claimed a gloomy Sukha.

“Red ‘leer’ (piece of cloth) to colour red strip and blue ‘leer’ for redoing blue strip, it is like they rewrite their sheet of deeds done on life and earn a new sin every time they do this,” said Sukha.

He couldn’t take it anymore, he got up folded his shaking hands and left the room, the house eventually.

This claim of Sukha was weighed in by an ex-Punjab Police cop, Sarabjit Singh Aukhla. He confirmed that this tale is sent per cent accurate.

Sarabjit Singh left the force way back in the late 1990’s thanks to things like these. He said, “I myself raised voice against this, I am the witness, even some SHO’s are following this re-colouring culture.”

But From Where Did These Jhallardar Pagg Come?

As per many police officers before Independence, Sabt Sroop (Baptised) Sikhs used to wear these Jhallardar Pagg and non-Sikhs or non-baptized Sikhs in Police used to wear “Kulla” (desi Pakistani style turban).

Transformation of Police Uniform

The time changed, India was formed, some states gained independence, and with this change, police uniform was changed too.

The RSS style uniform of police (shorts and shirts) was changed with full pants and shirts, belts were toned down too and were substituted by slimmer straps.

This transformation of the uniform saw, another drastic change, the Jhallardar-Pagg was removed from baptised Sikh police officers’ heads and was placed on the heads of non-Sikh police personnel.

Ever since this drama of insulting the turban on the name of ease, started and is still going on.

Ironically any of the Sikh organisations which claim to be a saviour of Sikh Panth never protested or even registered their concerns over this issue.

Why So Serious If Non-Sikhs are Wearing It?

Many may question that how it is a worrisome issue when non-Sikhs are wearing it, although it is only a cap for them.

It is such a big thing because the “cap” they are wearing represents Sikh turban. Punjab Police and government’s main motto behind these “caps” are to symbolise that Police is still carrying the old values and culture of Punjab.

But, this is not our culture, this is not what we used to do before, wearing years old dirty turbans and painting them to renew them.

This cannot be the fate of the Symbol of Sikhism or will it be?