Mauryan,

You said:”As Indians we were very upset about the way Canadian government washed us off regarding the Kanishka flight bombing by Khalistani terrorists.

I guess things look magnified based on one’s perspective. If you are the affected party, the magnification is more negative. May be my views are perceived from a community at the receiving end. Somehow we Indians get the feeling that we are not given our due respect and regards.”

As a Hindu, I can tell you that I had Sikh friends who were affected by the Khalistan terrorists. THese guys were lying, conniving theives who collected Gold, stole, lied cheated, drank alcohol and ate meat, something true religious Sikh people should ever do. It was later found out that the Sikh Khalistan movement was extremely corrupt and intimidated its own people to extort money and many of the leaders were pocketing the money for personal lucative gain and they were using the gullability of average hard working Sikhs to line their pockets. At the same time, they were having a polarizing affect on good average Sikh people who would not otherwise support such people who commit terrorism, therefore Sikhism was hijacked by extremists.

Today it is different, many Sikhs realize that they were “taken” and lied to. Sikhs are part of the greater family of India and should not ever be separate as India is incomplete without them.

With regards to the Khalistani’s in Canada, I can tell you that much of the Sikh community was divided over the issue of Khalistan with so much politics and physical fighting in the temples and many people quietly complicit and “not talking” to help the Canadian Police services to conduct thorough investigations.

Many Indians who are “inwards” thinking have an inferiority complex and psychologically create barriers within themselves to their success. My father told me never ever to blame my troubles on any “white” or western people and he told me there is no one in your way. I guess he was preventing breading the stains and pains of colonialism, which he grew up with. I believe my father has succeeded and I do not share his views of self-imposed limits caused by colonialism.

Mauryan, all I can tell you, if you respect yourself, other people will respect you. I have never let the poor actions of a few ignorant peoples taint my view on how productive, inclusive, compassionate, fairness, social justice, forward thinking and friendly western societies truly are.

People who fail to assimilate will always feel that they are not getting respect. That is not the case for me, I never had a problem getting jobs, getting along or getting respect as I had friends of all races and religions. You see, I do not see myself as a coloured person, or any colour at all, I see myself as a Canadian and therefore have always been treated that way, and despite that, I have always embraced my roots and feel that the two value systems mate well with each other and that gives me courage to be a contributing citizen to the commonwealth. This is the way all members of the commonwealth should view themselves, as respect and responsibility for one’s life starts within first.

Most minorities in commonwealth countries have much to be thankful and grateful for and as they have worked hard and persevered, they have become successful and should always give back to the commonwealth to make it stronger.