Defamation & Slander: A story which makes you think...

At the end of October 2021, social media and news channels went wild in sharing the "news" that during the Kisaan Morcha (farmer's protest) that a Nihang Singh had been arrested for beating up a poultry farm worker because he wanted to take a chicken without paying (i.e. stealing). This "news" was shared like wildfire on social media and news channels. Things did not just stop here, they "asserted" that the individual arrested was "a fake Nihang" and "a fake Sikh".

The poultry farm worker had his leg broken, and pleaded to those gathered and the media channels that he was the innocent party and that the man dressed in Nihang dress wanted to steal a chicken from him. So, when people heard this, they tied up the hands of the Nihang Singh and removed his Chola (dress), Kirpaan, and even removed his Dumala (large turban) and Keski (under-turban). Photos of the individual wearing a t-shirt, Kachhera (Sikh shorts) and bare-head were brandished across the world. The individual's hair was shorter than one would expect someone to have with uncut hair. On top of that the individual spoke Hindi. The fact he had shorter length hair and he spoke Hindi led people to be sure that he was a fake Sikh, planted by the government to undermine the Kisaan Morcha.

In today's world, we have news and information at our finger tips. As soon as something gets sent to us on WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram etc, we tend to press share or forward. Sometimes we have read it, and at other times, we just see the top headline, and without reading the full details we forward it on. A lot of time we never stop to think - is this actually true or is there even the tiniest chance that the claimed "news" or "information" is actually false or malicious - either by mistake, or deliberate?

Most people forwarded this "news" thinking that they were helping the Panth and the Kisaan Morcha by exposing "fake Sikhs" or "agents" trying to defame Sikhi and the Morcha. I even spoke to my parents that day, and said that during the Kisaan Morcha today a fake Sikh dressed up as Nihang tried to steal chickens and broke the leg of a poor poultry farm worker (I spoke as it was fact!). Whoever heard the news condemned the individual, and said well-done to those who took off his Bana (Sikh dress), Kirpan and Dastaar (turban). Certain famous personalities labelled the captured Nihang Singh as an agent of RSS (Hindu fascist group) and a government agent seeking to undermine the Kisaan Morcha.

HOWEVER.... it transpired afterwards that the whole story was not as it was claimed and that the nasty comments and condemnation that the young Nihang Singh faced were totally unwarranted. The individual caught was called "Naveen Singh Sandhu." Firstly, the poultry farm worker had lied that Bhai Naveen Singh stole a chicken (to cover himself from further condemnation for his own wrong actions). As you can imagine, before even thinking if there is a potential of someone lying about this situation, people had made comments like "these Nihangs cannot live without meat, and have stooped so low" etc. When Hindu farmers from Haryana who had been eye witnesses heard and saw all the wrong information being spread about Bhai Naveen Singh, they came forward and said that this was totally made up. The reality was the poultry farm worker was smoking in front of the tent were Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji resided. Bhai Naveen Singh had asked the man to either go away or stop smoking. The man smoking refused to stop and instead began to verbally abuse Bhai Naveen Singh. Bhai Naveen Singh responded back by hitting the man on his legs (which ended up breaking his leg) with his Lathi (bamboo stick).

Now, the Sikhs who had got emotional and falsely believed (without evidence or proof) that Bhai Naveen Singh had been stealing, had removed Bhai Naveen Singh's Kakaars (articles of faith) and Bana (Sikh dress). Because he spoke Hindi, they suspected he was an imposter Sikh. Yes, he spoke Hindi, like many other Sikhs, as not all Sikhs are Punjabis!! He had his Dastaar removed, and he had short hair compared to most Gursikhs. Yes, he had shorter hair than most Gursikhs because he had recently grown his Kes and taken Amrit. In fact he was a Hindu Jaat from Haryana, who had done Sangat of Gursikhs during the Kisaan Morcha and decided to become a Sikh. His neighbours from his native village came on social media to defend that he was a genuine Sikh and had taking Amrit, and even his local Sikh Sangat (congregation) came forward in the defence that Bhai Naveen Singh was a genuine Gursikh, and not just that, he was Sikh who had love and devotion for the Guru.

The term 'defamation' describes an untrue statement that's been presented as fact and causes harm to the character of the person it describes. If someone's reputation is damaged because of a false statement, this statement will be considered defamatory. A few days later all Sikh media channels apologised for their false reporting, and how rumours and malicious lies had been repeated over and over again to the extent that people thought it was true. A respectable Nihang Singh's reputation had been damaged by the media and people on social media reposting. However, in the eyes of Guru Sahib he was true and honourable. It was moving to see, how Bhai Naveen Singh remained so calm and composed throughout the whole ordeal and was not bothered by other's slander and negativity, as he knew that Guru Ji knew the truth.

 

Bhai Naveen Singh was freed from police custody and was given the honour and respect of a hero. He was not a thief, but someone who had acted to maintain the sanctity and respect of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Those who had denounced him as a fake Sikh had to apologise and regretted to "jumping to conclusions".  Bhai Naveen Singh received flower garlands and Siropas (robes of honours) from different leaders, Sikh Sangats, and Takht Sahibs. When asked what punishment should be given to those who dishonoured his Kakaars and Bana, he humbly replied, "Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself will punish them, I don't need to do anything."

REFLECTION:

Not everything written on the Internet is true! Not all news channels report the truth, nor do all news channels spread lies. So, we have to remain alert and aware ourselves. Spreading false information verbally is called 'slander', and in writing is called 'libellous'. It can even be against the law! 

 

One wise Gursikh said, "If something on the Internet seems to be good to be true, that is most likely the case. And, if something on the Internet seems to be bad to be true, that is most likley the case." Sadly, there lots of people who have lots of free time and nothing better to do than put others down or make up false accounts, false posts or make fake news to increase their viewership. However, one thing is for sure, Guru Ji says such people will be in karmic debt!

 

If we spread "information" or "news" that has not been verified as truth, or worst from an anonymous ID or rogue site, and there is even the slightest chance of it been untrue or malicious, then we should not forward or share such things if we want to save ourselves from the karmic debt. Sometimes without knowing we help anti-Sikh elements/forces with condemning fellow Gursikhs without even knowing the truth! Gurbani tells us that the sin (paap) of slander is huge!

ਨਿੰਦਾ ਭਲੀ ਕਿਸੈ ਕੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਮੁਗਧ ਕਰੰਨਿ ॥
ਮੁਹ ਕਾਲੇ ਤਿਨ ਨਿੰਦਕਾ ਨਰਕੇ ਘੋਰਿ ਪਵੰਨਿ ॥੬॥
"It is not good to slander anyone, but the foolish, ego-centred people (Manmukhs) still do it. The slanderers have to face shame and they fall into the most horrible hell. ||6||"
(Raag Soohee - Guru Amar Daas Ji - Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Ang 755)