I, for one, has always admired the spirit of the Sikhs. Every Hindu is indebted to the Marathas in the south and the Sikhs in the north. But for them, perhaps, no Hindu would have survived in the sub-continent. The martyred Sikh gurus have always been a great source of inspiration.

The maintenance of the Golden Temple in Amritsar is an object lesson for all Hindus. Cleanliness goes hand-in-hand with godliness. The entire maintenance is done by kar seva (free service). Your footwear is taken and stored by retired colonels; food and water is served by upper class women.

Thousands of Sikhs who were rendered homeless after the Partition came to India without a paisa. Still no one begged. Even today it is sad to notice that the beggars in Amritsar are Biharis and south Indians.

The 12 o'clock joke is a mere aberration. To us, a sardarji is a valiant soldier, a great sportsman and an undiluted patriot. His sense of service and commitment to equality is awe-inspiring.