Many moons ago, I got into a huge controversy on my school group chat, a predominantly Sikh one. I forget the main issue, but umbrage was taken to my statement about good Sikhs....my point was that merely wearing a turban or keeping one’s hair does not make one a good Sikh. I was an immediate target - critical messages condemning me were followed by more posts on how I was against the Sikh culture, did not understand the maryaada of the religion and how a stand should be taken against me.

I took the easiest way out - of shutting up and later exiting the group chat; the opinion of those faceless names was of no value to me. Yet, it constantly appalls me that people take it upon themselves to re-interpret religion to fit their own value system, and hound anyone who does not follow it in the manner that they deem appropriate. If I don’t question why some Sikhs keep turbans, drink liquor, eat meat or go to the gurudwara everyday, then I see no reason why anyone should question my choices. Why I have cut my hair, wear jeans to the gurudwara and if I know how to read and understand the Guru Granth Sahib, and even Punjabi music can be fodder for gossip, but my faith is not anyone’s business.

The move to ban Harinder Sikka’s Nanak Shah Fakir, a movie on the revered Sikh Guru seems to be politically motivated. The radical Dal Khalsa is the latest claimant to being the custodian of Sikh religion and the threats of violence because of perceived blasphemy are enough to ban the movie in the region that gave us Guru Nanak.

A disclaimer before I go any further. I have only watched the online music video and trailer on youtube. In keeping in with the tradition, Guru Nanak has been portrayed through computer graphics, from the back and amidst a ray of light - there is no scope of idol worship there (unlike the artist impressions of the Gurus as drawn by Sobha Singh); the movie is in Hindi because the Guru and his teachings have traveled far from the Punjab, and we should be proud of it. Nothing in it that is against the Sikh faith or maryaada.

We need to stop toeing the line on bans and self-righteous outbursts on matters related to religion. As mature individuals, we have the ability to make a choice for ourselves. If it goes against our core value, we can choose to not watch a movie - I never watch a Sanjay Dutt movie because I don’t want any part of my hard earned money to go to someone who I think did Mumbai a great disservice!

Banned or not - I do intend to watch Nanak Shah Fakir. Just as I intend to read Perumal Murugan’s One Part Woman, the book that incensed Hindu and caste organisations in India. I want to be my own decision maker.