6) 'Shaven' people are not Sikhs

Everything seems to be in the knowledge of the government here as well. They simply tolerate it in their own economic interest. The fair name of my country is blemished.

The name of my religion is not, because they dare not keep their religion. They dare not declare who they are. They are not Sikhs. If they want to indulge in misdeeds they have to conceal it. In order to conceal, they forsake the religion which is so open, so conspicuous that always one has to have an insignia, something like a flag on the very face and the head.

At first I felt sorry that these brethren of mine, who were my own brothers born of one father - Guru Gobind Singh, have forsaken this religion. But why do I feel that way? I reasoned with myself; because the number of Sikhs has been reduced by some few hundreds or even thousands?

Ah! Our great Guru knew how an ordinary Sikh would feel about it. So he made the exterior form compulsory, which only a person with very deep conviction to the content of this great
religion could adopt and maintain. Any one with a superficial belief in the basic tenets of Sikhism would be the first to question the need, relevance and significance of his unique Sikh
face.

To the modern man whose philosophy of life is to lead a comfortable and luxurious life, this form would seem to be too difficult, almost an uneasy burden.