Nangs cont'd

Bhai Vir Singh commented on the bogus Akali Nihangs, the Nangs of his time, in his text ‘Satwant Kaur’:

At present Nangs may be just individual pick pockets or thieves. However, they may also be organised into groups of muggers or robbers.
In regards to percentage of true Akali Nihangs to bogus Akali Nihangs, estimates can be put at 25% of all Akali Nihangs being exceptional Akali Nihangs, or as Akali Nihangs would say, ‘Pakka’ meaning ‘firm’ Singhs.

Such Akali Nihangs or Nihangs have through years of dedicated selfless service acquired knowledge or skills of one or more of the Sikh classical traditions. Traditions such as:
a) proper reading and interpertation of Sikh scriptures
b) knowledge of Sikh oral history
c) skill and knowledge of classical Indian music the Ragas as found in the three Sikh scriptures
d) knowledge of traditional Indian medicine
e) skill and knowledge of traditional Sikh combat skills, hunting, horseriding, etc.
f) knowledge of the esoteric paradoxical philosophy of Abbeck (ignorance) and Bbeck (wisdom) etc.

(for more information on combat arts of the Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa, please visit www.shastarvidiya.org)

Another 25% of Akali Nihangs, are estimated to be at the bottom rung of the ladder, the Nangs. Out of the Nangs, 10-15% to fifteen percent are just petty homeless criminals or drug addicts in most cases, or both. Within the remaining Nangs are the hardcore criminals who, in general avoid the main Dals, and subsist by themselves or in small gangs.

An example of a modern day Nangs can be seen in bogus Dal of Ajit Singh Pula. This individual and his criminal Nangs are based at Chandigarh, India. His reputation, say Akali Nihangs, is that of a criminal. It is said he dressed up as a Nihang, went to Sach Khand Hazoor Sahib, bought some horses, and gathered a small party of like-minded men setting himself up as a Nihang of the Tarna Dal (suboridinate to the Budha Dal). He did so without the consent of Budha Dal.

Ajit Singh, is typical of a Nang, being a heavy alcoholic and opium addict popular with the Punjab police. The Punjab Police have even given him a police rank of District Superintendent of Police (D.S.P). He is an example of a character much hated by genuine Akali Nihangs.

All true Akali Nihangs look upon Ajit Singh, and his men as ‘Panthik Tankhias’ (people excommunicated from the real Akali Nihang Singh Khalsa Panth). In 1998, at the Holla Mahalla (an annual spectacle of martial practices at Anandpur Sahib), Ajit Singh went and ransacked one of the gurudwaras belong to the Haria Vela Dal. Later, in the 1990’s he was on the payroll of Akali Dal (a political party in India which has hijacked the term ‘Akali’ to appeal to the sentiments of the Punjabi populous).

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