To My Sister,
You wrote an essay awhile ago about what it means to be a true 'Kaur', become a Princess; to be a daughter of Guru Gobind Singh, what a precious title, what an honor it means to stand before the world and say your grace and strength is not of this earth but from Infinity.
You gave me so much credit for taking up that task, made it sound like I had mastered it, found sahej path and inspired you in that fateful day that we both met. We laugh at how each of us almost did not show up.
It was you that first came up to me with your bold smile and confident way. We never would have met if you in your Khalsa nature had not stepped up and demanded we be sisters.
And now, with turban tied just 10 months later, you’re speaking at international conferences, a natural leader and I just smile with such sisterly pride wanting to always be by your side as you stride forward without doubt or fear of showing your ideals or speaking the Truth in anyone’s face. Sikhi is always first in your heart and on your mind, and in your words, this world is just too small to contain all that you would create by Guru’s Grace.
You work all day and night, go to school, then stay up late to write all the while honoring the rules your parents set, not allowing this Western world where we grew up to make you challenge them. You humbly serve your family still, there is no man who can make you take a backward step from what you know is right or what should be. I think it is you who are teaching me.
“A princess is not royal by her birth or blood inside, but if her family’s home is Anandpur Sahib” and sometimes Guru Gobind Singh just grabs you up, becomes your King and that makes you a princess. One doesn’t have to take the vows to embody that spirit, that Khalsa power that you so brightly radiate.
I was often wondering myself what the heck I was supposed to be doing, representing Sikhibut feeling so often like a weird outsider, no longer belonging to any people or country, just knowing I needed to be my Guru’s Sikh out there. I walked into so many gurdwaras not knowing the language or the culture even in the English speaking ones and feeling so inadequate. But you empowered me without hesitation, translated that melodious Punjabi, gave me some tips, took me in and stood in your home sangat and said “This is my friend.”
So Sister, Princess, Khalsa Ji, I hope I can stand for you someday as you take Amrit like you sat in support in Eugene but there is no way it would change my mind from thinking that you have always been a princess to me.