Singh Ji

Since I was a child, I was always enchanted by the way Singhs looked. My own father was a mona. I lived in a rural, mainly white area, and my parents thought it was best if I didn't have kesh, to avoid teasing. My father used to take me to gurdwara periodically and used to tell me stories from Sikh history regularly. I also used to read Sikh comics.
 
A parchaarak from India came to Toronto at one point when I was about 6 and he knew my family. He asked me why I had cut my hair and I explained that my mother cut my hair and my father was the one behind it all, but it was against my will. He also asked my some other questions to which I replied. He sent back my story to a magazine in India which ended up publishing a brief little synopsis. After that, my parents allowed me to keep my kesh.
 
The second main event which changed my outlook towards Gurmat was my attending two Sikh retreats when I was 15/16. I saw some Singhs who got up at amrit vela, read baaNee, did gatka, keertan, etc. I really admired them and found it amazing that being so much higher/better than me; they still spoke to me with a lot of respect. After that things started slowly changing in my life. I became curious as to what Naam was. I read some Osho Rajneesh book and other books. I also read Bhai Saahib Bhai Randheer Singh jee's autobiography. I wanted to know what naam was and how to meditate on it and I was peshed in an amrit sanchaar organized by the Jatha.
 
The final step for me that totally made me realize how great Gursikhs were and that I wanted to be like them was when a very big crisis took place and the only people who were ready to stand for what was right and true were a few rehitvaan Singhs whom I didn't even know very well. Everyone was backing away unwilling to do the right thing, but these Singhs took a firm stand. I developed a lot of respect for them at this point. I did more sangat with them after that and with Guru Saahib's kirpaa I've continued to stay in the Sangat of rehitvaan Singhs with the hope that I too will one day become like them.