the sikh school in France were required not to wear turbans and wear school uniforms in school. Were school authorities justified in giving such order in view of the fact that a Democratic country should respect cultural identities of such communities?
(write briefly and to point)
Answers
Answer:
The turban has been worn by people for thousands of years. In ancient Egypt, the turban was worn as an ornamental head dress. They called it ‘pjr’, from which is derived the word ‘pugree’, so commonly used in India. Kohanim (priests) in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem wore turbans; they go back at least as far as biblical times!
In the Bible, referring to the high priest, it says, "He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on." (Leviticus 16:4)
The turban has been common throughout Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa for thousands of years. Today, Muslim, Sikh and other men often wear turbans to fulfil religious requirements to cover their heads; traditionally, Hindu men often wear them as well.
Turban is and has been an inseparable part of a Sikh's life for centuries. Since about 1500 and the time of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, the Sikhs have been wearing the turban. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru says,
"Kangha dono vakt kar, paag chune kar bandhai."
Translation: "Comb your hair twice a day and tie your turban carefully, turn by turn."
It goes without saying that the turban is an integral part of the dress of a Sikh; all baptised Sikhs, especially men are required to don a turban to cover their mandatory long hair called kesh