Over the last day, Sub-Inspector Gagandeep Singh, Uttarakhand Police, has done much for the image of Sikhs and the police force. In the immense sharing of his photograph and deed – saving a man from a mob – I see a celebration of a certain kind of heroism which should be basic for all our security forces. The forces exist so that this is normal, routine work, not heroism. Please note I completely commend Gagandeep and am proud for him but let us look beyond.
I wonder if the celebrations actually show up our lack of trust and our recognition of how broken the system is, that we now look at the uniform through the lens of religion – Sikh officer, Muslim victim, Hindu mob. It is indicative of our pathos as a society that we doubt the very forces we have created to protect us. If that is the case, then to me it is the end of the purpose of the uniform.