Knowledge and Educated guesses

Ignorance is bliss.

While I've been told knowledge is, but am sure that is not true. Unless, of course, knowledge is complete. Since there is no test for whether the knowledge is complete, thus I would rather state that ignorance is bliss.

I recall an incident from the Punjab terror days when I was travelling to Delhi and had this long debate with friends from other parts of the country of how the terrorism in Punjab was not Sikh terrorism. A friend quoted what used to be part of daily ardas of any Sikh as "Raj karega Khalsa, baki rahe na koe", and stated that this is what is being yelled almost as if it were a battlecry. Was it knowledge or an educated guess? Important to differentiate because this was helping him perceive. How many understand this or know what is the error? Those who do, may be surprised at this perception. In fact the actual quote is "Raj karega Khalsa, Aaki rahe na koe".

To translate -

Raj karega - means "will rule"

Khalsa - means "pure (at heart? or in soul?)" NOT "Sikh"

While Baki means "all others" and Aaki means "Impure or maybe Non believers"

Rahe na koe - means "Will not survive".

Suddenly the meaning changes from being a battlecry to being a guiding phrase.

Another recent incident which was a lot more surprising was Simi Garewal's TV debate in which she highlighted how some houses in Mumbai slums carried Pakistani flags. Shocking I'd say. Fortunately she corrected herself within 24 hours, but was it knowledge or just an educated guess?

Educated I'll say because she does recognise the Pakistan flag. Guess, because those have been Muslim religious flags long before Pakistan decided to adopt a similar coloured, designed flag as its national flag.

But thats how deep rooted perception and educated guesses can be. Imagine, this was Simi Garewal's perception. Someone who has lived in that city since long before some of us were born, has worked in an industry which has a fair share of muslims. No offence to her, but a case in point for sure.

Thus, important for us to discuss, debate and be open to recognise that what might be knowledge could just be another educated guess. Important to have a diverse circle of friends, across religions or demographies I think.

And to have the courage to question, for an educated guess is worse than ignorance.