From Where I Stand

When two or more people find sufficient in common to call themselves 'us', they will strengthen their togetherness by looking for a 'them' to dislike.

INDARJIT'S LAW

It's fashionable to talk of 'hate crime' as if a small minority of people are infected with a virus of hate against those they see as different. It is not like that. Prejudice and fear of difference affects us all.

I learnt about my Sikh religion almost as an outsider looking in to find surprising teachings on justice, compassion and a need to stand up for others.

Discrimination in employment in the '60s, normal and lawful at the time, led to my turning down a well-paid job to go to India, where writing under the pen name of Victor Pendry, I became a local hero to the Sikh community suffering majority persecution. This standing up to injustice through writing, speaking and importantly, humour, is the story of this book.

You cannot choose your battlefield

God does that for you

But you can plant a standard

Where a standard never flew.

NATHALIA CRANE