In his article, ('Long Way to Go' Jan 13) Anont Singh claims that Sikhs are too obsessed with outer appearance and "have to return to the fundamentals of Sikhi."

While I agree that Sikhs should dwell more into the inner meaning of Sikhi, Anont Singh has completely missed the fact that outward appearance - kaes - is a fundamental of Sikhi.

Vishavjit Singh, in his article ('View From the Heart', Jan 12), tells us the importance of outer appearance. "I believe in my heart that they (the Sikh men, women, and children who have died for their hair and faith, as written in the Ardaas) had truly surrendered their lives to the path of Sikhi, to the Guru's teachings, and realized that giving one's life is not the end of the journey but merely a continuation of the saga of life and death. If the Guru bestowed the gift of long hair and turbans on his sons and daughters then so be it."

Outward appearance shows commitment and perhaps is a beginning to the journey inward. Inner Sikhi and outer Sikhi are truly inseparable.

Anju Kaur (Bawa)