Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Defiant Headgear. George Fox, founder of the Quakers, stood before the king, Refusing to remove his hat, and declaring, That 'we are all equal--king and citizen'! Far across the world and five centuries earlier, A similar scenario unfolded in India. In the Punjab region, the Mughals were asserting their power. A group of citizens declared themselves equal to the Mughals. They decided to maintain uncut head hair (Kesh). This was a sign of living in total harmony with nature and god. Thus also began the custom of wearing the turban (Dastaar). Their turbans mocked the turban-'crowns' of the royals And was worn in defiance as a symbolic crown. So unfolded the Sikhs, with their men's turbans of resistance. The history of men's headgear is about more Than just shading the sun! Frank Maurer 24 May 2026 1225 Hours.