with thanks : times of India : link in headline for detailed news.
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SikhsIndia - Online Sikh News Channel : A wake up call for the Sikh Community with Sikh news, views, images, videos for the sikhs around the world. Links are being provided at the bottom of each news item with sole aim to generate awareness on SIKH ISSUES.
The Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham has held a set of Sikh chain armour for over 50 years but it is so frail it has never been on public display.
The set of armour including gauntlet, helmet, breast and back plates dates from the mid 1700s.
It was given to the museum in 1959 by a member of the Corps of Royal Engineers.
Whilst a piece of chain armour like this is not hugely rare, it is rare to find a set so complete, with its original silks.
The piece has been linked to the ‘Lahore Armoury’ and was almost certainly brought to the UK with boy Maharajah, Duleep Singh, and the Governor General of India, Lord Dalhousie.
The armour then became part of Lord Dalhousie’s collection and when he died without an heir, it was sold at auction in Edinburgh on 7 December 1898.
Conservation assessments of the armour have resulted in a cost of approximately £30,000 to restore and to display the piece and the museum is trying to raise the funds to conserve the armour and its history.
Lauren Jones is the museum’s Collections Care Officer:
“The museum is confident the armour can be well conserved, but we are however very keen to preserve its history, a history the armour’s current condition reflects. The armour will not be restored to an as-new condition; this technique would destroy part of the object’s history and allure.
“For all of us at the museum these are extremely exciting times; we have never carried out a project like this before, but we feel this armour is of such cultural and historic importance it warrants the very best attention we can give.”
To highlight the plight of the armour, the Royal Engineers Museum will show the piece for one night only on Thursday 30 September from 7pm to 8.30pm. For more information call 01634 822221 or email collectionscare@re-museum.co.uk
with thanks : Source: BBC News
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NEW DELHI – Indo-British billionaire Gopichand Hinduja, who has faced corruption charges in India, tried to give a clever analogy of the Commonwealth Games chaos but ended up insulting Sikhs with his insensitive comments.
“It will be like a rough and ready Punjabi wedding where, amid the caparisoned elephants, brass bandsmen in grubby Sergeant Pepper suits and celebratory gunfire, one or two guests might be wounded by a stray bullet and no one will know whether it’s going ahead until the turbaned groom arrives at the very last minute on a clapped-out old nag,” Hinduja told a British newspaper.
“It’s only in Europe and America where weddings are planned three or four months ahead, the bride’s dress is ready and the guest list finalized,” he said
Many local Sikhs took exception to Hindujas comments, saying he should watch what he says about the Sikh community.
“He could have used a general Indian wedding analogy to describe the games mess but he chose to deliberately bring in a “turbaned” groom into the picture,” said Raj Singh, who was incensed that Hinduja was directing the comments at India’s Sikh Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
with thanks : source : http://www.thelinkpaper.ca/?p=3236
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According to the latest reports, a two day seventh International Sikh Film Festival by the Sikh Art and Film Foundation will be held on Oct. 22-23 in New York.
With a motive to create awareness about the culture and history of Sikhs, this two day event will showcase 12 films based on Sikh stories received either by established or emerging filmmakers.
The premiere will take place at the Asia Society and Museum in New York on Oct. 22 from 7 pm to 9 pm. The event will be concluded on the second day at the Foundations annual Heritage Gala where awards will be presented to winners of the films.
The winners will be awarded $15,000 from the Bollywood actor-cum-politician Raj Babbar.
with thanks : livepunjab : link in headline for more details.
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“Given my background, the focus of the advice that I will be giving the president and the administration is going to be on the issue of civil rights,” Amardeep said, following the ceremony. “And I’m happy to say that the commission is quite committed to addressing the issue of school bullying, …specifically the South Asian and Sikh communities. We are also going to be addressing issues of hate crimes, working with the commission to do as much as we can to prevent bias and discrimination going up to the 9/11 10-year anniversary.”
These are some of the commitments the commission has been making during the course of the last two days, since its appointment on Sept. 16.
“Our nation will be well-served by the skill and dedication these men and women bring to their new roles, President Obama said in a White House news release. “I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”
The commission will work collaboratively with the White House Office of Public Engagement and designated federal agencies to increase Asian American and Pacific Islander participation in programs concerning civil rights, economic development (loans), sustainable (green) initiatives, educational opportunities and healthcare access.
“How many community members are aware that on Thursday, Sept. 23, everyone in our community who is up to 26-years-old can get on their parents’ healthcare plan?” Amardeep said, as an example. “A lot of kids in college have no idea that they have access. That law is changing and our community needs to know that.
“Our job is to advise the president on how the White House, in particular, can play a role in ensuring that the community is connected to the White House and that the White House is connected to the community,” Amardeep Singh added. “We’ll be reaching out to the community to get a sense from them on what is important for them so that we can report to the president in a way that is helpful.”
The commissioners serve the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders, which was originally formed under President Clinton and revived by executive order in October 2009. The initiative’s goal is to improve the quality of life and opportunities for these communities by collaborating with top government agency officials and community leaders in roundtable discussions.
Mike Honda, D-California, was the keynote speaker at the commissioners’ swearing-in ceremony. He represents the 15th congressional district in northern California, which has a large Sikh population. Honda has been a stalwart supporter of the Sikh community for many years and has appeared at events hosted by several Sikh advocacy groups, including the Sikh Coalition.
Honda also is chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which worked for several years to revive this initiative, Honda said.
When it came time to select the commissioners, Amardeep Singh, Honda’s longtime acquaintance from the Sikh Coalition, was a logical choice.
with thanks : sikhnn : link in headline for more detailed news.
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DURHAM, N.C. — A member of the Sikh (SEEK) religious faith says a Durham-based chain of convenience stores crossed a line by telling him to get a shave and a haircut.
Surjit Singh Saund sued M.M. Fowler Inc., which owns the Family Fare chain of stores, on Tuesday in federal court.
Saund’s lawsuit says an M.M. Fowler hiring manager told him that he couldn’t wear a turban, have long hair or a beard.
Sikh men refrain from cutting their hair or shaving. They also wear turbans as part of their religious practice.
with thanks : source : WRAL : link in headline for detailed news.
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Sibal said that he believed that any civilization, which does not honour its poets and writers, can never be progressive. “In our everyday life, we ‘evade’ ourselves. We fear to express ourselves. Poetry is rare form of expression that is qualitatively different. But it is dying.”
with thanks : hindustan times : Link in headline above for detailed news.
Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Even as the trials in 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases pick up pace in courts, the reality is that the Delhi government cannot find at least three reports of committees set up to look into the rehabilitation of victims, role of the police and actions against those guilty.
The Delhi government gave this information to the Central Information Commission while responding to a RTI application by activist Suroor Mander seeking copies of reports submitted by as many as seven commissions to address different issues relating to the riots. The applicant also sought the Action Taken Reports on the recommendations of these committees. While the Home Department first sought more time to trace the records, subsequent submissions before the CIC revealed that the department never had several documents.
Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi observed that the Delhi government had initially sent the queries to the Home Ministry, which sent it back, as “presumably” they also did not have the reports. “After that the Public Information Officer at the Delhi Home Department said he could not locate the reports, which must have been produced at a considerable cost to the exchequer. In bits and pieces, they have managed to give some reports and yet the following reports are missing completely — Marwah Commission, Dhillon Committee and Narula Committee,” the CIC noted.
with thanks : Indian Express : link in headline above for detailed news.
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The Supreme Court will pronounce its verdict tomorrow on a petition filed by senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar challenging initiation of criminal proceedings against him in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases.
A bench comprising Justices P. Sathasivam and A. R. Dave had reserved its judgement on September 13 on the appeal filed by Kumar against the Delhi High Court decision which had on July 19 refused to stay the trial against him.
The high court had then refused to quash various charges, including that of murder, against Kumar saying the delay in prosecution has apparently benefited him.
with thanks : The hindu : Link in headline above for detailed news.
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Guru Singh has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas, which his parents thought was a sensible career track. But his long-time passion for acting did not fizzle out. He went back to college for a bachelor’s degree in acting and directing, which he received from the University of Houston. This is his first acting job although he had previously done commercials and student films.
“By chance, I got in front of the casting directors,” he said. Guru Singh has had an agent in Los Angeles for nearly three years who alerted him to this part. There were many people trying out. But he only knows of one other Sikh, a friend, Bhajneet Singh Malik, who tried out for the part. The others may have been non-Sikhs with beards and turbans, he said.
with thanks : sikhnn : link in headline above.
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CBI today pleaded before the Delhi high court that it has got sufficient evidence to prove the involvement of senior Congress leader and former MP Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which six persons were killed.
Two cases were registered against the former outer Delhi MP for his alleged involvement in anti-Sikh riots in the aftermath of the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
Sep 15 (IANS) Ahead of President Barack Obama's India visit in November, a special US team Wednesday conducted a security survey in Punjab's Amritsar district, police said.
'A six-member team had come to Amritsar to conduct recce as President Barack Obama is expected to visit India in November. They inspected various tourist spots, important roads and Sikh shrines in the district today (Wednesday),' K.S. Pannu, deputy commissioner of police, Amritsar, told IANS.
'But this is not confirmation that Obama will come to Amritsar. After evaluating various parameters and security arrangements, they will decide the places where the US president will actually go. Now the team has left for Mumbai,' said Pannu.
with thanks : SIFY : link in headline above for detailed news.
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Meanwhile, hundreds of supporters of HSGPC took out a march in Kurukshetra in favour of a separate body for the state and to demand immediate release of their leaders who have been taken into custody. The supporters ventured out from Dera Kar Sewa complex where they had assembled in small groups. Police stopped them as they reached the barricade erected near Devi Lal chowk to check their entry to Gurdwara Chhati Patshahi.However, many of them marched towards railway road where they had an altercation with police. The agitating supporters managed to reach Kurukshetra Railway junction and put a blockade on railway track leading to stoppage of a goods train running from Ambala to Delhi. Some agitators squatted on railway lines on the route and blocked rail movements. They kept raising slogans in favour of Haryana SGPC and demanded immediate release of their leaders like Jhinda, Kanwaljit and others.
with thanks : IBNLive : Link in headline above.
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US President Barack Obama's maiden visit to India in November won't be all about tackling issues such as terrorism and outsourcing.
Sources said a US team has conducted a security survey of the places Obama proposes to visit. His plan to visit the Golden Temple is being viewed as a goodwill gesture towards the Sikhs who form an economically and politically powerful community in the US. In Mumbai, Obama may also visit the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, which was one of the targets of the Mumbai attack besides the Taj Mahal hotel.
with thanks : IndiaToday : link in headline above for detailed news.
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"We have stationed our force outside the gurdwaras for security reasons," Kurukshetra station house officer Jaipal Singh said. Barricades have been erected by the police and the district administration near Sikh shrines to control crowds."
The Sikh leadership in Haryana has accused the SGPC of neglecting the state's gurdwaras and Sikhs, despite these shrines contributing over Rs.100 million (Rs.10 crore) to the SGPC kitty annually, over the past few years.
with thanks : Hindustan Times : with a link in headline above for detailed news.
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A Sikh man was murdered in his shop by a gang of robbers in Huddersfield. The gang grabbed a wine bottle and repeatedly hit Gurmail Singh.
The Sikh man died in hospital the following day.
All the gang alleged members were Muslim, Umare Aslam, 20, Muawaz Khalid, also 20, 18-year-old Shoaib Khan, Nabeel Shafi, 18, and Rehman Afzal, 18, all from Huddersfield, have denied the murder charge.
Defence lawyers told the jury how smokers outside a pub opposite the shop realised something was wrong when they saw two of the robbers - Afzal and Aslam - walk and then run from the scene.
One of them trapped the robbers inside by holding the door closed as they tried to smash their way out.
with thanks : emgonline.co.uk : link in headline above for detailed news.
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PRESS RELEASE
Come the 12th of September, it will be 113 years since 21 brave soldiers died doing their duty on the Afghan border. For the first time in the country, this battle is being recognised nationally as Saragarhi Day. There will be a ceremony of remembrance at the Gurdwara Sahib Leamington and Warwick on Saturday 11th September at 4pm. It will be preceded by a short presentation of those historic events which have been recorded by UNESCO as one of 8 examples of collective bravery.
On the 12th of September 1897, 21 soldiers of the 36th Sikhs of the British Indian Army faced some 10,000 Afghan tribesmen at a small signalling station called Saragarhi in the North West Frontier province of what is now Pakistan. The Saragarhi post, situated on a rocky ridge, consisted of a small block house with loop-holed ramparts and a signalling tower. It was vital to the safety of 2 other forts as it was the only way of maintaining a communication link between them.
A general uprising by the Afghans, which began in August 1897 led to many attempts to capture the 2 forts. When these were unsuccessful, 10,000 Pashtuns attacked the signalling post at Saragarhi, so that communication would be lost between the two forts. The contingent of the twenty-one Sikhs from the 36th Sikhs, lead by Havildar Ishar Singh was hopelessly outnumbered. Undeterred, they all chose to fight to the death. The signalling officer continued to supply vital information to the 2 forts during the fighting, thus saving countless lives.
Saraghari is recognised as one of the greatest last stands in world military history, against overwhelming odds. Each one of the 21 we’re awarded the highest gallantry medal available to them, which is unparalleled in military history for one action. Plaudits for the bravery of the 21 Sikhs could be heard from both Houses of Parliament and Queen Victoria.
This nationwide commemoration will form part of the National Heritage Shared events planned at various locations up and down the country in September, which SHAWL (Sikh Heritage Association Warwick & Leamington) are happy to be involved with. On the 11th September, the program of events at the Gurdwara Sahib Leamington & Warwick will be as follows:
“Saragarhi Day” – 2.45pm : A short talk followed by a commemorative ceremony to the 21. In attendance will be direct descendants of the 36th Sikh Regiment.
“Frames of Bravery” Exhibition Launch – 4.00pm (11th – 26th September 2010) : Launched in Malaysia this photographic exhibition captures images of Sikh military history from the 18th century onwards including major contributions during WW1 & WW2.
“The Flying Sikhs” film – 5.00pm : A short documentary looking at the little known contribution of Sikh pilots during the Battle of Britain.
For further information please contact:
SHAWL representative, Dharminder Singh Sanghera on 07734883833.
All the above events are at the Gurdwara Sahib Leamington & Warwick, Tachbrook Park Drive, CV34 6RH.
================================================================= UNITED SIKHS launches the Global Protect Our Identity Campaign | ||||||
Fremont, California: In wake of security policies and societal situations that threaten the Sikh identity across the world, UNITED SIKHS launched the global “Protect Our Identity” campaign to actively advocate for Sikh Civil Rights issues at a global level at the Gurdwara Sahib in Fremont, California on August 8, 2010. Under the aegis of the campaign, the Sikh community across the world will unite to form a collective voice strongly advocating for rights that protect the Sikh identity and way of life. Sikhs face an unprecedented attack on their identity and dignity. Sikhs are being racially profiled daily in domestic and international airports and they are arbitrarily being stripped of their dignity by having to remove their turbans at security checkpoints in many European countries. In Kashmir, Sikhs live in a constant state of intimidation and have received death threats to leave the valley. French schools continue to ban the Sikh turban and make it difficult for our children to receive an education. In some parts of Europe (i.e. Belgium) Sikhs are fighting just to be recognized as a religion. Finally, justice continues to be elusive for victims of 1984 as courts stall not only the process of vindication but also reconciliation. A multi-national, multi-dimensional campaign, Protect Our Identity will focus on issues of importance to the global Sikh community such as Right to Turban, airport security in European Union and United States, Anti-Bullying Initiatives, Rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Pakistan, Equality in employment, Right to Kakaars, seeking recognition of Sikhs as a religion and ethnicity in UK and US Census, and raising awareness of Sikhs and Sikhism to reduce acts of violence and xenophobia against Sikhs. | ||||||
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The Protect Our Identity campaign is engaging in new initiatives seeking to confront emerging policies and practices globally that threaten the Sikh identity, and integrating existing projects that protect global Sikh civil and human rights. Hansdeep Singh, Senior Staff Attorney at UNITED SIKHS says, “The campaign is a collective community voice against the onslaught of a movement toward religious suppression, the impact of which is most visible in Europe. This tide must be stemmed before the suppression of an external religious identity becomes an established norm in other parts of the world,” Hansdeep says. He adds, “Followers of Sikh values have been degraded, humiliated, and disparaged, and the external manifestation of the visible identity is treated with such contempt that it will only make it more difficult for the wearer to consistently endure this indignity.” | ||||||
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Volunteers and UNITED SIKHS members across the Bay area are building teams to take the campaign to the Sikh community in several cities across the Bay area. So for our members and supporters in the Bay area, lookout for the “Protect Our Identity” campaign materials and presentations over the next few weeks and support the cause generously, both with your time and financially. During the presentation at Fremont Gurdwara detailing the initiatives under Protect Our Identity, Loveleen Kaur, UNITED SIKHS volunteer implored the sangat to step up and support the campaign saying, "How do we as a community bring the compassion of Guru Gobind Singh Ji who made the ultimate sacrifices necessary to protect our identity? If we don't save our identity, all the Sikh religious institutions will be nothing but monuments to a brave and selfless people that once existed. Just like blood is the life force for human beings, UNITED SIKHS needs a continuous stream of support through seva and funding in order to fulfill its mandate of serving mankind." | ||||||
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SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF THE CAMPAIGN, IT BELONGS TO YOU! The campaign is of the people, by the people, and will be spearheaded by dedicated volunteers from the community who will spread the rallying call of “Protect Our Identity” to members of their Sangat. The campaign is traveling to the United States East Coast and from there to different parts of the world. No matter where you are in the world, if you are passionate about the issues the campaign represents, and would like to contribute to the cause, volunteer with us, and be the leader in your community to talk about these issues and how they affects members in your Sangat. Join us by clicking here, and email us at law-global@unitedsikhs.org for any questions or concerns. DONATE GENEROUSLY; WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT! The Sikh community’s commitment to recovery efforts in Haiti personifies the Sikh principle of selfless service to humanity and earned us a mention in President Barack Obama’s address at the National Prayer Breakfast meeting. The Protect Our Identity campaign encompasses different initiatives that advocate for the community's right to practice their religion freely. We need support from community members like you to help us to carry forward those initiatives and our mission. We see that we now need to do even more but only if we have a dedicated support system, and know that we can count on monthly recurring donations. No amount is too small. Monthly donations of $10, $20, $40, $50 or $100 will help by supporting this cause to protect the Sikh identity with respect and dignity. Donate to UNITED SIKHS by clicking here. Volunteer for Protect Our Identity Campaign! To see a previous press release detailing UNITED SIKHS' advocacy work around the world, please visit: http://unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-25-12-2009-00.html Issued by: |
A British Sikh is bringing a law suit against Poland’s border guards after he claims they tried to make him remove his turban at the International Frederic Chopin Airport in Warsaw.
Shaminder Puri (pictured) a British citizen of Indian descent, says he was outraged when he asked to take his traditional Sikh turban off at the airport. “Something like that had never happened to me in 40 years at any other airport,” Puri is quoted by the PAP news agency as saying.
Shaminder Puri works as an expert for international NGOs and the EU. He travels to many countries, including Poland, where he studied in 1960s.
Mr. Puri says that he left his laptop, briefcase, jacket, belt, watch, shoes and metal objects at the airport gate and passed through it wearing just his clothes and a turban. The alarm did not sound. Nevertheless, Puri was asked to take off his turban, an outrage to Sikhs.
Puri tried to explain, in Polish, that his religion does not allow him to remove the turban and suggested that a border guard inspects it manually. But the guard insisted on Puri taking off his head cover.
According to safety procedures at airports around the world, if a border guard suspects that a Sikh is smuggling something under his turban, he is asked to touch the turban himself and then a guard inspect him with a special detector.
with thanks : thenews.pl : link in headline for detailed news.
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Others say wearing their faith has a calming effect. “I wear a wooden Buddha ring; it has a very soothing effect on me,” says VJ Kim, who swears by the charm.
However, not everyone thinks of the statement as ‘sacred’. “I don’t advocate wearing religious symbols. If you are wearing a tee with God on it, you need to be very careful - you’re going to visit the washroom wearing it!” says model Jesse Randhawa.
with thanks : Hindustan times : link in headline for detailed story.
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California), Sep 5 (IANS) In a historic gesture for the 250,000-strong Sikh community in California, the state assembly has passed a resolution declaring November as 'California Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month.'
During the month, Sikh cultural and social events will be held to highlight their contribution to California since there arrival in the state more than a hundred years ago.
The resolution (ACR 181), which was moved by Assemblyman Dan Logue (Republican), was passed unanimously by the state assembly Sept 1, the Sikh community of Yuba City announced Saturday.
Yuba City, considered the first Punjabi village in North America, and its surrounding Sutter County areas are home to one of the largest concentration of the descendants of the first Indian immigrants into North America in the 1870-80s.
In fact, Yuba City's current mayor is a Sikh - Kash Gill - who assumed office in November last year.
This is the first such resolution passed by the California assembly to recognize the contribution of any immigrant group in the state.
with thanks : SIFY : link in headline above for detailed news.
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