Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Rang De Basanti - Video

A net between Italy and Punjab :SEVA Association in Lombardy,Italy




A group of men and women of Punjabi origin living in Italy for several years from both India & Pakistan developed a desire to build some organisation together with two main goals to set:How to hold together this desire without forgetting their roots,without forgetting place where they grew up /and how to build this organisation to work with/for the community with whom they have strong links ?

They realised that it is important for their growing children to know /see contribution of their family elders in the construction of community in which they live. Even though it is impossible to forget where they came from but at the same time it is also worth to make an effort to renew this relationship and open a platform for interfaith dialogue !

To fulfill their dream ,they all joined hands together and constituted a SEVA Association of Punjabi migrants .It provided them a concrete way in opening a dialogue between Italians & Punjabi. They presented a project together with ACRA ( A lay foundation of Milan which works with groups and immigrant organisations active in Lombardy in order to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and in order to develop strong ties between Italy and other countries of origin) and with the FEM ( An organisation which works to promote self-development of communities of developing countries and recognise the full rights of citizenship to its non-Italian clients through activities of cultural mediation).

Aims of SEVA Association in Lombardy :

Realise cultural activities
Offer services to its associates.
Choose and realize -development activities
Aiming at improving life conditions of the poorest in Punjab.

Various Activities of SEVA Association:
Exchange meetings with ACRA's team
Form Constitution of the Cultural Association of Punjabi migrants
Free Italian Language Courses
Free Training courses on administrative management of association activities
Free Training courses on communication and intercultural education to plan and implement activities of local promotion
Involvement of Local Authorities and peoples
Raising awareness through activities and events on the issues of migration
Organise Social Activities to support migrants
Construction of a network between migrants and other bodies to achieve co-development activities in Punjab

With thanks to SEVA Association Team Members :
Swarn Singh(President),Sukhwinder Kaur( Vice-President),Kuldip Singh( Secretary),Munir Choudary( Consultant ),Laura Molinai( Founder ACRA) & Prof.Barbara Bertolani ( University of Molise ).

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
University of Milan
Italy


Associate Professor
University of Delhi
INDIA

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Tallest victory tower to bring alive the velour of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur

CHANDIGARH: Punjab is all set to perpetuate the memory of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at Chappar Chiri, the famous battle ground-5 km from here from where he defeated the Mughal king of Sirhind Wazir Khan establishing first Sikh Raj in India in 1711. The most fitting tribute, the warrior would get would be by over 20000 decorated ex-servicemen, 300 Lt Generals and Generals, all gallantry award winners of Punjab, who would be led by former army chief Gen. J.J. Singh, first Sikh Army chief of India, who would recall his velour and vow to carry forward his marital traditions.
 
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is all set to dedicate to humanity victory tower, 328 feet high, tallest religious tower in the country, to the humanity on Wednesday. Briefing the media KJS Cheema, Special Principal Secretary to CM said that the height of the victory tower is 328 feet. There are three decks at 20.4 Metre, 35.40 Metre and 66.00 Metre.

On the top of this Victory Tower, there is a dome having the spire of Khanda in stainless steel.  The 8 sides of Victory tower having beautiful arches in increasing order towards the Sikh side depicting (Chardi Kala) “ON THE RISE”. The internal core shell of victory tower rising vertically high up to 82.40 Metres. and the curvilinear side walls sloping upwards with arches on each side.
 
He said that in this structure, a special EPDM membrane has been used which has already been used in many landmark buildings and canals. The reflected image of the tower in the water body can be easily visible during the day light and is approachable for people to get panoramic view of the area. 


with thanks : punjabnewsline : link in headline for detailed news.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Sidhu slams PM over Sikh issues

BJP parliamentarian from Amritsar, Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday asked Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to do the needful and raise his voice on the issue of banned turbans as Sikhs were becoming victim of mistaken identity across globe.
"Singh, being a Sikh, shouldn't be a weak Prime Minister who couldn't do anything to convince the France Government to lift the ban on Turban," he said.
Sidhu also pointed that is was his duty to "facilitate Sikh community to arrange hassle-free visa for Sikh pilgrims to visit birth place of first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Nanakana Sahib in Lahore in Pakistan".
with thanks : dailypioneer : link in headline above for detailed news.
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Sikh memorial in Gurdaspur to be inaugurated today

The C­h­h­o­ta Gh­allugh­ara Martyrs­ Memo­rial is to be opened today at Kah­n­uw­an­ C­h­h­amb in Gurdaspur district.
The C­h­h­o­ta Gh­allugh­ara Martyrs­ Memo­rial at Kah­n­uw­an­ C­h­h­amb in Gurdaspur district  will be i­n­­augurated by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday. It’s been b­ui­l­t i­n­­ the memory of­ over 11,000 S­i­khs­ ki­l­l­ed b­y Mughal­ troops­ at Kahn­­uwan­­ Chhamb ­i­n­­ 1746.

with thanks : DAYANDNIGHTNEWS : link in headline above.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Ulka pind or something else ?

Link of this video : http://youtu.be/xIcNrKiQmLk


Ulka Pind or something else ? ( Pics )



















A fire ball smashed the home of Sd Inder pal singh in Chand Mohalla, Gandhi nagar & broke into many small pcs in a split second. All the pce were burning & pouring of water was of no use. After appx. 15 minutes, these pcs cooled automatically. But while burning it damaged the items lying there as well a bike standing outside on the road. All this happened on 27th November, 2011 in the late evening hours. This fire ball may be an ULKA PIND or may be any thing else which is not knows to us.

Friday, November 25, 2011

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India Talent Show - Warriors of Goja AMAZING - VIDEO

PLZ DONT VIEW IF YOU HAVE ANY HEART PROBLEM.


with thanks : YouTube

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Sikh body distances itself from attacker

MUMBAI

In a bid to pre-empt any communal fallout of attack on union minister Sharad Pawar, Sri Guru Singh Sabha - the central body of the city's Sikh community — condemned the act, dubbing it as “unlawful and fascist”. “The perpetrator of the crime, Harvinder Singh, is a member of our community. However, his act is inhuman and he should be tried under the law of the land,” said S Bahadur Singh, president of the Sabha, at a press conference held in the city on Thursday.
“It is highly unfortunate that the act of one man is threatening the peace and harmony of the community and the country. We strive for peace and request fellow Sikh members to deal with the situation sensitively, keeping in mind the principles laid down by Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh,” said Kulwant Singh, general secretary of the Sabha.

with thanks : HT : link in headline above for detailed news.

PETPB to open Gurdwara Babe Di Ber in Pak

AMRITSAR: The Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board (PETPB) will open Gurdwara Babe de Ber for Sikh pilgrims visiting Pakistan on religious occasions.

Former president and executive committee member of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Harvinder Singh Sarna said on Thursday that the announcement was made by PETPB's visiting chairman Sayed Asif Hashmi on the occasion of martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur at Gurdwara Sis Ganj, Delhi.

Hashmi also laid foundation stone of one of the buildings being constructed at Gurdwara Sis Ganj. He would be visiting Amritsar to pay obeisance at Golden Temple on November 28 before crossing over to Pakistan on November 29.

Gurdwara Babe Di Ber is situated near Aik stream along Sialkot-Pasrur road in Pakistan. First Sikh guru Guru Nanak Dev had visited Sialkot and during his visit he had stayed outside the town under a Ber tree.

The building of gurdwara was constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.


with thanks : TOI : link in headline above for detailed news story.

Punjab CM dedicates Virasat-e-Khalsa monument to public

Anandpur Sahib: The Chief Minister of Punjab, Prakash Singh Badal here on Friday dedicated 'Virasat-e-Khalsa’ monument to the public regarded as masterpiece of rich Sikh culture and religious history. A religious ceremony was also performed on the auspicious occasion. Showcasing the rich heritage of Khalsa, its history and culture of Punjab, the complex costing over Rs 350 crore had been mired with various controversies since the foundation stone of the first phase of the complex was laid by Congress to its completion by SAD-BJP regime.


The national president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Nitin Gadkari and Ravi Shankar, founder of Art of Living and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. The Virasat-e-Khalsa gives profound insight regarding the unfolding of the events in the previous three centuries in Punjab leading to the birth to Khalsa. Showcasing the history and culture of Punjab, a monumental museum depicts the evolution of Khalsa Panth, right from Guru Nanak era to Guru Gobind Singh’s Khalsa Raj, the unparalleled sacrifices of Sikhs for unity and integrity of the country. 

As the five head priests of five Takhts and Badal dedicated it to the humanity, religious heads of all religions, representatives of all casts and people from various countries described it a new symbol of humanity depicting universal brotherhood and love.  

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal honoured the people associated with the project with robe of honour and Sukhbir in his address described Virasat-E-Khalsa as 8th wonder of the world that is set to put Sri Anandpur Sahib on global tourist map. Dedicating Virasat-E-Khalsa to the humanity, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh described it as a important day in the history. The Chief Minister said that we should view Virasat-E-Khalsa rising above all religions, all parties, all castes as this monument is dedicated to the humanity denoting the message of ‘Sarbatt Da Bhala’ given to us by the first Guru of Sikhs.





with thanks : Punjab Newsline : link above for detailed News story.

Links / Original source of a News Story

This is for your kind information that the links / original sources of various News items taken, are added to the headline of the said news story. If you click the Headline of the story, you will reach to the original source. Our aim is to generate awareness about Sikh issues & we try to divert the visitor to the original source. In case you find any thing mischievous, please mail us immediately so that it could be removed from the blog.  

A Sikh of substance

 Khushwant Singh


(Left to right) Aboriginal musician Uncle George, Jamel Kaur, Dya Singh and Afghan Muslim tabla player Rameen Nawa at a recital
I was aware of the existence of Sikh settlements in Woolgoolga in North Australia. They were farmers growing avocados and bananas and were prosperous enough to have aircraft of their own to spray pesticides. They were split into two factions and had two gurdwaras. I spent one evening with them and was charmed to note that after the evening prayers, their ladies served chilled beer to their men folk.


(Left to right) Aboriginal musician Uncle George, Jamel Kaur, Dya Singh and Afghan Muslim tabla player Rameen Nawa at a recital



In the last few decades, Sikh presence has spread to other parts of Australia, most notably to Melbourne. The city’s best-known sardar is Dya Singh, a 60-year-old ragi born in Malaysia, where his father was a granthi-cum-ragi of a gurdwara. Dya Singh started singing with his father when he was only three, and continued doing so for the next 15 years.




With thanks : Tribune : Link above in the headline for the detailed news story. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111119/saturday/above.htm

The Article : Sardars of Australia : via link from : 
Thanks to Sd. Gurmukh Singh ji from UK.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Union minister Sharad Pawar slapped

New Delhi: A man has slapped agriculture minister Sharad Pawar in the face, apparently to draw attention to rising food prices.

Sharad Pawar was talking to reporters at a political function Thursday when the man attacked him. TV news reports said the man was shouting slogans about rising food prices.

Television footage showed the man brandishing a knife as he was dragged away by security officialsand Pawar's aides. CNN-IBN TV reported that he was detained by police.

Pawar was not seriously hurt.

Such incidents have become increasingly common in India, where ministers and other officials have had shoes thrown at them and their offices ransacked by angry citizens.

The incidents have usually been over political decisions, corruption and real or perceived injustices.

with thanks : yahoo news : link above for detailed news.

Neeh Pathar of new Langar Hall & Yatri niwas at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib







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Neeh pathar at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib



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United Sikhs won Chase the community giving contest on Facebook

New York: United Sikhs has won the $250,000/- ‘Chase Community Giving’ contest on Facebook with a margin of 4969 votes from its closest contestant. The NGO received a total of 22,685 votes. The top eligible charity receives $250,000 and the remaining 99 top charities earn $25,000 through $100,000 awards.

“The Chase Community Giving contest a labor of love for all our volunteers. It was an exciting two weeks of networking on the ground as our volunteers hit the road, real people talking to real people, using social media technology for a good cause! We sincerely appreciate the time and effort everyone put in by everyone. We maintained our commitment to the Program rules and thank Chase Bank for the opportunity. We look forward to using the funds for augmenting our Humanitarian Aid and Community Services projects, ” said Jatinder Singh, Director United Sikhs.

“We thank all the Gurudwaras, volunteers, and thousands of facebook users who supported the organization. We congratulate the top 100 winners of the contest. We also thank ‘Chase Community Giving’ for providing us an avenue to engage communities worldwide in supporting our projects in the service of humanity” said Kuldip Singh, President, United Sikhs, USA.

“We thank the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Commitee (SGPC) and the Gurudwara committees of North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa who unequivocally supported our cause and provided help with reaching out to the masses” said Pawanjit Singh, Director United Sikhs, USA.

Participating itself has been a learning experience about the passion we bring to help the needy and the wonderful work that other charities do and the various causes they work for.

United Sikhs thanked and congratulated all Charities that participated and has wished everyone success in their endeavors – the world is a wonderful place because of the selfless work by Volunteers for the charities they work with.

sikh siyasat

Footsteps of Guru Tegh Bahadur

AMRITSAR:

Birth place of Guru Tegh Bahadur:
The ninth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was born in Amritsar on April 1, 1621. He was the youngest of five sons of Guru Hargobind Singh. He had four brothers Baba Gurditta, Baba Suraj Mal, Baba Ani Rai, Baba Atal Rai and one sister Bibi Veero. Situated in a narrow street near Guru Bazar, the birthplace of the Guru is known as Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, as it was also the home of Guru Ramdas, Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Hargobind. The gurdwara has a well from the times of the Gurus.

Gurdwara Kotha Sahib:
Gurdwara Kotha Sahib is situated in Vallaha near Amritsar. The legend has it that after attaining "Gurgaddi", Guru Tegh Bahadur reached Amritsar to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. After taking dip in the holy sarovar, Guru sat under a Beri tree and later went to Vallaha. He visited Mata Haro's home and stayed there for 17 days. Her house later became the gurdwara.

Gurdwara Baba Bakala:
Situated around 37 kilometres from Amritsar, Gurdwara Baba Bakala holds a significant importance in Sikh history. Before his death, Guru Harkrishan had mumbled "Baba Bakal" giving indication that his successor would be found here. In those days, many imposters tried to grab the "Gurgaddi" by posing as the real Guru. It was Makhan Shah Lubana, a banjara trader from Jhelum, who discovered the real Guru.

Gurdwara Moti Bagh Sahib:
Gurdwara Moti Bagh Sahib situated near the new Moti Bagh palace in Patiala is a place where almost entire Patiala will converge on Thursday, as the ninth Guru of Sikhs Guru Teg Bahadur had stayed for some days here before attaining martyrdom for Kashmiri Pandits. "Guru Sahib stayed here for more than a week while he was going to Delhi from Anandpur Sahib," said manager of gurdwara Karnail Singh. Though majority of the gurdwara building has been reconstructed, there still exists a small building at the back of the gurdwara where the Guru reportedly stayed for some days. "Authorities have reconstructed the main building but they did not demolished this small place as it is considered auspicious," said Balwant Singh, a regular devotee to the gurdwara for the past 30 years.

Yamunanagar villages:
During his various pilgrimages, Guru Tegh Bahadur visited two villages of Yamunanagar - Jhiwerehri and Shudail. The Guru meditated under the sun, and when people requested him to sit under a tree, he assured them that a tree will grow by itself at the place of his meditation. The legend has it that a peepal tree grew at the same place, and still exists. A pond near the gurdwara came into existence during the Guru's visit. A gurdwara was built in Shudail village.

Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib:
The gurdwara built in Delhi is situated at a place where Guru Tegh Bahadur was cremated after his execution in November 1675 on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The Guru was beheaded for refusing to accept Islam as his religion.

Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib:
After the Guru was beheaded at Chandni Chowk in old Delhi, his head was taken to the Anandpur Sahib by Bhai Jivan Singh, and cremated by his son Gobind Rai. Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib is constructed at the same place, and thousand of devotees come here every year.


with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news report.

Guru Teg Bahadur was the first martyr for human rights

JALANDHAR: As the martyrdom day of ninth Sikh master, Guru Teg Bahadur, is being observed on Wednesday, only a few may know that he was the first martyr for human rights, who attained martyrdom for defending the rights of followers of a different faith to practice their faith.

It was around a century before the popular quotation, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it", attributed to French writer, deist and philosopher Voltaire, that the ninth master demonstrated it literally.

Ironically, this statement became more popular in the world than its real demonstration, which preceded it a century ago in the Indian subcontinent.

"Guru Teg Bahadur was undisputedly the first martyr for human rights. His martyrdom was unparalleled in world history as never before somebody had laid down life to defend the right of followers of another faith to practice their faith," said former IAS and Sikh scholar, Gurtej Singh.

with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Sikh pilgrims call for easing of visa restrictions

Every year thousands of Sikhs visit Nankana Sahib, a small town near the Pakistani city of Lahore, birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev, founder of the Sikh religion.

with thanks : BBC News : PLEASE VIEW THE VIDEO FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

New luxury train to cover Sikh shrines

Beijing, Nov 22 (PTI) Indian Railways will launch a special train next month to cover various Sikh shrines in the country to cash in on the success of luxury trains on the religious routes catering to overseas tourists. The 'Takht Express' would be launched on December 23 from Chandigarh. It would cover six sacred destinations for Sikhs, including Amritsar in nine days, Rakesh Tandon, Managing Director of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) said here. Tandon was speaking at a get together organised for Chinese travel agents, media and officials of Buddhist shrines here yesterday to popularise 'Mahaparinirvan Express' being run on the Buddhist circuit in India and Nepal. He said the train covering Sikh shrines was being launched following the high demand for such trains in religious routes. The IRCTC along with the Indian Embassy and India Tourism department, Beijing, organised the event to highlight the popularity of the Mahaparinirvan Express among the Buddhist all over the world as it covered most important places sacred to Buddhism. Starting from Safdarjung railway station in New Delhi the Mahaparinirvan Express covers Budhgaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Varanasi, Sarnath, Lumbini, Sravasti, Kushinagar and Agra. The event was organised to mainly popularise the train in China which has a large number of Buddhist population. PTI KJV

with thanks : IBNLive : link above.

Fake Colony Land scam : Delhi AajTak : Janpath

Monday, November 21, 2011

The Sis Ganj story

Soon after the joyous celebrations for Guru Nanak, comes the sad event of the martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh guru.

It was at the site of the Sis Ganj Gurdwara in Delhi's Chandni Chowk where the Guru was beheaded in 1675. Guru Tegh Bahadur had taken on the mighty Mughals and made the supreme sacrifice of his life to protect the faith and honour of the persecuted and the downtrodden. He is called Hind Di Chadar or shield of India. This year, his martyrdom day falls on November 24. The guru was born in Amritsar in 1621 and named Tyag Mal. The name Tegh Bahadur (mighty of the sword), was given to him by his father, Guru Hargobind, after he fought with valour against the Mughals.

Aurangzeb seized power in 1658 after executing his liberal-minded brother, Dara Shukoh. Aurangzeb had perceived India as an Islamic theocracy and sought to convert Hindus to Islam. He decided to begin conversions with the Kashmiri Pundits.

with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.

Officer or Distinction - Harjit Singh Sajjan

Sunday, November 20, 2011

London 2012: Sikhs allowed to carry daggers at Olympics

Security will be tight at all Games venues, with Britain prepared to deploy surface-to-air missiles to protect London during the event, Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, said shortly after the Government rejected reports of US security fears.

However, Sikhs will be allowed to take in a sheathed kirpan as long as it is worn beneath their clothing and if they can prove that they are adhering to four other articles of faith.

The concession of allowing Sikhs to carry a blade measuring up to 6in into Olympic venues is likely to cause concern. Such blades are normally banned from schools in Britain and are not allowed to be carried on to planes unless they are blunt and shorter than 2.4in.


with thanks : TELEGRAPH UK : link above for detailed news.

Sikh community donates a month of meals to the Poverello House

Rise of the Khalsa Documentary

























This documentary is a brief journey into the KHALSA tradition, showcasing it's roots and its transition to the modern world. Facebook link in Headline above.



Jagmeet Singh Samundri





Saturday, November 19, 2011

Plz vote for www.unitedsikhs.org

Sikhs guarding Chinese cemetery since 1930’s


Sikhs guarding Chinese cemetery since 1930’sChina: For nearly 70 years, two statues of Sikh guards have stood faithfully over Qing Dynasty magistrate Chew Gek Leng’s grave. The brightly coloured pair are a familiar sight to visitors to Bukit Brown Cemetery, off Sime Road.

Foreigners take pictures of them. Punters seek 4-D numbers from them. Except for a new paint job every two years, the pair have lasted their long vigil mostly unscathed.

Until now.

On 28 Mar, when Mr Chew’s oldest grandson, Mr James Chew, 68, a retired bank officer, went with his sister to visit the grave during the Qing Ming Festival, he found to his horror that the noses of both statues were broken.

The sentry on the left, which has the Chinese words for ‘house guard’ painted on it, also had the top of its rifle broken. (The other guard is labelled ‘patrol’).

It is a popular grave, and there are no shortage of gawkers, which Mr Chew does not mind. But he said: ‘Take pictures, but please don’t take away a piece of the grave’.

It is not known if the damage was the work of vandals.

The 1.5m-tall, splendidly uniformed duo with bushy black beards and bright red turbans are an arresting sight amid the grey headstones and green foliage of the graveyard. These statues even come with a guard dog each, which lies by the butt of each rifle.

Mr Chew called the statues ‘a landmark’ among visitors, and he wasn’t exaggerating.

Though rainclouds cut short the time The New Paper spent at the tomb on Good Friday with Mr Chew, at least two family groups stood and looked at the statues during the one-hour period.

One woman, who declined to be named, said: ‘We recognise these two statues. We see them, then we know how to go (to the grave we are visiting).

‘Everyone knows the guards.’

The grave is now looked after by the third generation of a family of grave caretakers.

People come to pay respects

One of them is Madam Queenie Quek, 49. Her grandmother first looked after the grave, then her mother, and now her.

Her face lit up when she saw Mr Chew, and she quickly came down with a Chinese paintbrush to ask him to draw pupils on the Sikh statues’ eyes, which had been painted white.

Mr Chew joked as he painted: ‘Otherwise, they’re blind.’

Madam Quek said that during Qing Ming Festival and the Hungry Ghost Festival, officials from various temples around Singapore will come to pay their respects, offering tea and burning incense.

‘Maybe it’s because he’s a magistrate, and they found out that he was a major official?’ said Madam Quek.

Her sister-in-law, Madam Oh Kim Gek, 53, has been looking after the grave for 30 years.

As for the damage, she suspects that it was a lorry that caused it since they stood by the road.

But who was Mr Chew Gek Leng, who died in 1940, and why does he, a Chinese immigrant, have statues of Indian soldiers at his grave?

Mr James Chew said his grandfather fled to Singapore from China after the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911.

He brought his two wives, his servants and his slaves, to escape death at the hands of warlords.

He had been given Sikh guards in China, whom he did not bring along. .

As he came from five generations of physicians, he started practising medicine when he arrived, at a large house near Jalan Eunos.

The grave that he was entombed in was a major undertaking. The statues were made in China and the granite was also shipped over from his home country.

Before he died, he also had a large coffin stored in the house.

Mr Chew Gek Leng’s Sikh statues first made news in 1993, during the impending exhumation of graves in Bukit Brown Cemetery.

Although Mr James Chew is a practising Christian who worships at Wesley Methodist Church, he believes that it is his duty to maintain the grave of his grandfather.

But he is old. Who will take over when he is gone?

He sighs. He has two daughters, but one of them is married in Sydney, Australia. He is considering paying a temple to take over his work.

He said: ‘I’ll let the next generation decide what to do.’

with thanks : www.sikhsangat.org

Super visa for parents of students in Canada

CHANDIGARH: Canadian government has introduced super visa for parents to facilitate their union with children living in Canada. Replying to a question regarding strict visa conditions for students, Canada's first Sikh minister of state for democratic reforms Tim Singh Uppal, who was in Amritsar on Friday, said Canadian government would now give four times more visas than any other country to the students from India. He also hinted at the possibility of education a tie-up with Khalsa College, Amritsar.


with thanks : times of India : link above for detailed news.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Gurdwara Shri Guru Kalgidhar Sahib:Largest Sikh temple in Continental Europe in Cremona,Italy!

On demand,some more photos of Gurduwara Sri Guru Kalgidhar Sahib which is Europe's Biggest Gurdwara situated in Cremona,Italy. Giorgio Mantovani is a designer of this beautiful Gurdwara.







With Special thanks:
Taranjit Singh,Manjot Singh,Dilbagh Singh & Sukhvinder kaur(Cremona,Italy).

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
University of Milan
Italy

Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi
New Delhi
INDIA

Gurmat Samagam : Sri Guru Nanak Sewak Jatha




























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He found his calling in turban tying

LUDHIANA: Jagtar Singh Jaggi is no ordinary professional. He earns his livelihood by tying turbans, which not many professionals in city would have thought of.

He runs a shop " Jaggi Turban Training Centre" in Brown Road area where he ties turbansfor his Sikh clients and also trains people in the art.



On asking what made him thought of this profession, says Jaggi, "I used to run a hosiery shop in Dhuri Line area. In 2004, a customer,Jaswinder Singh, who used to get his turban tied by me, told me that I am very good at the art. That was the first time I thought of exploring this as an option to earn livelihood."

During normal days, he gets about 20-50 customers, which include industrialists, businessmen, doctors, engineers, transporters, students and others. During wedding season, the number goes up to 50-80.

Jaggi says, "It takes me about 5-8 minutes to tie a turban. I do it in various styles, including Niku style (8.5 meters long), Grewaal style (8 meters), Daljit style (6.5 meters), Patiala Shahi(7.5 meters), NRI style (5.5 meters), American style and African."


with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Rare Sikh memorabilia to go under hammer in UK today

SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE                                           Shyam Bhatia in London

A controversial 1854 memorandum to Maharaja Dalip Singh that tells of his duties as a Christian, including the need to nominate a Christian heir, is being offered for auction tomorrow (Thursday) in the UK. The author of the hand written memorandum is Sir John Spencer Login, who was appointed by the East India Company as guardian to the young and inexperienced heir of Ranjit Singh, shortly after he was deposed by the British in 1849.

Some memorabilia related to Maharaja Ranjit Singh (in pic) also to be auctioned; and (right) German prayer book given to Dalip Singh.
Some memorabilia related to Maharaja Ranjit Singh (in pic) also to be auctioned; and (right) German prayer book given to Dalip Singh. 

Born in 1838, Dalip Singh was Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s youngest son. Following the infighting after Ranjit Singh’s death in 1839, Dalip Singh was crowned in 1843, deposed in 1849, converted to Christianity in 1853 and exiled to the UK in 1854.
The fabulous Kohinoor diamond, part of his inheritance from Ranjit Singh, was taken from him and given to Queen Victoria. Nothwithstanding the efforts of the British authorities at the time, Dalip Singh responded to the call of his Sikh roots some 33 years later. Helped by his cousin, Sardar Thakar Singh Sandhawalia, he returned to the Sikh fold in 1886 in the port of Aden during an unsuccessful attempt to return to India and the Punjab.
Login’s memorandum is a timely reminder of the enormous efforts to brainwash Dalip Singh as part of a larger plan to prevent him from reclaiming his once powerful and extremely wealthy kingdom.

It was a measure of the Punjab’s importance (both strategically and financially) that when Login retired a few years later he was granted an annual pension of £300, which today would be worth £800,000 pounds (nearly Rs 6.5 crores) per year. The memorandum is part of a larger collection of Sikh, Punjabi and other Indian memorabilia that is being sold by Mullock’s auctioneers in the English county of Shropshire.

Among them is a German prayer book foisted on the young Maharaja, as part of the relentless efforts by the colonial powers to persuade him to give up his religion, roots and homeland.
Other items put up for sale include 19th century maps of the Punjab, assorted prints of the Golden Temple, a seated statue of Ranjit Singh, a drawing of Guru Har Krishan, a pen and ink sketch of Guru Gobind Singh and a print of Shaheed Bhagat Singh who was hanged for his revolutionary activities in 1931. Some other objects of interest include a gold mohur - known as a Nanakshahi - minted in the last 10 years of Ranjit Singh’s reign.

with thanks : Tribune : link above for more detailed news.

Sikh Pilgrims: Hundreds of yatris arrive in Shakargarh

SIALKOT: 
Hundreds of Sikh pilgrims from the USA, India, England, Malaysia, Canada, Australia and Germany visited the Darbar Sahib Guru Nanak in Kartarpur, Shakargarh amid tight security on Wednesday evening.
According to security officials, Darbar Seva-Das in-charge Sardar Gobind Singh told reporters that the visiting Sikh pilgrims participated in celebrations held in connection with the 542nd birth anniversary of Baba Jee Guru Nanak Dev Jee.
“There were hundreds of pilgrims and the event went off without a hitch.
The yatrees performed religious rites and also attended a special prayer ceremony following the event,” he said.
Sardar Gobind Singh told reporters that the yatrees also took “Ashnan” there and distributed sweets among the local people. Some Sikh pilgrims also spoke about their pre-partition memories by visiting their native houses in Zafarwal, Shakargarh and other surrounding areas in the district.
The yatrees also exchanged gifts with the local people and dozens of local residents came to the gurdawara to greet them and wish them well for the remainder of their stay in Pakistan.


with thanks : Tribune PK

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Sikh clergy hail Anand Marriage Act

AMRITSAR: The Sikh community has hailed Union law minister Salman Khurshid's statement regarding implementation of the Anand Marriage Act (Sikh's separate marriage Act) in the near future.
Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh said, "I appreciate Khurshid's gesture as it is acknowledgment of Sikh's separate identity". He said the law minister should now ensure that the Anand Marriage Act is implemented without delay.

with thanks : times of India : link above.

Gilani proposes plan for establishing university named after Guru Nanak

LAHORE: 
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani discussed the establishment of a university named after Guru Nanak in a bid to empower minority communities in the country.

The idea was discussed in a meeting between the prime minister and pilgrims of the Sikh community in Lahore.
Prominent at the gathering was the topic of the establishment of a university in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of founder of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak.
Dr Pritpal Singh, Convener of the American Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, expressed his pleasure at the enthusiasm shown by Gilani to set things in motion for the university.
The American Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee is an organisation that looks after Sikh places of worship.
The work on the university is slated to be arranged by the Evacuee Trust Property Board, the organisation that looks after the affairs of minority properties and places of worship in Pakistan.

with thanks : Tribune pak : link above.