Sikhs India - A wake up call for the sikh community

Gurdwara Rakab Ganj sahib Re-development work started by DSGMC : SikhsIndia

2012-02-03T22:02:00.000+05:30

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

US Sikh body hires lobbying firm after Jay Leno row

2012-02-03T21:59:00.000+05:30

WASHINGTON: A Sikh body in the US today announced the hiring of a lobbying firm to educate the American media about the true identity, image and message of Sikhism and the importance of the Golden Temple to the community in the wake of popular TV host Jay Leno's controversial remark that sparked a global outrage.

"The lobbyists will approach NBC to provide aforum to a panel of Sikh scholars and notables to educate media and American public about the sanctity and sensitivity of the Sri Harmandir Sahib," said Sikh for Justice in a statement.

The decision comes in the wake of the controversial remarks on the Golden Temple by Leno on the NBC news channel.

In the programme, the Golden Temple was shown as the summer home of Mitt Romney, the leading Republican presidential candidate.

with thanks : TOI : link in the headline for detailed news.

DSGMC - Sarna ji - 1st Feb. 2012 - Part 1 : SikhsIndia

2012-02-02T23:07:00.001+05:30

Press conference by DSGMC President Sd. Param jit Singh Sarna ji on DSGMC Elections, Bala Sahib Hospital, Free mediclaim policy for BPL Sikh community of Delhi, Re development of Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, etc. Video by : SikhsIndia

SikhsIndia

www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com

www.sohnijodi.com

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

www.RWABhagidari.com

Sikhs struggle under Afghan intolerance

2012-02-01T11:13:00.000+05:30

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK in headline above.

Another electoral battle readies for SAD

2012-02-01T10:57:00.000+05:30

JALANDHAR: With the elections of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Managing Committee (DSGMC) scheduled on March 11, another electoral battle is ready for Shiromani Akali Dal.

For PPCC president Amarinder Singh, this will be an electoral battle through proxy as SAD (Delhi) headed by Paramjit Singh Sarna has been openly aligning with him and even campaigned for the Congress in the just-concluded polling in Punjab.

SAD had a considerable clout on DSGMC, sometimes complete sometimes partial; but in 2001, a separate Akali Dal was formed by Sarna under the name of SAD (Delhi) which ended Badal-led SAD's control on DSGMC in 2002 elections in which Badal's party got 16 votes. Sarna further reduced SAD (Badal)'s clout as they got 12 seats in the 2007 elections.

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

SikhsIndia

www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com

www.sohnijodi.com

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

www.RWABhagidari.com

Punjab polls: Clan in mind, border seat votes big

2012-02-01T10:54:00.000+05:30

GURU HAR SAHAI (FEROZEPUR): This sleepy assembly segment bordering Pakistan seems to have truly woken up and come out and voted in droves, making it one of the seats that recorded high polling.

One reason behind the record 90% turnout, with total voter population of 1.45 lakh, is being attributed to Sanjha Morcha fielding a Rai Sikh candidate from Guru Har Sahai.

Political observers said the area has a large population of around 30,000 Rai Sikhs and it was after many years that a candidate of this community was in the fray, which helped mobilize large number of voters.

Interestingly, a Rai Sikh candidate, Sajawar Singh, had recorded two wins from this constituency- as in independent in the1985 elections and as a Congress nominee in the 1992 polls.

In 1985, he bagged a vote share of 23.59% of the total 69.60% polled. In 1992, his share rose to 30.86% of the total 62.61% polling.

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

Punjab goes to polls today; Third front may play spoilsport

2012-01-30T13:29:00.000+05:30

The decline of Sikh Panthic issues as electoral agenda and the rise of a development rhetoric would be the highlight when Punjab goes to elections on 30 January, 2012. This is the first time in the history of the state that both Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and Indian National Congress did not raise any Sikh identity issues, which were at the helm of debate in the militancy and post-militancy period of the 1990s and early 2000s. While this would give added ground to the Congress to practice its assimilative politics, as envisioned by the party high command, it would also give the Akalis a chance to emerge as an autonomous party that would take into account also the concerns of the Hindus who are almost half of Punjab’s population. The SAD is seen as an upper caste Jat Sikh party, primarily comprising big farmers. In all the elections, it has to depend on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), SAD’s ally in the assembly and parliamentary polls, to cash in the Hindu votes.

However, if the 2009 parliamentary election’s performance is to be believed, the BJP is set to suffer a major setback in the assembly elections because of its declining organisational strength and non-performance of its elected legislators. The party had lost almost all its assembly segments. It is for this reason that SAD’s heir apparent Sukhbir Badal and Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal’s son had started his campaign on a developmental all-inclusive agenda from February last year. Since 2009, Sukhbir, credited for three successful election campaigns, has tried to give an unprecedented electoral representation to Hindus, Dalits and Other Backward castes.

The Congress, instead, is banking on anti-incumbency factor and the historical tradition of Punjab which has never voted back an incumbent government. Amarinder Singh, the captain of the Congress team, has been using the Khunda (a farmer’s staff used for self-defence) in all his rallies as a message to the people that if the Congress party comes to power it will seek revenge from the Akalis for the growing incidents of police torture and widespread corruption in the state. The perception among the people, according to many surveys, has been that the SAD-BJP government has been one of the most autocratic and corrupt governments. However, the Congress has also had to face the anti-incumbency that runs against the UPA government at the centre and something that the SAD-BJP has frequently been raising. It also has to tackle 27 of its dissident candidates who are now contesting elections independently after being denied a party ticket.

In this bi-polar sharing of power between the Akalis and the Congress, a third front called the Sanjha Morcha has emerged strongly for the first time in Punjab’s polity, raising doubts over psephological calculations. The leader of the Sanjha Morcha, Manpreet Badal was a former Akali and the finance minister of the ruling government before he decided to form his own party by the name of People’s Party of Punjab (PPP). In political circles, he was seen as the heir-apparent to Prakash Singh Badal, before Sukhbir Badal asserted himself in the party even after joining politics much later than Manpreet Badal. This led to Manpreet’s resignation from the party and the Sanjha Morcha that comprises the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India and Shiromani Akali Dal (Longowal along with the PPP. The Morcha is banking on clean image and development programme that it had much before any other party.

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

DSGMC Elections announced !

2012-01-28T10:50:00.002+05:30

Racist murder of Sikh waiter to be reinvestigated after 10-year campaign

2012-01-27T12:29:00.000+05:30

The racist murder of a Sikh waiter has been officially reopened by Scotland's chief prosecutor after a 10-year campaign by the dead man's family.

Frank Mulholland, the lord advocate, said the police had been asked to reinvestigate the murder of Surjit Chhokar in November 1998 after he met the man's family in Edinburgh on Thursday morning.

Mulholland confirmed that the Crown Office was now reviewing the case after the Scottish parliament last year scrapped the so-called double jeopardy rule that prevented someone previously cleared of a seriouscrime being prosecuted again for that offence.

Chhokar's death from multiple stab wounds, after he was allegedly attacked by a group of men on a street in Overtown near Motherwell, has been likened to the Stephen Lawrence case in south London.

Lesley Thomson, the solicitor general for Scotland, said: "The prosecution service is committed to make use of the powers under the new double jeopardy legislation.

with thanks : guardian : link in the headline above for detailed news.

Jay Leno takes heat over "Tonight Show" Sikh sketch

2012-01-27T12:26:00.001+05:30

(CBS/AP) Sparks continue to fly over a recent Jay Leno skit. British lawmakers say Prime Minister David Cameron should complain to the United States over a Leno routine that joked about the holiest site in the Sikh religion.

On the Jan. 19 episode of "The Tonight Show," Leno showed a photo of an impressive gold building and joked that it was Republican Mitt Romney's summer home. The site was actually the Golden Temple, a revered Sikh site.

In a motion published at Parliament on Thursday, two legislators said Leno had shown a complete misunderstanding of the Sikh faith. British opposition Labour Party lawmakers Virendra Shrama and John McDonnell proposed a motion demanding Cameron call on the U.S. to show more respect toward Sikhs. The move does not compel Cameron to take any action.

Leno is also causing a stir stateside. TMZ reports the 61-year-old host is now being sued by a man in California named Dr. Randeep Dhillon, who argues the comedian is spreading hatred and ridicule of his religion.

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

Khanda Baba Deep singh ji : SikhsIndia

2012-01-26T15:49:00.000+05:30

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

Dhan Baba Deep Singh ji

2012-01-26T15:47:00.002+05:30

Jay Leno sued over Sikh joke

2012-01-25T20:44:00.000+05:30

Jay Leno

Photograph by: Handout, NBC

Jay Leno's really taking it on the chin over his joke about Mitt Romney last week.

Leno has taken heat from a religious group after cracking that presidential contender Romney keeps the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, as his summer home. And how he's being sued by a religious organizer who claims that Leno libeled the entire Sikh religion with his joke.

In court papers filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday and obtained by TheWrap, Dr. Randeep Dhillon, who does business as Bol Punjabi All Regions Community Organization, claims that Leno "hurt the sentiments of all Sikh people in addition to those of the plaintiff" with his joke. Dhillon further claims that Leno's joke "clearly exposes plaintiff, other sikhs and their religion to hatred, contempt, ridicule and obloquy because it falsely portrays the holiest place in the Sikh religion as a vacation resort owned by a non-Sikh."

With thanks : Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Leno+sued+over+Sikh+joke/6049223/story.html#ixzz1kU1gFH9P

US Reaction on Jay Leno Episode

2012-01-24T19:34:00.000+05:30

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

GOLDEN TEMPLE JOKE IRKS SIKHS : Headlines Today

2012-01-24T19:31:00.000+05:30

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

Krishna slams Jay Leno over Golden Temple remark

2012-01-24T19:28:00.002+05:30

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

SGPC opposes Jay Leno's Golden Temple remark

2012-01-24T19:27:00.002+05:30

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

Speak out India: Row over Jay Leno's Golden Temple remark

2012-01-24T19:26:00.001+05:30

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

Jay Leno's remark on Golden Temple, India (19/01/2012)

2012-01-24T19:07:00.002+05:30

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

Nagar Keertan in Krishna nagar

2012-01-23T21:36:00.001+05:30

Dr. Harshvardhan, Dr V K Monga, Sd. Tarjeet singh Nagi ji with us on our Langer Stall during the Nagar Keertan in Krishna nagar on the Parkash Utsav of Guru Gobind singh ji.

Largest Gurudwara in Dubai opens !

2012-01-23T20:40:00.001+05:30

Assembly polls 2012: Akal Takht blasts leaders going to Dera

2012-01-23T17:31:00.000+05:30

There is trouble brewing for political leaders thronging deras for last-minute efforts to woo voters.

Akal Takht head priest Giani Gurbachan Singh said here on Sunday that he would examine how many of the Sikh political leaders had violated the Akal Takht edict barring the Sikhs from maintaining any links with Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim Singh. In 2007 five head priests at the Akal Takht ordained that the Sikhs would not keep any links with the dera chief accused of blasphemy. The Akal Takht edict (hukamnaama) was issued after the dera chief had failed to appear before the Takht to explain his act of blasphemy.

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

Human rights panel orders probe against 2 DRI officials for ‘torturing’ Sikh trader

2012-01-23T17:29:00.000+05:30

The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has ordered a departmental inquiry against two senior Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officers for allegedly cutting off a Sikh businessman’s beard on his refusal to pay a bribe. Taking a serious note of the incident, the commission has observed that it was an act of “breach of human dignity” and was done to insult his religion.

The incident had allegedly taken place during a raid on Mahendrapal Gujral, a Juhu-based businessman, who dealt in foreign cars. He was arrested last June, following the raid on his residence by senior intelligence officer D S Mehta.

Mehta was allegedly acting on the orders of his senior C Jagiasi, an assistant director in the DRI. The DRI has registered a case against Gujral for dealing illegally in high-end foreign cars and the case is still pending.

with thanks : indianexpress : link in headline above for detailed news. Must read.

India anger as Jay Leno Golden Temple jibe riles Sikhs

2012-01-23T17:25:00.001+05:30

India has condemned a comment by US comedian Jay Leno on the holiest Sikh shrine, the Golden Temple of Amritsar.

A Leno skit showed the temple as the summer home of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Mr Romney has faced taxation questions over his huge wealth and many Sikhs are angry the temple has been depicted as a place for the rich.

The Sikh community has launched an online petition and an Indian minister called the comments "objectionable".

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi told reporters: "It is quite unfortunate and quite objectionable that such a comment has been made after showing the Golden Temple."

with thanks : BBC News : link in headline above for detailed news report.

Dutch Sikh makes significant progress regarding Sikh identity

2012-01-23T17:20:00.000+05:30

A passionate Sikh author has made significant progress with the Dutch authorities in a number of previous anomalies in the Dutch authorities to recognise the needs of the Sikh community, especially their articles of faith.

This Sikh gentleman is Sardar Bhupinder Singh, he said “I am mailing you an important news for the Sikhs from the Netherlands with pleasure, honor and pride. This will further help to resolve our Turban issue and Identity problem, especially in Europe”

Due to Bhupinder Singh persistence he has recently received a letter from Mr Leers the Minister for Immigration, Integration and Asylum which highlights that Sikhs can join the police force, military and the judiciary. In general, officials are not prohibited from wearing a turban or other symbols of their religion.

The controversy around Sikh names has been clarified and Sikhs children can be registered in accordance with Sikh traditions, but more importantly Sikh names that have been registered incorrectly can be changed.

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

Largest gurdwara in Gulf region opens

2012-01-23T17:17:00.002+05:30

LUDHIANA: The largest gurdwara of Gulf region has been opened for public in Dubai. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar has been constructed at a cost of $20 million. Though Dubai has 50,000 Sikhs staying there, it had no gurdwara so far.

Vice-president and prime minister of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makhtoum, had granted 25,400 sq feet land for the gurdwara in Jebel Ali area.

with thanks : Times of India : link above.

Sikh bridegroom breaks tradition, flies in for wedding

2012-01-20T13:34:00.000+05:30

Amritsar, Jan 19 (PTI) Breaking the usual tradition of riding on a horseback to the bride's home, a Sikh bridegroom here flew in a helicopter to solemnise his marriage. Amidst great fanfare, the couple's relatives received Aman Sandhu as he landed at the Maharaja marriage palace on the outskirts of the city yesterday to marry Kismat Kaur. His childhood dream of approaching his bride in a chopper, and also taking her home for the first time by air, came true thanks to his father, Sandhu said. Owner of the marriage palace, Meharban Singh said a day before the wedding, a temporary helipad was made following the pilot's guidelines.

with thanks : IBNLive : link above.

Wanna do something for the Downtrodden OR Slumdog sikhs ?????

2012-01-19T20:26:00.000+05:30

PLEASE JOIN US ON FACEBOOK TO COMMUNICATE EASILY.
OUR FACEBOOK ID IS "SIKHS INDIA"

Sikh temple project for disused Cosworth building in Northampton

2012-01-19T16:29:00.000+05:30

By Wayne Bontoft

Published on Thursday 19 January 2012 07:20

PART of a disused factory building, owned by Formula 1 engineering firm Cosworth in Northampton, could be converted into a Sikh temple.

The development would involved two-storey building in St James Mill Road, St James, which is currently owned by Cosworth, being bought by the town’s Sikh community and converted into a temple.

Plans which were submitted to Northampton Borough Council this week, explained the temple would replace the current Sikh Gurdwara and community centre in St George’s Street, Semilong.

They said: “It is proposed to re-use the existing Cosworth building as a Gurdwara and community centre.

“The proposed use will involve a small extension to the building and the creation of an internal second floor.”

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

As campaign hots up in Punjab, parties make beeline to deras

2012-01-18T17:54:00.000+05:30

Come elections, and the religious ‘deras’ in Punjab become ‘must-visit’ centres for political parties to woo the followers. There are more than three dozen prominent ‘deras’ in the state with lakhs of followers.

While most of them do not openly support any party, the dera gurus indeed convey their preferences to their followers. During election days, it almost becomes mandatory for political leaders of the state to visit prominent deras and seek ‘blessings’ from the “babas”.

On Monday, more than 100 candidates belonging to the Akali Dal, the Congress, and other parties visited the Dera Sacha Sauda at Sirsa to seek blessings of its controversial chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, whose sect has more than three million followers in Punjab, particularly in the Malwa belt.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh faces charges of murder and rape of a ‘sadhvi’ and has been involved in a major controversy with the Sikh community since April 2007 for allegedly dressing like 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.

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

Oxford death: Indian professor gets bail

2012-01-16T15:53:00.002+05:30

with thanks : IBNlLive

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

'Deceased professor's widow gives clean chit to Indian- origin Sikh colleague over tragedy'

2012-01-16T13:37:00.000+05:30

London, Jan 16(ANI): The widow of the Oxford professor who died at his Indian-origin Sikh colleague's home has told him she does not blame him for the tragedy.

Dr Devinder Sivia's family has said that deceased professor Steve Rowlings' wife Linda had called him on the night of the death because she was worried about her husband's 'emotional state'

Sivia, subsequently, had dinner with Professor Rawlings at a pub before taking his friend to his home.

Sivia said that Professor Rawlings was 'very emotional' and added that the latter attacked him, and collapsed with a suspected heart attack, while he was restraining him at his bungalow in Southmoor, near Abingdon.

"My brother defended himself and it looks like while restraining him he had a heart attack. Linda has called my brother and says she doesn't blame him, as she was the one who asked him to go to the pub and talk to Steven. She gave him instructions to talk to Steven at the pub because he was in an emotional state," The Daily Mail quoted Sivia's brother Gurdip, as saying.

with thanks : newstrackindia : link in the headline above for detailed news.

A helping hand for homeless Indians in Southall

2012-01-15T14:56:00.000+05:30

AMRITSAR: Every year, several Sikhs travel from India to the UK both on travel as well as working visas. But there are several homeless Sikhs who have been languishing in Southall in West London.

United Sikh, Sikh NGO, has revealed the untold misery of Southall's homeless Indians who are unable to find jobs in the UK. Due to their immigration status, there are several Sikhs who want to come back to India.

Speaking to TOI, the director of United Sikh, Mejinderpal Kaur said: "Satbir Kaur (name changed) had gone to the UK from Amritsar on a visitor's visa and ended up overstaying, so that she could earn some money for her husband and son back home."

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

France violated Sikh’s right to wear turban says UN

2012-01-15T14:54:00.000+05:30

In an important victory for the Sikh community in France, the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) has ruled that France has violated the right of a Sikh who had been asked to remove his turban for a photo ID card.

Ranjit Singh, a 76 year old Sikh living in France has not had access to public healthcare any other social benefits since 2005 as he refused to take off his turban for the photo ID card. United Sikhs, a Sikh rights group had filed a communication with the UNHRC on behalf of Ranjit Singh in December 2008.

The UN body has found that France violated Ranjit Singh’s right to wear a turban in accordance to his religion. UNHRC observed in its judgment: “Even if the obligation to remove the turban for the identity photograph might be described as a one-time requirement, it would potentially interfere with the author’s (Ranjit Singh’s) freedom of religion on a continuing basis because he would always appear without his religious head covering in the identity photograph and could therefore be compelled to remove his turban during identity checks.”

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

It's 'Namma Kannada' for these Sikh kids from Rajasthan

2012-01-15T14:52:00.000+05:30

These five children meticulously learn the Kannada alphabet as their parents busy themselves each day within the manufacture and sale of cutlery.

Their teachers at the Government Higher Primary School at KEB Colony here are thrilled that Ankit Singh, Karan Singh, Amrit Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Bharati Kaur - belonging to Sikh families hailing from Rajasthan - are learning the rudiment of the language that they have embraced as their own.

While Ankit, Amrit and Karan are in Class II, Kuldeep and Bharati are students of Class IV. Sumit, another child from Rajasthan, had studied Class I in a Hindi school, but has now joined this Kannada school for Class II.

They reside at Sunnada Bhatti area of Siya Talab extension in the city, known for the utter lack of basic amenities.

Livelihood

The Sikh families migrated six years ago to Raichur in search of a livelihood and it has been their home ever since.

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

Holy book pages found in factory, Sikhs protest

2012-01-15T14:50:00.000+05:30

Amritsar, Jan 14 (PTI) Over 40 gunny bags containing pages of Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib were found today in a cardboard manufacturing factory sparking protests from members of the community. Several radical Sikh outfits including Damdami Taksal, Shiromani Akali Dal Panch Pardhani and Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee held protests demanding immediate arrest of factory owners. Later, factory owners Ravinder Kumar and Arun Kumar were arrested on charges of hurting religious sentiments of a community, police said. The factory owners told police that they had purchased the bags from Amrtitsar-based Jawahar Publisher and were not aware that the pages were from principal Sikh scripture Guru Granth Sahib. The Jawahar Publisher used to publish copies of the Guru Granth Sahib but the Punjab government later banned publishing of the holy book by any private publisher. The publishing rights were give to the SGPC, police said. Two workers of Jawahar Publisher were also booked for wilfully hurting sentiments of the Sikh community, police said.

with thanks : IBNLive : link in headline above.

Sikh held after British colleague's body found at his home

2012-01-14T11:22:00.000+05:30

London, Jan 13 (IANS) A 49-year-old Sikh mathematics lecturer at Oxford University has been arrested after the body of a British colleague was found at his home.

The body of Steven Rawlings, a 50-year-old astrophysicist, was found at the home of Devinder Sivia in Oxfordshire Wednesday, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Sivia -- who lectures at St John's College -- was arrested from his bungalow in Southmoor Thursday and questioned by officers from Thames Valley Police.

He is a stipendiary lecturer in Mathematics for Sciences at Oxford University. He lectures to undergraduates studying chemistry and physics and has published two books.

Rawling's family, however, said they did not believe that Sivia could have murdered his friend and blamed the death on "a tragic accident".

Linda Davey, the 64-year-old elder sister of Rawling, said he was not the type of man to get into an argument over anything.

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

UN human rights body backs French Sikhs on turbans

2012-01-14T11:19:00.000+05:30

A Sikh man in France has won the backing of the United Nations Human Rights Committee in his fight over religious headgear.

It said France was violating Sikhs' religious freedom by forcing them to remove their turbans when having photos taken for passports and ID cards.

Ranjit Singh, 76, said he had turned to the UN because he found the French policy disrespectful and unnecessary.

The ruling is not legally binding. France was asked to respond by March.

Mr Singh welcomed the decision, telling the BBC: "[The turban] is part of my body. It is my identity and I cannot part with it."

Long battle
with thanks BBC : link in headline above for detailed news.

Proud of being a sikh !

2012-01-13T18:43:00.001+05:30

Happy Lohri !

2012-01-13T18:42:00.000+05:30

SIKHS Win Turban Case Against France at the UN

2012-01-13T13:52:00.002+05:30

"The UN Human Rights Committee has asked France to submit a report by March 15th on measures it is taking to remedy the violation of the religious freedom of 76 year old Ranjit Singh,who was asked to remove his turban for his ID photo" said Mejindarpal Kaur, UNITED SIKHS Legal Director, who is in the fore-front of a legal campaign for French Sikhs' right to wear their turban.

Bobigny, France, 12 Jan 2012 – The UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has concluded that France had violated the religious freedom of 76 year old Ranjit Singh when he was asked to remove his turban for his ID photograph. This was disclosed today at a media conference, in Bobigny (near Paris), by the UNITED SIKHS legal team, who had filed a communication on behalf of Ranjit Singh to the UNHRC in December 2008.

The media conference was told that the UNHRC observed that "even if the obligation to remove the turban for the identity photograph might be described as a one-time requirement, it would potentially interfere with the author's (Ranjit Singh's) freedom of religion on a continuing basis because he would always appear without his religious head covering in the identity photograph and could therefore be compelled to remove his turban during identity checks."

The Committee said that France had failed to explain how the Sikh turban hindered identification since the wearer's face would be visible and he would be wearing the turban it at all times, therefore, the regulation constituted a violation of article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which was entered into force for France on 4 February 1981. You may read the Committees views in full here. The views were adopted at the 102nd session of the Committee's sitting.

"I had faith that truth and justice would prevail and I patiently waited for this day. I pray that France will now fulfil its obligation and grant me a residence card bearing my photo without baring my head," said Ranjit Singh, who despite his ill-health has had no access to the public health-care system or to social benefits since 2005 because his residence card was refused due to his refusal to remove his turban.

"UNITED SIKHS is heartened by the Committee's observations that France is under an obligation to provide Ranjit Singh with an effective remedy, including a reconsideration of his application for a renewal of his residence permit and a review of the relevant legislative framework and its application in practice. France, the Committee noted, is also under an obligation to take steps to prevent similar violations in the future," said Mejindarpal Kaur, UNITED SIKHS Legal Director, who addressed the media conference.

"We now look to France to fulfil its treaty obligations under International law and its moral duty to ensure that the freedom of religion and belief is upheld for everyone who lives within its territory," she added.

"We are very pleased with the views that the Committee adopted and we welcome France's compliance with these findings. We also look forward to a similar resolution for Shingara Singh, whose case is still pending before the Committee," O'Melveny & Myers, a New York law firm engaged by UNITED SIKHS, said in a statement through their attorneys who spoke during a telephone interview. A decision is still awaited for Shingara Singh, whose passport has not been renewed by France because he refused to remove his turban for his ID photograph.

You may read a previous press release on our advocacy for religious freedom here.

Issued by:

Mejindarpal Kaur
Legal Director
International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy ( ICHRA)
UNITED SIKHS
law@unitedsikhs.org
+33 605800605/+44 8701993328

Delegation from Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Religion & Worldview, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

2012-01-12T23:22:00.011+05:30

From January 21 to February 19, 2012,a group of 21 European students( Masters and Bachelors)along with Prof.dr.Bert Broeckaert of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies (KU Leuven,Belgium) is to visit India for a India Study Course on Indian Religions.

During their one month stay in India they will study religious richness and cultural Diversity of fascinating sub-continent.They will visit religious & historical places in Delhi,Amritsar,Varanasi,Bodh Gaya,Sikkim/ participate in a wide variety of rituals/attend lectures deliver by local professors and specialists/ join-in discussions with representatives of various traditions to immerse in the world of Sikhism,Hinduism,Buddhism,Jainism,Christianity,Islam,Bhai & Iscon.

This study visit is an overall efforts of Prof. dr.Bert Broeckaert who (since 2002) has been organizing courses on Indian religions for students of the Faculty of Theology,KU Leuven to build insights of number of world religions amongst Europeans to deal with religious and cultural diversity.

Delegation will stay in Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib,Delhi & in Goden Temple,Amritsar for four days.

KU Leuven Students in Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in 2009

Prize for Masters Thesis on Sikhs : Sara Cosemans,KU Leuven Student

2012-01-12T19:37:00.015+05:30

Sara Cosemans received the award for her research "Sikhs in Haspengouw: Migration and integration from a female perspective"
She is a student of history who did her master thesis about the Sikh community in Hesbaye. It earned her the first prize at the Gülen Chair for Intercultural Studies (GCIS)& reaches out for the best master's thesis about multiculturalism,immigration and minorities at the KU Leuven,Belgium.

Sara said "When I heard about a thesis topic was about Sikhs,I was immediately approached - I was studying history after an exchange year in Guatemala and was sensitive to the backgrounds of migration. In Sint truiden-, where I live, you have the biggest and most traditional Sikh community in Belgium, but we really know very little about them. It is also very difficult to establish contacts. Luckily I have a friend whose parents Sikhs employing and housing, and she gave me in contact with people.In Haspengouw you have a group of some 1,500 registered Sikhs - from three waves of migration - and you can talk the successful integration without assimilation. Sikhs look obviously very distinctive and recognizable, but generally speak Dutch well and almost all have a home and even your own fruit farm. A number of young people studying at university successfully. I've mainly worked on the basis of interviews and also I have a lot of information collected online through Facebook by joining a number of groups. The title of my thesis refers not only to the fact that I primarily studied the position of women , but also on the fact that I did as a female researcher.It would be much harder for a man to penetrate the female part of the community. I mainly talked with women but also men, in order to determine how both groups influence each other's identity. "

"I am very honored to receive the prize and especially pleased with the publication by Acco .With the prize money - $ 1,500 ; I would like to study abroad and it will certainly come in handy. And hopefully I can continue with a PhD study ... "

Photo 1: Young girl wearing a chunni(a scarf)

Photo 2: Photo taken during a protest by the Sikhs in Louvain against the visit of Minister Kamal Nath.

Photo 3: Photo taken during the life of St.Truiden(2011) an initiative of the Cancer Foundation.

Dr.Gurdeep Kaur
University of Milan
Milan,Italy

Associate Professor
SGND Khalsa College
University of Delhi
Delhi,India

"Manas Kee Jaat Sabhe Eke Pehchaanbo"

2012-01-10T15:56:00.004+05:30

Recognize the Human Race as One
The celebration of the Birthday/ Prakash Utsav of the Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh serves as a reminder to all governments, civil servants, humanitarian-aid activists and educationalists in the world to Recognize the Human Race as One.

The prakash utsav(birthday)of the 10th Sikh Guru,Guru Gobind Singh marks the birth of a father, a son, a husband, a great warrior,a strategist,a just human rights activists,a scholar,a linguist, an institution builder. He reminds every human being to stand up for human rights and justice. Even in the 16th century,in Guru Gobind Singh's army,the concept of humanitarian aid existed,where one was allowed to provide medical-aid to both the sides of the army. He also sent Sikhs far and wide to learn from other cultures and religions.Thus,he spread the message of empowerment through education and Interfaith-dialogue,created an environment and a culture to co-exist with all human and just races.He inspired humanity to stand up for a righteous cause and to the defense of the defenseless ,to provide humanitarian aid to the needy .

UNITED SIKHS Organisation takes inspiration & tailored its programs from Gurus actions ,such as the International Civil Human Rights Advocacy, Humanitarian Aid and Community Empowerment and Education. UNITED SIKHS projects have been run for centuries on the guidelines of Sikh Gurus. Their slogan, Recognize the Human Race As One, is coined by Guru Gobind Singh himself.

UNITED SIKHS volunteers continue to provide selfless service globally to make this world a better place. Their motto in life :
"Lets join hands and follow the path set by our Guru so that justice, peace and prosperity prevails for all times to come".

With thanks :UNITED SIKHS

Adventure Camp in GHPS - Hargobind enclave

2012-01-09T17:20:00.002+05:30

Original Link :
http://cityplus.epapr.in/20759/East-Delhi/Vol-6_I-16_Dec-21-Jan-06#p=page:n=7

Judicial interference in Sikh religious affairs is unacceptable

2012-01-09T16:36:00.000+05:30

I am strongly of the view that religious affairs should be left to religious leaders and scholars because interference by other authorities; be it judiciary or executive most of the times turns out to be unacceptable and some times undesirable.

Though the Punjab and Haryana high court judgment allowing “Sehajdharis” to vote in the gurdwara elections came last month, I did not react to it immediately because I was surprised and amused after reading it. I went through all records, scholars’ views and scriptures and found no substantial evidence on “Sehajdhari” being an active part of Sikh ethos.

Sehajdhari, according to scholars, are those who are not Sikhs but believe in gurus and gurbani. This is a very wide canvass. Even the tenth Sikh guru, Gobind Singh ji, has clearly stated “Manas ki jatt sabhey ek hi pachenbo”; similarly it’s part of Sikh lore that “Awal allah noor uphaya kudrat de sab bande”— mankind belongs to one almighty.

But Guru Gobind Singh ji, who founded the Khalsa Panth, also made it very clear that the Sikh has to have a distinct identity. He said in no uncertain words: “Rehat pyari moh ko Sikh pyara nahi” (I will not like the Sikh who does not accept a distinct rehat identity).

In daily prayer, one thing is always mentioned: “Sikhan no Sikhi dan, kesh dan (Sikh(s) should be blessed with uncut hair)”.

The term Sehajdhari came into vogue after the formation of the Khalsa because many people slowly came into the Sikh fold after accepting and understanding its tenets.

Prominent examples of Sehajdhari becoming Sikhs include Master Tara Singh, the late Sardar Inderjit Singh, Bhai Mohan Singh and eminent scholar, professor Sahib Singh.

Justice JS Khehar is currently a judge of the Supreme Court. While heading a full bench of the Punjab and Haryana high court on May 30, 2009, he had held, “Retaining hair unshorn is a fundamental tenet of the Sikh”. He added, “Not only that, under the ‘Sikh rehat maryada’, a Sikh is not permitted to dishonour hair, or even to harbour any antipathy to hair of the head with which a child is born”.

Holding that religion must be perceived as it is, and not as another would like it to be, justice Khehar gave this landmark verdict on a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the definition of a Sikh as contained in the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, filed by Gurleen Kaur who had been denied admission to an MBBS course at the SGPC-run institution on the grounds that individuals with plucked eyebrows or trimmed beards are not eligible as these were against tenets of Sikh religion.

So there is a clear distinction between a Sehajdhari and a Patit (person who has willingly cut his hair and given up the Sikh identity).

Many Sikhs have discarded their identity especially in Punjab. They are the people who are now claiming that they are Sehajdhari, which is blatantly wrong. And on this issue judicial intervention is not acceptable. Remember the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Shah Bano case, which even forced the then union government headed by Rajiv Gandhi to introduce a bill in Parliament nullifying that decision because the government viewed the judgment as interference in religion? So why are Sikhs being made an exception? The recent judgment allowing Sehajdharis voting rights in gurdwara elections is at variance with the verdict of the same court delivered by justice Khehar.

Gurdwaras form the backbone of the Sikh community. Here prayers are recited every day, exhorting Sikhs to follow the teaching of Guru Gobind Singh ji. Here “Amrit Prachar” (baptism ceremony) is held to infuse the spirit of rehat maryada among Sikhs. How can these gurdwaras be run by Patits or by those who do not accept the basic creed of the Sikh religion?

There are several Hindu temples in the country where no non-Hindu is allowed to worship, leave aside administrating them. No non-Muslim can go to Mecca and Medina. So why should Sikh gurdwaras, administration or elections come under judicial preview?

While there is state interference in their religious affairs, when it come to Sikhs’ legitimate demand of separate marriage act, no action is taken.

One may ask why people who have willingly given up the Sikh identity are so desperate to be known as Sehajdhari. I believe this is becase they are in ‘non-man’s land’. They are confused because they don’t want to call themselves Hindus.

Eminent Sikh Scholar Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha in his iconic work “Hum Hindu Nahi” very clearly and incisively explain the creed of SIkhism.

Whenever I go to other parts of the country, Sikhs complain: “We live by our religon against all odds and are proud of being Sikhs and its distinct identity, but we find it hard to explain to others when we see clean-shaven people coming from Punjab claiming to be Sikhs”.

It is time for the Sikhs leadership, clergy, scholars and intellectuals to put their differences aside and think about the future of the community and also make it clear to the government to leave Sikh institutions alone. Earlier attempts to interfere have led to disastrous consequences.

This is also the time to make the idfference between Shehadharis and Patits clear and spell out who has the right to vote and admninister gurdwaras. Sikhs need no state interference in this regard.

Source: Dr. Tarlochan Singh (Former Chairman, National Commission for Minorities).

with thanks : sikhsangat : link in headline above.

India ( Amritsar ) getting world's largest driverless pod car system

2012-01-08T23:30:00.001+05:30

200 electric vehicles will shuttle 100,000 passengers a day to and from holy site.

Conjuring up memories of the driver-free taxis — Johnny Cabs — seen in the 1990 sci-fi action flick Total Recall, a huge new fleet of autonomous vehicles will soon serve the Indian town of Amritsar. Developed by Ultra Global PRT, the system of 200 electric Passenger Rapid Transit cars will dwarf the one it built at London's Heathrow airport in 2010.

Traveling along a two-mile-long system of elevated roadways between seven stations, the PRT vehicles are expected to ferry 100,000 people a day within Amritsar, location of India's Golden Temple, a Sikh holy site that attracts as many as 500,000 visitors each day during peak times of the year. Ultra Global expects 35% of the site's visitors to utilize the vehicles, which will cost about the same as conventional taxis or rickshaws to hire.

with thanks : tecca : link in the headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com

www.sohnijodi.com

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

www.RWABhagidari.com

Please pass on this message to BPL Sikh community of Delhi

2012-01-08T19:07:00.001+05:30

WJKK - WJKF,

If you know about any Sikh family under the BPL category, in Delhi, please help it by spreading this news / message of FREE MEDICLAIM POLICY BY DSGMC. We must try to bring the entire BPL Sikh community under this scheme to serve the community. Please feel free to contact us for any more details.

With Best regards.

B S Vohra

SikhsIndia

www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com

SikhsIndia : Blog, Facebook, youtube, Twitter, Flickr .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CTCAhuOGOWk

Hailstones at Golden temple on Friday

2012-01-07T21:13:00.001+05:30

HAILSTONES: An Indian girl picked up hail after a hail storm and heavy rain outside the Sikh Shrine Golden temple in Amritsar on Friday. (Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images).

with thanks : link in the headline above.

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

Khanda Baba Deep singh ji : SikhsIndia

2012-01-06T21:30:00.002+05:30

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogsport.com
( Blog, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, flickr )
www.sohnijodi.com
www.rwabhagidari.blogspot.com
www.rwabhagidari.com

FREE MEDICLAIM Policy for BPL Sikh community of Delhi : Sd. Paramjit Singh Sarna, President, DSGMC

2012-01-05T19:46:00.001+05:30

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

Gurdwara Lakhanmajra - 18 KM from Rohtak : Pics

2012-01-04T23:02:00.000+05:30

Pics by Sd. B S Vohra

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

Akal Takht defers hearing on Amitabh plea on ’84 riots

2012-01-04T22:55:00.000+05:30

The Akal Takht on Tuesday deferred indefinitely the case involving Amitabh Bachc-han’s alleged role in inciting violence in 1984 Sikh riots.

Earlier, the hearing was scheduled for December 22 but put off due to unavailability of Sikh high priests for this meeting. As many as five Sikh high priests were supposed to give their verdict on Bachchan’s plea.

Bachchan, in a sealed letter to the Akal Takht, had pleaded his innocence in the riots. He had sent the letter after facing criticism from various Sikh organisations about an invitation pertaining to inauguration of Khalsa Heritage complex, Virast-e-Khalsa, at Anandpur Sahib. As a result of this, he did not attend this function.

with thanks : indian Express : link above for detailed news.

HC issues notices to Centre, Punjab gov on Sehajdhari issue

2012-01-03T22:00:00.000+05:30

Chandigarh, Jan 3 (PTI) Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notices to the Centre, Punjab government, SGPC and Gurudwara Election Tribunal for February 8 on a PIL by Sehajdharis (non-baptised Sikhs), seeking fresh elections of SGPC and inclusion of Sehajdhari in revised list. On December 20, the High Court had quashed the Centre's notification debarring Sehajdharis from voting in the Sikh body's polls. The petitioner appealed that till the fresh elcetions are held, newly elected members of SGPC, which is the apex religious body of the Sikhs, be restrained from acting. It was submitted by the petitioner that the election of SGPC held on September 18, 2011 was made conditional and outcome of the writ petitions challenging notification issued by the Central government on October 8, 2003 disfranchising Sehajdharis by the full bench of the High Court as well as by the Supreme Court in the Special Leave Petition.

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

Live Broadcast from Takhat Siri Hazur Sahib Now on SikhNet

2012-01-03T18:00:00.000+05:30

In memory and celebration of the Prakash Purab (Birthday) of Guru Gobind Singh Ji which occurs this year on Saturday, Dec 31st, we are excited to announce the launch of daily live audio broadcast from Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib.

This will enable thousands of Sikhs all over the world to join in and listen to Kirtan that is happening live from Takhat Siri Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra, India.

Although this broadcast channel just became available on SikhNet Radio and on the Gurbani Media Center mobile app, it will continue indefinitely after the coming Gurpurb, so that you will always be able to listen to kirtan from Takht Sachkand Siri Hazur Sahib. It is now a permanent SikhNet Radio channel - Channel 7.

This new live audio broadcast has been made possible by the partnership of SikhNet and the Hazur Sahib Gurdwara management. Special thanks to Dr. P. S. Pasricha (Chairman) as well as Jasbir Singh Dham (Adviser to Chairman) who helped make this new service possible on this auspicious occasion.

Starting early morning on December 31st (India time - Standard Time +05:30 UTC) you can listen to the special celebrations going on at Takhat Siri Hazoor Sahib in celebration of the birth of Siri Guru Gobind Singh ji.

You can listen to the Live Broadcast directly on the SikhNet Radio page (Channel 7) as well as on your mobile device using the SikhNet Radio / Gurbani Media Center mobile apps. In the following week the live audio will also be available directly on the Hazur Sahib website.

with thanks : SikhNet : link in headline above.

Akal Takht to decide on Big B's plea today

2012-01-03T17:53:00.000+05:30

India Today

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan's plea of innocence in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots would come up before the highest Sikh body -- Akal Takht -- in Amritsar on Tuesday. The Akal Takht was likely to take a decision over the letter Bachchan had sent it ...

Akal Takht to decide on Big B's plea today

History of Afghan Sikhs & Hindus- In Brief

2012-01-01T23:00:00.001+05:30

with thanks : Pritpal Singh ji

Ambassador Madanjeet Singh's interview with Anarkali Honaryar

2012-01-01T22:49:00.001+05:30

Afghan Sikh Heroine & 2011 UNESCO Prize laureate Senator Dr Anarkali Kaur Honaryar
Anarkali Kaur modern day “Mata Bhago Kaur”

FRANCE: Afghan women's rights campaigner is the winners of a United Nations award recognizing her outstanding contributions to the promotion of tolerance and non-violence, the UN announced.

Anarkali Kaur, defender of the rights of women and minority groups in Afghanistan received the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence, was honoured in a special ceremony on 9 December 2011 at the agency's headquarters in Paris.

Ms Honaryar is honoured for her work helping women who suffer from domestic abuse, forced marriages and gender discrimination and for her commitment to promote the ideals of human dignity, human rights, mutual respect and tolerance in her country.

After the parliamentary elections of 2010, Anarkali Kaur became the first non-Muslim woman member of Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of parliament.

Source: http://womennewsnetwork.net/2011/11/17/unesco-awards-peace-hero-defenders/

with thanks : Pritpal Singh ji

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T15:25:00.002+05:30

Happy New Year 2012

2012-01-01T15:15:00.000+05:30

AAP SAB NU NAVE SAAL DIYAAN LAKH LAKH WADHAIYAAN HOVAN JI.

SikhsIndia

www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com

www.sohnijodi.com

www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

www.RWABhagidari.com

Happy New Year 2012

2011-12-31T14:59:00.016+05:30

Happy Gurupurab

2011-12-31T14:52:00.000+05:30

SikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

HELP HAS STARTED POURING IN. YOU TOO CAN HELP THE SMALL BABY :

2011-12-31T13:17:00.005+05:30

Sikhs India

CAN YOU HELP THE SMALL BABY : PLEASE CHECK THE POSTING ON SIKHSINDIA BLOG. http://sikhsindia.blogspot.com/2011/12/can-you-help-him.html

Reply from Sd. Harpreet Singh Gandhi :
we ve recieved one lac rupees from sr.varinder singh ji through "sikhsindia" we are heartly thankfull for this remarkable effort done by this family. thanks a lot veer g.

WE ARE THANKFUL TO SD. VARINDER SINGH JI FOR THIS HELP TO THE SMALL BABY. WITH BEST REGARDS. SIKHSINDIA

Sikhs India - A wake up call for the sikh community: Can you help him :

sikhsindia.blogspot.com

Separate marriage act for Sikhs to be implemented soon: DSGPC

2011-12-30T19:59:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI: Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (DSGPC) on Friday said the demand for implementation of the Anand Marriage Act (Sikh's separate marriage Act) would soon be fulfilled by the government.

An assurance to this effect was given by Law Minister Salman Khurshid to a DSGPC delegation which met him recently, its president Paramjeet Singh Sarna said.

"This has been a long pending demand and we thank the government for keeping its promise," he said.

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

FREE MEDICLAIM Policy for BPL Sikh community of Delhi : Sd. Paramjit Singh Sarna, President, DSGMC :

2011-12-30T18:06:00.001+05:30

sikhsIndia
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com
www.sohnijodi.com
www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com
www.RWABhagidari.com

Rise of Khalsa !

2011-12-29T21:24:00.003+05:30

Can you help him :

2011-12-29T13:19:00.006+05:30

We found this message in our Facebook message box & it's being uploaded on the blog with an intention to help the small baby. Please check the details from the Hospital & if possible, help him, in any possible way :

Harpreet Singh Gandhi

I would like my fellow members to read and help the child generously in any manner as you feel like.

my two years old son is suffering with BLOOD CANCER { JMML } at this small age. it was diagnoused at the age of 8 months with very poor prognosis & very rare kind of cancer in his bone marrow even his chromozone is very complicated as in this case there is no cure for this child eccept bone marrow transplant or unrelated cord blood transplant, which is only possible at sir ganga ram hospital, New Delhi and CMC hospital, vellore.

My son is getting treated at sir ganga ram hospital with regn. no. 0735529 under the panel of Dr. Anupam Sachdeva & Dr. satya p. yadav. The doctors adviced for cord blood transplant which would cost family approx. 20 lac rupees. I belongs to a middle class family & could not afford the treatment.Apart from cord blood transplant there are so many other complications like blood & pletlets transfusion which is to be given after every 15-20 days. Then different type of infections due to lac of immunity in his body develops each coming week for one reason or other. Till now I was arranging funds from my relatives and friends.

Now the disease is at very mature stage and one of his organ (spline) has already been removed. doctors are planning for the transplant in next 4-5 days ie. on or before 31st december 2011. The child is admitted in bone marrow transplant unit of Sir Gamga Ram in room no 1334. We are in very bad times and received a sum of Rs.2 lacs issued from prime minister office and i have arranged a sum of Rs.4,50,000. The total amount required by him at this moment is Rs.20 lacs Rest of amount is very difficult for me to arrange

Any member of the public willing to help this child can contact us at 9999132599, 9899441515.

Thanks & Warm Regard.

Harpreet Singh Gandhi

Janpath - Delhi AajTak - Yeh Dilli Hai Mere Yaar - B S Vohra

2011-12-28T12:05:00.001+05:30

Keertan samagam by Sri Guru Nanak Sewak Jatha, Chand mohalla

2011-12-28T12:03:00.002+05:30

Singapore Sikh Gurdwara reopens after S$4.5m upgrade

2011-12-27T18:41:00.000+05:30

Singapore: The Central Sikh Gurdwara in Towner Road officially reopened on Friday after a S$4.5 million upgrade and renovation.

On Friday evening, President Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam officiated the event, which featured a travelling Photographic Exhibition on Sikh Heritage.

The upgrades feature anti—slip tiles, ramps and larger elevators to better serve the elderly. It will also house free Wi—Fi services for youths.

The newly—renovated Central Sikh Gurdwara is also designed to be eco—friendly and contains features like auto cut—off taps amongst others. The Gurdwara was built in April 1986.

with thanks : SSNews : link in headline above.

www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com www.sohnijodi.com www.RWABhagidari.blogspot.com

www.RWABhagidari.com

Clerics furious over traffic drive

2011-12-27T18:38:00.000+05:30

GURGAON: Over-zealous traffic police officials in Gurgaon have raised the hackles of religious leaders after they made traffic violators swear on their respective holy books that they would abide by the rules. In fact, a Muslim organisation has threatened to take action.

The Jamiatul Mahim said it plans to issue a fatwa against forcing truck drivers to take oath on the Quran, a cleric said. Hindu and Sikh religious leaders are also fuming at the exercise by Gurgaon Traffic Police of using sacred books to make people swear by lane driving.

Gurgaon traffic police had launched a "Sensible Driving" programme on the expressway. As part of the drive, heavy vehicle drivers found violating rules were fined and then asked to take oath on their holy book.

Mushtak Ansari, a cleric from Delhi-based Jamiatul Mahim, said "Any type of traffic offence on the road should be treated according to the law. Our religion does not allow sacred Quran to be involved in such matters. We will take it up with the ulemas and a fatwa would be issued," said Imam of Jama Masjid Mosque.

President of Gurudawara Singh Sabha Gurgaon, Santhokh Singh, also expressed his ire, saying, "I can't believe this. There is a particular religious procedure to move the Guru Granth Sahib... We will certainly take strong action."

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

Abbotsford’s Sikh Museum Opens!

2011-12-27T18:35:00.000+05:30

Abbotsford celebrates the opening of what is likely the first Sikh history museum in Canada in the 100-year-old Gur Sikh temple on South Fraser Way. Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point was the chief guest along with local politicians for Saturday’s official opening ceremony. “There are no other museums (on Sikh history) in the country. There are exhibits but not a museum in itself that caters to Sikh heritage,” said Navneet Sidhu, a project coodinator with the University of the Fraser Valley. The museum will feature photos and artifacts donated by local Indo-Canadian families, including a few who had uncles and grandfathers settle here almost a century ago. The project has been two years in development and is supported by federal government funds, through Canadian Heritage.

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

Sikhs to have separate marriage law soon

2011-12-27T18:33:00.000+05:30

Sikhs are likely to have a separate marriage law soon with the ministry of home affairs planning to move the Union Cabinet in this regard Ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, the Centre has decided to accede to the long-standing demand of the Sikh community for enacting a separate Anand Marriage Act, giving legal sanctity to the marriages under Sikh religion, official sources said.

So far, Sikh marriages are solemnised under Hindu Marriage Act after the annulment of the Sikh Marriage Act in 1955.

Prior to Independence, marriages among Sikhs were held under the Anand Marriage Act in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib and the practice continued till 1955 when the Sikh Marriage Act was replaced and included in the Hindu Marriage Act, clubbing four communities together-- Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain.

The sources said after the Cabinet clears the proposal, a bill in this effect will be tabled in Parliament and once it gets approval, Sikhs can marry under the new law.

with thanks : Hindustan times : link in the headline above for detailed news.

They make city proud with achievements

2011-12-27T18:30:00.000+05:30

LUDHIANA: Creating a platform to recognize the efforts of Ludhianvi Sikhs, who have been remarkable in their respective spheres of life, and honouring them with lifetime achievement awards is an inspiring idea.

Sikh Welfare Council took this initiative and a few noteworthy Ludhianvis awarded at the function were Onkar Singh Pahwa of Avon Cycles, Harbhajan Singh Chugh of Oster Knit, Gurcharan Singh of Gulzar Group of Institutes, Dr Chanbir Singh of RG Stone Hospital andBollywood music director Ravinder Singh.

With thanks : Times of India : link in headline for detailed news.

Guru Nanak legacy in Odisha forgotten

2011-12-27T18:27:00.000+05:30

The locals of Jajpur district seem to have forgotten Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion, who, during his pilgrimage to Puri, had landed in Jajpur in 1506.

“A well was dug in Jajpur town to provide water to Guru Nanak and his disciples during their visit to the place. A large number of people used the well considering the water to be holy like the water of the river Ganga. But now some influential persons in a clear nexus with officials are trying to damage the 500-year-old well,” said Gurucharana Singh Gill of State Sikh Pratinidhi Board.

The ancient well is now covered with garbage. It is a matter of regret that some persons are trying to erase the memory of Guru Nanak by leveling the well. The altar (gadi) of Guru Nanak near Barahanath temple in Baranath village of Jajpur town, where Nanak sat during his visit to Jajpur, is also neglected.

“Though belated, the altar of Guru Nanak and the 500-year-old well could still be restored to its original design,” said a researcher of Jajpur Eakadashi Padhi.

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

GHPS - Hargobind Enclave - Adventure camp for Students

2011-12-26T21:43:00.002+05:30

Adventure Camp in GHPS, Hargobind enclave, where teachers also participated alongwith the students !

2011-12-25T21:15:00.003+05:30

Chinese restaurant ad causes controversy

2011-12-23T17:29:00.001+05:30

DUBAI // An advertising agency has come under fire for a Chinese restaurant advertisement that its critics say is racist.

The advert for China Times, which has branches in Deira City Centre and Jumeirah Plaza, features photographs of three men - a Sikh, an Arab and a black man - whose eyes have been digitally altered to look Chinese, with the slogan "Brings out the Chinese in everyone".

Created in 2009 by an agency in Dubai, the advertisement was approved by the restaurant but never used. It was also entered in an advertising industry competition in Dubai.

Now the ad has found its way on to the internet and has attracted criticism, particularly among users of social media websites.

"I feel it is really shameful to see a ridiculous stereotype like that used to promote a restaurant," said Katrina Hall, an Australian expatriate who lived in China for six years and is fluent in Mandarin.

"Surely people have more intelligence than that? Surely there is a better way to attract customers?"

She added: "I personally find the advertisement to be highly offensive and racist and I am sure I am not alone. In a country as diverse and culturally rich as UAE, which has such a huge number of people from all around the world, I would hope that there would be a bit more respect than just making a mockery of 'slanted eyes'."

TD&A DDB, the agency that created the ad, entered it in the Dubai-based Lynx awards for the advertising industry, but it did not win.

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

Gurudwara Kitchen

2011-12-23T10:10:00.000+05:30

with thanks : Hindustan Times : link above.

Judge – border guards can order removal of Sikh turbans

2011-12-22T19:26:00.000+05:30

A court has ruled that when border guards ordered British-Sikh Shaminder Puri to remove his turban at Warsaw airport in October 2009 they were “acting within the law”.

Warsaw airport

Judge Jacek Tyszka ruled that though Warsaw airport border guards had violated his dignity when he was passing through controls at the airport, the action was not illegal under Polish law.

“Such an inspection may be unpleasant but it is sometimes necessary,” the judge ruled.

Puri, who was not in court to hear the verdict, told the Gazeta Wyborczanewspaper by telephone yesterday that “I am disappointed by the verdict. Now we must carefully read of the judge's ruling and consider an appeal”.

Shaminder Puri, a fluent speaker of Polish after he studied for a degree in the country 30 years ago, had demanded a public apology from the border guards and media which had covered the case, and 10,000 euro be paid to charity.

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

Sehajdhari row: Sikh hardliners condemns HC verdict

2011-12-22T12:17:00.000+05:30

Amritsar: Radical Sikh organisations on Wednesday condemned the order of Punjab and Haryana High Court, which allowed 'sehajdharis (non-baptised Sikhs) to cast votes in SGPC polls.

"The High Court decision has plunged the Sikh community into fresh crises...Sehajdharis are non-Sikhs, describing them as part of Sikhism is untrue," Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said.

He said due to some political reasons, Sehajdharis were given voting rights in 1959 though there was no such provision in the original Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925.

However, this "anomaly" was corrected in 2003 when a Union government notification debarred Sehajdharis from casting votes in SGPC polls, he said.

with thanks : IBNLive : link in the headline above for detailed news.

SGPC to challenge HC verdict on Sehajdhari Sikhs' voting rights

2011-12-22T12:13:00.000+05:30

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee will be challenging the verdict delivered by Punjab and Haryana high court granting voting rights to Sehajdhari Sikhs, in the Supreme Court.

A day after the Punjab and Haryana high court gave a verdict the SGPC and the SAD went into a huddle to discuss the issue. The matter will also come up for in depth discussion in core committee meeting of SAD scheduled for Thursday evening.

"The SGPC will not take it lying down," saidSukhdev Singh Dhindsa, senior SAD leader.

The newly elected SGPC is also likely to appeal to the Sikh Gurdwara Commission not to issue orders of re-election but to challenge the matter in the Supreme Court. On the flip side, on Wednesday, a delegation of Sehajdhari Sikhs met Sikh Gurdwara Commission chief H S Brar, and handed him over a copy of the HC verdict quashing the notification denying voting rights to them.

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

Gurmat Samagam : Sri Guru Nanak Sewak Jatha

2011-12-21T15:13:00.000+05:30

Sikh taxi drivers inspiring artist Dan Connell

2011-12-21T14:28:00.001+05:30

HC restores voting rights of Sehajdhari Sikhs in SGPC Polls

2011-12-20T16:07:00.003+05:30

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday restored the voting rights of Sehajdhari (non-baptized) Sikhs in the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC) polls. SGPC is the highest religious body of Sikhs.

With the court orders, the recently constituted body of SGPC would cease to operate and fresh elections will be held to include the Sehajdhari Sikhs in the voters list.

The orders were passed by a full bench comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice MMS Bedi and Justice Muttaci Jeyapaul of Punjab and Haryana high court while allowing a petition filed by the Sehajdhari Sikh Federation (SSF) and two others challenging a October 8, 2003 central notification which deprived Sehajdhari Sikhs of their voting rights in the SGPC polls.

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

HC verdict on Sehajdhari Sikhs' voting rights today

2011-12-20T11:08:00.000+05:30

CHANDIGARH: On Tuesday, the Punjab and Haryana high court is likely to pronounce the much-awaited verdict on the voting rights of Sehajdhari Sikhs in Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC) polls. The verdict holds the possibility of affecting the fate of recently-held SGPC elections.

The case pertains to a petition filed by Sehajdhari Sikh Federation and two others challenging the October 8, 2003 Central notification which deprived Sehajdhari Sikhs of their voting rights in SGPC polls.

The petitioners had mainly challenged the Union government notification "whereby Sahjdhari Sikhs are not being considered as Sikhs in view of the impugned amended Section 49 and Section 92 of the Gurdwara Act".

The petitioners had submitted that the original Act declared Sahjdhari Sikhs as qualified electors for SGPC elections and the apex court had in numerous judgments held that the state cannot regulate the definition of religion.

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

India's heated death penalty debate

2011-12-20T11:06:00.000+05:30

At a Delhi Sikh temple, Mukhtar Kaur offers prayers for her son Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar.

For the past 10 years, he has been on death row, convicted of carrying out a bomb attack in 1993 in which nine people were killed.

It has taken this long for the appeals against his sentence to pass through the various courts in the maze that is the Indian judicial system.

"This is like dying every day," she says. "For me and for him."

In May this year, the Indian president rejected his final mercy petition.

But Bhullar has still not been executed as lawyers and civil groups campaigning on his behalf push for clemency on the grounds that he was convicted after the police secured a confession under a now outlawed anti-terror law.

with thanks : BBC news : link in headline for detailed news report :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-16160920

The seat of power that is now an official garbage dump

2011-12-17T19:18:00.002+05:30

LAHORE - The condition of Lahore’s heritage sites seem to be growing from bad to worse. In a recent discovery Pakistan Today learnt that the baara-dari of Sikh Maharaja Sher Singh, the third son of Ranjit Singh, has become an ‘official’ garbage dump, and what once used to be a symbol of grandeur is now home to drug addicts.

Maharaja Sher Singh was the third son of Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh empire. He ruled from 1841 till his death. His Baara-dari or ‘twelve doored’ mansion is situated on the outskirts of Kot Khwaja Saeed locality in Lahore, a few kilometers ahead of the Badshahi Mosque and the Lahore Fort. It seems to have been neglected for decades.

Apparently, the Lahore Solid Waste Management department has constructed a waste enclosure inside the premises of the historical building and it is suspected that this has been done after demolishing one side of the building.

It is already in a precarious state after the attacks in 1992 in reaction to the Babri Mosque demolition in India. In a recent visit to India, Sayed Asif Hashmi, the Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board (PETPB) chairman had stated that Pakistan was making an all out efforts for the protection and maintenance of Sikh heritage.

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

FOUND IT ON THE NET !

2011-12-17T15:57:00.002+05:30

West Coast Sikhi Camp :Celebrating Tradition & History

2011-12-16T21:48:00.005+05:30

Sikhi Camps: A platform to experience Sikhism.

In every nation, the youth are its future. Such camps played an important role in preserving tradition, history, customs and values among youths and help in transforming them into informed and vibrant members of society.

Topics related to civic, educational and personal development programs will gear them to learn how to become contributing members towards the UN millennium goals.The workshops on tradition and history will train the youth to act responsibly in their roles in life guided by the concept of Miri-Piri (spiritual and temporal),as established by the 6th Guru,Guru Hargobind.This concept established that,the Sikh Nation is for ever free for times to come and owes its allegiance to one God (Akaal Purakh).It will train them to stand for the protection of human-rights and justice for all, provide humanitarian aid to the needy, and provide empowerment through education to all. These camps provide a unique environment that promotes friendship, leadership, and community.

More information can be found at http://wcsikhicamp.com/

With thanks :UNITED SIKHS

First Sikh museum opens Saturday with Lt.-Gov. Point

2011-12-15T17:15:00.000+05:30

Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point will be in Abbotsford Dec. 17 to officially open the Sikh Heritage Museum, the first of its kind in Canada, at the historic Gur Sikh Gurdwara on South Fraser Way.

"There are no other museums (on Sikh history) in the country. There are exhibits but not a museum in itself that caters to Sikh heritage," said Navneet Sidhu, a project coodinator with the University of the Fraser Valley.

The museum will feature photos and artifacts donated by local Indo-Canadian families, including a few who had uncles and grandfathers settle here almost a century ago. The project has been two years in development and is supported by federal government funds, through Canadian Heritage.

The temple, or gurdwara, was declared a national historic site by former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and former Heritage Minister Sheila Copps in the summer of 2002.

with thanks : abbotsfordtimes : link in the headline above for detailed news.

Sri Guru Nanak Dham, Rameshwaram : pics by Dr. H S Puri

2011-12-14T12:54:00.000+05:30

Dastar Issue :Outcome of the Meeting between Consul General of India and Italian Authorities

2011-12-13T23:40:00.011+05:30

Mr.S.K.Verma(Consulate General of India in Milan)

The meeting between Mr.S.K.Verma,Honourable Consul General of India in Milan and Italian Authorities was held in a friendly and cooperative environment to find the common ground in respect of the problems being faced by the Sikh passengers at Malpensa Airport.The Italian authorities included those from the Civil Aviation Authority, SEA and Frontier Police.

Representatives of the Indian Sikh community explained the relevance and significance of Dastar to the Italian authorities present there.Mr. S.K.Verma,the Consul General of India,Milan,appreciated the efforts made by the Italian authorities,so far,in reducing the total number of Sikh passengers at Malpensa Airport, put through manual inspection of their Dastars.Earlier,Dastars of all Sikh passengers were subjected to mandatory additional manual inspection.

After continuous dialogue,the Malpensa airport authorities have installed separate enclosures with mirror and curtain for manual inspection of Dastars.The issue of new technology intervention to resolve the problem at hand,too,was discussed.As one of the creative solutions,the Sikh community in northern Italy promised to get in touch with the highest Sikh religious body in India to see if permission for the security personnel at the airport could be obtained for touching and inspecting the Dastars by
hand, without asking the passengers to take them off.

The Italian authorities mentioned that the random selection of passengers,including
those belonging to the Sikh religion will continue.

Dr.Gurdeep Kaur
University of Milan
Milan,Italy

Associate Professor
SGND Khalsa College
University of Delhi
Delhi,India

Our CEO : Sd. B S Vohra

2011-12-13T12:22:00.000+05:30

with thanks : AAJTAK & NDTV Channels.

US: Gurdwara locked down after violation of rules

2011-12-12T12:42:00.000+05:30

Chicago: A gurdwara here has been locked down by police authorities after it was allegedly found violating several rules related to safety standards.

Gurjot Parkash Sahib gurdwara, located in the suburb of Island Lake, was locked down by police on December 8 because of certain safety violations that had put public safety in jeopardy.

The authorities found that fire exit doors of gurdwara were locked from inside with deadbolt and there were also sleeping rooms in its basement.

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

Central scholarship not reaching minority students

2011-12-11T20:27:00.000+05:30

ALANDHAR: Centre has withheld scholarship money for minority students of Punjab belonging to Muslim, Sikh and Christian religions under its scheme after state government failed to submit utilization certificate for Rs 40.59 crore. The amount was given by ministry of minority affairs during last financial year.

The facts came out in a meeting of Planning Commission of India. Senior Supreme Court advocate H S Phoolka, who attended the meeting being a member of the Steering Committee on Empowerment of Minorities, has now written to Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal asking him to take immediate steps on the issue as over 2.73 lakh students are being deprived of the scholarship due to negligence of official machinery in Punjab.

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

Sikh US soldier receives combat award

2011-12-09T14:47:00.000+05:30

WASHINGTON: Major Kamaljeet Singh Kalsi, the first turbaned US Sikh soldier in last 30 years has received Bronze Star Medal, the fourth-highest combat award for his meritorious services in Afghanistan.

Kalsi, a doctor, received the medal for "exceptionally meritorious service as an emergency medicine physician" while deployed in Afghanistan during the first half of 2011, the Sikh Coalition said in a statement yesterday.

He was the first Sikh to be allowed to go on active duty with a turban, beard and unshorn hair in more than 20 years.

Working for the rights of Sikhs in the US, Sikh Coalition was instrumental in Kalsi joining the US Army after he was refused an entry on religious grounds.

with thanks : Economic Times : link in the head line above for detailed news.

Rare Pictures of Gurdwara Panja Sahib

2011-12-08T19:38:00.006+05:30

Heartiest thanks from Sikh Community to Iftikhar Quratulain(who lives in Islamabad,Pakistan)for sharing these wonderful and Unique photos of Gurdwara Panja Sahib.

Dr.Gurdeep Kaur
University of Milan
Milan,Italy

Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi
Delhi,India

Consul General of India's Meeting with Italian Authorities on Dastar Issue

2011-12-08T19:24:00.004+05:30

Mr.S.K.Verma ,Honourable Consul General of India in Milan,Italy has been invited by the chief of Police for an official meeting along with other leaders of the Sikh Community at Malpensa Airport on 9th December 2011.This Meeting is fixed to discuss Dastar issue which Indian authorities had taken up so many times with the Italian authorities.

Sikh man burnt alive in Mercedes, death trap allegedly laid by student

2011-12-07T22:42:00.000+05:30

London: A young medical student, Mundill Mahil, ordered two men to kill 21-year-old millionaire Gagandeep Singh in London to punish him for trying to rape her a few months earlier.

That's what the prosecution has argued in a London court.

In February, Ms Mahil allegedly convinced Mr Singh to visit her home with text messages. Two men there - one of who was allegedly infatuated with her - then attacked Mr Singh before bundling him into the boot of his Mercedes and setting it on fire.

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