Selling a dream: Rocket Singh charges up youth

CHANDIGARH: It is not everyday that Harpreet Singh gets the full glare of stardom for himself and his ilk. But on Friday, as Rocket Singh becomes a must watch film in the weekend itinerary, our very own Harpreet is glowing.

His reel life avatar, essayed by Ranbir Kapoor who plays the salesman named Harpreet Singh in the film, echoes the sentiments of a clique of turbaned salesmen. And whether it is in the shrewdness of Rocket Singh, his "natural persuasive charm", or his less than average grades that lead him to being a sales guy, this land of many Rocket Singhs have found a defining moment for their career. And life.

Harpreet, who is a young Sikh into sales, is ecstatic with Rocket Singh. He cracks up, "I swear I can identify with the glib Harpreet, aka Ranbir Kapoor in the film. His stories, dreams, though vain, are so believable for us." What brings greater cheer to these youth in the field is the fact that Ranbir is perhaps the first Sikh in Bollywood who portrays a turbaned character who is suave. "So far, the hero or any character with a turban is the comic element in the plot. He is never depicted as someone with as much panache as the other clean shaven heroes who are macho, fly machines and save the girls from the goons," says Satwinder Singh, a sales person in a pharmaceutical company.

Rattanbir Singh, a salesman with a radio channel can pinpoint the "finer nuances" of Rocket Singh that he also calls his own. "The film shows that Ranbir barely manages to scrape through his graduation with below average marks hence he decides to get into the sales line. Well, that's true in real life too," he laughs.

But the real fondness for Rocket comes from his street smartness, a trait most of our real life Sikhs have been waiting for. Preet Arjun Singh, who works in the marketing division of an IT company, says Ranbir's character is etched very close to real life and depicts the strife that a sales job brings.

"Sikhs were the original sales persons because of their diligence and capability to think innovatively. A maxim in our culture says - if you want to sell something, give it to a Punjabi," adds Jagdish Singh, another salesman.

with thanks SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Selling-a-dream-Rocket-Singh-charges-up-youth/articleshow/5328765.cms

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Don't interfere in Sikh affairs: Majithia

Friday , Dec 11, 2009 at 0112 hrs

Former cabinet minister and MLA from Majithia, Bikram Singh Majithia today reacted strongly against the statement of former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh offering support to Paramjit Singh Sarna of the DSGMC in the forthcoming general elections of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

He said the Congress party, which projects itself as secular, has always inteferred with the religious affairs of the Sikhs.

He said Sarna is a Congress supporter and has no interest in Sikhs or Punjab.

He also blamed the Congress for instigating terrorism in the state during the 1980s.

Majithia said the Sikh community played a pivotal role in the fight for independence but were not rewarded accordingly by the Congress.

Majithia also reacted to a statement by the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal demanding dismissal of a government elected by the people. He demanded Rajinder Kaur Bhattal should apologise for the un-parliamentary behaviour by Congress MLAs in the Vidhan Sabha.

with thanks : source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Don--t-interfere-in-Sikh-affairs--Majithia/552716

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Punjabi University to revamp Sikh studies

Friday , Dec 11, 2009 at 0354 hrs

PATIALA: To spread the message of universal brotherhood and philosophy of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Punjabi University will draw a roadmap and revitalise its departments relating to the studies of Sikh gurus and scripture, said Vice-Chancellor Jaspal Singh.

He was speaking at the valedictory function of the two-day national seminar on ‘Guru Granth Sahib: Global Sarokaar’ on Thursday.

“It all the more unfortunate that even people of native areas of Bhagat Kabir are not aware that religious writings of this great saint have been preserved and included in the Guru Granth Sahib and are revered by Sikhs. Similarly, a majority of Muslims are ignorant that the ‘bani’ of their sufi saints like Baba Farid has been given a lofty and respectable place in the Sikh scripture, thus representing an anthology of religious culture,” Singh said.

According to chief coordinator Sarabjinder Singh, as many as 20 papers were presented and debated by eminent scholars at the seminar.

with thanks : source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/In-Brief/552862

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First Turbaned Sikh Police Officer in Newzealand

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Poster by : Prof. Darshan singh Khalsa

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PRESS RELEASE : Prof. Darshan Singh ji Khalsa

Singh Sahib Professor Darshan Singh Khalsa
Ex-Jathedar, Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Sri Amritsar

PRESS RELEASE

6 December, 2009

Another Massive Attack on the Principles of Sri Guru Granth Sahib

First, it was the attempt to install a Guru from the Bacchitar Natak, parallel to Guru Granth Sahib, and then came an attempt to create a parallel Harmandar Sahib. And now is the worst of all - an attack on the throne of justice itself: a small office in a nondescript street behind the Nishaan Sahib has been designated as the ‘Office of The Akal Takht‘. This office is in competition to The Akal Takht and now its Jathedar does not recognize an appearance at the Akal Takht as legitimate; only an appearance at [this newly designated office in a back street] is deemed appropriate where people are kept in dark about the decisions made - as has been happening over the past many years.

It has been explained in their press release by the Jathedars that the issue of the attendance of one summoned to The Akal Takht is heard only at the ‘secretariat‘. It is also said that this policy of a closed door hearing was adopted ten years ago and is now their our policy. This is proof of the fact that this policy dates from the past ten years and that Surjeet Singh Barnala's case was heard in open public setting, consistent with earlier policies.

I want to clarify that those who are unfamiliar with our old traditions, they may acquiesce to these closed door hearings and then come to some arrangements with you. But, with the Guru's grace, I had cleared this matter with you that we have only one Akal Takht and I will appear only before that Akal Takht. In their note of 17 November, they asked me to appear before The Akal takht; so on 5 December, I appeared there in the presence of the press and the sangat. But today, they do not recognize The Akal Takht and instead recognize only their closed [back-alley office]. I do not to, and will not recognize any such closed room as The Akal Takht.

I had previously fully clarified my position that reverence for Sri Guru Granth Sahib is a matter of significance to the whole Sikh community. Therefore it should be explored at The Akal Takht in the presence of the Panth, not in any closed room. Today, I am still of the same belief. That is why I appeared today at The Akat Takht and waited for almost an hour, so that the truth could be brought before the community. Some responsible brothers - Dalmegh Singh, Secretary; Jasvinder Singh, Advocate; Giani Kewal Singh; Chairman Tarsem Singh and Paramjeet Singh Sarna, Chairman, Delhi Committee, repeatedly tried to bring the Jathedars to The Akal Takht but the latter lacked the courage to face the truth and did not come; they continued to insist that their [back-alley] office would serve as The Akal Takht. After waiting an hour, I ascended the steps to The Akal Takht and presented my file before the Guru Granth Sahib; I prayed for the ability to reverse the insult that Sri Guru Granth Sahib is subjected to at some gurdwaras. After spending about two hours on the premises of Darbar Sahib, I returned.

Almost an hour and a half later [after I had departed], the Jathedars did turn up at the Akal Takht; hiding their own weakness in lies, they accused me of not coming to The Akal Takht, claiming they had been waiting, even though the sangat and the press witnessed the whole episode. Despite this, they did not hesitate to lie at The Akal Takht and, to please their masters, shamelessly declared me a "tankhaaiyya."

The press statement of those who have labelled me selfish and egotistical clearly confirms that "Professor Darshan Singh did present his statement before the Guru Granth Sahib; we have not yet read it nor will we send for it to be read by us." Let the sangat decide who is full of ego and selfishness. Those who think of themselves as higher that Sri Guru Granth Sahib and cannot even pick up and read the file left in front of the Guru Sahib - how can they render such judgment against me?

People need to wake up, recognize and challenge this new danger - and ensure that these Jathedars, at the behest of their masters, do not set up a competing Akal Takht in a closed room, to compete with the one that was bestowed by Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib.

[A rough translation of the original in Punjabi, to English, by Dr. I.J. Singh]

with thanks sikhchic

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Punjab State Assembly witnesses scuffle between Akali and Congress MLAs

Ludhiana, Dec.8 (ANI): Legislators of ruling Akali Dal and the opposition Congress party got into scuffle with each other in the State assembly of Punjab over the racial violence in Ludhiana city.

It all started when some Congress legislators moved towards Deputy Chief Minister and State’s Home Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal when he was replying to a Call Attention Motion on the State’s law and order situation.

Authorities were forced to impose curfew in Ludhiana following violent protests by sundry Sikh fora against the holding of a public discourse by a controversial religious cult leader.

In context of these violent incidents, Prakash Singh Badal chief of Punjab was confronted by the opposition legislators belonging to Congress on the floor of the House while the ruling Akali Dal legislators rushed and formed a ring around him.

Consequently, a scuffle ensued between the warring legislators. Later, leader of the opposition and former chief of Punjab Rajinder Kaur Bhattal staged a protest along with her fellow legislators outside the Assembly.

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with thanks to the source.

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Ragi reacts, rejects jathedars’ decision

Says was summoned to appear before Akal Takht and ‘not in their personal office’

Former Akal Takht jathedar Prof Darshan Singh Ragi today refused to accept the pronouncement of the five Sikh high priests, who declared him ‘Tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) on Saturday.

Speaking at his residence here, Ragi said, “The Sikh clergy had summoned me to the Akal Takht, and I went there with all humility. I sat at the Takht for over an hour and a half, but no one came to hear me out. They (the Sikh clergy) instead wanted me to meet them inside their office, but I refused as their personal office is not the Akal Takht. I wonder why they wanted the meeting to take place behind closed doors when I was ready to meet them in the open. I then left my written reply, along with files and CDs of the speech that I had made in the US, before the Guru Granth Sahib placed at the Takht and came back.”

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With thanks to the source.

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Govt laxity led to casualty

DHIANA: Has it not been laxity on part of the administration, loss of life could have been prevented while controlling the crowd of protesters on Saturday. It is a general feeling that if the police had used rubber riot control bullets for controlling the agitating Sikh, a precious human life could have been saved.

Ironically, police officers have not been using rubber bullets from last many years on the pretext that they cause injury to the protesters.

The killing of the Sikh protester on Saturday, while agitating against the congregation held by Ashutosh Maharaj, head of Divya Jyoti Sansthan, has triggered a debate on whether it was possible for the district police to control the agitating mob without killing a person and prevent the spread of violence in other parts of the state.

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With thanks to the source.

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Turmoil in city sends police into a tizzy

LUDHIANA: The killing of a radical Sikh activist during the police firing on Saturday has made it a daunting task for the police to maintain law and order in the city and prevent any untoward incident during the Punjab bandh.

The Sikh bodies have announced that during the bandh, their focus would be on getting financial institutions closed peacefully so that no harm is caused to public transport. However, the violence between two different communities witnessed on Saturday and Sunday amidst curfew is posing a real challenge to the police force.

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with thanks to the source.

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City under curfew for second day

LUDHIANA: Curfew in the city continued for the second consecutive day on Sunday and the situation remained tense but peaceful. Security forces could be seen on every nook and corner of the city in an endeavour to maintain peace and calm in the city in wake of the protest by radical Sikh groups against the government for killing a protester and injuring over a dozen in police firing.

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With thanks to the source.

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