Fire destroys Sikh Temple in central Reno

All that remains of the Sikh Temple at Locust and Second streets are a brick wall, charred wood and pieces of glass, after being gutted Monday night by what officials said was a suspicious fire.

The one-story concrete, flat-roof built in 1996 at the southwest corner of the intersection was engulfed in flames when Reno firefighters arrived about 11:30 p.m., Battalion Chief Dana Tucker said.

Firefighters knocked down the fire quickly, but steam flowed from the building for nearly an hour. Nearby homes were evacuated.

“It is a suspicious fire,” Tucker said, adding police said several burglaries had been reported in the neighborhood at the same time.

Inspectors are considering “all possibilities” said Operations Chief Joe DuRousseau.

Firefighters “did a good job,” said Balwinder Singh, a member of the temple who said the building was unoccupied after the priest left about 9 p.m.

“I don’t know yet about what we will do,” Singh said. “It’s just too… very emotional… all of our holy books, our whole library, that is all burned… that was everything to us.”

He said the members are banding together through the difficult time.

“We can be sad together, because what can we do about that? It’s very painful,” he said.

Josh Vestal, south of the temple, said his home was broken into Monday night about the same time as the fire.

Burglars broke a door window and stole his telephone, some DVDs his electric guitar and bass and also broke open his freezer with a pick ax, he said. Vestal said he was not at home until about 12:30 a.m.

“It was still smoking and flaming, but nothing like these images I have seen on the news (from the height of the blaze),” he said.

“I was worried that someone might have been inside (the temple),” he said.

With thanks : source : RGJ.com with link from headline above

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Live discussion on banned book triggers fresh controversy

Live discussion of the banned book Sikh Itihaas from gurdwaras in Delhi has added ammo to the ongoing controversy between president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Paramjit Singh Sarna and president of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar Avtar Singh Makkar.

Makkar said legal action will be taken against those who still possess the book. “The book has been banned and if anyone has any copy, they can give it back to us,” he said.

The book was published in 1999 by the Dharam Parchar Committee of the SGPC, Amritsar, during the tricentenary of the Khalsa Panth. It carried some distorted facts of the Sikh history following which the book was banned three years ago.

Two days ago, Jaswinder Singh Baliawal, Punjab president of SAD (Delhi), in an open letter to SGPC president Makkar raised some vital questions. Showing the letter to The Indian Express, Baliawal said, “Crores were spent on publishing this book, which had misleading facts. Instead of taking action against the culprits, a statement was issued saying the book has been banned and there should be no discussion on it; and if anyone indulges in discussion, legal action will be taken against the person. But what action has been taken against the secretary of Dharam Parchar Committee for publishing the book? By banning the book, will the issue be resolved? Was any Sikh scholar taken into confidence before publishing the book? And more importantly, who is the writer?”

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

With thanks : source : Indian Express

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Banda's march got first Khalsa Raj

CHANDIGARH: Exactly 300 years ago, Chhapar Chiri, a small village near here, was witness to a historic battle which laid the foundation of first Khalsa Raj, founded by the great Sikh warrior — Baba Banda Bahadur.

As festivities for the tricentenary of the victory of Sirhind, fought at Chhapar Chiri, reach a crescendo on Tuesday, a massive march of Sikhs led by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which started from Nanded in Maharashtra last month, would reach Lohgarh, the capital of first Khalsa Raj, now located in Himachal Pradesh. It is here that the SGPC is planning a major revival exercise for paying homage to the warrior who avenged the killings of two children of the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, by defeating the formidable army of the Governor of Sirhind, Wazir Khan. The ruler had ordered that the Guru's children be bricked alive for not renouncing their faith.

The march assumes significance since it is probably the first time that the Sikhs are attempting, in an organised manner, to give due recognition to places associated with the life and times of ascetic-turned- warrior, who was handpicked by the Guru to lead the Sikhs. These include a gurdwara and a polytechnic college at his birthplace in Rajouri near Jammu, a memorial at Chhapar Chiri, Baba Banda Bahadur museum at Fatehgarh Sahib (named so to mark the 'fateh' (victory) of Sirhind) gurdwara and a fort at Lohgarh near Nahan, where the warrior set up the Khalsa Raj capital and ruled from an area called Mehlanwali.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

With thanks : source : Times of India

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Sikh bodies divided over Fateh Diwas celebrations

Amritsar Divisions within the Sikh community have once again come to the fore, as they are all set to celebrate the tercentenary commemorating Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s Sirhind-Fateh Diwas at Sirhind from May 12-14.

The state government and Badal-controlled Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee are flexing muscles to make the event “historic”, while various Sikh bodies, including the Sarna group and Opposition Congress, have vowed to stay away from the celebrations.

The anti-Badal Akali factions and Congress have termed the celebrations mere gimmicks to gain political mileage. The SGPC, however, is of the view that all Sikhs should participate in the function that marks 300 years of Sikh warriors defeating the then Mughal rulers of Sirhind state, following the demise of Guru Gobind Singh in Maharashtra in 1707.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Chief Paramjit Singh Sarna and his brother Harvinder Singh Sarna have already courted controversies for not taking part in the Fateh March that passed through Delhi last week on its way to Punjab from Maharshtra. Sikhs in large number had gathered all through its routes through Madhya Pradesh, UP, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, while Sarna had termed the march a total failure.

Though nearly all Sikhs revere Banda Bahadur, who established Sikh Raj and took revenge for the killings of Guru Gobind Singh and his family members, including his two young sons, political overtones to the celebrations are playing a spoilsport. Anti-Badal Sikh bodies feel Badal should have taken all into confidence before arranging the event. A mega function is on the anvil, where senior NDA leaders, including BJP top brass such as L K Advani and Nitin Gadkari, are expected to arrive along with chief ministers of various states.

Exhibition of Sikh artefacts, relics of the Gurus, Sikh congregations, religious prayers, mega martial art exhibition and seminars on Sikh history and culture will mark the occasion. “This is an opportunity for Sikhs to remember those great heroes who fought with valour to protect the religion with an unconquerable spirit,” said SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar.

Though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was first reported to be willing to take part in the celebrations, security concerns and his other engagements forced him to postpone the visit. “We cannot force anyone to join us. The Congress is staying away and so are the Sarna brothers, but we are not bothered. It is a religious programme and they should take part in it. But Sarna is an agent of the Congress, so he will do what his political bosses direct him to do,” says Makkar.

He also said elephants, horses and great display of Sikh martial art Gatka will welcome the Fateh March arriving at Sirhind on May 12. “A national seminar on the life and philosophy of the great warrior, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, are already over,” he said, adding the SGPC will issue commemorative gold and silver coins to mark the occasion and a series of light and sound programmes will also be organised at various district headquarters to apprise people about the sacrifice of Baba to establish Sikh Raj.

Apart from this, a religious procession from Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, the birth place of Baba Bahadur, and village Gurdas Nangal in Gurdaspur, from where Baba was arrested, will reach at Sirhind. Dal Khalsa, a radical Sikh body, today said they will take out a Khalsa Raj Parade from Chaparchiri to Sirhind on May 12.

In a statement, party spokesperson Kanwarpal Singh said the march will start from Chaparchiri, the place where Baba defeated and killed the Governor of Sirhind. “The march will conclude at Sirhind, where Baba unfurled the Saffron Nishan Sahib and established the first rule of Sikhs,” he said.

With thanks : Source : EXPRESSINDIA.COM : Detailed news can be viewed from Link in headline above.

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Plans for imparting religious tenets to Sikhs in Pak

Amritsar, May 10 (PTI) Sikh leadership today promised a Pakistani delegation that it would visit the neighbouring country in two months to impart tenets and customs to followers of the religion there.

Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh assured the Pakistani delegation that he would visit Pakistan along with Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar.

Addressing media with Pakistani Sikhs here, the Jatedhar said a team of Sikh priests and scholars would be sent to the neighbouring country for six months to teach the religion.

Detailed news can be viewed from the link in headline above.

With thanks : source : PTI

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Sikh history to be rewritten: SGPC chief

Patiala, May 10 (PTI) In view of doubts raised by some scholars, the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today said the entire Sikh history would be reviewed and rewritten.

A history department would be established at the Sikh University at Fatehgrah Sahib for the task, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar told a new conference here.

Some writers and scholars were raising controversies and spreading negative publicity about the Sikh history, he said.

To put to rest such doubts, the SGPC, the apex religious body, would set up a department for reviewing and rewriting the history penned by Sikh and English scholars, Makkar said.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

With thanks : Source : PTI

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Sd. B S Kohli ji from Navi Mumbai - a Sardar - a real sewadar

With best regards

B S Vohra
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www.joincensus.com to spread awareness about Census amongst Sikhs and marginalised sections

To generate interest in Census participation and provide easily readable and downloadable information, print, audio and video materials and resources for all public-spirited organisations and individuals who would be ready to take this as a cause, a new website –www.joincensus.com has been launched. This pro-active initiative is by the Forum For Forgotten Sikhs –a forum of various organisations dedicated to create awareness about the marginalised sections of the Sikh community.

The site is multi-lingual, providing information in Punjabi, English, Hindi and Sikligari. The most significant feature of the website is that for the first time in the history of the world, the Sikligari language will be published on the Internet. The Sikligari language is spoken by the Sikligar Sikhs, which has been presented on the Internet in the Gurmukhi script. This will help spread awareness amongst the Sikligar Sikhs about Census and its importance. Additionally, it is expected that it will invoke curiosity and interest about the Sikligar Sikhs as well.

Census data plays an important role in the formulation of governmental policies for social and economic development. All material and articles will emphasize this. It will focus on preparing and training volunteers, particularly the economically weaker sections, the poor and those who are lethargic or unaware about the role and significance of Census data.

Historically speaking, in Punjab in 1961, manipulation of Census data -when many disowned their mother tongue changed the geography of the state. It severely impacted the political skyline and vitiated the relationship between communities. Consequently, Punjabi language came to be identified only with the Sikhs and since then the onus is on Sikhs, who are still struggling to protect it in all possible ways. It is our hope that, this time around, awareness amongst people and an alert media will ensure that no conspiratorial and motivated covert and overt steps are taken detrimental to the interests of the minorities and the marginalised sections of the community.

The development of the site is on on-going process with many more sections to be added as the Census taking and verification of data proceeds. Simple handbills containing guidelines, posters, audio and video files –all easily downloadable, will be added. A live media section will be another key feature as the Census is being hotly debated in and outside the Parliament.

We seek cooperation of all Sikh religious, social, political organisations, Gurdwaras, educational institutions, networking websites to popularise the website and its contents so that all of us stand to benefit and succeed in upholding the dignity and status of the Sikh people.

Time is of essence. Join us. Today. We need your effort and input for the next full year, particularly during the second phase of Population Enumeration.

Jagmohan Singh
Coordinator, Forum For Forgotten Sikhs
www.joincensus.com

‘Badals pushing Punjab backwards’

Amritsar Amarinder gets rousing welcome in Amritsar

Former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday got a rousing welcome in the holy city as he arrived to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. Terming his visit a thanksgiving to the Almighty for victory in the legal battle against his expulsion from the Assembly, he made a scathing attack on the SAD-BJP combine.

He translated the rousing welcome he got as anger against the state government. “I never thought the response would be so big. This shows that the days of the Badal government are numbered,” he said, speaking with mediapersons at party leader Jasbir Singh Dimpa’s residence.

He said the law and order situation was deteriorating in the state and the Badal government was “thrusting the state into backwardness”.

He also held the state government responsible for the low yield of the wheat and shortage of power in the state. He said “in such an atmosphere of distrust”, the elements of Naxalism and other anti-national elements “are bound to take roots”.

“When people are dissatisfied, as is happening under the present regime of Badal, the elements of extremism get stronger. The state government is sleeping over clear trends,” he said, adding that the recovery of explosives on Saturday from an abandoned car outside the District Congress Committee (Rural) office was “an attempt by ruling party leaders to divert attention from our road show”.

With thanks : Source : ExpressIndia : with link in headline above for the detailed news.

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Sarna brothers showed disrespect to Guru Granth Sahib

Delhi, India: The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) supremo and his brother are in the midst of a controversy for allegedly staying away from the holy palanquin carrying Guru Granth Sahib during Fateh March in New Delhi.

Accusing them of showing highhandedness during the occasion, many members of Sikh Sangat alleged that the management of the DSGMC showed disrespect to Guru Granth Sahib when Fateh March reached New Delhi on April 28.

“While the public welcomed the march wholeheartedly when it reached Gurdwara Moti Bagh, Gurdwara Rakab Ganj and Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tilla, neither DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna nor his brother DS Sarna came to pay obeisance to Guru Granth Sahib or welcome Panj Piyaras.

Sangat alleged that even the floor outside Gurdwara Mehroli, the martyrdom place of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, was dismantled to not let the public go inside the Gurdwara.

“The most shameful moment was when the palanquin kept standing outside Gurdwara Rakab Ganj for at least one hour. When Panj Piyaras went inside the gurdwara, they were not even accorded a welcome. Neither a siropa was presented to them nor did the Sarna brothers presented Rumala Sahib to Guru Granth Sahib,” said Onkar Singh.

He said even when Fateh March reached Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tilla, its main doors were locked and the daily evening prayer was performed much before the scheduled time. “But the determined youth performed sukhasan of Guru Granth Sahib inside the gurdwara only as the people of a task force failed to control them.”

With thanks : source : SIKHSANGAT : with original link in headline above.

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Dr.Gurdeep Kaur with PM's daughter Prof. Upinder singh in Leuven

Dr.Gurdeep Kaur with Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan singh ji's daughter Prof. Upinder singh, Prof.Winanad Callewaert & Prof.Idesbald Goddeeris in Leuven.

With best wishes

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