What is Dharam ?

Centuries ago, there was a Gurukul where a number of students used to be taught by an old and experienced teacher. The teacher used to teach them many subjects like Sanskrit, Ganit, and amongst others one subject would be 'Dharam'. After years of teaching, it was time to send them home. So, he finally took a written test of all subjects except the subject 'Dharam'.

After passing, all students were going back to their homes, and wondering all the way, why the teacher did not take a test for the subject 'Dharam'. One of them even said "Guruji always told us that Dharam is the base of a human life and without it a man can not succeed in any form of life. But still, he didn't even care to mention it while we left"

As they were moving, they noticed a lot of cactus thorns lying on the road. The students carefully crossed the hurdle, and proceeded for their homes. One of them stopped by, and started collecting the thorns into his bag. On being prompted by his colleagues, he said "We were fortunate to see these thorns and saved ourselves, but what if somebody doesn't see them and gets hurt. My conscious does not allow me to avoid this potential danger to some passerby. I am not going unless I remove all these thorns, no matter how much time it takes!" On this, the teacher emerged from behind the tree, where he was hiding.

The students were surprised to find that the teacher was following them all the way. The teacher said "Yes, I was listening to your conversation, as to why I did not take your test for the subject 'Dharam'. Actually, Dharam is not something to say or listen, it's of no use if you do not practically implement it in your life. I had intentionally spread these thorns in your way, and the one boy proved that he has actually understood the lessons of Dharam. Dharam is indeed to pluck thorns from others way or to sacrifice oneself to make someone's life better. If you do not respect/love other living beings, or try to create hurdles in someone's path, you are far from understanding what 'Dharam' is !"

We are so fortunate that Guru Sahib has always taught us to respect other beings/other faiths. Not just by Hukam, Guru Sahib has lead by example. See the Shaheedi of Guru Arjun Dev ji, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib ji and the sacrifices of Guru Gobind Singh Ji and various Sikhs from time to time. These are stories of selfless service to the society. That is what Sikhism stands for !

with thanks : Shabad Vichar

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A Sikh Temple Where All May Eat, and Pitch In

AMRITSAR, India — The groaning, clattering machines never stop, transforming 12 tons of whole wheat flour every day into nearly a quarter-million discs of flatbread called roti. These purpose-built contraptions, each 20 feet long, extrude the dough, roll it flat, then send it down a gas-fired conveyor belt, spitting out a never-ending stream of hot, floppy, perfectly round bread.

Soupy lentils, three and a third tons of them, bubble away in vast cauldrons, stirred by bearded, barefoot men wielding wooden spoons the size of canoe paddles. The pungent, savory bite wafting through the air comes from 1,700 pounds of onions and 132 pounds of garlic, sprinkled with 330 pounds of fiery red chilies.

It is lunchtime at what may be the world’s largest free eatery, the langar, or community kitchen at this city’s glimmering Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion. Everything is ready for the big rush. Thousands of volunteers have scrubbed the floors, chopped onions, shelled peas and peeled garlic. At least 40,000 metal plates, bowls and spoons have been washed, stacked and are ready to go.

Anyone can eat for free here, and many, many people do. On a weekday, about 80,000 come. On weekends, almost twice as many people visit. Each visitor gets a wholesome vegetarian meal, served by volunteers who embody India’s religious and ethnic mosaic.

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

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Police recover missing Sikh girl of Baramulla from Srinagar

Srinagar, Aug. 29 (ANI): A joint team of Baramulla and Srinagar police has found out a missing Sikh girl of Baramulla from a Srinagar locality.

The girl (name withheld), who had allegedly been kidnapped recently, was traced out by the joint police team on Saturday.

On August 24, a missing report was lodged in police station Baramulla that a Sikh girl was missing.

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

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1984 riots: Delhi Police shielded Sajjan Kumar, says CBI to Supreme Court

ANI

New Delhi, Aug 27 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday told the Supreme Court that the special anti-riots cell of the Delhi Police had conducted 'sham investigations and farce prosecutions' to apparently shield senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in connection with his role in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which six persons were killed.

The investigating agency an affidavit urged the apex court to vacate the stay it granted on Kumar's trial in August 13 after the former Member of Parliament challenged his prosecution.

The CBI pleaded that the stay 'seriously prejudiced' the prosecution against the Congress leader.

An apex court Bench comprising Justice P Sathasivam and Justice B S Chauhan while taking on record the affidavit - posted to September 7 the final hearing of the CBI's plea to prosecute Kumar for the Delhi Cantonment riots.

The Delhi High Court had on August 20 rejected a plea to stay the trial of Sajjan Kumar in connection with his role in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Kumar has two cases registered against him, one of which, a case involving the death of five persons in the Delhi Cantonment area, has been stayed.

The Delhi High Court had on July 19 dismissed Kumar's petition challenging a trial court's order to frame charges against him in the case.n the order, Justice Vipin Sanghi questioned the motive of the Delhi Police in cancelling the First Information Report against Sajjan Kumar when the CBI was still probing the matter.

Justice Sanghi directed the trial court to hold the proceedings against him expeditiously in the anti-Sikh riots cases.

The trial court had on July 7 framed charges against him in another case in connection with the riot case.

with thanks : news.yahoo.com : link in headline for detailed story.

SikhsIndia

Fire destroys Abbotsford Sikh temple

An Abbotsford Sikh temple destroyed by fire early this morning (Thursday) has a history that dates back to the 1940s, when it was a small prairie chapel.

The blaze, which occurred at 31957 Townshipline Road on Matsqui Prairie, has been deemed suspicious by investigators with the Abbotsford Police and Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service (AFRS).

Area resident Doug Rennie, 82, who still lives on the same dairy farm on which he was born and raised, said he was surprised to see the destruction.

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

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Sikh Family sports festival in Westminster

Solar power for Sri Harmandir Sahib complex

Amritsar, August 22-Solar energy is all set to be tapped for the supply of power to the Golden Temple Complex.In a pilot project, the Punjab Energy Development Authority (PEDA) is in the process of installing a water heater of 4,000 l capacity and a 18 KV solar power station for the utilisation of hot water in Guru Ram Das langar building and for the generation of power for the Golden Temple Complex.

“The water heater and solar power generation projects are likely to get completed in the first week of October. The capacity of the projects will subsequently be increased in a phased manner as per the requirement,” said PEDA Chairman Bhai Manjit Singh and SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh Khatra.

While the solar water heater work had been accorded to Chandigarh-based Solar Synergy, the solar power generation project would be set up by Delhi-based Punj Allied Company.

with thanks : sikhsangat

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2 Sikhs in Afghan poll fray, want to be first elected non-Muslims

Election campaign posters plaster Kabul’s traffic circles these days but one face stands out. Of a Sikh. But he is not the only Sikh candidate in the fray — there is another, a woman.

Pritpal Singh Pal and Anarkali Kaur Honaryar are running for positions in Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga, the 250-seat lower house of parliament, elections for which are scheduled on September 18.

If they win, they will become the first democratically elected non-Muslim parliamentarians in the country — Afghan Hindus and Sikhs have held parliamentary positions before through nomination.

Both are Independent candidates from the Kabul province and are up against Mohammad Mohaqiq and Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, former Mujahideen commanders who are now established politicians.

“I want to serve people regardless of religion. I’m an Afghan,” says 44-year-old Pal, a native of the Pashtun-majority province of Paktia where his parents were also born.

With thanks : Indian Express : Link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

CBI given time to file reply in '84 riots case against Tytler

A Delhi court on Saturday allowed the CBI two months' time to file a detailed reply to an application filed by a victim for certain documents relied upon by the probe agency in giving clean chit to former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. Additional Sessions Judge V K Khanna granted the request of CBI prosecutor Sanjay Kumar for being given two months' time to prepare the reply on the plea of Lakhwinder Kaur.

"There is no provision in the Criminal Procedure Code for supplying the documents sought by the applicant," Kumar claimed.

His contention that a similar application of Kaur was dismissed by the lower court was strongly objected to by senior counsel HS Phoolka who claimed the plea was allowed.

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

SikhsIndia

Tearful reunion for truck driver's family

KOLKATA: Family members of truck driver Gurjant singh reached the city in the early hours of Friday. Flanked by a battery of men from the Sikh community, the 40-year-old truck driver's elder brother, Veer Singh, and maternal uncle Kaur singh headed first to Calcutta high court and then to CID headquarters Bhabani Bhavan later in the afternoon.

It was, however, a long wait for the family members before they could meet Gurjant. Veer was allowed to meet his brother only after being interrogated by CID sleuths. When they finally met, the bothers broke down over a hug. The silence was finally broken when Veer mustered up the courage to ask how Gurjant was doing. Gurjant broke into tears again after hearing about his parents and children from Veer."My brother said that he was being treated well at Bhabani Bhavan. But he is worried about our parents, his children and wife. It was tough for me to see my brother in police custody. But I feel better after seeing him," said Veer.

with thanks ; source : Times of india : link in headline above for detailed news.

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