Emmy Awards 2010: how Archie Panjabi was told not to pursue her dreams

An actress whose Sikh relatives told her not to pursue her dreams because they were too “lowly” has become the only major British success at the 2010 Emmy Awards.

On an otherwise disappointing night for British talent, Archie Panjabi won the best supporting actress award for her role as the straight-talking private detective Kalinda Sharma in the US drama The Good Wife.

The 38-year-old, who made her name in the British hit films East is East and Bend it Like Beckham, appeared elated as she accepted the prestigious US television award.

She said: "When I started in the business in England, just getting a job was a dream. And to receive an Emmy now is just beyond my wildest dreams.”

Panjabi, whose family emigrated to London from India before she was born, is among only a handful of Sikh performers ever to have won an Emmy.

But she has told how her strict family were less than supportive when she announced her aspiration to become an actress because the profession is considered “lowly” by many traditional Indian communities.

“We did have a few arguments because I wanted to go to drama school,” she said previously.

with thanks : telegraph.co.uk : link in headline above for detailed news.

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New heritage spot offers lighting wonders for CWG visitors

New Delhi, Aug 31 (PTI) Tourists have one more place to visit during the upcoming Commonwealth Games -- the newly constructed Guru Tegh Bahadur Memorial.The soon-to-be inaugurated memorial, a tribute to the ninth Sikh guru Tegh Bahadur and spread out on more than 10 acres on GT road of the Delhi-Haryana border is illuminated with special lighting effects.The Guru's holy teachings has been inscribed on ten rock stands with lighting where colours of the lights change every minute. The main attraction is the tallest central pylon in steel fabrication with changing lights which is visible even from a distance.The base of the monument is shaped like the petals of a flower. The four arch monoliths in the landscaped garden with the preachings of the guru uses coloured lights that are of religious, cultural and historical significance."The very tip of the structure is illuminated in brilliant white light representing the brilliant thinking of the guru. The body of the central structure has a mix of blue and amber while the petals on the base are lit from below creating a warm white glow," says Indraneel Goswami, General Manager, Lighting Application Services Philips, which is creative advisor to the DTTDC.The two layered lighting with a soft wash topped with scallops of light makes the green grass come alive at night and the special soft impact lighting is designed to add to the longevity of the monument, says Goswami.The memorial whose foundation stone was laid by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and been constructed by the Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation, is scheduled to be inaugurated in September, a month before the Commonwealth Games."The monument is a fitting tribute to Guru Tegh Bahadur Singh. It is especially beautiful during the night when it is lit up and I haven't seen any such memorial from Kolkata to the Wagah border," Paramjit Singh, Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Managing Committee told PTI.Originally called Tyag Mal the guru was renamed Tegh Bahadur after his gallant displays of sword fighting in the wars against the Mughal forces.He built the city of Anandpur Sahib, and was responsible for saving the Kashmiri Pandits, who were being persecuted by the Mughals. The guru was martyred in Delhi by Emperor Aurangzeb.

with thanks : http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/new-heritage-spot-offers-lighting-wonders-for-cwg-visitors/278448.html

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SGPC gives nod to print Guru Granth Sahib in foreign countries

AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Avtar Singh has decided to allow printing of the holy Guru Granth Sahib and other Gurmat literature in foreign countries.

He said efforts were on to identify suitable land in the USA and Canada for setting up publishing centres and run them as per the Rehat Maryada (Sikh code of conduct).

The five Sikh high priests had in one of their edicts prohibited printing of the Guru Granth Sahib and other scriptures by any organisation other than the SGPC. Hence, the SGPC sends the Guru Granth Sahib and Gurmat literature to the Sikh Sangat abroad by air and sea.

However, maintaining of Maryada during travel was an arduous task, which is why the SGPC has decided to set up publishing centres overseas.

Avtar Singh also said that earnest efforts would be made to extend support to the Sikh community in the Kashmir valley living in a state of trepidation.

with thanks : Punjabnewsline

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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.

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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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