Will Head Covering Issue Keep Obama From Golden Temple?

A New York Times story out yesterday suggested that President Obama will avoid the Golden Temple while visiting India early next month for a unique reason: Concern that images of Mr. Obama wearing the head covering required by Sikh tradition while visiting would further the erroneous belief that he is Muslim.

Asked about the story today, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs would not directly address its central claim. He said the schedule for the trip was not yet finalized and that decisions about where to go are made in consultation with the host country.

with thanks : CBSnews : link in headline for detailed story.

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Sikhs appeal to Obama not to ‘cancel’ Golden Temple visit

Sikhs from various walks of life today made an emphatic appeal to US President Barack Obama, asking him not to cancel his planned visit to the Golden Temple on the issue of wearing a ‘headscarf or cap’ on the temple premises. They said though Obama would have to cover his head in accordance with Sikh traditions to visit the gurdwara, they had no objection if he wore a cap or even a hat.

The Indian Express carried a story in today’s edition (October 19, 2010), saying Obama might skip his proposed Golden Temple visit as US officials fear wearing a cap might create the impression among some Americans that he is a Muslim and alienate a section of US Christians. President Obama is a Christian whose late father was a Kenyan Muslim.

The Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, had stated that the US President may wear a scarf or a cap that is worn by Muslims but cannot wear a baseball cap or anything that resembles one. Teams from the White House and the US Embassy have visited Amritsar several times over the past three weeks to assess the arrangements for the visit.

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

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56.3 lakh voters enrolled for SGPC elections

Justice HS Brar, Chief Commissioner, Gurdwara Elections, has said voters could be punished under the provisions of Indian Penal Code (IPC) if they submitted false declaration. He was addressing a press conference here after holding a meeting with deputy commissioners from seven districts of Jalandhar Division.

The returning officers and revising authorities of the constituencies were also present at the meeting held to review the preparation of electoral rolls and to get an update regarding the claims and objections received so far in respect of applications for making votes. The last date of filing objections is October 28.

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

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Witness identifies Sajjan Kumar in 1984 Sikh riots case

A witness in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case on Tuesday identified former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar as one of the leaders who provoked the killing of innocent Sikhs during the carnage after the assassination of the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. Jagsher Singh told a city court he remembered Kumar asking the mob to kill Sikhs.

"Sajjan Kumar, MP, came in an Ambassador car and asked some people (around 30 to 40) if they had done the work that had been assigned to them. He then said they had not done their work properly. One person told him that they were helpless as the thekedars (contractors) were being saved by Hindus. Thereupon, Kumar said Hindus offering shelter to Sikhs should be killed and their houses burnt," Singh said.

Singh had lost three of his elder brothers in the riots. He is a witness in the case filed by his cousin Jagdish Kaur, whose husband and son were also killed by the mob. Singh said following Kumar's order, the mob looted his Raj Nagar home and set it on fire. "I knew him (Kumar) because our area was backward and there was some sewage problem. He had come to listen to our grievances," Singh added.

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

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A day after Sekhwan locked Gurdwara, Manpreet Badal gets due honour by Sikh priest

PATIALA: A day after Sewa Singh Sekhwan Punjab Public Relations minister locked the Gurdwara at Kahnuwan to prevent entru of former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, the granthi (priest) at Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib here who Monday presented Siropao(robe of honour) to Manpreet Singh Badal has reportedly gone underground soon after the ceremony.

The Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib is controlled by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC). Manpreet Badal had came to pay obeisance at Gurdwara where he was presented Siropao by a Granthi.

In Kahnuwan, Manpreet Badal was shocked to see the Gurdwara locked by supporters of Sewa Singh Sekhwan when he went there to attend path of Sukhmani Sahib organised by one of his supporter. The woman who had organised was allegedly kidnapped by Sekhwan's supporters. Sekhwan later produced the woman in press conference. She said that she had gone to her parents house.

Any official of SGPC, who did not want to disclose the identity of Granthi said that there were no directions from SGPC to give or not to give siropa to Manpreet Badal. He however confirmed that they were told not to allow Manpreet to address any meeting in Gurdwara premises.

The Gurdwara manager also offered a cup of tea to Manpreet even though he was not allowed to address workers meeting in conference room situated in Gurdwara Premises by the manager.

He arrived here around 9.40 AM in the morning and after meeting with his supporters who turned in large number immediately went to Gurdwara Sahib.

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

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Woman, 74, in Canada illegally gets to stay

OTTAWA - A 74-year-old woman from India living in Canada illegally for the last six years has been granted another stay from deportation.

Gyan Kaur came to Canada in 2001 after her husband died. The move allowed Kaur to be closer to her four children, who all live in this country. Two of children are citizens and two are in Canada illegally after their own claims for refugee status were denied.

According to court documents, Kaur claimed refugee status in February 2002 “on the ground that she feared persecution because of her Sikh nationality.”

That application was denied in January 2004, and since then she has remained in the country through several appeals to stay on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Those applications were all denied.

with thanks : torontosun : link in headline above.

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Habhajan Mann renowned Sikh singer in hospital

Renowned Punjabi singer and actor Harbhjan Mann has been suffering from dengue and has been hospitalised at S P S Apollo Hospital, Ludhiana.

According to Dr Anupreet Kaur of Apollo Hospital, “Harbhajan Mann was admitted in the hospital on Tuesday as his platelet count was only 14,000.

After treatment in the hospital, he is on way to recovery. I think he will be discharged from hospital in a day or so.

with thanks : emgonline : link in headline above.

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Sher-e-Punjab rises again

It was the right setting for the event. A painting of Maharaja Ranjit Singh by the Singh Twins was sold for 16,000 pounds sterling at an auction organized by Christies at Elveden Hall, Norfolk - former residence of Maharaja Duleep Singh - in September. It was one of the two artworks especially rendered by The Singh Twins for the bidding that formed part of the Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail activities, and was attended by eminent Sikhs from all over the world.

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

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How Obama's Date with Amritsar was set up

Sikh Americans are ecstatic that Obama will visit the Golden Temple. Avatar Singh, chief of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee that is responsible for Sikh places of worship in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh ,will welcome Obama. Other senior leaders, led by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, are also expected to receive the American President and the First Lady.

Sources said that in the few hours the Obamas will be in Amritsar, they will also visit an organic farm. The first lady is very interested in the subject, and has a miniature organic farm on the White House's South Lawn.

"It's really a dream come true moment," said Potomac, Maryland-based dentist Dr Rajwant Singh, chairman, Sikh Council on Religion and Education and executive director, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation. "This is absolutely a joyous moment for Sikhs not just in America, but all over the world," added Singh, was in the forefront of urging Obama to visit the Golden Temple. "I have been receiving scores of e-mails and calls from not only all across America but from also people in Punjab and Delhi and everywhere — even from Australia and the Middle East!"

He said it all had begun when "The President mentioned to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the state dinner in November about the Guru Nanak birthday celebrations the White House had hosted. This was such a complete surprise and such a wonderful and great gesture."

It was then, Singh said, "That's when I thought that this could work (urging Obama to visit the Golden Temple). That if I just plug this idea and somehow keep pushing this, it might work. And by god's grace it did."

Singh had started to work on it with Paul Monteiro, White House associate director for public engagement. Monteiro's portfolio includes reaching out to ethnic minorities and he is a regular feature at Sikh American events. He helped organise the Guru Nanak birth anniversary celebration at the White House.

In early July, Singh continued, he had written to the White House that if the President could visit the Golden Temple, it would "be a wonderful gesture since it's a symbol of interfaith understanding." He had pointed out that "the foundation stone of the temple was laid by a Muslim saint and the temple itself was constructed by Hindus and Sikhs and visited by people of all faiths from all over the world. I also mentioned that Punjab shares 370 miles of border with Pakistan and it will be a powerful message by the President to South Asia if he visits the temple."

If Obama visits the temple, Singh had added, "Americans will come to know about Sikhs and what Sikhism is all about. This will hopefully help to remove some of the misunderstanding and misperceptions about Sikhs in America and many of the difficulties Sikhs have faced and continue to face due to everything from racial profiling to mistaken identity and harassment at airports and other security barriers."

Complete story can be viewed with thanks at link in headline above or from : source : http://www.indiaabroad-digital.com/indiaabroad/20101015?pg=9#pg9

Submitted by : Dr. Rajwant Singh - Young sikh Leaders - with President Obama.

UK Hosts World's First Sikh Awards

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

The winners were

Sikh Lifetime Achievement : Mr. Fauja Singh, Fauja Singh holds the 10,000m record (64 mins - Lahore Marathon January 2005), 1/2 Marathon (2 hrs 29 mins and 59 secs) and the Marathon record (5 hrs 40 mins and 1 sec) both at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in September 2004 and September 2003 respectively. 94 year old Fauja Singh was to run 100m, 200m, 400m, the mile and 1500m, and a 3000m continuing on to finish the 5000m. Six races covering eight distances in a time limit of 94 mins. Impossible? – nothing is impossible for the ex-farmer from the Punjab ! Fauja Singh clocked 19.97 for the 100. In the 200m he obliterated the UK M90 age group 200m clocking an amazing 45.13sec. The 400m he covered in 1.49.28sec, to become the first in Briton ever to contest this distance.

Sikhs in Education : Professor Tejinder Singh Virdee, Tejinder is a particle physicist at Imperial College London and at the CERN laboratory in Geneva. He is distinguished for his contributions to experimental particle physics. In particular, starting with a handful of colleagues in 1990, he was responsible for setting up the worldwide CMS experiment collaboration. This is one of the two largest and most complex experiments in science with over 3000 scientists and engineers from about 180 institutes in over 38 countries. Professor Virdee has been a leader of the CMS experiment since the early nineties.

Sikhs and Charities : United Sikhs UK : Volunteers, staff and supporters work behind the scenes for an organisation they feel is theirs. Our volunteers have led 15 humanitarian relief missions in disaster zones; we provide legal services to defend civil and human rights and we run educational and personal development programmes. Our mission is to provide selfless service to the underprivileged and dispossesseo regardless of their religion or belief, ethnicity, nationality or gender. We are now a UN affiliated NGO with offices in 10 countries across the world, including the UK

Sikhs and Seva : DR Manjit Kaur Birdi, Manjit Kaur is a health practitioner and has worked within the community for over 20 yrs. She has been deeply touched by the suffering of fellow human beings and has always set out to help them in which ever way she can. She has presented on various TV & radio stations to raise the profile of health and religious affairs within the Sikh community. Six years ago she travelled out to Kenya to help build clean water supplies with irrigation system for people living in Kenya. In Africa she also travelled to Uganda and set up safe farming areas for families so they could grow and develop their communities. She is now working with local families and hospitals in India treating illnesses, promoting Sikhi and setting up and educational programme for children.

Sikhs in Business : Dr Kartar Singh Lalvani OBE, Dr Kartar Singh Lalvani founded Britain’s fastest growing major nutraceutical company 39 years ago with a portfolio of UK’s No. 1 brand leading supplements, including Pregnacare, Perfectil, Osteocare, Wellman and Wellwoman. Kartar, a fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, with a doctorate in medicinal chemistry, has built his business on his patented scientific innovations. The company now sells its products in over 120 countries. In the UK, over £60m worth of products are sold through retail chains, at Boots and nationwide. Dr Lalvani’s group employs over 2000 worldwide with a global turnover of over £200m and further double-digit growth is forecast. Vitabiotics is a private family business and has twice won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

Sikh Business Women : Dr Rabinder Kaur Buttar, Dr Rabinder Buttar is a highly successful British entrepreneur and the founder, President and CEO of ClinTec International. Included in Real Business’ List of Britain’s 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women, Dr Buttar is the recipient of several prestigious business awards, such as Ernst & Young Scottish Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 and The Institute of Directors (IOD) Director of the Year for Glasgow & the West of Scotland. ClinTec has a growing presence in the major markets of Europe, India and the Middle East. Dr Buttar has a PhD in Immunology, which she gained in 1988 from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland. Dr Buttar received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the West of Scotland for her 20 years contribution to Life Sciences.

Sikh Entrepreneur : Mr Jaswinder Singh Sehmbi, Arriving in London aged 11 and armed with an unstoppable passion and drive, Jaswinder Sehmbi has always been an entrepreneur. From a very young age he learnt he could turn his hand to almost anything and make something from it. Reassembling a bicycle to sell on while at school, using his talent to decorate homes while at college, supporting a family of five in all ways possible and then realising a dream to create a business that has taken him all over the world. And it doesn't stop there. His intuitive way with others and constant strive for learning new things and sharing knowledge has lead him to sponsoring and mentoring young hopefuls, inspiring them to become the creative forces of tomorrow.

Sikhs in Entertainment : MR Jazzy B, Jaswinder Singh Bains, aka Jazzy B was born in Punjab and was raised in Vancouver, Canada, a transatlantic superstar who has introduced a fresh new image to the world of Bhangra music. Since his debut album in 1993, has become one of the most important names in the Punjabi music world. Jazzy B is one the most prominent stars of Punjabi music in the 21st century, having proved his credentials with a string of worldwide smash hit songs.

Sikhs in Media : Dr Gurjeet Kaur Bains, Dr Gurjeet Kaur Bains is Editor in Chief of Britain’s first English/Punjabi publication, The Sikh Times. Amongst her other accomplishments is the role of Non Executive Director of Europe’s largest hospital, she is also Governor of a consortium of colleges in Birmingham. Gurjeet was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Aston University. Gurjeet was the first woman to Chair the Institute of Asian Businesses. She is CEO of Women of Cultures and founder of British Asian Hafta, an initiative that celebrates the success and contributions of the Asian community to Britain. Gurjeet strives to be a positive role model and mentor.

Sikhs in Sports : Satnam Singh Dhillon, Satnam Dhillon has played polo all his life from the first time he could walk to bicycles to horses. His father started playing in his early thrities and Satnam has had the fortune to follow in his fathers footsteps. Satnam is now rated as one of the top four rated english polo players, but Satnam unlike any other player on the same 7 goal handicap he plays as a professional / amature as he his employed full time in the family property firm. Currently he is also the highest rated indian player in the game. Satnam also plays for england and is part of the england squad.

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

SikhsIndia

Delegation of displaced Sikhs travels to Orakzai

Peshawar, Oct 13 (PTI) A delegation of the minority Sikh community has travelled to the restive Orakzai tribal region of northwest Pakistan to assess the security situation in the area and condition of their homes which they had abandoned after the military launched an operation against the local Taliban.

The delegation, which was escorted to Orakzai by officials of the local administration, comprised elders of 58 Sikh families.

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

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