The Barah Dari of Kuri Shehar

Heritage By Hamzah Rifaat
The Barah Dari of Kuri Shehar  1 86
 A charpai is not something one expects to find in a historic and sacred place. Evidence of the quotidian, it interferes with the place's mystique, the sort of thing that makes archaeologists lick their lips and become overawed at what impends from the distance. The ruin of a temple situated on the top of a hill in Kuri Shehar is one such placeWhen I heard rumors from locals about the site harboring some amazing artifacts and relics, I knew I had to explore it. Luckily, barring the charpai inside the structure, I was not disappointed by what I found.   Baba Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana   Guru Nanak had told Mardana to wait under a Banyan tree The prospect of this place being an overhyped, mundane old house haunted me as I was climbing the elevated staircase. Luckily, I found a well that was deeply entrenched underground and a dome-like exterior adorned with images of flowers. To consider this a magnificent structure would be a criminally bare assessment. This used to be a place of worship; and, adding to its charm, a Banyan tree still stands right next to the building. The tree's presence confirmed my speculation that this was not an abandoned house but an old temple. Sikh legend has it that the founder of the religion, Guru Nanak, had told Mardana, a longtime companion of his, to wait under a Banyan tree when the former asked why so many people were being slaughtered in the world. Hence the tree has a significance for Sikhs. The interior walls were damaged considerably. The faces of possible deities or sages on each of the four walls that constituted the structure had been defaced or blurred by time. For me, however, the illegible "Indian" script on the walls was most fascinating. It was either Gurumukhi, Bengali or Devanagri, and my lack of certainty prompted me to dig deeper and conduct a hands-on interview to unearth more details of this strange yet exciting place. I heard rumors about the site harboring some amazing artifacts and relics A retired government official by the name of Mr. Muhammad Azhar claimed to know the story of this monument and the locality of Kuri Shehar. I met him at his residence, which was near the complex. The official was apparently highly regarded by people in the area, who spoke of his strong ties with the Sikh and Hindu inhabitants of Kuri Shehar. This is what he told me: The monument is known as 'Barah Dari' or 'Twelve Doors'. It is mentioned in a book about the area, authored by Vikram Anand and Asha Dar. Mr. Azhar read out the history of the site to me from this book in his living room. With thanks : The Friday Times : LINK : for detailed story with pics. Must view.

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Save rights of Kutch farmers who migrated from Punjab, DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK

Manjit Singh GK Appeal to Gujarat CM Narendra Modi to restore rights of farmers who contributed to turn Kutch area into prosperous cotton belt

New Delhi: President of Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi State Manjit Singh GK on today demanded from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi not to oust over 5000 families indulging in farming for past three generations since mid-1960s in Naliya tehsil of Kutch area of Gujarat.

“He is aspiring for the post of prime ministership and there should be the efforts to unite people and make their living peaceful and easy wherever they are living in the country,” Manjit Singh GK appealed to Modi addressing a press conference.

In 2010 the local authorities of Kutch-Bhuj area freezed land of the farmers who migrated from Punjab in 1960s and most of them Sikhs, by terming them par-pravasi(outsiders) quoting provisions of Bombay-Vidharbha Tenancy Act of 1960.

“It is shocking that the Gujarat government, despite having lost the case in the High Court of Gujarat have moved Supreme Court filing an appeal. I want to convey to Narendra Modi to ask his officers not to pursue the case in Supreme Court case against the hardworking farmers,” further said Manjit Singh Gk whom the farmers’ families met last week.

DSGMC General Secretary of DSGMC Manjinder Singh Sirsa who also accompanied Manjit Singh GK in the press conference asked Narendra Modi to be a statesman, especially when BJP is looking towards him to lead the country as prime minister after forthcoming parliament elections.

“On April 4, 1973 revenue department of Gujarat government issued a notification that farmer’s from outside can’t buy land in Gujarat. But these farmers’ families of Naliya Tehsil had bought land much before the notification,” adds Sirsa further pointing that the farmers have purchased land through sale deeds and have genuine ownership rights, which can’t be denied by any law of the land. “They are Gujaratis now, and the state government can’t deny them rights,” further added Sirsa.

Further speaking on the occasion Manjit Singh GK said that Narendra Modi is a senior and seasoned leader and he should see all the people in country as one, and should not let the officials of his state differentiate and discriminate between two persons with different originality.

“These farmers have contributed a lot for Gujarat, with their sheer hard work have turned the barren land into a fertile soil and a have acted as catalyst to make the region as cotton hub by growing best quality cotton,” said Manjit Singh adding that it was on the insistence of then prime minister Lal Bahadur Shashtri who wanted Punjabis to settle here and make borders along Pakistan habitable, farmers from Amritsar, Bathinda, Ferozpur, Faridkot and Hisar migrated to Kutch.

Pertinently the case is listed in Supreme Court on August 27 later this month. Assuring all help to the Gujarat farmers, Manjit Singh Gk said that incase the farmers don’t get respite from the Gujarat government they would get justice in the Supreme Court as a bench of High Court in Gujarat have given judgement in favour of farmers.

Modi draws flak for bid to force out Sikh farmers

The Narendra Modi government has ‘prima facie’ discriminated against the 500-member Sikh community in Kutch, a report by the National Commission for Minorities says.

The government had ordered the Sikhs to sell their land and return to Punjab because they were not Gujaratis, citing the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948.

The commission strongly disapproved of the interpretation that only Gujarati farmers could own or buy land in the state. The Sikh farmers’ land accounts have already been frozen.

“Modi, who has the habit of terrorising the minorities in Gujarat, was in this case victimising the Sikh farmers,” commission member Ajaib Singh said in the report.

The government’s order was struck down by the Gujarat HC but the verdict was challenged in the Supreme Court.

The commission has asked the Gujarat government to accept the high court’s verdict. Modi was also requested to administer a national minority scholarship programme and set up a state minorities commission.

Singh also wrote to Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to intervene in the matter.

‘Expose Modi’s lies’

Rahul Gandhi on Monday directed Gujarat party leaders to expose Narendra Modi’s “dangerous politics and lies”and to focus on issues to build pressure on the BJP government.

with thanks : HINDUSTAN TIMES : LINK

Ki Karengi Aashiqui : Money V : by Kabana Musics India

http://moneyvofficial.blogspot.in/

Happy Gurupurab !

Australian couple jailed for racial attack on Sikh

“The turban is the crowning glory of the Sikhs,” Judge Stephen Southwood was quoted as saying during the sentencing. “For Sikhs, the head and the turban are sacred – they must not be touched or insulted in any way,” he said.

Sydney : A court in Australia has sentenced a husband and wife to nine months in jail for a racially motivated attack on a Sikh man, reports AFP. 

Angelina Kim Sollitt, 44, and her husband Michael John Arbouin, 40, were given the jail sentence for what has been described as a malicious and unprovoked attack on Jagroop Singh, a taxi driver in Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory in October last year, the NT News reported on Wednesday.
The incident happened after Singh picked up Sollitt, Arbouin and three other people from the Dinah Beach Yacht Club in Darwin.

As Singh drove the group, Sollitt told him to remove his turban, a symbol of the Sikh faith, saying that it was Australia and not his country. “If you want to live in Australia, take this sh** off,” Sollitt was quoted as telling Singh.
Singh kept on driving but when the abuse did not stop, he eventually pulled over in a bid to remove the group from the cab.

It was then that Sollitt got out from the cab and ripped off Singh’s turban leaving him dishevelled. When Singh called police for help, Arbouin threw him to the ground and punched him in the face.

Police eventually arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.
According to the NT Times, Singh was so embarrassed by what happened at the time that he cut off his young son’s hair and forbade him from wearing a turban.
“The turban is the crowning glory of the Sikhs,” Judge Stephen Southwood was quoted as saying during the sentencing. “For Sikhs, the head and the turban are sacred – they must not be touched or insulted in any way,”
he said.
Southwood also said that the concept of Sikhism included “universal acceptance of all humanity, belief in one God and the equality of all persons irrespective of their caste, colour, gender, nationality and religion.” 

Singh had earlier told the newspaper that the turban was symbol of faith for him. “I only care that these people insulted my religion,” he had said.

with thanks : The Free Press Journal : LINK

SAD thinks beyond Punjab

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) plans to field candidates in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha elections in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who on Friday made the announcement here after the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected members of the block samitis and zila parishads, also said the party might also fight the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi and Haryana.

Confident after victory in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) elections, Sukhbir said the Akalis had consolidated their vote bank outside Punjab and were ready to expand their area of activity there.

On fielding Lok Sabha candidates from Haryana and Delhi, there is no final decision yet within the party but going by the eroding credibility of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre, general elections before December seemed possible indeed, said Sukhbir.

On People's Party of Punjab (PPP) leader Manpreet Badal's joining hands with the Congress, Badal said it was forgone conclusion the moment Manpreet had resigned from the SAD. He described Manpreet's move as inconsequential, saying: "Zero plus zero will still remain zero."

No power cuts on the domestic sector, said Badal, but added that industry would have to bear these for a few days, as the central grid was not allowing Punjab to purchase more than 5,300 megawatts of electricity in view of last year's grid failure.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : LINK : for detailed news.

Delhi Sikh gurdwara body constitutes sports directorate

AMRITSAR: With an idea to take away youth from drugs and make them physically fit, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) constituted a sports directorate on Saturday.

DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK told TOI that former hockey player Swaranjit Singh Brar had been made its honorary director.

He said DSGMC has also announced to hold Khalsa Sports Meet in the month of October in Jawahar Lal Stadium.

Other than Brar as honorary director, the sports directorate would have seven members - hockey players Harbinder Singh and Ajit Pal Singh and former Olympians, Harkamal Singh, Apinder Pal Singh, international badminton umpire Manjit Singh Dua who had represented India in different competitions.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

My mother, wife feeling proud of me after 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag': Farhan

Actor Farhan Akhtar is happy with the positive response that his recently released film 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' is garnering from all quarters.

Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' is a biopic on The Flying Sikh- Milkha Singh. The protagonist's role was essayed by Farhan on the big screen.

"We are happy that people love this film. The biggest compliment is the acceptance of audience and Milkha Singh and his family," Farhan told reporters at the success party of the film.

He is also ecstatic being praised by his family for his performance. "My mother (Honey Irani) and wife (Adhuna) are feeling proud of me. It is nice to see this reaction as I was away from them and gave most of the time to this film," he said.

with thanks : Times of India : Link : for detailed news.

Young Sikh Soccer Players’ Special Appearance!

Last weekend the Concacaf Gold Cup Group B game took place between Haiti and El Salvador at the Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida. What was special about this game other than the fact that El Salvador won and advanced to the Quarter finals?  Well, two young Sikh soccer players had the most exciting day of their lives.  They walked onto the field with team Haiti.  Mandeep S. Birring and Manpreet Singh held hands with the two players at the front of the line and accompanied them onto the field.  Certainly this was a moment of great joy as the live telecast was seen by millions on live TV.

with thanks : the link paper : LINK

Sikh holy book desecrated again in Sindh

KARACHI: Before police could arrest culprits who desecrated Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib in Pano Aqil, a similar incident happened in Shikarpur, in which unknown people tore 24 pages of the sacred book. 

The incident has caused annoyance and fears among the Sindhi Sikhs, who are already a minority within Pakistani religious minorities.

Sardar Jai Singh, a local Sindhi speaking Sikh of Shikarpur told Daily Times over telephone that some unknown people entered the local Gurdwara Khat Wari Darbar at Store Ganj and not only tore 24 pages of the sacred book, but also took the pages away with them.

Shikarpur police registered the case (FIR No-74/2013) under section 295 Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) against unknown persons. 

“Police is investigating and we are sure that soon they will arrest the actual culprits. Though we are not sure, but we have a suspicion some local extremist Hindus are involved. There already is a tussle with local Hindus in which Sikhs asked their religious leader to apologise for disrespecting the holy book,” said Singh. 

ASP Shikarpur Tariq Wilayat, who is officially investigating the case, said that the police still does not know who is the actual culprit, but a case has been registered. “We have registered the case and are investigating. We still do not know who actually desecrated the holy book, however, the recent tussle between the Sikh and Hindu community creates doubts if some local Hindus are involved. We will soon find the actual culprits and the motives behind such happenings,” ASP Wilayat said.

Just last month, a similar incident took place in Pano Aqil, and some extremists tore the pages of the Sikh holy book. Despite protests, Sukkur police was not ready to register case due to pressure from Hindu parliamentarians, and had only arrested a poor man after massive protests. The incident case filed (FIR No-205/2013) under section 295-A was also registered against unknown persons. 

On contact SSP Sukkur Irfan Baloch had said that it was not a big incident as Hindus and Sikhs belong to the same community and will resolve the issue at community level very soon.

Chairman Pakistan Sikh Council Sardar Ramesh Singh said that inter-religious harmony among minorities of Sindh has always remained exemplary, for which Sindh remains less extremist. “We are shocked that in a month two such incidents occurred and it is painful to see that we are being targeted. I think a group with an ulterior motive is responsible for such incidents. Now it is up to the police to conduct a transparent investigation and find the actual culprits and punish them,” he said.

Denying prior reports, Ramesh said, “Earlier, some Sikhs blamed Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Lalchand Ukrani of pressurising police authorities, it was incorrect and I personally deny such allegations, that he was supporting local Hindus in this case.” 

Pakistani Sikhs are a tiny community compared to Hindus who make up 5.5 million officially with several parliamentary, provincial and national assembly representatives as well as members in the senate. 

However, Sikhs have a population of only 6000 in Pakistan without any representation in Sindh Assembly.

with thanks : Daily Times : LINK