New Army Rule Eliminates A Hurdle To Sikh Service

WASHINGTON DC (TIP): In April 2015, the U.S. Army released new rules that will make it easier for observant Sikhs to request religious accommodations for their articles of faith. The prior procedures forced turbaned and bearded Sikh recruits to violate their religion while asking for a religious exception to serve – a Catch-22. Now observant Sikh recruits can continue to practice their religion while the Army decides whether to accommodate their religious articles of faith. The new process allows observant Sikh recruits to first contract with the U.S. Army and then submit a request for a religious accommodation. While the request is pending, the Sikh recruit will not be sent to training or receive any official U.S. Army assignments. If the religious accommodation request is granted, the Sikh recruit may serve without compromising his/her articles of faith; if it is denied, the Sikh recruit may then request a departure from the Army without penalty in order to avoid violating religious beliefs. It is the Sikh Coalition’s understanding that this rule change only applies to the U.S. army at this time. Despite these changes, the presumptive ban on Sikh articles of faith still remains and accommodation requests are still being decided on a rarely-granted case-by-case basis. In other words, while it is now easier to request a religious accommodation within the U.S. Army, it is still difficult to actually obtain one.

with thanks : TheIndianPanorama : LINK : for details.

Chicago Sikhs Raise $34,000 for National Sikh Campaign

CHICAGO — Last week 200 Sikhs attended the first major fundraising event for the National Sikh Campaign, raising a total of $34,000. The NSC aims to promote national awareness of Sikhism and Sikh identity through the media, said a press release.

At the event, NSC representatives presented their media plan to place specially crafted ads about Sikhs on national and local TV channels and websites. “This will help to educate Americans on the Sikh community and identity of wearing a turban and beard,” explained the organizers.

with thanks : indiawest : LINK : for details

Australian Sikh community outraged over smoking cartoon

Canberra: Sikhs in Australia have expressed outrage after a daily published a cartoon of a Sikh man smoking a cigar, a media report said on Friday. 

"You would never see a person of Sikh faith smoking -- not even a cigarette, let alone a cigar, so it just seems out of context," Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) quoted the executive producer of its Punjabi programme Manpreet K Singh as saying.

"Obviously people who follow the religion feel outraged about it," she added.

The cartoon was published in the Herald Sun on Thursday.

with thanks : Zee News : LINK : for details

SGPC to Sikh boys: Wear turban if you want to be Mr Singh

Wearing a dastaar or a turban has its uses. That distinct Sikh identity, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is telling young Sikhs in schools across the state, will help them stay away from drugs, earn them “respect” in society every time they are addressed as “Mr Singh”, increase their height and keep them away from “infectious diseases” that spread through visits to the hairdresser.

Since December 2014, more than 100 preachers of the Amritsar-headquartered SGPC, the apex representative body of Sikhs that is dominated by the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), have visited at least 1,000 schools across the state, “counselling” the patit or “fallen” Sikhs to start following Sikhism’s tenets and stop cutting their hair. As part of an ongoing drive called Sikhi Saroop Mera Asli Roop (Being Sikh is my real identity), SGPC preachers say they have identified 14,000 Sikh youths in Punjab who have cut their hair and who, they believe, need to be counselled against this deviation from faith.

with thanks : Indian Express : LINK : for detailed news.

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Sewa of Whitewash of Shri Anandpur Sahib begins on 9th May 2015

To commemorate 350^th years of setting up of the holy city of Shri Anandpur Sahib, the work for its white washing would begin on May 9. The president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara management committee (DSGMC) Manjit Singh GK who held a meeting with the religious organisations, representatives of prominent Sikh organisations, Sant Samaj, and prominent Sikh personalities to perform the sewa today announced the decision of beginning of sewa on May 9.

GK reiterated that the DSGMC would once again lead the Sikh organisations in performing the sewa which it did in year 1999 to commemorate tercentenary of the Khalsa panth. Speaking on the occasion, GK said that it is a matter of pride for the Sikh sangat of Delhi to perform sewa on the land of birth of Khalsa and DSGMC and the Sikhs of Delhi would perform the sewa whole heartedly.  

Sant Samaj and the panthic organisations assured all support to the DSGMC to carry out sewa at Shri Anandpur Sahib.

General Secretary of DSGMC Manjinder Singh Sirsa on the occasion announced of taking out a Nagar kirtan from Gurdwara Shri Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi to Shri Anandpur Sahib on June 14. Sirsa said that after stopover during night at Shri Fatehgarh Sahib the Nagar Kirtan would reach Shri Anandpur Sahib on June 15.

Former Jathedar of Shri Akal Takht Jasbir Singh Rode, Baba Lakha Singh represented Baba Sewa Singh of Khadoor Sahib, Baba Satnam Singh representing Kar Sewa Baba Bachan Singh, Sant harvidner Singh of Goniana mandi, and Bhai  Gurmeet Singh form Namdhari Samparday were also resent in the meeting who assured to take active part in the sewa. Sant Amritpal Singh of Gurdwara Tikana Sahib in Delhi, and Baba Bhuriwalae has also assured support to this endeavour. Former president of DSGMC Avtar Singh Hit, and members Kulmohan Singh, Kulwant Singh Bath and Paramjeet Singh Rana were also present. 

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

Sikhs should explain meaning of turban to Americans, says US lawmaker

Sikhs need to explain to Americans the significance of the turban, the most visible sign of their identity, an influential US lawmaker has said, amid reports that a majority of children wearing turbans are bullied in schools.

Congresswoman Judy Chu, founder and vice-chair of the Congressional American Sikh Caucus, said despite the fact that Sikhs have been woven into the fabric of American culture for more than a century, there is a need to educate Americans about it, PTI reported.

Chu was speaking at the Capitol Hill this week after receiving a report on Sikhs in America from the National Sikh Campaign (NSC). The report has been prepared by Geoff Garin, head of the Hart Research Associates. The most significant finding here is that most Americans do not know much about the Sikh community, Chu said.

Chu said that though it is disappointing, it can also be a positive because it can be a way to educate people about Sikhs. It's an opportunity to tell your neighbours about why Sikhs wear turbans and have long beards and that these are articles of a loving and peaceful faith.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sikhs-america-turban-congress-lawmaker-judy-chu/1/43

Nepal Relief Team Bringing Medical Assistance to Those Most Vulnerable, Much More Needed...

Kathmandu, Nepal – The people of Nepal are still suffering after an earthquake of 7.8 magnitudes shook the country to its core, killing more than 5,500 people, and leaving thousands without water, shelter and medical aid, especially those living in remote areas who are famished and sick because of the lack of aid.

UNITED SIKHS Nepal Relief Team consisting of Dr. Harmeet Singh, physician in charge of Emergency and Urgent Care at the Moolchand hospital in New Delhi, Dr. Amarjeet Singh, working in Radiology Department at GB Pant Hospital in Srinagar and Dr.Rishab Koirala, from a local teaching hospital of Nepal are on the ground. The team is completed with the presence of another 10 volunteers and medical technicians.

Overview of medical assistance provided by the team within a week -

• First medical camp was set up in Bhimatra in Sindhupal Chowk area almost 120 km from Kathmandu. The team had to walk 10 km on foot to reach this village. Around 80 patients were provided medical aid there.
• Multiple medical camps have been held around the Raviholi area with the team visiting 6 villages and nearly 200 patients have been provided with medical assistance.

Type of injuries our doctors and medical team have been attending to -

• trauma (lacerated wounds, abrasions, infected wounds, fractures)
• shortness of breath
• musculoskeletal pain
• diarrhoea
• acute gastroenteritis
• heath concerns for pregnant women
• fever
• upper respiratory tract infections
• joint pains
• allergies
• oral ulcers
• anxiety disorders

Dr. Harneet Singh said: “I want to contribute to humanity. I love helping people, and since I am a doctor, I know the value of life”. Dr. Amarjeet Singh shares “I’m not just a doctor, but a sevadar. I want to help medically and give the best in terms of medical relief.”

We would like to thank all our supporters who have donated towards the mission from the beginning. Your support has reached hundreds in need of medical assistance already and we are committed to providing medical aid to many more. Our doctors are willing to walk long distances to ensure medical aid reaches all. We hope you will walk with us and continue to donate. If you have not had a chance to donate yet, please click below.

WHAT’S NEEDED? People have lost basic life necessities of food, shelter and clothing.

1. The ground team has assessed need for 600 tents and floor covering. Each tent can house 30-40 people. Total cost is Rs 18,50,000/ USD 29,000/ GBP 19,200.
2. The below list of basic medicines and many more are needed so aid can be provided. Plan is to ship medicine worth Rs 32,00,000/ USD 50,000/ GBP 32,800
3. Cost for 3 tonnes of food is Rs 21,35,000/ USD 33,500/ GBP 22,500
4. Distribution and field transportation cost- Rs 10,00,000/ USD 15,700/ GBP 10,500
5. Volunteer field cost- Rs 3,00,000/ USD 4700/ GBP 3100

ANTACIDS -TAB Pantocid 200 -Rantac 200 -Domperidone 200	MATERIAL -Needle (2,0.3, 0.4,0) 100 -Gloves 200 -Masks 200 -Needle Holders 10 -Scissors 10	PAINKILLER/ ANALGESICS -TAB Dickifenac 200 -Paracetamol 300 -Flexon 300 Combiflame 200
SURGICAL -Gauzes 500 -Bandages 500 -Betadine Liquids 5litre 20 bottles -INJ TT 500 -ORS Sachets 500	ANTIBIOTICS -TAB Amoxycillin 200 -Ciprofloxacin 100 -Ceflxime 100 -SYP Ciprofloxacin 200 -SYP Amoxicillin 200 -SYP Ceflixime 200	OINTMENTS - Diclofenac 100 - Betadine 100 - Neosporin 50

The team has set up a medical relief supplies base camp at the DDA, Community Hall, Gujjar Diary, Gautam Nagar, New Delhi - 49, near the Green Park Metro station. All medical supplies will be transported to Nepal with our volunteers.

Our cargo costs are minimal as our base camp is set up in New Delhi, in close proximity to the disaster area.

Special Thank You

• The Prerna Social Development & Welfare Society who have kindly allowed us to use their complex as our medical base camp.
• Spice Jet for 3 tonnes of charge free cargo and excess baggage fee waiver.
• Datawind for the tablets for field work and communication by the medical team.

Issued By:
Gurvinder Singh
UNITED SIKHS Aid Director
contact@unitedsikhs.org

Baisakhi Mela at Sint-Truiden,Belgium

 





Link: http://www.europesamachar.com/?p=69908#more-69908

Punjab Govt & SGPC to organise tour of Guru Gobind Singh’s relics

In an event to be jointly organised by the Punjab government and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), relics of Guru Gobind Singh would be taken around the state in a special religious procession from May 6 to May 20.

The procession will start from Patiala on May 6 and culminate at Takht Keshgarh Sahib Anandpur Sahib on May 20. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar held a meeting with Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday to finalise the programme.

The CM has formed a two-member apex committee comprising education minister Daljit Singh Cheema and   special principal secretary to the CM KJS Cheema for oversee the arrangements for the procession.

The holy relics of Guru Gobind Singh include three swords, a set of hair and comb, a turban, a chola (robe), a whip, a bunch of five arrows, a siri sahib, a wooden spear, a steel spear, a sword and another sword with “Sat Sri Akal Guru Teg Bahadur the 1713 Samvat (1656)” inscribed on its blade. The relics would be placed in a specially designed 33 feet long transport vehicle by the SGPC.

Link :http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/govt-sgpc-to-organise-tour-of-guru-gobind-singh-s-relics/article1-1341952.aspx

Langar Camp/Relief Fund by DSGMC at Nepal

With Thanks : Media DSGMC