Indian American Sikh Shot Dead In California’s Oakland City

A 45-year-old Indian American was shot dead by an unidentified gunman in California, prompting police to announce a USD 10,000 reward money for information leading to the arrest of the killer. SF Gate reported earlier today, Oct 8, that Oakland police investigators have identified a 23-year-old man ‘Joevan Lopez’ for shooting 45-year-old Jasvir Singh. Lopez was described as 5 feet 7 inches tall and 158 pounds, with dreadlocks.

Jasvir Singh was fatally shot inside his ice-cream van on Saturday in California’s Oakland city, San Jose Mercury News reported. According to residents of the locality, a gunman approached Mr Singh, shot him inside his van and ran away through the backyards.

Local residents described the horror of the broad day-light killing and expressed their fears of rising crimes on the streets of Oakland city.

“I don’t understand why someone would murder our ice cream man,” said Paula, a nearby resident.

“I heard five shots and came to my front door. I just feel really bad; he was doing his job, and now he’s gone,” she added.

with thanks : theindianpanorma : LINK : for detailed news report.

#TalvarThisFriday by Meghna Gulzar

If you want to know and understand that how the law enforcing agencies operate in our country & how we are at the mercy of those who have the responsibility to deliver the justice to the society, you must watch the new release, i.e. TALVAR by Meghna Gulzar on 2^nd October itself.

I am sure all of you must have heard or read the entire news story of Aarushi Talwar, who was murdered at the age of just 14 years. Someone had slit her throat. The family servant was also found dead, again with the same modus operandi, i.e. throat slit. 

The news had shocked everyone with a big question that how the parents could kill their 14 years old daughter. But the investigation agencies had termed the murder as the Honor Killing stating that the parents of Aarushi Talwar i.e. Dr Rajesh Talwar and Nupur Talwar had seen her in the compromising position with the servant.

Directed by Meghna Gulzar - daughter of Rakhee & Gulzar, the movie has given three perspectives to the murder with an absolutely unbiased approach to the case and lets the audience decide which version of truth they want to believe. The question remains that why we can’t have a system that can deliver justice without any favour, without any pressure, without any discrimination and without any delay as the justice delayed is justice denied.

Vishal Bhardwaj has rightly pointed the name TALVAR towards Aarushi as well as for Goddess of Justice who is blindfolded, carries a weighing scale and a sword to give the justice by way of treating everyone equal in front of the law.

While viewing the special screening of the movie we were just speechless. It clearly showed the role of investigating agencies that can turn the investigation in any direction they prefer.

Irrfan Khan plays the role of an investigating officer, while Neeraj Kabi and Konkona portray the roles of Aarushi's parents with Tabu in a special appearance. As usual Irrfan has given a great performance and his dialogues are very catchy. Konkona looks beautiful and has done complete justice to her "unusual" character of a mother convicted of murdering her own child. A must watch movie, being released on the 2^nd October. Don’t miss it if you really want to know that what happened to Aarushi.  

Please go through the link http://jungleepictures.com/talvar/ to know more about TALVAR. The Trailer video is also being embedded below : 

Canadian Sikh group organises langar to promote equality

Toronto: A Sikh group in Calgary has organised a week-long langar (community kitchen) to promote equality, fight hunger and to create cross-cultural dialogue, the media reported.

On October 5, the first day, the group set up a tent at the University of Calgary anddistributed free food, Metro News portal reported on Tuesday.

“A lot of people see us on the streets, see us in turban and a beard but they do not see what my goal is, what my mission is,” Harman Dhillon, a group member, was quoted as saying.

According to Dhillon, the event was part of ‘Langar Week’, an event held globally by the people of the Sikh faith.

with thanks : newsgram : LINK : for detailed news.

New Zealand to soon have gurdwara to preach Sikhism

Wellington: A new gurdwara will soon be constructed near Hamilton city in New Zealand to inform people about the Sikh religion in an interactive way, the media reported.

Sant Kapoor Singh, a Sikh high priest from India, last weekend visited New Zealand for the opening of ‘Babe Ke Huntly’, the Sikh shrine project, Stuff.co.nz news portal reported on Wednesday.

A decade ago, Sant Nahar Singh wanted to build Babe Ke Bhagat’s shrine and was searching for a holy plot for it.

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

Fearless Sikhs Set Up A 'Langar' In The ISIS Territory Of Syria To Feed Refugees

Large-hearted Sikhs have taken their traditional community kitchen to one of the most dangerous places on earth today – Syria. Giving a twist to the concept of langar, a group of Punjabi NRIs has collaborated with locals to provide fresh bread to nearly 14,000 refugees daily in the strife-torn region for several months now. Langar Aid, an extension of UK-based NGO Khalsa Aid, is located in the Pesh Harbour area, about 35km from the Kurdish city of Duhok and 10km from the Syrian border. Almost 70 percent of the members of Langar Aid have Punjabi roots, besides some European volunteers as well.

Instead of the classic kitchen, Langar Aid set up a bakery because IS fighters were destroying any food coming in for the Yazidis. While Khalsa Aid provided the machinery and Joint Help for Kurdistan gave a new building to house the bakery , the local government in Duhok is providing free power. Some time back, we told you how Khalsa Aid was helping Syrian refugees in Serbia . This time they are bringing help directly to the war-torn area. 

UK-based Indy Hothi, a 27-year-old economist-cum volunteer of Indian origin said, "We set up a bakery at a refugee camp for Yazidi people to provide a self-sustaining solution. Support in the form of food for distressed people has been there for over a year now and organizations from Sweden are helping run the bakeries. Help is also pouring in from Serbia and Greece."

"Refugees often mistake us for IS because of our appearance," said Ravi Singh, CEO of Khalsa Aid, but that not deterred this unique force. "I was there about two months back and it was a very overwhelming experience. It was poignant to meet a family that had fled from their homes with their 10-monthold child and they were pleasantly surprised to find aid in the middle of nowhere. Then there was an elderly lady who still wanted to return to her village she had built after years of hard work. The situation will get more challenging as winter sets in."

On the other side of Syria, on the Lebanon-Syrian border, the organization is helping refugees by running a school for 5,000 local children. "The idea is to take the langar outside the walls of the gurdwara and share food with people who need it the most," added Hothi.

Link :http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/today/27938-these-fearless-sikhs-have-set-up-a-langar-in-the-isis-territory-of-syria-to-feed-refugees.html

JOTI JOT PURAB OF GURU NANAK DEV JI

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

10,000 Amritsar students dance in world record bid

Amritsar, Oct 3: Over 10,000 students in this Sikh holy city on Saturday staked their claim in the Guinness World Records with the largest dance performance in one place. Organisers said the students at the historic Khalsa College campus here in Punjab also took a pledge against drug abuse.

“Shake your legs, Keep away from drugs” was the theme of the dance performance, organised by the Sun Foundation and the Amritsar district administration.

with thanks : india.com : LINK : for detailed news report.

US Sikh group raises USD 210,000 for needy Punjab students

Washington, Oct 6 :  The Sikh Human Development Foundation, a Washington-based philanthropic organisation has raised over $210,000 for its scholarship programme for underprivileged children in Punjab who wish to pursue higher education. Over 350 guests from metropolitan Washington area came to support the Foundation at a gala, featuring pop singer Jaz Dhami, here Sunday. 

SHDF has been giving scholarships to bright but poor students in Punjab and surrounding areas since 2001. Inviting all to donate, SHDF chairman Gajinder Singh Ahuja said: “We need your help. They (students) need your help.”

with thanks : india.com : LINK : for detailed news.

Takht Kesgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Mal Singh attacked

Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Mal Singh was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon by a pathi outside his residence at Anandpur Sahib on Tuesday.

As per reports, the incident took place around 11.40 am, when Giani Mal Singh was coming out of the manager’s office and going towards his residence .A temporary pathi of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Joga Singh (25) attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon. Giani Mal Singh sustained minor injury on his right thigh in the attack.

The security guards of the jathedar immediately overpowered the assailant, who was beaten up by the SGPC employees. Later on, he was handed over to the police.

Senior police officials including Rupnagar senior superintendent of Police (SSP) Varinder Paul Singh also reached the spot.

It may be mentioned here that the security of the Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib jathedar had been increased after the exoneration to Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by the Sikh high priests, including Giani Mal Singh.

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

MUST READ : Wedding between Sikh bride and non-Sikh groom stopped by 'thugs' at London temple

Members of the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara said a group of around 20 men opposed the 'mixed marriage' and forced it to be stopped on Friday

A group of men have stormed a Sikh temple in London to stop an inter-faith marriage, forcing the couple to cancel their wedding day.

Members of the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, in Southall, said the final preparations were underway on Friday when the men arrived.

Sohan Singh Sumra, vice-president of the temple, told The Independent a group of up to 22 people arrived shortly after 8am.

“They were all thugs,” he added. “None of them were recognised by any of the Sikh groups here.

“It was because it was a mixed marriage…they just came here to spoil it and intimidate us.”

Mr Sumra said police were called to remove the “threatening” men and that the gurdwara, which was inaugurated by Prince Charles, is now considering hiring private security.

He said the men had threatened to stop the wedding (Anand Karaj), between a Sikh woman and her white, non-Sikh, fiancé in a phone call the night before.

Members of the Havelock Road gurdwara contacted the bride’s family and they chose to go ahead, he said, but they could not continue after the temple was stormed on the wedding day.

“I've been in this temple since 1994 and I've never seen this sort of thing,” Mr Sumra said. “We will always listen to people’s suggestions but there was no reasoning with them. It was a sad day.”

Mr Sumra said he had attended many marriages between couples of different religions and races, and that the vast majority of the Sikh community had no issue with it.

with thanks : independent.co.uk : LINK : for detailed news report. MUST READ.

MUST READ : The British Sikh men trying to stop women marrying outside their religion

Britain’s Sikhs, long seen as a minority success story, are plagued by a faction of young men ‘defending’ their vision of the culture – and seeking to impose their views by attacking the nuptials of women who marry ‘out’

It was meant to be the happiest day of their lives – a celebration of modern multicultural Britain at the biggest Sikh gurdwara (temple) in the Western world. On 7 August 2015, in west London, a British Sikh bride and her Polish Christian groom sat together and absorbed the religious blessings at their wedding ceremony. She wore a cream and red dress, while he wore a red turban, in keeping with Sikh traditions.

But that morning, 20 uninvited men were determined to put a stop to the wedding. They stormed upstairs to the main hall and demanded that the priests end the ceremony, hurling insults at people who objected. One of them told a priest that, if their demands weren’t met, he would get 1,000 of his friends to come to the temple within the hour. The police were called and eventually the couple were forced to proceed into a hurried ceremony, while the protesters watched and took pictures of them to publish online.

This was not an isolated incident. The next weekend an interfaith wedding in Lozells, Birmingham, nearly turned into a mass brawl after protesters tried to stop it and, again, the police had to be called. The following weekend, another wedding in Coventry only managed to go ahead after some negotiations with the disrupters. In each case, the bride was a Sikh woman and the groom a non-Sikh man.

with thanks : Independent.co.uk : LINK : for detailed news story. MUST READ.