Family members of 'converted' Sikh Girl write to Pak PM, want to leave country

   

A court had earlier ruled that Jagjit should go with her "husband" Muhammad Hassan. Hassan says Jagjit alias "Ayesha bibi" married to him on her own accord, something that is disputed by her family.

9 family members of "converted" Sikh Girl Jagjit Kaur from Pakistan's Nankana Sahib have written to authorities asking them to issue passports for them as they want to leave the country.

Letter written to DCO Nankana Sahib said, "Please be kind to us to hand over Jagjit Kaur to us" or "have our passports made so, that we can live a dignified and safe life in another country."

A court had earlier ruled that Jagjit should go with her "husband" Muhammad Hassan. Hassan says Jagjit alias "Ayesha bibi" married to him on her own accord, something that is disputed by her family.

"Living in a country like Pakistan has become not only difficult but impossible for us. It is a sign of fear that we cannot send our children to school," the letter accessed by WION stated.

"Where we cannot save our honors, how can we save ourselves?..If the tradition of conversion continues like this then I am sorry to say that the day is not far away when there is no minority in Pakistan," it added.

Manmohan, the brother of the Sikh girl said that he had explained to many officials. Punjab govt had promised to support but nothing came out.

                                  Pakistani PM Imran Khan

The letter has been sent to Pakistani PM Imran Khan, Army Chief Qamar Bajwa, DG ISPR Babar Iftekhar & Governor and CM of Pakistan's Punjab province.

Jagjit Kaur is the daughter of the Granthi of Nankana Sahib Gurudwara--one of the holiest places of worship for the Sikh since it is the birthplace of the founder of Sikhism-- Guru Nanak. 

https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-family-members-of-converted-sikh-girl-write-to-pak-pm-want-to-leave-country-2838784

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

Punjab to Allow Only 50% Shops To Open on Weekdays in 5 Cities in View Of The Surge In Covid-19 Cases

Not more than 50% of shops dealing in non essential commodities will be allowed to open on a given day in five cities of Punjab, in view of the surge in Covid-19 cases. The cities include Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Mohali, as per the revised guidelines issued by the state on Friday.

There will be a weekend curfew in all municipal towns of the state till August 31, besides night curfew from 7am to 5pm, according to the additional restrictions in urban areas of the state communicated to the DCs on Friday. The notification said that the district authorities would stagger the opening days of shops accordingly. However, all shops dealing in essential commodities will remain open on all days as per the fixed timings.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/punjab-to-allow-only-50-shops-to-open-on-weekdays-in-5-cities/articleshow/77686885.cms

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

SGPC:No Permission Given to Print Guru Granth Sahib in Canada

 

General Secretary Harjinder Singh Dhami Denies Giving Permission to Anyone for Printing Saroop of SGGS

Various Sikh bodies across the world are questioning the alleged printing of Guru Granth Sahib by a Canada-based Sikh society and the permission to print it.

                                   Ripudaman Singh Malik
Canada-based British Columbia Gurdwara Council (BCGC) spokesperson Moninder Singh on Friday said they had issued a notice to Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was acquitted for his role in the 1985 Kanishka airplane bombing, and Balwant Singh Pandher of Satnam Parchar Religious Society (SPRS), Surrey, British Columbia, for violating the Akal Takht directives on the printing of Guru Granth Sahib saroops (copies).

On April 9, 1998, then Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh had issued an edict to ban the printing of saroop, gutka (a small sized missal or breviary containing chosen hymns or banis from Sikh scriptures) and pothi (sacred book containing gurbani or scriptural texts and of a moderate size, larger than a gutka) by all private publishers and authorised only Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to do so. However, a concession to print the saroop and other holy books (mentioned in the edict) by a private publisher was given. It could be done only after an approval from the SGPC and the Akal Takht.

The BCGC has directed both Malik and Pandher to handover all saroops of Guru Granth Sahib printed by SPRS and the material used for the purpose to Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey, by 4pm on August 22.

Taking cognisance of the violation of the Akal Takht edict, the American Sikh Council (ASC) has announced support of the coalition of Gurdwaras of western Canada against the printing of the Guru Granth Sahib by any individual or entity. An ASC official said they were concerned about the reports of printing of their holy book by a Canadian Sikh society.

“Apparently, Malik set up a printing press inside Pandher’s home in order to start printing the Guru Granth Sahib. As of today, they may have printed over a dozen copies to test their venture,” claimed ASC. “The real question is who gave them the authority to take up such a task?” he added.

Despite repeated attempts, Malik could not be contacted for his comments in the matter. He also did not reply to a text message sent to him.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/sikh-holy-book-printed-in-canada-row-erupts/articleshow/77684160.cms

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

Sikh Personality Rupinder Kaur: A Results Coach and A Behavior Change Facilitator

                                                         Rupinder Kaur

Rupinder Kaur is a Results Coach and a Behavior Change Facilitator with more than 18 years of experience in impacting performance through brain science, at global level, capturing more than 18000 audiences at all hierarchy levels of organizations including Fortune 500. 

Catered to clientele from 22 industries to boost people and business performance.

Rupinder Kaur has led many Visionary Workshops for key stakeholders in multinational organizations, has a record of boosting overall productivity by 20% and business revenue by 200% in a short span of time, through coaching interventions. 

She has successfully designed and implemented the learning systems, service excellence processes and culture development strategies during her association with industry renowned players as Head Learning & Organization Development.

Rupinder Kaur is a certified Result Associate Coach by Neuro Leadership Institute, certified Neuro Linguistic Practitioner by Indian Association of Neuro Linguistic Programming and has attended workshops on skill assessment by Cambridge University.

She is also a certified Internal Auditor for ISO by TUVSUD South Asia. She has done two post-graduation studies as PGDBM with specialization in Human Resources from Symbiosis Institute of Distance Learning and M.Com from Annamalai University, after completing her regular graduation from Delhi University with Commerce as major subject and correspondence study from Manipal University in Bachelors in Information Technology.

Rupinder Kaur has also written a research thesis on ‘Negotiations in India using Psychodynamic lenses’ for INSEAD – Executive Masters in Consulting and Coaching, as a co-learner. Her articles are printed in industry magazines. Her thought provoking write-ups are recurrently published on various social media platforms for regular readers.

Glimpse at clients catered: GMR, The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, USAID, WorldFish, National Small Industries Corporation, Rockwell Automation, Chaudhary Group, Deutsche Bank of India, Reliance Life Insurance, Jindals Stainless Limited, Skoda, Genesis Colors Pvt. Ltd., AON Hewitt, Reckitt Benckiser, CIMMYT, Mitsubishi, Adani Enterprises Limited, Indian Oil, HSBC, Orange Telecom, Unicon Investment Solutions, adda52.com, Dominos, Reliance Digital, Pacific Mall, BSES Yamuna Power Limited, Seed Entrepreneur Association of Nepal, Moolchand Hospital, IMT Ghaziabad, National Institute of Applied Management, Delhi Public School etc.

rupinder27@gmail.com
coachrupinder@outlook.com
https://in.linkedin.com/in/rupinder27

https://www.facebook.com/RupinderKaurPage/photos/?ref=page_internal

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

Canada: Sikh Youth Suffers Life-Altering Injury After Unprovoked Attack

                                         Bikramvir Singh 

Peel Regional Police are appealing to the public for information after a 20-year-old Sikh youth was left with a life-altering injury from an apparently random attack with a paintball gun in Canada.

The incident happened on August 16 between 10:30 pm and 11 pm as the victim was walking from his home to a bus stop in the area of Monica Drive and Lockington Crescent, Mississauga.

According to police, strangers in a passing vehicle fired multiple paintball rounds at the man. As a result, he required surgery for his injuries and has been left with a serious, life-altering injury, police said.

Police said they could not discuss the specifics of the injury due to privacy concerns around health information.

The victim Bikramvir Singh was on his way to his part-time work when he was attacked. Bikramvir, who only wanted to be identified by his first name, said he may lose sight in one eye as a result.

“I have no fight with anyone. Because of the COVID scene, I was all the time at my home, attending my classes,” Bikramvir Singh said, who underwent surgery at a Brampton hospital.

Peel police said that Bikramvir has no idea who his attackers were and that the assault was unprovoked.

Officers said they’re looking to speak with anyone who may have the target of a similar incident, or might have information or video relating to what happened on Sunday.

There is currently no suspect information available.

https://globalpunjabtv.net/canada-sikh-youth-suffers-life-altering-injury-after-unprovoked-attack?fbclid=IwAR3euK-jLz6Vf6Ip-PhfJTQmFXvyq-s7hHXdpbLMew0PYat3tNY0Yj13b50

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

Killer Cop Sumedh Saini Booked Under Murder Charges

     

                                         Sumedh Saini 

Three decades after the brutal murder of innocent Sikh youth Balwant Singh Multani, the killer cop Sumedh Saini has been finally been booked for his heinous crime. The Special Investigation Team probing this case has added Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code in the FIR registered in relation to Balwant Singh Multani’s enforced disappearance case.

As Section-302 denotes a non-bailable offense so the arrest of Sumedh Saini seems almost sure after three days because the SIT can’t arrest Sumedh Saini without prior notice of three days.

The SIT is learned to have served three days prior notice to Sumedh Saini today in this regard.

It is pertinent to note here that the indictment of Sumedh Saini under murder charges has become possible because two former cops namely Inspector Jagir Singh and Assistant Sub Inspector Kuldeep Singh, who are eyewitness of brutal torture on Multani, have turned approver in this case.

Yesterday, their statements were recorded before the court under Section 164 of the CrPC i.e. on turning approver in this disappearance case.

https://www.sikh24.com/2020/08/21/finally-killer-cop-sumedh-saini-booked-under-murder-charges/#.Xz_8AdwzbIU

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

Sarbat Khalsa Acting Jathedar Excommunicates Giani Iqbal Singh For His Controversial Remarks In Ayodhya

                             Bhai Dhian Singh Mand

The Sarbat Khalsa appointed acting Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Dhian Singh Mand has excommunicated the former Takht Sri Patna Sahib’s Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh for terming Sikh Gurus as descendants of Hindu Lord Rama’s sons Luv-Kush

              
 Notably, Giani Iqbal Singh had hurt Sikh sentiments by giving this statement while attending Ram Mandir’s inauguration at Ayodhya. Bhai Dhian Singh Mand has directed the Sikh community to not use “Giani” or “Jathedar” title for Iqbal Singh and socially boycott him.

It is pertinent to mention here that Giani Iqbal Singh has clarified in an interview that he didn’t make any self-styled statement. “What I said in Ayodhya, has been clearly written in Ramavtar part of Dasam Granth,” he said.

https://www.sikh24.com/2020/08/21/sarbat-khalsa-acting-jathedar-excommunicates-giani-iqbal-singh-for-his-controversial-remarks-in-ayodhya/

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

Indian High Commission Felicitates Supreme Sikh Society For Services During Lockdown in New Zealand

               

AUCKLAND (Sachin Sharma): The Indian High Commission in New Zealand has felicitated Supreme Sikh Society for its exceptional community services during the alert level – 4 lockdown to stop spread of COVID – 19 here. In addition to this, Northern Region Health Coordination Centre has also acknowledged the Society’s services by sending a certification in this regard.

Society’s president Ranvir Singh Lali said that Indian High Commission bestowed the Certificate of Appreciation upon society in a function held at Wellington last week on occasion of India’s Independence Day on August 15. Society’s representative Gurnam Singh received the certificate on its behalf. Society was the first among the Indian community to take initiative and started distributing food bags among the needy people during the lockdown

As a result of this, Ggurwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib in Takanini was the first intuition of Asian people to get certificate of Institutions Providing Essential Services by the New Zealand government. Society’s spokesperson Daljit Singh said that with the cooperation of whole community, 1500 foo bags were distributed among the needy people as second phase of Free Food campaign was started by Society at Takanini gurdwara on Wednesday

Society will distribute free food bags Wednesday and Sunday every week during the lockdown. As many as 170 police personnel on duty at check posts were given food bags on Thursday while Society will also provide food bags to needy people in Otara community and other people. It is worth mentioning that Indian High Commission has given Certificate of Appreciation to nine organisations of Indian people for their services during the alert level – 4 lockdown.

https://nzpunjabinews.com/english/7728/?fbclid=IwAR1UqQnvRK0DVeU3LUec47YswctimO5vSLR3P-5sdQwZZtYQ0k_kC91aK_E

 

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

Nankana Sahib Sikh Girl’s Family Keen To Leave Pakistan

Claiming that they are being humiliated by people of ‘other community’, the family members of Nankana Sahib Sikh girl Jagjit Kaur alias Ayesha Bibi have appealed to their government to send them out of Pakistan so they could live with dignity.

“We are unable to send our young daughters to schools or to the market places alone, people of other community humiliate us whenever they get a chance to do so,” said Manmohan Singh, brother of Jagjit, while talking to TOI over phone from Nankana Sahib on Thursday.

He said on Thursday his family comprising nine members, including women of the house, gave a letter to deputy commissioner of Nankana Sahib urging him to arrange them passports so they could live in some other country without fear.

After living for nearly a year in Dar ul Alam in Lahore, Lahore high court had directed police to send Jagjit with her husband Mohammad Hassan on August 12. However, her family members resented that the court didn’t even give them five minutes to meet Jagjit. They also accused Pakistan government as well as Pakistan Punjab governor Muhammad Sarwar Chaudhary of keeping them in dark and making them false promises.

“The most surprising fact is that none of the mainstream Sikh leader of Pakistan came forward to help us,” said Manmohan. He said the family had also sent a copy of their letter to all the Sikh political as well as religious leaders of Pakistan. “We are knocking at every door for help,” he said.

Intelligence sources here said Jagjit’s family is also willing to migrate to India . “It is better for us to leave Pakistan to stay anywhere in the world, life here has become very difficult for us, especially after being ditched by our own leadership,” he said.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/nankana-sahib-sikh-girls-family-keen-to-leave-pakistan/articleshow/77664935.cms

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

Jasleen Sabharwal: Glen Cove High School, Sikh Community Join to Feed Families

 Glen Cove High School has been holding food drives and making deliveries to families in need since March. The school collaborated with the local Sikh community, with efforts led by Jasleen Sabharwal.                        

                                            Jasleen Sabharwal

Jasleen Sabharwal has always been inspired by her faith to help those in need — one of the essential values of Sikhism is selfless service. “The biggest summation of Sikhism is brotherhood and to love everyone equally,” she said.

Organizer Jasleen Sabharwal at Glen Cove High School's food drive, held in partnership with various community groups and Island Harvest.

At the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak,Jasleen Sabharwal started off by buying hand sanitizer, face masks and gowns to deliver to rehabilitation centers. Then, she and some friends started delivering home-cooked meals to hospitals.

Jasleen Sabharwal works with other Sikh volunteers during Glen Cove High School's food drive on Wednesday. 

After doing this for some time, she felt like a need had been met, but didn’t want to stop there. So, she took to social media to find out about food drives going on in her area.

That’s how she discovered the food pantry and deliveries to local families in her community of Glen Cove. Every Wednesday, a team of faculty, students, alumni and community members gathered at Glen Cove High School to put together packages of food for local families struggling during the pandemic.

Sabharwal knew she wanted to be involved in a hands-on way.“I could easily write a check of $100 to go and give somebody,” she said, “but part of our religion is to not only donate; our religion tells us to go out and do something.”

So, she mobilized a team of volunteers: “We are Sikh women who carry out [our] faith by doing service to all, which is without any questions.”

Her group, which she calls "Volunteers Without Walls", collected donations every two weeks, Sabharwal said. Once they’ve raised about $700 to $1,000,one of the volunteers, a caterer, purchased food in bulk from Restaurant Depot. By doing it that way, they've steadily provided food contributions to Glen Cove's pantry for months.

Many of their monetary donations have come from people they know through the Sikh Gurdwaras in Glen Cove and Hicksville. She has also received donations from Indian communities on Long Island.

Glen Cove High School assistant Principal Allen Hudson III leads this effort. volunteers started making food deliveries to local families. Each package included canned goods, pasta, cereal and produce, Hudson said.

“Jasleen put me in contact with other members of the Sikh temple, and a lot of them became our drivers,” he said.

He added that a typical donation to the pantry usually includes “two or three bags of food,” but Sabharwal and her volunteers would show up with “a trunkload of food.”

https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/coronavirus/acts-of-kindness/glen-cove-high-school-food-pantry-sikh-1.48293822

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi

Harmeet Singh:Pakistan National Press Club's First Sikh Member

                            Sikh Journalist Harmeet Singh

Pakistani Sikh journalist Harmeet Singh has earned the honor of becoming the first Sikh journalist  to be elected in the National Press Club of Pakistan. Harmeet Singh bagged the 7th position in the election. The election was held for the selection of 15 members, and Harmeet Singh secured 775 votes.

Harmeet Singh is the first Sikh candidate to contest this election.The followers of other minority faiths like Hindus and Christians were appointed in this Pakistan’s largest press club but it never had a Sikh member.

Harmeet Singh holds a post-graduate degree in journalism from the Urdu University of Karachi.

It may be recalled here that Harmeet Singh (30) had hit the headlines after he was offered a break as a news anchor with “Public News”, a 24X7 Urdu channel in 2018. At a time when the minorities in Pakistan fought for their rights, it was an apt opportunity that came his way to represent his community at the global level.

Harmeet Singh said that he hopes to raise minority issues with the Pakistan Government officials.

https://www.sikh24.com/2020/08/20/pakistans-national-press-club-gets-its-first-sikh-member/#.Xz6os9wzbIU

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College
University of Delhi