Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
405th martyrdom day of Sikh Guru Shri Arjun Dev ji being observed today
The contributions of Shri Guru Arjun Dev ji included the reediting and compilation of the present Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji and the construction of the holiest of the holy places, Shri Harminder Sahib ji in Amritsar.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Flung my shoe to protest PC’s remarks: Jarnail
Jarnail released his book I Accuse on anti-Sikh riots.
Admirers of Jarnail from the Sikh community, who gathered in large numbers for a signed copy of the book reflected similar anguish and dissatisfaction over justice being delayed in anti-Sikh riots.
“This is what my shoe throwing act has done to me”, says Jarnail, pointing to the crowd waiting to talk to him. “The younger generations of Sikh community are getting aware of the injustice that had been meted out to their ancestors. I have been able to keep the demand for justice alive with my act. I am proud of its output. Only regret is that I lost my position as a journalist”, he said in a chat with Express after the book release.
“My act was only a symbol of anguish and protest as an individual against delayed justice by the State. It was not a personal attack on Chidambaram,” says the journalist-turned-author. “Though Chidambaram is a sensible leader who minces no words, he failed to respect the sentiments of the Sikh community at the press meet. Even while an entire community was denied justice for more than two decades, Chidambaram was expressing joy over the clean chit given to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler,” he recalled his act.
Detailed news can be viewed from the link in headline above.
With thanks : source : expressbuzz
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Pak Rangers to protect 300 Indian Sikhs
Paramilitary Pakistan Rangers have been deployed to protect about 300 Indian Sikhs who will participate in the Jore Mela at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore.
The Indian Sikhs, who arrived in Pakistan over the past few days, have travelled to Gurdawa Punja Sahib at Hasanabdal near Rawalpindi.
They will reach Lahore on Monday to take part in the three-day festival.
"Keeping in view the law and order situation, we have deployed Pakistan Rangers and police for the security of the visiting yatris," Syed Asif Hashmi, chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board that organises such pilgrimages, told PTI.
After the recent attack on the minority Ahmedi community in Lahore that left 95 people dead, the government has beefed up security at all places of worship of minority communities.
"We have not only taken measures for the security of Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from abroad but also enhanced security for locals," Hashmi said.
No leniency could be afforded in this matter, he said.
Detailed news can be viewed from the link in headline above.
with thanks : source : Hindustan Times
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SGPC voter forms have caste column
Meanwhile, conditions prescribed in the forms for voters are being termed incomplete by Sikh leaders, who are holding that some crucial lacunae have been left out, which could be exploited by vested interests who do not completely follow the definition of a “Sikh” as mentioned in Sikh Rehat Maryada.
The voter form published by the Gurdwara Election Commission says at the end that a voter from scheduled castes should specifically mention whether he is an SC as prescribed by Article 341 of the Constitution.
“This is against Sikh principles and is not required at all,” said Manjit Singh Calcutta, former secretary general of SGPC, who has written to chief commissioner, gurdwara elections, seeking clarifications on these issues. “Any enumeration on the basis of caste is taboo in the Sikh panth. The rights of the weaker and backward sections of society are completely protected in the Sikh Gurdwara Act by provision of reserved seats. Any enumeration of votes on the basis of Manu’s caste system is anathema in the Sikh religion,” he said, demanding withdrawal of voter forms that were violative of Sikh ideology.
DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.
With thanks : source : Times of India
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Cossie club votes to keep ban on turbans

A Cosmopolitan Club embroiled in controversy after barring a turban-wearing community leader from its premises has voted not to change its entry rules about headwear.
The Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club's annual general meeting yesterday voted to keep the club's headwear policy - which bans entry to all people with headgear, including those wearing it for religious reasons.
The Herald understands from club members at the meeting that the rules were relaxed to allow headgear that is worn for "health reasons", such as a bandage or a bandanna used by a cancer patient.
Club manager Patricia Rangi did not want to comment yesterday, but said through a spokesman that the club would issue a statement today.
The Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club, in Manukau City, faced strong criticism from the Sikh community last year after it banned leader Karnail Singh from entering to attend a function held in his honour.
The matter was taken to the Human Rights Commission in January, and the parties agreed at mediation that, depending on the outcome of yesterday's meeting, the issue could go back to the commission.
DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.
With thanks : source : NZHERALD
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Sunday, June 13, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Pak Sikhs demand visa-free travel to India
A 136-member contingent of Sikhs from Peshawar is on a pilgrimage to India which today visited Gurdwara Dukhniwarn Sahib here.
"We want a visa-free zone between India and Pakistan that will facilitate normal visits to India. It will also help build more confidence between the two countries," Leader of the group, Wazir Singh told PTI.
"We got visas after five months for the current visit.
Detailed news can be viewed from the link in headline above.
with thanks : source : PTI
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Murdered Indian woman and daughter in New Zealand farewelled in same coffin
Murdered 32-year-old Indian woman Ravneet Sangha and her 18-month-old daughter Anna were farewelled cradling each other in the same coffin at Pyes Pa Crematorium chapel in Tauranga, New Zealand, on Friday.
More than 500 people attended the funeral, and were overwhelmed with grief at their premature deaths.
Ravneet was found dead in a house in Otumoetai, a Tauranga suburb, on Sunday evening, while Anna's body was found on Tuesday afternoon- almost 20 hours later - as it had been concealed in the house.
The family of Dev Sangha, Ravneet's husband and Anna's father, said that he was inconsolable at the service.
Dev had been holidaying in India when he was informed about her death and, initially, the disappearance of their daughter Anna.
Politicians, taxi drivers and workers from the local orchards joined members of the Sikh community to support Dev.
Detailed news can be viewed from the link in headline above.
with thanks : source : Sify
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Friday, June 11, 2010
SGPC displays rare historic treasure in Golden Temple
The display of rare items, called as Jlau, has its own pristine grandeur. ‘JLAU’ literally means a rare glitter that fazes the eyes on its first sight. The Toshakhana is attached by four golden doors. One door has artistic work of flowers, while the remaining three depict different aspects from the lives of the Great Sikh Gurus.
The doors were presented by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.It was said each gold door was made at a cost Rs.3000.
There is one Canopy of gold weighing twenty pounds. On top of the canopy, a peacock having its neck made of pure Sapphire in a single piece is sitting. According to the estimates of a jeweller, only this piece of Sapphire costs sround four million rupees.The stone is without any blemish. In the eyes of peacock there are diamonds. Overall, this canopy is studded with 3600 diamond stones and 101 big pearls. Just under it, there is a diamonds headband with strings of pearls. Jewelers of Lahore prepared this headband on the occasion of marriage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s first son Naunihal Singh.
Impressed by its art and the beauty, Maharaja presented this band as offerings to Golden Temple. Its cost came around Rs nine lakhs at that time.
Apart from this, there is one sword of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Its hilt is of pure gold studded with pearls and emeralds. The showcase lying in the Toshakhana is displaying five spades having silver handles and gold blades.
In 1973, the Punjab and Sind Bank presented the temple with one golden spade and five silver bowls. At that time Sant Kundan Singh from Jagron presented the temple with one silver spade, one sword with silver hilt and Sikh emblem of gold with silver stand.
According to SGPC, there are five necklaces, one small Canopy and one ring with a Sapphire in middle and eight diamonds around, which were presented by Princess Bamba granddaughter of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, daughter of PrinceDaleep Singh.
Besides, there are also jewels in the Toshakhana from the house of General Dhana Singh Malwai, a General in the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.In the early nineties, an American Sikh, who came here to pay obeisance presented a pearl necklace of three strings and three diamonds.
Detailed news can be viewed from the link in headline above.
with thanks : source : ANI & ThaIndian
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After Hindus, divorce could get hassle-free for Sikhs too
The Cabinet on Thursday cleared amendments to the Hindu Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act, allowing the provision of ‘‘irretrievable breakdown of marriage’’ to be included as ground for divorce.
Sources said a similar provision could be added to the draft Sikh Marriage Act that is currently under consideration with the law ministry.
At present, Sikhs are governed by the Anand Marriage Act of 1909 which the draft bill seeks to replace. The demand for a separate marriage Act stems from the need to register marriages solemnised under their religious ceremony Anand Karaj.
It is learnt that sports minister M S Gill intervened in the discussion on Hindu Marriage Act to say that similar provision for “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” should be made for Sikhs, adding that Anand Marriage Act was 50 years older. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said it would require a separate proposal.
Gill said the community had pursued former law minister H R Bharadwaj with the demand but to no result. Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee Paramjit Singh Sarna said the committee was in favour of a separate law to govern Sikh marriages.
‘‘We have separate set of Sikh rituals and we would like to be registered under the Sikh Marriage Act rather than the Hindu Marriage Act as we have to do now. It is a matter of our identity and a legal recognition to Anand Karaj,” Sarna said.
Detailed news can be viewed from the link in headline above.
With thanks : source : Economic Times
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Thursday, June 10, 2010
Sd. Bhupinder Singh Kohli - Navi Mumbai





SAMAJ SHAKTI AWARD 2010 FOR SOCIAL SERVICE Pics of the Award Ceremony of Sd. Bhupinder singh Kohli from Navi Mumbai. Earlier the vid was also uploaded.
Our heartiest congratulations to Dear Mr Kohli on this achievement.
B S Vohra
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Tohra's wife gets cabinet rank
Detailed news can be viewed from the link in headline above.
With thanks : source : PTI News
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400 Sikhs pilgrims arrive for Jor Mela

The yatris left for a three-day visit to Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasanabdal after they were warmly welcomed by officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Perbandhak Committee (PSGPC).
Talking to The Express Tribune, the ETPB spokesperson Aamir Hashmi assured that the Sikh pilgrims would be provided with the best facilities during their 10-day stay in the country.
Meanwhile, other members of Gurdwara Parbhanhak committee emphasised the need to take confidence building measures.
Talking to The Express Tribune, PSGPC member Sardar Ragbeer, welcoming the yatris, said, “India and Pakistan should resume talk on bilateral relations.” This would ease the visa obtaining process for so many Sikhs interested in annual pilgrims to Pakistan, he added.
The yatris are scheduled to leave Hassanabdal for another religious visit to Gurdwara Jana Asthan in Nankana Sahib on June 11. They will return to Lahore on June 14 to attend the festivities at Gurdwara Dera Sahib scheduled for June 16.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 9th, 2010.
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010
‘Khanda’ On Underwear – US Firm Calls back Design
LUDHIANA: A leading clothing retailer operating from the US has decided to withdraw its designs carrying the objectionable use of the Kbanda religious insignia and an image of the Sikh guru on its products, including underwear and thong collection.
Following an outrage in the Sikh community settled in the US, CafePress, an online retail chain that imports from Punjab and Kerala-based garment manufacturers, said its products did not carry “any malicious intent” and offered an apology “for any offence its products had caused” to the community.
A Ludhiana-based representative of the retail chain said that being online clothing retailer, the chain allows third parties from around the world to create their own designs and host them on their website. “The issue has been brought into our notice and the designs withdrawn. It has been clarified that the chain would use greater caution and stricter measures in monitoring con tent on its website,” the representative said.
DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.
With thanks : source : HT
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Lessons Not Learnt
The tortuous legal history of the Union Carbide disaster is replete with missteps, collusion and plain inefficiency on the part of different state agencies. A few months after the tragedy, the Indian government had filed a claim of $3.3 billion in US courts against Union Carbide. After a US district court transferred all litigation to India, the government in 1989 settled for a measly $470 million compensation in an out-of-court deal which worked out to under Rs 75,000 each for death victims and about Rs 25,000 for the injured. Moreover, more than 15 years later the government hadn't disbursed the entire compensation. The courts were equally lax in trying the perpetrators. The main accused, former Union Carbide chairman Warren Anderson, was declared a fugitive in 1992 and has never appeared in an Indian court. Furthermore, in 1996, the Supreme Court reduced the charges against the accused from culpable homicide not amounting to murder, punishable by a maximum 10-year jail term, to causing death by negligence, which invites a sentence of only two years.
DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.
With thanks : source : Times of India
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Indian Sikh delegation in Pakistan calls for Kartarpur Sahib Corridor
Amritsar, June 8 (ANI): A Sikh delegation visiting Pakistan on Tuesday called on the Governments of India and Pakistan to resolve their demand for the "Kartarpur Corridor".
Several organizations have been coordinating programs to create a corridor (passport/visa-free passage) between Dera Baba Nanak (on the Indian side) and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib (about three kilometers from the India-akistan international border in Pakistan’s Narowal District).
About 300 Sikh devotees entered Pakistan on Tuesday to observe the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth spiritual leader of the Sikh community.
Guru Nanak Dev, the first spiritual leader of the community spent 17 years at a place where Gurdwara Kartarpur is situated. A few years ago, Pakistan allowed Sikhs devotees from India to visit to Gurdwara Kartarpur.
In 1999, Pakistan dictator General Pervez Musharraf committed to providing safe passage to the Sikh pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has also shown his interest for building the corridor.
While addressing a gathering in September 2004, the Prime Minister announced that he would take up with Pakistan the issue of the Kartarpur corridor and provision of access to those visiting Nankhana Sahib.
DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.
With thanks : source : ANI
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Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Akal Takht calls upon excommunicated persons to return to Sikh fold
The five Sikh Jathedars, or high priests, said that all those persons who have been excommunicated from the Sikh community should present themselves before the Akal Takth here to submit an apology.
"The Sikh community has taken an important decision that till today the people who have been excommunicated from the Akal Takht, they are getting another golden chance. They need to produce themselves in front of the Akal Takht sahib within the next one month and do an apology prayer. If they fail to come out within one month then the devotees should act against them strictly," said Gyani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar, Akal Takht.
In January this year Gyani Darshan Singh Ragi, a former high priest of the Akal Takth, was expelled from the religion for making objectionable remarks against the tenth spiritual guru, Guru Gobind Singh, during a congregation in the United States in November 2009.
Reportedly, he failed to clarify his position before the five Jathedars for his objectionable remarks.
Incidents of excommunicating in Sikh religion are not uncommon; followers are liable for being declared Tankhiya for flouting Sikhism practices like cutting hair or trying to bring disrepute to the Guru Granth Sahib. (ANI)
With thanks : source : ONEINDIA with link in headline above.
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Sunday, June 6, 2010
26th anniversary of Operation Blue Star observed
DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.
With thanks : source : PTI
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High security at Golden Temple for Bluestar anniv
Security has been tightened at the Golden temple here in view of the 26th anniversary of Operation Bluestar on Sunday.
Policemen in plainclothes are also deputed outside the premises as a precautionary measure in view of expected presence of radical Sikh activists in the temple.
The Sikh bodies, including SGPC and Akal Takht, observe the anniversary of Operation Bluestar every year.
Detailed news can be viewed from the link in headline above.
With thanks : source : Hindustan Times
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