Dr. (Mrs.) Gurdeep Kaur

Dr. (Mrs.) Gurdeep Kaur is an Associate Professor, in the Department of Political Science, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College,University of Delhi, Dev Nagar,Delhi,India. She has done her PH.D from Dept. of Political Science, Univ. of Delhi, with title of Thesis , The Concept of State in Sikhism with Special Reference to Guru Granth Sahib. Currently She is Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Theology, Katholieke University,Leuven, Belgium.

She already has three popular books to her credit. Out of which two books on Sikhism are Political Ideas of the Sikh Gurus and Political Ethics of Guru Granth Sahib.

Her Recent Publications/Papers/Conferences include : 'State in Sikhism’; 'Khalsa, political Implications', with Sunita Puri in Encyclopedia of Hinduism 1999, Univ. of South Carolina;, 'Contribution of Sanskrit to Sikh Scripture; The Nature of Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Kingdom; Relevance of Sikh Scriptures in the present context', presented at World Punjabi Conference,United Kingdom, London, 'Environment and Sikhism' , ‘Welfare State Perspective in Sikhism’ In XIXth IPSA ,World Congress, Durban, South Africa, Women in Sikhism’, 'Ethics in Religious Scriptures & its Contemporary Relevance 'presented at International Conf. 'Parliament of the World Religions', Barcelona, Spain, 'Sikhism & Ecological Balance' in the International Conf. on Interdisciplinary Theological Perspective on Ecology & Economy in Limerick,Ireland,'Sikhism :Interreligious Witness and Religious Pluralism'in the International Conf. "From World Mission to Inter religious Witness:Visioning Ecumenics in the 21st Century" in Dublin,Ireland.

She also Participated as Delegate in the ‘9th World Punjabi Conference’ at Lahore Pakistan, January30-February 1,2004. She also gave a Seminar on 'Successful Conflict Resolution:The Sikhs in India in the 1980s' in the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies in Katholieke University,Leuven, Belgium in April 2010.

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Include peace corridor in Indo-Pak talks: Sikhs

CHANDIGARH: Ahead of secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, the global Sikh community has now raised the long pending issue of Kartarpur Sahib corridor, with the hope that this religious and emotional issue would act as a balm to soothe sore relations between the two nations.

While the demand for a corridor to the historical Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib — which is located barely 1.5km inside the Pakistan territory from the Indian border near Dera Baba Nanak — has been a long pending one with various Sikh organizations appealing to the two countries from time to time, the United Sikh Mission (USM), a California based NGO, recently approached Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi to raise the issue with the neighbouring country in the coming days.

“We have received a very encouraging response from both Rahul Gandhi and the Prime Minister, and it seems that the Sikh community’s ardent wish may finally come true now,” Rashpal Singh Dhindsa, USM chairman, told TOI from California. Naming the project as a ‘peace corridor’, thereby giving an emotional hue to the issue, he added, “The one (corridor) which would bring lasting peace between the two countries.”

“It would be great if the issue is taken up during the upcoming secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan as it would bring remarkable results, especially since the solution to the problem is at hand and very doable,” said Punjab MLA Jassi Khangura, who was an NRI from UK till recently — before he shifted to India and contested elections successfully. “All it requires is a reasonable amount of will power on both the sides,” added Jassi, who receives similar requests from Sikhs in UK and elsewhere during his frequent visits abroad.

The gurdwara holds a special place in the heart of Sikhs as it was here that the first Sikh master, Guru Nanak Dev, spent his last years. While Hindus and Muslims then had built their respective shrines at the place, a gurdwara was constructed later by the Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

With thanks : source : Times of India

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Sikh's turban ban not racism: New Zealand club

Members of a New Zealand club which denied a Sikh man's entry because he was wearing a turban say the issue has nothing to do with racism and they are ready to defend their rules in court.

The Sikh Council of New Zealand is seeking action from Human Rights Commission against the south Auckland's Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club after volunteer worker Karnail Singh was barred entry because his turban breached its no-headwear policy.

The issue was not one of racism, said Con Linton, a member since the late 1960s. He said the 3,500-member club has members belonging to different culture including Asian, Iraqi, Pacific Island, Pakeha and Maori.

"You could possibly stereotype us and say we are rednecks with people who do not like turbans but that would be democracy at its worst. Where it (the headwear policy) originated I don't know but people have never found it hard to conform with - until lately," he said.

Several club members said that it "has access to barristers and solicitors like anyone else" and will fight any moves to enforce changes, The New Zealand Herald reported.

"To me it would appear the feeling is quite clear that we are a private club with its own rules much like many other clubs throughout the country," said Peter Kelly, a member for 43 years.

"But if there is an enforcement on this particular issue on the Manurewa Cossie club, it surely will have repercussions on other clubs and some of their rules in general. "I think we would fight - why wouldn't we ?"

Kelly, 75, said the turban issue was raised at the club's annual meeting on last Sunday, where only five of the 304 people voted to amend the policy of excluding religious headwear.

"I daresay that if I went down to the Sikh temple I would take my shoes off ... that is one of their conditions I believe, so if it is I would just comply," he was quoted as saying. "All we are saying is just comply with the rules of the cossie club."

Detailed news can be viewed from the link in headline above.

with thanks : source : Hindustan times

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A Sikh Face in Ireland

An Exhibition at Chester Beatty Library,Dublin Castle,Ireland exploring the Sikh presence on the island of Ireland
This exhibition is produced and supported by the Forum on Migration and Communication(FOMACS).It includes photographic portraits and life stories of Sikhs,an animated film on the wearing of the Sikh turban,and a photographic and sound installation featuring contemporary Sikh muscians.(www.fomacs.org)

Sikh group asks US lawmakers to stop racial profiling

Washington, Jun 18 (PTI) American Sikh community leaders have complained US lawmakers that they were experiencing racial profiling, mostly during travel, after 9/11 and the trend has increased of late.

"It's not fair. It's not safe," complained Amarjeet Singh, programme director of advocacy group Sikh Coalition, in his testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Asking them to intervene to end their ordeal, the Sikh leaders have urged the US lawmakers to take immediate steps to end this profiling.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

With thanks : source : PTI News

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Gold walls for Bangla Sahib Gurdwara ?

New Delhi, India: If all goes according to the plan, the main prayer hall of the historic Bangla Sahib Gurdwara in the Capital will soon shine with yellow metal.

Around 125 kg of gold, costing nearly Rs 23.75 crore (as per the current market rate) will be required for the ambitious project.

The gold will be crafted in form of fixed-sized plates, which would be finally joined together and will adorn the walls of the religious place that is very close to Delhi’s commercial hub, Connaught Place.

The first lot of 30 kg of gold was handed over by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) to Baba Harbans Singh – who has launched a kar seva (voluntary service) to make the project a reality – on Friday.

DSGMC chief Paramjit Singh Sarna says the work will be completed in around 18 months and will be done in phases to ensure that devotees are not put to any discomfort.

The gold plates will be fixed at a height of six feet from the ground to prevent any damage to them. The entire inside portion of the main hall would be covered by gold. The outer portion of the dome of the gurdwara is already gold-plated.

The move has, however, sparked off a debate, with critics saying that the money required for the project could have been spent on education of community children and other welfare works.

“It is a sheer waste of resources that can be used to uplift the condition of riot victims,” said Jarnail Singh, author of the now famous book on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots “I Accuse..”.

Sarna’s rival in politics and the head of the Delhi unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Manjit Singh GK, says the wise move would have been to educate the community kids with the donation. But Sarna is unfazed. Lashing out at Manjit, he said: “He is jealous of the good work done by us for the Sikh community.” Cost, says Sarna, is not an issue.

Some portion of the gold has been donated by managing bodies of various schools runs by the DSGMC in Delhi.

The community members are making donations, he added.

In the past, the DSGMC had gifted a golden “palki” to Gurdwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan which is currently sitting in a store house.

With thanks : sikhsangat

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New Zealand Sikhs challenge club's turban ban

IANS

Wellington: The Sikh Council of New Zealand announced on Thursday it would take legal action against an Auckland club that will not admit turban-wearing Sikhs to its premises because it bans all forms of headwear.

The Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club voted to confirm the "no hats" policy on Sunday six months after prominent local Sikh Karnail Singh was refused entry to a function in his honour because of his turban.

The club premises had been hired for a private function to honour his work as a volunteer visitor to the elderly, a town ambassador and community gardener.

After Sunday's vote, one club member told the New Zealand Herald, "Many felt that once you change the rules to let in people who wear turbans, then the next thing is that we will also have to let people who wear hoodies and balaclavas into the premises."

The Sikh Council's secretary Verpal Singh said it would seek legal assistance from the Human Rights Commission for a court ruling that the ban infringed on the Human Rights Act.

DETAILED NEWS CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE LINK IN HEADLINE ABOVE.

with thanks : source : IBN Live

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Vegetables injected with chemicals to increase size

Ferozepur, Punjab: The residents of the border district, who have witnessed destruction and uprooting time and again due to flooding of the Sutlej and Indo-Pak wars, face a challenge to their lives once again and this time it is from chemically infested vegetables.

Consumption of such vegetables, which are being grown in various parts of the district, has made the residents’ lives worse.

The menace connected with the injection of various chemicals into vegetables, which cause deformities and cancer in human beings, came to light in a number of villages of the district where the growers have been injecting Oxytocin into vegetables and fruits to get more yield and bigger size.

KK Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, ordered a probe after coming to know about this problem. He said he had asked the district health authorities to inquire into the matter. “We have been injecting chemicals in the plants during the growth of vegetables so that vegetables and fruits could give a fresh and attractive look to the customers,” said Taranjeet Singh (name changed), a vegetable grower, on condition of anonymity and not disclosing the name of his village.

“People want to buy fresh-looking vegetables, hence we use this method as we find it expensive to use fertilisers to increase the fertility of soil,” said Mokham Singh, another vegetable grower.

These growers have also been using other harmful chemicals apart from Oxytocin. The packets of some of the chemicals, which were being used by them, did not carry any wrapper on which the brand name or details of contents were written.

with thanks : sikhsangat.org

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Gatka camp at Krishna nagar, Delhi - pics 1

Gatka camp at Krishna nagar, Delhi - pics 2

Gatka camp at Krishna nagar, Delhi - pics 3

Gatka camp at Krishna nagar, Delhi - pics 4

405th martyrdom day of Sikh Guru Shri Arjun Dev ji being observed today

The 405th martyrdom day of the fifth Sikh Guru, Shri Arjun Dev ji is being observed today with great devotion. It was on this day in 1606 AD that the Guru ji was tortured to death at Lahore in Pakistan during the reign of Mugal Emperor Jahangir.

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.

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Flung my shoe to protest PC’s remarks: Jarnail

CHENNAI: Jarnail Singh, the scribe who flung his shoe at Union Home Minister P Chidambaram for his remarks on anti-Sikh riots was welcomed like a hero by the Sikh community here on Sunday.

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

JALANDHAR: A few days after SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar exhorted Sikhs not to mention their caste during the census as the same was against Sikh ideology, it has come to light that voter forms published for SGPC elections have a column for specifying whether a person belongs to any scheduled caste.

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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Shabad Kirtan (Asaa Bhi Othe Janha)

Pak Sikhs demand visa-free travel to India

Patiala (Punjab), Jun 11 (PTI) Sikh families from Pakistan today appealed to the Indian government to facilitate a visa-free travel to India for pilgrimage and higher studies for their wards.

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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