Alleged hate crime in New York City leaves Sikh father critically injured

A New York City Sikh father of two is seriously injured and recovering in hospital after a pick-up truck ran him over in an alleged hate crime last week, according to a release from the Sikh Coalition.

The Sikh activist group organized a rally on Tuesday, calling on law enforcement to investigate the incident as a hate crime.

According to the Huffington Post, the 29-year-old father, Sandeep Singh, was walking home with a friend in Queens when a man in a pick-up truck began shouting racial slurs at them.

Amardeep Singh, with the Sikh Coalition, told HuffPost the driver called the men “terrorists” and told them to “go back to your country.”

Singh then attempted to engage the driver in conversation by saying “I am not a terrorist,” while standing in front of the truck as he called police, HuffPost reported.

But as Singh began to dial, the truck lurched forward and struck Singh.

with thanks : vancouverdesi : LINK : for detailed news.

Anti-immigration flyer targeting Sikhs surfaces in Brampton

LINK

HSGMC issue : Hindustan Times

Control of gurdwaras in Haryana: SC orders for status quo

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has directed the SGPC and newly formed Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) to maintain status quo on the management control of gurdwaras prevailing at 2:30pm on Thursday in Haryana till further orders. 

During the hearing, the Haryana government informed the SC that the new state committee has forcibly taken control of Sikh gurdwaras in the state. 

The SC asked Haryana DGP and district administration to maintain status quo with regard to gurdwaras and not permit any violence. 

The next hearing in the case would take place on August 25. 

With thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed news.

Sikhs targeted in Pakistan : Times Now :

Protests erupted in Pakistan's Peshawar city after unidentified gunmen opened fire in a market area killing a Sikh businessman and injuring several others. Infuriated Sikhs took to the streets protesting against targeted killings of people from the Sikh community.

LINK to view the Video

HSGPC continues siege of Kurukshetra gurdwara

IANS  |  Chandigarh   August 3, 2014 

Members of the newly-constituted Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC) Sunday continued their siege of Kurukshetra's Gurdwara Chatti Patshahi on the second day of their bid to take over the Sikh shrine.

Even though there were not many people from the HSGPC side till afternoon, tension built up after 3 p.m. as some protestors tried to breach the police barrier near the gurdwara. However, police prevented them from proceeding ahead.

Heavy police deployment was seen near the gurdwara Sunday. Leaders of the HSGPC and their supporters had Saturday laid siege just 100 feet from the gurdwara, one of the state's biggest, in Kurukshetra, about 110 km from here. Those trying to take control of the shrine breached two police barriers Saturday along the route.

Members of the task force and other volunteers of the Amritsar-based Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which still controls Sikh shrines in Haryana, were inside the shrine premises, ready to resist any attempt for a forcible take over. Many people from both sides were carrying traditional weapons like swords, spears and sticks.

A high-level delegation of the Shiromani Akali Dal, comprising SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, Akali Dal general secretary and former union minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and others met Haryana's new Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki at Haryana Raj Bhawan here Sunday and demanded immediate review of the Act passed by the Haryana Assembly allowing the creation of the HSGPC.

The delegation told the governor that by enacting this measure unconstitutionally, the Haryana assembly had violated the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925. They urged the governor to direct the Haryana government to stop the "illegal" HSGPC from forcible takeover of Haryana's Sikh shrines.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said Sunday that the forcible takeover of Haryana gurdwaras would not be allowed at any cost.

The HSPGC had Friday asked the SGPC to hand over records of the Haryana gurdwaras to it, but the latter categorically refused to do so.

Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and the SGPC are locked in a bitter controversy with Haryana's Bhupinder Singh Hooda government over the creation of the HSGPC.

On June 11, the Haryana assembly had passed a bill under which a new committee would be set up to manage gurdwaras in the state. The Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Bill, 2014, got the assent of the state governor June 14.

The SGPC, the mini-parliament of Sikh religious affairs, which controls gurdwaras across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, will lose control over gurdwaras in Haryana with the new law.

The SGPC, which has a Rs.950 crore annual budget, controls majority of the gurdwaras in Punjab, including the holiest of all Sikh shrines 'Harmandar Sahib' (popularly known as Golden Temple) in Amritsar.

with thanks : Business Standard : LINK

The 'Flying Sikh' who won India's first Commonwealth gold

When Milkha Singh took to the track at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff most people had never heard of him. But he was to make history there and is now hailed as one of India's greatest athletes.

It was the night before the 440 yards final at the British Empire and Commonwealth games in Cardiff and Milkha Singh was having trouble sleeping.

"When a person makes it to the final he is under so much stress that he is unable to sleep," recalls Singh. "It was a very difficult night."

Singh had won two gold medals at the Asian Games in Tokyo just a month before, but the Commonwealth Games were different.

with thanks : BBC News : LINK : for detailed news.

Saharanpur violence: Sikh delegation demands judicial probe

A Sikh delegation, led by Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay, today met Union Minister Jitendra Singh and demanded a judicial probe in recent violent clash between two groups in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur. 

The delegation handed over a memorandum to Singh, Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office. 

It is important that the central government take up the matter and examine possibilities of making the Government of Uttar Pradesh to order a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge into the riots at Saharanpur on July 26, said the memorandum. 

Jitendra Singh gave them a patient hearing and assured them that Government stands for communal harmony and disapproves of the violence against any community. 

With thanks : Business Standard : LINK : for detailed news.

Badal asks Mulayam for compensation to Saharanpur Sikhs

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Wednesday urged Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to personally intervene to ensure compensation for the Sikh families who were affected by recent riots in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur town.

In a telephonic conversation, Badal urged Mulayam Singh to ensure security for the Sikhs living in Uttar Pradesh. Mulayam Singh, whose son Akhilesh Yadav is the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, told him that the state government would do everything to help Sikhs.

Badal called up Mulayam Singh as a delegation of Sikhs from Saharanpur met him here Wednesday and sought help for those affected by the riots.

They also urged Badal to press the Uttar Pradesh government for cancellation of false cases against the members of Sikh community in Saharanpur.

with thanks : Business Standard : LINK : for detailed news.

HSGPC meeting postponed till Thursday

The first meeting of the Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC) which was scheduled to be held in Manji Sahib Gurudrwara here was postponed till July 31. 

HSGPC general secretary Joga Singh told reporters today that the meeting had been postponed owing to the death of a nephew of senior vice president of HSGPC Didar Singh Nalvi.

However, HSGPC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda, and executive committee members Sant Gurmit Singh, Avtar Singh Chakku and Majit Singh besides Joga Singh arrived at the meeting site. 

Members of the 41-member ad hoc committee Sarjit Singh and Apaar Singh were also present in the gurudwara despite the meeting having been postponed.

with thanks : Business Standard : LINK : for detailed news.

Sd Paramjit Singh Sarna will go to Saharanpur with Shahi Imam

Saharanpur violence: Akali delegation meets Akhilesh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Monday assured a Shiromani Akali Dal delegation that his government was committed to provide security and justice to all people in the state and compensation would be paid to the victims of the communal clash in Saharanpur town.

He also reiterated the resolve of the Samajwadi Party (SP) government to ensure that the people behind the violence, that left three people dead and over three dozen people injured, were brought to justice and punished as per law.

The delegation of Punjab's ruling party that met the chief minister in Lucknow urged him to provide adequate compensation to Sikhs who became victims of the violence. They also urged him to ensure the safety of Sikhs and asked him to allow construction of the gurdwara as per the norms under the ambit of law, an Akali Dal spokesman said in Chandigarh.

The delegation comprised Rajya Sabha member and former union minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Punjab Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal and former union minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia.

Dhindsa said that Akhilesh Yadav told the delegation that the situation in the violence-hit town was under control.

The chief minister said that necessary action, keeping in mind the court verdict with regard to the land in question, will be initiated and that adequate compensation would be paid to those affected in the violent incidents, he added.

Afterwards, both sides expressed the hope that normalcy will soon return to Saharanpur and urged the people not to be carried away by rumours and work towards restoring peace and calm.

Violence broke out in Saharanpur Saturday after a verdict by the high court in a land dispute case led to some construction work on the land claimed by a gurdwara.

This led to a violent clash between two communities in which both sides pelted stones and fired at each other. Apart from the deaths, over four dozen vehicles and shops were gutted in the violence that followed.

Protests were held against the violence in some parts of Punjab and Jammu. Both union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal have spoken to Akhilesh Yadav about the incident.

with thanks : Business Standard : LINK

DSGMC president open to All India Act for Gurudwaras

The president of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjit Singh GK said on Monday that he has no objection if the All India Act is made and all the Gurudwara Committees fall under it.

Singh told ANI, "They have said that the Delhi Gurudwara Committee should come under SGPC. As per my understanding, Delhi Gurudwara Committee has already stamped the All India Act. According to that, all the Gurudwaras should come under one act."

"I understand that we have a minority community. I don't have any objection if All India Act is made and all the Gurudwara Committees come under that. The impact of unity of our minority community shall be huge. As a result whatever the government is trying to do to divide us will eventually fail," he added.

Yesterday, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi over bifurcation of the SGPC.

The Haryana Assembly passed a bill last week for a separate Haryana Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (HSGPC), which would be set up to manage gurdwaras in the state.

with thanks : Business standard : LINK

Riots in Saharanpur on the issue of Disputed Gurdwara land

Indian basketball team's Sikh players being forced to remove turbans sparks outrage

New Delhi:, Sports Ministry today expressed "shock and outrage" over the incident of two Sikh players being asked to remove their turbans at the recently-concluded Fiba Asia Cup in China and sought details from the BFI, which has already taken up the matter with the international body. 

"We have written to them and are awaiting their response. Once we get the response, we will act accordingly," a Basketball Federation of India spokesperson told PTI. 

Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the ministry has asked the IOC to issue necessary instructions to international sports federations, so that such incidents are not repeated. 

"We are shocked and outraged. Wearing a turban does not affect fair play and has not been objected to in international sports championships. Therefore, the latest incident has surprised and shocked us. We have spoken to BFI and sought a detailed report from them," Sonowal said.

with thanks : MIDDAY : LINK : for detailed news.

India’s Sikh Hoopsters Forced To Remove Turban in China : NDTV

Indian basketball players were subjected to some racial discrimination and humiliation when the Sikh members of the team playing in Asia Cup in Wuhan, China, were prevented from wearing turbans. According to a report, two Sikh players - Amritpal Singh and Amyjot Singh - were asked to remove their turbans before India's match against Japan on July 12. Match officials informed the players that they were breaking international basketball federation (FIBA) rules by wearing turbans. Ranked 11th in Asia and 61st in the world, India finished seventh in the Asia Cup after swamping Singapore 85-36 in a placing's match. India had shocked hosts and Asia No.1 China 65-58. They defeated Indonesia 91-55 in their last league game before losing to the Philippines in the quarters. 

(Video Courtesy: Asian Basketball Federation)

LINK TO NDTV VID.

Happy Gurupurab :

Aap Sab nu, Balla Pritam, Dhan Dhan Sahib Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji de Prakash Purab diyaan Lakh - Lakh Wadhaeyan Hovan Ji..

Akal Takht excommunicates three Haryana Sikh leaders : Hindustan Times Chandigarh

Five decades of a change : Hindustan

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BBC study finds Sikhs Most generous of all Communities : The Telegraph

What do you say over it ?

Separate Sikh panel recommended for Haryana: Hooda

IANS

Chandigarh, July 1 (IANS) Amid a growing controversy over the issue, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda Tuesday said a committee set up by the state government on the issue of a separate managing committee for Haryana gurdwaras was in favour of a separate Sikh body for the purpose.

"The government would take a decision in view of the larger interest of Sikhs of the state," Hooda told reporters here.

The committee, headed by state Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha, who is himself a Sikh from Haryana, has in its report submitted to the state government, recommended the setting up of a separate body to manage Sikh shrines (gurdwaras) in Haryana. The gurdwaras are presently under the control of the Amritsar-based Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Commitee.

The SGPC and Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal have strongly opposed the move by the Haryana government to create a separate body for Sikh shrines in Haryana.

There are 72 gurdwaras in Haryana under the SGPC and they contribute over Rs.300 million to the SGPC kitty.

Hooda said that the Chatha committee report was being legally examined.

The SGPC has warned that it will drag the Haryana government to court if a separate managing committee was set up in the state.

with thanks : IANS : LINK

Defamation case: Tytler offers apology, Phoolka refuses

Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, accused in a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by a senior lawyer representing victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases, today told a Delhi court that he was ready to tender "unconditional apology" to the advocate to settle the matter. 

However, senior advocate H S Phoolka, who is a complainant in the case, refused to accept Tytler's offer, saying "any compromise" in a serious matter like this would send a wrong message to the people. 

His response came after Tytler's counsel told Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Gaurav Rao that his client has offered to tender unconditional apology as no public interest was involved in the complaint filed by an individual. 

"The (alleged) issue is of 2004. We are in 2014. Much time has expired. My client (Tytler) is in public life....And he has been not held guilty by any court...My client will tender unconditional apology," Tytler's lawyer told the court. 

The court asked Phoolka whether he was ready to settle the matter and accept the apology tendered by Tytler as "it is a defamation complaint and it has nothing to do with the riots." 

Phoolka, however, did not accept the suggestions of the court and said, "The matter is of great importance and any settlement will send a wrong message among the people. I can not settle the matter and any compromise is not possible." 

with thanks : business standard : LINK : for detailed news.

UK Sikhs reassure WA parents concerned over a pupil carrying a religious blade to school

BRITISH experts have moved to reassure WA parents concerned by a Perth pupil being given permission to carry a ceremonial blade to school for religious reasons.

Sikh children have been carrying Kirpans in UK schools for the past 50 years – and there has never been a single incident, The Sikh Federation (UK) says.

The comments came after a representative from Perth’s Sikh community addressed the parents and citizens committee at the public primary school last night about the significance of the Kirpan.

The ceremonial blunt blade, which is only 5cm long in this particular case, is one of five religious articles that must be worn by initiated Sikhs.

A spokesman for The Sikh Federation (UK) told PerthNow that WA parents have “nothing to fear”.

“The fact that there has not been a single case in a school in the UK for the last 50 years involving the Kirpan demonstrates parents of non-Sikh children have nothing to fear,” he said.

“We suspect there are incidents in Australian schools every week that involve some form of violence and possibly the use of weapons so this needs to be put into context.

“Sikh children have probably been wearing Kirpans in UK schools for up to 50 years.

“We estimate there may now be as many as 10-15,000 Sikh children in the UK who are practising (Amritdhari) Sikhs in schools.

“The Department for Education some 10-12 years ago gave specific guidance to schools pointing out practising (Amritdhari) Sikh children in schools were allowed to wear the Kirpan and teachers denying Sikhs this right could be prosecuted for discrimination under UK law.”

with thanks : perthnow : LINK : for detailed news.

US cable firm aims to reverse anti-turban bias

US cable distribution major Comcast will air a Public Service Announcement (PSA) throughout July recognizing Sikhs as a vibrant part of America's cultural tapestry and aiming to reverse Americans' anti-turban bias.

Featuring Waris Ahluwalia, a Sikh American actor and designer, the PSA demonstrates through words and images how Sikh Americans' values are America's values, including a love of service, family, and community.

According to Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF) which provided the script for the PSA, Comcast will donate $1 million in airtime on cable channels on Comcast to air it.

Comcast said it will air the PSA as part of the company's commitment to educate audiences on a variety of issues.

Eastward Films served as art directors and producers for the film.

"Sikhs have contributed to America's culture for the past 125 years, including helping to build the Panama Canal and railroads in California," said SALDEF executive director Jasjit Singh while talking about the history of Sikhs in the US.

In fact, the first Asian American to serve in the US Congress, Dalip Singh Saund, was a Sikh American, he noted.

with thanks : Business Standard : LINK : for detailed news.

Golden Temple, Amritsar

Hand written Guru Granth sahib ji

Coventry Sikh war memorial plea

A man whose grandfather fought in World War One is calling for a war memorial for Sikh soldiers to be installed in a better location in Coventry.

Maghar Singh was sent to the frontline in France aged just 15, after signing up to fight in the British Indian Army.

In 2002, his son joined other Sikhs in Coventry to help set up a memorial on a roundabout on the A444.

While praising the memorial, Maghar's grandson Jagdeesh Singh said the location underplayed the Sikh role.

Between 1850 to 1945 three generations of the family served in the British Indian Army, including Jagdeesh Singh's great-great grandfather, Bassan Singh, in the 1st Sikh Infantry.

with thanks : BBC News : LINK : for detailed news story

Letter: Need More Education on Sikh Religion

Dear Judge Susan E. Green of the Superior Court of Sutter County,

I am a Sikh. My faith – which stems from India – is acknowledged as one of the world’s major religions (there are 23.8 million Sikhs and only 13.4 million Jews). We stand out because baptized, male Sikhs wear turbans, beards and uncut hair as a sign of their faith. If you see a man on the street with a turban and beard anywhere in the USA, it’s almost certain that he is a Sikh.

The tragic events of September 2001, plus the torrent of publicity about Osama Bin Laden, led to enormous difficulties for Sikhs in the USA. On September 15, 2001, one Sikh was shot dead in Phoenix. On Sunday, August 5, 2012, a lone gunman walked into a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin and began deliberately shooting at the congregation, killing six and wounding two. These incidents were caused by mistaken identity: mistaking Sikhs for Muslims.

Sikhs are not Muslims and have no relationship with Islam. In fact, as Sikhs, we are enjoined to be tolerant and accepting of all other religions. It is a vital part of who we are.

with thanks : Huntington News : LINK : for detailed news report.

Pakistan Sikhs threaten protests against holy book desecration

A Sikh organisation in Pakistan has threatened to launch countrywide protests if those who allegedly desecrated the Sikh holy book are not arrested by Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference at Karachi Press Club yesterday, Pakistan Sikh Council (PSC) patron Ramesh Singh demanded that a judicial commission be constituted to investigate how and why such incidents had all of a sudden started happening across Sindh province, reported the Dawn.

He said that all the culprits should be arrested, tried and awarded stern punishment so that it could act as deterrence to others. He also demanded security for the religious places of minorities.

Recounting instances in which copies of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib were burnt, Singh alleged that various incidents had been reported from across the province including in Sukkur, Dadu and Shikarpur districts.

Earlier this month, similar incidents were reported in Karachi and Shikarpur.

Singh said that Sikhs had been living in peace and harmony with other communities in Sindh for centuries but such incidents had never happened in the past. He said that Sikhs were as patriotic as other communities in Pakistan and did not want to embarrass the country internationally, but they had been pushed to the wall and it was the government's responsibility to recognise the Sikhs' religious sentiments.

Pakistan is home to about 20,000 Sikhs.

with thanks : DNA India : LINK : for detailed news.

Sikh leaders come out against opulent marriages

Sikh leaders are taking the initiative to curb extravagance at weddings. On Sunday, representatives of 17 gurudwaras met at Khar to discuss ways to do this and put an end to the game of one-upmanship associated with grand weddings among Sikh families.

"The meeting was to ensure that people spend less on marriages. These days marriage expenses run into lakhs. We feel the money wasted on fancy weddings should be utilised to better educate and socially uplift the community," said Pritam Singh, treasurer, Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Khar, where the meting was held.

Sikh weddings have, over the years, grown in grandiosity with members of the community growing richer. The catering rates per plate in some of these marriages are as high as Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000.

"The trend is to have Mexican, Italian, Thai and Chinese dishes with a large number of sweets added in. However, there isn't a matching capacity to eat, the result often being a lot of food being wasted. But this splurging, instead of triggering consternation, make many others in the community feel inferior and envious. We are now thinking in terms of introducing a code of conduct where not more than one dal, two/three vegetables, raitas, etc are served," said Kanwal Nain Singh, chairperson of the trust looking after Gurudwara Kalgidhar Sabha in Dahisar.

Decorations too eat into the purse, say Gurudwara representatives. "There was a time when people conducted marriages spending just a few thousand rupees," said Avtar Singh Sachdev, president, Khar Gurudwara, who took the initiative in organising the meeting.

with thanks : DNA India : LINK : For detailed news story.

Sikhs marrying foreigners must register matrimonial alliance: HC

CHANDIGARH: Twelve years after marrying a US citizen, Sarabjit Singh, a resident of Ferozepur district, learnt that his marriage was not void. In an order with huge ramifications, especially on Punjabi youths marrying foreign nationals, the Punjab and Haryana high court has held that a marriage solemnized by a youth with a foreigner woman as per Sikh ceremonies is null and void if it is not registered under the Special Marriage Act.

A division bench headed by Justice S S Saron passed these orders on May 2, after hearing a petition filed by Sarabjit who had married California-based woman Lourdes Serrato in 2000 as per Sikh rites and now wanted to annul it on the ground of cruelty by his estranged wife

Sarabjit and Lourdes were married on May 8, 2000 at Mudki village of Ferozepur. Lourdes was living in California and came to India with her family for the marriage. The marriage was solemnized with the consent of parents of both parties as per the Sikh ceremonies.

According to Sarabjit, both of them lived together at Mudki, but Lourdes left for California after 20 days of marriage and declared her intention of not coming back as she was married without her consent.

In his plea, Sarabjit stated that he tried his best to bring his wife back, but when all efforts failed, he filed a divorce petition at a Ferozepur court on March 7, 2012. On December 10, 2013, the court dismissed his petition saying, "Sarabjit's move to approach for divorce after a prolonged silence of 12 years does not inspire confidence of the court."

Sarabjit approached the high court. Hearing the petition, the high court noticed that Sarabjit was mentioned as "Sikh Unmarried" and the wife as "Christian Unmarried" in documents prepared by them before performing their marriage as per the Sikh ceremonies. Finding the matrimonial alliance between the two parties as "no marriage in the eyes of law," HC held that the Ferozepur court should have dismissed the divorce petition on the ground of maintainability.

HC clarified that marriage performed under Sikh rites is covered under the Hindu Marriage Act (HMA). The court said as per the HMA, both parties should be Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs by religion, and if they are not, the marriage is void.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK

Beautiful 'Aarti' from Sikh Religion

Once actor Balraj Sahni asked the late Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath
Tagore, "You have written the national anthem for India . Can you write an
international anthem for the whole world?" "It has already been written,
not only international but for the entire universe, in the 16th century by
Nanak," replied Tagore. He referred to the Sikh Aarti (ceremony of
light). Gurudev Tagore was so enamoured of this arti that he personally translated it into

Bengali.

Every evening in all Gurudwaras, after the recitation of Rehraas Sahib, we
can hear a melodious rendition of the Aarti sung by the Raagis in Raga
Dhanashri. This is a tremendously soothing experience, capable of taking us
directly into the spiritual realms of devotion through music.

As Guru Arjan Dev has written on page 393 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji -
arti kirtan sada anand. Singing God's praises is His Aarti, bringing
boundless bliss.

As legend has it, in 1508 CE
Guru Nanak Dev visited the famous temple of Jagannath at Puri in Orrisa,
which was very well known for its arti for Lord Krishna. In the evening,
priests brought a platter full of many lighted lamps, flowers, incense and
pearls and began the Aarti. Guru Nanak Sahib meanwhile spontaneously gave
words to the wonderful Aarti which was being hummed by Nature before the
invisible altar of God, the creator of this universe:

Gagan mein thaal rav chand dipak baney, tarika mandal janak moti,
dhoop maly-anlo pavan chavro kare saal banray phulant joti, kaisi Aarti
hoye bhav khandna - teri arti.

(SSGSJ page 663)


*The sky is puja thaal (platter used for the artis), in which sun and moon
are the diyas (lamps)/The stars in the constellations are the jewels/ The
wind, laden with sandal-wood fragrance, is the celestial fans/All the
flowering fields, forests are radiance! What wonderful worship this is, oh!
Destroyer of fear, THIS is your Aarti! *

However, the Aarti that is sung daily in the Gurudwaras is however only
partly composed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The second stanza, from "Naam tero
arti majan muraare Hark e Naam bin jhoothey sagal pasaarey" - SGGSJ page
695

(O* Lord, Thy name to me is the Aarti and holy ablutions. Everything else
is false, *has been composed by Bhagat Ravi Das Ji, a Hindu who,
incidentally, was a cobbler therefore Brahmins' would not allow him to
enter the temple.

The third stanza, "Dhoop deep ghrit saaji arti vaar ne jaau kamalapati"
(*May I be a sacrifice unto the Lord: that for me is the Aarti performed
with lamps, ghee and incense' (*Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji: page 695)
* onwards,*was composed by Saint Sain, a barber in the court of Raja Ram,
King of Rewa.

The fourth stanza, from "Sun sandha teri dev devaakar adhpat aad samaayi",
'*Brothers! That is how the Immaculate Lord's Aarti is made: Let Divine
essence be the oil, the Lord's Name the wick and the enlightened self, the
lamp. By lighting this lamp we invoke the Lord' *(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji:
page 1350)* onwards, *was composed in the same vein by Sant Kabir, the
Muslim Julaha (The Weaver).

Thereafter, from "Gopal tera aarta jo jan tumhri bhagat karante tin ke kaaj
sanvaarta",
*'O Gopala, accept your Aarti You grant the wishes of those who worship
you!* (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji: page 695) onwards, was composed by Bhagat
Dhanna, a simple Jat farmer from Rajasthan.

*The final part was composed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji,* right from "Ya te...
maha mun devar ke tap mein
sukh pave jag kare ik ved rarey". The Lord is pleased by penance, prayers,
rituals, recitation of scriptures, meditation music and dance of celestial
beings and the melody of the Aarti. The cosmic worlds rejoice and chant the
Divine Name onwards

That the Aarti which we sing daily has been composed by two Gurus, a
cobbler, a barber, a weaver and a farmer. This is yet more proof that
Sikhism believes in the equality of all human beings:


*Awal Allah noor upaya/Kudrat ke sab bandey/Ek noor te sab jag upjaya/Kaun
bhale ko mande.*
'First of all, God created light; Mother Nature created all human beings
equal; from that one Light the entire world came into being; so how do we
differentiate that one is better that the other?'

*Jo tis bhave so Aarti  hoye* 

sent by a Reader 

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Over 12 Injured as Two Groups Clash Inside Golden Temple Premises

Amritsar:  Over 12 people were injured when two groups clashed inside the premises of the Golden Temple in Amritsar this morning.

The clashes followed an altercation that reportedly happened between the two groups during a ceremony organised to mark the anniversary of Operation Bluestar.

Sources say Simranjit Singh Mann of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) reportedly wanted to address the gathering but his demand was turned down by the Akal Takth Jathedar. This reportedly left his supporters angry who then clashed with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee or SGPC task force members.

Members of the two groups, seen brandishing swords and lathis, clashed for close to half an hour. 

The situation is calm now. Heavy security deployment is in place.

Terming the clashes "unfortunate,"  SAD spokesperson Prem Singh Chandu Majra said the SGPC will take action against the culprits.

With thanks : NDTV : LINK

ब्लू स्टार की बरसी के मौके पर स्वर्ण मंदिर के अकाल तख्त पर तलवारें चल गई हैं : IBN 7

ब्लू स्टार की बरसी के मौके पर स्वर्ण मंदिर के अकाल तख्त पर तलवारें चल गई हैं। ब्लू स्टार ऑपरेशन में मारे गए लोगों को श्रद्धांजलि देने के कार्यक्रम में सिमरन जीत सिंह मान के समर्थकों और स्वर्ण मंदिर की टास्क फोर्स के बीच झड़प हो गई। इस झड़प में कई लोगों को चोटें आईं हैं। 


IBN 7 : LINK

Soha Ali Khan, Vir Das to act in film on 1984 Sikh riots

Patil recounts, “I was in Delhi for the National Awards when a gentleman came to me and told me his family’s story, he told me how they were affected by the violence when he was just seven years old. When I heard about the ordeal they went through after Indira Gandhi was assassinated, I was moved by it all.’’

He adds that his film will tell the story about this Sikh family that lived in Janakpuri with their twins and how three Hindu families helped them escape death. It is a story of three nights of ordeal.

It seems that the person who approached Patil has chanced upon letters written by his father that chronicle their ordeal in detail. It is said that the film will draw heavily from these letters. Patil reveals that Vir Das will play the husband’s part while Soha Ali Khan will play the wife.

“Delhi is not the same anymore so we are shooting in Ludhiana, which looks similar to the Janakpuri of 1984. Our art director Bhupinder Singh has managed to get hold of old Ambassador cars, burnt DTH buses and other items that were needed to make it look real,’’ he added.

Producer Harry Sachdeva plans to release the film on October 31, the day when Sikh riots broke out in Delhi.

with thanks : Post Jagran : LINK

Free treatment to 4 year old boy with life - threatening disease : Hindustan Times