Louis Singh :The Pakeha-Sikh-New Zealander

A Kiwi man has become an instant social media sensation after being spotted sporting a beard and turban as a part of his newly adopted faith, in a photo shared by New Zealand Army on its Facebook page congratulating the new graduates from Recruit Regular Force 397 at Waiouru Military Camp. 

As soon as the post came out, people on social media were in awe of seeing a Pakeha man donning the traditional Sikh turban and beard in his army uniform. 

The man was identified as Louis Singh, formerly, Louis Talbot, who was born and educated in Timaru, South Canterbury, who converted to Sikhism after being inspired by the teachings of the religion.

The Indian Weekender spoke with Louis about his journey into Sikhism, and kind of reaction does he gets from his friends, family and beyond when people see him wearing a turban and speaking fluent Punjabi. 

Louis first came across with Sikh religion in 2015 when he was visiting a friend in Christchurch, and while having a conversation about the faith, he felt intrigued to know more about its values, principles and teachings. 

 "I went to meet Tajinder at his home, and he told me about Sikhism, the belief in serving humanity. Subsequently, I started visiting Gurudwara in Christchurch, first once a month and then more regularly months passed by," Louis told The Indian Weekender. 

Louis adds that he became a part of langar service, sat down with priests at the gurudwara and listened to their lectures, itihaas (history), kirtans (hymns) that further strengthened his faith in Sikhism. 

"As months went by, I learnt Sikh history and Sakhis of gurus and began learning Punjabi."

In 2018, Louis travelled to India visiting several gurudwaras there and eventually took blessing with Amrit at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib - a Sikh ceremony of initiation which resembles the baptism of Christianity.

Louis adds that he became a part of langar service, sat down with priests at the gurudwara and listened to their lectures, itihaas (history), kirtans (hymns) that further strengthened his faith in Sikhism. 

Recalling his teen days, Louis says, he has been an active boy since his childhood and was a part of New Zealand Cadet Forces growing up and has received several commendations being a part of Christchurch Army Cadets. 

Louis said, he joined the New Zealand Army as his duty to serve the country. 

"When I started wearing a turban and growing beard as a vital part of being a Sikh, I was enquired by a lot of my friends- the question would be why and what is the significance of the turban and the beard. 

"When I joined the army, I was asked about my turban and the appearance too, and upon explanation- it was received well by NZ Army as it respects diverse religious beliefs and allowed my turban and beard as a part of the uniform.

Louis is also learning to play the tabla and listens to kirtan to practice and sing them and considers listening to the hymns brings peace to his mind and soul. 

Louis regards his family upbringing and values of “giving and sharing” that he found most like that of the teachings in Sikhism. 

Louis told the Indian Weekender that once he baptised into Sikhism, he officially added 'Singh' as a surname which adds more essence to his character. 

"Louis in French stands for 'warrior' and Singh stand for 'Lion' which together 'Louis Singh' brings out a strong character to my name,” Mr Singh said.

Louis is encouraging Kiwis, especially from different ethnicities to come forward and join NZ Army, not just to serve the country, but also how army shapes a person's life, provides opportunities and exciting career options. 

https://www.indianweekender.co.nz/Pages/ArticleDetails/7/12939/New-Zealand/Meet-the-Pakeha-Sikh-New-Zealander-Louis-Singh

Dr.Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
SGND Khalsa College
University of Delhi

Fresno State Sikh Student Association (USA) Lends Hand in Time of Crisis :Our religion believes in giving back to families and people, and we’ll continue to do that moving forward,”

As the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered colleges in early March, student organizations like the Sikh Student Association (SSA) at Fresno State had to move their meetings to a virtual format. 

When the new board members were elected, they saw an opportunity to give back to their community in a time of need. Over several Zoom meetings, board members, came up with the idea of hosting a food drive for families in need. 

In mid-May, Fresno State SSA created a GoFundMe page to purchase food and supplies, raising around $3,180. Still, the page didn’t gain as much traction as they hoped.The goal was to raise around $20,000, so they contacted several local punjabi-owned businesses. So they went around to Punjabi-owned businesses, mostly trucking companies, and  collected around an extra $28,000.

They  [purchased] mainly canned food, flour, pasta and granola bars because those are things that are necessities that people can use on a daily basis, but would also keep them for a week. The main target group of the drive was groups of four to five-member families,  Based on that, the club members chose ingredients that families could use for cooking supplies such as macaroni, rice and flour.

In total, the club handed out 1,059 boxes to families in Fresno County. Each box contained around $30 of dry goods that could last up to a week.

A pamphlet was also stashed inside each box as well, which talks about the message of Sikhism as well as some quick facts. 

“A lot of people don’t know about our religion, and a lot of people don’t know what the basis and the values are of being Sikh,” President Sandeep Sandhu said. “.This way people get a better understanding of our religion.”.

The basic message of Sikhism is the opposite of terrorism — one creator and one human race, all equal each with the creator’s light within. 

“Our religion believes in giving back to families and people, and we’ll continue to do that moving forward,” Sandhu said.

https://www.sikhnet.com/news/fresno-state-sikh-student-association-lends-hand-time-crisis

114 Indians, 82 Pakistanis Safely Returned Back Their Respective Countries Via Wagah

Besides students from J&K, the returnees include those who had gone to the neighbouring country to meet their relatives or pay obeisance at religious shrines.

Amritsar: As many as 114 Indians and 82 Pakistani nationals, who have been stranded in Pakistan and India, respectively returned to their native countries via the Attari-Wagah border on 9^th July 2020.

Of the 114 Indians returned on Thursday, 35 were from Jammu and Kashmir, while the rest were from Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

SOCIAL DISTANCING MAINTAINED

A Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) official at the integrated check post (ICP) in Attari, which facilitates India’s trade with Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the movement of passengers from India to Pakistan and vice-versa, said, “A special team of doctors conducted thermal screening of all those going back to Pakistan, and returning to India, as per guidelines of the health department to contain the spread of coronavirus. Special arrangements had been made to follow the social distancing norms.”

Besides students from J&K, the returnees included those who had gone to the neighboring country to meet their relatives or pay obeisance at religious shrines.

On March 14, India had suspended cross-border movement of passengers through the Attari-Wagah border as a precautionary measure to check the spread of Covid-19. But diplomats, officials of the United Nations (UN) and other international organisations, and employment and project visa-holders were excluded from the ban. On March 19, Pakistan too closed its borders. Since then, hundreds of Pakistani nationals have been stranded in India and Indians in Pakistan.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/114-indians-82-pakistanis-set-to-return-their-respective-countries-via-wagah-tomorrow/story-JmowEiUJDDThJOxay4ICoM.html

Sikh Passenger Van-Train Accident: Initial Investigation Report Holds Coaster Driver Responsible

SHEIKHUPURA:The initial investigation report on a tragic collision between a Sikh passenger coaster and a train has declared the deceased coaster driver, Muhammad Ali, responsible for the accident.

According to sources, a case has been registered and the Railways divisional engineer has been cleared of charges. The initial investigation report said that around 100 Sikh community members had reached Sheikhupura in three vehicles from Peshawar on July 3 to offer condolences on the death of a community member.

All three vehicles were on their way back when the accident took place. Two vehicles crossed the gated level crossing safely, while the driver of ill-fated vehicle attempted to cross the railway line from an unmanned level crossing, and was hit by a train. Twenty-two members of the Sikh community were killed in the accident.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/684746-sikh-passenger-van-train-accident-initial-investigation-report-holds-coaster-driver-responsible

Fighting With Corona :Patiala Leads door-to-door Covid-19 survey

Covid-19 patients being taken to Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala on Thursday

Despite being one of the worst hit districts, Patiala has made the most progress in the state;while Amritsar and Ludhiana are lagging behind in the door-to-door Covid-19 survey.

As per the state health department, Patiala had surveyed 6,25,930 people till July 6 while Ludhiana had reached out to 3,90,864 people and Amritsar had examined 3,87,984 people.Jalandhar has surveyed 2,07,097 people while Sangrur has examined 4,50,314 patients.

Limited Resourses

Despite limited resources and only 1,321 ASHA, anganwadi workers and volunteers Patiala has managed to make the most headway.

Under the directions of Patiala civil surgeon Dr Harish Malhotra, ASHA and anganwadi workers and volunteers have reached out to 6,25,930 persons in just 25 days as house-to-house survey began in Punjab on June 11.

As per the health department, Ludhiana district had recorded 1,182 Covid-19 positive patients, Amritsar 976, Jalandhar 941, Sangrur 588 and Patiala 440 till July 7.

CIVIL SURGEON LEADS FROM THE FRONT

Dr Malhotra says, “I am personally involved in conducting and monitoring the survey.”

“The survey will help us contain further spread of Covid-19 and provide treatment to people. We are also collecting data about TB, diabetic and patients of hypotension.”

State Covid-19 nodel officer Dr Rajesh Bhaskar said, “We have fixed July 20 to complete the house-to-house survey and directed all district to survey each person in their respective districts.”

https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/patiala-leads-door-to-door-covid-19-survey-amritsar-ludhiana-lag-behind/story-LqWyqt6PwHBnvvCS9L3eyI.html

Sikh Charity Raises £ 25,000 for Ealing Hospital Monitor,UK

              Members walk over a thousand miles to help the NHS

A Sikh community group have raised more than £25,000 for a new heart-monitoring machine at Ealing Hospital.

Ten people from the Pingalwara Charitable Society (PAC) collectively cycled, ran and walked 1,000 miles over a month in recognition of the National Health Service and its work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It included PAC’s president Jagraj Singh Sran who walked up to five miles a day after work to meet his individual target of 100 miles.

Mr Sran said: “It’s the least we could do for the NHS, especially in recent months when so many people have been putting their own health on the line to help others. We all have a responsibility to help one another.

“The NHS is always there for us, so we should be there for the NHS.”

The cheque was presented to cardiologists Dr Harmandeep Singh and Professor Jaspal Kooner and will be used to help treat the thousands of people treated for heart conditions at the hospital ever year.

http://www.ealingtoday.co.uk/default.asp?section=info&page=eacovid014.htm

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur

Associate Professor

University of Delhi

“Mentally Upset” Youth vandalizes Two Holy Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ,Bikaner,Rajasthan : Sikh Community Urge The Administration To Bring Forth The Elements Behind This Sacrilege Incident.

In another unfortunate incident that occurred on July 6, a “mentally upset” youth named Jagdev vandalized two holy saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in village 24 BD of Tehsil Khajuwala in Bikaner district (Rajasthan). He put one holy saroop on fire during the evening hours on July 6 while desecrating another holy saroop.

However, the villagers kept this information hidden for more than 24 hours. Sources have informed that even the police come to know about this sacrilege incident after 28 hours.A wave of outrage spread among the Sikhs residing in Rajasthan and they started gathering at village 24 BD i.e. where this incident occurred. Sikh activists of Eknoor Khalsa Fauj, Sikh Advisory Committee, Sikh Students Federation, and several other organizations also reached on spot today.

Sources have informed that the villagers of 24 BD are claiming that the guilty youth Jagdev is mentally upset but their claim is not going down well with the Sikh Community. The Sikh Community has strongly condemned this claim while arguing that why he didn’t put his house on fire if he doesn’t know what he has done. 

Speaking to Sikh24 from village 24 BD, Tejinderpal Singh Timma informed that the guilty youth has been arrested by the local police. “After primary interrogation, police cops are claiming that Jagdev’s family members used to take him to a superstitious place where someone fed his mind with hate against Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji,” he added

“We demand a thorough probe into this incident and urge the administration to bring forth the elements behind this sacrilege incident,” he said.

Meanwhile, it is learned that the desecrated saroops have been sent to Goindwal Sahib for cremation. The authorities of Sri Akal Takht Sahib have also been informed about this.

https://www.sikh24.com/2020/07/08/rajasthan-mentally-upset-youth-desecrates-two-holy-saroops-of-sri-guru-granth-sahib-ji/#.XwbQjW0zbIU

Sikhs United To Help :An Article Covered By Wyndham Star Weekly

Volunteers from the Australian chapter of United Sikhs preparing free meals for Wyndham residents.

Volunteers from the Australian chapter of United Sikhs are providing hundreds of hot meals to Wyndham residents, who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, every week.

Since May 23, the volunteers have been preparing and distributing meals at Jamieson Way Community Centre in Point Cook, Wyndham Park Kindergarten, the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and Wungurril Dhurrung Community Centre in Wyndham Vale.

The volunteers have also been giving out 35 bags of groceries every week.

The United Sikhs Australian director, Gurvinder Singh, said the project was officially titled Guru Nanak’s Free Community Kitchen and Food Pantry in Australia.

Mr Singh said the Wyndham residents who have received the free meals and groceries have shown the “deepest gratitude”.

“We saw people overwhelmed with joy and tears in their eyes when they were provided with food and milk for their hungry children,” he said.

“They were amazed to see how one could come forward to help someone, who belongs to an entirely different religion or belief.”

The project coordinator Amritvir Singh said that the pandemic has had an “astounding” impact upon families in Wyndham.

“Many people are now without jobs and have a lot of uncertainties of what the future may hold for them, so by having a few hot meals and essential groceries provided, it reduces some of the pressure placed on individuals and families,” he said.

https://wyndham.starweekly.com.au/news/sikhs-united-to-help/

Deljit Singh :When A Sikh Boy Gets Bullied By White Girls

         Deljit Singh,Britain

As a model pupil I never got into trouble with the teachers and prided myself on never getting summoned to the headmaster’s office for punishment – apart from that one time in 1977 when I was 15 years old because of an incident in a classroom.

Bullying and racism even back in the 1970’s wasn’t the exclusive domain of boys as some girls could be equally as unpleasant and nasty. I had to endure a small group of girls in my class who would call me Paki, towelhead, badhead and other racist names.

I pretty much kept out of their way but then on particular day as we returned to the classroom from lunch one of these girls came up behind me and ripped my turban off my head and ran to the window which she tried to open so she could throw it out of the window.  As I sprinted towards her to get my turban back, one of her gang tripped me so I fell forward face first bashing my face on the floor.  I had been bought up never to hit girls but as I was now in pain, and with other pupils laughing at me, my anger got the better of me, so I lashed out.  I picked up the nearest thing to me, a chair and threw it at the girl holding my turban, it hit her on the arm and she dropped my turban on the floor so I was able to pick it up.  She swore at me and ran towards me but in her haste she tripped over the chair and went sprawling to the ground just as I had done.  By now the furore hadn’t gone unnoticed and a teacher stepped in to separate us as once she was off the floor she and her friends started physically attacking me.

Given the opportunity to retie my turban, both she and I were marched to the headmaster’s office and told to explain ourselves.  As the girl was incandescent with rage, she was sent outside to calm down while I was spoken to.  Unbeknownst to me or the headmaster she’d phoned her father from the call box in reception and he arrived a short while later.  As I left the headmaster’s office to go and wait in reception after explaining myself, the girl pointed me out to her father who immediately started threatening me.  He was calmed down by staff and then he and his daughter went into the headmaster’s office so she could have her say.

    Deljit Singh

I had thought about calling my father too but I felt so ashamed of myself for getting into trouble, getting him involved would only add to my shame so I decided against it.  I was only waiting about fifteen minutes but it felt like a lifetime especially when the headmaster came out of his office and disappeared into another room and then back to his office and gave me no eye contact.  I was fearing the worst when I was called back into his office and stood to one side away from the girl and her father, who was now calmer but staring at me with malicious intent...

.Before the girl and her father had time to reply ;he asked her father how he would have felt if a boy, any boy had put their hands on his daughter in what would be a sexual assault, and whether or not he’d report it to the police.  The father nodded his head and shrank back into his chair.

The headmaster then announced that if it was left up to him his decision would be to expel the girl from school for her racist assault, but with that said he wasn’t the one that had been assaulted, so it shouldn’t be down to him.  I was taken aback when he turned to me and said; “Well,  Deljit, what do you think should happen?”

So now it was down to me to play Solomon and do the right thing.   As the girl was now tearing up and her father was ashen faced I turned to the headmaster and replied. “I don’t want to ruin anyone’s life, so can she stay in school if she and her friends who I know don’t like me just leave me alone, and I’ll stay away from them too. If they do that then I’d rather not take this any further, is that alright?”

The room fell silent as he looked down at his desk and he looked at the girl and asked; “Are you willing to do that or not?”.  She nodded and her father promised she would and even mouthed the words thank you in my direction. The headmaster agreed to honour my decision and warned the girl if she, her friends or anyone else did anything like this he would take more drastic action.

After the girl and her father left, the headmaster turned to me and said, “I’m sorry I put you on the spot but I know how you are and I knew you’d do the right thing for all concerned.  After all Sikhism  talks about the welfare of all”.  I replied, “Yes, sir, Sarbat Ka Bhalla, is what we say to do right by everyone”.  “What you did in forgiving her makes you a credit to the Sikh faith Deljit, I’m very proud of you young man”...

Del Singh's Speech at Black Lives Matter Protest Event in Peterborough

https://www.sikhnet.com/news/when-sikh-boy-gets-bullied-white-girls

Language is The Only Way to Retain a Culture, History & Heritage’. Gurmukhi Learning App ~ ‘Ooraa Gurmukhi’

Sarabjeet Singh, an entrepreneur, founder & developer of Ooraa Foundation

Sarabjeet Singh, an entrepreneur, founder & developer of Ooraa Foundation, developed a Gurmukhi learning app called ‘Ooraa Gurmukhi’, which is one of the best Gurmukhi Punjabi learning apps available today, that gives kids a balance learning of Gurmukhi & Sikhi.

Having born and brought up far away from Punjab, in Aurangabad Maharashtra, where Marathi and Hindi are the primary languages, Sarabjeet Singh struggled to learn fluent punjabi until the age of 24. The struggle continued even after 10 years when he wanted to teach Gurmukhi to his kids. He found enormous content online but nothing helped him to make the process of learning Gurmukhi easily. That was when he realised that not only him but many Sikhs and Punjabi who live in and out of India, keen to learn Gurmukhi have to struggle a lot to learn it.

‘OORAA GURMUKHI’ is not only an app, but an initiative to save & conserve Gurmukhi Lipi & Maa Boli Punjabi. It’s an effort to revive the roots of our coming generations with Punjabi, So that our Maa Boli gets more respect & recognition in upcoming 2021 Census worldwide. On behalf of team OORAA we request all communities worldwide to come forward, share & support this project to save Maa-Boli and reconnect ourselves with the Golden heritage.

‘OORAA GURMUKHI’ is a free app specially designed for learning Gurmukhi & Sikhi for kids and family. The 190mb app contains features like Gurmukhi Varnmala, Muharni, Lagaa Matravan, Ginti, Words, Writing, Picture learning, Punjabi Class, etc. Also it includes Sikh Varnamala and Sikhi sections which gives pictorial info about Sikhism, Sikh Gurus and inspirational Sikh personalities giving a balance learning to Gurmukhi and Sikhi. The graphics and content are so creative, colorful & interactive that everyone will love to learn GURMUKHI. The App is available for free on the App Store and Play Store.

OORAA GURMUKHI APP
Available on App Store and Play Store.
iOS: bit.ly/Ooraa-apple
iPad: bit.ly/Ooraa-apple
Android: bit.ly/Ooraa-android

https://www.sikhnet.com/news/gurmukhi-learning-app-%E2%80%98ooraa-gurmukhi%E2%80%99

JAPJI FOUNDATION : YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE

JApji Sewa programme reached out needy people and families for the distribution of the Ration ,Fresh & Sustainable Vegetables, Fruits and cooked food.

JAPJI FOUNDATION
Paytm    7011440455   
 PH 9810239580. 

japjifoundation@gmail.com

DSGMC's Langar On Wheels :The Happiness You Get By Doing Service, You Will Understand By Seeing The Faces of These People

'Langar on Wheels':Langar Sewa done in Gazipur and Inderpuri,New Delhi  on 8th July 2020

Dr. Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nank Dev Khalsa College,
University of Delhi
Dev Nagar

Punjab Government Wants SGPC to Reconsider Desi Ghee Tender to Pune Firm in The Interest of State’s 3.5 Lakh Milk Producers, 99 per Cent of Whom are Sikhs.

The SGPC had recently allotted tender for desi ghee to be used at over 85 gurdwaras in Punjab and Haryana to this company as it had quoted the lowest price.

After allotment of Rs 60-crore tender for desi ghee to a Pune-based company, Sanoi Dairy, by the SGPC for preparing karah parshad and langar at various gurdwaras across the Punjab and Haryana, the state government has urged the Sikh body to reconsider its decision in the interest of state’s 3.5 lakh milk producers, 99 per cent of whom are Sikhs.

In a letter to SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal, Punjab Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has said that the state’s farmers donate tons of food grains to SGPC for distribution as langar and the religious body’s allotment of tender to a company outside Punjab would create livelihood problems for these farmers.

Quoting former SGPC chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Randhawa wrote that “he (Tohra) would often say that SGPC is not a business establishment. He used to say that every decision of SGPC should be made after taking into consideration the welfare of the Sikh Community. He used to believe that he would not rent out a SGPC shop outside Golden Temple to an atheist for 10 times the normal rent and would rather give it to a poor Sikh selling ‘kakkars’ (symbols of Sikhism).”

In the letter, Randhawa has also raised questions over quality of the Desi Ghee that the company would be supplying to SGPC at a much cheaper price than quoted by Milked.

He writes, “Milked helps the farmers by procuring milk from them at certain price so that they do not suffer losses. At the same time it provides its consumers premium products by not comprising on quality. This does not leave room for the Milked to quote a price which is lesser than quoted earlier. If we reduce the price, the farmers will have to bear the brunt.”

 Meanwhile, Sonai Dairy, the Pune-based private cooperative firm connected with 75,000 farmers from Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka, has said that it will supply best quality product to the SGPC.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-govt-wants-sgpc-to-reconsider-desi-ghee-tender-to-pune-firm6496676/

Dr,Gurdeep Kaur,Associate Professor,University of Delhi