Governing body formed for University at Nankana Sahib

Governing body formed for University at Nankana Sahib
Published on Friday, August 28, 2009 by Azaad

Nankana Sahib, Pakistan: Efforts of Sikhs from all over the world have yielded a positive outcome with decks being cleared for the establishment of proposed world-class Baba Guru Nanak International University at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. The government of that country has formed a governing body for the supervision and management of the project.

The university is being set up at the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev to perpetuate his memory and impart education about Sikhism, Sikh rituals and Sikh culture not only to Pakistan-based Sikh students, but also to Sikh students from rest of the world. The project is likely to be inaugurated in November, said USA-based Dr Pritpal Singh, who has been made a member of the governing board.

The demand for the university had gained momentum in 2006-07 when a number of Sikh leaders from across the world met then Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and prevailed upon him to initiate the project. SGPC chief Avtar Singh is said to have pleaded for setting up the university at that time.

Though the Evacuee Trust Property Board of Pakistan has nominated the president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) as member of the government body, the name of Avtar Singh has not found its way into the list.

The orders issued by the board project director, Col Azhar Ul Haq Adeeb (retd), on August 26 said the chairman of the Evacuee Trust would also be the chairman of the governing committee. Other members of the governing board included Mian Imran Masood (executive director), Zafer Saeed Padhiar, a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly, Rai Shah Jehan Bhatti, president of the PSGPC, Dr Pritpal Singh from California, US, Manmohan Singh Khalsa from the UK, Azhar Ehsaan Advocate, Faqir Syed Saif Uddin, Sardar Sham Singh, Sardar Bishan Singh, and Sardar Mastaan Singh.

“The university is being set up on 2,500 acres being provided by the Pakistan government at Nankana Sahib. The Gurmat Sangeet faculty is being set up at the proposed university and its entire expences will be borne by the American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. The university will be set up on the lines of Oxford or Cambridge universities,” said Dr Pritpal Singh, President of the AGPC.

With thanks : source : http://sikhsangat.org/2009/08/governing-body-for-gnd-nankanasahib/

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World Sikh foundation to open a Sikh university in Himachal

World Sikh foundation to open a Sikh university in Himachal
Aug 28th, 2009 | By Shalender Kalra

Nahan: World Sikh foundation has decided to open a Sikh university of international standards at Paonta sahib in Himachal. For the purpose the foundation have constituted a committee for identifying the land. Interacting with media persons at Paonta sahib today the chairman of the foundation Prof Jaswant Singh Mann said that GURU GOVIND SINGH JI had spent four and half years at Paonta sahib during the time he tried the expansion of education at this town. He also informed the media persons that around 500 corers would be spent on the opening of the university in different levels. Chairman of the foundation also said that the informal dialogue was already being done with the chief Minister Prof prem Kumar Dhumal on the project. He added that the similar university would also be opened in Srinagar of Jand K.

Prof Mann said that the land was already identified in Srinagar. He said that before July 2010 the first phase of the Sikh university would be completed. He also urged the local people to support the project in the welfare of the society. He also announced the members of the committee for identifying the land.


with thanks : source : http://nvonews.com/2009/08/28/world-sikh-foundation-to-open-a-sikh-university-in-himachal/

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Let turban wearing Sikhs join US military: Lawmakers

Let turban wearing Sikhs join US military: Lawmakers
IANS 28 August 2009, 01:08pm IST

NEW YORK: Forty-one members of the US House of Representatives have written to defense secretary Robert Gates to permit Sikhs wearing their
religious symbols to join the military.

Sikh organisations have been lobbying with US lawmakers after the refusal by the army to let two Sikhs with turbans join active duty a few months ago.

Captain Kamaljit Singh Kalsi, a doctor, and Second Lieutenant Tejdeep Singh Rattan, a dentist, were told to remove their turbans by the military when they were about to enter active duty after completing their preliminary programme.

In their letter to Gates, the lawmakers say: "We do not believe that any American should have to choose between his religion and service to our country, and urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that these two officers - and other Sikhs that may wish to serve - are able to maintain their articles of faith.

"Including Sikh Americans will enrich the military's understanding of diverse cultures, languages, and religions, thereby allowing us to fully appreciate not only the rich fabric of our own country but also the lands where we send our soldiers into harm's way."

Citing the example of Canada, Sweden and other countries where Sikhs are allowed to wear their symbols in the armed forces, Sikh organisations led by Sikh Coalition have urged Secretary Gates to end this discrimination by the US army.

The coalition said they will continue their 'Sikh right to serve' campaign till the US military changes its "exclusionary policy" against Sikhs.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/World/US/Let-turban-wearing-Sikhs-join-US-military-Lawmakers/articleshow/4944410.cms

SikhsIndia
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www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com - A sikh blog

Sad demise - a girl student from Belgium expired

We are very sorry to inform you that Laleman Tine, bachelor student of Theology and Religious Studies of the Delegation from the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Religion & Worldview, K.U.Leuven, Belgium, Expired in Leh on 27th August.

The delegation was in Gurdwara Rakab ganj sahib for 3 days, earlier in this month for studying Sikhism. The delegation will be in Delhi on Sunday, on the last day of the trip as they have to catch the late night flight. For more details please contact Dr.Gurdeep kaur - Cell number 9811317078

SikhsIndia

His beard is taller than you

His beard is taller than you
August 26, 2009 04:38:00 PM
By Ashley Gebb/Appeal-Democrat

At 7 feet, 8-plus inches, Sarwan Singh's beard is quite a sight to behold.

But any emotions the Sikh man holds about the hairs flowing from his face are of gratitude and respect rather than pride. Singh credits God for blessing him with such lengthy wisps, and in accordance with his religion, has not disfigured his body by cutting them.

"God has given a beard to everybody, but he has given him a special gift," said Yuba city resident Sukhcharan Singh.

Sarwan Singh, 43, lives in Surrey, Canada, but has spent the last three weeks at the Gurdwara Sahib on South George Washington Boulevard in Yuba City. Sukhcharan Singh is videotaping the religion and music teacher while he reads the holy scriptures of the Guru Granth Sahib aloud in Punjabi.

The tapes will create a recording for other Sikhs who may not have access or time to practice themselves. To read the Guru Granth Sahib in its entirety would take 80 hours, so the men have broken it down into 2 1/2 hour chunks.

Twice daily, Sarwan Singh prepares for the recording session with a cup of tea to warm his vocal cords, taking care to keep his beard clean while doing so.

It was not until about 10 years ago, when he moved from India to Canada, that Singh realized a knee-length beard was a bit of an oddity. His friends finally urged him to contact Guinness World Records.

The record-keepers measured Singh's strands at 7 feet, 8 inches in November. The previous record was held by Shamsher Singh of Punjab, India, whose beard measured 6 feet long in 1997. The men do not know one another.

Sarwan Singh's recorded length is from chin to tip, but his longest hair sprouts from just above the throat. The beard has since grown a few more inches.

"He might beat his own record!" Sukhcharan Singh said with a laugh.

Previous record-holders, before Guinness changed its standards, boasted beard lengths in the double digits, but bottom hairs were not actually attached and instead clung to matted knots.

A bright white smile peeks out amid Singh's bushy black, silver and gray strands that start around his jaw. The number of hairs gradually dwindle as they near his feet, tapering off at less than 10 wisps for the bottom few inches.

He estimates he spends about half an hour a day shampooing, conditioning and supplementing the hair with natural oils to keep it silky smooth. Speaking through Sukhcharan Singh as translator, he said he occasionally brushes the beard to keep it free from tangling.

Despite all the care and maintenance they demand, Sarwan Singh treats his hairs with patience.

As he talks, reads or simply stands, he gently fingers the tips of silver, gray and black wisps or drapes them over his hands. When a clean surface is available, Singh allows the strands to coil onto the floor; otherwise he wraps the beard into a loose knot below his chin.

The hair on his head, hidden by the traditional Sikh wrap, grows at a normal rate and length, he said.

Singh urges Sikh children to take pride in their religion and be proud to grow their hair. If he can take care of an almost-8-foot-long beard, they can respect God and their bodies, he said.

The beard is somewhat of a fascination among children.

During Singh's first days in Yuba City, Sikh youngsters were clambering around him, eager for photo opportunities. He stood atop an upturned milk crate so his beard could flow nearly all the way to the ground, although never touching the actual floor or dirt.

Every aspect of living with his world-record beard is in honor of and respectful of his religion and his creator, Singh said.

"We have to live this way, with whatever he has given us," he said.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Ashley Gebb at 749-4724 or agebb@appealdemocrat.com

with thanks : source : http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/singh-85917-beard-sarwan.html

SikhsIndia
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www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com - A sikh blog

Dera, Sikh followers clash averted

Dera, Sikh followers clash averted
TNN 26 August 2009, 10:56pm IST

LUDHIANA: A serious clash was averted between dera followers and members of the Sikh community, when the latter objected to the organization of an
‘Akhand Paath’ near the Model Town Extension, on Tuesday night.

Following information that followers of Dera Satkartar Das were allegedly organizing a paath, a large number of people from the Sikh community gathered outside the dera and shouted slogans.

Panicked by the situation, dera followers pelted stones at the gathered crowd. Before the situation could worsen, the police was immediately summoned which reached the spot in no time.

Both parties were pacified and they finally reached a compromise at the Model Town police station. In the meantime, sewadar of the dera, Jaswinder Singh, said the Akhand Paath had been organized to celebrate the birthday of Baba Shri Chand Jee. “I had brought the religious scriptures from the gurdwara and had sought permission from the Akal Takht to do so,” he added.

Meanwhile, some people received minor injuries in the incident.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/ludhiana/Dera-Sikh-followers-clash-averted/articleshow/4938262.cms

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com - A sikh web portal
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com - A Sikh blog

Ocean of pearls

The trailer begins with the wording, "THE GURU IS THE OCEAN FILLED WITH PEARLS". But a scene in the trailer, where a sikh guy is shown cutting his own hairs is horrible. Sorry, i could not view it as it hurted me a lot.













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