Friday, April 22, 2011

Antim Darshan : Baba Harbans Singh ji Kar Sewa Wale










































with thanks : pics by : Harvinder Singh Meenu, Inderpreet Kaur

SGPC challenges Sehajdhari Sikhs' vote in SGPC elections

Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee(SGPC) has reiterated that Sehajdhari Sikhs, who shave, cut or trim their hair, cannot be recognized as Sikhs for the purpose of grant of electoral rights in SGPC elections and only Keshadhari Sikhs should have the right to vote. The submission to this effect was made before the Punjab and Haryana high court by Mukhtar Singh on behalf of SGPC in an ongoing case challenging the notification dated October 8, 2003 issued by the union government. By way of issuing this notification, union ministry of home affairs had amended sections 49 and 92 of the Sikh Gurudwara Act, 1925, also barring Sehajdhari Sikhs from casting their votes in SGPC elections. Mukhtar Singh informed that in keeping with the tenets of Sikh religion and the importance of keeping 'Khalsa' purity, which includes keeping of unshorn hair, these modifications were suggested by the SGPC in its meeting held on March 30, 2001. 

with thanks : Hindustan Times : link above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Baba Harbans Singh ji ( Kar Sewa Wale ) - way to reach Gurdwara Guru Ka Bagh

Baba ji da Parthiv shareer,  nager keertan de roop vich Gurdwara Bangla Sahib ton saturday 23 April noo savere 6.00 vaje chal ke VIA Connaught place - Minto Bridge - ITO - Ring Road - Kashmere gate - ISBT - Seelampur -Jafrabad - Durgapuri 100 futa road - Loni road - Behind GHPS - Gurgwara Guru Ka Bagh Pujange ji. 



Chaddikala TV, MH live, ETC punjabi, PTC, Zee News etc.  are expected to cover it.


B S Vohra

Gunjaan Sikh Virsa 30.01.2011

Manmohan Singh's apology for anti-Sikh riots a ‘Gandhian moment of moral clarity,' says 2005 cable


Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's public apology for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots is hailed in an American diplomatic cable as a “singular act of political courage'' and an “almost Gandhian moment of moral clarity in India's long march to religious harmony.”

The violence in northern India, primarily in Delhi, targeting members of the Sikh community broke out following Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination on October 31, 1984.

Writing on August 12, 2005 (38469: unclassified), Robert O'Blake, Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in New Delhi, noted that Dr. Singh had done “what no Indian leader in 20 years has been willing to do.”
.....

The cable, accessed by The Hindu through WikiLeaks, said the Congress party's “swift action'' against Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar in the wake of the commission's report “raised questions about the fate of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi if a similar commission investigating the 2002 Gujarat riots finds his government at fault.''

In his apology in Parliament on August 12, 2005, Dr. Manmohan Singh said: “I have no hesitation in apologizing to the Sikh community. I apologize not only to the Sikh community, but to the whole Indian nation because what took place in 1984 is the negation of the concept of nationhood enshrined in our Constitution.”

.....

with thanks : THE HINDU : link above for detailed news.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Sad Demise of Baba Harbans Singh ji, Kar Sewa Wale

With Profound Grief and Sorrow, we inform you of the SAD DEMISE of Baba Harbans Singh Ji ( Kar Sewa Wale ). Let us pray from the deep core of our heart, for the departed noble soul. We can never forget him as well the great work of Kar Sewa done by him.

As per messages received by us, Baba ji da Parthiv shareer,  nager keertan de roop vich Gurdwara Bangla Sahib ton saturday 23 April noo savere 7 vaje chal ke Guru Ka Bagh, Loni Road, shahdara Lejange ji.


B S Vohra
SikhsIndia
.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College: Free Medical Health Check-up & Blood Donation Camp

With the vision and efforts of Principal,Dr.Man Mohan Kaur,NSS Unit of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College(Dev Nagar,University of Delhi)organised Free Health Check- up/Blood Donation Camp in the college premises on 19th April 2011.This year also an event was a huge success.It started with the recitation of Gurbani /Kirtan in the College Gurudwara.Huge number of students,staff & their family members & other local people/poor street dwellers availed benefit of free check -ups like Bone Density Test,ECG,Eye-Check up,Blood sugar/Blood Pressure tests along with free consultation from Team of senior doctors : Physician, Cardiologist, Orthopaedic Surgeon & Gynaecologist from Dr.BL Kapur Memorial Hospital.































































































































































































































Dr.Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Department of Political Science
&
National Service Scheme Programme Officer

First Punjabi teaching schools in Bangladesh

AMRITSAR: Bangladesh will soon have two schools teaching Punjabi language. The schools are being constructed by Sampardai Kar Sewa, Sarhali, a religious organization , that had already set up a Sikh Research Centre (SRC) at Gurdwara Nanakshahi with Dhaka University professor Nirol Kazi as its head.

Ironically Sikh's single largest body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had already conducted surveys of the Gurdwara's of Bangladesh for their development but had not been able to do anything on the ground. On the other hand Sampardai had been carrying out karsewa (voluntary service) since 2004 through Bangladesh Gurdwara Management Board whose patron is Jathedar of Takht Patna Sahib Iqbal Singh.

Member of Mata Amar Kaur Memorial Sewa Society Satnam Singh Dhanoa informed that Sampardai would construct two schools that would impart education of Punjabi language beside other subjects to the local students. "Initially the schools will be up to fifth standard but would be upgraded later" said he. He informed that there were more than fifty Muslim students studying at SRC.

with thanks : Times of India : link above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

CELEBRATING 5 YEARS OF AASRA MAGAZINE






















SUBMITTED BY: AASRA MAGAZINE
PHONE: 206-550-3154
EMAIL: AASRA@Q.COM




(Article by: Jennifer Simon Halai and Sarab Singh) For five years we have been publishing Punjabi English Magazine titled "Aasra." Our readership is the adult, professional group of people from Indian origin. However, due to the literary contents, including English Poetry we are achieving our goal of “Connecting Communities.” This is distributed free. We distribute it at the Indian business outlets and other community gathering areas. This magazine is available through King County Library System and WA State Library and others.














Our goal has always been to reach out to the communities. Sikhs have faced “hate crimes.” We feel that the media and literature can “Connect Communities.” We encourage poetry and contributions. We are all facing tough economy times. The only way is to reach out to the communities and work together.














In that spirit Aasra Magazine and King County Library System coordinated “Introduction to the Sikh Community” at the Covington Library. More than 60 people gathered to learn about the Sikh community, one of the fastest growing communities in King County. The program began with a sung welcome blessing and harmonium accompaniment by Sarab Singh, editor of Aasra Magazine. Mr. Sarab Singh then introduced Mr. Jasmit Singh of the Sikh Coalition, an organization formed after September 11, 2001 when Sikhs were increasingly stereotyped and targeted with hate speech and violence. The Sikh Coalition is a nationwide organization that promotes civil and human rights for all people, and serves as the primary source of advocacy and assistance for Sikhs facing discrimination and hate crimes. Mr. Jasmit Singh held the audience’s rapt attention as he shared details about Sikhism and the hundred year history of Sikhs in North America. Following the presentation, a question and answer period offered the audience an opportunity to find out anything additional they wondered about Sikhism and Sikh traditions. The audience was then invited to enjoy refreshments and peruse the photo and related reading displays.














Free copies of Aasra Magazine were provided for attendees. Thanks go out to Carla J. Hopkins, Jennifer Simon Halai, Jo Anderson Cavinta, Jasmit Singh, Sarab Singh as well as to the staff and the Friends of the Covington Library for their support of this important program. Thanks to Mandeep Kaur for making Pakoras and Satinder Kaur Jaggi for bringing Pethe-di-Mithai.














Aasra Magazine will like to thank all the community who have supported us for the past 5 years. We could not have done it for 5 years without your help. While we have reached a milestone we still have a long way to go. With your support and guidance we will be able to live up to the hope that you have trusted in us. We promise to upkeep your trust. Thank you.














Aasra Magazine is published bimonthly and distributed free in the Seattle area through Indian stores and other community gathering areas. Features current events mainly Indian, but have featured others, too, of interest. Also features interviews, yoga, and other articles, and poetry. They have introduced pick up racks points at Kent Post Office, Kent Station and Bellevue Overlake Plaza. It is also available through subscription to cover postage and handling. Aasra Magazine encourages community involvement and poetry and articles. They may also be repeating this program at other Libraries, etc. If anyone want to attend such a program in future you can email aasra@q.com For more information you can contact Sarab Singh at aasra@q.com or 206-550-3154