A Tribute to Khushwant Singh

The National Institute of Panjab Studies, Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan, is arranging a function wherein Sh. Kuldip Nayar, Sir Mark Tully, Dr. J.S. Neki, Ms. Humra Quraishi and Mr.Ravi Singh will share their reminiscences about S.Khushwant Singh. Mrs. Gursharan Kaur, (wife of Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh) will preside the function.

S. Khushwant Singh was deeply attached to Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singhji and dedicated his book ‘Sacred Writings of the Sikhs’ first published by UNESCO in 1960 to Bhai Sahib.

Venue : Bhai Vir Singh Sahitya Sadan ,New Delhi

Date  :   Monday, 21st April, 2014 

 Time :  4.00 P.M.

SD. B S Kohli ( Mumbai ), speaking at BABA BANDA SINGH BAHADUR ENGINEERING COLLEGE, FATEHGARH SAHIB

Plz view the links below :

1.
Turbans a major hit on Global Fashion Circuit : LINK
2.
Indian and Pakistani faithful celebrate Sikh New Year : LINK

What a combination of Politics & Punjabi song

Cops foil AISC’s attempt to occupy site near Har-Ki-Pauri

HARIDWAR: The All India Sikh Conference's plan to forcibly occupy the site of Gurdwara Shri Gyan Godari Saheb near the Har-Ki-Pauri on Monday did not materialise as the police sealed all points of entry into the state and detained AISC president Sardar Gurcharan Singh Babbar along with hundreds of his supporters from Delhi and neighboring areas.

The group was stopped by the police when it attempted to enter into the state from Badiwala border at about 11.30am, Babbar said in a press release. The release also said the group was moving peacefully towards Har-Ki-Pauri when it was detained by the police. Haridwar SP Surjit Singh Panwar said there were over 100 people in the group.

In view the AISC threat, the area near Har-ki-Paudi, where the 450-year-old gurdwara stood, was cordoned off since early Monday morning. Heavy police force was deployed there under a deputy superintendent of police to ward off any trouble. Panwar told TOI that the Sikh leaders were persuaded not to foment trouble as the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls was in force.

Members of the Sikh community have been agitating for the possession of the gurdwara site for the past four years. Despite several rounds of talks between the Uttarakhand administration and the members of the community, no conclusion has been reached.

The purohit community was opposed to the idea of construction of a gurdwara in the vicinity of Har-Ki-Pauri. The episode threatened to create communal disturbance in the area. Meanwhile, Babbar ruefully said if a temple and gurdwara can co-exist elsewhere, why not in Haridwar?

with thanks : Times of India  :  LINK

Hair Sampling Bill Poses Threat to Sikh Operators in USA

On October 30, 2013, Congressman Eric “Rick” Crawford (R-AR) introduced the Drug Free Commercial Driver Act of 2013 (H.R. 3403). It has been co-sponsored by Representatives Tom Cotton (R-AR), Tim Griffin (R-AR), Reid Ribble (R-WI), Steve Womack (R-AR), Jeff Miller (R-FL), Sean Duffy, (R-WI), and Randy Weber (R-TX). As stands, the bill has been assigned to the Highways and Transit subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee.

This bill would allow Employers to force a Sikh operator to provide a hair sample, thereby preventing Sikhs from seeking employment as operators due to their inability to cut their hair for any purpose.Once again,Sikhs would have to choose between employment, and their faith.

United Sikhs have vigorously been tracking this bill, reaching out to other organizations, and creating dialogue with the appropriate staffers on this bill to educate them on the tenants of the Sikh faith and how detrimental this would be to our community.

 Last year,United Sikhs wrote a legal demand letter to a trucking company in Arizona which refused to hire an elderly Sikh unless he submitted a freshly cut sample of his hair for drug testing. The company refused to accept urinalysis, or other means of testing which are commonly used in the trucking industry. After failing to get a response to their letter, United Sikhs filed a complaint with the EEOC who are currently investigating the matter.

If this proposed bill goes through, it will unfold disastrous consequences for Sikh truck drivers. It will essentially give the trucking industry a free hand to impetuously reject Sikh applicants .

Devout Sikhs should not be forced to choose between employment, and their faith. 

 While this bill has not yet been brought to a vote,  United Sikhs urge community to sign this petition  to your elected officials, especially constituents of those officials who have sponsored, or co-sponsored the bill, and request them not to proceed with it. The officials should be informed of the detrimental effect of this bill on the Sikh community, and that overall, it stands in stark contrast to the free exercise clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

With thanks :

www.unitedsikhs.org

http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50846/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13648

Baisakhi Celebration and Gatka demonstration in Hoepertingen ,Belgium

    
























Photo's Courtsy of Louke Manpreet Kaur Bamps

Biggest Sikh temple in Nottinghamshire opens its doors

with thanks : nottinghampost : LINK : for detailed news.

Happy Baisakhi to all of you from SikhsIndia !

“Conducting Elections in a Plural Democracy” Talk by Dr S.Y. Quraishi in Uppsala University, Uppsala,Sweden

It will be the biggest election in the world when 814.5 million people will cast their vote in India general election between 7 April and 12 May. To mark the occasion, On Friday , 11 April 2014  the Forum for South Asia Studies at Uppsala University hosted a talk by Dr S.Y. Quraishi, the former election commissioner of India ( A Member of the Board of Advisors of the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA),at Uppsala University, at Blåsenhus. 

Dr Qureishi spoke about“Conducting Elections in a Plural Democracy”, and was joined by Ambassador Maria Leissner,Secretary General at Community of Democracies since 2012, H.E. Ambassador Mrs. Banashri Bose Harrison Embassy of India Stockholm. THE other prominent delegates  were Ingrid WETTERQVIST,Policy offficer,European External Action Service, Professor Torsten Svensson, Vice Rektor,Uppsala University, Professor Ranj Bali ( President FSAS ),Professor Heinz Werner Wessler , Associate Prof.Dr. Gurdeep Kaur ,Eva Kllander and Florian Krampe.

Professor Ashok Swain,Department of Peace and Conflict Research chaired the discussion.

The Forum for South Asia Studies at Uppsala University organised this event in cooperation with the Indian Embassy,Stockholm.

US lawmakers wish Sikh Americans joyous Vaisakhi

Washington, April 11 (IANS) Thirteen members of the US House of Representatives have co-sponsored a House resolution wishing the Sikh American community a joyous Vaisakhi, the Indian harvest festival that also marks the creation of the Khalsa in 1699.

"I proudly represent one of the largest Sikh communities in the nation. For decades, we have confronted the challenges of California together, including education and our current drought," said House member John Garamendi, lead sponsor of the resolution.

Other co-sponsors included the lone Indian-American House member Ami Bera, Judy Chu, David Valadao Joseph Crowley, Doug LaMalfa, Eric Swalwell, Raul Grijalva (AZ), Sheila Jackson Lee, Dina Titus, Barbara Lee, Jackie Speier and Rush Holt.

The resolution noted that "Sikhs in the United States pursue diverse professions and walks of life, making rich contributions to the economic vibrancy of the United States as farmers, engineers, doctors, scientists, and business owners."

It also noted that "Sikh Americans continue to make strides toward securing religious liberty as patriotic members of the United States Armed Forces.

"We are grateful to the resolution sponsors for highlighting the important contributions of Sikh Americans to their communities in all walks of life," said Simran Kaur, Advocacy Manager for the Sikh Coalition.

"Sikhs are an integral part of the American fabric, and we look forward to celebrating Vaisakhi with our fellow Americans," she said.

with thanks : IANS : LINK