Delegation from the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Religion & Worldview, K.U.Leuven, Belgium

Delegation from the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Religion & Worldview, K.U.Leuven, Belgium was in India for almost 30 days. It stayed at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj sahib for 3 days and is there on the last day of the trip - today. Earlier they visited Golden Temple Amritsar.

We appreciate the efforts of Sardar Tarjeet Singh ji Nagi, Member DSGMC as well Dr. Gurdeep Kaur, Reader in Delhi University, for arranging everything at New Delhi.

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

Laleman Tine - Ardaas at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, New Delhi

The Belgiun delegation reached at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, New Delhi and a prayer was held in the memory of Lileman Tine, who expired in Leh on 27th August. The Ambassador of Belgium was present in the Ardas. All the students as well the leading professor looked pale, sad and tired. It was a pleasent trip of 30 days, but turned into a worst experience on the last days of the trip, which will never be out of mind of these students. We pray to the Waheguru to give strength to the family of Laleman Tine, to bear this precious loss of life.

Belgian Ambassador at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj sahib, New Delhi

Belgian Ambassador at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj sahib, New Delhi for meeting the Belgian Delegation and for the Ardaas of Laleman Tine, who expired in Leh on 27th August.

Laleman Tine, bachelor student of Theology and Religious Studies.

De sporen van je leven
Kan ik lezen
In zoveel dingen om ons heen.

Je bent gedroomd
Verwacht
Er echt geweest
Nu dragen wij je
In gedachten mee
Van hier naar daar
En over de tijd heen.
Je was er ooit.
Je bent er nog steeds.

Dag kind
Uit ons leven
Vaak ver weg
Vaak dichtbij
Wij spreken nog je naam
Wij dromen nog je dromen
Wie het niet kan horen
Tonen we zoveel dingen
Rondom ons
Jouw sporen zie je goed.

Dag kind
Zo spreekt de Heer.
Al gaat het nog zo diep,
dit lijden zal ik keren.
Ik hoorde toen je roep.
Vrees niet.
Ik maak je vrij.
Ik zal je niet beschamen, mijn kind, je bent bij Mij.
Ik riep je toch bij je naam.


The traces of your life
Can I read
In so many things around us.

You're dreaming
Expected
There really was
Now we carry you
Them in mind
From here to there
And over time.
You were there once.
You're still there.

Child Day
From our life
Often far away
Often close
We still speak your name
We still dream your dreams
Who can not hear
We show so much
Around Us
Your tracks see you well.

Child Day
Thus says the Lord.
Everything is still so deep,
I will turn this suffering.
I heard when you call.
Fear not.
I make Fri
I will not disappoint you, my child, you're with me.
I called you by name anyway.

Source : http://theo.kuleuven.be/page/indiablog/

SikhsIndia

Life-sentence for 3 in anti-Sikh riot case

Life-sentence for 3 in anti-Sikh riot case
NEW DELHI, August 29, 2009


A trial court here on Saturday sentenced three to life imprisonment, holding them guilty of making attempts to murder three members of a Sikh family during the anti-Sikh riots at Shastri Nagar in North Delhi in 1984.

Riots had broken out in the Capital in the wake of the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Additional Sessions Judge Surinder Singh Rathi awarded life imprisonment to the three, Mangal Sen alias Billa, Brij Mohan Verma and Bhagat Singh, holding them guilty of offences of attempt to murder, rioting and dacoity.

The court had held them guilty on August 22.

While sentencing the three accused, the Judge passed severe strictures against the Delhi police and the State machinery for their role during the riots in the Capital. “Even though we boast of being the world’s largest democracy and Delhi being its national capital, the sheer mention of the incidents of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in general and the role played by the Delhi police and State machinery in particular makes our heads hang in shame in the eyes of the world polity,’’ the Judge observed.

“It is evident that our society is becoming more and more intolerant towards one another, and this dangerous trend is acquiring dangerous proportions,’’ the Judge further stated.

The Judge expressed particular uneasiness over the fact that the convicts who had looted the victims and burnt their house were not strangers to them (victims) but were their next door neighbours.

In the instant case, Joginder Singh and his two sons, Jagmohan Singh and Gurvinder Singh were seriously injured while their house was burnt down by a mob, led by the three accused on November 1, 1984.

with thanks : source : http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article11404.ece

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

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/

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

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/

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

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
www.sohnijodi.com - A sikh web portal
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
www.sohnijodi.com - A sikh web portal
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.













SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com

Punjab bleeding itself to stay afloat

Punjab bleeding itself to stay afloat
Published on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 by Azaad

Punjab: Deprived of cash flow and faced with a huge subsidy bill, the cash-strapped Punjab government has virtually been selling off over Rs 400 crore of its government securities each month this year, in order to stay afloat.

Since January 2009, the Punjab government has raised Rs 3,458 crore by getting its state development loans (SDL) auctioned through the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This is not all; Punjab plans to raise Rs 5,000 crore through selling its SDL during this financial year.

In this fiscal alone (since April 2009) Punjab has auctioned its state development loans worth Rs 1,743 crore. With the state government facing additional liability on account of the implementation of recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission from this month onwards, the state will be raising Rs 500 crore through yet another auction of its SDL by the RBI on August 25.

In spite of the limited resources to raise money, Punjab has a huge annual subsidy bill of Rs 4,500 crore. With the power subsidy bill going up to an astounding Rs 3,142 crore (up from Rs 2,602 crore last year), and no signs of an increase in its revenue, the state is relying heavily on these SDLs to raise money.

Other than the power subsidy, the state government also subsidises the Local Bodies Department for octroi, sewerage and house tax, besides subsidising its populist ‘atta-dal’ scheme. While the government spending is on the rise, revenue growth is barely over 5 per cent for this year.

Talking to The Tribune, Punjab Finance Minister, Manpreet Badal, agreed that the huge subsidy bill of the state was responsible for such heavy borrowings. “Though we are within our prescribed borrowing limit of 3.5 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP), the fact is that we will need more money this year as the power subsidy bill.” It is estimated that the power bill will increase by Rs 542 crore this year on account of increase in per unit cost of power by about 40 paisa.

Official sources in the RBI said that these state development loans are auctioned by various state governments to raise money for their development activities. Generally, banks bid for these loans as they are supposed to invest a certain prescribed percentage of their funds in government securities. Since this investment in government stocks is reckoned as an eligible investment in government securities by banks for the purpose of Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), banks participate in these auctions. These stocks also qualify for ready forward facility.

with thanks : source : http://sikhsangat.org/2009/08/punjab-bleeding-itself-to-stay-afloat/

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com

Sex ratio shows positive change

Sex ratio shows positive change
Abantika Ghosh, TNN 26 August 2009, 03:08am IST

NEW DELHI: The Annual Report on Registration of Births and Deaths in Delhi 2008 that was released on Tuesday reinforced the city government's claims
of a drastic improvement in the capital's sex ratio at birth from 848 females per 1,000 males in 2007 to 1,004 in 2008. While the ravings on Laadli continued, the scheme, if the report is to be believed, seems to be working with a distinct religious bias.

While the sex ratio at birth in Hindus and Muslims is 1,002 females per 1,000 males and 1,040 females per 1,000 males respectively, for Sikhs and Christians it is still languishing at 873 and 875, respectively. The figure is way below the acceptable international level of 952 females per 1,000 males and the national average of 933, according to the 2001 data. While officials explain the figures by saying that the number of Christian births in Delhi is too few, for Sikhs they admit that the largely prosperous community which is way outside the ambit of Laadli and notorious for its abhorrence for the girl child they cite the Punjab sex ratio as proof may not still have learnt to accept the birth of a girl.

There are also figures in the report which raise questions as to whether the dramatic improvement in sex ratio is actually an indication of a decrease in female feticide or simply underregistration of male births. In 2008, the number of girls born in institutions for every 1,000 boys was 915 but the same figure for home births stood at an astounding 1,303. Though chief secretary Rakesh Mehta is not willing to accept the hypothesis that there may be underregistration of male births "Parents of boys are usually very particular in these things'', is how he refutes it senior officials in Delhi government say 1,303 is too high a figure to be "natural''.

Explained a senior official: "Laadli in itself is an incentive to register girls. But there is no such incentive to register the birth of a boy child. There is also a chance that girls who were born elsewhere to fathers who are Delhi residents were registered here to take advantage of Laadli. These theories cannot be completely overruled because the only other explanation then would be that there is some amount of male feticide happening which is preposterous.'' Laadli, interestingly, has had just 23,706 registrations at birth in 2008 against an increase in 19,000 of the total number of girls born during the year.

The number of male children born in the city has incidentally gone down from 1.74 lakh in 2007 to 1.66 lakh in 2008. And the figure, somewhat surprisingly, has been constantly going down from 2005 when it stood at 1.78 lakh. The number of girls on the other hand has remained more or less constant over this period before registering a jump from 1.47 lakh in 2007 to 1.67 lakh in 2008.

Commenting on the difference in sex ratios across religions, Mehta though sounded distinctly concerned about the Sikh figures. "The figures are worrying because unlike Christians the number of Sikhs in Delhi would be substantial. Sikhs are prosperous, so Laadli which is for families with an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh does not affect them. It would have to do with the Punjabi connection. See how bad the sex ratio of Punjab is. Moreover the census figures clearly showed how south Delhi which is home to so many rich Punjabis and Sikhs have one of the worst sex ratios. What one needs to do to address that mindset has to be thought about now.''

The figures also showed that more than 50% women become mothers before the age of 25 years and there is a distinct link between the level of education in women and the number of children they bear. While 42.53% of the fourth (or more) child were born to illiterate women, only 2% were born to graduates.

The death registration figures, on the other hand, show that more than 41% men die between the ages of 35 and 60 whereas the percentage of women of the same age group dying is about 31%. For a city that prides itself on its health infrastructure, a figure that may come as a shock is that the largest percentage (26.72%) of deaths occur due to causes which are not explained "symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings'' is how the report puts down the cause of these deaths.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/delhi/Sex-ratio-shows-positive-change-/articleshow/4934292.cms

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com

84 case: Trial court rejects CBI claims

84 case: Trial court rejects CBI claims
TNN 26 August 2009, 03:06am IST

NEW DELHI: A trial court on Tuesday dismissed the CBI's contention that it was not under a metropolitan magistrate's jurisdiction to decide on the
agency's probe report giving clean chit to former Union minister Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

After almost five months of gruelling arguments with CBI questioning the jurisdiction of a magisterial court on deciding the matter, additional chief metropolitan magistrate (ACMM) Rakesh Pandit, in his order, decided to hear the closure report on September 23.

Not convinced with CBI's arguments in which they had sought the transfer of the matter to a sessions court, ACMM Pandit said, "This court can take cognizance of the offence exclusively triable by the court of sessions and then can summon the accused who are mentioned in the chargesheet as well as those who are not mentioned therein if it appears to the court that they have also done the offence.''

CBI, which had on April 2 sought to close the case against Tytler claiming there was no sufficient evidence against him, claimed that the matter involved the offence of murder thereby making it exclusively triable by a sessions court.

The alleged role of Tytler in a case related to killing of three persons on November 1, 1984, in the aftermath of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination was reinvestigated by CBI after a court had earlier refused to accept a closure report against him in December, 2007.

The court, which is likely to take up the closure report for hearing on September 23, would now have all the powers to either accept CBI's closure report or reject it and can even issue summons against Tytler as mentioned by it in its nine-page order.

Citing various High Court and Supreme Court's judgment, the court referred to the CPC to conclude that "this court can take cognizance of any offence. The word `any' has been used (in Section 190) to include even those offences which are exclusively triable by the court of sessions.''

During the arguments on the matter, the riot victims' counsel Rebecca M John had earlier contended that a magistrate only takes cognizance of all offences, whether triable by it or not. "The metropolitan magistrate has the power and the right to accept an investigation report, or reject it, and take cognizance of the offence and can decide which accused to summon,'' John argued in the court, terming as "fallacious'' CBI's plea that the magistrate did not have the power to decide on its investigation report.

The case allegedly involving Tytler relates to an incident on November 1, 1984, when a mob had set afire Gurdwara Pulbangash in north Delhi, killing three persons Badal Singh, Thakur Singh and Gurcharan Singh. The CBI had given a clean chit to Tytler in the case and sought prosecution of co-accused Suresh Kumar Panewala for the offence of murder.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4934220.cms

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com

Sikh priests protest to save jobs

Groups of Sikh priests have protested an order that could disbar men under the age of 30 and over 60 years to be employed in gurdwaras across Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.

The priests have been angered by the new plan of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, the apex Sikh shrines management body. The plan is to sack all priests who do not fall within the new age stipulation. This could mean job losses for scores of priests, they said.

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar had recently endorsed the new recruitment rules for granthis and paathis (hymn singers) following complaints against younger priests. These ranged from moral turpitude to several instances of devotee collections in gurdwaras.

Insisting there could be no compromise on maintaining the sanctity of the shrines, Mr Makkar called for a list of all Gurdwara employees below 30 years and ordered a thorough verification of each man’s antecedents.

The committee has also sought a fresh appraisal of each priest’s character, conduct, his knowledge of the holy scripture and efficiency in performing various religious rites.

Courtesy : CathNewsIndia

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

Court convicts three in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case

Court convicts three in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case

New Delhi, Aug 22 (PTI) A Delhi court today convicted three persons for attempting to murder members of a Sikh family during the 1984 riots and indicted the Delhi Police and the state machinery saying their role at that time "makes our heads hang in shame in the eyes of the world polity."

Additional Sessions Judge Surinder S Rathi held Mangal Sen alias Billa, Brij Mohan Verma and Bhagat Singh guilty of attempt to murder, rioting, dacoity in Shastri Nagar in north Delhi.

While deciding the case, the judge made a strong indictment of the manner in which the Delhi police and the state machinery had acted during the anti-Sikh riots.

with thanks : source : http://www.ptinews.com/news/243010_Court-convicts-three-in-1984-anti-Sikh-riots-case

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

Amarinder supports separate committee for Sikhs in Haryana

Amarinder supports separate committee for Sikhs in Haryana
PTI 22 August 2009, 07:04pm IST

LUDHIANA: Fully supporting Haryana government's move to set up a separate committee for managing Sikh affairs in the state, former Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday said the community there had the right to decide about its future.

Early this month, Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had said that a separate body for Sikhs on the lines of SGPC would be set up in the state provided there were no legal hurdles. Later, he said a referendum would also be conducted to help Sikhs take a final call on the issue.

Haryana cabinet though, recommended dissolution of the state Assembly on Friday.

Speaking to media persons after appearing in a local court in Ludhiana, Singh alleged that Akalis themselves earlier divided the Sikh community which has led to such a demand from Haryana's Sikhs.

"Today they (the Akalis) are saying it amounts to dividing Sikhs, but let me remind them that they are the same people who divided the Sikhs and Punjabis decades ago when they launched the Punjabi subha movement," he said.

Amarinder pointed out that it is the democratic right of every Sikh in Haryana to decide whether he wants to remain with the SGPC or set up a separate committee there and rejected the opposition by Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal and SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar over the move.

"Who is Badal or Makkar to decide about that?", he asked. About his party's loss in the recent bypolls on three seats in the state, he said the ruling party used "brute force" to win over the seats.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Amarinder-supports-separate-committee-for-Sikhs-in-Haryana/articleshow/4923049.cms

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

The dancing patka of Dil bole Hadipa

Have you seen the Dancing patka of Dil bole Hadipa. It can be seen in the Promos being aired on various TV channels. How can one make a joke of sikh turban or patka.

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

Delegation from the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Religion & Worldview, K.U.Leuven, Belgium, reached Golden temple, Amritsar - view pics

More pics of Belgian delegation at Amritsar

some more pics of Belgian delegation at Amritsar & Delhi

More pics at Delhi can be viewed on our News dated 2nd August on the same blog i.e. www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com with Title Delegation from the Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Religion & Worldview, K.U.Leuven, Belgium, reached Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, New Delhi

with thanks : www.indiablog.be

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

Historical room unearthed in excavation near Lakhnor Sahib, Ambala

In the pics above :
A devotee prays at the site of a 500-year-old room unearthed near Gurdwara Lakhnor Sahib in Ambala; and (right) wooden beds used by Guru Gobind Singh during his childhood. — Tribune photos by Kamal Sachar


Excavation near Lakhnor Sahib, Historical room unearthed
Suman Bhatnagar

An excavation conducted recently at the historical Lakhnor Sahib Gurdwara, near Ambala City, has revealed a room having several artefacts. The finding has generated a lot of enthusiasm among the local Sikh community.

The room, at the depth of about 25 feet, was found during excavation work being carried out near the gurdwara by the managing committee.

Lakhnor Sahib is a historical religious place where Guru Gobind Singh had spent the initial years of his life as his mother, Mata Gujri, hailed from this village. The devotees are of the view that the room was around 500 years old and had been constructed by the maternal grandfather and grandmother of Guru Gobind Singh. Now the devotees have started the reconstruction of this room. A large number of Sikhs have been coming here to have a look at the historical room.

A copper sword, apparently made in 1804, was also found from the house of a villager, Harpreet Singh, while he was digging the foundation of a room close to the gurdwara. A wooden bed, sword and a copper plate which was used by Guru Gobind Singh in his childhood, are kept safe in this gurdwara.

A well from which Mata Gujri used to collect water is still existing near the gurdwara. According to believers a number of diseases are cured by drinking the water of this well. Every year on the occasion of Gurpurb thousands of devotees from various states come to visit this gurdwara.

with thanks : source : http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071230/haryana.htm


SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal
(Plz note : It's an old news of Dec. 2007, being uploaded for our valued visitors as the news seems to had gone unnoticed at that time. Recent pics of the site are being uploaded very soon.)

UK Sikhs accuse BBC of racism

UK Sikhs accuse BBC of racism
PTI 20 August 2009, 01:06pm IST

LONDON: A race row has erupted at BBC's flagship Asian station, which has been accused of being insensitive towards Sikhs and encouraging a Muslim presenter to mock Sikhism.

"We should not be paying a licence fee for promoting the ignorance-based ramblings of those bent on self-promotion who sneer at Asian religion and culture," said Hardeep Singh, a spokesman of the Sikh Media Monitoring Group, which accused BBC's Asian Network of being insensitive towards listeners from the minority community.

The Sikh Group has written to the BBC asking for a full transcript of Adil Ray's show, which was removed from their website after threats from angry Sikh listeners who accused the popular Muslim presenter of denigrating the "kirpan" dagger - an important religious symbol and one of five ceremonial symbols that baptised Sikhs are expected to wear at all times, The Independent newspaper said today.

Members of the Sikh community complained that Ray, in the show broadcast by the Birmingham-based network on Thursday August 6, had been disparaging about whether Sikhs really needed to carry kirpans. The complaint was based on Ray's discussion of the cancellation of a Punjabi music concert in Canada where police had banned Sikhs who refused to remove their "kirpan", the British daily reported.

BBC's Asian Network had courted controversy last year when the Lord Ahmed of the Labour Party had accused the network of being biased against Muslims.

Indarjit Singh, veteran Sikh journalist and chief of the Network of Sikh Organisations, said Britain's Asian communities should move away from stations aimed at a small demographic.

"Stations like BBC Asian Network do little to encourage integration and social cohesion because they allow communities to ghettoise themselves," he said.

Supporters of the Asian Network, however, believe the radio station is a vital voice for Britain's Asians in the otherwise white-dominated industries of media and broadcasting.

The network, which was set up eight years ago after the BBC's then director general Greg Dyke described his own organisation as "hideously white", has denied the accusations or any suggestion that Ray meant to mock Sikhism.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/world/uk/UK-Sikhs-accuse-BBC-of-racism/articleshow/4914512.cms

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago

The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago is a not-for-profit community organization
devoted to promoting education, good citizenship, Punjabi culture, language,
performing arts, healthy life style, and sports in the metropolitan Chicago area.

Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago invites you COME ONE COME ALL

15th ANNUAL PCS PUNJABI SPORTS FESTIVAL
A DAY OF FREE FUN & FOOD; Sunday, August 23, 2009, 9am to 5pm.
Community Recreation Center, 120 E. Oak St. Addison , IL . 60101 ( Community Park , one block North-East of Addison Road & Lake Street in Addison )
http://www.addisonparkdistrict.org/community_park.html
Directional Map
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=120%20E%20Oak%20St&city=Addison&state=IL&zipcode=60101%2d2811&country=US&title=120%20E%20Oak%20St%20Addison%2c%20IL%2060101%2d2811%2c%20US&cid=lfmaplink2

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=120+oak+street+addison+il+60101&safe=images&um=1&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=us&ei=4ciNSpHvJZC2MPDcza8K&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1

Kabaddi, Volleyball, Soccer, Athletics, Musical Chairs, Bhangra Aerobics,
Yoga, Kid's events, & much more.
PCS Kabaddi Cup First Prize $3100, Second Prize $1100,
PCS Volleyball, Basketball & Soccer Cup First Prize $500

Free entry. Free Breakfast and Lunch. Ample Parking. Family Style Fun. All day Sports Festival.

PCS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Saturday August 22, 2009, 9 am to 5 pm
Community Recreation Center, 120 E. Oak St. Addison , IL . 60101
( Community Park , one block North-East of Addison Road & Lake Street in Addison )
http://www.addisonparkdistrict.org/community_park.html

For more information, Please Contact:
PCS hotline 847-359-5PCS,
Ronny S. Kular 312-318-4426,
Surinder S. Sangha 847-532-0610,
Bhinder S. Pamma 847-361-3579
or any PCS official.

For further information please contact:
PUNJABI CULTURAL SOCIETY of CHICAGO ,
P.O. Box 1244 , Palatine, IL 60078
Ph: 847-359-5727, Fax: 847-359-1107
e-mail to info@PCSChicago.org
PCS website www.PCSChicago.org

uploaded(as per mail received from PCS Chicago)by :
SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

How-to CDs, clinics to get the turban right

How-to CDs, clinics to get the turban right
Supriya Bhardwaj, TNN 19 August 2009, 03:24am IST

CHANDIGARH: Just how serious is the threat to the Sikh turban from the community’s youth, increasingly at odds with the headgear? Pretty grave, it
seems.

Worried at the trend of Sikh boys shorn of long hair and sans turban, the Akaal Purkh Ki Fauj (APKF), literally meaning ‘army of God’ and with its international headquarters in Malaysia, has decided to open 100 ‘‘turban clinics across India within the next six months. The organization, which swears by technology but harps on tradition, will have experts in these clinics teaching people how to tie the ‘pagri’ in a variety of styles.

Not just that, it will also distribute CDs of ‘Turban Tutor’, a software that helps people learn techniques at home, and ‘Smart Turban’, another software that wraps in 32 different turban styles, which members have developed themselves.

‘‘It’s an emergency situation,’’ said Jaswinder Singh Advocate, SGPC member and director of the Turban Pride Movement (under the APKF umbrella). ‘‘By April 13, 2010, we plan to set up 100 turban clinics across the country. The intention is to motivate Sikh youngsters and kids to take pride in the turban. CDs of Turban Tutor and Smart Turban will be distributed free of cost to people walking into the clinics,’’ he said.

Advocate added that the clinics will also pass on lessons in hair care management. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the apex body of Sikhs, has also put its weight behind the project. SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said, ‘‘The turban is an integral part of a Sikh’s life. We need innovative techniques to motivate our youngsters and we will support this effort wholeheartedly. It is worrisome the way turbans are vanishing’’.

The APKF, with 80,000 members world wide, said it would do everything to make the mission a success. ‘‘The situation is quite bleak, Advocate said.

The first turban clinic was launched in Amritsar in 2006 on an experimental basis. But now branches are ready to be opened at a string of towns and cities.

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/How-to-CDs-clinics-to-get-the-turban-right/articleshow/4908733.cms

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

Sikhs are much adored in Pakistan

Sikhs are much adored in Pakistan
Ajay Bharadwaj / DNAWednesday,
August 19, 2009 2:14 IST

Lahore: There is a curious liking for Sikhs in Lahore. The moment locals see a Sikh, they warmly greet him "satsrikaal sardarji" and go out of the way to enquire about his health. Shopkeepers even feel embarrassed taking money from Sikh customers.

In a city where there are just seven Sikh families, they stand out with their turbans and flowing beard. "It's their exotic look that perhaps attracts people here," says Zaheer Hussain, a research scholar. Hussain feels Sikhs also have a lot in common with local Muslims. There are more than a dozen sub-castes that the Sikhs share with the people here. "For instance, if you have Sidhus, Randhawas, Virks and Bhattis among the Sikhs, you have them among the Muslims as well. As a result, locals feel an immediate affinity," Hussain says.

Amritsar and Lahore were known as the twin cities before the Partition. If Lahore was the cultural capital of pre-Partition Punjab, Amritsar was its business capital.

Ashraf Ali, a businessman, however, feels Sikhs are liked here for a historic reason. "We feel that in India both the Sikhs and the Muslims were not being treated fairly. So, we tend to identify ourselves with them and give them love and affection when they come here," he says.

Many equated the 1984 Operation Bluestar with the demolition of Babri mosque in 1992. They feel persecution by the Hindus binds Muslims and Sikhs.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Evacuee Trust Board announced that more than 25,000 acres of land had been acquired in Nankana Sahib for the proposed Guru Nanak Dev International University. Asam Hashmee, chairman of the board, said a governing body had been constituted to spearhead the project.

with thanks : source : http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_sikhs-are-much-adored-in-pakistan_1283519

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

BBC defends Adil Ray after Sikh comments

BBC defends Adil Ray after Sikh comments
Aug 18, 2009

The BBC Asian Network has defended its 'Breakfast' presenter Adil Ray after he commented on the cancellation of the Gurdas Maan concert over a Kirpan issue.

The comments were made on Adil's show on Thursday 6th August when the programme featured a news bulletin with two stories about Sikhs. One was about the cancellation of a Gurdas Maan concert in Canada, the other about Sikh soldiers joining the Queen's guard in the UK for the first time. Adil talked about both with the newsreader after the bulletin.

The BBC Asian Network said, "We have had a few responses from listeners who thought that he was in some way mocking the Kirpan or Sikhism, or judging the rights and wrong of wearing the Kirpan. That response has led to discussion on some message boards."

The statement further added, "The Asian Network and Adil Ray would like to assure all our listeners that he did not mock the Kirpan or Sikhism. He was expressing surprise at the cancellation of the gig over the Kirpan issue, and then to link the two stories he made a remark about the British Army and whether it would be open-minded enough to let Kirpan wearers in. At no time did he make any judgment about people's faith or the rights and wrongs of wearing the Kirpan.

The Asian Network and Adil Ray welcome the fact that he has listeners of all faiths who enjoy his humour and presentation."

Following the uproar by listeners, the BBC Asian Network has spliced out the remarks from its listen-back service, BBC iPlayer.

Earlier this year, the Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO) Media Monitoring Group expressed concern over the 'Adil Ray Show' after stand-in presenter; Tommy Sandhu made some comments about growing a beard.

with thanks : source : http://media247.co.uk/bizasia/newsarchive/2009/08/bbc_defends_adi.php

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

Manmohan Singh chair to be instituted in PU

Manmohan Singh chair to be instituted in PU
Express News Service
Posted: Aug 17, 2009 at 0213 hrs IST

Chandigarh In a move to honour its alumnus and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Panjab University (PU) has proposed to institute a chair in his name at his former department — the Department of Economics.

The proposal has been approved by the Syndicate and awaits a final nod from the Senate. Even as sources confirm that the proposal is in its preliminary stages, the department says it has not received any communication on the setting up of the new chair.

“It is a matter of prestige for our department to have the chair and once set up, we will have a chance to interact with world-class faculty,” said chairperson of the Economics department, Dr Upinder Sawhney, adding that the department was yet to receive a formal communication on the decision.

This will be the second chair in the university in the name of a prime minister, the earlier one being in the name of Rajiv Gandhi.

The much-coveted Rajiv Gandhi chair was approved by the Ministry of Human Resources and Development in 2005. With the chair lying vacant ever since, the university has not only lost out on the grants, but has also missed out on the massive research projects that could have been undertaken.

The other chairs include Sheikh Baba Farid Chair, Guru Ravi Das Chair of Sant Sahitya Studies, Guru Nanak Sikh Studies Chair and Bhai Veer Singh Chair.

Of these, the Sheikh Baba Farid Chair has been lying vacant since 2003, Bhai Veer Singh Chair since 2004 and Guru Nanak Sikh Studies Chair for almost a decade.

Prabjit Singh, a Fellow at the university, said: “We have taken up the issue of vacant chairs and hope they will be filled soon. The addition of the Dr Manmohan Singh chair is indeed an issue of prestige for the university, and we hope it will help the department develop further.”

with thanks : source : http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/manmohan-singh-chair-to-be-instituted-in-pu/502794/

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

Subscribe SikhsIndia RSS feeds in your mail box

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Adil Ray BBC Asian Network attack on Sikhs

Adil Ray BBC Asian Network attack on Sikhs
Published on Saturday, August 15, 2009 by J Singh

Gurfateh

On Thursday 6th August on the Adil Ray show on the BBC Asian Network, the news had two stories about Sikhs. One was about the cancellation of a Gurdas Maan concert in Canada, the other about Sikh soldiers joining the Queen’s guard in the UK for the first time.

During the talk about the cancellation of the Gurdas Mann Concert Adil came out and said along the lines of “that’s a stupid reason for having a kirpan and do Sikhs really need them?”

This is not the first time Adil has said this and the BBC network not take no action.

Asian network always make it out that he/she other presenters are doing nothing wrong but when it comes to Islam, you see trains and buses get blown up over comments. The Asian network is a government ran and owned station how can they allow comments of such nature, when presenters like Johnathon Ross get banned for making prank phone calls. By the way, There is no recording online as BBC have taken it off ? How convenient !!!!???

To complain please click the link below:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms

with thanks : source : http://sikhsangat.org/2009/08/adil-ray-bbc-asian-network-attack-on-sikhs/

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

On the eve of 15th August

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

White racist youth attacks Sikh cab driver in Australia

by A Kaur

Australia: A taxi driver has described a bizarre, but terrifying, attack by two men wearing Hungry Jack’s bags on their heads in Melbourne’s inner-east.

Vadbhaj Singh, 24, said he picked up the pair on the corner of Bourke and Exhibition Street in the CBD about 4am on Friday, July 24.

Mr Singh said before they got into his taxi, which wasn’t fitted with a protective barrier, the men refused a lift from another cab that had a shield.

After prepaying $20 for the ride, the two men directed Mr Singh to Hollick Street, Richmond.

As one of the offenders stepped out of the car, the other produced scissors and began stabbing at Mr Singh while demanding cash and the car’s GPS device.

“(The attack) appears rather frenzied,” said Victoria Police detective senior constable Dean Higgins.

“He’s kept attacking the driver while he’s been driving.”

“The footage shows the driver putting his hands up to protect himself, but the male at that stage doesn’t seem too concerned.

“He then tried to put a finger in [Mr Singh's] mouth … to stop him from driving.”

Mr Singh’s said his reaction was to start driving toward safety.

“I really wanted to drive to the police station,” he told reporters today.

“I wanted to get onto a busier road because that was a really quiet street, so maybe some others taxi drivers who were passing, maybe they will stop and they will assist me,” Mr Singh said.

“They knew the area very well so that’s why they took me there.

“That was a dead end street which ends with a laneway.”

In an attempt to stop the attack, Mr Singh returned the scissor-wielding man’s $20, but he threw it back into the cab before fleeing without any cash or the GPS.

Police described the robbers as of caucasian appearance, aged in their early to mid-20s.

One was wearing a light coloured button-up shirt, while the other wore a dark-coloured top.

with thanks : source : http://sikhsangat.org/2009/08/white-racist-youth-attacks-sikh-cab-driver-in-australia/

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

GRAVESEND: Sikh community defends decision to sell temple for demolition

7:00am Friday 14th August 2009

By Michael Purton

A SIKH community leader has defended its decision to sell a 137-year-old temple for demolition after criticism from a campaign group.

Last month Gravesham Council gave developer Thamesview Living permission to demolish the Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, Clarence Place, Gravesend, and replace it with 19 flats and two houses.

The Gurdwara Management Committee decided to sell the building to the developer for £3.1m to raise money for the new £11m temple it is constructing in Khalsa Avenue.

SAVE, which campaigns to preserve historic British buildings, is set to call for a judicial review into the council’s decision to allow the demolition of the temple.

Director William Palin said: “Although unlisted, this fine building, dating from 1872, is in a conservation area and in good condition.

“SAVE believes the council failed to pay proper attention to national heritage guidelines for the demolition of buildings within conservation areas.

“The motive for demolition seems to be purely financial and there is little evidence the feasibility of other uses have been seriously investigated.”

However, Gurdwara Management Committee general secretary Narinder Singh says it had been trying to sell the building for re-use for two years before accepting Thamesview Living’s offer.

The 56-year-old said: “The Sikh community wants to finish building the new temple and needs the money from the sale of the old Gurdwara.”

When deciding to permit the sale, the council’s regulatory board concluded the temple was in a state of disrepair and unlikely to attract a buyer who wanted to use the building.

In response to SAVE’s threat of legal action, board chairman Councillor Harold Craske said: “In my view the regulatory board’s decision was reached correctly.

“On the night we considered everything before us, all the officers reports and objections that had been submitted as well as the opinions of those who addressed the board, and came to our conclusion.”

- The temple in Clarence Place was designed by renowned architect Sir John Sulman and has been a Sikh temple since 1968.

- In 2000 the Gurdwara Management Committee announced plans to build a new temple in Khalsa Avenue for Gravesend’s 10,000 Sikhs, and building work began in 2002.

- The committee decided the building in Clarence Place would be sold once the Gurdwara in Khalsa Avenue was complete.

- Although originally scheduled to be opened in Spring last year, the new Gurdwara was partially opened for religious services on July 1 this year and is expected to be completed in April next year.

- The Gurdwara Management Committee decided to sell the Clarence Place building to Thamesview Living in May last year.

- Money for the £11m new Gurdwara has been raised through donations from the Sikh community.

For information on the new temple, go to gurunanakdarbar.org

with thanks : source : http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/4544877.GRAVESEND__Sikh_community_defends_decision_to_sell_temple_for_demolition/

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

Sikh student says Thirsty Turtle discriminated against his religion

Sikh student says Thirsty Turtle discriminated against his religion
Ben Slivnick

A Sikh graduate student says Thirsty Turtle denied him service two weeks ago because of the turban that he's religiously obligated to wear.

Ramik Chopra, 26, a master's of business administration student who lives in College Park, wears his turban to work, formal occasions and around the house, but when he showed up at Thirsty Turtle on July 31, he said he was told he couldn't wear it inside the bar.

Chopra said a bouncer appeared to confuse the black turban he was wearing that night with a do-rag and told him the turban violated the bar's dress code.

Chopra said even after he tried to clear up the misunderstanding, the bouncer wouldn't relent: He wouldn't take Chopra's ID, and he wouldn't let Chopra speak with a manager.

"It was really degrading," Chopra said. "I can understand if a person does not know something and he reacts a certain way; I've done that, too. But I'm open to listening and trying to understand other people and changing my opinion. This guy refused to budge."

Kevin Hornberger, a university graduate who was with Chopra that night, confirmed his account.

"I was just sitting there in disbelief," Hornberger said. "It's the 21st century."

Alan Wanuck, owner of Thirsty Turtle, did not return multiple phone calls.

Title II of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prevents public establishments such as Thirsty Turtle from discriminating on the grounds of "race, color, religion or national origin."

In a case similar to Chopra's, the U.S. Justice Department concluded in September 2001 that a Hard Times Cafe in Springfield, Va., could not apply a no-do-rag rule to a turban-wearing Sikh man.

"I can't comment on a case when I don't know all the facts, but in general the law says you can't do that," said Rajdeep Singh Jolly, legal and policy director for the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

But Chopra said it never occurred to him to bring charges against Thirsty Turtle.

He and Hornberger left Thirsty Turtle, ate dinner at Ratsie's and spent the rest of the night at R.J. Bentley's. He said Bentley's bouncer didn't ask him any questions.

"We were upset for the first hour, and we just had a few drinks, and I was fine," Chopra said.

with thanks : source : http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2009/08/13/News/Sikh-Student.Says.Thirsty.Turtle.Discriminated.Against.His.Religion-3754630.shtml

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

Sikhs follow baba’s

Black magic has riddled the Sikh community for decades. No matter what, people are turning to these con artist for advise guidance and a little magic to help resolve all their worldly issues

If your car does not start it must be your past life’s ‘karam’ – wake up it’s a vehicle and sometimes they do brake down. But instead of calling a mechanic they decide to go to the nearest baba, splattered in all the Punjabi newspapers or echoing on the radio adverts.

These babas charge vast amounts of money and lure their victims to part with their hard earned cash, but the ironical part is that often they do manage to resolve some of the issue, even though it may be temporary.

Well their days may be numbered as now, authorities in the east Midlands town of Leicester, better known as 'Little India', have announced a campaign against such 'babas' and 'tantriks', most of whom have origins in the Indian sub-continent.

Deputy Mayor Manjula Sood said: "I have heard of people being asked for 500 pounds and more for prayers or talismans. They think a curse will be placed on them if they refuse. One recently came to Leicester and took a room at a hotel where she charged clients 500 pounds for 10-minute sessions."

Resham Singh Sandhu, chairman of the Sikh Welfare and Cultural Society, said the Sikh community was lobbying newspapers to stop publishing advertisements from such people.

with thanks : source : http://www.emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=6843

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

Thousands of Sikhs visit Vancouver temple for 'miracle' Holy Book

Thousands of Sikhs visit Vancouver temple for 'miracle' Holy Book

By Stuart Hunter, Vancouver ProvinceAugust 12, 2009

VANCOUVER — Sikhs from around British Columbia are flocking to a Vancouver temple to see the "miraculous" Holy Book saved from the Khalsa Elementary School fire.

Many in the 100,000-strong community have visited the Gurdwara Sahib Khalsa Darbar to see the ornate, 1,430-page Siri Guru Granth Sahib, which survived the July 30 arson blaze that destroyed eight of 10 portable classrooms as well as the temple, causing an estimated $1 million in damage.

Despite the carnage, fire crews were able to pluck the Holy Book from one of the burnt-out, smoke-filled portables virtually untouched.

"Some people are saying it is a miracle," said Jasbir Singh Bhatia, principal of all four of the Khalsa schools. "It wasn't touched at all. The firefighters are heroes. A lot of people are going to see it — especially on weekends."

The Holy Book was usually kept overnight in a small, unlocked room in the portable. Each day, a Sikh priest would take it to the temple altar for prayer — but the fire occurred at approximately 7:45 a.m., before the priest arrived.

After the fire was doused, the book of sacred scripture, in poetry form, was carried on the head of a priest to the temple — in keeping with tradition — to safeguard it.

The Holy Book also survived a 2004 fire at the Punjabi private school operated by the Satnam Society. No arrests have been made in connection with the previous blaze.

"This is something very good that has happened to the community — why it happened, nobody knows," said Harinder Singh Sohi, chair of the B.C. Khalsa Darbar Society. "This is the most valuable thing to our community. It is like a living guru."

As priest Bhai Singh Kultar pulled back the book's pristine protective cloth on Wednesday, Khalsa graduate Jasmin Kaur Bassi, 15, called its salvation "a double miracle.

"The sheets weren't even burned and everything else around it was, so it was a miracle," said Bassi, now in Grade 10 at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School.

"A lot of people have come to see it — it is a double miracle."

Police are still looking for witnesses.

© Copyright (c) The Province

with thanks : source : http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Thousands+Sikhs+visit+Vancouver+temple+miracle+Holy+Book/1886562/story.html

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

Rajasthan Sikhs ask for a separate Gurdwara Management committee

August 13th, 2009

AMRITSAR - Close on the heels of the proposal of forming a separate committee for gurdwaras in Haryana, Sikhs in Rajasthan have threatened to intensify their demand for a separate Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee which would attend to the concerns of Sikhs in Rajasthan.

Sikhs in Rajasthan state have told the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the premier body of the Sikhs that if it continued to ignore their interests, they will be compelled to demand the setting up a separate Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee for Rajasthan.

A meet was organised on Wednesday by the five high priests to discuss issues like Haryana Committee, Dera Sachcha Sauda, and complaints regarding the concern of Sikhs in Rajasthan.

Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh , Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh , Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib Giani Tarlochan Singh , Chief Granthi of Golden Temple, Giani Jaswinder Singh, and Granthi of Golden Temple Giani Mal Singh attended the meeting.

A delegation of Sikhs from Rajasthan on Wednesday gave a memorandum to the Jathedar of Akal Takht. Later, it interacted with the media outside the secretariat of Akal Takht.

Voicing the demands for a separate Haryana Committee, Tejinder Singh Timma, General Secretary of the managing committee, Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh of Sriganganagar, said: ” SGPC is not granting any facilities to the Sikhs living in Haryana whereas the Haryana Government has been felicitating the Sikhs of Haryana.”

” However, it could be to woo them for votes,” he added.

Timma pointed out that a member was nominated from amongst the Sikhs from Rajasthan to the SGPC without taking the Sikh Sangat (community) of Rajasthan into confidence.

Moreover, he lamented that the SGPC never took note of the interests of thousands of Sikhs settled in Sriganganagar and other districts of Rajasthan.

“If they continued to do so we will be left with no option but to form our own Gurdwara management committee,” Timma said adding that that Avtar Singh Makkar, the President of SGPC, has initiated a few programs to be organized in Rajasthan after several years.

In a separate news conference, Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar of Akal Takht, on Wednesday stated that the five high priests had condemned the move to set up a separate Gurdwara management body in Haryana.

He alleged that the proposal to establish a separate committee was a ploy to divide the Sikh community.

The Sikh clerics also indicated on continuing their efforts for dissolution of the proposed Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC), in case it was formed at the behest of Haryana’s Congress Government.

Gurbachan Singh said that if there was any resentment amongst the Sikhs of Haryana it could be solved through dialogue and it was an internal matter of Sikhs.

Gurbachan, however, assured the Sikhs from Rajasthan that their all concerns will be conveyed to the SGPC, the premier body of Sikhs who is also responsible for the take care of the historical gurdwaras of Rajasthan. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)

with thanks : source : http://blog.taragana.com/n/rajasthan-sikhs-ask-for-a-separate-gurdwara-management-committee-138453/

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

Sikh women subjected to racist abuse in London

13/08/2009
Sikh women subjected to racist abuse in London

London: A group of Sikh women and children who escaped a burning bus on a British highway last week were subjected to racist abuse by passing motorists, the BBC reported. Sixty-six women and children who worship at a gurdwara in the town of Luton were returning from a day out on the beaches of Weymouth in southern England Friday when their coach caught fire on a highway.

London: A group of Sikh women and children who escaped a burning bus on a British highway last week were subjected to racist abuse by passing motorists, the BBC reported.

Sixty-six women and children who worship at a gurdwara in the town of Luton were returning from a day out on the beaches of Weymouth in southern England Friday when their coach caught fire on a highway.

Helped by an off-duty policeman, all the passengers were evacuated to safety minutes before the double-decker coach exploded in a fireball, melting the tarmac, eyewitnesses said.

"It all happened in seconds. As we were backing away from the coach there was an explosion, and then another one. It was horrific. The whole thing went up in seconds," said one of the women in the coach, Inderjeet Buar.

She said it was amazing that no one was injured in the incident, which took place in the evening.

"We had organised a summer camp at our temple in Luton which was attended by many children. As part of the camp we organised a day out to Weymouth and over 200 people came, travelling on three coaches," the Dorset Echo quoted Buar as saying.

Another woman travelling in the coach said the evacuees were subjected to racist abuse by passing motorists as they stood on the hard shoulder of the highway, wrapped in foil blankets and waiting for another coach to collect them.

Inderjeet Kaur told BBC Television News that some motorists stopped to look and hurl racist abuse.

"They were pointing saying 'go back to the burning bus', and sticking their fingers out," she said.

It took 25 firefighters 90 minutes to put out the blaze, and a spokesman for coach operators said an investigation would be carried out into the cause of fire.

Spokesman Christopher Nice said: "The quick thinking and professionalism shown by our driver enabled all of the 66 passengers onboard to be promptly evacuated from the vehicle and led to a safe location."

Source: Indo-Asian News Service

with thanks : http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3131724

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

Symbols of race hate daubed on Sikh temple

Symbols of race hate daubed on Sikh temple
13 August 2009

Racists have daubed far-Right extremist logos and a swastika on the side of a Sikh temple in Northampton.

The graffiti has appeared on a wall of the gurdwara and ramgarhia centre in Craven Street in The Mounts, and features the letters NF – standing for National Front – and makes offences comments to the Sikh community.

It is thought the damage was caused at some point during the night between Tuesday, August 11 and yesterday morning.

Anjona Roy, chief executive of the Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council, said reports of racist graffiti were on the rise in the county.

She said: "The year before last, this would have been completely unheard of. But we are hearing of this type of racist graffiti, which has political far-Right undertones, more and more often.

"This is a deliberate act, designed to intimidate not just the members of the Sikh community but also other communities living in what is a very diverse part of town.

"There is a synagogue and Muslim prayer centres within a stone's throw of the gurdwara, and this graffiti will have an enormous impact on all of them."

The graffiti has appeared days after what was believed to be a racist fight on The Racecourse.

Paul Varnsverry (Lib Dem, West Hunsbury), Northampton Borough Council's cabinet member for communities, said: "This is completely unacceptable and of course it does not reflect the vast majority of people living in Northampton. Community relations in the town are generally exceptionally good.

"Unfortunately there is a tiny minority of narrow-minded bigots who think this type of expression is acceptable. It is not."

He added the borough council dealt with racist graffiti as "a matter of priority" and vowed offensive messages would be removed within 24 hours of them being reported to the authority.

Paul Crofts, of Northamptonshire West Hate Incident Forum, told the Chronicle & Echo: "In my view, this is a form of terrorism, designed purely to intimidate people of all religions and those of no religion.

"To paint a swastika on a place of worship is despicable."

The temple graffiti had been removed by 3pm yesterday.

with thanks : source : http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Symbols-of-race-hate-daubed.5548902.jp

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

A lifeline for Sikhs in Shanghai

A lifeline for Sikhs in Shanghai
By Bivash Mukherjee

THE gurdwara on Dongbaoxing Road is a south-facing two-story rectangular structure with red-brick walls.

Old documents give an insight into the temple. "There are 19 stairs leading to the entrance of the temple with each step 2 meters wide. An arched wooden door leads to the inside of the building. About 3 to 4 meters from the front door, there are two other arched doors.

"Inside the building, or gurdwara, there is a big hall with the sacred rostrum in the center at the back. There are small long windows at center left and center right. There are five big windows on either side of the sidewalls. Downstairs on the ground floor is the administrative office."

The role of gurdwaras in Sikh history is very significant. They guarded local Sikh interests and looked after the economic welfare of their community, especially during times of crisis. They provided a lifeline - in terms of food and shelter - to the millions of migrating and overseas-based Sikhs.

Tales of the Shanghai gurdwara also find mention elsewhere.

Legendary Indian field hockey player and Olympic gold medalist Dhyan Chand made a brief stopover in Shanghai in 1932 on the way to the Los Angeles Olympics.

In his autobiography "Goal," he says, "The atmosphere in the city was quite tense due to the Sino-Japanese clash.

"We were told to keep within bounds and avoid any trouble spots. We visited a small Sikh temple on the outskirts of the city. The temple had suffered much damage.

"As we came out of the temple, Japanese soldiers eyed us with suspicion," Chand writes.

with thanks : source : http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200908/20090812/article_410414.htm

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

Sikh soldiers to guard Queen Elizabeth - ll - Video show

With thanks : Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videoshow/4844546.cms

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal