Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Camp Miri Piri Pre-Reg. 2 Weeks Away!

Camp Miri Piri Pre-Reg. 2 Weeks Away!
By : Gurumustuk Singh

Time is flying by and the summer is in sight! Camp Miri Piri pre-registration date is only two weeks away! Don’t let this awesome event/retreat pass you by. If you have been thinking about coming, stop thinking and just make it happen! Give yourself this time to feed your soul and recharge yourself. You deserve it!

Register for the camp online at: http://www.sikhnet.com/campmiripiri/

People from United Kingdom, USA, India and Canada have already registered for Camp Miri Piri. Come join us!

* Registration price goes up from $199 to $250 after May 1st. We need to make arrangements for all the participants so it is important to know how many people will attend. For this reason we need people to register as early as possible.

with thanks : http://www.mrsikhnet.com

Sikh families leave Orakzai after Taliban demand jizia

Sikh families leave Orakzai after Taliban demand jizia

By Abdul Saboor Khan

HANGU: Sikh families living in Orakzai Agency have left the agency after the Taliban demanded Rs 50 million as jizia (tax) from them, official sources and locals said on Tuesday.

Residents of Ferozekhel area in Lower Orakzai Agency told Daily Times on Tuesday that around 10 Sikh families left the agency after the demand by the Taliban, who said they were a minority and liable to pay the tax for living in the area in accordance with sharia.

Locals said the Taliban had notified the Sikh families about the ‘tax’ around a week ago. They said of the 15 Sikh families in Ferozekhel, 10 had shifted while the remaining were preparing to do so.

The locals said the families were impoverished and had left the area to avoid any Taliban action.

with thanks : www.dailytimes.com.pk

NY hospital cuts Sikh's beard, pays $20,000 in damages

NY hospital cuts Sikh's beard, pays $20,000 in damages
15 Apr 2009, 0515 hrs IST, PTI

NEW YORK: A New York hospital's staff negligently shaved an elderly Sikh patient's beard, eyebrows and moustache a month before his death, resulting in a lawsuit from his family which received $20,000 in compensation.

The Westchester County Healthcare paid the amount in an out-of-the-court settlement with the family of Pyara Singh Sahansra, who was suffering from Azheimer's disease, the US-based community organization United Sikhs said in a statement on Monday.

Sahansra's family had previously spoken with the hospital staff about Sikhs' religious practice of keeping long hair and had also placed signs on the patient's bed to remind them when he was in the long term care of the medical facility in 2007.

The hospital removed the signs stating that they were not allowed, but assured the family that Sahansra's hair would not be cut.

A new nurse, who was unaware of the situation, cut Sahansra's beard, eyebrows and moustache, "violating his deeply held religious principles," the statement said. The patient died over a month after the incident that occurred in June 2007.

In the final settlement with the patient's family, the hospital paid $20,000 in compensation, which also included a provision for training of the facility's employees on Sikh patients' care.

Pyara Singh Sahansra's son Upinderjit said, "My father was a devout Sikh and we all experienced a shock when his kesh were cut by the nurse."

with thanks : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Indians-Abroad/Hospital-cuts-Sikhs-beard-pays-damages/articleshow/4402693.cms

Armed men occupy Sikhs' homes in Pak's Aurakzai region

Islamabad , Apr 15 Armed militants have occupied four homes of members of the minority Sikh community in Pakistan&aposs restive Aurakzai tribal region near the northwestern city of Peshawar, a media report said today.

About 200 armed militants arrived at Qasimkhel village in Aurakzai Agency yesterday and demanded Rs 40 million from the Sikhs, said Galyan Singh, an elder of the minority community.

"We failed to pay the amount and they forced the 38-member Sikh community to vacate houses," Singh told The News daily.

The families that were evicted from their homes have taken refuge in Manikhel area, Singh said.

Local residents of Qasimkhel condemned the incident and said injustice had been done to the Sikhs.

with thanks : Source: PTI
with thanks : http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/549205/International/2/20/2

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Sikh Community's Contribution Is Significant, Says Najib

Sikh Community's Contribution Is Significant, Says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Sikh community's contribution to the history and development of the country is very important and significant, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib said that although the Sikh community was relatively small, in the region of 100,000 people, they had served the country well.

He said they had served as members of the security forces such as in the police and armed forces, in professional fields as doctors and lawyers, and also entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens.

"So I wish to thank the Sikh community for all that they have done (for the country). You have indeed contributed much to the development of Malaysia and I hope you will be with us in future as we develop Malaysia," he said at the Sikh community's Vaisakhi (New Year) celebrations at the Guru Nanak Darbar Tatt Khalsa Diwan Selangor at Jalan Raja Alang here today.

Thanking the Sikh community for the warm welcome, he said he was happy to be able to share the joyous occasion with them. "I have decided to visit you today because I want to show and indicate very clearly that this government stands for all communities...all races and all religions. I want to underscore that I am the leader and I am the Prime Minister for all communities. My presence here is also to recognise the contribution of the Sikh community in the development of Malaysia," he said to applause from the 2,000-odd crowd.

Najib said he introduced the "One Malaysia" concept as he believed that if all Malaysians stood and worked together and be one family and one team, "we can indeed make Malaysia a stronger and more prosperous nation, based on the principles of trust and mutual respect among all communities in Malaysia".

"That is the essence of what One Malaysia is all about," he said.

Najib said Malaysians must break down the barriers between them and must not look at each other on the prism of skin or colour.

"We must help one another. Whether a person comes from whatever community...if the person deserves help, then that person should and must be helped by all of us.

"If we have this attitude, Malaysia will be a much stronger and united nation as we move forward, facing the challenges of the 21st century," he said.

Najib said he only informed the hosts yesterday evening about his visit because he did not want all the pomp.

"Because I don't want all the pomp...I don't want bunga manggar. I just want to be one of you in a natural way to see you taking part in your daily activities, so that I can better understand your aspirations and the hopes of the Sikh community and of course all the other communities in Malaysia.

"That is the approach I have intended for this government and for this Cabinet and I hope you will be together with us in the journey of making Malaysia a more prosperous and successful nation," he said.

Najib said he enjoyed the breakfast of Sikh traditional food such as prata, pakoda and barfi (sweets) which he had with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and the Federal Territories Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin and the local community.

Meanwhile, the acting president of the Tatt Khalsa, Rejinder Singh, said the Sikh community was honoured to have the prime minister at their Vaisakhi celebrations.

He said Najib told them to see him or Dr Koh directly if the community have any problems or matters which needed the attention of the government.

"We appreciate this because although we are only a small minority the prime minister has shown concern for us," he said.

Najib is the third prime minister to visit the Tatt Khalsa, after Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-haj and Tun Hussein Onn.

with thanks : Source : Bernama.com

Vaisakhi, Vishu, Puthandu - celebrating the harvest : PM Malaysia

by PM Malaysia.
Vaisakhi, Vishu, Puthandu - Celebrating the harvest
Monday, 13 April 2009

Today reminds me once again of the tremendous value of our diversity. The Sikh community worldwide celebrates the holy festival of Vaisakhi (or Bhaisakhi) today with prayers, singing and dancing, and it is no different in Malaysia. In the day commemorating the founding of this religion, I would like to wish the Sikh community in Malaysia a wonderful and prosperous Vaisakhi and hope that the well-being of Malaysia and its people are in your prayers.

UPDATE: I would be remiss not to acknowledge the various forms of this harvest and new year celebration observed by diverse ethnic groups within the Indian community. As I understand, this auspicious time of year is feted by different names, but the goal remains the same: to pray for a bountiful year and continued prosperity. At the same time, spiritual practices must be coupled with concerted efforts and actions to ensure valuable returns.

Therefore, whether you observe it as Vaisakhi, Vishu, Puthandu or Varusha Pirappu, Rongali Bihu, or Naba Barsha, I wish everyone a wonderful celebration and a rewarding year ahead.

Have a joyous festival!

with Thanks : http://www.1malaysia.com.my

Happy Baisakhi

Sikhs India wishes to all of you a very happy BAISAKHI.

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

Friday, April 10, 2009

Congress drops Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar



NEW DELHI: In the face of mounting controversy over their alleged involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a worried Congress on Thursday

withdrew its controversial leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar from the electoral fray. ( Watch Video)

"Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar have expressed their sentiments that they do not wish to embarrass the party by contesting Lok Sabha elections when some political parties and individuals have tried to vitiate the atmosphere. They have opted out of Lok Sabha elections.

"The party has accepted their feelings and decided that they will not be Lok Sabha candidates of the Indian National Congress," party General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi told reporters shortly after Tytler announced his decision to opt out of the race, PTI reported.

Their replacements will be decided soon, said sources.

The Congress decision comes amid a raging controversy over fielding the two leaders, whose names figured as accused in the 1984 riots, accentuated by the incident of throwing of shoe by a Sikh journalist at home minister P Chidambaram at AICC press conference on Tuesday.

The journalist said he was protesting against the clean chit given by CBI to Tytler in the riots case, an issue on which the agency today told a local court here that it had no jurisdiction to go into. The case has been deferred till April 28.

65-year-old Tytler, who had won thrice from the capital, was announced as party's candidate from the newly-created North-East Delhi seat.

with thanks : timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Matrimonial profiles

Add your matrimonial profile on a sikh web portal with appx. 80,000 hits per month. You can add the profile absolutely free, though a paid option is also there.Please log on to www.sohnijodi.com

Akal Air - experience the difference

The website of Akal Air says :

Akal Air customers will always be treated with respect, due care and consideration and be offered a pleasant flight experience by all Akal Air staff from Check-in, boarding, in-flight through to baggage claim.

We plan to fly to multiple destinations at convenient times to the main airports. Whether customers are airborne or on the ground, Akal Air is focused on ensuring a full service experience.

Akal Air fully intends to provide our customers with safe, value driven, point-to-point air services. We aim to offer a consistent and reliable product and fares appealing to leisure and business markets on a range of International routes.

with thanks : www.akalair.com

Akal Air News : Signs that 2009 will be a much better year than 2008.

Signs that 2009 will be a much better year than 2008.
Despite all the doom and gloom surrounding the credit crunch, airline failures and growing unemployment, some analysts are predicting that 2009 will be a much better year than 2008.

The reasons for these unexpected predictions are based on simple trends:

Oil prices are declining and this trend looks set to continue, reducing the single greatest burden on an airline’s balance sheets. The dollar is also declining, meaning that aviation costs (lease rates, fuel etc.) that are usually expressed in dollars are also declining.

Aircraft are becoming available in the lease market and these are on more reasonable terms, allowing airlines to acquire new aircraft at acceptable prices to service new and growing routes. Charter airlines are being steadily chased out of the short haul market by the low cost carriers, into medium haul routes not explored before. This segmentation of the market will help to stabilise charter operators in the face of fierce competition.

Although distressing, recent airline failures have meant that seat capacity has been significantly reduced, whilst demand has been maintained, meaning that more passengers will be chasing fewer seats.

The message is simple: if an airline can survive the winter of 2008, then it can expect a bumper year in 2009.

with thanks : www.akalair.com