The Punjabi student, Narinder Singh Kapany, is known as the father of fiber optics.

With Heading :

FATHER OF FIBRE OPTICS EXPLAINS HOW IT BAGAN
David Perlman, Chronicle Science Editor

The vandals who slashed fiber-optic cables, leaving thousands of South Bay residents without phone and Internet service Thursday, struck at one of the most critical elements of America's vast communication network.

People who talk to each other across a city or a nation - or do business locally or around the world, or seek electronic home entertainment from anywhere - depend on slender bundles of glass fibers, thinner than a human hair, that carry signals or images at nearly the speed of light.

"It really is a miraculous technology, and the Internet couldn't exist in its present form without it," said Joseph Kahn, a Stanford professor of electrical engineering and one of the nation's leading specialists in optical fiber transmission.

The miracle began nearly 60 years ago when a Punjabi university student who now lives in Palo Alto challenged his Indian professor's dogma and set off on his own voyage of discovery that led him to pioneer the science and technology of fiber optics.

Today's fiber-optic cables are bundles of dozens of single hair-thin strands, each fiber made of highly purified glass - often pure silica - and coated in a cladding of impure glass that holds light beams inside. A single cable, about 4 inches thick, has the capability to hold dozens of fibers, which can carry pulses of light signals as far as 200 miles - either curving or in a straight line - at about two-thirds the speed of light. Inside each fiber, the light's "message" is reflected again and again at an angle against the fiber's wall as it travels along, Kahn said.

For long-distance communication, relay stations, known as optical amplifiers, are located every 50 to 60 miles to boost the light signals until they reach the end of their voyage - a phone company, a high-speed Internet connection, or a doctor's instrument probing a patient's throat.

The Punjabi student, Narinder Singh Kapany, is known as the father of fiber optics.

On Friday, Kapany, now 80, explained how it all began.

"I was just a precocious kid taking a college physics course when one day the professor told us that light 'always travels in a straight line,' " he recalled. "But that can't be true, I thought - it must be bent sometimes."

So he continued thinking about light as he went on with his physics studies, he said.

"And when I won a Royal Society fellowship for advanced study in optics at the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London," Kapany said, "I really understood the principle we now call the total reflection of light - the principle of fiber optics that let me to experiment with light beams inside bent glass tubes."

Initially, he said, he thought only of medical applications, such as the kind of fiber-optic tubes that allow physicians peer into human organs.

"Only later did I realize that a fiber-optic cable could carry light for many miles - and so it can," he said.

Kapany founded a company called Optics Technology Inc. One of its directors was the late Luis Alvarez, the UC Berkeley Nobel Prize-winning physicist.

The company succeeded, as did others, and now he calls himself a "man of changed priorities." These include teaching at Stanford, UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz.

At UC Santa Cruz, Kapany has endowed a chair in optical electronics, and at UC Santa Barbara, a chair in Sikh Studies. He has also financed the collection of Sikh art at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, and leads international activities on behalf of the Sikh community - his own tradition.

with thanks source : http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/11/MNGD170HIH.DTL

pics with thanks from : sikhnet.com

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Forgotten legacy of the Sikhs

Sikh military police in Kota Baru. The photograph was
published in W. A. Graham’s Kelantan – a State of the
Malay Peninsular in 1908.

ABOUT three weeks ago, hundreds of Penangites and tourists attended a celebration within the historic premises of Fort Cornwallis, the oldest existing man-made site in Penang, to commemorate the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi.

Lost to most people, however, was one particular cultural significance of the site. It was here, soon after the British built the fort in 1786, that the country’s first gurdwara or Sikh temple was housed, for Sikh paramilitary personnel stationed in Penang.

Today, the fort still stands but the temple is no longer there. It made way when the government decided to give away a piece of veterinary land on Brick Kiln Road (now Jalan Gurdwara) for the construction of a bigger temple in 1899, which still stands. The new building was the largest Sikh temple in Southeast Asia at that time.

Like the little-known historic implication of Fort Cornwallis to the Sikhs and the heritage of Penang, there are many other rich facts of the community’s legacy that have become buried by the sands of time.

About two years ago, I chanced to meet historian Malkiat Singh Lopo, to review his novel The Enchanting Prison. Set in Malaya during the early part of the 1900s, Lopo’s work poignantly chronicles the early hardships, predicaments and successes of the Sikhs who, like other communities, helped propel the nation into the modern industrialised land it is today.

The early Sikh community had in fact produced a string of prolific writers. In one book, Maha Jang Europe (Great European War) 1914-1918AD, writer Havildar (Sgt) Nand Singh vividly described the daring exploits of the Malay States Guides (MSG) in Aden when they fought the Turkish forces.

The MSG, a body of local Indian troops which formed Malaya’s own regiment, was based in Taiping. In 1873, the Orang Kaya Mantri of Larut, Dato’ Ngah Ibrahim, was worried about rivalry between Ghee Hin and Hai San Chinese clans in the tin-mining region, and wanted fighting men from Punjab to maintain law and order. He consulted Capt T. Speedy who formed the 1st Battalion Perak Sikhs, which originally comprised 110 men of Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims. This battalion became the MSG in 1896.

When the MSG was disbanded, the Singh Sabha, a registered local Sikh society, convinced the British resident that the holy temple, the gurdwara, within the Taiping army compound belonged to the Sikhs and not the military.

Once the resident was agreeable, the sabha performed an incredible feat of dismantling the building and re-erecting it almost intact on the present site granted by the government near the railway station. The building is today called the Gurdwara Sahib Taiping.

Malaya was the first foreign country that people from Punjab in India, where the majority of Sikhs live, migrated to. Most of these early migrants were needed by the British colonial government.

While many belonged to the army and police, a steady stream of other occupations also grew – milkmen, cattle farmers, guards, craftsmen and tailors.

The community has left many anecdotes of its legacy. For example, as Sikh populations on the peninsula rose, a unique service established itself in railway towns like Taiping, Kuala Kangsar, and Tanjung Malim where trains would stop for a while. It became a common sight to see Sikh men with milk churns standing on the railway platforms, giving away free warm milk to travellers.

But perhaps the most quaint imprint of the Sikhs lies today in George Town’s magnificent Chinese clan temple of the Khoo Kongsi. As one ascends the steps of the temple, it is difficult not to notice a pair of statues carved out of granite as if welcoming visitors.

The two figures of Sikh guards stand imposingly on the ornate pavilion of the century-old complex. The sight of turbaned Indians being featured prominently at the entrance of a Chinese Fuchien temple may seem jarring.

But not so if one knew the legacy left by the great Sikhs of India in multicultural Penang.

“Sikhs were employed as reliable guards in the old days,” explains researcher Yong Check Yoon who has done a detailed study of the complex.

“And so to post them permanently ‘guarding’ the temple, the Khoo clansmen had two statues of the Sikh sentinels made to ‘guard’ the prayer pavilion.”

The two guards today form a small but fascinating cultural feature among the many communities that have come together to make the great kaleidoscope of our nation.

Himanshu is theSun’s Penang bureau chief.

with thanks : source : http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=33148

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Police develop bullet-proof turbans for Sikh officers

Police develop bullet-proof turbans for Sikh officers
Scientists are developing bullet-proof turbans so Sikh officers can work as armed police

Sikhs are currently barred from becoming firearms or riot police because their religion does not allow them to remove their turbans to put on protective headgear.

But scientists are now working on developing a turban made from Kevlar-like material to protect their heads from gunshots.Thare more than 2,000 Sikh police officers and staff in the UK as well as a recently formed British Police Sikh Association.

"Sikh officers have been prohibited from becoming firearms officers because our religion does not allow us to remove the turban," said Inspector Gian Singh Chahal, from Kent Police and vice chairman of the BPSA.

"Nor can we wear the NATO helmet for public order policing.

"We need to approach the Home Office and police forces and to gain their acceptance so that Sikh officers could become firearms and public order officers whilst wearing turbans.

"I think there needs to be a recognition from the Home Office that would allow Sikh officers to carry out these roles. I think the will is there from chief constables but perhaps not yet from the Home Office."

He said research had already begun into finding the perfect material to use for the creating a ballistic turban, but that the head-wear would need to pass Home Office tests before it could be given to officers.

Last year West Midlands Police spent tens of thousands of pounds trying to find protective headgear to fit over a turban after a Sikh officer applied to join the counter-terrorist Operational Support Unit.

A Home Office spokesman said today (Thurs): "The Government wants a police service that reflects the diverse communities it serves.

"It is down to individual forces to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate the religion or beliefs of individual officers, as far as operational requirements permit."

with thanks : source : www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/5291890/Police-develop-bullet-proof-turbans-for-Sikh-officers.html

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Labour launches Sikh Friends

Labour launches Sikh Friends
Tue, May 05, 2009 12:10:17

A new group to forge links between the Sikh community and the Labour Party was by Sikh MP Parmjit Dhanda and Labour Party Vice Chair for Faith Groups, Stephen Timms MP.

‘Sikh Friends of Labour’ was launched in Parliament on Thursday 30th April at a celebration event timed to coincide with Vaisakhi, the festival which celebrates the founding of the Sikh nation.

The new group has been formed by Sikhs and MPs from across the country and will provide a platform for Sikhs to come together to share their views and have their voices heard in the Labour Party.

Parmjit Dhanda MP said: “The Sikh community has made an invaluable contribution to British life.I am proud of my Sikh heritage and I know that many Sikhs would value the opportunity to work closely with the Labour Party on the issues that matter to them.Sikh Friends of Labour will provide an important forum for UK Sikhs to have their voices heard not only in the Labour Party but also in the very heart of government.”

Stephen Timms MP said:“We in the Labour Party need to do all we can to reach out to Sikh communities in Britain. I know that many Sikhs are passionate about what Labour stands for and see parallels between the Sikh value of Sewa and the values that underpin the Labour Party.

I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make Sikh Friends of Labour a reality. I hope the group will thrive for many years to come.”

Lord King said “We should not forget that Labour was the political party that opened its doors to us, allowing us to look at politics as careers

“Today there is a need for young people to consider joining the Labour party as it has so many trends that are in keeping with Sikh virtues”

Harriet Harman, Minister for women also joined the fifty Sikh men and women who attended the launch

Parmjit Dhanda’s proud parents were also at the launch as were Rob Narris MP. Fiona McTaggart MP and hopeful candidates for the European Elections Sukhjit Dhaliwal and Rajinder Singh.

with thanks : Source : http://www.emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=4903

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Rahul woos Sikhs, farmers

Rahul woos Sikhs, farmers
Sanjeev Chopra
Posted: May 06, 2009 at 0103 hrs IST

Barnala Plays the ‘Manmohan card’, terms BJP elitist, talks of inclusive growth
Taking on the opposition for its labelling of Manmohan Singh as a “weak” prime minister, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today said that he is yet to meet a Sikh who could be termed weak.

Starting his speech with a ‘Sat Sri Akal, Rahul said, “A Sikh can never be weak, I am yet to see one,” at a well-attended rally in favour of Vijay Inder Singla, party candidate from the Sangrur seat.

He, however, conveniently bypassed the controversial issue of CBI clean chit to accused in the anti-Sikh riots case. Only yesterday, at a rally here, top BJP and SAD leaders had slammed questioned Manmohan for his role in the Sikh massacre of1984.

He also charged the BJP with being elitist, saying, “The BJP slogan of ‘India Shining’ in 2004 talked only about the elite classes and not the poor, the farmers, villagers and tribals, who form the majority of our nation.”

“The Congress will ensure that speedy development takes place in the country, in which everyone has a share,” he added.

In addition to playing the Manmohan card to woo Sikhs, Rahul also looked to woo farmers, traditionally seen as the Akali votebank in Punjab. “While Sikhs like Manmohan Singh have held the nation’s head high in the world, farmers are the backbone of the nation and we cannot ignore them,” he said, while harping on the 70,000-crore farm loan-waiver by the UPA.

Earlier, Rahul was given a roaring welcome by Congress leaders and supporters at the rally. Accompanied by former Youth Congress chief and Haryana minister Randeep Surjewala, Rahul was seated with CLP leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, PPCC president Lal Singh and Congress nominee Singla. Barnala MLA Kewal Dhillon was the first to address the gathering.

Bhattal and Lal Singh assured Rahul of putting all the 13 seats in the Congress kitty, while Singla urged the public to lend support “in this battle against those who have done nothing for the common man”.

Thumbs down
Singla honoured Rahul with a sword on his coming to Barnala. But as party leaders jostled for space to fit into the frame, the photo-op frenzy resulted in Rahul hurting his thumb.

In family tradition
Following family tradition, Rahul broke off his security cordon to mingle with the masses. Some shook his hand and many even hugged him. Those older greeted him with folded hands and gave him their blessings.

Glimpse hungry
Those unable to see the Gandhi scion up close started making roaring noises and settled down only after Singla requested them to, with folded hands, repeatedly.

with thanks : source : http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/rahul-woos-sikhs-farmers/455023/

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Pak: Sikhs take shelter in Punja Sahib Gurudwara

Published by: Deepak Rana
Published: Tue, 05 May 2009 at 13:32 IST

Punja Sahib: Thousands of Sikhs and Hindus have taken shelter in Hasan Abdal's Gurudwara at Punja Sahib Gurdudwara in Punjab Province after violence in Buner and Swat region.

These people have left behind their properties and jobs in the wake of the gunbattle between security forces and Talibani militants. These migrants bear the pain of leaving their ancestral properties, jobs and place but they are hopul that sooner or later they will be able to return to their homes.

According to the officials of the Gurudwara, there are over 12000 migrants which also comprise Muslims families.

The Sikhs families were forced to leave their homes after they were forced to pay Jajia tax failing which Taliban have threatened dire consequences.

After the Talibani diktat the members of the Sikh Community have taken shelter in Punja Sahib Gurudwara.

with thanks : source : http://www.samaylive.com/news/pak-sikhs-take-shelter-in-punja-sahib-gurudwara/623986.html

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Ancient but deadly: the return of shastar vidiya

Ancient but deadly: the return of shastar vidiya

Banned by the Raj, the world's original martial art is being revived by British Asians. Jerome Taylor reports.

In a fluorescent-lit sports gymnasium at a sprawling sixth-form college in Hounslow, west London, three turbaned Sikh warriors are frantically battling each other with razor-sharp swords. Draped in flowing blue robes and sporting chest-length beards, the three men cavort, twist and counter-attack each other in a blur of clashing blades and skilled confusion.


Watched by scores of eagle-eyed students, the two younger combatants use elegant curved swords and small circular shields to attack a taller and older man who is armed with a long double-edged blade and a simple dagger. Each time his opponents bring their weapons down, the lone warrior nimbly dodges the blow by sidestepping away or deflecting it back on to one of his opponents.

Please read full news at :http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/ancient-but-deadly-the-return-of-shastar-vidiya-1679002.html

with thanks

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Recognise him if you can ?

Revealed - First look of ROCKET SINGH!


Recently Bollywood's hottest hunk Ranbir Kapoor was spotted in his new look with thick beard & spectacles, when he had come to cast his vote on Election Day. And it was held that this new look of Ranbir's is for his forthcoming Yash Raj Film ROCKET SINGH directed by CHAK DE fame Shimit Amin.

Now the makers have come up with the first look of the movie ROCKET SINGH - SALESMAN OF THE YEAR where Ranbir is seen donning the get-up of a Sikh. Apparently Ranbir plays the lead role of the salesman in the film.

The film marks the coming together once again of the CHAK DE INDIA Director/Writer combination of Shimit Amin & Jaideep Sahni in a funny & exhilarating coming off age movie, set in the new Indian economy.

This YRF movie which went on floors on 2nd May 2009 is all set to release by December 2009.

with thanks : source : http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/09/may/05-first-look-rocket-singh-050906.asp

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BJP fighting a lonely battle in Punjab

Punjab Newsline Network
Saturday, 02 May 2009
CHANDIGARH: While Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) in Punjab are fighting for prestige, the BJP alliance partner of SAD is fighting its own battle against Congress, a lonely battle indeed.

BJP is contesting on three seats while its major alliance partner SAD is contesting on 10 seats. The cracks in alliance had appeared much before the announcement of Lok Sabha elections but differences were pushed under wrap for political convinience of both the parties. The wedge however has re-appeared sooner than later, the leaders of SAD and BJP most of the time are not attending political rallies of each other.

BJP has fielded crickter Navjot Singh Sidhu from Amritsar, Film star Vinod Khanna from Gurdaspur and a bureacrat Som Nath from Hoshiarpur reserve seat.

The fate of alliance can be gauzed from the fact that Bikranjit Singh Majithia former SAD minister who was made incharge of Amritsar Lok Sabha seat had skipped from there is campaigning in Bathinda for his sister, married to deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. SAD has put prestige of the family at stake in Bathinda. The SAD had la few days back conducted meeting of core committee of SAD-BJP to sort out differences between SAD and BJP leaders of Bathinda.

The presence of BJP leaders in Akali meetings and vice versa is only cosmetic in major functions. Even the SAD and BJP had held separate protest rallies in Amritsar on the issue of giving Congress tickets to Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, both accused in Delhi anti-Sikh riots case.

The advertisement campaign launched by SAD has further exposed the chinks in SAD-BJP relations. The state BJP leaders were not given any space though L.K.Advani Prime Ministrial candidate of NDA has been pasted in a a corner of publiocity posters to show symbolic presence of a BJP leader.

A senior BJP leader said that they have been fighting alone on all the three seats as most of the Akali leaders have rushed to Bathinda to convass for Badal's daughter-in-law. The Youth Akali Dal president of Gurdaspur district Harjit Singh camping in Bathinda during recent visit told The Pioneer that Youth Akali leaders from other districts would also reach there. "If BJP is facing defeat, what we can do", he said while accompanying Badal during campaigning in Bathinda.

with thanks : source : http://www.punjabnewsline.com

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PM doing little to protect Pak Sikhs: Modi

PM doing little to protect Pak Sikhs: Modi
4 May 2009, 0253 hrs IST, Manveer Saini, TNN


AMBALA: With the Gujarat election phase successfully behind him and the hot election season entering the penultimate stage, BJP's star campaigner and chief minister Narendra Modi raised the political rhetoric a few notches as he hit the campaign trail in Haryana on Sunday. Flagging the attack on Sikhs in Pakistan to target Manmohan Singh, Modi said the prime minister, being a Sikh, should have done something to protect the interests of the minority community there.

In his first poll rally in the state during these parliamentary elections, Modi kept up his diatribe against the PM, saying he was a "total failure" as prime minister and had failed to protect the interest of his community in the neighbouring country where it was being forced to pay jaziya (tax on minorities) by the Taliban. "He remained mum over the issue of terrorist attacks in Mumbai. But now, not only as a prime minister but also as a Sikh he must make his stand clear on atrocities inflicted on Pakistani Sikhs."

In his near 45-minute address at the rally, which saw a handsome turnout, organized in support of BJP candidate Ratan Lal Kataria at the Gandhi Grounds, the senior party campaigner claimed that a number of UPA leaders were not in favour of projecting Manmohan Singh for the top job. "He is merely the choice of SRP (Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka), which is the internal unit of Congress party. As far as Advaniji's remark is concerned, it does not refer to the state of his physical fitness, but of his tenure as prime minister. In fact, he has belittled the stature of PMO."

Using the inflation, internal security and development cards to flog the opposition with, the Gujarat CM claimed, "NDA is the only alternate before the masses". He exhorted his audience to "react to the unprecedented inflation just as you had done during the last elections, when onion prices had shot up massively."

Nearer home, he took a jab at incumbent MP Kumari Selja and chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, saying, "They have failed to revive the industry, especially Pinjore-based HMT. Today, half of Haryana lives in Gujarat because of the availability of jobs and business opportunities there. If the BJP can revive PSUs (public sector units) of Gujarat in six months, we can revive the same as well. All one needs is intention, which, clearly, the Congress is lacking."

The BJP leader later left for Sonepat to campaign for another party candidate - Kishan Singh Sangwan.

with thanks : Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/PM-failed-to-protect-Pak-Sikhs-Modi/articleshow/4479239.cms

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LEGALLY SPEAKING: When will anti-Sikh riot victims get justice?

LEGALLY SPEAKING: When will anti-Sikh riot victims get justice?
4 May 2009, 0221 hrs IST, Dhananjay Mahapatra

"Right from the inception of the judicial system, it has been accepted that discovery, vindication and establishment of truth are the main purposes
underlying the existence of the courts of justice." The Supreme Court made this the cornerstone of its recent judgment directing fast-tracking of trials in key Gujarat riot cases.

This followed its earlier order asking the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged roles of chief minister Narendra Modi and many others, then at the helm of affairs, in presiding over the 2002 communal pogrom.

In the judgment ordering day-to-day trial in Gujarat riot cases, Justice Arijit Pasayat noticed a disturbing phenomenon taking root in the minds of general public, which was nicely put by Jonathan Swift in his `Essay on the Faculties of Mind' -- "Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through."

Because of the continuous monitoring of the Gujarat riot cases by the SC, the alleged perpetrators are all set to face trial. But, can the same be said of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases? Have the `wasps and hornets', who after the assassination of Indira Gandhi organised mobs to butcher innocent Sikhs in broad daylight, broken through the judicial cobwebs weakened by the shoddy probe and prosecution.

Rajiv Gandhi, who took over as prime minister, was possibly caught unawares about the pogrom unleashed by the wasps and hornets who stung repeatedly till those at the helm of affairs finally called the Army, but not before allowing the dance of death to continue for full two days in November 1984.

The sentiments of Sikhs, cowering under the ferocity of the communal riot, dipped further when Rajiv, again unaware of the consequences of his statement, said, "When a mighty tree falls, it is only natural that the earth around it does shake a little."

Whether the earth shook or not, one thing is sure -- the families of victims are still, nearly 25 years later, awaiting a little shaking of the justice delivery system to bring to book the `wasps and hornets'.

The first of the nine Commissions of Inquiry that probed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots was headed by Justice Ranganath Mishra, who later became a member of Parliament. Justice Mishra conducted proceedings away from the media glare in closed rooms. His report, made public six months after it was submitted, found none guilty. The last one, headed by Justice G T Nanavati, pointed a needle of suspicion against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, who recently got a clean chit from the CBI.

After a quarter of a century, can something be done now to bring perpetrators of anti-Sikh riots, the brutality of which was matched by the communal mob in 2002 in Gujarat, to justice?

Justice Pasayat quoted a 1846 judgment of one of the most respected English judges, Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce, who had said, "Truth, like all other good things, may be loved unwisely, may be pursued too keenly, may cost too much."

But, is the nation not ready to pay every cost to wipe off a sense of betrayal from a generation by bringing to book the wasps and hornets? Can the Supreme Court help? Can it use the Gujarat experience as a judicial yardstick to provide complete justice?

with thanks: Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/LEGALLY-SPEAKING-When-will-anti-Sikh-riot-victims-get-justice/articleshow/4479397.cms

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