Tue, Jul 21 01:00 PM
Chandigarh, July 21 (IANS) The man from faraway New Zealand who came to Punjab in the 1950s as a Christian missionary but ended up being a globally-reputed historian on Sikhs has passed away. W.H. Mcleod, who dedicated over four decades of his life in researching Sikh history, died in Dunedin Monday night, his wife of 54 years, Margaret, informed friends here.
Mcleod, 77, the son of a sheep-farmer in New Zealand had come to Punjab, the north Indian border province that has a Sikh majority population, as a Christian missionary in 1958. Soon after settling down in Batala town, 40 km from Amritsar, Mcleod found his interest in Christianity waning and was drawn to Sikh history.
'Mcleod played a major role in establishing and popularising the academic study of Sikhism outside India. He leaves behind a body of work on Sikhism which will be a source of reference to the coming generations of Sikh scholars,' Roopinder Singh, author of 'Guru Nanak: his life and teachings' and a senior journalist, told IANS here.
Described by many as an 'unsung success story' who acquired 'global repute' with his work as a historian, Mcleod left New Zealand in 1958 to work as a missionary in northern Punjab. He taught Punjab history at Baring College in Batala town before his interest as a missionary started to fade.
Unimpressed with the existing studies at that time on the 10 Sikh Gurus, Mcleod got immersed in Sikh history and religion and even Punjabi, a language he learnt to speak with ease. He lost all interest and contact with the church as he pursued Sikh history.
'It (his death) is a huge loss to the Sikh community. He always added a fresh perspective to the development and history of the Sikhs as opposed to the traditional view of romanticising it overly,' said Punjab-based author of the book 'Sikhs Unlimited' Khushwant Singh.
Sikhism is one of the youngest religions in the world founded by Guru Nanak Dev (born 1469) in the 15th century. The religion had 10 gurus till the early 18th century. The 10th master, Guru Gobind Singh, ordained that after him the holy book of the Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib, would be the eternal guru.
Mcleod wrote several books, including 'Guru Nanak and Sikh Religion' (translated into Punjabi by Amritsar's Guru Nanak Dev University), 'The Evolution of Sikh Community', 'The Sikhs - History, Religion and Society', 'Sikhs of the Khalsa' and many others. He did his PhD on Sikh history from the University of London.
Some of his books and research came in for criticism from Sikh scholars but there were many who admired his tireless work on Sikhism.
'He became an international authority on the religion, perhaps the best known outside Punjab and India, and the man who has done more to introduce Sikhism to the world outside India than anyone else,' said I.J. Singh, an academic.
'It is because of a few writers, and Hew McLeod above all, that the world has any inkling of Sikhism as an independent religion, with a unique, universal and timeless world view. He brought Sikhism to Western academia,' Singh wrote Tuesday on an international website on Sikhs, www.sikhchic.com.
Jaideep Sarin
with thanks : source : http://in.news.yahoo.com/43/20090721/812/tnl-sikh-historian-from-new-zealand-pass.html
SikhsIndia
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Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Police appeal for Missing Sikh mom
The family of a missing Brampton woman is offering a reward for information leading to her whereabouts.
Poonam Litt was last seen Feb. 5, 2009 at 9 a.m. when she left her family home in the Bramalea road and Bovaird Drive area to go to work.
The 27-year-old, who is the mother of a young child, never arrived to work and hasn't been heard from since.
Litt's husband has helped raise $25,000 and Peel Regional police say it might help investigators generate new tips in the case.
Investigators say they are concerned about the woman's disappearance even though there are no signs of foul play. Poonam 5’4”, 130 lbs., with brown eyes and black, shoulder-length hair, Ms. Litt was last seen wearing a black coat and blue jeans.
"The circumstances surrounding Mrs. Litt's disappearance are disturbing," police said in a news release Wednesday.
"Investigators will not simply close this file," the release says. "Any and all investigative leads will be followed-up on."
A video of the woman has been posted on the file-sharing site You Tube in an English and Pujabi version.
Anyone with information is being asked to call detectives at (905) 453-2121 ext. 2133. Anonymous tips can be left with.
with thanks : http://www.emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=6429
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SAD lodges protest over proposed turban ban in US schools
PTI
20.7.09
Chandigarh , July 20 The Shiromani Akali Dal today lodged a protest with the US against a bill prohibiting teachers from the Sikh community in Oregon State from wearing"religious dress"including turbans to public schools.
In a letter addressed to US Ambassador-designate Timothy Roemer, SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal said that he never expected such a move"from the oldest democracy of the world, that had heralded worldwide movement for personal and religious freedom".
Badal said that on a plea of broadening religious freedom, the bill passed by Oregon legislature and lying on the table of Oregon Governor for assent, would prohibit a teacher from wearing religious dress during performance of her duties.
The SAD President said that the Sikh community had always played a vital role in the progress of US in all fields including the education sector and the proposed law would lead to violation of human rights.
He warned that"singularly targeting Sikhs for this ban"would send a wrong message to the whole world.
Badal hoped that Roemer would apprise his government of the"hurt sentiments"of the Sikh community regarding the proposed ban and expected the federal government to take"necessary corrective measure to spare Sikhs from this blatant discrimination".
with thanks : http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/628098/National/1/20/1
SikhsIndia
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20.7.09
Chandigarh , July 20 The Shiromani Akali Dal today lodged a protest with the US against a bill prohibiting teachers from the Sikh community in Oregon State from wearing"religious dress"including turbans to public schools.
In a letter addressed to US Ambassador-designate Timothy Roemer, SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal said that he never expected such a move"from the oldest democracy of the world, that had heralded worldwide movement for personal and religious freedom".
Badal said that on a plea of broadening religious freedom, the bill passed by Oregon legislature and lying on the table of Oregon Governor for assent, would prohibit a teacher from wearing religious dress during performance of her duties.
The SAD President said that the Sikh community had always played a vital role in the progress of US in all fields including the education sector and the proposed law would lead to violation of human rights.
He warned that"singularly targeting Sikhs for this ban"would send a wrong message to the whole world.
Badal hoped that Roemer would apprise his government of the"hurt sentiments"of the Sikh community regarding the proposed ban and expected the federal government to take"necessary corrective measure to spare Sikhs from this blatant discrimination".
with thanks : http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/628098/National/1/20/1
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Akal Takht asks Sikhs not to carry Guru Granth Sahib in hotels,restaurants
PTI 20.7.09
Amritsar: Jathedar Akal Takht (highest Sikh temporal seat) Gurbachan Singh in an edict issued from Akal Takht directed the Sikh community all over the world not to carry Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh religious and pious scripture) to hotels, restaurants and marriage palaces for any kind of function.
Singh said that most of the time, members of the Sikh community across the world take the copy of Guru Granth Sahib at marriage palaces to solemnized the marriage of Sikh couple as per the Sikh tenets but at the same time they remain failed to give due respect to Guru Granth Sahib, since Guru Granth Sahib was not mere the copy of religious scripture but also living Guru in Sikh community, even Supreme Court in a verdict issued had described Guru Granth Sahib as living Guru.
Singh said that whenever, Granth Saib is carried or shifted from one place to another place that required proper norms and presence of requisite baptized members of Sikh community and other customs.
Singh said that keeping in view the proper respect and care of living Guru (Guru Granth) all the Sikh community all over the world was directed to solemnized marriage functions in Sikh Gurdwaras (Sikh shrine) where Granth Sahib could be placed with due respect as per the Sikh rituals.
Singh said that in marriage palaces and restaurants, it was not possible to give proper respect and care to Guru Granth Sahib, since most of the time non vegan items were cooked which could never be done as per Sikh customs and people forget to remove their foot wears during the wedding occasion in the presence of Granth Sahib.
with thanks : http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=22147
SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal
Amritsar: Jathedar Akal Takht (highest Sikh temporal seat) Gurbachan Singh in an edict issued from Akal Takht directed the Sikh community all over the world not to carry Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh religious and pious scripture) to hotels, restaurants and marriage palaces for any kind of function.
Singh said that most of the time, members of the Sikh community across the world take the copy of Guru Granth Sahib at marriage palaces to solemnized the marriage of Sikh couple as per the Sikh tenets but at the same time they remain failed to give due respect to Guru Granth Sahib, since Guru Granth Sahib was not mere the copy of religious scripture but also living Guru in Sikh community, even Supreme Court in a verdict issued had described Guru Granth Sahib as living Guru.
Singh said that whenever, Granth Saib is carried or shifted from one place to another place that required proper norms and presence of requisite baptized members of Sikh community and other customs.
Singh said that keeping in view the proper respect and care of living Guru (Guru Granth) all the Sikh community all over the world was directed to solemnized marriage functions in Sikh Gurdwaras (Sikh shrine) where Granth Sahib could be placed with due respect as per the Sikh rituals.
Singh said that in marriage palaces and restaurants, it was not possible to give proper respect and care to Guru Granth Sahib, since most of the time non vegan items were cooked which could never be done as per Sikh customs and people forget to remove their foot wears during the wedding occasion in the presence of Granth Sahib.
with thanks : http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=22147
SikhsIndia
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Monday, July 20, 2009
Business deal causes dispute between local Sikhs
By Sabrina Rodriguez, Eyewitness News
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Emotions ran high outside the Guru Nanak Mission of Bakersfield Sunday morning. The Mission is one of four Sikh temples in Bakersfield.
"There's a lot of people over there that as soon as we get in (to the temple) there's going to be a melee and none of us want that," said Mission member Ajaib Gill.
On the "other-side" was Buck Dhesi, who explained why they were there. "We are here to pray at our temple. We've been praying here since 1992. They're trying to bar us," accused Dhesi.
Turns out, it's not a difference in religion or culture that's dividing these groups. "(We) are same the people," said Dhesi. "Punjabi, Sikhs, (we) belong to same religion."
The reason for the dispute appears to be political.
According to long time Bakersfield resident and Sikh Gurcharam Dhillon, two years ago, two of Bakersfield's Sikh temples, Guru Nanak Mission and Sikh Center on Planz Road, got the idea to combine their limited resources and merge into one group. "Thought was what (can we) do together for the benefit of this community. Maybe we can combine these two corporations, " explained Dhillon. "We know each other, we trust each other, we can pray together."
But Dhillon says some people didn't like the merger and that's why the disagreement began. He says a lawsuit has been filed to decide if the merger should stay.
For the most part, the disagreement has been peaceful; but that changed about a month ago when both sides started fighting with each other. According to Dhillon, the violence has been getting worse each week. It not known how bad the violence will get, but both sides agree it needs to stop.
"It hurts," Gill said about the growing conflict and how it's dividing their congregation. "If they want to come back and be a part of this temple I would love it," he said. "Come back and make things the way they were."
Dhillon adds that conflicts should not start at a temple, "That's a place people go to have peace of mind. That's where you go and pray. You don't go there with the intention to fight."
He also says there's another reason for the fighting to stop. "It's not a good image for Sikh community."
Both groups say they will let the court decide whether or not the merger stays in effect, but it's not known the lawsuit will be settled.
with thanks : source : http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/51207037.html
SikhsIndia
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Sunday, July 19, 2009
How to portray Sikhs : Open letter to SGPC & DSGMC
SikhsIndia
19th July, 2009
How to portray Sikhs : Open letter to SGPC & DSGMC
We are really pleased to find the Sikh characters entering into the main stream of Bollywood. It's definitely a positive sign for the community as more & more Bollywood stars are willingly playing the Sikh characters in Indian movies & TV serials.
Sikhism is a most modern, advanced and open minded religion, but with few complexities. Panj kakkars especially the Beards & Turban are the marks of identification of a Sikh. Though like any other religion, Sikhism also has black sheeps, but it does not make any significant effect on the term called Sikhism.
Therefore, if the Bollywood concentrates on those black sheeps & portrays the Sikhs as Trimmers, it’s definitely going to hurt the sentiments of the sikh masses. Bollywood must keep restrain from these trends as being emerged now a days and must portray Sikhs with Full beards, turban and so on in the best possible manner. Another trend being shown on TV channels is of showing the Father with full turban & beards but the son as cut sird with no turban, no beards.Even some Advertisements on TV show the same trends for example KHOTA HAI PAR POTA HAI. Even some of the prominent Punjabi singers who don’t have beard or Turban, use the Khanda just to portray themselves as a Sikh. Just can’t understand that if those singers could not maintain the Saroop given by Guru Gobind Singh ji, why they still show interest in depicting themselves as a sikh.
Therefore, with this open letter to the president Shiromani gurdwara parbandhak committee as well president Delhi sikh gurdwara management committee, we hereby request to make the norms & guidelines to be followed by all the production houses of Bollywood or elsewhere so that there is no controversy as was visible on the release of BOLE SO NIHAL, SINGH IS KING and many others.
with Best regards
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‘How to portray a Sikh? Ask us’
‘How to portray a Sikh? Ask us’
ROSHNI K OLIVERA , TNN 18 July 2009, 12:11am IST
There are a number of films in Bollywood these days where heroes are playing Sikhs. Saif Ali Khan will be seen playing a Sikh in his forthcoming movie, so will Ranbir Kapoor.
But, there’s resistance coming in from the Sikh community. The Punjabi Cultural and Heritage Board is upset with the “stereotyped offensive Sikh images in Bollywood movies” and they’ve approached the Censor Board.
Says president Charan Singh Sapra, “We are representing the views and opinions of all Sikh individuals and organisations that are upset over the continuing demeaning portrayal of the Sikh character in Hindi cinema. The role of Bollywood in stereotyping Sikhs invariably touches the wrong nerve. It has been seen in various movies like Raja Hindustani, Jo Bole So Nihaal, Singh Is Kinng, Paying Guest. We have submitted a memorandum to the censor board and asked them to ensure that Sikhs are not wrongly represented in films.”
If a script demands a character to be a Sikh, then the community is more than willing to help filmmakers, Sapra adds. “We will guide them exactly how to portray a Sikh. Thus, they won’t end up hurting sentiments. In fact, our religious body in Dadar, Guru Singh Sabha, has a couple of people who have been specially assigned the task of guiding other community people who would like to know more about the religion. Filmmakers can take guidelines from our organisation. It will be a voluntary service by us.”
with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ENTERTAINMENT-Bollywood-News-Interviews-How-to-portray-a-Sikh-Ask-us/articleshow/4788959.cms
SikhsIndia
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A Sikh web portal
ROSHNI K OLIVERA , TNN 18 July 2009, 12:11am IST
There are a number of films in Bollywood these days where heroes are playing Sikhs. Saif Ali Khan will be seen playing a Sikh in his forthcoming movie, so will Ranbir Kapoor.
But, there’s resistance coming in from the Sikh community. The Punjabi Cultural and Heritage Board is upset with the “stereotyped offensive Sikh images in Bollywood movies” and they’ve approached the Censor Board.
Says president Charan Singh Sapra, “We are representing the views and opinions of all Sikh individuals and organisations that are upset over the continuing demeaning portrayal of the Sikh character in Hindi cinema. The role of Bollywood in stereotyping Sikhs invariably touches the wrong nerve. It has been seen in various movies like Raja Hindustani, Jo Bole So Nihaal, Singh Is Kinng, Paying Guest. We have submitted a memorandum to the censor board and asked them to ensure that Sikhs are not wrongly represented in films.”
If a script demands a character to be a Sikh, then the community is more than willing to help filmmakers, Sapra adds. “We will guide them exactly how to portray a Sikh. Thus, they won’t end up hurting sentiments. In fact, our religious body in Dadar, Guru Singh Sabha, has a couple of people who have been specially assigned the task of guiding other community people who would like to know more about the religion. Filmmakers can take guidelines from our organisation. It will be a voluntary service by us.”
with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ENTERTAINMENT-Bollywood-News-Interviews-How-to-portray-a-Sikh-Ask-us/articleshow/4788959.cms
SikhsIndia
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Saturday, July 18, 2009
Blow to Sikhs: European court upholds French turban ban
Blow to Sikhs: European court upholds French turban ban
I P Singh, TNN 18 July 2009, 04:03am IST
JALANDHAR: In a major blow to Sikhs in Europe, European Court of Human Rights has upheld French ban on turban by dismissing the first petition filed against it. France had passed a law in 2004, prohibiting religious symbols in schools.
The judgment, which came close on the heels of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh raising the issue with French president Nicolas Sarkozy, was communicated to the lawyers of NGO United Sikhs, who had filed the petition on behalf of Jasvir Singh, on Thursday. It does not require France to respond to Jasvir's legal arguments.
Last December, the NGO had filed another petition before the United Nations Human Rights Committee on behalf of Bikramjit Singh, who was expelled from school along with Jasvir Singh when they refused to remove their turbans. France has filed a response to Bikramjit's claim.
with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4791396.cms
SikhsIndia
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I P Singh, TNN 18 July 2009, 04:03am IST
JALANDHAR: In a major blow to Sikhs in Europe, European Court of Human Rights has upheld French ban on turban by dismissing the first petition filed against it. France had passed a law in 2004, prohibiting religious symbols in schools.
The judgment, which came close on the heels of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh raising the issue with French president Nicolas Sarkozy, was communicated to the lawyers of NGO United Sikhs, who had filed the petition on behalf of Jasvir Singh, on Thursday. It does not require France to respond to Jasvir's legal arguments.
Last December, the NGO had filed another petition before the United Nations Human Rights Committee on behalf of Bikramjit Singh, who was expelled from school along with Jasvir Singh when they refused to remove their turbans. France has filed a response to Bikramjit's claim.
with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4791396.cms
SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
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