It’s cool to be Sikh, but cooler if you wear a turban

July 24th, 2009

There maybe an answer to the continuing dilemma for the Sikh community – a lack of men wanting to wear a turban.

Well the answer is simple, make it cool to have a turban, create some positive vibes around this important issue of identity.

Recently we have seen an increase in the amount of Bollywood artists such as Akshay Kumar (right) that have embraced off screen dress in this breath-taking attire.

The turban definitely makes a man look handsome, shows someone you can trust and if I am perfectly honest dare I say it ‘sexy and drop dread gorgeous’ (– I am just hoping my editor does not edit this line!!!)

Recently in Leicester, a project lead by Trolochan Singh Virk there was a turban tying competition – how cool is that

The Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) of Amritsar and humanitarian organisation Akaal Purkh Ki Fauj also organised not only a turban tying initiative but they took it a step further, they held an amazing ‘pageant’ and called it Mr Singh International.

It was a low-key affair but later versions, but there are already plans to roll this our across Punjab and Delhi, with a expectation of participation of Bollywood stars.

The SGPC has declared April 14, the day of harvest festival Vaisakhi, as "International Sikh Turban Day."

“We are dismayed that more and more youths are refusing to grow their beard or wear the turban, which are sacred symbols of the Sikh religion,” said H.S. Hanspal, Sikh representative in the National Commission for Minorities.

According to Hanspal, many young Sikhs say that tying a turban every day, which may take up to 10 minutes, is too awkward for today’s world

Other boys apparently fear becoming the “odd man out’’ and getting taunted by their peers. Many Sikh parents say they have stopped insisting their sons wear the traditional headgear.

Various Gurdwara Prabandhak committees, therefore, are planning to send volunteers to schools to teach boys how to tie the turban and counsel them on the importance of wearing a turban the project be lead by The Miinority Commission

Whilst many would be deeply hurt that the Holy Turban should not be used in such a manner, I feel it is time for action to allow young Sikh men to be towed back to line – they will thank us in the long run.

Dalbeer Singh of the Delhi Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee has called for a new fashion magazine.

“We need a Sikh fashion magazine to promote uncut hair, the beard and the turban as cool and clean. We should use persons like Manmohan Singh as role models,’’ he told The Telegraph, this I totally agree with.

One of the first people such a magazine may think of featuring is Paramdeep Singh, 23, first runner-up at Mr Singh International 2009. “I want to send a message that a complete Sikh is more handsome than those who trim or cut their hair,” Paramdeep said.

For Sikhs, the turban became a “robe of honour” which was endorsed in 1699, during the time of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru, a scholar said.

Sikh turbans are different from other kinds but have their own variations. The commonest is the “peaked turban” Manmohan Singh wears. The length of the cloth varies from 6 to 8 metres, and the most popular colours are white, deep blue and saffron.

Sikh boys start wearing a keski (mini-turban) or patka at a very young age, often switching to the turban around the age of 12.

So remember boy and girls should you choose – its cool to be Sikh and even cooler if you remember Waheguru gave you long hair for a reason, so respect it.

And finally I cannot believe that every day some Sikh battle with nature as they shave their beards and everyday nature wins…………….is there not a lesson to be learned?

by Tinderjit Kaur Lallie,
with thanks : Source: www.emgonline.co.uk

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

British Sikhs revive deadly art banned by the Raj

British Sikhs on the mission
Thu, Jul 23 05:07 PM

A short drive away from Windsor Castle, a group of ferocious-looking, blue-turbanned men are trying to preserve a martial art that frightened the life out of the British when they ruled India.

Grunting at each other like wild boars, they brandish swords and sticks according to the dictates of the Sikh fighting discipline of Shastar Vidya.

Their teacher, Nidar Singh, believes he is the only "gurdev" or master of the art seriously practising today.

The 42-year old British-Indian barks out orders in a thick regional English accent to an attentive class of mainly Sikh pupils ranging in age from 5 to 45.

Singh is on a mission to keep the martial art alive and he spends all his time teaching in schools and community halls across the country.

Razor-sharp swords flash through the air, wooden batons are brandished and hands grab the heads of opponents in threatening moves designed to kill in an instant.

With a long, dark beard and huge dark eyes peering out from his dark blue turban, Singh implored his students to "Watch, watch" as he mock-felled one pupil after another in a dizzying display of ferocity.

"It's a battlefield art, so the idea is if you can defeat the enemy by sheer intimidation then all the better ... the art is very aggressive," he said. "The idea is to traumatise the people watching."

The warrior art of Shastar Vidya (weapon science) once practised by Sikhs in the Punjab, was banned by the ruling British, who were intimidated by the success, bravery and sheer aggression of the martial art. The blue turbans were forbidden and only a ceremonial form of the art was allowed in the Raj. The closely guarded secrets of the true form went underground.

Nidar Singh fears that unless he passes on his knowledge, learnt from a now-deceased previous master in India, the art form could be extinct in a few decades. He says Shastar Vidya also has practical uses in the modern world.

"On the one hand we are preserving heritage and traditions, on the other hand we are getting physically fit and mentally alert and learning self-defence as well," he said.

Younger students are not given the wooden sticks. They only learn defensive moves to help protect themselves rather than encouraging violence.

Nine-year-old Georgina Kelly said she's already used her new-found skills to fend off a bully at school.

"I used one of the moves on her, I didn't hurt her and it helped me, so she doesn't bully me any more. It's really fun and I learn a lot."

Harkaram Sroa, also 11, practises fancy footwork and how to form his fists so they are fight-ready. He said the classes have given him confidence.

"It helped me with my self defence and things like that and so I just started coming more and more and now I really enjoy it," Sroa said.

For the older pupils, learning India's lost art of war gives them a link to their cultural heritage.

"It's given me the link back to my traditions and the way my ancestors thought and how they fought, but beyond that it gives me a perspective into the deeper philosophy behind Sikhi," said Harninder Sanher using the Punjabi word for Sikh tradition.

He said the fighting aspect of the art form is only a small part of what appeals to him.

"A deeper aspect for me is all the philosophy behind it and that gives me that depth and that rich history that I can't seem to get from anywhere else."

Ironically Nidar Singh was only able to research the art banned by the British in Britain.

The former colonial rulers obsessively kept safe all the books and manuscripts, which are now held in the British Museum in London. That has enabled the more dedicated pupils to study the philosophy behind Shastar Vidya.

"It's all contextualised with ancient mythologies of India -- even as a British-born Asian I wasn't very familiar with those, so that's something I actually had to go away and do," said Gurpreet Dhillow.

Shastar Vidya has existed in the subcontinent for thousands of years, long before Sikhism emerged in the mid-16th century. Singh regards it as an art form that has been looked after by many different creeds and cultures. He sees the Sikhs as the latest custodians of the art.

He is passionate about preserving it for future generations.

"The last thing I want to do, under my watch now, is for it to go extinct. The grand master who taught me had the same desire. As an ancient art it enshrines a lot of wisdom and knowledge of the past masters, things which we will get nowhere else and it would be sad for us to now lose it all," he said.

Singh has recently established classes in Berlin and in America and plans to expand further around the world to ensure Shastar Vidya lives proud once again.

Georgina Cooper

with thanks : source :
http://in.news.yahoo.com/137/20090723/740/tnl-british-sikhs-revive-deadly-art-bann.html

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

Happy Gurupurab - Lakh Lakh vadhaiyaan ji

Guru Har Krishan Sahib ji

Guru Harkrishan Sahib was born on Sawan Vadi 10, (8 Sawan), Bikrami Samvat 1713, (July 7, 1656) at Kiratpur Sahib. He was the second son of Guru Har Rai Sahib and Mata Krishan Kaur Ji (Sulakhni Ji). Ram Rai, the elder brother of Guru Harkrishan Sahib was ex-communicated and disinherited due to his anti-Guru Ghar activities, as stated earlier and Sri Harkrishan Sahib Ji at the age of about five years, was declared as Eighth Nanak Guru by his father Guru Har Rai Sahib before his death in 1661. This act inflamed Ram Rai Ji with jealousy and he complained to the emperor Aurangzeb against his father's decision. The emperor replied in flavor issuing orders through Raja Jai Singh to the young Guru to appear before him. Raja Jai Singh sent his emissary to Kiratpur Sahib to bring the Guru to Delhi. At first the Guru was not willing, but at the repeated requests of his followers and Raja Jai Singh, he agreed to go to Delhi.

At this occasion, a large number of devotees from every walk of life came to bid him farewell. They followed the Guru Sahib up to village Panjokhara near Ambala. From this place the Guru advised his followers to return to their respective homes. Then Guru Sahib, along with a few of his family members proceeded towards Delhi. But before leaving this place Guru Harkrishan Sahib showed the great powers which were bestowed upon him by the Almighty God. Pandit Lal Chand, a learned scholar of Hindu literature questioned Guru Sahib about the meanings of Gita. Then Guru Sahib called a water-carrier named Chhaju Ram, and with the Guru's grace, this unlettered man was able to expound the philosophy of the Gita. When Pandit Lal Chand listened the scholarly answer from Chhaju, he bent his head in shame and besought the forgiveness of Guru Sahib. Pandit Lal Chand became the Sikh and escorted the Guru Sahib up to Kurukashatra.

When Guru Sahib reached Delhi, he was greeted with great fervor and full honors by Raja Jai Singh and the Sikhs of Delhi. Guru Sahib was lodged in the palace of Raja Jai Singh. The people from all walks of life flocked the palace to have a glimpse (Darshan) of Guru Harkrishan Sahib. Some chronicles mention that prince Muzzam also paid a visit.

In order to test the Guru's intelligence, of which everyone spoke very highly, Raja Jai Singh requested the Guru Sahib to identify the real queen out of the equally and well dressed ladies surrounding Guru Sahib. The Guru at once went to a lady dressed as a maidservant and sat in her lap. This lady was the real queen. There are also many different stories we find in some other Sikh accounts relating to Guru Sahib's mental ability.

Within a short span of time Guru Harkrishan Sahib through his fraternization with the common masses gained more and more adherents in the capital. At the time, a swear epidemic of cholera and smallpox broke out in Delhi. The young Guru began to attend the sufferers irrespective of cast and creed. Particularly, the local Muslim population was much impressed with the purely humanitarian deeds of the Guru Sahib and nicknamed him Bala Pir (child prophet). Even Aurangzeb did not tried to disturb Guru Harkrishan Sahib sensing the tone of the situation but on the other hand never dismissed the claim of Ram Rai also.

While serving the suffering people from the epidemic day and night, Guru Sahib himself was seized with high fever. The swear attack of smallpox confined him to bed for several days. When his condition became serious, he called his mother and told her that his end was drawing near. When asked to name his successor, he merely exclaimed 'Baba Bakala'. These words were only meant for the future (Guru) Teg Bahadur Sahib, who was residing at village Bakala near river Beas in Punjab province.

In the last moment Guru Harkrishan Sahib wished that nobody should mourn him after his death and instructed to sing the hyms of Gurbani. Thus the 'Bala Pir' passed away on Chet Sudi 14,(3rd Vaisakh), Bikrami Samvat 1721, (30th March, 1664) slowly reciting the word "Waheguru" till the end. Tenth Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib paying tribute to Guru Harkrishan Sahib stated in "Var Sri Bhagoti Ji Ki"... "Let us think of the holy Harkrishan, Whose sight dispels all sorrows..."

with thanks : source : http://www.sgpc.net/gurus/guruharkrishan.asp

With best regards

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

Sikh hip hop Queen approached by Pussycat dolls

Wed, Jul 22, 2009 8:23:15

The Sikh hip hop queen of India, Hard Kaur who is a pack of huge talent has proved it time and again!

The only female Sikh rapper has been approached by none other but the American pop girl group Pussycat Dolls to record a song with them.

The agent for Pussycat dolls wanted to get in touch with Hard Kaur as they liked her music and wanted to work with her.

Pussycat dolls wanted a break away in India and they wanted to do it through Hard Kaur as they felt she would do a great job and also she has huge fan following in the UK and India.

Says the talented hip hop queen “I have already sent Pussycat dolls the chorus I have written, which goes on like Move over, Hard Kaur is here”. She wants to add an Indian element in the song and hence intends to make them sing a line in Hindi. Because of Jhalak she could not shoot the video with them and regrets deeply for the delay.

Hard Kaur would go on a world tour starting from 23rd July and is planning to record the song at the same time in LA.Must say our Hip hop queen is in a lot of serious action and would make it really big in the industry.

with thanks : source : http://www.emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=6483

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

Sikh woman handcuffed and humiliated by immigration officers

Wed, Jul 22, 2009 8:21:47

A Sikh couple has been traumatized by immigration officers during a raid on their business yesterday.

Harbans Kaur, 47 a cloth merchant claimed that she was humiliated by a group of Immigration officers who raided her shop at the Chowrasta Bazaar in Jalan Penang last week.

Harbans Kaur, said two officers handcuffed her in full view of the public after questioning her nationality during the 4.30pm raid on July 13.

"They asked where I was from and I told them that I am Malaysian, but they refused to believe me and asked for my identity card." Asia One has reported

Harbans obliged but was shocked when the two men proceeded to handcuff her.

"I protested and asked them to remove the handcuffs but they refused until my husband demanded they do so," she said when met at Datuk Keramat assemblyman Japdeep Singh's service centre.

Harbans' husband, Dalbeer Singh, said the officers did not produce their authority cards despite being asked.

"I am saddened by the incident as there was no reason why these officers should treat my wife that way when they were already told she is Malaysian," he said, adding that both her hands were swollen as a result of the officers' rough treatment., Asia One went on to report

Jagdeep said Harbans was now traumatised by the incident. He said police later sent a letter to her stating that her "case" was being referred to the magistrate's court.

"I will write to the state chief police officer for a review of the case as she clearly did not commit any crime."

An Immigration Department spokesman said the department would investigate the matter but refused to comment further.

with thanks : source : http://www.emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=6481

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

Bollywood’s Kings & Singhs

Bollywood’s Kings & Singhs
JAYA DRONA , TNN 22 July 2009, 12:00am IST

What’s happened to Saif and his look isn’t a first. Akshay Kumar faced the ire of the Sikh community before Singh Is Kinng released, Saif Ali Khan More Pics
and so did Sunny Deol before Jo Bole So Nihaal.

After the Sikh community had demanded changes in the film Singh Is Kinng, Vipul Shah had reshot several scenes in Mumbai. He had said, “They wanted us to reshoot scenes where Akshay had a trimmed beard. We showed Akshay with a fully-grown beard, the sabot swarup at the end of the film.”

Gurbachan Singh Bachan, who was associated with the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) had said, “Vipul told us that it would be very difficult for him to reshoot the entire film. And we understood that it is a film meant to entertain the audience and not to hurt the sentiments of any religious community. So, we asked him to show Akshay going back to his roots at the end of the film wearing a proper beard and turban.”
And as if taking his cue from these controversies, producer and actor of the film Kisaan, Sohail Khan hired the services of Giani Singh, to help him portray the role of a sardar without making any room for controversies. He told us, “Giani Singh, who is aware of the dialect, gurbanis and the rules that the Sikh community was present with us on the sets all the time . We do not want to hurt the sentiments of a community.”

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4803279.cms

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

Saif Ali Khan’s beard irks Sardar community

Saif Ali Khan potrays the role of Sardar in his upcoming flick Love Aaj Kal, however his trimmed beard has hurt the religious sentiments of Sardars.

Charan Singh, President of Punjabi Cultural and Heritage Board says, “We are objecting on the grounds that Saif is shown with a very trim beard. Sardars don’t wear this look. While Imtiaz represented the sardars in Jab We Met very well, why has he not done the same in Love Aaj Kal? We have sent a memorandum regarding this to Saif, Imtiaz Ali and Dinesh Vijan (co-producer of Love Aaj Kal).”

“We have also written to the Censor Board not to pass the film until the rectification has been made. Otherwise, the Censor Board will be responsible for the ire of the Sikh community.”
However Saif is confident that the issue will be sorted out, he says, To begin with, there is nothing to be offended about. In fact, when they see the film, they will be very proud of the way sardars have been depicted. This is the most authentic and romantic sardar ever.”

“No one has seen the film yet and so we have decided to show them the film in a couple of days. I am sure once that is done, there will be no problem at all. I understand that in our country we have to keep everyone’s cultural sensitivity in mind and not do anything to upset any community. They just want to be represented well and that is exactly what we have done. There will be no question of reshooting.”

Well, lets wait and watch then.

Source with thanks : http://www.bollynova.com/page/2

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

Sikh historian from New Zealand passes away

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
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

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

SikhsIndia
www.sohnijodi.com
A sikh web portal

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
www.sohnijodi.com
A Sikh web portal

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
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