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

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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

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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/

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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/

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On the eve of 15th August

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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/

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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/

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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

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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

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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

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