Denied entry to Chandigarh, Punjab riot victims launch indefinite stir

5 protesters sit on fast-unto-death; hundreds on indefinite dharna.

Hundreds of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims from across Punjab on Tuesday launched an indefinite agitation against the state government on the Mohali-Chandigarh border after they were denied entry to Chandigarh.

As the protesters, under the banner of the Punjab Danga Peerit Welfare Society, led by its president Surjit Singh, marched from Mohali towards Chandigarh, a heavy police force from Chandigarh stopped them from crossing the border around 2 pm. Following this, they squatted on the middle of the road leading from Sector 51-52, Mohali, to Sector 43-44, Chandigarh, closing it for the vehicular traffic.

To protest against the police action, five protesters — Gurpal Kaur (45), state president of society’s women wing, Harbans Kaur (80), chairperson, Pritpal Singh (75), Kultar Singh (75), all from Ludhiana, and Mohan Singh (75) from Gurdaspur — sat on fast-unto-death, hundreds of protesters began indefinite dharna.

with thanks : IndianExpress : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Coins of the Sikh Empire

The Sikh Empire had its own currency for the first time under the iconic Sikh general, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. The use of these coins was carried on by subsequent kings of Punjab and reached its epitome under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who laid the foundations of Sikh Empire. Before Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, the use of coins was prevalent in Punjab, but these weren’t used as currency, albeit as obeisance to the Sikh Gurus.

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur launched first Sikh coin somewhere between 1708 and 1715 A.D. Names of the first guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji and tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, were inscribed on these coins along with dates when these were minted. Hymns from The Guru Granth Sahib were inscribed on these coins later on. The dates indicated on these coins are as per the traditional Indian calendar, the Bikrami Samvat, which is 57 years ahead of the modern or Roman calendar.

When Maharaja Ranjit Singh organized the Sikh Empire, the first coins that were minted under him were dedicated to the first guru, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The coins minted under him always bore the inscription of leaf of Banyan, a symbol of his empire. During his rule, the coins were minted at eight locations, Amritsar, Anandgarh, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, Jammu and Kashmir. It is said that during his tenure, the Sikh currency was valued even higher than the French one!

with thanks : ukpha : link in headline above for detailed news.

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Marathon runner, 99, honoured at awards ceremony

A 99-year-old marathon runner from east London, a leading scientist and a polo player were among those honoured for their achievements at a Sikh awards ceremony.

Fauja Singh, from Ilford has set various records for his sporting achievements in his age category and once appeared in an adidas advert with David Beckham.

He was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award by prominent Sikh Bhai Sahib Ji at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

with thanks : Google News : link in headline above for detailed news.

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In pictures: Sikh temple opening in Norwich

with thanks : BBC News : link in headline above for more pics.

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Sikhism: Awareness Drive at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Sikhi Sidak(www.sikhisidak.com)with support of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee organised two days camp ( 9th & 10th Oct.2010) in Gurudwara Bangla Sahib premises. Their Volunteers along with the students of NSS Unit of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College,University of Delhi,Dev Nagar carry message of Sikh Gurus /Sikh Religion by displaying posters & distributing pamphlets or brochure with general information about Sikh Religion and personally interact with foreigners to make them understand Sikh religion.










Dr.Gurdeep kaur
Associate Professor
&
National Service Scheme programme officer,
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College,
University of Delhi,
Dev Nagar,New Delhi-110005
INDIA

Sikhs tell their story with multimedia museum in Mississauga

When Canada’s first Multimedia Sikh Museum opens at Ontario Khalsa Darbar in Mississauga Sunday, it will offer clickable passage into more than 500 years of Sikhism – the world’s fifth largest religion.

“Yes, it is your one-stop window into the past, present and future of the Sikhs,’’ says Surrey, B.C.-based Raghbir Bains, who has spent almost 25 years on the project.

Loaded with 60,000 pages of text and tons of audio, video, animation and graphics, the touch-screen museum is a journey of more than 400 hours.

Mr. Bains, who received the Order of British Columbia in 2005 for his work on cross-cultural understanding, says he believes it is the first digitized museum for any religion – outside of India. It’s similar to the museum at Khadoor Sahib built near the Sikhs’ holiest city of Amritsar a few years ago, says the Sikh scholar.

with thanks : source : theglobeandmail : link in headline for more details.

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Land belonging to Hindu, Sikh shrines targeted in Pakistan

Another incident of acquisition of land belonging to Hindu and Sikh shrines in Pakistan has come to light, and Pakistan authorities have been approached by minorities to take this issue seriously.

According to the News, a delegation headed by Pakistan Hindu Sikh Social Welfare Council President Jag Mohan Arora approached Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Syed Asif Hashmi to apprise him about the illegal occupation of a cemetery ground and demolition of temple in front of Rawalpindi Medical College.

The delegation urged Hashmi to take personal interest and help resolve the problems of the minority community.

Though Hashmi has assured the delegates to resolve the issue, there have been allegations against the Pakistan Evacuee Trust Property Board that it had illegally sold off land belonging to Sikh shrines to the Pakistani army at absurdly low prices.

with thanks : SIFY : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Punjab Dy CM lays foundation stone of eastablishment of first Sikh Raj memorial

CHAPAR CHIRI: (SAS Nagar): The 300 years of inception of first Sikh Rule in India, that marked a beginning of struggle for freedom was celebrated here Saturday with Sukhbir Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal laying foundation stone of Rs 48 crore Memorial to be built at the historic battle ground that was witness to Sikh Warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur. Baba Banda Singh Bahadu had defeated the most cruel Mogul Governor Wazir Khan.

The establishment of Sikh War memorial to be constructed by L&T, was the initiative Punjab Chief Minister, to perpetuate the unparalleled bravery of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and his five Generals including Fateh Singh.

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Sikh history was replete with the sacrifices of Sikhs, who were always on forefront to fight against injustice and cruelty. He said that our young generation was oblivious of sacrifices made by Sikhs in getting our nation freed from the clutches of foreign invaders. He said that the sole purpose of erecting this memorial was to perpetuate the historic role of the Banda Singh Bahadur, in establishment of Sikh Rule and make our younger generation aware about it. He said that this memorial, one of its own kinds in the world would have 300 feet tall ‘Burj Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’, marking the 300 years of this epic war. He said that it would also have five mini museums indicating the sacrifice of 5 Sikh Jarnails.

Giving the details of memorials, Badal said that this memorial would be set up on a piece of 21 acre land acquired at the cost of Rs 25 Crores and was being erected at the cost of Rs 27 crores by Larsen and Tubro, a world renowned infrastructure company. Badal said that on 18th October foundation stone of another memorial was being laid at Kup Rohira, the site of ‘Wadda Ghallughara’ where, 35000 Sikhs were butchered, within the span of two- three days. He said that it was biggest massacre of Sikhs as half the Sikh population was killed by Moguls. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the third memorial was being built at Kahnuwan, the site of ‘Chota Ghallughara’ where 15000 Sikhs with their wives and children were killed by Moguls. He said that foundation stone of this memorial was being laid on 23rd October and all the three memorials would be constructed by L&T within span of 1 year.

In a message read out in function, Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister Punjab, who is recuperating in PGI after an injury on eye, apologized for not being able to attend this historic event.

with thanks : PunjabNewsLine : link in headline above.

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Happy Gurupurab

Waheguru ji ka khalsa, Waheguru ji ki fateh !

Dhan Dhan Satguru Shri Guru Ramdas Sahib ji de
Parkash Purab Di aap sab noo beant beant wadhai hove ji









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Riot victims ignore boycott call, attend camp

Over 700 applicants ignored the boycott call given by the Danga Peerat Welfare Association and turned up at the Guru Nanak Bhawan on Thursday to get their documents verified. A camp was organised by Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tiwari to check the documents pertaining to the allotment of flats to the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

with thanks : IndianExpress : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Pak denies visas to Sikh pilgrims

Pakistan has denied visa to more than 150 Sikh pilgrims who were to take part in the celebrations of Guru Ram Das, the founder of Amritsar, in Lahore on October 9. The delegation was to leave for Lahore on Thursday under the banner of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). “No specific reasons was given for rejecting the application. These men would go to Pakistan on the next gurpurb that is in November,” said SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh. “There have been several occasion when names of pilgrims were deleted arbitrarily,” the SGPC functionary said.

with thanks : indianexpress : link in headline above.

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