Clerics furious over traffic drive

GURGAON: Over-zealous traffic police officials in Gurgaon have raised the hackles of religious leaders after they made traffic violators swear on their respective holy books that they would abide by the rules. In fact, a Muslim organisation has threatened to take action.

The Jamiatul Mahim said it plans to issue a fatwa against forcing truck drivers to take oath on the Quran, a cleric said. Hindu and Sikh religious leaders are also fuming at the exercise by Gurgaon Traffic Police of using sacred books to make people swear by lane driving.

Gurgaon traffic police had launched a "Sensible Driving" programme on the expressway. As part of the drive, heavy vehicle drivers found violating rules were fined and then asked to take oath on their holy book.

Mushtak Ansari, a cleric from Delhi-based Jamiatul Mahim, said "Any type of traffic offence on the road should be treated according to the law. Our religion does not allow sacred Quran to be involved in such matters. We will take it up with the ulemas and a fatwa would be issued," said Imam of Jama Masjid Mosque.

President of Gurudawara Singh Sabha Gurgaon, Santhokh Singh, also expressed his ire, saying, "I can't believe this. There is a particular religious procedure to move the Guru Granth Sahib... We will certainly take strong action."

with thanks : Times of India : link in headline above for detailed news.

Abbotsford’s Sikh Museum Opens!

Abbotsford celebrates the opening of what is likely the first Sikh history museum in Canada in the 100-year-old Gur Sikh temple on South Fraser Way. Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point was the chief guest along with local politicians for Saturday’s official opening ceremony. “There are no other museums (on Sikh history) in the country. There are exhibits but not a museum in itself that caters to Sikh heritage,” said Navneet Sidhu, a project coodinator with the University of the Fraser Valley. The museum will feature photos and artifacts donated by local Indo-Canadian families, including a few who had uncles and grandfathers settle here almost a century ago. The project has been two years in development and is supported by federal government funds, through Canadian Heritage.

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

Sikhs to have separate marriage law soon

Sikhs are likely to have a separate marriage law soon with the ministry of home affairs planning to move the Union Cabinet in this regard Ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, the Centre has decided to accede to the long-standing demand of the Sikh community for enacting a separate Anand Marriage Act, giving legal sanctity to the marriages under Sikh religion, official sources said.

So far, Sikh marriages are solemnised under Hindu Marriage Act after the annulment of the Sikh Marriage Act in 1955.

Prior to Independence, marriages among Sikhs were held under the Anand Marriage Act in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib and the practice continued till 1955 when the Sikh Marriage Act was replaced and included in the Hindu Marriage Act, clubbing four communities together-- Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain.

The sources said after the Cabinet clears the proposal, a bill in this effect will be tabled in Parliament and once it gets approval, Sikhs can marry under the new law.

with thanks : Hindustan times : link in the headline above for detailed news.

They make city proud with achievements

LUDHIANA: Creating a platform to recognize the efforts of Ludhianvi Sikhs, who have been remarkable in their respective spheres of life, and honouring them with lifetime achievement awards is an inspiring idea.

Sikh Welfare Council took this initiative and a few noteworthy Ludhianvis awarded at the function were Onkar Singh Pahwa of Avon Cycles, Harbhajan Singh Chugh of Oster Knit, Gurcharan Singh of Gulzar Group of Institutes, Dr Chanbir Singh of RG Stone Hospital andBollywood music director Ravinder Singh.

With thanks : Times of India : link in headline for detailed news.

Guru Nanak legacy in Odisha forgotten

The locals of Jajpur district seem to have forgotten Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion, who, during his pilgrimage to Puri, had landed in Jajpur in 1506.

“A well was dug in Jajpur town to provide water to Guru Nanak and his disciples during their visit to the place. A large number of people used the well considering the water to be holy like the water of the river Ganga. But now some influential persons in a clear nexus with officials are trying to damage the 500-year-old well,” said Gurucharana Singh Gill of State Sikh Pratinidhi Board.

The ancient well is now covered with garbage. It is a matter of regret that some persons are trying to erase the memory of Guru Nanak by leveling the well. The altar (gadi) of Guru Nanak near Barahanath temple in Baranath village of Jajpur town, where Nanak sat during his visit to Jajpur, is also neglected.

“Though belated, the altar of Guru Nanak and the 500-year-old well could still be restored to its original design,” said a researcher of Jajpur Eakadashi Padhi.

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

GHPS - Hargobind Enclave - Adventure camp for Students

Adventure Camp in GHPS, Hargobind enclave, where teachers also participated alongwith the students !

Chinese restaurant ad causes controversy

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DUBAI // An advertising agency has come under fire for a Chinese restaurant advertisement that its critics say is racist.

The advert for China Times, which has branches in Deira City Centre and Jumeirah Plaza, features photographs of three men - a Sikh, an Arab and a black man - whose eyes have been digitally altered to look Chinese, with the slogan "Brings out the Chinese in everyone".

Created in 2009 by an agency in Dubai, the advertisement was approved by the restaurant but never used. It was also entered in an advertising industry competition in Dubai.

Now the ad has found its way on to the internet and has attracted criticism, particularly among users of social media websites.

"I feel it is really shameful to see a ridiculous stereotype like that used to promote a restaurant," said Katrina Hall, an Australian expatriate who lived in China for six years and is fluent in Mandarin.

"Surely people have more intelligence than that? Surely there is a better way to attract customers?"

She added: "I personally find the advertisement to be highly offensive and racist and I am sure I am not alone. In a country as diverse and culturally rich as UAE, which has such a huge number of people from all around the world, I would hope that there would be a bit more respect than just making a mockery of 'slanted eyes'."

TD&A DDB, the agency that created the ad, entered it in the Dubai-based Lynx awards for the advertising industry, but it did not win.

with thanks : thenational : link in headline for detailed news.

Gurudwara Kitchen

with thanks : Hindustan Times : link above.

Judge – border guards can order removal of Sikh turbans

A court has ruled that when border guards ordered British-Sikh Shaminder Puri to remove his turban at Warsaw airport in October 2009 they were “acting within the law”.

Warsaw airport

Judge Jacek Tyszka ruled that though Warsaw airport border guards had violated his dignity when he was passing through controls at the airport, the action was not illegal under Polish law.

“Such an inspection may be unpleasant but it is sometimes necessary,” the judge ruled.

Puri, who was not in court to hear the verdict, told the Gazeta Wyborczanewspaper by telephone yesterday that “I am disappointed by the verdict. Now we must carefully read of the judge's ruling and consider an appeal”.

Shaminder Puri, a fluent speaker of Polish after he studied for a degree in the country 30 years ago, had demanded a public apology from the border guards and media which had covered the case, and 10,000 euro be paid to charity.

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

Sehajdhari row: Sikh hardliners condemns HC verdict

Amritsar: Radical Sikh organisations on Wednesday condemned the order of Punjab and Haryana High Court, which allowed 'sehajdharis (non-baptised Sikhs) to cast votes in SGPC polls.

"The High Court decision has plunged the Sikh community into fresh crises...Sehajdharis are non-Sikhs, describing them as part of Sikhism is untrue," Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said.

He said due to some political reasons, Sehajdharis were given voting rights in 1959 though there was no such provision in the original Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925.

However, this "anomaly" was corrected in 2003 when a Union government notification debarred Sehajdharis from casting votes in SGPC polls, he said.

with thanks : IBNLive : link in the headline above for detailed news.