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Fauja Singh, 101, dazzles in Olympic Torch relay

Punjab-born Fauja Singh, who defies age to run marathons, drew the loudest cheers today as the Olympic Torch was carried by him, Olympic medal winners and leading individuals through London amidst a welcome clear sky and sunshine. Clad in all-white apparel and a matching white turban, the sprightly Singh carried the torch accompanied by hundreds of admirers, including Sikhs with yellow T-shirts bearing Singh's image, who hailed him every moment of the distance he travelled.

Singh was born in 1911, and began running at 86 to keep himself occupied.

He has since set several records for people of his age, running six London marathons, two Canada marathons and the New York marathon.

Clearly a bit of a sensation for his achievements, his participation in the relay today was described by admirers and onlookers as "a moment of history".

Singh, who carried the Olympics Torch in Athens eight years ago, now wants to carry it before the 2016 Olympics too, when he will be 105.

Hundreds of Sikhs organised a 'langar' at 16 points along the torch relay route to celebrate Fauja Singh's efforts.

The torch from Greenwich to Waltham Forest was carried by several Olympians, including Nadia Comaneci, and Indian-origin individuals who have excelled in various fields, such as Kaushali Trivedi (23), Natasha Sinha (15), Priya Rajgor (20) and Dhrashti Shah (16).

The relay's youngest and oldest (Fauja Singh) were among the 143 torch-bearers today.

The youngest was Chester Chambers, 12, who was nominated for representing his classmates, fundraising and helping to develop an anti-bullying campaign.

Today was the first day of the Olympics torch's seven-day tour of London in the final countdown to the Games.

Hopes that the constant rains of the last few weeks will give way to sunshine during the Olympics were realised, as today's relay was held amidst a clear sky.

with thanks : Hindustan Times : Link : for detailed news

Bomb Attack Kills Prominent Afghani-Sikh Leader

 

KABUL – Sardar Pritpal Singh Pal, an Afghan Sikh leader was killed in a suicide attack last week which claimed the lives of 23 people and left 60 injured. The news of his death has shocked the Sikh and Hindu communities in Afghanistan.

A Taliban suicide bomber struck a wedding party of the daughter of Afghan MP Ahmad Khan Samangani on Saturday, 14th of July, at a Marriage Hall in Aybak, the capital of Samangan province of Northern Afghanistan.The MP was among the 23 killed.

Singh, a devout Sikh, a known Social activist, an outspoken community leader and a political aspirant had fought last general elections to parliament of Afghanistan.

Singh ran as an Independent candidate from the Kabul province for a seat in Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga, the 250-seat Lower House of Parliament, in the 2010 elections.

Before taking part in the elections two years ago Singh was in the Afghan Army under the rule of Najibullah, 22 years ago. He retired after a leg and eye injury and went on to become a unani doctor.

Singh had once said, “It was a misconception that all Afghan Sikhs and Hindus are Punjabis who moved to Afghanistan from India years ago. In fact, many members of this community consider themselves to be the original Afghans who never converted to Islam. And this sense of rootedness only gives their pursuit of governmental representation in Afghanistan more zeal”.

Singh who ran a Greaco-Arabic medicine shop (Unani Dawakhana) established by his father who moved from Paktia to Kabul was frustrated with the current Afghan government and as he entered the electoral field he said, “I’m running for parliament for the service of all of Afghanistan.”

“I want to serve people regardless of religion. I’m an Afghan,” said, the then 46-year-old Pal during an interview with the media. He was a native of the Pashtun-majority province of Paktia where his parents were born.

 with thanks : thelinkpaper : LINK : for detailed news.

Many more join SAD - Delhi : Sd. Paramjit Singh Sarna : DSGMC

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to silence the din of mobile phones

AMRITSAR: The din of ringing cell phones in the Sikh's holiest of holy shrine Golden Temple has made Sikh's apex body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to mull over installing jammers in the Golden Temple complex to prevent the jarring mobile phone ring tones from ringing which disturb the concentration of fellow devotees and the sanctity of religious place. 

SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar told TOI on Wednesday that there had been complaints from devotees about the maddening tunes and beeps of mobile phones which disturbs them and obstructs in performing worship. "We are planning to constitute a committee to submit its suggestions to check the nuisance from the religious place" he said. The suggestions received till now includes depositing mobile phones before entering in the Golden Temple complex and returning them to devotees while leaving or to install the jammers in the whole complex.

"Depositing and returning of mobile phones is a gigantic task as more than 1 lakh devotees pays obeisance at Golden Temple everyday, the better option appears to be the installation of jammers " he said. He said normally people didn't follow the cell phone etiquettes so they had to think on these lines. He informed that SGPC had already installed jammer between Darshani Deori and the sanctum sanctorum of Golden Temple. Other suggestions received by SGPC to check the mobile phone ringing was to issue appeal to all the visiting devotees to turn off their mobile phones or put them on silent or vibration mode before entering in the holy complex.

with thanks : Times of India : LINK : for detailed news. 

Historical watch in Golden temple

Guru Teg Bahadur Niwas in Amritsar sahib by DSGMC

Golden Temple, Amritsar

No gurdwara without clearance from Akal Takht: Sikh clergy

Mulling the issue of caste-based gurdwaras in Punjab, particularly in rural areas, the Sikh clergy on Thursday sent out a clear-cut message to the community that no gurdwara would be constructed anywhere in the country or even abroad in future without the permission of the Akal Takht.

"Anyone who wishes to construct a gurdwara must approach the Akal Takht for prior clearance. No one will be allowed to construct a gurdwara on his own," Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said while talking to media after presiding over a meeting of the five Sikh high priests held in Amritsar on Thursday.

The issue of caste-based gurdwaras was taken up in last Sunday's episode of Aamir Khan's 'Satyamev Jayate'.

Another pre-condition put forth by the Akal Takht was that the piece of land on which the gurdwara was proposed to be built must be in the name of Guru Granth Sahib. Only then would the Akal Takht consider any plea for the construction of the Sikh religious place.

"We will not allow construction of a gurdwara on 'shamlat' (government) land or on land that is in the name of the village panchayat or is the property of any trust or committee. The land must be transferred in the name of Guru Granth Sahib for building a shrine," Giani Gurbachan Singh made it clear after deliberating on the issue with his fellow priests.

"'Manas ki jaat, eko pehchanon' was the message of the Gurus and we all must abide by this," Giani Gurbachan Singh said.

To dissuade construction of Sikh religious places on caste lines, Giani Gurbachan Singh announced that the Akal Takht would honour panchayat of village that had just one gurdwara."A certificate of appreciation will be awarded to that particular panchayat," he added.

with thanks : Hindustan Tines : LINK : for detailed news.

Sikh clergy to meet on July 12 to discuss caste-based gurdwaras

The Sikh clergy is slated to meet in Amritsar on Thursday to take stock of mushrooming caste-based gurdwaras across Punjab despite an Akal Takht edict banning holy places of the community on caste lines. Last Sunday, Bolywood star Aamir Khan's focus on Satyamev Jayate programme was on untouchability and the caste system prevalent in Indian society. 

In the episode, Aamir showed existence of caste-based gurdwaras in rural areas, with members of so-called lower castes claiming that they were often prohibited from entering holy places managed by the upper castes despite clearcut message of the Sikh Gurus that all human beings are equal. 

It is not for the first time that the Sikh clergy would discuss this issue since the issue has figured in their meetings in the past. In fact, a couple of years back, an edict was issued from the Akal Takht to ban Sikh holy places on caste lines. 

The edict however did not have the desired effect as gurdwaras on caste lines continue to be built, particularly in rural Punjab. In fact, often politicians dole out funds for such places in a bid to woo voters. 

with thanks : Hindustan times : LINK for detailed news.

Sikhs to serve langar to commemorate Olympics in London

 

While Fauja Singh, the 101-year-old marathon runner, carries the Olympic relay torch in London on July 21, the Sikhs would celebrate the occasion by organising a langar (community kitchen) along the road for public. They would serve free Roti Rolls at several key points along the Olympic torch route from Greenwich to Waltham Forest between 7 am to 8 pm.

Fauja, the oldest torch bearer at London 2012, would carry the Torch on the 64th day of the Olympic Torch Relay when it reaches Newham. The Olympic Stadium is also located at Newham.

The langar would be organized by United Sikhs, an organization dedicated to promoting the Sikh identity and tenets. "We are proud to share with the public the 500 year old Sikh tradition of serving free meals," said Parvinder Kaur, who would manage the langar project.

She said the Sikhs from the UK and around the world would be participating in celebrations. They would show the world how the community embraced diversity.

"We hope to demonstrate through Langar how the community involves in selfless service. We will be serving thousands of free vegetarian meals along the route," she said, adding "It would also showcase how community food can bring people from all walks of life together."

 with thanks : INDIA TODAY : LINK for detailed news.