Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
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
Saturday, July 21, 2012
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.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
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.
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.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Friday, July 13, 2012
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.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
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.
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