Merry Christmas !!

                               Children on their way to school to participate in Christmas celebrations in Patiala.

PTI Photo https://www.facebook.com/Outlookindia

A Sad story : NBT, Delhi

90 % of Sikh heritage sites are in Pakistan

PESHAWAR: A United Kingdom-born researcher, writer, historian and award-winning filmmaker, Bobby Singh Bansal, has said 90 per cent of the Sikh heritage sites are located in Pakistan, mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The writer, who is considered an authority on the Sikh history and heritage in Pakistan, visited Peshawar and other parts of KP for a week to explore the community heritage sites for his upcoming book, “Sikh Monuments of Pakistan and India.”

Talking to The News, the 45-year old writer said during his Pakistan trip he visited for documentation various forts built during the Sikh rule. “I have already been to Jamrud and Shabqadar forts and saw the Balahisar from outside. Other Sikh-era forts include those in Bara, Lockhart, Michini, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Haripur, Mansehra and Oghi. I have explored the ruins of Khairabad, Akora Khattak and Jehangira forts [in Nowshera district] built by the Sikhs,” he explained.

Bansal visited the site of the famed March 14, 1823 battle of Nowshera and located Samadh of Bhai Phoola Singh Akali, a general of the Sikh Army who fell in the battle and was cremated on the site located near the northern bank of Kabul River at Pir Sabak.

Asked what motivated him to document the Sikh heritage sites, he said although he was born in England, his roots were in Pakistan. “My parents belong to Rawalpindi. I used to visit the holy Sikh sites in this country. This created a desire to conduct research on the subject and give it the shape of publication or film,” said Bansal, who has authored, “The Lion’s Firangis: Europeans in the Court of Lahore” in 2010 to trace the history of the chief European officers in the service of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh right up to their present descendants living in various parts of the world.

Bansal said the response to his first publication encouraged him to produce and direct in 2012 a documentary film “Sikhs of Kabul” that highlighted the plight of the community whose numbers have dwindled considerably in the Afghan capital. This year he produced another film “Sikhs of Burma” to be screened in March next year.

“I have a strong belief that this is our shared heritage and not just for the Sikhs of Pakistan but for Sikhs globally,” he said. He called for conservation of the ancient monuments, gurdwaras, forts and havelies associated with his community in Pakistan.

Bansal believed documentation of the Sikh heritage sites would also benefit Pakistan. “I want all the Sikh heritage sites here documented and put on the tourist map. Every year thousands of Sikh yatris come to Panja Sahib and Nankana Sahib. It is my wish that these yatris should also visit sites of military, historic and religious significance for Sikhs when they are in Pakistan. This will boost tourism and help the Sikhs to know about these places and strengthen their identity,” he stressed.

The researcher has the conviction that the heritage sites should be owned and conserved without any discrimination. “During my current visit, I discussed issues pertaining to gurdwaras that are falling apart and are in need of urgent protection. The problem of paucity of funds can be overcome once the matter is publicised at the international level,” said Bansal, who is father of two.

He deplored that there is a lot of propaganda about the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. ” I have been to this province several times and even during my present visit I found security situation satisfactory. The people are kind and hospitable. But it is strange that there is negative impression about this province in the outside world that needs to be dispelled,” he said.

In his quest for searching the Sikh history, Bansal went to Italy recently because the second Sikh Governor of Peshawar from 1838 to 1842, General Paolo Di Avitabile (October 25, 1791 - March 28, 1850) was an Italian. He met the family members of Avitabile in Naples. He wanted Peshawar and an Italian town Agerola of Naples declared sister cities.

The researcher even brought a letter from the Agerola mayor about the twinning, but is yet to be contacted by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to help materialise the plan. “Just think of the attention Peshawar will get when an Italian or any tourist learns that Agerola is a sister city of Peshawar,” argued Bansal.

“Peshawar is an important ancient living city. During my current visit I went to Gurwarda Bhai Joga Singh Sahib in Dabgari and met several fellow Sikhs. I attended the 91st birthday of legendary actor Dilip Kumar (Muhammad Yousaf Khan) in his hometown and met government representative on the minorities’ affairs Sardar Soran Singh. I visited several other towns and delivered a lecture at the Hazara University at Mansehra on the Sikh heritage monuments of Pakistan. I am returning to Britain with fond memories and this will compel me to come again” he added.

with thanks : The News : Link

US court dismisses Sikh group's case against Badal

From Lalit K Jha 

Washington, Dec 24 (PTI) A US court has dismissed an alleged human rights violation case against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, saying the New York-based Sikh group never physically served the summons on him.

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in its order upheld the decision that Sikh for Justice (SFJ) did not effectuate service of the Federal Court summons on Badal.

with thanks : PTI News : LINK

Turban Tashan : Hindustan Times

TURBAN : A FASHION STAPLE IN 2013

                                        Waris Ahluwalia for Gap 2013
GAP’s new Ad campaign ‘More Love’ presented themselves with a Sikh man ( Mr Waris Ahluwalia who is an actor, model and business entrepreneur ) wearing a black turban who also had a profoundly beautiful long beard.

Mr Pardeep Singh Bahra, introduced a fashion blog "Singh Street Style" that features stylish Sikh men wearing different colours and styles of turbans matching their outfits.As a founder of the blog ,He has not only established and developed the blog gradually, but also provided a chance to Sikh models to represent sikh religion at International level with their entry in the fashion Industry. He had his work featured on MSN ,The Guardian and Vogue

        Pardeep Singh Bahra of "Singh Street Style"

Jatinder Durhailay was also the first Sikh featured on 'Singh Street Style'. He has modelled for various prestigious different projects, such as GQ, Topman, Asos, Levis and recently Louis Vuitton.. He was featured on the front page of the financial times modelling for the new Louis Vuitton campaign.

            Jatinder Durhailay for Louis Vuitton 2013

Many religious aspects are used in fashion to make it seem more acceptable and welcoming for customers to buy.Introducing the Turban in fashion Industry is an outstanding act which further helps value equality. Once again fashion has shown us that being stylish is nothing more than expression.

 Link :http://www.menswearstyle.co.uk/2013/12/18/how-the-turban-became-a-fashion-staple-of-2013/912

TURBAN : A FASHION STAPLE IN 2013

                                        Waris Ahluwalia for Gap 2013
GAP’s new Ad campaign ‘More Love’ presented themselves with a Sikh man ( Mr Waris Ahluwalia who is an actor, model and business entrepreneur ) wearing a black turban who also had a profoundly beautiful long beard.

Mr Pardeep Singh Bahra, introduced a fashion blog "Singh Street Style" that features stylish Sikh men wearing different colours and styles of turbans matching their outfits.As a founder of the blog ,He has not only established and developed the blog gradually, but also provided a chance to Sikh models to represent sikh religion at International level with their entry in the fashion Industry. He had his work featured on MSN ,The Guardian and Vogue

        Pardeep Singh Bahra of "Singh Street Style"

Jatinder Durhailay was also the first Sikh featured on 'Singh Street Style'. He has modelled for various prestigious different projects, such as GQ, Topman, Asos, Levis and recently Louis Vuitton.. He was featured on the front page of the financial times modelling for the new Louis Vuitton campaign.

            Jatinder Durhailay for Louis Vuitton 2013

Many religious aspects are used in fashion to make it seem more acceptable and welcoming for customers to buy.Introducing the Turban in fashion Industry is an outstanding act which further helps value equality. Once again fashion has shown us that being stylish is nothing more than expression.

 Link :http://www.menswearstyle.co.uk/2013/12/18/how-the-turban-became-a-fashion-staple-of-2013/912

Attacker of elderly Sikh sent to mental hospital

IANS

Washington, Dec 19: A US court has ordered that a homeless man, legally incompetent to stand trial for attacking an elderly Sikh man earlier this year, be sent to a psychiatric hospital until he is competent to stand trial.

Judge W. Kent Levis of the Fresno County Superior Court has ordered that Gilbert Garcia Jr., 30, be sent to Atascadero State Hospital in California until he is determined to be legally competent to stand trial, The Fresno Bee reported Wednesday.

Garcia has been charged with attempted murder and elder abuse after he attacked Piara Singh, an 82-year-old Sikh man, with a steel rod outside the Nanaksar Sikh Temple in southwest Fresno in central California May 5 in what the prosecutors have called a hate crime.

Following judge Levis's order, Garcia will be required to take anti-psychotic medication in the state hospital.

According to the court order, Garcia will have to remain in the hospital until he is competent to stand trial, but his stay cannot be more than 15 years.

Normally, inmates spend less than a year in a state hospital before their competency is restored.

Garcia approached Piara Singh on a cycle outside the Sikh temple just after 7 a.m. May 5 and without saying a word started beating the victim on the head with a rod.

Singh was left with broken ribs and head wounds.

Members of the Sikh community had expressed outrage at the act.

with thanks : IANS : LINK

NOW, SIKH FARMERS IN KUTCH CAN SMILE

Gandhinagar : Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal who is slated to visit the Rannotsav festival under way in Kutch, is likely to carry back heartening news as the Gujarat government has decided to defreeze the agricultural land of 52 Sikh farmers in the district.

Though a final decision has not been taken since the matter is subjudice in the Supreme Court after the Gujarat High Court ruled in favour of the farmers and the state government appealed against the verdict in the apex court, the bonafides of these 52 farmers have been verified. In their case, it has been found that they had been given agricultural land by the Gujarat government under the ‘landless labourer ‘category.

Kutch being a barren region, bordering Pakistan with human population less than that of cattle, the Gujarat government had, as a matter of policy, invited ex-servicemen from Punjab and Haryana, largely Sikhs, to settle down here in the aftermath of the 1965 war with Pakistan. Kutch had seen aggressive Pakistani forays as a prelude to the war then and this led to the birth of the Border Security Force (BSF) thereafter.

As a strategic move thereafter, ex-servicemen and farmers from Punjab were encouraged to settle down here. These farmers played no small a role in the greening of Kutch and revolutionized agriculture in the desolate barrenscape that Kutch was then with a few takers for the largely salinity-ingressed areas bordering the Rann. However, with increasing industrialisation as the price of land shot up to dizzying heights, a sense of envy engulfed people leading to complaints and social tension, triggering a chain of events that led the government to ‘freeze’ the land of over 800 farmers who were suspected to have come from other states and bought land for agriculture.

Government rules do not permit purchase of agricultural land by non-agriculturists even if they are of Gujarat origin and the government used the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act 1948 to freeze the land holdings of these farmers whom it suspected to have infringed it.

However, the affected farmers knocked the doors of the High Court which ruled in their favour. The state government then went in to appeal to the Supreme Court where the matter rests for now.

The issue however acquired a political colour in Punjab where the Congress began using it as an issue to attack the SAD government, an ally of the BJP. Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal had also interceded with Chief Minister Modi who had promised all possible help. A case-by-case review is learnt to be underway and those who have produced relevant records are likely to benefit. There are a large number of agricultural-land owning farmers from Punjab and Haryana in Kutch.

R K MISRA

with thanks : freepressjournal : LINK

Utah Sikhs bring warmth to homeless with blanket donation

SALT LAKE CITY — The Road Home has 200 new blankets for the homeless thanks to an interfaith gesture from members of the Sikh Temple.

On Sunday, the congregation collected enough money to buy 200 blankets for the homeless, and members took the donations to the Road Home Wednesday.

During a short service, Priest Gurmeet Singh read from the holy text that tells Sikhs if they remember God every day, he will take them as his children and their lives with be happier. During their Wednesday worship, they hoped to bring happiness to others.

"We always want to participate in our community, whatever little help we can do for food also and these blankets," said temple trustee Pushpinder Walia. "We thought we should contribute before Christmas."

The Sikhs simply wanted to be part of the community and to let everyone know they are here to help.

"It's too cold, and God has blessed us," Walia said, "and we want to share with other people."

"The winter season can be a dangerous time for a lot of our clients, and unfortunately we see a lot of people struggle through that," said Road Home employee Emily Petersen. "I know this will be a lifesaving support for them. Thank you."

Sikhism is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world with more than 30 million members, the majority of whom live in the Punjab region of India.

Founded in the 15th century as a monotheistic faith, members reject discrimination against race, religion or gender.

Baptized Sikhs do not cut their hair, and the men wear turbans. They do not consume alcohol, tobacco or drugs. They believe strongly in marriage and family life.

At the sanctuary inside the Sikh Temple, men, women and children are asked to remove their shoes and cover their heads. During this particularly sacred time of year for Christians who commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Sikhs say they also wish to mark the birth.

"We respect all religions, and Christ has been a great prophet, and Christmas is a blessing time," said temple trustee Jagdish Gill.

There are nearly 1,000 Sikhs in Utah. Services at the Sikh Temple of Utah on 4897 S. Redwood Road take place 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, including both breakfast and lunch. All are welcome to attend.

with thanks : deseretnews : LINK

Nagar Kirtan in Gurdwara Sangat Sahib ( Sint-Truiden, Belgium )

On the occasion of 545th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak DevJi, Nagar Kirtan led by the Panj Pyaras (the five beloved ones) was taken out in Gurdwara Sangat Sahib (Sint-Truiden,Belgium) on 27th October 2013.The 'Gatka' teams also displayed their swordsmanship through different martial arts and at mock battles using traditional weapons.

Guests of honour were Prof. Bert Broeckaert ( KU Leuven,Belgium), Mrs.Veerle Heeren ( Mayor of Sint-Truiden,Belgium ), Mr. Ward Kennes (Mayor of Kasterlee ,Belgium) /Mrs W. Kennes and Mrs. Raymonde Spiritus (Alderwoman/ Schepen in Sint-Truiden,Belgium )

Another prominent personalities amongst sangat were Pritty Kaur ( who contested (sp.a Social Party) for a Mayor Post in Sint-Truiden, Belgium in 2012 elections ), Sd. Avtar Singh  (who also stood in the same election for CD &V ), Louke Manpreet Kaur Bamps and Theodorus Snellen.They all are engaged with community services;working as a link between authorities and Sikh Community.