Fighting enmity against American Sikhs with art, talks and superhero garb

ALFRED, NEW YORK: Standing before his living-room mirror one morning in August 2001, Vishavjit Singh put his fumbling fingers to the task of wrapping on his turban for the first time in a decade. It slumped to one side. Then the creases were not crisp enough. Finally, he got it right, and headed to his job as a software engineer in suburban New York.

Singh had stopped wearing the turban, an emblem of his Sikh religion, in part because he had not been especially observant while growing up. More deeply, he knew firsthand how that visible symbol marked Sikhs as targets of bigotry, sometimes by Hindu foes in India, sometimes by Americans who assumed anyone in a turban to be Muslim.

with thanks : TOI : LINK : for detaioled news.

DSGMC shifting gear from rescue to relief operations for J & K flood victims

 DSGMC Representatives with Sringar District Collector Mr Farooqi

With thanks :Media DSGMC

PRESS CONFERENCE BY DSGMC ON BANGLA SAHIB CAR PARKING..

 DSGMC President Manjit Singh GK, General Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa in a Press Conference

Bangla Sahib Gurudwara parking issue turns into political battle

DSGMC release documents of handing over Rs. 100 crore parking-lot of 
Gurdwara Bangla Sahib to NDMC

Would never let portion of Gurdwara passed on to the government, 
says DSGMC president Mr.   Manjit Singh G.K.

New Delhi/23-9-2014

The President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Mr. Manjit Singh G.K. and general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa  today made public, an agreement done by DSGMC in February 10, 2005, by then General Manager under the presidentship of Mr. Paramjit Singh Sarna, by which it passed ownership of Master Tara Singh car parking at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib to New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) after 25 years.

Talking to mediapersons Mr. G.K. said the move as backstabbing the Sikh Panth. Elaborating on the issue Mr. G.K. informed that the parking lot along Gurdwara Bangla Sahib was attached to the Gurdwara in 1970 with the efforts of Jathedar Santokh Singh and it was decided to convert it into parking lot for the convenience of pilgrims. A road that existed on the location was closed down to give way to the parking.

DSGMC president further informed that on January 25, 2001 NDMC chairman Mr. BP Mishra and on July 25, 2002 then Lt. Governor of New Delhi Mr. Vijay Kapoor, had assured then president of SAD-Delhi Mr. Avtar Singh Hit that the building plan of the parking submitted would be cleared.

Mr. G.K. questioned former DSGMC president Mr. Sarna’s compulsion to hand over parking lot to NDMC on February 10, 2005 after 25 years through an agreement prepared by his legal advisor Mr. Harvinder Singh Phoolka.  

Mr. G.K. said the move by Mr. Prahlad Singh Chandok also a former DSGMC president is questionable when he wrote a letter no. 11101/4-3 Dated November 17, 2004 to secretary NDMC for extending lease of parking from 15 to 25 years.  

“It is surprising that Mr. Sarna is writing to NDMC on December 11, 2004, for approval of building plan and two months later he decided to hand over parking lot to NDMC after 25 years,” said Mr. G.K. He further revealed that a day after receiving copy of agreement to be signed with NDMC, from associate of Mr. Phoolka, advocate Mr. Jasmeet Singh on January 20, 2005, Mr. Sarna handed over charge of DSGMC president to Mr. Baldev Singh Rani Bagh on January 21, 2005 through letter no. 696/4-4-D.

Raising questions on Mr. Rani Bagh’s letter no. 1073/4-3 Dated February 4, 2005 to NDMC secretary Mr. UK Vohra as ‘As desired/urgent’ authorizing then General Manager of DSGMC Mr. Sarwan Singh to sign the agreement of transferring parking lot to NDMC. “It was despite that fact that Mr. Rani Bagh was given charge of the DSGMC president for routine works. Why Mr. Sarna has not acted against Mr. Rani Bagh for misusing his powers,” Mr. G.K. further questioned.

Speaking about the terms of the said agreement prepared by Mr. Phoolka at the beshest of Mr. Sarna, DSGMC president Mr. Manjit Singh GK said that section 2 of the agreement gave away ownership rights of the parking lots and a park built over it to NDMC, section 5 talks of transfer of ownership to NDMC after 25 years, section 6 for imposing charges on the parking, section 7 says NDMC can use the parking lot or any other purpose despite expenditure on construction made by DSGMC, section 12 and 14, about maintenance, security, expenditure on electricity, and section 14 has provisions of inscribing logo of NDMC on the entrance of the parking lot despite it being named after Master Tara Singh. “Under what compulsion these terms were agreed the Sikh Sangat must question Mr. Sarna,” asked Mr. G.K.

“Panth Rattan Baba Harbans singh Ji have carried kar Sewa of the parking lot at cost of Rs. 100 crore, collecting portion Sikhs’ earnings, and its handing over to the government has exposed Sarna brothers,” said Mr. G.K. who vowed that he would not let the parking lot passed on to NDMC at any cost.   

With thanks : Media DSGMC

Joti Jot Guru Nanak Dev- Delhi Samagam at G. Nanak Piau Sahib

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

FIBA to review headgear ban

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is ready to review its rule which prevents basketball players from wearing headgear for religious reasons. 

It's an impact of the strongest pressure made by the Sikh community worldwide. We must keep on maintaining this pressure till FIBA officially announces a change of rule.

SikhsIndia

FIBA to review headgear ban

Trying to douse hurt sentiments of Sikh and Muslim players, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is ready to review its rule which prevents basketball players from wearing headgear for religious reasons.

A controversy erupted at the FIBA-sanctioned Asia Cup in China this month after two Indian Sikh players were asked to remove their turbans ahead of the game and the world governing body said last week that its policy-making board will review the issue at an August 27 meet in Sevilla ahead of the World Cup.

“FIBA’s Central Board, which is ultimately responsible for changes to the Official Basketball Rules, will review these requests and decide how to proceed in the best interest of the sport,” the 214-nation governing body said in a statement.

Indian players, Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh, were told to remove their turbans by Chinese referees before playing Japan on July 12. The players argued that the rule had never been enforced on them before.

with thanks : The Hindu : LINK : for detailed news.

Taran Taran sahib 2 : SikhsIndia

Gurudwara Taran Taran sahib 1 : SikhsIndia

The 21 Sikhs of Saragarhi

A small body of Sikhs defended a vital North-West Frontier post against 10,000 Afridi and Orakzai attackers. Yesterday was the 117th anniversary of their heroic effort.

Britain’s Parliament interrupted proceedings and rose to give a standing ovation on September 12, 1897 to 21 valorous soldiers — all of them Indians, all of them Sikhs — for what was undoubtedly a tremendous act of collective bravery, and one of the greatest ‘last-stands’ in military history, the Battle of Saragarhi.

The North-West Frontier of undivided India, now a part of Pakistan known as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, is a harsh place. Embroiled even today in bloody conflict, it has been home to a multitude of battle-hardened tribes for centuries. In this tumultuous region, between the forts of Gulistan and Lockhart, which were built by one of India’s most proficient military commanders, Maharajah Ranjit Singh, is where Saragarhi is situated. As there was no visual contact between the two forts, Saragarhi was created as a heliographic communication post to signal between them.

with thanks : Business Standard : LINK : for detailed news.

Worshippers cleared of assault following brawl at Springwood's Sikh temple

Four worshippers have been cleared of assault following a brawl in a Huddersfield Sikh temple.

The fight broke out following prayers at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Prospect Street,Springwood, on February 2.

It is alleged that a worshipper objected to a speech being made by temple president Inderpal Randhawa and got up to interrupt him.

Other men supporting Mr Randhawa intervened and a fight broke out in which it was alleged that some elderly female members of the congregation were pushed to the floor.

with thanks : examiner : LINK : for detailed news.

British Army honours Sikh role in World War One

The British army has honoured the contribution made by Sikh soldiers during World War One.

Thousands of Sikhs from the Indian sub-continent fought and died for Britain during the conflict.

The commemoration at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst featured a re-enactment by 36 Sikh volunteers.

Kameldeep Singh Samra, from Birmingham explains why it is so important to remember the thousands of Sikhs who died fighting for the British Empire.

with thanks : BBC News : LINK