Attorney General ( US) Eric Holder Thanks the Sikhs for the Sewa Award

U.S Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder, warmly accepted the Sewa Award from the Sikhs in Washington at the headquarters of the Department of Justice.

As head of the Justice Department which is one of the largest agencies of the United States government, Eric Holder, while accepting this honour from the Sikhs, said, “I am honoured to receive this award and this is something that I receive on behalf of the men and women of the Department of Justice."

He appreciated the relationship between the Sikhs and the US government and said,  "We have tried to foster a spirit of cooperation and understanding between those of us in government and the people that we serve. The Sikh community has been critical part of our efforts to reach to many communities here in the United States."

He promised Sikhs for future cooperation and support and said, "I want to thank you again for this recognition. This is just an indication of where we are but also a pledge on part of the Justice Department that this relationship continues and it is enhanced in future."

Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, based in Rockville, MD, along with the National Sikh Center, honoured the Top lawyer of the United States as part of the Vaisakhi celebrations. According to the Chairman of GGSF, Inder Paul Singh Gadh, every year, the Foundation chooses to honour an individual or an organization which contributes towards the betterment of the Sikh community worldwide. 

Gadh said, "This year, we felt that there is no one more deserving than Mr. Eric Holder, the 82nd Attorney General of the United States, who has contributed tremendously towards the betterment of the Sikhs in the United States."

Eric Holder was honored with a Siropa (a robe of honor) and a Sewa Service Award. Seven members of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation were present during this ceremony at the headquarters of the Department of Justice in the nation’s capital.

A special prayer was performed in a room, which previously was home to Robert Kennedy's office, while the Sikhs clasped their hands in prayer in the presence of the nation's chief lawyer.  A traditional prayer called ardas was performed with a special blessings being sought for the Attorney General and for the nation.  A robe of honor was presented and placed around Eric Holder's neck in a traditional Sikh manner. In addition, an honorary plaque and a book on Sikhs were presented to Mr. Holder.  He was also presented a Phulkari, a traditional Punjabi embroidered shawl with bright floral craft by Romi Kaur Sawhney, the Executive Director of GGSF. The Attorney General thanked the Sikhs while wearing this honorary robe and the shawl.

Dr. Rajwant Singh, Secretary of the GGSF, who also performed the prayer for Mr. Holder, said "We are very grateful to the Attorney General for his exemplary service to the nation and for his positive role in assuring that all communities, including the Sikh community, are safe during these challenging times especially in the aftermath of the terrible shooting at the Oak Creek Gurdwara. Honoring him in the spirit of the Sikh holiday Vaisakhi, which teaches us to stand up for the rights of others, is an honorable thing to do in my opinion."

Dr. Singh added, "We feel that the Attorney General's role on race issues is also bold and decisive, and has added a constructive dialogue in confronting challenging issues. Him being  a minority person in this high position certainly has given inspiration to kids from all minorities especially Sikhs to aspire for this high office."

Harminder Singh Jassal, a board member of GGSF said, "On behalf of the entire Sikh community, we wanted to express our deep appreciation and support for his courageous leadership for supporting Sikhs and other minorities for protecting their civil rights and freedom and religious expressions. We all prayed for him and the DOJ staff and for the entire nation."

Romi Kaur said “It was a very exciting moment for all Sikhs, especially for GGSF to be invited to the Attorney General's office for a one-on-one meeting. It was an historic event. Attorney General Holder was very gracious in receiving the plaque. I believe he was genuinely humbled and pleasantly surprised by our gesture.”

Chattar Singh Saini, Board Member of GGSF and the Chairman of the National Sikh Center, said, "The Department of Justice under the leadership of Eric Holder has served the nation well and we as a community have been helped by sensitivity training programs, know your rights seminars, and various programs by the DOJ. The recent inclusion of the monitoring of the hate crimes against the Sikhs is especially notable. These solid steps are beneficial to hundreds of thousands of Sikhs in the USA and members of other communities as well. We are thrilled to give him this award on behalf of the Sikhs."

The DOJ has recently started tracking hate crimes against Sikhs. This will produce Sikh-specific data on how many hate crimes Sikhs endure, and the overall kinds of biases people of South Asian descent face.

This moment was also an unforgettable for members of the Sikh community. Arvinder Singh, Treasurer of GGSF, said "I feel very excited to be at the DOJ headquarters while we are honoring a cabinet member of President Obama. Eric Holder as an attorney of the United States has shown that he cares for the Sikhs. He deserves to be honored.”

Ravi Singh, Board member of GGSF and Coordinator of GGSF's Outreach Committee, said, "Today the Sikh community honored AG Eric Holder with the Sewa (Service) Award for his dedication and hard work to bring justice to all Americans and especially keeping minorities and their rights in perspective. We are all safe and living peacefully due to all the efforts to keep us and our nation safe by AG Eric Holder, the DOJ and the Obama administration. It was an honor to meet the AG and visit the historical DOJ building. The AG was so gracious and received us with such warmth. We have extended him the invitation to visit the GGSF Gurudwara and hope to see him with his family in the near future."

Last year GGSF had honored Brian Murphy of Oak Creek Gurdwara who was hit with 15 bullets while he fought with a gun man who killed Sikhs in the Wisconsin Gurdwara in 2012.

  
























With Thanks :Sikhs Helping Sikhs

Attorney General Eric Holder Honored by Sikhs in Washington, DC

Baisakhi Mela at Sint-Truiden,Belgium

With Thanks : Kaur Pritty,Sint-Truiden,Belgium

64th Annual Day at SGTB Khalsa College,University of Delhi

On the occasion of 64^th Annual Day of SGTB Khalsa College, a large gathering of social workers, scholars, teachers, parents and students assembled at Master Tara Singh Auditorium, in the college premises on 21st April 2015.. S. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Finance Minister of Punjab, alongside Chairman of the college Governing Body and former Chairman of the Minorities Commission of India S. Tarlochan Singh graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest. The college has instituted over eighty awards and scholarships for excellence in academics, sports, extra-curricular activities which were distributed on this occasion.

               

Dr. Jaswinder Singh, Principal, shared the yearlong academic and co-curricular activities of the college in his opening speech. This was followed by the Chief Guest’s address, who emphasised on the need for skill based training and articulated the importance of education in one’s life. S. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, General Secretary, DSGMC (Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee), in his address encouraged the students to pursue their dreams consistently, aspire for excellence. Present amongst the dignitaries were the members of the DSGMC along with educationists from the University of Delhi.

With Thanks : MEDIA DSGMC

#india4india - on the journey of doing right

Boating for fun & masti is very common in every part of the world, but have you ever heard about a school on a boat ? Yeah ! this thought came into the mind of Ajeet singh, whose only aim was to DO RIGHT. He found small kids of fisherman, wasting their time and energy, aimlessly, on the banks of river Ganges in the Varanasi city. On his journey of doing right, for the small kids, he thought of educating them on a boat, under the banner of NGO GURIA.

All of us know & understand very well that for the economic growth of our country, the basic education for the kids is a must. But do you know that currently, we have the largest number of illiterates in the world ? Do you think, we can achieve our growth targets with such a large force of unguided illiterates. Our economy can grow at a much higher rate and our GDP can also touch the peak if we could concentrate on the education of these deprived children. 

Varanasi boat club has set an example for all those who want to do something for the society. We must come forward to support Ajeet Singh by helping him in his noble cause. Please log on to the website http://doright.in/ to understand the entire concept and come forward to stand by him so that more & more kids could join the group of literates in our country. We must keep in mind that such views are very common in almost every part of our country & every rupee spent by us for this noble cause will lead to the Economic growth of our country.

Those visiting Varanasi for various religious commitments must come forward for the education of poor kids by providing them #scholorship so that more & more students could lead a settled life which is the foundation stone for the development of any country.

We must come forward for the magical transformation of all such kids by giving them an opportunity to get educated in an ideal learning environment as provided by Ajeet singh, to the poor children of fisherman, by way of a boat school. I am sure that you too will join us for spreading the spirit of DOING RIGHT for this common cause as being done by Tata Capital, #India4India, so that more & more children could be accommodated on the path of development and glory.

31st Annual Day of Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce

Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce of Delhi University (Pitampura) organized its 31st Annual Day & Prize Distribution Function on 15 April 2015 at the Sahibzada Ajit Singh Auditorium in its premises.

 Former Union Finance Minister Shri Yashwant Sinha graced the event as the chief guest along with the presence of  other dignitaries MP & Former Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Sardar Manjit Singh GK President DSGMC & Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa General Secretary DSGMC who as guest of honor added grace to the event as well as awarded the  meritorious students in various streams who have scored good rank in the university and highest marks in their classes.  Also present on the occasion was S. Bhpinder Singh Anand, Chairman, Governing Body, and S. Harpreet Singh Jolly, Treasurer, Governing Body.

Apart from the students, felicitation of the staff on completion of 25 years of service by Chief Guest and Guest of honors was also the highlight of the event.

Speaking on this occasion, former union minister & Chief Guest Shri Yashwant Sinha said, “I am highly delighted to see that the students of the college are really doing well in academics as well as other extracurricular activities. The effort of the institution for building the future of the students is commendable and I congratulate the entire team of the college, students and parents for this grand success. SGGCC is doing a commendable job in preparing the students for a better tomorrow because these are the ones who are going to lead the nation in the next decade.  Kudos to the college for preparing students to encounter professional challenges, instilling in them the desire for life-long learning, and the critical thinking and versatility needed to prevail in the global marketplace.”

Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said. “It’s good to know that the institution is doing well in almost all the streams.  With so many courses under one umbrella, SGGSCC is dedicated for advancing the theory and analysis of commerce, economics and management.  My sincere good wishes for the grand success of the institution and I congratulate the entire team for putting up such a great function.”

Addressing the audience Dr. Jatinder Bir Singh Principal of Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, Pitampura said, “I am proud to lead an institution specializing in business, commerce and economic studies and named after great tenth Sikh Guru. Our college started its corporate life with handful of students, limited faculty, little property, but a determined mission of imparting higher education and keeping cultural heritage intact. This courageous dream has guided our college for the past two and half decades and made it the leading center of discovery and learning that it is today. It is our collective efforts, however, that make this college such a vibrant place to learn, to work, and to explore.”

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

Khalsa Sirjana Diwas Samagam at Gurdwara Majnu Ka Tilla

With Thanks : MEDIA DSGMC

3rd day of Besakhi, Sikh pilgrims from all over the world participated

HASAN ABDAL (Dunya News) – Three days celebration of Sikh’s spring festival ‘Besakhi’ ended on Tuesday in Gurdawara Panja Sahab, Hasan Abdal. Federal Minister of Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf and Chairman Evacuee Trust Sadeeq Alfarooq were the chief guests of the last day of ‘Besakhi’.

Sikh pilgrims from all over the world including women and children, participated in the annual festival. Pilgrims performed their religious rituals at Gurdawara Panja Sahab for 4 days.

Assembly members from Sikh minority also addressed the pilgrims on the last day. Sikh delegates said that they are thankful to Pakistan government for taking care of their needs and providing them security despite all the fears of terrorism. 

with thanks : dunyanews : LINK

A pilgrim’s journey through Punjab

VANCOUVER DESI

The Golden Temple, Amritsar is the most sacred of Sikh shrines, the Golden Temple, is a major pilgrimage destination for devotees from around the world, as well as, an ever-increasing popular tourist attraction. Also part of the complex is the seat of the Sikh temporal authority, the Akal Takhat, the foundation of which was laid in 1606 by Guru Hargobind, who felt that the Sikh faith required a martial tenor. e ground oor of the Akal Takhat was ready by 1774 while the rest of the ve-storied edi ce was completed during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. e present building of the Takht is of a more recent vintage as it was rebuilt following its destruction in 1983 during Operation Blue Star.

Dukhniwaran Sahib, Patiala Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran Sahib is built on the site where Guru Tegh Bahadur, on appeal from villagers, sat under a banyan tree to rid their malaise-a ected village of its disease. Translated, dukh nivaran means eradicator of su ering, and the sarovar (tank) here is believed to have healing properties. An extensive covered area has been provided to facilitate devotees who wish to bathe in it.

Sri Takht Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib Takhat Sri Keshgarh Sahib is the principle shrine in Anandpur Sahib. is is the historic site where, on the day of Vaisakhi in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh initiated his followers into the order of the Khalsa (Sikh nation). Legend maintains that the Guru requested those present to volunteer their heads to him.

with thanks : vancouverdesi : LINK : for detailed news story.

Congressional resolution greets Sikhs on Baisakhi

A bipartisan Congressional resolution, highlighting Sikh community's "tremendous contributions" in the US, has greeted people across the globe on the occasion of Baisakhi. 

"America's founding ideals of freedom of worship, equality, and justices are reflected in the Sikh American community's celebration of Baisakhi. With this Resolution, I am saying thank you and wishing Sikhs across America and around the world a joyous Baisakhi," said Congressman John Garamendi, the lead sponsor of the resolution and Co-Chair of the American Sikh Congressional Caucus. 

Garamendi along with other legislators and civil rights' advocates recently welcomed the FBI's inclusion of Sikhs, Hindus, and Arab Americans in its hate crime tracking manual, a change they had pushed for. 

Garamendi's office is presenting the manual to police departments in his district. 

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

Sikhs and Tamils celebrate their New Year in Singapore

SINGAPORE: Many Indian communities, including the Tamils and Sikhs, are celebrating their New Year this week.

The Sikhs celebrated Vesakhi on Tuesday (Apr 14). The community also kicked off a series of celebrations to mark SG50. The light-up at the Central Sikh Temple, along Towner Road, on Tuesday evening marked the highlight of the 300-year-old festival.

The community has also organised a slew of activities, such as Sikh Environment Day and Saviour Day (Rakhewala) for the month of April. In May, the spotlight will be on how Sikh ladies celebrate SG50 with the Women's Festival.

There will also be awareness campaigns around the narratives surrounding Sikhism, including the importance of the turban and Sikh family life.

with thanks : channelnewsasia : LINK : for detailed news.