Gurmat Samgam at Festival park in Qutab Minar To Mark Tercentenary of Martyrdom of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur

To mark tercentenary of martyrdom of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) organised a Gurmat Samagam at festival park in Qutab Minar complex. Head priests, Nihang Singh Jathebandis, Sants, and political leaders took part in the Samagam. People from all over India and foreign countries in large number also took part in the Samagam that remembered Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.

Denial of permission by Delhi government to hold the Samagam at a park on which DSGMC is building Banda Singh Badhadur memorial was also matter discussion in the Samagam. On the occasion DSGMC President Manjit Singh G.K. gave one week ultimatum to the Delhi government to give permission to install statue of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur at the park being constructed by DSGMC. Prominent thadi of Sikh panth Tarsem Singh Moranwali sang waars in memory of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur announced that in case permission was not granted sangat would install the statue.

 Jathedar Shri Akal Takht Sahib Giani Gurbacan Singh, Jathedar Takht Shri Keshgarh Sahib Giani Mal Singh, Jathedar Takht Shri Patna Sahib Giani  Iqbal Singh, Head Granthi of Takht Shri Hazoor Sahib Baba Ram Singh,  President of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Avtar Singh Makkar, head Damdami Taksal Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, former Jathedar of Shri  Akal Takht Jasbir Singh Rode, Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Punjabi University Vice Chancellor  Dr. Jaspal Singh, Former Member Rajya Sabha Tarlochan Singh, Tarna Dal head Baba Nihal Singh, Budha Dal Head Baba Balbir Singh, Baba Bidhi Chand Dal Head Avtar Singh, and member of management committee of Hazoor Sahib were honoured with Siropas by DSGMC. A memento & Nanakshahi coin was also given.

Thakht Shri Hazoor Sahib honoured Manjit Singh G.K. . SGPC gave a cheque of Rs. 2 crore to DSGMC to support it efforts in organising the tercentenary programs. Takht Patna Sahib Management invited DSGMC to take part in 350^th Parkash Purab of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in January 2017.

Speaking on the occasion Giani Gurbachan Singh said that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur made land tillers as land owners and also involved common people as members of his government. He adds that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in true sense adopted Sikh tenents and ethos. He also thanked all the Sikh Jathebandis who took part in the tercentenary programs.

Speaking on the occasion Manjit Singh G.K. said that overwhelming response from the people to tercentenary programs is a source of inspiration for DSGMC. He also thanked all the Jathebandis which support tercentenary programs. Referring to the highhandedness of the governments from time to time on Sikhs, G.K. said that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was martyred by Mughals and innocent Sikhs were mercilessly massacred in contemporary times in 1965 and 1984.

Sirsa appealed to the Sikh masses to avoid internal rivalries within the Sikh Panth. Raising question that why Mughal and British history is shown to the tourists he suggested Sikh history should be projected before them which is full of sacrifice and self righteousness. Chief advisor of DSMC Kulmohan Singh and chairman of dharma parchar committee were the stage secretaries on the occasion.

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

DSGMC President Manjit Singh G.K.:"Udta Punjab "Movie Defames Sikhs

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management (DSGMC) President Manjit Singh G.K.alleged that Hindi movie "Udta Punjab' has shown Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular in a bad light and has put a question mark on the hardworking and patriot community. G.K. said that this has been conveyed to him by the Sikh and Punjabi intellectuals and thinkers who have seen the movie.

G.K. said that he had to seen the movie but had met a large number of viewers who have seen it and has said that the movie in a very subtle manner has attacked the image of the Sikhs.

G.K. reiterated that abusive dialogues have shown Punjabi culture and Sikhs in a bad light, because of which, he raised apprehension that non Punjabis would make a negative impression about Punjabis in general particularly the Sikhs.

He added that in a well thought about plan, a Sikh officer has been shown as involving a lead actress of the movie Alia Bhat in gang rape on number of occasions, and these scenes have no meaning in the movie and have been just imposed in the movie’s plot. This is done with the intention to create hatred towards Sikhs. Sikhs are a community of saviours who help the helpless, they are patriots who fight for the motherland, they are truthful, secular, hardworking, and respect dignity of women but this movie has shown opposite of that showing them as a looter and rapist.

G.K. raised serious objections on recital of Rehraas sahib path in the movie in the morning which is wrong as, as per Sikhs tenets  it is recited in morning. He also said comparing Punjab to Mexico, showing Sikhs as addicts, a patit Sikh in main lead role in the movie is named Tommy, a female doctor fighting against drugs getting killed by a Sikh, and a scene showing mother refusing to give money for drug killed by her son, are all showing Sikhs in poor light, and are causing insults to the Sikhs and have no truth in reality.

According to G.K. dialogues spoken by lead female actress who have been shown as coming to Punjab from Bihar in search of job, are imposing insult on Punjabis. “It is further derogatory that she is saying in the movie that she had started smoking cigarettes on coming to Punjab, which is ridiculous, and shows sick mentality and lack of knowledge of the movie maker about Punjab”, said G.K.

G.K. adds that the movie is silent about the cause of flow of drugs into Punjab. “Earlier the directors and producers of Hindi movie industry of our country have shown Sikhs as extremists and terrorists and now as drug addicts, which is not a good trend”, added G.K.

DSGMC President adds that support to this movie by a few organisations are playing petty politics and only defaming Punjab and Sikhs. Punjab’s farmers and youth still produce maximum food grains in the country which fed the entire country and the national hockey team has most of the players from Punjab, but a handful of people can’t digest their growth and prosperity, he added. He appealed to the Sikhs and Punjabis that such films which defame them should not be supported. 

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

HRD Minister Smiti Zubin Irani inaugurated Teaching-Learning Centre at SGTB Khalsa College,University of Delhi

New Delhi (1st july 2016 )

Union HRD Minister Smiti Zubin Irani today inaugurated Guru Angad Dev Teaching Learning Centre at the SGTB Khalsa College of the University of Delhi.  Named after the second Sikh Guru this Centre has been created under the Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Training (PMMMNMTT) of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Govt. of India. on the request of DSGMC Irani announce CBSE online essay competition on Baba Banda Singh bahadar .

Also present on the occasion were S. Manjit Singh GK ,President , Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee ,S. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, General Secretary, Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee and S. Tarlochan Singh, Former Member of Parliament and Chairman, Governing Body, SGTB Khalsa College. Prof K V Bhanu Murthy of Commerce Department, Delhi University and Prof N K Chadha , former professor of psychology.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said this is a unique institute in the sense that it has been created by some eminent teachers for the teachers. He especially lauded the efforts of Prof. A K Bakhshi, Chairperson of the Centre and Dr. Vimal Rarh, Joint Director of the Centre for their immense contributions in the field of e-learning including development of MOOCs.  She assured the newly created Centre of all help including  support for international collaborations.

Prof Yogesh Tyagi Vice-Chancellor University of Delhi applauded the creation of the Centre and assured it of all help and support. He said that with the help of MOOCs , higher education could reach to masses both rich and  poor.“The centre shall empower chemistry, commerce and economics senior secondary (+2) and higher education (both UG and PG)   teachers of India  in ICT skillsso as to equip them to impart digital education efficiently to their students” said Dr Jaswinder Singh, Director of the Centre and Principal of SGTB Khalsa College.

With Thanks : Media DSGMC

Bitter Truth : Indian Society

"Udta Punjab" leak: Torrent Site Owner Arrested by Mumbai Police

     Amritsar: Policemen guarding a local cinema hall on the release of movie Udta Punjab in Amritsar . (Source: PTI)

Udta Punjab's producers had lodged a complaint with the cyber crime police in Mumbai after a copy of the film with ‘for censor’ written on the top left was leaked on various torrent websites.

The owner of torrent site allzmovies.in was arrested by the cyber cell of Mumbai Police on Wednesday in connection with Bollywood movie Udta Punjab leaking online, two days ahead of its release in theaters. The first torrent of the movie reportedly appeared on the site.

The accused, identified as Dilip Kumar, was traced by a police team after conducting searches in Delhi.

“The complainant was informed that the said movie was leaked on internet on two separate links of website of Torrent.com. On downloading the movie it was revealed that the first sensor copy was stolen and uploaded on Torrent.com by user robby007,” a Mumbai Police statement said.

“During the investigation, it was revealed that website allmovies.com had uploaded the said link on its website. A team visited Delhi and adjoining areas and after diligent efforts Dipak Kumar was traced. He was summoned to the cyber police station, Mumbai, and after thorough investigation, his active role was revealed. He has been arrested,” it added.

Earlier, the film’s producers had lodged a complaint with the cyber crime police in Mumbai after a copy of the film with ‘for censor’ written on the top left was leaked on various torrent websites, thereby raising questions about role of the censor board — Central Board of Film Certification — in the leak.

However, CBFC chairperson Pahlaj Nihalani had rejected the allegations saying the board has nothing to do with the leak.

“The person responsible has already been identified and the leak will be tracked down. We will cooperate if we are approached as part of the investigation,” Nihalani said.

The makers of Udta Punjab struggled to remove copies of the movie that were available for download on torrent sites, but managed to remove most of them.

Link :http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/udta-punjab-leak-arrest-cbfc-censor-board-2869731/

Nimazees Fell Short of Prayer Mats, Sikh Trader Spread Merchandize

Srinagar: This Sikh man, hailing from Punjab, who ekes out a livelihood by selling cloth material on pavements here, has overnight turned into a hero online, at least on the social media, which is flooded with appreciation for his gesture of communal harmony.
The other day, the Musalees aspiring to offer Salah at Syed Karam Shah (RA) Masjid at Gole Market, Karan Nagar area were about to return dejected as there was no space left for them on prayers mats anywhere not even on the main road of this busy area.
This was exactly when Swaran Singh, selling cloth on the pavement, had surprise in store for them. The old man with long flowing beard complimentarily offered fresh suit pieces out of his stock as prayer mats.
Many of the Nimazees couldn’t believe their eyes that the man from another community was offering them his showcased suit pieces to be laid down on the main road. “Don’t worry, use it, what better can be its use than to offer prayers on it,” the old man said with a smile on his face only to draw appreciation from the bystanders.
While one of the men offered him some money in return, Singh replied: “This is no business. I do it to please the Almighty.”
Singh, a resident of Ludhiana, has been coming to restive Kashmir during summers, for several years. “I was a young man when I started coming to Kashmir to earn a livelihood. I owe a lot to the people of this land. Though media would often project a wrong picture of this place, I never found it unsafe,” he told Kashmir Observer while selling cloth outside the Karan Nagar Masjid after Zuhr Salah.
“This has been my favorite spot. It gives me solace to sell goods outside Masjid, where people pray to one Almighty, which is similarly true for Sikhism,” Singh said.
He said over the years he discovered that by offering some of the suit pieces to Nimazees doesn’t affect his business but actually brings fortune.  “My business has been doing well due to this and so I make it a point that no one on the road misses his prayers due to shortage of prayer mats,” he said.
The Masjid Intizaamiya is all praise for the vendor. While hailing Singh, Ghulam Qadir Batloo, the President of the Masjid Intizamiya, said: “This has been his contribution for several years that he is always ready to offer help to the Nimazees.”
Batloo said though the Masjid has a dedicated stock of prayer mats reserved for main roads, during Ramzan ,Musalees often outnumber prayer mats.
Interestingly, Singh would have continued to be an unsung hero had popular radio station 92.7 Big FM not highlighted his story of communal harmony.
It so happened, that RJ Sameen was headed for Salah at the Masjid, when he discovered the gesture only to share the story on air, even as he clicked some pictures on smart phone, to upload them on radio’s social media accounts, from where it went viral. “We are soon calling Mr Singh for an interview,” said a source at the radio station.
Link :https://kashmirobserver.net/2016/local-news/nimazees-fell-short-prayer-mats-sikh-trader-spread-merchandize-7740

B S Vohra (SikhsIndia Blog) - A Social Activist in Action !

Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s 300th Martyrdom Anniversary Observed at Large Scale in New Delhi

NEW DELHI—The Aam Aadmi Party led Delhi government observed the 300th martyrdom anniversary of Sikh general Baba Banda Singh Bahadur by organizing a light and sound show. The program was organized on June 19 at Central park in Rajiv Chowk by the Punjabi Academy that is being run by the Delhi government.Addressing the gathering on this occasion, the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, said that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur fought a mega war against cruel Mughal regime to defend the civil rights of common citizens. He added that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur obtained victory with limited resources to reinstate democracy in the province of Punjab.

The Delhi Government has also announced to rename the Barapullar flyover after Baba Banda Singh Bahadur.

Speaking at the event, Kejriwal added that Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was “a source of inspiration”.  “We come to know how to stand against injustice and fight against the atrocities of the oppressive rulers by knowing lives of such great personalities, ” Kejriwal said.

“Banda Singh Bahadur went to Punjab and won the great battle without many resources.  He gave relief to the common man and established a true democratic state in Punjab,” Kejriwal added.

Link :https://www.sikh24.com/2016/06/21/baba-banda-singh-bahadurs-300th-martyrdom-anniversary-observed-at-large-scale-in-new-delhi/#.V2nAuLt97IU

SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH SEWA DAL : Bravery Awards 2016 Ceremony & 138th Blood Camp

BRAVERY AWARDS 2016 FOR BLOOD DONORS & 138^thBLOOD CAMP BY SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH SEWA DAL

Spearheaded by NGO Founder Jitender Singh Shunty (Nagar Sewak), Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal (Regd.) & Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Foundation, organized “Bravery Awards 2016” for Blood Donors” for people having voluntary donated their blood over 50 times in their life span and motivating Blood Donation. Also 138^th Blood Camp was organized simultaneously by the NGO on this occasion where over 100 units of blood was successfully collected by the GTB Hospital Doctor’s team. The event was held on 21^st June 2016 at Hotel Park Plaza, CBD, Delhi. 

Prominent social workers and doctors were also honored on this occasion who have dedicated their lives to humanitarian cause. Among the recipient of Social bravery award, who have donated blood over 50 times or promoted and motivated Blood Donation extensively, the names included prominent social workers such as Sh. Jai Narayan Aggarwal (Social Worker), S. Jitender Singh Sonu, Mr. Vinay Narang, Sh. Saleem Ahmed, Sh. Vinod Bandal & Dr. Bharat Singh (Incharge GTB Blood Bank) among others. Also two prominent Doctor social workers namely Dr. VPS Chawla (MBBS) & Dr. Ashok Sharma (MD & Author) were conferred the prestigious Life Time Achievement Award for humanitarian services for last 40 years and last 25 years respectively. 

 Also Present on this occasion were NGO President Hanuman Lakhotiya, Gen Secretary, Rajender Jain, District President- Ramesh Gupta and President of NGO’s Ladies Wing- Smt. Manjeet Kaur Shunty. The founder Jitender Singh Shunty was also honoured on the occasion by Dr. Bharat Singh (Head GTB Blood Bank) who conferred Shunty on behalf of Delhi Government with an Award for donating blood 92 times. Shunty was handed over a certificate for the same.

The Chief guest on the occasion was Smt. Satya Sharma (Honorable Mayor- EDMC). The guest of honors were Sh. Rishi Pal (DCP- East Delhi), Sh. Mohanjeet Singh (IAS Officer), Commissioner EDMC, Sh. Jeetu Chaudhary (Chairman- Standing Committee EDMC), Sh. Mahender Ahuja (Deputy Chairman Standing Committee EDMC) & Sh. Ajit Kumar Singhla (DCP, North East Delhi). Also wheelchairs were donated to differently abled people on this occasion.

“Blood is priceless and those who motivate and promote blood donation actually deserve an honour. Therefore, in an unprecedented event, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal decided to honour social workers and prominent blood donors who have donated their blood voluntary over 50 times or extensively promote Blood Donation. This award is more an emotional applaud and such awards set the motivation of the donors high, who don’t demand anything but a recognition of their Noble deeds” said the founder,Jitender Singh Shunty.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal & amp; Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Foundation has been active in the service of mankind since 1995 in Delhi with the most useful services such as Free Hearse Van, Free Cremation, Free Ambulance, Free Blood Donation, Free Mortuary Box, Free Disaster Management and many other such services.

  With Thanks :Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sewa Dal

Schedule of Events organised by DSGMC Commemorating 300th Martyrdom Baba Banda Singh Bahadur

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Releases Silver Coin Commemorating Sikh Leader Banda Bahadur

New Delhi : Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley(right) being presented a commemorative silver replica coin of Banda Singh Bahadur after its release by him on the occasion of his 300th Martyrdom Day in New Delhi on Tuesday. PTI Photo by Subhav Shukla.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley today released commemorative silver coin to mark the 300th Martyrdom Day of Banda Singh Bahadur.

Bahadur is considered to be first sovereign ruler of Punjab.

Releasing the coins manufactured in association with MMTC, Jaitley said there is a need to educate people about the rich history and tradition of Punjab including its leaders like Banda Singh Bahadur.

He also suggested Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee to make a documentary on the life and times of Banda Singh Bahadur.

The leader had sacrificed his life at the age of 46 to protect honour and tradition. He established his rule by defeating Mughals in 1710. Later in 1716, he was captured and executed by Mughals in Delhi.

Link :http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/jaitley-releases-silver-coin-commemorating-sikh-leader-banda-bahadur