Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Gurmat samagam : please mail us details of your programme













SikhsIndia
15th September, 2009,

Sat sri akal,

If you are celebrating a Gurupurab or having a Keertan samagam in your area, please mail us details of your programme for wider coverage, for uploading on our Sikh web portal with around a LAKH HITS per month from all over the world. You can also mail the pics of the programme for uploading here.

It will be uploaded at : http://www.sohnijodi.com/gurmatsamagam.htm
as well on our Sikh blog : http://www.sikhsindia.blogspot.com/.

If you could add a line in your posters that "Details of the programme can also be viewed on Sikh Web Portal www.sohnijodi.com" , we will be thankful to you.

Best regards

sikhsIndia

Monday, September 14, 2009

Italian ambassador admires Sikhs wearing turban in Italy

September 13, 2009
Punjab: Italy does not mind more immigrants from India, provided they come legally, says Italy’s ambassador to India, a man who estimates that the number of illegal Indian settlers in Italy is over the half the number of legal immigrants.

“Apart from the movement of goods and investments, we consider movement of people of utmost importance for the overall growth of Italy. Immigrants from India have proved a boon for Italy as they are doing extremely well there,” Ambassador Roberto Toscano told IANS in an interview here.

“There are around 77,000 Indians who are legally residing in Italy and a large majority of them are from Punjab. But at the same time there is a huge population of illegal immigrants from India, that is around 40,000,” he said.

Toscano said Italians no longer “feel astonished when we see a Punjabi Sikh, with a turban on his head, moving on a bicycle on Italy’s roads. They have very well become a part of our society and we have also accepted their traditions and customs.
“There are many good, success stories of Indian immigrants, especially from Punjab, and we would like to stress on these.”

The ambassador was in Chandigarh to meet top functionaries in the Punjab government.
State Finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal discussed with Toscano the issue of Punjabi youth stranded in Italy after reaching there through illegal means.
“We are also concerned about the tendency of illegal immigration by Punjabi youth,” the ambassador told IANS. “Our government is already looking into this matter and we have assured the Punjab government that all possible help will be provided to such people in Italy.”

Italy, which attracts over 42.3 million tourists annually, wants to tap the tourism market from India.

“We are not geographically close to Punjab but our ambitions are same and we share many similarities with this country. In fact, we have a long history of association with Punjab and centuries-old ancient roman artefacts found here have proved our old links,” the ambassador said.

Italy is the seventh largest economy and sixth largest exporter of manufactured goods in the world.

With thanks : Source: Alkesh Sharma, IANS
SikhsIndia

Sikh leaders take over shrine in Haryana, evoke SGPC ire

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Kurukshetra/Chandigarh: Sikh leaders demanding separate SGPC for Haryana on Sunday took charge of a prestigious gurudwara here evoking sharp reaction from the apex body managing Sikh shrines which alleged that the move had the support of Bhupinder Singh Hooda government.

President of the self-appointed Haryana SGPC Jagdish Singh Jhinda said he had taken over the control of Chhavin Patshahi Gurudwara in Kurukshetra without facing any resistance from the shrine's present functionaries including its manager.

There were only two persons in the gurudwara complex who left soon after the take-over by the 'HSGPC', he said, adding that the step has been taken as the state government has "failed" to do justice to those demanding a separate SGPC for Haryana.

Strongly opposing the move, SGPC, the apex elected body managing affairs of Sikh shrines, accused Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government in Haryana of "supporting" few Sikhs in taking "forcible control" of the historical gurudwara and asserted that it will take back the shrine under its control at any cost.

"The Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government is supporting few Sikhs who carrying arms and ammunition took forcible control of a historic Gurudwara in Kurukshetra," SGPC Chief Avtar Singh Makkar said while leaving for Kurukshetra. "The SGPC will take back control of this Gurudwara at any cost," he said while lashing out at Hooda Government and the Kurukshetra district administration for their alleged inaction.

with thanks : source : http://www.zeenews.com/news563237.html

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UHRO demands release of Sikhs languishing in jails

Monday , Sep 14, 2009 at 0337 hrs

The Universal Human Rights Organisation (UHRO) has demanded the release and rehabilitation of Sikh men who are languishing in various jails. The NGO has sent a written representation to All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Rahul Gandhi on this.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, UHRO president Satnam Singh Dhaliwal, chief spokesperson Surat Singh Khalsa and chairman VP Singh said during militancy the Punjab Police had picked up several innocent Sikh youths, suspecting them to be terrorists. They said while some of them were killed in encounters, a number of them were still languishing in various jails of Punjab and other parts of the country.

The UHRO office bearers said they had now sent a representation to Rahul Gandhi. They said now that the Gandhi family and even Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had apologised for the Army action on the Golden Temple, the Congress-led UPA Government should immediately release those Sikh men from jails.

with thanks : source : http://www.indianexpress.com/news/uhro-demands-release-of-sikhs-languishing-in-jails/516741/

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Sunday, September 13, 2009

Team constituted to investigate burning of holy books

* Sindh Minority Affairs Minister Dr Mohan to head fact-finding mission; Saleem Khurshed, Pitamber Sewani to assistBy Amar Guriro

KARACHI: The Sindh government on Saturday constituted a high-level investigation team to probe into the incident of setting ablaze holy books of Hindus and Sikhs in Kandhkot.The government took this step after police authorities of district Kashmore failed to arrest the culprits involved in burning the books. Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Sindh, Dr Mohan Lal Kohistani will head this fact-finding mission, whereas minority MPAs Saleem Khurshed Khokhar and Pitamber Sewani would assist him as members of the committee. It is pertinent to mention that on September 5, some unidentified miscreants set ablaze religious books of Sikhs and Hindus in a mutual temple, the Guru Nanak Darbar at Kandhkot, in the northern district of the province. The incident panicked the Hindus and Sikhs throughout the province and Pakistan Hindu Foundation issued a call for three-day mourning, after which Hindus observed a shutter down strike in different districts of the province. “The culprits would not be forgiven at any cost and the Sindh government would soon put these miscreants behind the bars,” announced Kohistani. Addressing an emergency press conference at his office in Sindh Secretariat building with minority MPAs Saleem Khurshed Khokhar, Pitamber Sewani and others, Kohistani condemned the incident and said some miscreants just want to create panic among the religious minorities, but Sindh government assures the Hindus, Sikhs and other religious minorities that they would be protected at every level. “I have personally talked to the Sindh chief minister and he has assured that he would ensure justice with Sikhs for which the CM is in constant contact with IG, RPO and DPO concerned for the arrest of culprits and the CM has also directed home secretary and IG Sindh to conduct inquiry into the matter and submit the report within three-day time,” he said. Chairman Sikh Naujwan Sabha Sardar Ramjesh Sigh, Vice Chairman Sardar Jagjit Singh and others condemned the incident and demanded of the government of Pakistan to help the Hindus and Sikhs to arrest the culprits involved in the incident. Leading organisation of Pakistani Hindus, the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) is observing three-day mourning. “We believe that DPO Kashmore is behind these incidents, so we demand President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to lodge the FIR against DPO Kashmore,” said PHC president D M Maharaj. In a press statement, Provincial Home Minister Sindh Dr Zulfqar Mirza has directed police authorities to protect the religious minorities and their holy places. In another press statement MQM MPA Dr Haragun Das condemned the Kandhkot incident and has demanded immediate arrest of the culprits behind the incident.

with thanks : source : http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C09%5C13%5Cstory_13-9-2009_pg7_29

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Sikh scholar Harinder Singh Mehboob admitted in Jalandhar hospital

Punjab Newsline Network
Sunday, 13 September 2009

CHANDIGARH: Noted Sikh scholar Harinder Singh Mehboob has been admitted in a private hospital in Jalandhar for the treatment of prostrate gland.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal announced that the State Government would bear the entire expenditure on treatment of Harinder Singh Mehboob.

A spokesman of the Chief Minister’s office said that Badal had directed the Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar to personally visit Mehboob to ensure proper medical treatment and care. Badal said that the state government was committed for the welfare of the literary personalities who had immensely contributed towards the promotion of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat. He said it was a humble gesture on the part of government to extend free medical aid to Mehboob, the celebrated Sahit Akademi awardee and winner of Shiromani Kavi Award.
It may be recalled that several prominent literary organizations had approached Education and languages minister Dr. Upinderjit Kaur to provide free of cost treatment to the ailing writer. She had also deputed Director Languages Department to enquire well-being of Mehboob and extend all possible help to him in this hour of crisis.

with thanks : source : http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/18701/38/

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Sikh youth shot dead in Toronto

Toronto, Sept 12 (PTI) A 33-year-old Sikh man was shot dead in the Indian dominated city of Brampton here.Devinder Singh Gill was found injured after being shot at on early Friday morning, police who responded to an emergency call said.He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, local daily the Toronto Star reported.The shooting reportedly occurred after an altercation at a gathering at the house."We do not have a suspect description, and we are not even sure how many people we are looking for," Constable Adam Minnion was quoted as saying.No one has been arrested so far in the case and the weapon used to commit the crime has also not been recovered.


with thanks : source : http://www.ptinews.com/news/278071_Sikh-youth--Devinder-Singh-shot-dead-in-Toronto

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Friday, September 11, 2009

Sikh gurus portrait to go under hammer


























11 September 2009, 06:55am

NEW DELHI: A large oil on canvas portrait of the tenth and final Sikh Guru Guru Gobind Singh will be offered for sale at Sothebys New York Indian Art auction on September 17 2009. The work is one of the highlights of the early paintings in the sale and is estimated at $50,000-70 ,000. Guru Gobind Singh was the final contributor to the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, and declared that it was the highest and most permanent text in Sikhism. In this portrait he is seated wearing a plumed turban, with his head surrounded by a bright nimbus and a lake and mountains in the background adding to a sense of serenity.

This portrait is part of a series of four closely-related paintings depicting Guru Gobind Singh, where each portrait was painted in turn and acted as the inspiration for the next. The final work in the series was created by artist Hari Singh, and is now displayed at the Hazur Saheb Gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra; the site of Guru Gobind Singhs final congregation . Among the other Sikh works in the sale is The Ten Sikh Guru with Guru Nanak at Centre from the beginning of the 20th century that is estimated at $5,000-7 ,000. The work dates from a period when there was a big increase in the number of lithographs and painted photographs of Saints and divinities being produced.

The third Sikh miniature in the sale depicts Maharaja Ranjit Singh riding a stallion and carrying weapons, with two foot soldiers walking alongside. Ranjit Singh was known for his passion for horses as demonstrated by the jewels being worn by his current mount, the work is also estimated at $3,000-5 ,000.

The third Sikh miniature in the sale depicts Maharaja Ranjit Singh riding a stallion and carrying weapons, with two foot soldiers walking alongside . Ranjit Singh was known for his passion for horses as demonstrated by the jewels being worn by his mount in the painting, the work is also estimated at $3,000-5 ,000.

Sothebys is delighted to offer works of Guru Nanakji, Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Guru Gobind Singh from the 19th and 20th centuries. Miniatures are and always have been a connoisseurs market. these works have a niche but dedicated collector base. While the existing base is dominated by Europen, British and American collectors , it also includes a small group of non-resident Indians, says Maithili Parekh, deputy director at Sothebys .

with thanks : source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Sikh-gurus-portrait-to-go-under-hammer/articleshow/4997351.cms

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Proposed Federal Law Threatens Sikh

SikhsIndia
11th september, 2009

There are some interesting news items as below :

1. Proposed Federal Law Threatens Sikh 2. National Media Spotlights Oregon's Sikh Teacher Ban 3. Justice Department Takes Note of Oregon Issue 4. Another California Police Department Welcomes Sikhs 5. Sikhs Urged to Distribute Punjabi 'Know Your Rights' Material 6. Photos of Proud Sikhs Needed for New SALDEF Website.

These can be read at the source : http://saldef.org/content.aspx?a=3746

SikhsIndia
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Anti-Sikh riot victims get rehabilitation package

New Delhi, Sep 10 (PTI) Government today decided to extend the rehabilitation package to the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in order to fulfil an assurance given to Parliament.A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, gave its nod to extend the package to the left out states and Union Territories for which an outlay of Rs 714.76 crore has been earmarked."It is possible that all the relief supposed to have been given to the victims has not been given, so it has been extended to enable the Centre to fulfil its assurances given in Parliament," I&B Minister Ambika Soni said.The package was meant for providing assistance to the victims in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Delhi.

with thanks : source : http://www.ptinews.com/news/274712_Anti-Sikh-riot-victims-get-rehabilitation-package

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Sikh Mayor is a globe trotter

Thu, Sep 10, 2009 11:02:37

Former MSU alumnus and E.L. mayor Singh finishes 17 month trip spanning 46 countries
For former East Lansing Mayor Sam Singh, the dream began with a magazine. From the age of 12, Singh envisioned himself as a world traveler, creating imaginary itineraries while looking at National Geographic.

“I would get National Geographic magazines and write down places I wanted to see,” Singh said. “I always wanted to (travel) when I finished my undergraduate at MSU, but I got involved with politics and never really had the time. It was just a trip here or there, but nothing that was long-term.”

Sixteen years later, Singh’s dream became a reality as the former city official and MSU alumnus traveled for 17 months, crossing seven continents and 46 countries. Singh visited destinations including Egypt, South Africa and India beginning in January 2008 and wrapping up in May 2009.

Singh began the trip with a goodbye party in the Bahamas at the end of December 2007.
His parents were among the group of 20 family members and friends to send Singh off on his journey from the Bahamas.

“We were excited in terms of his travel,” said Karan Singh, Sam’s father. “Initially, he was going to take a year off. We were a little apprehensive about that.”

When Sam Singh, 38, first began making his plans, Michael Baird, a college friend, wasn’t sure it was really going to happen. But Baird said once Singh sets his mind on something, he does it.
“I think all of us didn’t think it was going to happen until it actually did,” Baird said. “He’s always talked about it, but we wondered, ‘Is he really going to do it?’ When we were making arrangements to go to the Bahamas to see him off, it was like, ‘Wow, he’s really going to do it.’”
For five years, Sam Singh was saving his money to prepare for the trip, but that wasn’t what he originally planned on doing with his savings.

“I had some money saved up to get a masters in business, but then I thought I was never going to have a chance to travel, so I used the money and spent time on the road,” he said.
The travel destinations Sam Singh chose revolved around the events and places he wanted to see. From running a half-marathon in Antarctica, to attending the Olympics in China, to working with Habitat for Humanity in Costa Rica and volunteering with an orphanage in Tanzania, he started crossing things off his list.

“I’ve always worked in nonprofit organizations and have been active in volunteering since my time at MSU,” Singh said. “While traveling on my sabbatical, I wanted to learn a lot through volunteerism, whether working directly or going to international nonprofit organizations and just visit to see how they work, in order to have better learning experience while traveling.”
Before he was mayor, Singh served as the president and CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association. Kyle Caldwell, who now holds Singh’s former position, wasn’t surprised that his former colleague volunteered while on his trip. Caldwell considers Singh a centered person who knows what he wants out of life and serving others.

“He’s one of those people who thinks his work and his goals in life are all intertwined,” Caldwell said. “He is able to get a tremendous amount of work done as well as enjoying it.”
With the help of technology, Singh was able to maintain communication with those back in the U.S. by keeping a blog.

“We tried to talk to him every now and then and we were following on his Web site, almost continuously,” Karan Singh said.

Of all the countries Sam Singh traveled, the beauty of Antarctica surprised him the most.
“I thought it would be cold and bare land,” he said. “To be surrounded by penguins and all those other things was just amazing. It’s place that’s isolated from human touch.”

Singh returned to the U.S. in May and began working with the Public Policy Associates and New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan in the hope of spreading what he learned during his travels.

Lisa Sommer, media relations manager for the Michigan Nonprofit Association, worked with Sam Singh before and after his trip. Sommer said he has become more worldly but still is looking to make a change in the local community.

“The fact that what’s happening here makes a difference and he makes a bigger connection of what we do here in our community,” Sommer said. “I’ve always seen that in him. Now he’s had the opportunity to see it full-circle.”

On Oct. 1, Sam Singh will give a lecture at the Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road, about his experiences and the importance of becoming a global community.

In addition to working with various nonprofit organizations, Sam Singh said he’s working on an outline for a book and participating in a series of public discussions about his travel and his advocacy for East Lansing to become a more global community.

“I want to be able to capture the experience I had, but also document the ideas I had to foster a global community,” Singh said.

Though he said traveling the world instead of attaining a graduate degree was a difficult decision, Singh said he doesn’t regret the choice he made because his biggest fear was not taking the opportunity.

“It was so gratifying to be able to do what I did. It was an incredible learning experience,” Singh said. “I look back and wonder, ‘Did that really happen?’ It’s one of those life experiences that I will take with me wherever I go.”

Source: State News

with thanks : http://www.emgonline.co.uk/news.php?news=7292

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