Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Second Sikh school approved for Birmingham as Government gives go ahead for more free schools : birminghampost


The first Sikh-ethos secondary school in Birmingham is to open its doors next year after it received the green light from Education Secretary Michael Gove.
Nishkam Trust, which this year opened a primary school in the city, will receive funding to launch its secondary school in September 2012, Mr Gove said.
The trust is linked to a major Gurdwara, or Sikh temple, in Soho Road, Birmingham.
But its schools are designed to serve every part of the community and to admit children from all religions.
The new secondary is one of 55 new free schools given approval by the Government.
Others include a proposed school called the Excellence Academy, in West Bromwich.
A school called the Rural Enterprise Academy will open in Staffordshire and a primary school called Barrow 1618 is planned for Shropshire.
On top of these, Mr Gove announced the creation of 13 new University Technical Colleges, modelled on the successful JCB Academy in Rocester, Staffordshire.

with thanks : link above for detailed news.

First Sikh High Court judge is sworn in: Lawyer is only second from ethnic minority background to be promoted


The first Sikh judge of the High Court was sworn in at the Royal Courts of Justice yesterday.

Rabinder Singh QC, a colleague of Cherie Blair at the human rights barristers’ chambers Matrix, is only the second lawyer from an ethnic minority background to be promoted to the senior level of the judiciary. 

Mr Singh, 47, is the son of Indian immigrants. He won a local council scholarship to the independent Bristol Grammar School and went on to Cambridge.

He has made a name as one of the country’s most prominent human rights lawyers since becoming a barrister 22 years ago.

with thanks : Dailymail : link above for detailed news.












SikhsIndia

Sikh temple a labour of love : Edmonton Journal


Volunteers continue to expand Nanaksar gurdwara 22 years after construction began.


Weather-worn sheets of plywood shield a makeshift cement plant in a back corner behind the Nanaksar gurdwara.


It says everything about this handson labour of love still growing as it enters its third decade in the northeast corner of Edmonton. The Sikh temple has been built with the coins and small bills dropped in the prayer room collection box, and with volunteer labour from as far away as England and India. University students spend their summers laying tile. They don't hire contractors.

"It's love, that's what it is," said Sehejpal Athwal, a 24-year-old customer sales rep for HSBC from England. He's spending most of his 11-day vacation visiting his brother and volunteering on-site.

They come because they work beside their Baba Ji, or religious leader, he said. "They give us love, we love them and they teach us to love one another. You all learn to love and become one. It makes a better world."

The dome of the temple now towers 10 storeys above the surrounding fields, but though they started in 1989, the Sikhs are not done building. Construction started on a new north wing designed to house a language school. Community leaders also have plans for a student residence, and perhaps a funeral home and a seniors residence, on the 36-hectare site.

But even though the spot is alone in the middle of a field off Manning Drive, it's the centre of a fast-growing Punjabi community in the north end. A crowd of more than 1,000 is expected to drive out for the fullmoon celebrations Tuesday night, and more than 2,000 for the fireworks on Oct. 26 marking Diwali, the festival of lights.

The hub of this community is tucked in the back, in a kitchen where 80-year-old hands roll the corn roti, strip mint leaves and wash spinach. Especially on weekends and full-moon days, the big main floor kitchen, with its six gas burners and pots the size of wine barrels, will be a hive of busy activity.

The Sikh community celebrates every full moon to remember their founder, Guru Nanak Devji, who was born on a full-moon day in 1469. He founded the Sikh religion to counter the strict focus on caste in the Hindu religion at the time, and started the practice of eating together.

"Anyone from any caste or religion, no matter how poor or rich, everybody sat together and had langar, which is food," said Jass Sekhon, a retired small-business owner who volunteers in the kitchen at least once a week.

with thanks : link above for detailed news story.

"He was trying to bring equality," she said. "They can never stop anyone from coming in to have langar here."

The Nanaksar gurdwara is the largest of four temples in Edmonton serving a community of about 12,000 Sikhs. It's the only one that has food seven days a week, Sekhon said.

The temple opens at 3 a.m., when the first priest comes in to start reading from the holy book in the upstairs prayer room. The first kitchen volunteers come in at 5: 30 to prepare breakfast. Others arrive later to make lunch and keep food available through the day. They serve community members, construction volunteers, school groups and anyone who stops in to learn about the Sikh faith, said Zora Grewal, vice-president of the Edmonton branch.

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Sunday, October 9, 2011

After fresh intel inputs, Sajjan’s security increased


The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decided to strengthen the security cover for Sajjan Kumar, accused in 1984 anti-Sikh riots, after the President rejected the mercy plea of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, a former militant of Khalistan Liberation Force.
Kumar is undergoing trial in two anti-Sikh riot cases, being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI). He already enjoys Z-plus security.
The decision was taken after the MHA asked for a report from the Special Cell of Delhi Police. “We have to submit a report on a routine basis to the MHA. While analysing his security, we realised that he was under threat from Punjab militants. So we gave a favourable report. The MHA took the decision accordingly,” said a senior police officer.
Kumar is facing trial for the killing of six persons by a mob in Delhi during the riots. CBI had filed two chargesheets against Kumar and others in the riots cases, registered in 2005 on the recommendation of Justice G T Nanavati Commission, which inquired into the sequence of events leading to the riots.

with thanks : Indian Express : link above.

Thousands of Sikh pilgrims due next month

LAHORE: Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Asif Hashmi has said that thousands of Sikh pilgrims from different parts of the world will visit their religious places in Pakistan amid tight security and state-of-the-art facilities as part of the birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak in November. 


He was addressing a high-level meeting of the board officers, including Secretary Junaid Ahmad, Zahid Hussain Bukhari, Faraz Abbas, Umar Sharif and Guru Dawara Parbandhak Committee chief Sardar Sham Singh while the military, Rangers, police and other officials were also present in the meeting. 


Hashmi said that the board had already made arrangements to provide housing and food to thousands of pilgrims.




with thanks : link above

Pair hurt in cooking explosion at Dundee Sikh temple


Two women have been taken to hospital with leg injuries after an explosion at a Sikh temple in Dundee.
The incident, which happened at Sri Guru Nanak Gurdwara on Nelson Street at about 09:00, is thought to have involved a pressure cooker.
Two women, aged 50 and 32, who were in the kitchen at the time were treated at the scene before being taken to Ninewells Hospital.
with thanks : BBC News : link above for detailed news

Sikh soldiers to be honoured in UK

LONDON: Sikh soldiers who fought with British troops in conflicts around the world will be honoured in the UK by showcasing the 'Khanda', which is one of the important symbols of Sikhism, and reflects the sacrifices and contribution of the Indian-origin community. 

The charity organisation that raises funds for soldiers who served or are serving in Britain's armed forces will honour Sikh soldiers this year by including the Khanda in its annual Poppy Appeal. 

The appeal is organised annually by the Royal British Legion, and is held on 'Remembrance Sunday', which this year falls on November 13. 

In this year's appeal in Leicestershire - which has a significant Sikh population - the Khanda will join the Christian cross, the Jewish Star of David and the Muslim Crescent which have been introduced in recent years. 

The Khanda, made up of a solid circle, two interlocked swords and a double-edged sword, will be on sale alongside poppies and the other wooden emblems. 



with thanks : PTI : Economic Times : link above for detailed news



Happy Gurupurab

Friday, October 7, 2011

INVITATION: Sikh International Film Festival and Leadership Event in New York City



Highlights:
  • International Film Festival highlights Sikh culture and traditions through features, documentaries and short films
  • Panel of Sikh leaders to discuss their journey into leadership positions
  • For more information on tickets and how to participate visit www.sikharts.com
New York, NY: UNITED SIKHS would like to extend an invitation to community members to attend two events in coming weeks: the Sikh International Film Festival on October 8, 14 and 15, 2011 and a Sikh Leadership Event on October 13, 2011. The events are hosted by Sikh Arts and Film Foundation and are held in New York City. 
Film Fest

Sikh International Film Festival 2011:

This year, films and documentaries featured at the festival address a variety of issues such as the farmer suicides in India, bullying of school children, drug addiction to name a few. Details of films with short write-ups are included on this weblink. Winners of the short films and documentaries will be judged by a distinguished panel of judges.

On the 8th of October children’s films will be shown at the Hofstra University, Student Center, in New York.

The schedule for the Film Festival is as follows:
Saturday, 8th October: Hofstra University, Student Center (11:30 am – 2:30pm)
Friday, October 14th : Featuring Session (7:00pm 10:00pm)
Asia Society and Museum, 725 Park Avenue, New York, NY
Saturday, October 15th: Short Films (11:30am – 1:30pm), Documentaries (2:00pm – 5:00pm)

To purchase tickets to the Film Festival, please visit: www.sikharts.com

Leadership Summit

Sikh Leadership Summit

Youth members of the community are highly encouraged to attend the leadership session which will focus on the nexus between diversity, mentorship, community service, and leadership development in one's career. The details of the event are as follows: 

Thursday, October 13th
Location: Asia Society & Museum, 725 Park Avenue, New York, NY 
Panel Session (7:00pm–8:30pm):  

Panelists
Gurinder Chadha, Internationally Acclaimed Director / Writer
Mohanbir S. Sawhney, Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation Clinical Professor of Technology & Director of the Center for Research in Technology & Innovation, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
Gurvendra S. Suri, Founder and CEO, Optimal Solutions Integration, Inc.

Moderator: Matthew Breitfelder, Managing Director & Chief Talent Officer, BlackRock

Networking Reception : 8:30pm – 9:30pm : Network with peers and a diverse array of industry professionals

To reserve your complimentary tickets for the leadership event, please write to us at: contact@unitedsikhs.org or call 1-646-688-3525 | 888-243-1690

Issued by:
Mankanwal Singh
1-516-698-8546
unitedsikhs-usa@unitedsikhs.org

Sikh group seeks action against Nath in Belgium


New York: A US-based Sikh advocacy group has approached the Belgium government seeking criminal prosecution and arrest of Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath, who is scheduled to visit Belgium next week, for his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
In a letter sent to Belgium Prime Minister Yves Leterme, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has said Nath should be denied entry into the country and criminal prosecution must be initiated against him.
Nath is scheduled to attend and address the 5th EuroIndia Summit on October 13, 2011 in Leuven, Belgium.

with thanks : IBNLive : link above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia