Saturday, June 13, 2020
“Equality is to be earned and fought for" :Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter – UNITED SIKHS Joins Nationwide Protests
Following the shocking murder of George Floyd, the world witnessed people across the globe uniting to raise their voice against systemic racism and police brutality. In support of the racial justice movement in the United States, UNITED SIKHS volunteers distributed meal packages consisting of vegetarian food and water bottles to the protesters at Los Angeles City Hall.
UNITED SIKHS along with Mayor Ali Taj, participated in the candlelight vigil held in the memory of George Floyd in the City of Artesia, California.
“Equality is to be earned and fought for. The death of George Floyd is evident that we still have a long way to go. Sikhs have always stood for justice and freedom and stand with Black Lives Matter as this is the need of the hour,” said Meetan Kaur, Associate Director of UNITED SIKHS.
Participating in the Hungry for Change Rally in Dallas, Gurvinder Singh, UNITED SIKHS International Director for Humanitarian Aid said, “UNITED SIKHS strongly believes that silence is not an option during times of crises and need. We must rise and join our brothers and sisters who are peacefully protesting to ensure that justice for all rings true for all. Black Lives Matter must resonate as those who have been marginalized must be allowed to come forth from the shadows. Sikh history is replete of standing against oppression and we must continue to carry that legacy forth.”
Langar (community kitchen) seva (selfless service) by the Sikh community is a common form of service through reverence and UNITED SIKHS volunteers demonstrated that with action to assist the Black Lives Matter protests across the nation. If you would like to help serve in a local protest or if you or someone you know needs help with food, daily essentials, PPE or legal assistance, please call our national helpline UMEED at (855)-878-6333.
Remember to practice your faith fearlessly and follow it up with tangible actions to make this world more robust and just for us all. We owe it to our history, we owe it to our elders, we owe it to our children and we owe it to ourselves.
"Till justice rains down on all."
2020’s Pilgrimage to Sri Hemkunt Sahib suspended for indefinite time
CHANDIGARH,Punjab—In the wake of prevailing unfavorable circumstances due to coronavirus pandemic, the annual pilgrimage to hilly Sikh shrine Gurdwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib has been suspended for an indefinite period. Notably, the pilgrimage to Sri Hemkunt Sahib usually begins in June every year and lasts till September.
Narinderjit Singh Bindra, vice president of Sri Hemkunt Sahib Management Trust, has informed that they have decided to suspend annual pilgrimage for an indefinite time as the government has also not released any advisory in this concern. “It’s not possible to make adequate arrangements for the pilgrimage without the government’s support,” he added.
Sewa Singh, the manager of Gurdwara Gobind Ghat, informed that he visited Sri Hemkunt Sahib on May 23 to take stock of the situation. “A 25 feet thick and 300 feet long layer of snow is present at Atlakoti (near Sri Hemkunt Sahib) due to more snowfall this,” he said while adding that the building of Gurdwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib is surrounded by 12-15 feet thick layer of snow.
It is pertinent to note here that the snow deposited on the path leading to Sri Hemkunt Sahib is removed by the India Military every year.
https://www.sikh24.com/2020/05/25/2020s-pilgrimage-to-sri-hemkunt-sahib-suspended-for-indefinite-time/#.XuQ7GtUzbIUFriday, June 12, 2020
2nd Lt. Anmol Kaur Narang :Indian-American makes history as first observant Sikh to graduate from West Point
Sikhs have been always making their community proud by their achievements around the world. Amid the coronavirus tension, Anmol Kaur Narang has become the first Sikh girl to graduate from West Point – The U.S. Military Academy.
President Trump was scheduled to give the commencement address to the Class of 2020.
A second-generation immigrant born and raised in Roswell, Georgia, 2LT Narang was influenced early in life to join the military by her ancestral history, according to a press release from the Sikh Coalition, a U.S.-based advocacy organization.
Narang’s maternal grandfather served in the Indian Army. She began her application for West Point the afternoon after her family visited Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Honolulu, Hawai’i.
Narang’s maternal grandfather served in the Indian Army. She began her application for West Point the afternoon after her family visited Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Honolulu, Hawai’i.
She attended one year of undergraduate study at the Georgia Institute of Technology before transferring to West Point, where she studied nuclear engineering with the objective of joining the air defense systems in the U.S. armed forces.
Second Lt. Narang said she was excited and honored to fulfill her dream of graduating from West Point. “The confidence and support of my community back home in Georgia has been deeply meaningful to me, and I am humbled that in reaching this goal, I am showing other Sikh Americans that any career path is possible for anyone willing to rise to the challenge,” Narang is quoted saying in the press release.
She will complete her Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Sill in Lawton, OK., following which she will head to her first posting in Okinawa, Japan in January of 2021.
In 1987, Congress passed a law that prohibited Sikhs and several other religious communities from maintaining their articles of faith while in the military.
The Sikh Coalition has led a campaign, in partnership with other civil rights organizations, to get equality of opportunity for all who observed the tenets of their religion by wearing a turban for example.
“While 2LT Narang required no accommodation for her articles of faith, her exemplary service to date underscores how diversity and pluralism remain core strengths of the U.S. military and the country as a whole,” the Sikh Coalition said.
“The broader acceptance of Sikh servicemembers among all of the service branches, as well as in top tier leadership spaces like West Point, will continue to benefit not just the rights of religious minority individuals, but the strength and diversity of the U.S. military,” said U.S. Army Captain (CPT) Simratpal Singh, a family friend of 2LT Narang and a former Sikh Coalition client, according to the press release.
Twitter has been flooded with congratulatory posts for the achievement by Anmol. She will be leading all the men and women officers after her training
Twitter has been flooded with congratulatory posts for the achievement by Anmol. She will be leading all the men and women officers after her training
‘It’s brought communities together’: How Teesside’s Sikh community in UK has responded to covid-19 by helping others
Sikh volunteers preparing meals for emergency services and vulnerable people. (L-R) Sahab Singh, Gurvinder Singh, Haravinderjeet Singh, Jagat Pargash Singh, Fatehjeet Singh and Dilibagh Singh.
Middlesbrough has had a rich Sikh community since the 1940s.
The first Gurdwara, being the name for a Sikh place of worship, was established on Southfield Road in the 1960s but moved to the larger current premises on Lorne Street in 1990.
Fatehjeet Singh president of Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji Gurdwara, Lorne Street, Middlesbrough
“One of the pillars of the Sikh religion is voluntary service to mankind, and the Sikh community has been on the front line wherever food has been needed”, says Fatehjeet.
“ Beginning in March, we have been serving hundreds of meals to local hospitals”, says Fatehjeet Singh.
When Covid-19 was at its first peak, some of the hospital staff were working 11 hours shifts without the chance of a break.Prepared each Thursday morning from 6am, the food is distributed along with a bottle of water: 300 meals to James Cook Universty Hospital , 250 meals to Cleveland Constabularies and 50 meals to Cleveland Fire Brigade.
Sikhs at Sri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji Gurdwara, Middlesbrough, have been cooking and providing meals for emergency services and those in need
With closures and social distancing due to Covid-19, the Sikh community have stayed connected although remaining apart.“It’s affecting us quite badly, but we have channels from big Sikh communities”, says Fatehjeet, including online meetings from London and Birmingham.
As well as encouraging the congregation to pray from home, there are online hymns and holy scripts being read in various online meetings for people to access.
“I don’t know how people will take to life after, we’ve learnt a lot from it and it’s brought communities together more”, added Fatehjeet.
Staying in contact the best they can, the congregation are grateful that there has been no Covid-19 related fatalities in the Middlesbrough Sikh community.
As part of the weekly ‘Clap for Carers’ initiative, Fatehjeet has felt humbled and connected by the amount of people who have supported key workers and our NHS during this difficult time.
“It’s brought neighbours together”, he added, looking at the positives that have arisen from this challenging time.
Whether people have had problems with their mental health or drugs, we serve mankind no matter who you are”, added Fatehjeet.
Long before Covid-19, our Sikh community has cared for those around them, and throughout this current crisis they have gone the extra mile to feed and care for Teessiders.
Link:https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/its-brought-communities-together-how-18341520Sikh British MP demands probe into Thatcher gov’t’s role in Operation Bluestar
Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) Tanmanjeet Singh Deshi has called for an independent inquiry into former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her government’s alleged involvement in Operation Bluestar.
Deshi, who is the United Kingdom’s first turbaned Sikh MP, raised the matter in the House of Commons on the 36th anniversary of the raid on Golden Temple that was carried out by Indian forces at the orders of then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The desecration of the Sikh shrine in Amritsar in 1984 to flush out violent extremists had attracted widespread criticism for Gandhi and eventually led to her assassination at the hands of her own bodyguards later that year. Subsequently there was widespread violence against Sikhs across India, a pogrom that was carried out, allegedly, with full blessings of the then Congress government.
"Despite recent revelations and given the huge demand from within the British Sikh community and the support of the Labour party and other Opposition parties, an independent inquiry to establish the extent of the Thatcher government's involvement in the attack has still not been held," Deshi reportedly told the Parliament.
To this, Leader of the Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, reportedly responded by acknowledging that it was an “important anniversary” and said, “I have every confidence that Margaret Thatcher, one of the greatest leaders this country has ever had, would always have behaved properly.”
The demand for an inquiry originally arose a few years ago when it was discovered that the British military had ‘advised’ Indian forces prior to the operation. This led the then British PM David Cameron to order an internal review. Subsequently a statement was made in the British Parliament that Britain's role had been purely “advisory” and the Special Air Service (SAS) advice had “limited impact” on the operation.
पंजाब चुनावों के लिए शिरोमणी अकाली दल ने कमर कसी
पंजाब चुनावों के लिए शिरोमणी अकाली दल ने कमर कसी
पंथ की सबसे बड़ी नुमाईंदा जत्थेबंदी शिरोमणी अकाली दल जिस की स्थापना के अगले वर्ष 100 वर्ष पूरे होने जा रहे हैं। भारत की सबसे पुरानी पार्टी का सम्मान जिसके हिस्से में आया है। शिरोमणी अकाली दल के अब तक के इतिहास में यह बात सुनिहरी अक्षरों में लिखी गई है कि पार्टी ने यहाँ पर अपनी धार्मिक मान्यताओं पर पूरी तरह से पहरा दिया है वहीं पर देश की आजादी में भी अपना अहम योगदान दिया है। इस पार्टी के मौजूदा अध्यक्ष स. सुखबीर सिंह बादल ने 2022 में होने वाले पंजाब विधानसभा चुनावों को देखते हुए एक बार फिर से पार्टी का पुर्नगठन किया है। पार्टी के पुर्नगठन का मकसद यही था कि पंजाब के हर जिले को पूरी तरह से शिरोमणी अकाली दल में स्थान दिया जाये। पार्टी अभी से जमीनी स्तर पर कार्यकत्ताओं को अपने साथ जोडने की कवायद शुरू कर दी है।
स. सुखबीर सिंह बादल ने दूरअंदेशी का पालन करते हुए पंजाब के लोगों का फिर से विश्वास हासिल करने के लिए उनकी कचहिरी में जाने की कोशिशें शुरू कर दी हैं। जिक्र योग्य बात यह है कि 2017 के विधानसभा चुनावों में पार्टी को पंजाब में बुरी तरह से शिकस्त का सामना करना पड़ा था। इसलिए स. बादल ने अब नई रणनीति खेलते हुए अभी से ही पार्टी का पुर्नगठन कर दिया है। पार्टी के अंदर कुछ नये पदाधिकारी शामिल किये हैं और कई पुराने चेहरों पर फिर से विश्वास भी प्रगट किया है। इसी के साथ ही स. बादल ने विरोधियों को भी घेरने का कोई अवसर नहीं छोड़ा। जिस कारण आज विपक्षी पार्टियों के पास कोई मुद्दा नहीं रह गया है।
हित कोर कमेटी में शामिल शिरोमणी अकाली दल के अध्यक्ष स. सुखबीर सिंह बादल ने पार्टी के पुर्नगठन में दिल्ली के वरिष्ठ अकाली नेता व पटना साहिब कमेटी के अध्यक्ष स. अवतार सिंह हित को अपनी 20 मैंबरी कमेटी में शामिल करके पूरी दिल्ली के सिक्खों का मान बढ़ाया। शिरोमणी गुरद्वारा प्रबंधक कमेटी की पूर्व अध्यक्ष बीबी जागीर कौर भी फिर से स्त्री विंग की प्रधान बनाया गया है। इसी के साथ ही स. बादल ने यूथ अकाली दल का अध्यक्ष स. परमबंस सिंह बंटी रोमाना को बनाकर यह संदेश देने की कोशिश की है कि पार्टी नौजवानों को साथ लेकर चलना चाहती है। नौजवान किसी भी पार्टी की रीढ की हड्डी माने जाते हैं। इसीलिए बंटी रोमाना की पार्टी प्रति सेवाओं को देखते हुए उनको विशेष तौर पर नई जिम्मेवारी सौंपी गई है। दिल्ली कमेटी मैंबर व पटना साहिब कमेटी के अध्यक्ष स. हित जो कि पार्टी के साथ वर्षों से जुड़े हुए है और पार्टी की नीतियों पर पूरी तरह से पहरा दिया। खास तौर पर जब दिल्ली में शिरोमणी अकाली दल के साथ कोई सदस्य खड़ा होने को तैयार नहीं था उस समय भी स. हित अकेले ही पार्टी का झंडा बुलंद किये हुए थे। जत्थेदार हित की पार्टी की प्रति वफादारी को देखते हुए पार्टी के अध्यक्ष स. सुखबीर सिंह बादल ने विशेष तौर पर उनको उसमें जगह दी है। जत्थेदार हित के कोर कमेटी में शामिल होने की बात जैसे ही दिल्ली के सिक्खों को पता चली तो उनमें हर्ष की लहर दौड़ गई। पार्टी उनके अनुभवों को देखते हुए पंजाब में होने वाले विधानसभा चुनावों में पार्टी उनका लाभ उठायेगी।
With Thanks :Sudeep Singh,Honorary Media Advisor
हरमीत सिंह कालका ने जत्थेदार हित को कौर कमेटी में शामिल करने पर सः बादल का आभार प्रकट किया।
जत्थेदार हित को कौर कमेटी में शामिल करने पर सः बादल का आभार प्रकट किया।
अकाली दल की दिल्ली इकाई का गठन अगले सप्ताह होगा: कालका
नई दिल्ली 11 जून: शिरोमणी अकाली दल बादल दिल्ली इकाई के अध्यक्ष एवं दिल्ली सिख गुरुद्वारा प्रबन्धक कमेटी महासचिव हरमीत सिंह कालका ने जत्थेदार अवतार सिंह हित को अकाली दल की 20 सदस्यी कार्यकारिणी में शामिल करने पर पार्टी अध्यक्ष सुखबीर सिंह बादल का आभार प्रकट किया। सः कालका ने यह भी संकेत दिये कि पार्टी की दिल्ली इकाई का गठन अगले सप्ताह कर दिया जायेगा।
सः कालका ने कहा जत्थेदार अवतार सिंह हित पार्टी के वफादार सिपाही के रुप मंे पिछले कई सालों से लगे हुए हैं, पार्टी ने जो भी जिम्मेवारी उन्हें सौंपी उन्होंने बाखूबी उसका निर्वाह किया। इसी का परिणाम है कि सः प्रकाश सिंह बादल और सः सुखबीर सिंह बादल द्वारा जत्थेदार हित को पार्टी में पूर्ण सम्मान दिया जाता है। उन्होेंने कहा मौजूदा समय में सः हित पार्टी की दिल्ली इकाई के सरप्रस्त हैं और मेरा सौभाग्य है कि मुझे सः हित के साथ काम करने का मौका मिला है। सः कालका ने कहा कि पार्टी की दिल्ली इकाई के प्रभारी सः बलविन्दर सिंह भुन्दड़ के मागदर्शन से अगले सप्ताह तक पार्टी की दिल्ली इकाई का गठन किया जायेगा।
सः कालका ने कहा दिल्ली इकाई के गठन में पार्टी से जुड़े सभी वर्करों को सम्मान दिया जायेगा जहां बर्जुगों को नई टीम में जगह दी जायेगी तो वहीं युवा पीड़ी को भी शामिल किया जायेगा।
With Thanks :Sudeep Singh,Honorary Media Advisor
NHAI to develop new Sikh circuit :providing the shortest connectivity to Amritsar as well as a direct link between the Holy City and Delhi.
The Union road transport and highways ministry has issued directions to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to develop new expressway connectivity via Sultanpur Lodhi, Goindwal Sahib, Khadoor Sahib and Tarn Taran up to Amritsar to create a new Sikh circuit covering five religious shrines as part of the proposed Delhi-Amritar-Katra expressway.
Union food processing industries minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said she had received a communication from union highways minister Nitin Gadkari following a request in this context in keeping with the sentiments of Sikhs worldwide.
Badal said the highways minister had assured her that he had got the entire issue examined and now a new Greenfield alignment would be developed via Nakodar to cover all the Sikh shrines associated with five different Sikh Gurus.
She said Gadkari had also informed her that the expressway would be extended to Dera Baba Nanak to provide connectivity to the recently developed Kartarpur Sahib corridor.
The Union minister said both moves besides providing the shortest connectivity to Amritsar as well as a direct link between the holy city and Delhi as per the wishes of Amritsar residents would also ensure Sikhs speedy and efficient access to the five shrines.
Badal also thanked the Highways minister for correcting the alignment submitted by the Congress government which proposed using the present highway between Kartarpur and Amritsar as part of the expressway.
Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU ) Amritsar Tops State Public University in Punjab
Chandigarh: Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar has been ranked as the top state public university of Punjab and 51 among all the central, public and private universities that participated in National Institute Rankings
GNDU has also been ranked 18th among the state funded universities in the country. The NIRF-2020 rankings were released by Union minister for human resource development Ramesh Pokhriyal at New Delhi.
Punjab higher education minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa congratulated GNDU for the achievement. He said this would encourage and motivate the students for studying in public universities of the state.
Higher education secretary Rahul Bhandari said this year two state public universities of Punjab are ranked among the first 100 in NIRF-2020 rankings. GNDU improved its ranking from 55th to 51st position.
Punjabi University, Patiala has also improved its ranking from beyond 100 last year to 64th rank. Its vice-chancellor Prof B S Ghuman said it was a remarkable achievement in the history of the university. He added that this will not only benefit the university to get the government funds but will also help in getting a boost in the admissions.
Central University of Punjab(CUP) at Bathinda got 87th rank with a score of 40.93 points. The varsity improved by eight positions this year from the 95th rank.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/gndu-tops-state-public-university-in-pb-raked-51-nationally/articleshow/76330587.cms
Restoration of Historic well related to 5th Sikh Guru restored in Gurdaspur
A historic eight-cornered well related to fifth Sikh master Guru Arjan Dev has been restored at Gurdwara Patshahi Panjveen at Othian village near Batala town of Gurdaspur district.
The well has been restored with old-fashioned small bricks. Environmentalist Baba Sewa Singh, head of Khadoor Sahib-based Kar Sewa organisation, was assigned the task to restore the structure.
“The SGPC is working to conserve the heritage. Guru Arjan Dev got this well dug on the demand of the community. It has been made operational now,” said Rajinder Singh Mehta, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) that manages the shrine.
“We decided to restore it with the help of the heritage experts. Also, heritage trees will be planted on one acre land of the gurdwara to provide shelter to birds and reduce pollution,” said SGPC chief secretary Roop Singh who was also present on the occasion.
Baba Sewa Singh said his organization has restored many heritage structures at Khadoor Sahib. “These structures inspire the young generation to get connected with their heritage,” he added.
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