Sunday, August 8, 2010

Sarnas appear before Akal Takht, panel set up on Phoolka charges

IANS

Amritsar, Aug 8 – The Sikh high priests Saturday formed a five-member committee to look into a controversy involving 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims’ lawyer H.S. Phoolka and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Paramjit Singh Sarna and his brother.

The committee was set up after Sarna and his brother appeared before the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, here Saturday and submitted a written reply before the Sikh high priests to support their allegations against Phoolka.

The Sarna brothers, Paramjit and Harvinder, were summoned by the Sikh high priests last month following a complaint by Phoolka, lawyer of 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims, saying that he was humiliated by them at a meeting in Delhi recently.

The Sarna brothers were asked to explain their stand on the controversy over Phoolka.

The lawyer later told reporters that the allegations against him by the Sarna brothers were a ‘deep-rooted conspiracy’ by the Congress leaders to save those party leaders who were behind the killing of thousands of innocent Sikhs in New Delhi November 1984 in the aftermath of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards Oct 31, 1984.

Phoolka, who spearheaded a 26-year-long battle for justice to victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, had last month offered to quit as lawyer of riot victims’ families after Sarna leveled allegations against him for ‘having received crores of rupees for personal benefit’.

with thanks : indiatalkies : link in headline for detailed news

SikhsIndia

Saturday, August 7, 2010

1984 anti-Sikh riots affected take out protest march in Amritsar

ANI

A group of 1984 anti-Sikh riots affected staged a protest march in the holy city of Amritsar on Friday against Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government and Delhi Gurdwara Management committee (DSGMC).

The forum named-Danga Peedit Welfare Association-took out a march from Bhai Gurdas Hall to Akal Takht here.

with thanks : source : SIFY : Link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

’84 Sikh riots case: US court issues default certificate against Congress leader Kamal Nath

The minister failed to respond to summons to him on a plea by Sikh group.

A new York district court on Thursday issued a certificate of default declaring that Union Minister for Roadways Kamal Nath has failed to respond to the summons issued by the court earlier on April 6. This was stated by Gurpatwant S Pannun, legal advisor of Sikhs for Justice, an organisation which has filed the case against Nath.

Pannun said: “The US court issued a certificate of default against Indian Minister Kamal Nath because despite publicly acknowledging to have received the court summons on April 6, he ignored the summons and decided not to contest the allegation of leading the mobs that killed Sikhs in 1984. The certificate of default paves the way for the US court to grant all reliefs requested by Sikhs for Justice, a US-based non-profit national human rights advocacy group in their complaint.”

with thanks : source : Indian Express : link in headline above for detailed news.

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Friday, August 6, 2010

Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji message to NASA —-Beat you to it….


There have been claims that an English translation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji finds itself at home at NASA and that the NASA scientist turn to Guru Ji for inspiration. NASA has been quiet on this issue and there is no information available if any of the claims are true. Search of the internet did not yield much result about the connection between the two but did lead to an interesting discovery about Sikhs. Some Sikhs feel that somehow having confirmation that Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji does have a place in NASA, would make Sikhism superior to other religions. This connection that has popped up between NASA and Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is not there to fill Sikhs with false pride. It is not for us to run around trying to confirm it, so we can brag about it. This connection is yet another reminder for all Sikhs what a priceless treasure Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is for anyone that is willing to listen. NASA wastes millions of dollars trying to answer questions Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji answers for frees for anybody that is willing to listen with an open mind and an open heart. Some of those questions are: “How vast is the universe?” “How was it created?” “How will it end?”

In Jap Ji Sahib Ji we read every morning “There are planets, solar systems and galaxies. If one speaks of them, there is no limit, no end. There are worlds upon worlds of His Creation. As He commands, so they exist. He watches over all, and contemplating the creation, He rejoices. Nanak says, to describe this is as hard as steel!” While NASA is busy trying to find out the vastness of the universe, Guru Ji reminds us daily. Every time NASA finds a new planet or makes any new discoveries, Sikhs shouldn’t be shocked because Guru Ji already told us that there is no limit. Sikhs should be shocked if NASA ever claims; they have discovered everything there is to discover. Even then just wait a few years and they’ll run into something new. Why do we need NASA to confirm the importance of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the message it sends to the Sikhs daily, when daily Guru Ji confirms the existence of NASA?

Before NASA or anyone else could even begin to explain how the universe came into play, Guru Ji explained it to the Sikhs. “From this primal void, came the moon, the sun and the earth….From this primal void, the earth and the Akaashic Ethers were created….From this primal void, came the four sources of creation, and the power of speech….They were created from the void, and they will merge into the void…..” Science to date struggles to figure out how and why universe was created but it does agree that everything was created out a void of some sorts (the big bang theory). But Every theory that is explored they run into the same questions; why and how? Guru Ji agrees with Science that for the longest time there was nothing and that the universe grew out of that nothingness. But unlike science Guru Ji does not create doubts on anything He tells the Sikhs with confidence this is how things are; “There was darkness for countless years. There was neither earth nor sky; there was only His Will. There was neither day nor night, neither sun nor moon. He (God) was in deep meditation. There was nothing except Himself.”. How can NASA confirm the importance of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, when NASA itself can’t confirm how the universe was created?

NASA does not know how it was created and it does not know how it will end but Guru Ji tells his Sikhs everything. “Night and day, and the stars in the sky shall vanish. The sun and the moon shall vanish. The mountains, the earth, the water and the air shall pass away. Only the Word of the Holy Saint shall endure.” So long before science was there to warn us that we were going to run out of our natural resources, Guru Ji warned us. There have been theories in the past about the Sun cooling down and the brightness of it vanishing, science is still not so sure about it. At the rate we our polluting the earth, it won’t be long till we run out of drinkable water and clean air to breath. Guru Ji told us everything science is telling us, only Guru Ji told us hundreds of years before anyone could even begin imagining it. When the world ends, will it matter if NASA had confirmed the importance of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji?

No one can confirm the importance of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji by turning to it for inspiration. It is useless to even think about NASA turning to Guru Ji. Instead we should think about why, why if it doesn’t matter, this came up? Waheguru Ji didn’t bring this topic to light to raise the Sikhs above everyone else. He brought it to give us a slap in the face and wake us up. To open our eyes to the priceless treasure we have in the form of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Guru Ji answers many questions NASA can’t and yet we listen more carefully to NASA then Guru Ji. This is a reminder to all Sikhs, turn to Guru Granth Sahib Ji and you’ll never need to look elsewhere or need any confirmation.

Harminder Kaur

with thanks : sikhsangat.org

SikhsIndia


Thursday, August 5, 2010

Punjab Gatka Associaiton seeks apology from Colors TV for hurting Sikh sentiments

CHANDIGARH: The Gatka Federation of India (Regd.) (GFI) and Punjab Gatka Association (Regd.) (PGA) have urged the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to take strict action in the ouster of seven year-old Sikh child Manpreet Singh of Tarn Taran from reality show India's Got Talent on Colors TV and debarring him from demonstrating Gatka, an Indian martial art.

In a press release GFI General Secretary H.S Grewal and PGA Joint Secretary Jagmohanjit Singh Wednesday said that Judge Sajid Khan's reaction on the TV show had hurt the sentiments of Sikhs and Gatka sportspersons by terming it violent for his age. They added that Gatka, a traditional martial art, an Indian Art of self defence, was introduced to India around 4 thousand years ago by the Aryans and is the mother of all martial arts. "It is an art by which one becomes extremely graceful and brings dignity, divinity, grace and self defence." Association adds.

with thanks : source : PunjabNewsLine : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Not aware of any threat from Sikh militants to CWG: Sukhbir

Jalandhar, Aug 4 (PTI) Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said he was not aware of any threat from Sikh militants to the Commonwealth Games to be held in the national capital in October. There has been an exchange of inputs between intelligence agencies of Punjab and the Centre on terrorists' activities, but "I am not aware of any threat from Sikh militants to the Commonwealth Games," Sukhbir told reporters here after a private function.

with thanks : source : IBNLIVE : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Reality show judge angers Sikh groups in Punjab















The exit of a seven-year-old participant from the India's Got Talent reality show after judge Sajid Khan commmented that the martial arts dance form he performed was too violent has angererd Sikh groups in Punjab.

'Gatka' , a traditional martial arts dance form of the Nihang sect of the Sikh religion, bodies are objecting to the ouster of Manpreet Singh of Tarn Taran from the reality show that runs on Colours TV and debarred him from demonstrating the routine.

with thanks : source : SIFY : Link in headline above for detailed story.

SikhsIndia
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Monday, August 2, 2010

Sikhs Leave an Indelible Mark in Smithsonian’s Annual Folklife Festival 2010

















WASHINGTON, D.C. - For the first time in 44 years of Smithsonian’s annual Folklife Festival history Sikh community from greater Washington Metropolitan area participated in various activities over ten day period. The Folklife festival is conducted by the Smithsonian Institution every year and this year it was from June 24th until July 5th. Guru Gobind Singh Foundation, an active Sikh Gurdwara organization based in Rockville, Maryland, led the Sikh participation in the festival. The Sikhs had a large role to play in displaying their heritage, identity, tradition, and culture as part of the presentations on Asian Pacific Americans, one of three major themes chosen for this year in addition to Mexico and Smithsonian Workforce.

The opening night concert featured high energy song and dance in the form of Bhangra and Giddha. It featured over 60 participants.

July 1 saw the Sikh team performing the entire day. It started with an introduction on Fox TV. Different team leaders were selected by GGSF coordinators to showcase the Sikh community’s presence in America.

There was Gurbani Kirtan, turban tying, henna tattoos, trying on Punjabi clothes, and having visitors get their names written in Gurmukhi calligraphy, teaching Gurmukhi language, and of course Punjabi cooking. At the family activities tent several turbaned Sikh youth men and women tirelessly wrapped turbans and helped people try Punjabi clothing.

with thanks : source : India journal : link in headline above for detailed story.

SikhsIndia
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Two kids drown in holy pond in Punjab

Two children drowned in the holy pond of Gurudwara (Sikh shrine) Kaulsar in this Punjab city, police said Monday.

Sonu, 9, and Sanju, 11, had come to take a dip in the pond with a group of friends Sunday evening.

'Sonu slipped into the sarovar (holy pond) and to save him Sanju also jumped in. Both of them drowned,' Lakhbir Singh, investigating the case, told IANS.

'After a prolonged search operation, police divers have fished out the bodies, which were handed over to the family members,' he said.

with thanks : source : SIFY : link in headline above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Amritsar: 15kg of RDX, sub machine gun seized

Amritsar: Punjab police on Saturday recovered 15 kg of RDX 3 detonators, a sub-machine gun along with its cartridges following the interrogation of an arrested terrorist of Sikh separatist outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI).

The special operation cell of Punjab police's intelligence wing also recovered one magazine of AK 47 rifle, 100 cartridges of AK 47 and 3 packets fuse wire.





Officials of the cell said the lead about the arms and ammunition was given by BKI terrorist Pal Singh, a French national, who was arrested on July 28, during his interrogation.







with thanks : source : NDTV : link in headline above for the detailed news.

SikhsIndia



Sikh history radiates through light-&-sound show

CHANDIGARH: The glory of Sikh history, which depicted the sacrifices made by warriors during Mughal rule, radiated through a light-and-sound show at Punjab Kala Bhawan on Saturday. The two-and-a-half-hour play, ‘Singh Soorme’, produced and directed by Jarnail Singh Gogi in association with Panj Pani Rang Manch, was composed by Sharanjit Singh and Satpal Singh Joshila.

Gogi said he staged the play to promote Sikh history, espeially among youths. Though the era might be different, the evils prevalent in society have only changed their faces and not characteristics. So, these have to be dealt with in a tougher way even today.

with thanks : source : Times of India : link in headline above for the detailed news.

SikhsIndia
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