" We Are Sikh " campaign educates others on what it means to be Sikh and American

An American Sikh advocacy group is hoping to change perceptions of the group with a $1.3 million commercial campaign.

On April 14, the National Sikh Campaign launched commercials to run on Fox News and CNN for about one month to help educate Americans about the Sikh faith and challenge misconceptions about their turbans. They have also aired commercials in Fresno, California, a city that holds one of the largest Sikh populations in the United States, and a frequent target for hate crimes since 9/11.

"We teach our kids the American values go hand in hand with the Sikh values."Source: We Are Sikh/YouTube

"We launched our ads on April 14, on Vaisakhi, which is a special day for Sikhs," Rajwant Singh, co-founder and senior adviser to the National Sikh Campaign, said in a phone interview. "[Vaisakhi] is a day when the turban and beard became our symbols — a mandatory part of our identity in 1699. Now, we are celebrating our identity to let the rest of America know who we are."

The campaign organizers said they hope the "We Are Sikh" commercials clear up misconceptions about their image and faith, and prove to the public that Sikh values are in line with American values. One ad, titled "Proud," features a family talking about signing up their son for Boy Scouts and describing their pride in being Sikh and American. Another ad, titled "Neighbors," features a diverse group of Sikh Americans discussing their love of Game of Thrones, Star Wars and Spongebob Squarepants.

"I've seen every episode of Spongebob, because that's what my daughters like to watch."Source: We Are SIkh/YouTube

with thanks : mic.com : LINK : for detailed news report by :  

Sarah A. Harvard

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British Sikh Barrister Jasvir Singh Receives Order Of The British Empire From Prince William

LONDON:  A British Sikh barrister has received the prestigious Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Prince William for his services to the community at London's Buckingham Palace.

Jasvir Singh, the founding chair of City Sikhs, received Officer of the Most Excellent OBE from Prince William, the second in line to the British throne who often steps in for Queen Elizabeth II at investiture ceremonies where such medals are officially conferred.

"It was a humbling experience. I met many inspiring people, including scientists, artists, Paralympians, and various members of the Armed Forces and the Police, and found out about their remarkable achievements," Singh said in a statement after the ceremony last week.

"I also spoke to Prince William and commended him for the work he and his brother, Prince Harry, are doing to help remove the stigma of mental health problems," he added.

City Sikhs is among a number of Sikh organisations in Britain and claims a membership of 6,000 members. It says it is involved with several important projects, including the 'Grand Trunk Project' which is led by the 'Faiths Forum for London' and is looking to foster better relationships between communities of South Asian heritage in towns and cities throughout the country.

with thanks : NDTV : LINK : for detailed news.

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Ahead Of Polls, Sikhs In France Are Worried

PARIS:  Extreme right wing leader Marine Le Pen is one of the two top contenders in the French Presidential elections. The first round of voting is due Sunday.

The European refugee crisis and the recent terror attacks in France have given the far right leader just the fuel she needed. She has been rallying for a "Frexit' and wants to put an end to free border policy under Schengen.

Le Pen (22%) is in second place just behind Emmanuel Macron (25%), the centrist leader who resigned as Economy minister last year and launched a new party "En Marche."

Marine Le Pen's father had made it to the final round of Presidential elections in 2002. Jean Marie Le Pen had earned a reputation as a hardcore far right leader. 

But Marine Le Pen fell out with him, expelled him from the party he had founded, toned down the rhetoric a bit and now has a strong appeal among French voters. 

In her last public meeting in Paris before the Sunday polls, Le Pen declared that her first measure as President of the Republic would be to close France's borders. 

There are many young voters among her supporters, including Florian Pecheux, 30, who is unemployed. "I expect Marine to put France into order by making people respect our values and traditions and restore a certain pride that we have lost."

Elisabeth, 45, a nurse tells NDTV, "She is the only one who will restore France's greatness. All these years of the right and left wing have put us in bad shape."

In a recent interview to American television, Le Pen said Sikhs living in France would not be allowed to wear turbans in public if she were to be elected.

Le Pen's advisor, Gilbert Collard, told NDTV, "We are in a secular country. In your home you live as you want. But in ours we live as we want. I absolutely respect the lifestyles of all countries but in France we have the right to live by French laws."

with thanks : NDTV : LINK : for detailed news.

In photos: Canada's first Sikh defence minister returns to India

Harjit Singh Sajjan is the first Sikh to hold the top defence job in a foreign land.
And this, says Monali Sarkar, is his first official trip to the country of his birth.

Photograph: Kind courtesy @HarjitSajjan/Facebook

Harjit Sajjan began his first visit to India as Canada's minister of national defence with a stop at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in New Delhi, one of the many around the world that are dedicated to soldiers who died in the two World Wars.

Eighteen Canadians lay among the fallen at this cemetery. He said the visit was a particularly 'poignant' one.

Sajjan was born in Punjab and migrated to Canada with his family when he was 5 -- incidentally a beneficiary of the immigration reform introduced under Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's father, then PM Pierre Trudeau.

He is the first Sikh to hold the top defence job in a foreign land.

Photograph: Press Information Bureau

He also laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, noting, 'India's contribution to supporting peace has come at a great cost. Paying respects to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.'

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Sajjan was accorded a guard of honour during his ceremonial reception in New Delhi.

He has served in the Canadian army's reserve force with deployments in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Afghanistan. He also became the first Sikh to command a Canadian reserve regiment.

Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

'India's Tri-Service Guard of Honour makes a lasting impression,' Sajjan tweeted.

Photograph: Kind courtesy @ArunJaitley/Facebook

A key engagement during the trip was Sajjan's meeting with his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley. He said they had 'a great discussion… about opportunities to strengthen Canada-India defence relations.'

Photograph: Kind courtesy @HarjitSajjan/Facebook

On April 20, his last day in New Delhi, Sajjan met with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

'The Canada-India bilateral relationship is strong and I look forward to further growing the ties that bind us together as two countries dedicated to peace.'

He is also scheduled to travel to Punjab and Mumbai.

Sajjan's visit to Punjab -- where he will visit his native village in Hoshiarpur, inaugurate the Canadian consulate general's new office in Chandigarh, and pay obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar -- has became controversial.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has refused to meet him, dubbing him a 'Khalistani sympathiser.'

Asked about the allegation by the Indian media, Sajjan said, 'I don't want to be sucked into the internal politics of a province of a nation. My goal is to build relationships. I am proud of the fact that I was born here.'

with thanks : rediff : LINK

Canada minister at Harmandar Sahib, gets cold shoulder from government

Chandigarh, April 20 (IANS) Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan on Thursday paid obeisance at the Harmandar Sahib in Amritsar and visited other places in Punjab, but the Amarinder Singh government cold-shouldered the visiting dignitary.

No Punjab minister or senior state government official either welcomed Sajjan to his native state or accompanied him on his visits to various places, including to the Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple) or to his native village Bombeli in Hoshiarpur district.

Sajjan — the first Sikh to become the defence minister of a western country — was, however, provided security as per the protocol.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh stirred a controversy last week when he said during the Canadian Minister’s Punjab visit he will not meet the “Khalistani sympathiser”. Amarinder Singh accused Sajjan and other ministers in Canada of having links with radical elements who demanded a separate Sikh state of Khalistan.

Amarinder Singh remained adamant on not meeting Sajjan despite the Canadian minister proposing a meeting.

Sajjan flew into the Sikh holy city of Amritsar on Wednesday evening. He was received at the airport by junior officers of the Amritsar district administration. Members of some radical groups were also present outside Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport with banners to welcome Sajjan.

The Canadian minister started his day early on Thursday with a visit to Harmandar Sahib to offer prayers at the holiest of the Sikh shrines.

Sikh radicals, belonging to hardline Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and other Sikh organisations, raised pro-Khalistan slogans and clashed with a task force of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee outside the complex as Sajjan arrived there.

However, the visiting dignitary avoided radical elements and was received by top SGPC functionaries, including its President Kirpal Singh Badungar, to a red-carpet welcome.

Sajjan remained at the shrine for over an hour, during which he prayed inside the sanctum sanctorum and listened to hymns. SGPC task force ensured the radical elements did not create any scene inside the shrine complex.

Sajjan, 46, was later honoured by the SGPC with a ‘siropa’ (traditional robe of honour) and presented a replica of the Golden Temple and a sword.

The minister then visited the Pingalwara Charitable Trust premises near Amritsar to meet destitute children housed there. He also visited an all-girls orphanage in Jalandhar city, 150 km from here.

Sajjan visited his family house in native village Bambeli, 15 km from Hoshiarpur. His father Kundan Singh Sajjan and other relatives were present to receive him.

Chaos prevailed as village residents and those from neighbouring areas thronged Bombeli to catch a glimpse of the Sikh Canadian Minister.

This is published unedited from the IANS feed.

with thanks : india.com : LINK