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I will be honest: the thought crossed my mind. Showing up in Punjab suddenly after living abroad for so long, and now getting away despite the entire might of the Indian government supposedly being marshaled to capture him ... it all seems a bit odd. There were definitely some people from the 80s/90s era who seemed fishy in similar ways.

Will you please consider donating 75% of your land for reforestation and growing organic food for langar? Please PM me urgently I would also like to address your misconceptions of land ownership. Please read through the end in the spirit of truth and reconciliation. You may learn something new and change your worldview! 1. To say that Jats founded these villages or were landlords or ever owned the commons, is not true. First, the Jats were themselves originally only peasant (leaseholder) farmers. To understand the Commons, Dalit land alienation and how and Jats came to own all the land in Punjab, we need to step back in time and understand feudalism and certain key events in ancient Arya, Guru, Misal, British and Indian history. 2. Let's start with ancient history. The commons were very old tracts of forest land from ancient Aboriginal times, that pre-date Aryan (Jat) settlements in what is called Punjab today. As part of the Aryan conquest and subsequent Aryan Colonisation of North-West India, most arable land was acquired by Jats by the dispossession of the indigenous Dalit tribes (in much the same way as indigenous people have been dispossessed the world over). In the caste system and the feudal ownership system, they were considered to be peasant farmers, and given Kabza of new land that was made available by expanding existing Indigenous settlements (clearing the forests). Most land on paper (whether farmed by individually by Jat men or collectively by Dalit women), was owned by the local Brahmin, Rajput, and sometimes by Khatri Traders and money lenders. These sub-landlords held a simple title to collect tax. Absolute title was held by the local ruler in right of the prevailing Imperial crown at the time (be it Muslim, or Hindu). However In the feudal system, kabza played a huge role (possession is defacto ownership in law even today). Landlords came and went and estates exchanged hands frequently between Rajas and Navabs due to war etc. Sub-landlords also changed hands. But the customary occupier rarely changed. Indeed Peasant farmers and Dalit Bastis were indeed literally considered to be part of the estate itself (when the estate changed hands; the people who lived there- and their land rights, were included in the sale!). In other words, the tenant farmer had a customary or hereditary right to the land, and the title owner was just a tax-collector with no right to either evict the customary hereditary farmer or hand it over to another, unless by consent or severe violation of law, such as treason etc. 3. As forests were considered to be valuable Imperial hunting land, it wasn't often opened up to new Kabza. What the Jats had got long ago during the early days of Aryan Colonisation, was what they still had- and the Dalits were at an advantage, as they had customary Forest rights to forage and Hunt, which the Jats did not. However, in the centuries prior to Guru Nanak, and especially during the Mughal era, more and more forests were clearcut for export and shipbuilding and the new kabza (permanent lease) for the deforested land was mostly given to Jats (whether Hindu or Muslim converts)- often at the expense of the Dalit tribe's ancient customary rights). But the actual land title was invariably in the hands of Brahmins or money lenders (as zamindars; sub-landlords), and in imperial records, absolute title was owned on paper by the regional ruling Rajas or Navabs (landlords). Dalits thus became disenfranchised of all but the Commons, which they fought for as their ancient Aboriginal right. 4. The Gurus totally disrupted the discriminatory Arya Caste system and their exploitation of Mother Earth. The Gurus redistributed land BACK to Dalit stewardship. Their Dharamshalas indeed were modeled on collective Aboriginal Forest gardening and foraging, as practised by Dalit women- with produce being used for the whole community and Langar; commercial farming was strictly banned under the Gurus, and the Jats, many of whom had lost their Kabza due to Expanding Dharamshalas and land back in Dalit hands, absolutely hated these pesky Gurus for this. (Note that upto 90% of ordinary Sevaks at Dharamshalas came from low caste backgrounds, whilst Jat-Rajputs were very few and Brahmins quite rare). Now, the Gurus achieved this great land redistribution, by obtaining absolute land grants from sympathetic local rulers. So they exercised their acquired legal authority to change the Kabza on land in their own possession, but a lot of Punjab's forests were still held by Brahmins and money lenders, on behalf of some Raja or Navab (who were not as sympathetic to the Gurus). So under the Gurus, Dalits gained the most and Jats lost the most, whilst the forests and food were no longer seen as commodities. Langar, grown at Dharamsalas by indigenous women, was feeding the hungry masses. This was revolutionary. 5. The Rajput and self-proclaimed savior of the Jat Arya Race, Banda Bahadur (believed by old, reliable Akali Singhs to have been a complete fraud), and his many Jat successors, upset the whole system of hereditary feudalism, Aboriginal rights to Commons, the Guru's Dharamsalas and the forest as a living Goddess. For thousands of years after Aryan and Muslim regimes, land had been tax-managed by brahmins and money lenders on behalf of local rulers. Now some Jats in Khalsa garb were engaged in conquest for Land and power. First, they occupied the Dharamshalas and exterminated or expelled the Dalit Sevaks. Then they warred with the various Muslim kings. Jagirs, or land grants were made to the likes of Navab Kapur Singh. Their many land conquests were documented in legal records known as "Misal" (literally meaning the accounting of conquest), and henceforth all the acquired land and money was divided between several local (mostly Jat) warlords, taking on the name Misl. Thus, these imperial Jat warlords now owned “imperial title” to most of Punjab and beyond. But unlike previous periods in history, where ruler's land would change hands but kabza holders stayed put, the Jats upset the whole system: Zamindari was abolished and replaced with "Sardariat", a new form of feudalism, wherein the new Jat warlords weren't satisfied with just being tax-collecting overlords- they wanted the land for themselves. Upsetting thousands of years of feudalism as well as respect for ancient customary aboriginal rights, they vanquished the role of tax agents and lords and evicted non Jats; especially Dalits. Jats gave themselves ownership and permanent and exclusive tenancy over the whole of Punjab. Loyal Muslim Jats and some Khatri were allowed to keep their old Kabza, whilst Dalits were evicted and rendered virtually landless. Some aboriginal Commons still existed, as they were deep in the jungles and hence seen to be worthless as revenue land- but now the Dalits had “legally” become illegal squatters on their own ancient land (like what happened to aboriginal Australia). Now- before you start complaining; "Sardariat" has nothing to do with the Gurus. It still exists in Pakistan and the Muslim feudal landlords are still called “sardars”, and Dalits Sikhs in Punjab still call their Jat Sikh landlords "Sardars"). 6. British rule: The British introduced simple title in all of Punjab apart from certain areas of the North West frontier/KPK (where Sardariat still exists today). The British introduced land revenue records managed by Tehsildars (the system still exists in rural areas). The British Crown acquired all forest land, and so either the British Crown or Jat Panchayat were declared to be owners of the Dalit's Commons, depending on where they were located. PEPSU and Dogra Kashmir and other Princely states had their own system, although valuable forest land (and thus many Dalit Commons) was reserved to the Crown. So Commons are an incredible ancient aboriginal heritage of Punjab, and were never owned or farmed by the Jats until they stole the land by conquest. 7. Now, as happens in commercial agriculture, Jat landholdings gradually reduced as a result of large families and loan defaults; Brahmins and Khatri money lenders had been gradually acquiring a lot of land. At the same time, the forest was being cleared rapidly for wood export to Britain. Dalits, reliant upon sedentary and non-sedentary gardening, foraging and hunting in the middle of the jungles, were finding themselves landless due to mass clearing of forests by the British- and Jats were not letting them access the new “village Panchayat Land” (which still happens today). So, Dalits were organising a big revolt. And the Jats were furious with Brahmins and Khatris whom they accused of "stealing Jat land", and didn't want Dalits to be given any rights. The British government, fearing revolt, were pressured into passing the Criminal tribes Act, which effectively created concentration camps and kill on sight orders for Dalit tribes, as well as the Punjab Land alienation act 1909, whereby legally only Jats (of any religion) were allowed to legally own land (as the designated “agrarian caste”). Transfer of agricultural to non-Jats was thus banned (This law is still on the books as is, in Pakistan Punjab, and in a modified form in Indian Punjab). Importantly, The Punjab Alienation of Land Act also meant that only Jats could buy up Punjab's newly deforestated land at auction at throwaway prices or even for free (Like with imperial White Colonisers in Canada, the British asked the Jats to cut the forest and hand over the timber, and in return they would get legal title). So within a few decades of British rule, all of Punjab's rich jungle was destroyed by Jats, for the British government, and many hundreds of thousands of acres of land came into Jat ownership as new agriculture land (former forest land). This can be studied by looking at Colonial revenue, forest and survey records- if you don’t believe me. Punjab’s vast forest lands didn’t just disappear into thin air! The Jats took it. These British Acts also guaranteed that Dalits could not even legally buy back their own land- and so they were rendered totally landless and became bonded indentured Labour for Jats. This helped to cement Jat dominance and Dalit slavery in the modern British legal system, inherited and carried on by India. This is akin to the legal dispossession of Indigenous people's from their land in eastern US states, combined with slavery (US natives were expelled West; Dalits were simply enslaved by the Jats). 8. Post-independence, a half-hearted attempt was made to redistribute land to landless Dalits throughout India- and was met with a fierce backlash by the Brahmin-led RSS. In Punjab, the Arya supremacist mentality was represented by the Jats (Brahmins and Rajputs Elsewhere). In other words, the Indian government and Jat Sikhs worked hand in glove to continue Dalit oppression (even as they sparred openly like the competing Arya factions that the really are- the true context of the Bhindawale movement). Very Importantly, when "degraded forest" Government land was opened up for auction in Punjab, on the claim that Dalits could benefit. ’Many Dalits' ancient Commons were on these former tracts of forests. Dalits had been farming (and caring for trees and Banyan Groves there for many thousands of years before Jat Arya even existed in India). But the auction was designed to benefit Jats; being open to the general public, Dalits could not compete with the Jats in auction. They had Zero funds, as landless slaves. So your claims of some kind of Congress Gift to Dalits is a lie. In comparison- free land grants were made to Dalits in other states. And you yourself have highlighted the underhand tactics used to prevent land from becoming Commons again; your family got a small corner, but at the expense of how many Dalit children dying of hunger? Think about that. We were doing a project recently with struggling Dalit families across Tarn Taran. Every house we went to had the same story again and again: "what did your ancestors do? They farmed and foraged in the jungle on the other side of the village from ancient times. But the Sardars (Jat Sikhs) took it away from us. When it came up for auction of the freehold title, we couldn't raise the funds. The Sardars Acquired the freehold of our own houses too and they regularly extract free labour from us and harass and molest our girls as payment)." You would know that this is common across Punjab, if you lived in India and interacted with real people on the ground. 9. More recently, due in part to Supreme court orders, Dalits got a hard-won right to bid for annual leases of 1/3 of Panchayat land (what's left of the Dalit's ancient forest Commons and in spite of tactics used to prevent panchayat land from being created) but it wasn't free: they had to pay full market rate for the privilege for a one year lease from the (Jat-controlled) Panchayat to Dalits. If you live abroad, what you may not know is that the Jats bring along the local police and thugs and either prevent the auctions from taking place, or place dummy Dalit agents to bid and hand over the land to the Jats and most horrifically - they use sexual violence. There is indeed a pandemic of rape and murder of Dalit women trying LEGALLY to farm their own ancient common lands- in which Canada's MMIW pales in comparison. See this short documentary: As an aside, the very interesting thing is how Dalits farm the Panchayat land, (when they are lucky enough to win the bid for get an annual lease): they farm collectively- by the whole community, for the whole community (every family gets an an equal share of the produce). And it is led by WOMEN. In other words, the Dalits are still growing food communally, equally, and not-for-profit and by women- the way their aboriginal ancestors did, and the way the Guru's Dharamshala's forest gardens were run. They just want to make sure that everyone has food to eat, and be sustainable in the process. Compare with Jats, commercial farmers, who are are hell bent on exploiting every single square inch of land, with maximum pesticide, for a commercial crop. It's run by men and they are reliant upon slave or migrant labour. Conclusion: I have simplified the history a bit to keep it easy to understand but it boils down to the White/Aryan Coloniser mentality of Colonise and Exploit mother Earth and indigenous peoples: grab-and-exploit as much land as possible, and enslave Indigenous people, hide behind religious garb, and resist reparations, truth and reconciliation. At least you now can no longer plead ignorance! Ultimately, the proof is in the pudding. If you have 15-20 acres, and your family hasn't lived in Punjab, nor farmed it for 3 generations, you aren't reliant on the land to put food in your mouth- you don't need the land! Let indigenous Dalit womem take care of it as stewards; it is internationally recognized that indigenous people do a great Job at protecting mother Earth as custodians. So might I humbly ask you to donate at least 75% of your land to us for reforestation and to grow organic food for langar purposes? The true Sikh would jump at the opportunity! If NRI Jats donated their landholdings to grow forests and organic langar gardens- they could save Punjab. Western born Jats are educated. They are taking part in community gardening and nature stuff. So why continue to Exploit and squeeze every single Penny out of Punjab and it's indigenous peoples? Punjab can only be fixed if and when educated and Gurmukh Jats, as the Power holding class, were to engage in truth and reconciliation. So I am hopeful that, as an educated and caring person, and as someone who has Faith in the Guru, that you will be willing to offer land. If you want to talk about donating your Land, please PM me.

This might make me unpopular, but has anyone else ever considered this might all be a psyop by Indian government? I.e. what if amritpal has actually been created by Indian government as "controlled opposition" to control the narrative on khalistan. Maybe by showing him now running away, they are trying to invoke fear in Sikhs- don't bother starting any movement because you can't face the wrath of the Indian government- and they show this by having their agent (amritpal) talk big and then get scared and run when police come after him. If you look at all the media in india - they are pushing the same narrative. I think this might all be a big drama created by Indian government to make Sikhs lose faith in activism, and show rest of the world and india that there are major problems in punjab and with Sikhs across the world, so that they can then be 'justified'to do things they want to do to punjab/Sikhs (agendas to do with controlling punjab, water etc).

I think another kharku lehar will start in Punjab. Majha will probably be flooded with the army soon. Hindu raj is full of hankar and pap and it's only been around 75 years. Don't think they've got long though, lol.

Yeah, but emotional extravagance can also be harmful and demoralising. We have longstanding and strong traditions of stoicism.

yes, but showing emotion is a perfect human response, im obviously going to be affected considering this affects punjab and sikhi obviously gotta focus on what you can do but it's okay to be upset about it, just as long as it doesnt get in the way and doesnt harm you in the long term

Watch the video. In a few minutes, it captures the complete victory of secular, degenerate "Punjabiyat" over Sikhi. It does so in several ways. First, it celebrates anti-Sikh practices as central and beloved parts of everyday life in Punjab: - Alcohol is referred to not just in the chorus, but also in other lines (like the one referencing a peg) - Maan celebrates being a jatt - People are playing cards (and therefore probably gambling) Second, it almost erases the Sikh presence from Punjab - The vast majority of men in the video are monay, of the rest almost all are beard trimmers. There are one or two Sikhs with beards in it. Even most of the old men are monay. The video was made in the mid 90s. - The flagrant deletion of the Sikh presence in Punjab is perhaps most apparent in a scene featuring a "baba" who grabs Maan's ear during the card game. How ludicrous is it that, in the the mid 90s, a "baba" in Punjab has a haircut, a mustache, no beard, and a sloppily tied pagh with the final layer left hanging on the back? The man looks like a Haryanvi Hindu jaat. I've never seen an elderly Sikh (even trimmers and monay) wearing a pagh with a mustache but no other facial hair or stubble. Not nowadays, and DEFINITELY not 30 years ago. In Maan's revisionist Punjab, the elderly Sikh "baba" archetype is replaced by a Haryanvi Hindu jaat. Let that sink in for a moment. Third (and perhaps most disgustingly): along with the near-absence of Sikhs, we see a large proportion of the men wearing military uniforms. I take it you guys know what the Indian military was responsible for in the decade and a half prior to when the "Apna Punjab Hove" video was produced. So why would the military be featured so prominently in the video? It is symbolic and sickening: the Sikhs have been defeated, and the military is left standing, celebrated as the true sons of Punjab as they dance and engage in anti-Sikh practices (drinking). That is the Punjab that is celebrated by Maan (and most dimwitted, shameless Punjabis of modern times): a Punjab free of Sikhi and taken over by a bunch of degenerates. The most sad this is that, while Maan was engaging in ludicrous revisionism, his depiction is what Punjab has more-or-less become.

There's far far worse songs around today. It's like goreh today saying Elvis is scandalous because he shook his hips.

I haven't been to Punjab in more than a decade and I don't know much about the value of agricultural land these days. Can somebody give me a ballpark estimate of the value of agricultural land per acre? Thanks.

I would be interested. In my ancestral pind, and other pinds I am connected to by family, I want to start a system where langar is available regularly for poor people such as dalits. I would say in a similar manner to how langar works in many London gurdwaras, where langar is most of the day. This would bring these folk also closer to the gurdwara, or rather back to the gurdwara. I would be willing to donate some of my inherited land for them to do this as well! But I also want to use my land for other benefits of people as well.

I returned back Monday from Punjab. I enquired myself about Amritpal Singh Ji. He's in Anandpur Sahib but am sure other sources will know better / he may have moved by then. He married a UK girl so will be interesting for us... IF he decides to reside in UK.

I agree with some of your points and understand where you're coming from regarding Gurdas Maan (he has been quite problematic) However, Not all old Baba's keep a long beard and hair. It sometimes depends on regions of Punjab too. Personally, I've come across Sikh Baba's who wore/wear a "Haryanvi"-style white turban and don't keep hair on their heads/long beards. This isn't a recent trend, I've personally seen old black & white photos where Baba's were like that. There are also some old Baba's in villages who are Hindus and some of them don't keep long beards but still wear a turban (as it's cultural, not just religious). So the Baba in Maan's video may be a Hindu? But I agree with you as well, Maan should've showcased more diversity in his video and included several long-bearded Baba's. People playing cards in the video are most likely not gambling. Playing cards is a very common pass time for middle aged and old men in rural Punjab and they gather in the evenings to play. Regarding the military shown, I understand why Sikhs will have a problem with it due to history. But in reality, most rural Punjabis don't have a problem with the military (experience in southern areas of Punjab). They actively join it and see it a great "career" so that's why Maan showed it in his video. Albeit, the trend has now shifted to moving abroad rather than joining the army. Promoting alcohol is very wrong, he shouldn't have endorsed it. And I agree, singers/actors need to stop bringing up the partition in every song/movie. We have plenty of history and beautiful Haveli's, Qila's, medieval buildings, ancient/Indus valley civilization sites, etc in east Punjab too that no one bothers to explore/preserve as we're so stuck in pre-partition era. We're neglecting east Punjabi history over the long gone British Punjab.

Woohoo! Let's hear it for girlboss apneean!

Bro, you're totally right as far as "a bunch of rocks". But it's what they represent which is the issue. The Sikhs took the Peacock throne from Delhi. Sure, "who cares about some yellow metal". But it represents sovereignty. "Khalsa Badshah" Guru Hargobind ji fought a war for some hawks. Sure, "just a bunch of birds". But they represented the sovereignty of the Sikhs. These are the crown jewels of the Sarkar-e-Khalsa. (I don't see that India has a claim on them.)

Interestingly, the Brits provided a Buddhist preacher to these 82% Hindu nation! Nepal would be better served if it became a Union Territory of India as they've had 11 govts since 2008. Gorkhas were used by the British in the wars against Sikhs. So Dharmics are fighting Dharmics. This can't be right.

At the end of each astpadi itsays how to be forgiven. Usually it says if a sant forgives you, you will be forgiven. So try to find a sant. Do ardaas to find a sant. If you can't find one, bhai pinderpal singh said you can choose one of the historical ones. He chose sant ishar singh ji rara sahib wale. Then you read about their jeevan and try to think about them and try to learn lessons from their life. Basically revolve your life around the sant. So that you should dream about them. And then if you ask them for help, they will help. Also satguru is all powerful. So try to do chalisa at amrit vela, sukhmani sahib paath. It should help. Visit baba deep singh gurudwara

Very wise words here, bewakoofs like Bush, Blair and Camoron could have done with following these maxims! Note that the text appears to open the door to disobeying orders from above if they are against the interests of the state. We've been talking about soldiers here a lot recently, and some people have excused them from participating in dubious wars saying they are just following orders. I strongly disagree with this notion, if anyone should be vocal and scrutinising about orders for war, it needs to be these people as they are ones who will suffer the most from death and loss of reputation if they blindly walk, lemming-like into a war instigated by immoral and stupid leaders.

Good to see a mouthy apnee taking on goray for a change....lol

This is all a moot point to me. I don't think (given our current state) getting the diamond back would give any real, wider, significant benefit to the panth as a collective. But what it could do (and maybe really powerfully), is help put a focus on recent Sikh history and achievement and geo-political events that could connect lost apnay and apneean on the periphery of the the panth a bit closer and make them a bit more knowledgeable, and broads like this perfectly exemplifiy this. That's no small thing in my opinion.

Let's be honest, she's just a big mouth and typically knows eff all about the history. The only claim that the British can entertain is from the descendants of Maharaja Dalip Singh or his closest relatives. They do exist in Punjab. Giving the diamond back to a country that did not exist until 100 after the diamond was taken shows how idiotic the claim from the Indian state is.

I doubt she believes in Christianity, she is a plastic Christian. Someone like Bobby Jindall seems more authentic. Most apne put so called punjabiyat and caste above religion it seems.

If you want to create these forests and langar gardens, I think you will not get such a great response if you want to have them donated, you would be better of signing a maamla agreement for 5-10 years with the owners where the maamla is zero. I doubt anyone will donate land to you, because these are ancestral lands and only someone who has lost all connection with Punjab would donate their land in such a manner. Personally, I have a connection with Punjab and I want by children to also have the same connection, hence the creation of a not for profit scheme to grow cash crops possibly through drip irrigation.

Mate be realistic, that's not happening. If nothing else, at least some ignorant Sikhs watching might get an inkling of what happened to our recent ancestors under colonialism. Plus it serves to let others know that no, not all was hunky dory when brits came to Panjab.

But wait, the Koh-i-Noor was taken from the Sikh Kingdom. So what is India's claim on the diamond? Props to Narendar Kaur for mentioning that it was taken by Brits from the 10 year old Dalip Singh under the Treaty of Lahore. Ironically, the white lady also made a good point in mentioning the Sikhs and the Lahore kingdom (so Pakistanis/Punjabis would have a claim too). If Sikhs had any sense, they would make a deal with the UK "granting" a 999-year lease on the diamond in exchange for the crown "giving" the Sikh Raj territories "back" to the Sikhs so it establishes a de jure claim on those lands (including Kashmir). Who cares about the diamond? The lands are much more useful.

Normal Jameen prices are 20-25 lakhs per Killah. Buy near a pind and not near the main road

The Rehitnama of Bhai Nand Lal ji states that Guru Gobind Singh ji says that if the child of a Sikh cuts his hair, the root of his family line dries up. And if he keeps his hair, it greens. Whatever level of "Gursikh" Nimrata Randhawa's father is, his line is dried up. And going to America for greed and spending all your time earning money and not spending any time teaching your children about Satguru is not what a real "Gursikh" would do. Now if you do teach your children all you should, and they still go astray, it's on them. But that's a different matter.

Shaking my head, too, bro. Regarding her name: It's not "Nikki". It's Nimrata. Which is a fine name for a Sikh. She pretends that that's her actual name and she has claimed that that's an actual Punjabi name. She's just fooling the gore. No one names their children "Nikki". That's just a word that means little one or little girl. It might be a childhood nickname, but her parents almost certainly did not name her that. The only reason she claims that is that is because Nicki is a common name in the US. If she were called "Chhoti" by her family, she wouldn't (and couldn't) claim the same thing. Everything about her is fake.

Clueless "Uncle ji's" will be providing fundraising for "Nikki's" campaign. She'll gladly accept the funds while also believing or pretending to believe that Sikhs are going to hell because they don't believe in Jesus: https://realchristianity.com/judgment-for-non-christians-great-white-throne/

The reason your cousins are atheists is that their grandparents couldn't answer the basic question: Why be a Sikh? The pathetic answer that many of our "elders" have is that it works for them. OK, so obviously that means that their children or grandchildren shouldn't be Sikhs because it doesn't "work" for them. The real answer to the question of why be a Sikh is that Guru Nanak Dev ji is the True Guru, whose seat is held now and forever by Guru Granth Sahib ji, who blesses complete knowledge and uplift to all those who come to him with sincere heart. Our "elders" demean Satguru by portraying him as just another religious figure among many.

Suraj Prakash, a biography of the Guru Sahibs.

I am wanting to know what books I should read of Sikhi. I prefer English, as my punjabi isn't too strong. Ant good recommendations?

The Sikh Revolution by Jagjit Singh - there is a link to it in the book section of the forum.

Se Kanehiya by Sant Seva Singh Ji Rampur Khera Wale A must for anyone, guaranteed to help develop your sikhi.

in search of the true guru. Manmukh to Gursikh bhai Rama singh Ji

For a brief grounding in the subject I'd recommend A History of the Sikhs by Khushwant Singh. He gets a tough time from some quarters, but having decided to give his two Sikh volumes a read a few years ago for the first time, they're good. Don't expect him to indulge the spiritual or mystical aspects of the faith, but if you're looking for a straight-forward historical overview of Sikh history, you'll be okay. Obviously, there's others you can find and read once you've got a grasp of the personalities and events that shaped our history.

@ipledgeblue Maybe suggest some classes for tanti saaj?

ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਅ ਜੁ ਮਾਰਹਿ ਜੋਰੁ ਕਰਿ ਕਹਤੇ ਹਹਿ ਜੁ ਹਲਾਲੁ ॥ ਦਫਤਰੁ ਦਈ ਜਬ ਕਾਢਿ ਹੈ ਹੋਇਗਾ ਕਉਨੁ ਹਵਾਲੁ ॥੧੯੯॥

The above gurbani quotes show a Sikh cannot eat meat. Sab sikhan Ko hukham hai guru maniyo Granth. Even in shabad ਮਾਸੁ ਮਾਸੁ ਕਰਿ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਝਗੜੇ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਧਿਆਨੁ ਨਹੀ ਜਾਣੈ ॥ the last pangti is ਏਤੇ ਰਸ ਛੋਡਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਸੰਨਿਆਸੀ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਕਹੈ ਵਿਚਾਰਾ ॥੨॥ So Dhan Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji gives only one direction in terms of eating meat, that is you can't.

ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ ॥ ਬੇਦ ਕਤੇਬ ਕਹਹੁ ਮਤ ਝੂਠੇ ਝੂਠਾ ਜੋ ਨ ਬਿਚਾਰੈ ॥ ਜਉ ਸਭ ਮਹਿ ਏਕੁ ਖੁਦਾਇ ਕਹਤ ਹਉ ਤਉ ਕਿਉ ਮੁਰਗੀ ਮਾਰੈ ॥੧॥ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਕਹਹੁ ਨਿਆਉ ਖੁਦਾਈ ॥ ਤੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਪਕਰਿ ਜੀਉ ਆਨਿਆ ਦੇਹ ਬਿਨਾਸੀ ਮਾਟੀ ਕਉ ਬਿਸਮਿਲਿ ਕੀਆ ॥ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪ ਅਨਾਹਤ ਲਾਗੀ ਕਹੁ ਹਲਾਲੁ ਕਿਆ ਕੀਆ ॥੨॥ ਕਿਆ ਉਜੂ ਪਾਕੁ ਕੀਆ ਮੁਹੁ ਧੋਇਆ ਕਿਆ ਮਸੀਤਿ ਸਿਰੁ ਲਾਇਆ ॥ ਜਉ ਦਿਲ ਮਹਿ ਕਪਟੁ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਹੁ ਕਿਆ ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਇਆ ॥੩॥ ਤੂੰ ਨਾਪਾਕੁ ਪਾਕੁ ਨਹੀ ਸੂਝਿਆ ਤਿਸ ਕਾ ਮਰਮੁ ਨ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਭਿਸਤਿ ਤੇ ਚੂਕਾ ਦੋਜਕ ਸਿਉ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥੪॥੪॥

Back in the day gursikh would never do a vaar on the elderly or the other gender. Yet if they are linked to this then they have attacked the house of a 80 year old sevadar of Guru Maharaj Ji. Proper disgraceful act. It would put all there good work they have done to shame.

Amazing post. Inspiring and motivating to develop jeevani

Just to clarify, were SYUK and/or Deepa involved in the attack on the residential property of a sevadar associated with the smagam in Birmingham? If so the sevadar is 80 years old! Totally against gurmat and sikhi principles.

Do you have proof of this or is that just hearsay. Sorry but you seem to use a lot of hearsay and show scant proof for your assertions.

I remember when Bhai Mohan Singh went around Mandirs doing anti-grooming talks, SYUK criticized him and called him Pandit Awareness Society, they seem to forget Sikh history is full of instances where we have helped women and girls who weren't Sikh, how times have changed.

I don't agree with your first point, to me it goes against the principles of Sikhi (that's my personal opinion, i'm not here to thrust it upon anyone else neither to debate it). There was a Smagam held in Birmingham last week, some organisations didn't wan't it to go ahead due to it's location, SYUK turned up and became violent and attacked a few sewadaars, they were kicked off the premises (it was private property) and they decided to have a scuffle with the police outside. Another incident, Deepa had an issue with some Singh, decided it was a good idea to throw a milkshake over the Singh's daughter, he got beat. To me he's like the Tommy Robinson of the Sikh community (who he had no problem associating with). Edit: As to the incident with the Singhs daughter, it wasn't milkshake but an ice cream thrown at her amongst other things on a coach on the way back from a Sikhi camp, it was instigated by member's of SYUK sat at the back of a coach, as a result, Deepa boar the brunt of the fathers anger.

Its been doscussed on basics of sikhi : https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M3kASFLipVs And on this site too. I like this one: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wIGwZ13y26s

Don't expect to be doing 32 Maala a day right away. Start slowly with 1 Maala a day, then 2, then 5, then 10, etc. Without Gurparsaad, doing 32 Maala is difficult, and you have to build your Abhiyaas/Naem slowly but surely over a period of time. Remember, 32 Maala of Mool Mantar was amongst the daily Nitnaem of Maha-Maha-Maha-Purakhs such as Sant Gurbachan Jee Bhindran Wale, Sant Attar Singh Jee Mastuana Sahib Wale and Baba Nand Singh Jee Nanaksar Wale. It takes time, effort and Guroo Sahib Jee's Kirpaa to have a Jeevan like theirs. Also, doing 1 Maala of Mool Mantar with concentration may also be very difficult. It may be that the more Abhiyaas/repetition one does, the more that their concentration will improve over time. All depends on the person's Karam and Guroo Sahib Jee's Nadar/Raeham on that person. May Guroo Sahib bless us all with Gursikhi and Kamaiye Wala Jeevan. Waheguroo