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Diljot Kaur

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Everything posted by Diljot Kaur

  1. Take hukam and you will know if its right or not.
  2. Tragedy smeared all Sikh-Canadians For 20 years my immediate community unfairly bore the cross of innuendo by T. Sher Singh Toronto Star -- March 18th, 2005 During the two decades between the horrendous crime and tragedy of the downing of Air-India Flight 182 in 1985 and this week's verdict on the trial of the two accused of the outrage, my beard has gone from jet black to snow white. Part of it, of course, is due to age, in my case, 55. Some of the silver undoubtedly stems from the vagaries of the practice of law which, coincidentally, began for me in 1985. A good portion of it also relates to the tragedy, from watching helplessly from the sidelines as several close friends have struggled with the loss of dear ones — a son and daughter, a spouse, a sister. And some of the salt, inevitably replacing the pepper, is from watching my immediate community — almost 500,000 Sikh-Canadians — unfairly bear the cross of innuendo and broad brush-strokes. All because the background and context of the tragedy lies in India, in accusations of dire human rights violations by the Indian government against its Sikh minority and the Khalistani separatist movement spawned as a result. Yesterday's front-page headlines in one Toronto newspaper unabashedly refer to two "Sikh" militants who were found "Not guilty." Sikh? True, their religion is Sikh. But this moniker is shared by me and my daughter, 500,000 Sikh-Canadians, and 25 million others around the world, only a handful of whom condone or support either the crime or the criminals, whoever they may be. But, why not "Khalistani," instead of Sikh, which would make it relevant and accurate? I have never seen — and thank God for it — Nazis referred to as "Christian" terrorists. We have Palestinian suicide-bombers and we have Israeli raids. IRA militants. But, why Sikh militants? My daughter was 6 years old in June, 1985. I was and am a single parent and my primary challenge ever since has been to prevent, or at least lessen, the collateral damage caused by the carelessness of the media. I remember a Sikh-Canadian friend bringing over a newspaper one day to show me how his 12-year-old had come home one evening, spotted the headlines on an Air-India story, pored over the article and, taking a black marker, slashed a huge X across the page, and inscribed "Lies! Lies! Lies!" across the page. My friend found the page crumpled and thrown in the wastebasket. I remember meeting with a number of CSIS and RCMP operatives in 1987 to assist them in understanding the basics about Indian and Punjabi politics and their spillover into Canada. My advice was being sought, free, because neither institution had any Sikh or Indian or Punjabi or South Asian personnel on their staff who were equipped to assist them in the Air-India matter. Imagine, this with respect to a Canadian community a million strong and a century old. Their question was: "Why does every Sikh household in this country sport the Khalistani flag? See: Here's the separatist symbol! " I looked at the sample one of them had pulled from a briefcase. It was the saffron triangle flown outside every gurdwara (Sikh church) in the world, and the icon (the Khanda) displayed in homes, on necklaces, and T-shirts, on bumper-stickers ... just like the Christian Cross and the Jewish Star of David. I explained. Their jaws dropped collectively, as if I had just clarified quantum physics. They cited huge numbers of separatists in this country and provided the evidence: Tens of thousands of them, maybe even hundreds of thousands, refrained from clipping their beards or doffing their turbans. Are they potential terrorists, they asked? They were genuinely puzzled when I told them that these were the basic requirements for those who have taken on the full discipline of the Sikh spiritual path, and had nothing to do with any political stance. And I added that I was one of them, pointing to my turban and untrimmed beard. I never heard from them again. But I have heard of erased tapes, of bunglings, of missed opportunities, and ah yes, of broad public references to "Sikh terrorists." It helped me decide on the route I would take with my daughter. I chose to encourage her to watch and hear and read the news with me, and to discuss its contents. As a result, I believe, she has learned to discern right from wrong in a way clearer than most people I know. As she grew up, I noted she had begun to nurture a deep sense of justice and fairness, and sport the ability to quickly cut through onion layers of obfuscation. We often talked about what we saw going on around the Air-India situation. We quickly learned that there was a pattern emerging in the way the RCMP and CSIS were handling the case and anything else even vaguely related to it. It has been long forgotten, but there were two trials, one in Hamilton, the other in Montreal, several years ago. Both purportedly related to the Khalistani movement. Terrorists were being tried, we were forewarned. Swat teams visibly stood coiled around the "specially barricaded" facilities. "Terrorists! Terrorists!" echoed every preparatory press conference. It was high drama, neatly orchestrated to meet every news deadline. Well, both matters were finally heard, one by one, in separate cities. The judge found that the bases of the charges were fraudulent: false affidavits, sworn by "investigative" personnel, were the mainstay. There was no other real evidence. The charges were dismissed. In each case. A similar case took place in New York State. Same scenario, swat teams and all. On the eve of the trial, it was discovered that the prosecutor had been penning threatening letters to the judge and signing them with the names of the accused. The charges were dropped and the prosecutor taken away, reportedly for psychiatric treatment. My daughter and I learned the following: If the prosecution protests loudly and repeatedly that $100 million has been spent on the case, that there are 10 truckloads of evidence, there are 100 witnesses, that there were 300 victims — and never, ever claims that there are X number of solid witnesses, and X number of damaging documents, and oodles, no some, no, even one piece of impeccable evidence connecting the accused with the crimes, then you know there isn't a case. Not just a weak case. Simply, no case. And then, when you hear the word "terrorists" bandied about freely and with full-throated ease, you know it is a smokescreen to hide the absence of substance. Were we surprised by the verdict? Yes, we were. We are always surprised — pleasantly — at how our judicial system ultimately rises to the occasion, and does what it is supposed to do, albeit belatedly. Now, just wait and see how loudly and how often the authorities use the word "terrorists" henceforth. Here's my grey-haired conclusion: There is good news and there is bad news. The good news: Ours is the best justice system in the world. The bad news: Ours is the best justice system in the world! We do need an inquiry. It is a must. The truth behind why it took 20 years to get to this unsatisfactory juncture has to be outed. And, we simply can't let the real criminals go free. One more thing. My daughter grew up to choose journalism as a career: The pursuit of truth ... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- T. Sher Singh is a Guelph lawyer who is a Member of the Order of Canada
  3. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! YAAAAAY! seeing as how we were probably NEVER going to get the c.d.'s (keep working on them though) this makes my VERY happy. thank you Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!
  4. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! thank you all. This year Guru Sahib blessed our family with the seva of a keertan. My bhainjees did wonderful keertan. thank you again. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!!
  5. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! Guru Sahib's jyot is in all...lets try to see that and not what their human body stands for. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- sabh mehi joth joth hai soe || The Divine Light is within everyone; You are that Light. this kai chaanan sabh mehi chaanan hoe || Yours is that Light which shines within everyone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!
  6. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! I used to work at a bakery where they asked me to do the exact same thing. I just wore a sweat band thing for your arm ( I don't know the exact name for it) on top of the kara so it wouldn't slide down my arm. As long as it doesn't come in contact with the food there shouldn't be a problem. Make sure the sweat band is washed every day. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!
  7. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! mithra piaaraa naanak jee mai shhadd gavaaeiaa ra(n)g kasu(n)bhai bhulee || I abandoned and lost my Beloved Friend, O Nanak; I was fooled by the transitory color of the safflower, which fades away. tho sajan kee mai keem n poudhee ho thudhh bin adt n lehadhee ||1|| I did not know Your value, O my Friend; without You, I am not worth even half a shell. ||1|| I got this story from a bhainjee..... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Something so peculiar has happened that I must write it down while it is fresh in my mind. I was out for a stroll today, when I came upon the oddest caricature. An elderly woman of indeterminable age was sitting close to a gate and mumbling. A strange light gleamed from her eyes and she seemed quite mad. She was attired in assorted raiment of non-descript garments covered with filth from which could be seen protruding scraps of the finest materials. The colour, worn and faded, must have at one time shone with luster. There could be no doubt that these were her own, as the fit was impeccably tailored to her frame. More over the locks of her tresses were bound up as a married woman, but she wore no ring as befitted a former bride, nor for that matter jewelry of any kind which might be expected in one of her station according to the remnant of her fine clothing. On her wrist was a rusted bangle, and a dagger strung at her hip. I bent forward to hear what she might be muttering. It seemed as though she uttere d just one plea over again and again. I made out one word “waheguru”. Interspersed she would cry aloud “hamaree pyaree AMritdharee”. I could make no sense of this. But I was moved by the earnest expression in the bearing of her countenance. I knelt in front of her and made and inquiry of sorts. “My Dame, you seem is some sort of distress. Might I be of any assistance?” It took some insistence on my part before she recognized I was there. Then she reached out and clutched my coat. “I’m lost, I have lost my beloved,” she lamented. There was urgency to her voice. Before I could reply she hurriedly continued. “It’s my fault, all my fault”. Tears starting from the corners of her eyes slid down her wizened cheeks. “I had the most wonderful love, a treasure beyond compare. I laughed, loved, and lived in unutterable beauty. Like a butterfly on wing sipping nectar from rose petals, my days were then. But alas, I let it slip from my grasp by sheer ingratitude and neglect. I was so contented I took it completely for granted. When I woke from the stupor of my intoxication I was left thus.” She spread her hands helplessly. “One day I was queen, and the next, a beggar. Oh there are some shreds of my passion remaining;” she assented, fingering her former finery. “But the essence has trickled away. Like golddust spilling from a hole in the pocket, all that remains is its glimmering leavings. But my fortune is lost…” Her voice trailed off. “I was a silly girl. I reveled in my moment but forwent my opportunity of everlasting quintessence. Quite simply I wandered in to the world and lost my way. The track to my beloveds abode and been paved over. I only know it lays somewhere through that gate. She pointed a finger looking after it hauntingly. I’m too feeble to go alone. I must find the way. Can you help me?” she pleaded, seeming to crumble even more in to her crumpled visage. I know not the ways beyond that gate my Dame,” I replied confoundedly. “I hold not the key nor do I know any of its attendants. I’m v ery sorry. I had hoped to be of service. But it seems I am useless in this affaire after all.” “Oh, but such wealth awaits, as you can not possible imagine. My beloved is unchanging His love so incomparable and vast more than either of us should ever know otherwise. We could search for him together.” she whispered conspiratorially. “But I am aged and weak and cannot walk alone. I need your strength to uplift and support me.” She grasped my hand tightly pulling me close. “Will you help?” She searched my eyes with her own piercing through to the deepest part of me, I found my self responding but to what I knew not. “Waheguru” she whispered, “Waheguru.” Her intensity frightened me. What was I getting into? Who or What was this Waheguru. “I…I don’t know how.” She smiled through her tears, the corners of her mouth turned up disappearing into the folds of her cheeks. “Do not you worry, the way lies through there. You will never have any regret unless it is of not exploring the prospects of the unimaginable affluence of abiding love. Please please say that you will take me through the gate...” I felt compelled, how could I not, and so I gave her my promise. She told me “Go now and make your preparation. Return before first light when the gate will open and together we shall enter…” I’m trembling now as I write this…What is before me, what awaits, I know not, but I deem that it is riches not of this world… waheguru ji
  8. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! The ideal solution would be to become bibeki. However, some don't have the need, will, want or Guru sahib's kirpa to be bibeki. It's not something that is easy to adopt. So until we are all want to, or need to or have the will to become bibeki, until Guru Sahib decides that we are good enough to be bibeki, there is no harm in making sure what you eat is vegetarian. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!
  9. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! The most precious and priceless gems and jewels are obtained by serving the True Guru. (SGGSJ- 1323) Kabeer, earrings made of gold and studded with jewels, look like burnt twigs, if the Name is not in the mind. ||4|| (SGGSJ-1364) Jewels, treasures, pearls, gold and silver-all these are just dust. (SGGSJ-47) She is the most beautiful among women; upon her forehead she wears the Jewel of the Lord's Love. (SGGSJ-53) Great wealth, elephants, horses and jewels, purchased with tens of thousands of dollars;hereafter, these shall be of no avail in the Court of the Lord; the proud must depart, leaving them behind. ||1|| (SGGSJ-379) Gold, jewels, giant pearls and rubies - I have no need for them. (SGGSJ-406) Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!
  10. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! This morning on my way to school i stopped by a shop called cinnabon. I know this place exists in the G.T.A. other then that I'm not sure where it is located throughout the world. Anyways, I asked the cashier if i could have a list of ingredients of what goes in the buns. I found out that there is LECITHIN and EGGS in them. There could be more stuff, but i just stopped reading. So next time you are at a food shop/restaurant just ask for a list of ingredients. If they don't supply one, don't eat there! Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!
  11. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! the following excerpt from an interview done by Dr. Phil shows that Mr. Bush stopped drinking.....the rest is interesting. 'My daughters may be boozing because of me', says Bush Sydney | September 30, 2004 3:05:16 PM IST US President George Bush has said that he finds it very difficult to stop his 19-year old twin daughters from drinking because he used to do it himself, and has not set a very good example. Talking on the 'Dr.Phil Chat Show,' Bush also admitted that he had withheld information about his drunken driving arrest in 1976 from the public, because he did not want it to affect his daughters, who have been charged with underage drinking, several times. According to news.com, Bush, who called himself an 'irresponsible youngster,' revealed that he had quit drinking at the age of 40 after realising that he had acquired a drinking problem. "The parents have got to understand that when they tell their child something, they have to be willing to live it in order for the child to be able to absorb the truth of what the parent is trying to say," the report quoted him as saying. "It's awfully difficult for a parent to tell a child not to drink and drive when the parent drinks and drives," Bush said in the TV interview. (ANI) source: http://www.webindia123.com/news/showdetail...49061&cat=World Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!
  12. I was thinking about this issue this morning. Indian food in general is made for the diet of a labourer. Think about the origins and the people who ate it. They worked all day long and often needed the food just to balance their lifestyle. Here the lifestyle is different, most have jobs where heavy labour is not required. The idea, i think, is to work out so you can balance that type of food. As for langhar, I know one bibi at Dixie rd. Gurughar who "administers" (for lack of a better word) the prep and making of the langhar. There is also one uncle jee/baba jee who makes the atta everyday, all the time. With experience they probably know how to make the food more healthy. Although I don't know if they are concerened with making the food healthy or just getting it made period.
  13. I don't know how the Gym at Malton works but if there was one to be installed in Gurudwaras in general, the biggest issue would be that the men would probably use it more, and the bibian would not feel comfortable or would not be allowed to use it. Are there other gyms out there (in Gurudwaray) where bibian are welcome and use it too?
  14. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! Sevak jee, obviously you have been aquainted with or have had to deal with the wrong type of woman. There are many chardikala bibian out there. Some woman do say the thing about kirpans being to big or other things that don't suit the punjabi culture. These woman have been immersed in this culture for so long that they don't realize the beauty that is a chardeekala bibi in full bana. So I have to disagee, not all women are like that. Women are not the only ones who destroy the house or the life of other women. Suprisingly, men have that abililty too Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!
  15. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! The annual Guru GObind Singh Children's Foundation run is THIS WEEKEND!!!!!! IF you havent signed up there is STILL time. The two day registration is full but the sunday one is open. Please come run with your brothers and sisters at nathan phillips square. They will be running from Niagra Falls to Hamilton the first day and then from Hamilton to downtown Toronto the second day. Volunteers and runners are needed for the final stretch. Register ASAP and be ready to board the bus at 2:00 p.m. Sunday. For more information or to make donations please visit www.ggscf.com Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fatehhhh!!!!
  16. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! Can anyone tell me the history or context of this shabad? Personal interpretations would help too. http://www.sikhitothemax.com/page.asp?ShabadID=1773 any insight would help. thanks Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!
  17. the timings are as follows: EVERYNIGHT from 6:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m..... only THREE MORE DAYS!!!! bhai sahib will only be here for tonight wednesday and thursday, and then the jatha will be heading to Calgary.
  18. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fatehhhhh!!! SANGATO! EVERYONE should know that Bhai Harjinder Singh Sri Nagar Vale and jatha are here in mississauga at dixie Gurughar and are staying for this week!!! It hasn't been advertised much so the sangat is smaller then when its anounced to the whole world. PLEASE take this oppurtunity to listen to bhai sahibs keertan. He is only here for ONE week!! Please call the gurughar for the exact timetable. I know they do keertan at around 7 in the evening and sometime in the morning. Let all the sangatan in the G.T.A. know!!! Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!!!!
  19. Shinda is not accusing gkaur of spreading rumours, he is just stating the truth. The police have said that they don't have any leads or suspects. As far as I am concerened this states something that we were not taking into considertion before. Wouldn't the police accuse the commitee or at least have them as suspects? If they don't then why should we point fingers? I can assure you that the members of the commitee will say that the cameras were not working or were not turned on at the point of the break and enter. However, that is is the ONLY information that they will confirm in terms of what gkaur is saying. The police have also stated that the box was a wooden one. Which golak is actually wooden at dixie besides the little pingalwara ones? Aren't most of them steel or some sort of metal? (This is beyond the point i am trying to make, just a little something to think about) Anyways, I hope this clears up the assumptions and rumours.
  20. Vaheuroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! I wrote to the PR department at Peel Police. Here is what I said: Sergeant Todd Moore Peel Regional Police Re: Robbery at Sikh place of worship Dear Mr.. Moore: My name is Diljot Kaur and I am a member of the congregation at Ontario Khalsa Darbar Dixie Rd. Gurughar ("Gurughar".) That is the Sikh place of worship on the Corner of Dixie Road and Derry Road. The general congregation has come into the know that there was a robbery at the Gurughar at around 12:00-12:30 a.m. on Saturday July 3, 2004. As we are concerned about the outcome, we would like to know if there is an investigation underway. If it is possible we would like to know the details of the investigation. I understand that this may not be answerable as this is a private matter. Has there been a media release issued? If there is one where can i obtain it from? The reason I ask you this is, there are many allegations being thrown around and we would like to know the truth. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. Diljot Kaur -------------------------------------------------- I got an answer back from Peel Police. Here is what they said: Mr. Kaur, I can advise you that this incident was not a robbery, but a break and enter. I can tell you that a wooden safe containing funds from a room on an upper floor was broken into and stolen. the investigation is continuing by 12 Division CIB. I have no further information as to any leads or suspect info. If I did, I still could not tell you that information. There was no news release issued. It is not standard practice to issue news releases on break and enters since they are a frequent occurrence. The incident however was covered by a South Asian Newspaper, but I do not remember which one. Regards Cst. Wendy Sims #1584 Peel Regional Police Media Relations Bureau 905-453-3311 ext. 4032 wendy.sims@peelpolice.on.ca -----Original Message----- ----------------------------------------------------- Yes, she called me Mr. So you can take what you want from this. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!
  21. Bhainjee, I am not making allegations of any sort. I am sorry if that is how you interpreted my comments. However, until i see a police issued media release or something of that sort I am not ready to believe anything.
  22. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh Bhainjee Gkaur, Can you please tell the sangat who you spoke to at peel police? Where are you getting your information from? Who are your sources? Has there been a written police form issued to media or to the community in general? If yes then can you tell us where we can get it? Thanks Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh
  23. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh I went to pick up my brother from the Gurudwara that night as he had been playing hockey It was around 12:15 in the morning. There was a HUGE crowd of ppl outside including many well known faces. Now I could easily say that one of those singhs stole the money, but i have no evidence. So PLEASE before you start pointing fingers, get your facts straight and get some evidence. If the police are investigating let them do their job. You are NOT the police and therefore are spreading rumours and judging people. How is it certain that few in the commitee are thieves? Did i miss something? If I did please fill me in. Please refrain from accusing people and calling them theives. Thank you Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh
  24. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh! In celebration of the huge victory that Navdeep singh gained this week his family has extended an invitation to the sanghat to come to a keertan. This keertan is taking place Friday July 2 at dixie Gurughar halls 2, 3, and 4. We are aware that smaagam is happening at the same time but pleeeease give us your darshan even if it is for a few minutes. Please invite all that want to come. Vaheguroo jee ka khalsa Vaheguroo jee kee fateh!
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