GurSa Singh

There was a time when Guru De Sikh made sure there was no sharab da tekha within a radius of the pavitar Gurdwara or even in the same village of the Gurdwara. Now the manmukhs allow those sarab de tekha in the Gurdwara's properties.

The current committee show non-compliance to Sikh principles and protocol therefore should resign. Failing that the committee members such as Ajit Sandhu, Darshan Atwal, Piara Purewal, Jasvir Rai and Anoop Sinh need to be stripped of their involvement in any Sikh activities and the running of the Gurdwara should be taken over by the Sikh community so that Sikh principles are adhered to.

It is clear that this Committee are defamatory to the Sikh Community and totally incapable of running a Sikh place of worship. I feel their positions should be taken away from them by the UK sangat.

From a legal perspective, what are the implications if the more Sikhi focused members of the Sangat in the local area did a Kabza of the Gurdwara from this Committee? This committee should be legally thrown out by the coalition of UK Gurdwaras and banned from any Gurdwara Administration for the beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Sikh Maryada and the Jaikara. The woman who shouted the jaikara for the meat and sharab should also be held accountable as well as Sandhu, Poorewal, Atwal, Rai and Anoop who have all been at the forefront. They should all be summoned infront of the UK Sangat live on Sikh Channel/Sangat TV and made accountable for their actions against the Sikh nation.

Does anyone know when the next Amrit Sanchar is in the London or Illford area please?

Gurdwara Karamsar, Ilford Vasakhi.

Call the above Gurdwara up to find out more and confirm with the prabhandaks. There will be several Amrit Sanchars up and down the country during April.

You guys need to register complaints with the Sikh Channel. 0121 380 1050 info@sikhchannel.tv

Call SC during the day as their staff are usually belay then and express how offensive and false many of the comments made by the panel were. Ask for this specific panel to come again on an open phone discussion programme on the Sikh Channel where their comments can be challenged by the sangat/studio audience live on air.

What should Gurdwara Committees be doing for the Sikh Youth?

LIVE Youth Discussion Show on Sunday 13 March 2011 at 7pm (GMT) on the Sikh Channel (Sky Channel 840).

The discussion will aim to focus on the questions;

• Why are there so few youth in Gurdwara Committees?
  
• What do the youth believe the Gurdwara Committees should be doing for the Sikh Community?
  
• How can we bridge the gap that exists between the current committees and youth?
  

Small amendment to the above. As per the Sky TV guide the Discussion Show repeat is on today (Sat 19 Feb) from 2.30pm to 4.30pm on Sikh Channel (Ch 840).

Just been speaking to the Sikh Channel. They said they are repeating the show on Saturday at 2pm.

They said that although they received a very small number of complaints they were originally pressured into not repeating the live show, however due to the numerous calls/emails from the sangat they have decided to show the discussion programme again.

Seems like we will struggle to escape that old pendoo game of lawyers letters and "defamation" accusation everytime someone speaks out against these Committees. I'm sure you read stronger opinions on the Daily Mail comments section. These Solictors must be having a right laugh at the ever ready queue of Gurdwara committees who line up to take legal action out on anyone who voices an opinion. Another misuse of the Sangat's donations.

I hope sikhsangat.com admin stand their ground for the sake of Truth and Maryada!

Sangat Update

Birmingham, UK - 11 February 2011

Satkaar Campaign live on Sikh Channel

Sunday 13 February 2011 at 7pm (GMT)

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Sevadaars of the UK Sangat-led Satkaar Campaign will be contributing to a two-hour live show at 7pm on Sunday 13 February on the Sikh Channel (Sky Channel 840). The show will be covering wider issues of Satkaar for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaaj, which are areas of concern for the Satkaar Campaign. The show will also discuss a Sikh's relationship with Guru Ji and focus on the requirements for Satkaar mandated by Akaal Takht Sahib.

We understand that the Sangat may have the opportunity to contribute to this show by calling in on +44 (0) 121 380 1050. The discussion show will be presented by Kam Singh of the Sikh Youth Project, and will involve a lead panel, as well as an active studio audience.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Bump! Watch Sikh Youth Show tonite on Sikh Channel.

Just a reminder of the second amazing Hukumnama Dhan Dhan Sachay Patshay Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj blessed the sadh sangat with on Saturday 16 October 2010 during the Grays Morcha when the Satkaar Campaign was formalised.

Dhanaasree mehlaa 5.

Dhanaasaree, Fifth Mehl:

doot dusman sabh tujh tay nivrahi pargat partaap tumaaraa.

All demons and enemies are eradicated by You, Lord; Your glory is manifest and radiant.

jo jo tayray bhagat dukhaa-ay oh tatkaal tum maaraa. ||1||

Whoever harms Your devotees, You destroy in an instant. ||1||

nirkha-o tumree or har neet.

I look to You continually, Lord.

muraar sahaa-ay hohu daas ka-o kar geh uDhrahu meet. rahaa-o.

O Lord, Destroyer of ego, please, be the helper and companion of Your slaves; take my hand, and save me, O my Friend! ||Pause||

sunee bayntee thaakur mayrai khasmaanaa kar aap.

My Lord and Master has heard my prayer, and given me His protection.

naanak anad bha-ay dukh bhaagay sadaa sadaa har jaap. ||2||13||44||

Nanak is in ecstasy, and his pains are gone; he meditates on the Lord, forever and ever. ||2||13||44||

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Sri Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

I must agree with my veer ji by the name of "whoareya" on this one. I have been involved in Gurdwara's for decades, and i have myself witnessed many youths come into the place, wanting to take over, wanting to change the running as they please, thinking that they have respect, when in actual fact, they have no respect for their elders. I think regardless of the issue, this youngster should have stayed with the committee because they run the Gurdwara everyday, and he should have supported it as a team effort.

On may occasions i have had youths do this, come into the picture then run scared when it comes to doing Seva. God only remembers the people who do Seva, not the people who come down in numbers and then disappear when the dust has settled.

So, i think we should give the committee more respect that this one kid who has decided its too much for him to handle. Dont get me wrong, i am all for soorjavaan young people coming into committees, but not people like this, who go when the going gets tough. Plus, i have heard of the Dudley committee youths anyhow, and i know they are not worthy of their title even.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Sri Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

Posts like this make we want to bury my head in my hands with embarrassment that "Siyaanay" like this exist. I am overwhelmed by your squirmish attitude and the fact that you want to make out this current committee are some kind of committed sewadars. Well, committed might be the right word, but not much commitment to Sikhi, perhaps more commitment to ensuring a drinking den is sustained in the hall.

Grow up Siyaanah, looks like the youth saw more sense and left the sangat of such Siyaanah cynics

is it tru that 1 of the committee guys have resigned? lol, he probably chickened out bcuz of all of this stuff going down. why did he get scared and run i wonder?

Perhaps he resigned out of principle. I have done that myself and often it's the strongest statement to make to the remaining members of the committee.

At the end of the day, I personally would never want to be associated with a committee who will go down in our modern history as the ones who abused the Guru Ghar and served meat, sharab and allowed dancing on the Guru Ghar's jagir, similar to some of the masands and mahants of the past. Let's be honest and put this situation into context. The maha beadbi and paap that Mahant Narian Das carried out in Nankana Sahib almost 100 years ago lead to the Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar where Sangat took control of our Guru Ghars to bring back Sikh principles, so now what is different in modern times when committees like GNSS Dudley pour sharab in the jagirs of the Guru?? Does this not deserve the same reaction from the Panth? Why is it that only 250 British Sikhs were pained by what was happening in Grays Gurdwara and went to protest and the remaining 499,750 Sikhs just carried on ignoring any issues by burying their heads in the ground?

At least this committee guy has the sense to abondon these abusers of the Gurdwara. I hope he stands with the rest of us when the time comes and we need to stand united against bad committees like this.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/gallery/2011/feb/05/english-defence-league-protest#/?picture=371461386&index=11

Punjab Times Issue No 2351 27th Jan 2011 Page 4

There is no justification this Committee can make in saying that the income from the Sikh Cultural Centre subsidises the Guru Ghar

Did we not see a similar financial situation in RST Birmingham! The Golak funds the Guru Ghar adequately, so again why do these Committees keep telling the sangat that they need the sharabi party income stream!

According to the local Sangat it's a dhadhi jatha from Birmingham who will be at the diwan in the Woodlands Centre on 30th Jan.

The dhadhi jatha are Dilbagh Singh's Dhadi Jatha who have appeared on Sikh Channel during the live broadcasts from Guru Arjan Dev Gurdwara, Derby. They have been made aware of the Woodlands Centre and the violation of Akal Takht Hukumnama, but have not confirmed whether they will boycot the programme. If anyone knows the jatha, please also discuss the issue with them.

His name is Surinder Singh ADOL, From Jallandhur. He came towards the end of year 2009, and ran away from his previous employment in midland Gurdwara, in April 2010.

What was the reason he ran away from the previous Gurdwara and which Gurdwara was it? It's a high time we know started implementing proper checks and controls on Granthis and Sewadars at our Gurdwaras, something I would exepect the likes of new SCUK to implement.

There was obviously some history there if he ran off from his previous role on midlands, however he was easily able to slot into another Granthi role in another Gurdwara. The system's open to abuse and we have no control or coordination over it.

I agree with guptkuri that for the sustainability of our gurdwaras we need to effectively educate the youth about sikhi. More needs to be done in english to reach out to them. Whenever a person leaves the gurdwara he should have learnt something new and inspiring about sikhi. Otherwise in 20/30 years (or even sooner) we will have more gurdwaras closing

I agree but in order to survive the period in between now and the next 20/30 years, there does need to be some kind of austerity implementation or review of the way Gurdwaras seem to fund themselves. Something I think which is more and more common is that some Gurdwaras or Sikh organisations are after your direct debits with some kind of emotional story that there is a funding gap due to a bank loan and there is a short time frame to pay of a substantially large sum back to the bank. It is getting more and more common to see Gurdwaras taking on massive financial commitments in form of debt, refinancing and remortgages.

Most financially embarrassing situations or debt does not arise overnight. It is usually a build-up of the maverick management of funds and an over excited approach to taking on more bank loans. I think many of our Gurdwaras are already adequately supporting the sangat but there is a competitive trend for the need to show progression in the form of capital intensive projects such as a better looking Gurdwara or more facilities (halls, extensions etc.).

There is also a lack of personal accountability from some of the people running Gurdwaras and Sikh organisations. I think they still do not understand the huge commitment to managing the Sangat's donations. They should not feel the need to show the sangat that our Gurdwaras need to be bigger or a new studio is needed or even a nursery is required if the funds do not exist. We should be living within our means and within the constraints of what funding our sangat provide not what the banks give us, even if this means the Gurdwaras remaining humble buildings.

I think part of the problem is the gurudwara sahibs around the world never really did much outreach to the younger generation and were almost potrayed in a negative light because of amounts of corpution and anti-sikh stuff going on. Now that most of the older generation is retiring, the ball is really in the younger generations court to donate more and keep programs running but they shy away from donating to Sikhi causes. We need to get more youth involved and as you said hold people accountable.

It's highly likely that there will be more funding gaps in the future simply because the older generation were able to save lump sums due to a lower level of living costs and were more committed to contributing to Guru ghars. The younger generation may have jobs paying higher annual salaries but our spending habits are much different which I think means most of us have much lower savings and contribute much lower amounts to Gurdwaras and Sikh issues.

Having been involved in counting the donations in the Gurdwara Golak, you would be surprised how many pennies are put in the golak. The Golak may seem full, but in monetary value the donations are not as high as some people think.

I think Gurdwara sewaks need to consider that before they commit to taking out new loans and re-mortgages for extensions, new buildings.

Wjkk wjkf. So good that we are all uniting together to do this protest it Is sad that the gurdwara commitee has not responded beforehand. Ramgaria gurdwara in Wolverhampton westbury street have bought the GKN building and told the Express and star newspaper that one of the halls uses will be for wedding parties. Its a sad thought that majority of the Ramgarhia gurdwaras committee members consume alcohol, eat meat.

Bhenji, I think you will sadly find some prabhandak committees in many Gurdwaras who do not follow Sikhi but still put themselves forward as leaders. This problem is not exclusive to RST or any other Gurdwara with the specific Ramgharia label, this problem exists in a number of Gurdwaras.

The Rally is not just solely against RST committee, as stated above by Satkaar, the Rally's main aim is to raise awareness of the growing trend that some Gurdwara Committees believe they need to cater for the ostentatious party scene by promoting alcohol, meat and parties. RST are just one of 14 other known Gurdwaras in the UK who violate Sikh principles. From the sounds of it, unless Gursikhs act now there will be more Gurdwara Complexes investing in catering for the drunk punjabi party scene.

Makes me think. How can you make anyone actually care about their religion? I mean if it doesn't come from the heart already?

In anycase, that fancy pants Sikh wedding thing has been going on for years now. Why is anyone actually even shocked at this? Have you guys been living in caves?

I don't think that trend for ostentatious celebrations is about to diminish anytime soon from what I can see.

The only way I can see this trend changing is the Committees implement a humility/satkaar protocol which the family must adhere to. I have yet to come across a committee who give a list of do's and don't to the families booking Anand Karaj's at Gurdwaras. It's usually a free-for-all where little Gurmat is promoted during the morning event at the Guru Ghar.

However, the financial commitments of these multi million pound Gurdwara (and Gurdwaras in general) will influence the Committee's "appetite" for Gurmat during Anand Karajs. The income stream generated from Anand Karaj's is lucrative for the Gurdwara’s bank balance and even if that means promoting flamboyance, pretence and pakhand.

I hope no one ate those chapatis afterwards.

Sadly, the multi-million pound Gurdwaray are more than likely seen as nothing more than lavish wedding venues. None of these committees who control the Gurdwaras are valliant enough promote humility back into our Anand Karajs. They would rather take the booking fee than discuss a Sikh Maryada with the families.