Pyara

Is this another sign to us Sikhs to reflect upon our personal respect for our dastaars? Why is the dastaar under so much attack over the last few months? There was a time when no one dared touch a Sikh's turban! So where is it going wrong? A few weeks ago a freshie Sikh had chicken bones put on top of his dastaar by a gang of black youth on a bus in Ilford. The Sikh kept it gupt because he was "kacha" resident so just walked away not causing a scene. I didn't feel sorry for the Singh and his ordeal, I felt upset that we just keep walking away from it all! The world is not respecting our dastaar because we have lost our own self-respect! Apologies for my judgemental attitude to these incidents. I just feel there's a bigger picture to it all... http://www.bbc.co.uk...pshire-13219313 Man's turban stolen in Southampton race attack A Sikh man was racially abused and had his turban stolen as he stood at a bus stop in Southampton. The 29-year-old man was approached by a group of five drunken men outside the Civic Centre on Tuesday evening. Police said the group shouted and swore at passers-by before racially abusing the Sikh man as they walked past. The man turned away to ignore them but one of them pulled his turban off his head before running away with it towards the train station. The turban is described as white with black markings. All the men are described as white. One was wearing a checked shirt and the others T-shirts. It is believed there were several other people at the bus stop at the time who saw the incident.

Unfortunately we commonly hear some say "Fateh Ji Fateh!" or another common one is "Wahe Khalsa Wahe Fateh". It's shortened down by pure laziness, some people can't be bothered to spend 5 seconds on the 16 pavitar syllables in "WaHeGuRu Ji Ka KhalSa WaHeGuRu Ji Ki FatEh". As the Nihang Singh's proudly say "Jaide Zaban Wich Fateh, Audhi Maidan Wich Fateh!" Our weakness often starts from our very own foundations, if we are lazy and distort the Sikh greeting then we already erode into any blessings of a Gursikh jeevan.

Just my opinion. I think we need more strategic tact rather than portraying AK-47s with Khalistan. The imagery only generalises the negativity that most anti-Khalistanis use as a reason not to support the notion of Sikh self rule. It's a serious time for us to step up the diplomatic use of verbal reasoning so that we have a greater impact in swaying peoples opinions about Sikh self rule and not rely on pre-printed t-shirts which can be responsible for portraying distorted messages. The image of the AK-47 gives off the wrong signals and does not benefit the cause on a global platform.

As per the Sikh Rehat Maryada, or Code of Conduct, Sikhs greet each other with "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh". Perhaps in the past the individuals who had not taken Amrit felt it inappropriate to greet someone with "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh" as they did not yet feel worthy of being part of the Khalsa and hence adopted "Sat Sri Akal" (or the corrupted version "sasikaal") Personally, I greet all Sikhs with "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh" regardless of Amritdhari or Mona. It's habitual and what I automatically say when greeting people.

Ok, we all know Vasakhi is our biggest festival or at least is should be! I think it's a major responsibility of Gurdwaras to ensure the weekend following Vasakhi (if not the entire week) is solely dedicated to Vasakhi and ensure the entire Sikh congregation are focussed on this. It offends me somewhat that bookings are accepted for weddings during this auspicious weekend, which in some Gurdwara's ends up taking prominence over everything else. Again, it boils down to committees looking at the healthy income stream rather than their moral obligation to Sikhi. It wouldn't bother me if it was a Gursikh wedding but 95% of them will be about getting the lava done and then legging it to the reception party to get absolutely trolleyed! It's just one weekend! Can't we encourage Amrit Sanchar's, Kirtan Samagams, Dadhi Vaara, Gatka Demos etc instead of being hijacked by impatient wedding guests desperate to get out of the Gurdwara in time to make the party... I have had my rant!

http://www.namdhari-...ikhs/4541444517 Extract from above website "After Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, mainstream Sikh's believe that Satguru Ji passed on the Guruship to Sikh's Holy Book called the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and that Satguru Ji passed away on the 7 October 1708. Namdhari Sikh's however believe that Sri Satguru Gobind Singh Ji did not die at Nanded, but eloped and lived under the Name Baba Ajaypal Singh in Nabha. Namdhari Sikh's believe that Guru Gobind Singh Ji lived until the age of 146 (until 1812) and passed on the Guruship to Sri Guru Balak Singh Ji in Hazro in 1812. This belief is the split in Mainstream Sikh's and Namdhari Sikhs. Where mainstream Sikh's ended their continuation in Guruship at Sri Guru Granth Sahib as their ever-lasting Guru, Namdhari Sikh's still follow the principle of having a Living Guru as their Teacher. After Sri Satguru Balak Singh Ji, Namdhari Sikh's believe in Sri Satguru Ram Singh Ji as their 12th Guru. Sri Satguru Ram Singh Ji was responsible for giving Namdhari's Sikh's their distinctive looks (White horizontal tied turban and simple white Kurtha Pajama). Sri Satguru Ram Singh Ji is a philosopher and reformer and the first Indian to use non-cooperation and boycotting of British merchandise and services as a political weapon. Sri Satguru Ram Singh Ji launched his revolt against the British on 12 April 1857 by hoisting a white flag of freedom and announced a programme of far reaching significance. As the British became increasingly aware of Satguru Ji's ever growing popularity amongst the locals, they quickly acted by arresting Satguru Ji and exiling him to Calcutta and then to Burma on 11th March 1872. When Satguru Ram Singh Ji was arrested by the British, he instructed his Sikhs that his brother Bhai Budh Singh would keep the now be responsible for the Ghaddi (Guruship) until he returned. Satguru Ram Singh Ji then renamed Bhai Budh Singh to Sri Satguru Hari Singh Ji, and said that he will now keep Sikhi Hari (Green). After Sri Satguru Hari Singh Ji, the Guruship was passed onto Sri Satguru Partap Singh Ji in 1906 and then to Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji in 1959. Today thousands of Namdhari Sikhs which originated in the Punjab region of India extend out to Thailand, England, Africa, Australia, Canada and America. With the ever growing Sangat around the world, Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji has made numerous trips blessing and teaching his Sikhs Always reminding them that Sri Satguru Ram Singh Ji is going to return and retain his title as the 12th Guru of the Namdhari Sikhs."

The naamdharis believe in a continued lineage after Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj. They claim a further 5 dehdhari "Gurus": "guru" Balak Singh "guru" Ram Singh "guru" Hari Singh "guru" Partap Singh "guru" Jagjit Singh (current)

From what's being said in Punjab it looks like a feud over the fake gaddi of "Guru" Jagjit Singh between his maternal grandson Jai Singh and Thakur Dalip Singh (the nephew of Jagit Singh). Both want to be the next "Guru"... Thakur Dalip Singh is the son of Thakur Singh (brother of current guru Jagjit Singh) and is claiming ownership of the gaddi. On the other front you have Jai Singh who is the son of one of Jagjit Singh's daughters who also claims ownership of the gaddi. Jai Singh had been groomed as the next namdhari "Guru" by Jagjit however some namdhari's are now arguing that the "Guru" lineage should come from the paternal side which links back to "Guru" Ram Singh. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Namdhari-sect-s-aide-shot-dead--heir-apparent-booked/775545/ http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/aide-namdhari-sect-head-shot-dead-punjab/30279

The GNSS Dudley charity can be taken over by a coalition of UK Gurdwaras. The GNSS Dudley Committee are obviously not concerned about their position with the Sikh Panth and Akal Takht Sahib as the continually offend the sentiments of the Panth and even had the audacity to state that if the Jathedar of Akal Takht personally visits them they will still allow parties, meat and alcohol in the Sikh Leisure Centre. So the next best steps are to take the very assets the committee think they "own" away from them. There are 2 feasible options that can be taken; either get the Charity Commissions involved or the UK Sangat occupy the Dudley Gurdwara complex. 1) The Charity Commission can appoint the UK Gurdwaras as managers to run the GNSS Dudley Gurdwara Charity if concerns about alleged "serious mismanagement of the charity and risk to its assets". Taking over a charity is not an unusual step for the Charity Commission who will investigate the affairs of the charity if legitimate concerns are raised. 2) The alternative option is to occupy the entire property. The current committee will have to go through various legal proceedings to evict the Sangat. This will be a civil matter not a criminal one. According to my limited understanding of trespass/squatters rights, as long as there is no forced entry, then no charges of criminal damage can be exercised and the Police will have no powers to remove the occupants. It has been done in the past in the UK where the Gurdwara has been occupied 24/7 by the sangat so that the power of a specific Committee lapses.

I have little sympathy for the Granthi, let alone this embarrassment of a committee. These Granthi's come with a craving for money and then later play the "slave trade" card by saying they are helpless victims in all this beadbi that these nasty immoral committees carry out. I recall phoning up GNSS Dudley Gurdwara a few weeks back and getting through to one of these fragile Granthis who washed his hands of all the beadbi by saying he's a humble naukar of the committee and just get's on with his sewa. In my opinion this embarassing fiasco yesterday in the Darbar Sahib can also be seen as Maharaj's penalty upon these Granthi's for continually turning a blind eye to all this beadbi and not speaking up I'm having my personal rant here, but if Dhan Dhan Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj wanted humble naukars in 1699, he would not have asked for heads but would have offered salaries. These feeble Granthi/Giani/Preachers and "Sikhs" who turn a blind eye are just diluting our zeal as the brave Khalso to stand up for Satkaar! They're just as bad as the immoral committees!

Looks like a coalition of the Midlands Gurdwaras have now enforced a meeting with the committee of Guru Nanak Singh Sabha Dudley tonight about this issue. Maharaj kirpa karay, hopefully the committee/members of GNSS Dudley see some sense in this high profile meeting and actually realise the maha beadbi that will be carried out by them when they allow meat, alcohol and parties back in the Sikh Cultural Centre.

I second that. Having done lot's of research and due to complications of not being able to breast feed anymore, we found SMA WySoy powder is the only newborn milk available for us as Gursikh Vegetarians. All others will have fish oils in some form or the whey is from animal rennet.

Great promo video. Hope it get's coverage on the Sikh channels.

I suppose the stand one makes depends on the Panthic appetite of the individual Sikh, in the sense of accepting the fact that he/she could be detained for a short period of time. Nevertheless, surely a Jatha/group of Sikhs have a greater leverage (than an individual Sikh) over the Italian authorities if they all refused to comply with the "forced" search collectively. I believe we (as modern Sikhs) are not prepared to be arrested for our beliefs as perhaps our forefathers were and that is probably what will work against us regarding this issue. If enough Sikhs refuse point blank to comply with dastaar removals then a message will be sent to the European Airport Security. No one can "order" or "force" the removal of the Dastaar from Guru Gobind Singh's Sikh but we can be weak and remove our own Dastaars. Apologies if I have offended anyone, but that's my personal take on it.

I missed the programme so apologies if this was addressed on the show. Did the jatha of Singhs refuse to remove their Dastaars? What can the Italian authorties do if you refuse to remove your Dastaar, in other words how far are the Italian authorties allowed to go? There seems to be many Singhs willing to eventually remove their Dastaars at the search stage but has any Singh actually stood their ground and refused point blank? My point is, are we (Sikhs) giving in too easily to these "forced" or "ordered" removals? Should we be refusing altogether! Perhaps I'm being presumptuous, but if some of us makes the stand and others will follow.

The members of Dudley Gurdwara need to think hard about the long term effects of their decision on the 9 April 2011, not just in this lifetime but many more lifetimes to come. Maray Karam stick and not just effect us but our generations to come. Dudley members need to realise that Sikh history will look back at these "ballot box" sacrilegious decisions of allowing sharab and maas in the holy Guru ghar complexes and they will be mentioned in sakhis just like the Masands, Massa Rangar or Mahant of Nankana Sahib. The savings made booking cheap pre-wedding party in these Gurdwara Halls is negligible compared to the price one will have to pay for janams to come for the abuse of the holy house of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. If there is a Sikh conscience left in Dudley then please please think about the implications of what your split second decision will be.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5100637 Criminal case against two police officers Chandigarh, Apr 4 (PTI) The Punjab government today ordered registration of a criminal case against two suspended police officers, including an SP, in connection with alleged removal of a turban of a Sikh in Mohali last week. A case under section 295-A (causing hurt to religious sentiments) would be registered against SP Pritam Singh and Sub-Inspector Kulbhushan Sharma, officials said. The incident happened on March 28 when pharmacists were staging a protest near the Punjab Cricket Association stadium in Mohali. The police had cane-charged the protesters to disperse them. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds the Home portfolio, had ordered immediate suspension of the two officers soon after the incident. A Magisterial probe was also ordered. In a statement here today, the Deputy Chief Minister said the government would not allow anyone to show disrespect to religious symbols of any community.

Map of Khalistan based on pre-partioned India. Taken form www.sikhiwiki.org

http://www.indianexp...turban-/769460/ SP, SHO suspended for 'removing turban' Posted: Thu Mar 31 2011, 00:25 hrs Mohali: Mohali Superintendent of Police (SP)-Detective Pritam Singh and Phase VIII Station House Officer (SHO) Sub-Inspector Kul Bhushan were placed under suspension on Wednesday evening with immediate effect. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds the Home Affairs portfolio, suspended the police officials for allegedly "hurting the sentiments of Sikhs by removing the turban of a Sikh protester during a protest staged by retrenched rural veterinary pharmacists and class IV employees near the PCA Stadium, Mohali, on Monday". Taking a serious view of the incident, Sukhbir also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the "disrespect shown to the Sikh religion". "We will take stern action against anyone found guilty of showing disrespect to turban or any religious symbol of the Sikhs or other communities. There is absolutely zero tolerance to any such act of this nature committed by anyone, regardless of the position held by the guilty. No one will be spared in this regard," asserted Sukhbir.

http://timesofindia....how/7828790.cms Sikhs protest assault on priests TNN | Mar 30, 2011, 10.54pm IST SAMBALPUR: People of the Sikh community and presidents of all gurudwaras on Wednesday protested against the assault on two granthis on Tuesday. Two granthis (priest) Gurpreet Singh and Sukjeet Singh were assaulted when they protested against the reckless driving by some youths. The incident took place in Dhanupalli police station area here when the duo were going on a motorcycle. Two youths on a bike overtook them at an alarming speed. They attacked both Gurpreet and Sukjeet when they protested such reckless driving. Few others joined them and dragged both the granthis by their hair and beards. "We have registered our anguish with the district administration. We met both the Collector and SP and urged them to take immediate steps to book the culprits involved in the incident as it involves our religious sentiments," president of the Sikh Dharam Prachar Prabandhak committee Dalbir Singh said. "The incident was an unfortunate. We have already booked the two bikers involved in the incident and trying to identify the others," SP (Sambalpur) Asheet Panigrahi said.

We really need to encourage Punjab Sikhs to attend this peaceful march! Please spread the word to those who are not aware Gurdwara Amb Sahib, Mohali tomorrow at 4 pm http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=Gurudwara%20Amb%20Sahib&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

http://www.sikhchannel.tv/ Turban Insult in Punjab. Repeat of last nights live show at 3.30pm (GMT) today on Sikh Channel Sky 840 or www.sikhchannel.tv

Fact of the matter is that we all can clearly see there was absolutely no need to take the Singhs turban off. Also, you are judging the reaction of a Sikh in India which would be totally different from a Sikh's reaction in another country. In Punjab, the police are used to exercise rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic and political life of the population. So the average Punjabi man's relationship/reaction with the Police is different to that relationship/reaction we have with our local police. The inhabitants of Punjab experience restrictions on their mobility, and on their freedom to express or communicate political or other views, which are always subject to police monitoring or enforcement. You almost become numb to any reaction as the agressive police treatment is part of your repressive upbringing. On another note, punjabi nok wali style dastars come off with relative ease anyway. From my pre-dumalla days I remember how easily my triangular turban could be taken off when lifted from behind. I think you are mistaken in believing this was a staged event.

One of the most traumatic videos I have seen. Extremely upsetting. I have to agree with the points above. We are able to use the buzz word "Khalistan" but we need to be able to clearly justify what policies and strategies Khalistan must have to address these terrible situations. Till this day, I have not seen any detailed manifestos produced by anyone on Khalistan.

Call up the Sikh Channel studios on 0121 380 1050 and ask to speak to the Broadcast Manager Jagjit Singh or email Jagjit.Singh@sikhchannel.tv If you don't complain to the Sikh Channel, these unwise and inappropriate indivduals will keep appearing on discussion shows and keeping making flawed comments which lead to confusion in the sangat. Sikh Channel do not vet anyone but if enough people have an issue with the content of the show than it sways them in that direction. Sikh Channel didn't show that terrible Ramgharia Sikh Temple Birmingham Panth Time show again after some sangat complained regarding many offensive comments made by the panel members, likewise Sikh Channel didn't repeat the Live Youth Show on Committees after some influential committee members complained. So the thing to do is raise your voice!