singh_comradz

That comes down to the level of parchar in punjab and doesn't mean there should be a compromise in terms of the respect given to Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Research and Analysis Wing [RAW] The Cabinet Secretariat Research and Analysis Wing [RAW], India's most powerful intelligence agency, is India’s external intelligence agency. RAW has become an effective instrument of India's national power, and has assumed a significant role in formulating India's domestic and foreign policies. RAW has engaged in disinformation campaigns, espionage and sabotage against Pakistan and other neighboring countries. RAW has enjoyed the backing of successive Indian governments in these efforts. Working directly under the Prime Minister, the structure, rank, pay and perks of the Research & Analysis Wing are kept secret from Parliament. Current policy debates in India have generally failed to focus on the relative priority given by RAW to activities directed against India's neighbors versus attention to domestic affairs to safeguard India's security and territorial integrity. The RAW has had limited success in dealing with separatist movements in Manipur and Tripura in the northeast, Tamil Nadu in the south, and Punjab and Kashmir in the northwestern part of the country. Indian sources allege the CIA has penetrated freedom fighters in Kashmir and started activities in Kerala, Karnataka, and other places, along with conducting economic and industrial espionage activities in New Delhi. In 1968 India established this special branch of its intelligence service specifically targeted on Pakistan. The formation of RAW was based on the belief that Pakistan was supplying weapons to Sikh terrorists, and providing shelter and training to the guerrillas in Pakistan. Pakistan has accused the Research and Analysis Wing of sponsoring sabotage in Punjab, where RAW is alleged to have supported the Seraiki movement, providing financial support to promote its activities in Pakistan and organizing an International Seraiki Conference in Delhi in November-December 1993. RAW has an extensive network of agents and anti-government elements within Pakistan, including dissident elements from various sectarian and ethnic groups of Sindh and Punjab. Published reports allege that as many as 35,000 RAW agents have entered Pakistan between 1983-93, with 12,000 are working in Sindh, 10000 in Punjab 8000 in North West Frontier Province and 5000 in Balochistan. As many as 40 terrorist training camps at Rajasthan, East Punjab, Held Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India are run by the RAW's Special Service Bureau (SSB). Throughout the Afghan War RAW was responsible for the planning and execution of terrorist activities in Pakistan to deter Pakistan from support of Afghan liberation movement against India's ally, the Soviet Union. The assistance provided to RAW by the KGB enabled RAW to arrange terrorist attacks in Pakistani cities throughout the Afghan War. The defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan did not end the role of RAW in Pakistan, with reports that suggest that India has established a training camp in the town of Qadian, in East Punjab, where non-Muslim Pakistanis are trained for terrorist activities. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has blamed India for funding the current upsurge of terrorism in Pakistan, and senior ministers have blamed the Research and Analysis Wing for the sectarian violence between Shias and Sunnis which has resulted in thousands of deaths every year. The Government of Pakistan frequently assigns responsibility for terrorist activity to the Indian Government, even when no evidence can be verified. It is evidently in the interest of the Pakistani government to blame terrorist actions on external rather than internal sources, just as it would be in the interest of Indian services to obscure their hand in such actions. Terrorist activities in Pakistan attributed to the clandestine activities of Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies include: A car bomb explosion in Saddar area of Peshawar on 21 December 1995 caused the deaths of 37 persons and injured over 50 others. An explosion at Shaukat Khanum Hospital on 14 April 1996, claimed the lives of seven persons and injured to over 34 others. A bus traveling from Lahore to Sahiwal was blown up at Bhai Pheru on 28 April 1996, causing the deaths of 44 persons on the spot and injuring 30 others. An explosion in a bus near the Sheikhupura hospital killed 9 persons and injured 29 others on 08 May 1996. An explosion near Alam chowk, Gujranwala on 10 June 1996 killed 3 persons and injured 11 others. A bomb exploded on a bus on GT Road near Kharian on 10 June 1996, killing 2 persons and injuring 10 others. On 27 June 1996, an explosion opposite Madrassah Faizul Islam, Faizabad, Rawalpindi, killed 5 persons and injured over 50 others. A bomb explosion in the Faisalabad railway station passenger lounge on 08 July 1996 killed 3 persons and injured 20 others. RAW has responded to Pakistani arms and training for Muslim militants in the disputed region of Kashmir state. RAW allegedly executed a hijacking of an Indian Airliner to Lahore in 1971 which was attributed to the Kashmiris, to give a terrorist dimension to the Kashmiri national movement. However soon the extent of RAW's involvement was made public. RAW has a long history of activity in Bangladesh, supporting both secular forces and the area's Hindu minority. The involvement of RAW in East Pakistan is said to date from the 1960s, when RAW promoted dissatisfaction against Pakistan in East Pakistan, including funding Mujibur Rahmanh's general election in 1970 and providing training and arming the Mukti Bahini. During the course of its investigation the Jain Commission received testimony on the official Indian support to the various Sri Lankan Tamil armed groups in Tamil Nadu. From 1981, RAW and the Intelligence Bureau established a network of as many as 30 training bases for these groups in India. Centers were also established at the high-security military installation of Chakrata, near Dehra Dun, and in the Ramakrishna Puram area of New Delhi. This clandestine support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), some of whom were on the payroll of RAW, was later suspended. Starting in late 1986 the Research and Analysis Wing focused surveillance on the LTTE which was expanding ties with Tamil Nadu separatist groups. Rajiv Gandhi sought to establish good relations with the LTTE, even after the Indian Peace Keeping Force [iPKF] experience in Sri Lanka. But the Indian intelligence community failed to accurately assess the character of the LTTE and its orientation India and its political leaders. The LTTE assassination of Rajiv Gandhi was apparently motivated by fears of a possible re-induction of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka and a crackdown on the LTTE network in Tamil Nadu. The RAW and the Ministry of External Affairs are provided Rs 25 crore annually as "discretionary grants" for foreign influence operations. These funds have supported organisations fighting Sikh and Kashmiri separatists in the UK, Canada and the US. An extensive network of Indian operatives is controlled by the Indian Embassy in Washington DC. The Indian embassy's covert activities are reported to include the infitration of US long distance telephone carriers by Indian operatives, with access to all kinds of information, to r blackmail relatives of US residents living in India. In 1996 an Indian diplomat was implicated in a scandal over illegal funding of political candidates in the US. Under US law foreign nationals are prohibited from contributing to federal elections. The US District Court in Baltimore sentenced Lalit H Gadhia, a naturalised US citizen of Indian origin, to three months imprisonment. Gadhia had confessed that he worked as a conduit between the Indian Embassy and various Indian-American organisations for funnelling campaign contributions to influence US lawmakers. Over $46,000 from the Indian Embassy was distributed among 20 Congressional candidates. The source of the cash used by Gadhia was Devendra Singh, a RAW official assigned to the Indian Embassy in Washington. Illicit campaign money received in 1995 went to Democratic candidates including Sens. Charles S. Robb (D-Va.), Paul S. Sarbanes (D -Md.) and Reps. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) and Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.). http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/india/raw.htm

"Hinduism has always been hostile to Sikhism whose Gurus powerfully and successfully attacked the principle of caste which is the foundation on which the whole fabric of Brahminism has been reared. The activities of Hindus have, therefore, been constantly directed to undermining of Sikhism both by preventing the children of Sikh father from taking Pahul and reducing professed Sikhs from their allegiance to their faith. Hinduism has strangled Budhism, once a formidable rival to it and it has already made serious inroads into the domain of Sikhism." (D. Petrie, Assistant Director, Criminal Intelligence, Government of British India, Intelligence Report of 11th August, 1911)

not saying it wasn't muslims because it seems that the evidence points to that, but there is something that seems confusing: The gunmen drank beer? If they were diehard jihadi's then why would they compromise their religious beliefs when there was no need to. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7752625.stm (cafe attack)

cds will be available to buy at the park avenue gurdwara program, southall on sat 6th december http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iLMJzg3aeug&...feature=related

bump

thats strange cus wasn't the mariott blown up by suspected islamists. then why would they retaliate by attacking hotels (where foreigners might stay) in india??

Amritsar Sahib - When others are busy in the hustle-bustle of the celebrations of Guruta Gaddi Diwas, there are two octogenarians, with rare glow on their faces, who are quietly engaged in the recitation of Gurbani. The astonishing part is that they remember by heart almost the entire holy book spread over 1,430 pages. Just consider the vastness of the scripture. According to SGPC website, Guru Granth Sahib (Ji) contains 5,894 hymns and the number of stanzas are 15,575. The first one is Bhai Jiwan Singh, who lives near the Golden Temple and gets the oppotunity to listen to the continuous kirtan and the second one is Bhai Surat Singh, known as “Pooran ji”, who starts his daily routine of “path” just around midnight. “It is not yet known about any other surviving member of the community who has been able to memorize the vast holy book. There were some more such persons but they were not alive,” says Balwinder Pal Singh, editor of a journal. Remaining reticent and epitomizing humility the two prefer not to make any such claim or even discuss it but those who know them reveal their accomplishment. “Just read out one line from any hymn and both will complete it,” says Ranjodh Singh, co-editor of another journal, who knows the two quite well. A revered spiritualist in the Sikh community, Bhai Jiwan Singh has travelled extensively around the world. However, for the last couple of years, as age took over him, he remains confined to his house. “In which ever house he went kirtan started emanating,” says Jaswinder Singh Khalsa, an NRI living in UK, who is also chairman of the Sukrit Trust and owes change in his life to the spiritualist. “He not just transformed lives but also played a role in starting several welfare projects,” reveals Harkirat Singh, former GM of Coal India and now trustee of Satnam Sarb Kalyan Trust, which was got started by Bhai Jiwan Singh. About Pooran ji, who retired as district manager of the FCI, his son-in-law Kuljit Singh revealed that after retiring to his bed at around 7.30 pm he gets up at 10.45 pm. Then after a bath he goes to Darbar Sahib around 11.45 pm and just after midnight he along with some other devotees starts recitation of Gurbani at the “parikarma”. “Then he goes to the sanctum sanctorum when its doors open after 2 am and after listening to kirtan he returns. He remains engrossed in reciting “path” in the day also,” he disclosed, adding that “he can listen to kirtan for continuous 12 hours.”

Very true, no one else is going to narrate the true account of recent history, unless we do it ourselves- and with the 25th anniversary next year, its paramount that we all have at least a basic understanding of 1984 and after. A Gursikh from the uk stayed with the singhs at darbar sahib just before bluestar. if i remember correctly he wanted to carry on staying there but the singhs said that he had to return home, so he could educate people in the west about what was happening to the Sikhs in India. Now these Khalsa's have given qurbaania for the panth during the struggle and today we are living out our lives in relative luxury. The very least sewa that we can do for the panth is to educate ourselves about 84 so we can educate our own community and others about what actually occurred. "Until lions tell their own history, history will allways glorify the hunters"

bump

Vaheguroo The new Immortal Productions album , JAGDI JYOT will also be available to buy at the rehansbhai!

6pm on thursdays in smethwick, not sure about tividale. bhai sahib has just started beginners classes at pleck gurdwara, walsall from 7.15-8pm

bump

bump

bump

The much anticipated latest addition to the revolutionary Shaheedi series is now set for its customary annual release. The Immortal Productions team have delayed the release until October for a special purpose. In October this year, Sikhs across the globe will be celebrating one of the most momentous milestones since the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa in 1999. Guru Gobind Singh Jee completed the chain of human Guruship and endowed the spiritual throne to the Holy Guru Granth Sahib Jee in October 1708. 299 years later, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee has been reigning as the everlasting King of the Sikhs. This has served as the inspiration for the latest IP offering. The tercentenary celebration of the Guruship of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee will be undertaken on a massive scale across the globe in October 2008. Therefore, it has been decided that it would be fitting if the album was released to coincide with these celebrations. However, it is vital to remember that the CD therefore will be available exclusively online. Inspiring vocals, haunting music and spine tingling lyrics return to take us on a historic and rousing journey. A journey that eulogises Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee in an era where there exists hundreds of fakes and pretenders, who's sole aim is to demolish the unity of the Sikhs by severing their faith in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee. Traditional Punjabi Dhad, Sarangi and Kaveeshar fused with contemporary music pay a tribute to our beloved Guru. Also in celebration of this anniversary, Immortal Productions are releasing a special dual CD format. The second CD contains a unique discourse in English on the importance of Guru Jee in our Daily lives. This format contributes to the ethos of Immortal Productions to break through language and cultural barriers and inspire all Sikhs with their glorious religious heritage. Find out more about the latest album online at www.shaheedi.com. The new hoodies and t-shirts have been produced and are also available online, so be sure to get yours while stocks last! The CD is to be officially launched on the 13th November, 7pm at Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Sedgley Street, Wolverhampton. Alternatively you can pre order your copy from the Boss Stall at www.boss-stall.com. Press and media can claim a free copy from the Immortal Productions team. Just email info@shaheedi.com. Find out more about the latest album online from www.shaheedi.com www.shaheedi.com info@shaheedi.com www.boss-stall.com

The Dawn of Guru Nanak Edited & Translated by Harjinder Singh www.akaalpublishers.com Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee came to this earth in mortal form 539 years ago and Sikhs all over the globe will be celebrating the arrival of Guru Nanak on the 13th November. But why did Guru Nanak need to come to the earth? The benefactor Lord listened to the cries (of humanity) and sent Guru Nanak to this world ... Guru Nanak came to redeem humanity in Kalyug. (Bhai Gurdas Jee) The path of righteousness had become clouded by ritualistic and hypocritical practices and the true path to self-realisation was very hard to decipher. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee came and roared like a lion in the wilderness of the world and reinstated true practice of faith. He put Hindus & Muslims back on to their respective paths of self-realisation, no faith was denounced. He founded the Sikh faith which was a pure and simple path to follow. With the emergence of the True Guru Nanak, the mist cleared and the light scattered all around. Similar to the rising sun, the stars and darkness were dispelled. With the roar of the lion in the forest, the flocks of escaping deer cannot now survive (the escaping deer are evil-doers). Wherever Baba Nanak put his feet, a religious place was erected and established. All the siddh-places now have been renamed on the name of Nanak. Every home has become a place of righteousness where the praises of the Lord are sung. Baba Nanak liberated all four directions and nine divisions of earth. Gurmukh (Guru Nanak) has emerged in this Kalyug, the dark age. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee met Kaljug (Kaljug is the name given to this present era that we live in, an era that is dominated by sin and evil actions), when on his revolutionary tours. This historical account of this meeting was written by the great Sikh Poet Bhai Santokh Singh Jee in “Guru Nanak Parkash” the following is the translation of the summary that Giani Gian Singh has written of the story: Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee was on his missionary tour, when He and Bhai Mardana Jee took a rest. Upon being seated, a frightful storm began, this storm was carrying much debris and the whole sky and surrounding area was shroud in darkness. Nothing at hands length could be seen, such was the force of the storm. Bhai Mardana Jee put a cloth over his mouth and lay down on the ground. He said to Guru Jee, “If I die at this dreadful spot I won’t even get my funeral rites carried out and won’t even be buried, travelling with you I have encountered much suffering.” Guru Jee laughed and said, “Why are you scared, nothing will harm you.” Then a frightful demon appeared, whose head was in the sky and his feet were implanted deep into the earth, his nostrils were deep like a well and he had long teeth, he was gigantic, he made his way towards Guru Jee. Bhai Mardana Jee getting scared said, “Maharaj! We have survived the storm but now our deaths are almost certain, we won’t survive an encounter with this giant.” Guru Jee calmly replied, “Mardana! He will not come near you, do not be afraid, meditate on Vaheguru.” Then Kaljug changed his form again, now he took the form of fire and smoke emanated from all pores of his physical being. He finally changed his form again into a frightful one, yet Guru Jee remained calm and unconcerned. After all this Kaljug decided that Guru Jee must be a prophet as none of his frightful forms had scared Guru Sahib, and he thus accordingly changed into a man, in the form of a man Kaljug carried a tongue in one hand and a <banned word filter activated> in the other, and he made his way to Guru Jee. Guru Jee said to Bhai Maradana Jee, come along and watch this drama, which is taking place. Kaljug bowed his head to Guru Jee in obeisance and supplicated, “Maharaj! Please forgive me for my mistakes, I did not know of your fame and greatness. In this age I rule, I am in this physical form of a man as I am displaying to you what passions humans are being led by. Humans will disregard all virtue and will be led by passions of the tongue and <banned word filter activated>, and in turn their lives will be dictated by these passions.” Guru Jee pryingly asked, “Who are you – what is your name? Why have you come to meet us?” Kaljug replied, “My name is Kaljug and I have come to meet you to pay my respects to you, I initially changed into the various forms to test you.” Guru jee further questioned, “What are your characteristics? You said it is your rule in this age, then with what army do you enforce your Rule?” Kaljug replied, my greatest warrior is falsehood – falsehood carries the flag at the forefront of my army. Worldly attachment is the King of all. My army general is violence and murder. Lust, anger, greed and ego are my warriors on elephant back. Jealousy, gossip, slander, robbery and unfulfilled craving for worldly things – are all warriors on chariots. Laziness, gambling, alcohol/intoxicants and other bad actions are warriors on horse back. Attachment to others, sin of want and steeling are my foot-soldiers. Wherever I make advances with my army, I am always victorious. My warriors of falsehood and anger, have made me victorious everywhere. These are the characteristics of my reign. Upon listening to Kaljugs narration of the current state of the world Guru jee uttered, Whoever is in charge, is humiliated. Why should the servant be afraid. (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee, Limb 902) The servant is not afraid as he has nothing to lose as he is not the ruler, the servant can freely move about without fear of consequence but the ruler is bound by his rule and duties. When the master is put in chains? He dies at the hands of his servant. (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee, Limb 902) So Guru Jee said that even if you do rule, it is you (Kaljug) who is also humiliated for these actions in your rule. Guru Jee further said that if it is your rule now and I am the servant of God, when your rule comes to an end it will be due to this servant – Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee. Kaljug replied that this is the reason I have come to you Maharaj, because there is no difference between you and God, I will give you a house to live in which will be made of Gold and Pearls. In this house I will use sandalwood and will spray musk – where you will enjoy your abode with much happiness. Kaljug begged Maharaj to accept his offering and Guru Jee replied, If I had a palace made of pearls, inlaid with jewels, scented with musk, saffron and sandalwood, a sheer delight to behold -seeing this, I might go astray and forget You (Vaheguru), and Your Name would not enter into my mind. Without the Lord, my soul is scorched and burnt. I consulted my Guru, and now I see that there is no other place at all. Pause. If the floor of this palace was a mosaic of diamonds and rubies, and if my bed was encased with rubies, and if heavenly beauties, their faces adorned with emeralds, tried to entice me with sensual gestures of love-seeing these, I might go astray and forget You, and Your Name would not enter into my mind. If I were to become a Siddha, and work miracles, summon wealth and become invisible and visible at will, so that people would hold me in awe-seeing these, I might go astray and forget You, and Your Name would not enter into my mind. If I were to become an emperor and raise a huge army, and sit on a throne, issuing commands and collecting taxes-O Nanak, all of this could pass away like a puff of wind. Seeing these, I might go astray and forget You, and Your Name would not enter into my mind. (Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee, Limb 14) After trying to convince Guru jee to accept the above offerings and not succeeding, Kaljug said, “Maharaj, you have taken birth to liberate people from the cycle of births and deaths. I have come humbly to your feet – why do you make my meeting with you of no reward? You have not accepted any of my offerings – please accept an offering so that I know that you have blessed me. Upon hearing such a humble request Guru jee replied, “If you have a sincere desire to make an offering to me then give me this – that those who are my dedicated Sikhs can not be influenced by the powers of your army. Meditation, charity and Bathing (Physical and Spiritual cleansing) should never be forgotten – you should not stop Sikhs doing these 3 actions in any form. Your powers should not work on those who have faith in me. Kaljug humbly clasped his hands and said, “Maharaj! I can not refuse your command, but I have God’s permission to change everyone’s thought process – with the changing of which they steel, gossip, lie, slander etc. In line with God’s permission I make the following occur: • Disrespect the virtuous and make fools famous and powerful. • Not allow faithful relations between the married. • Bring the good and bad on a par to one another. • In my rule those who say they have become Sanyasi’s/Tyagis (ones that have give up all material possession in the search of God) will amass much wealth and gristis/householders will starve to death. But now, whatever you command me to do, I will do.” Upon hearing this Guru jee was happy and said, “In your rule God’s praise will increase many fold – a par to 100,000’s of years in Satjug, in Tretajug what would have taken 10,000 years and what would have taken 1000 years in Dvapur (these are references to the other 3 eras of time), in you rule of Kaljug singing the praises of God will be very rewarding and what would have taken many years in the other ages will be realised in very little time and will be the provider of happiness. Those that sing God’s praises with love and devotion will be ferried across the world ocean. If you are persistent about making offerings of jewels then I will accept these in my forth form as the 4th Guru. (Kaljugs’ offerings of money/gold etc are thus accepted at the house of the fourth Guru, Sri Guru Ram Das Jee at Sri Darbar Sahib, also known as The Golden Temple). Upon hearing this Kaljug was overjoyed, he bowed down to Guru Jee and said that those Sikhs that obey your wishes I will not go near them. Kaljug after granting this concession to Sikhs disappeared and Guru Jee continued on his missionary travels of liberating the world. Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee has provided us protection from the influence of Kaljug, now it is up to us as Sikhs to decide whether we want to enter his sanctuary and lead a life devoid of want and enjoy lasting happiness/peace of mind.

This article pretty much sums up the contribution of Sikhs during WW1. The world has forgotten, but we should remember the sacrifices of our people during the war. http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/lionsofthegreatwar.htm Feature Articles: Lions of the Great War Updated - Saturday, 23 August, 2003 With the outbreak of war in Europe, India, the Crown Jewel of the British Empire, joined the Allies in battle on the 4th of August 1914. Contributing the most volunteers of any of the British imperial holdings that fought in the war, India produced between 900,000 to 1.5 million troops for combat by 1919. Of these troops, the Sikhs, one of the two loyal 'martial races' of the British Raj, rallied in enormous numbers for the King, Empire, and the defence of Europe. At the beginning of the war, Sikh military personnel numbered around 35,000 men of the 161,000 troops of the Indian Army, around 22% of the armed forces, yet the Sikhs only made up less than 2% of the total Indian population. By the end of the war 100,000 Sikh volunteers joined the British Armed forces with a few Sikhs also contributing to the French Air Service and the American Expeditionary Force. It is also said that some Sikh POWs, captured in Belgium, were believed to have been Muslims by the Germans and taken to Turkey to fight along side their fellow 'Mohammedans'. However, they still remained loyal to the British Crown and escaped on a long trek to the British posts in Afghanistan, from Turkey through the Middle East, to once again fight under the British flag. Though being paid a mere 11 rupees a month for his services to the Empire, the Sikh soldier took his duty as a soldier in an almost religious aspect in a romanticized idea of being a martyr and a knight for the King. A Sikh soldier, Indar Singh, fighting on the Somme in September 1916, wrote home: It is quite impossible that I should return alive. [but] don't be grieved at my death, because I shall die arms in hand, wearing the warrior's clothes. This is the most happy death that anyone can die. The idea of martyrdom and battlefield heroics proved to be a necessity for the British as they were being pushed back by the Germans time and time again. In fact, the British felt it necessary to nourish Sikh fanaticism by allowing the Sikhs areas to set up temporary Gurdwaras (Sikh Temples), to observe the birthdays of Sikh gurus, to use traditional Sikh weapons (such as Sikh quoits and the sabre), and it was not uncommon to see the Sikh holy book, Guru Granth Sahib, being carried before a marching Sikh battalion or even on the front lines among the battling Sikh troops. These 'unique stalwarts from the east,' fought in the battles of Ypres, Flanders, the Somme, Gallipoli, East Africa, Palestine, Egypt / Suez Canal, Mesopotamia, and numerous other battlefields in nearly all theatres of the war. This article cannot justly commemorate the contribution of these fine warriors who fought disease, filth, gas attacks, and the onslaught of German and Turkish troops and maxim guns with only their turbans to protect them from head wounds and their unshorn hair and long beards, as prescribed by their religious faith, in disease infested, muddy trenches. The average Indian battalion had around 764 men when they landed in France, but by November 1914, the 47th Sikhs had only 385 men left. In Gallipoli, the 14th Sikhs lost 371 officers and men in mere minutes, and thousands of other Sikhs died in various other encounters such as Neuve Chappelle and the Somme. The "Black Lions," as the Arabs called them in Mesopotamia, of the Punjab sacrificed their lives for the defence of freedom in Europe for an ally that was ruling their own homeland, yet they did it out of honour and loyalty. Quote "Thousand and hundreds of thousands of soldiers have lost their lives. If you go on the field of battle you will see corpses piled upon corpses, so that their is no place to place or put hand or foot. Men have died from the stench. No one has any hope of survival, for back to Punjab will go only those who have lost a leg or an arm or an eye. The whole world has been brought to destruction." (letter home from a Sikh soldier) http://www.sikhs.org/ww1/

bump

bump

bump

cem on guys you and dhadi should already know sant hardev singh will be doing veechar up until 7.15-3oish hence no dhadi this year bhai kuljit singh doing 1 hr katha on Guru Ji and present issues re satkar, 8.30-9.30 a must for all sangat keertanis include bhai manvir singh, bhai sukhi singh, bibi pardeep kaur, bhai amandeep singh etc....

bump

bump