D Kaur

We can start by showing some respect. What ever the circumstances, our Veer was taken from us far too soon. His family needs the sangats support not our chugliya. His family and friends may visit this website - they dont need to read these messages, or speculations. There counter productive. If you want to help, show them words of support. At the end of the day they have lost another member of their family. And if our Veer was a SS member i'm sure his sister will be too - she dosnt need to read peoples opinions. His family are already hurting and they dont need to deal with the community, if his sister comes to this site for some messages of support she'll read this crap!!!! Had this been a death in a dare i say it 'white' family, all newspaper articles would be full of condolence messages for the family, and the site where they had found the body would of been covered with messages of support for the family and flowers. I saw one bouquet of flowers in a newspapaer article!! They dont bring the person back but they offer support for the family. What do we do? Start speculating - and arguing amongst ourselves! A life has been taken. Lets show some humility, respect and remorse - KEEP YOUR OPINIONS TO YOURSELVES. If you didnt like Gagan - who cares. Get of the POST! The police are investigating, lets let them do there job, and stop speculating. If the press are to be believed, he made a galti in the past as the girl was an ex. But let's show some support for his family The fact remains - in his young 21 years, our Veer did a great seva, more than most could even dream of achieveing in a life time, if any of his family do read this, You should know that he will always be remembered for his hard work for the Panthe. His legacy remains - and his work will continue. Can we PLEASE turn this post around and turn it into positive condolences, for the family.

I've just read the article on the Telegrapgh online - I wont post the link as i feel this post should show respesct. The article itself, does show respect, the Title is just ridiculous, and there is nothing to back it up in the article! I know it's about selling papers for the Media, but that is no excuse!! Can our own Sikh TV media guys not do somthing to stop this this slander?!!

I guess i'm not getting my point across - Yes India and the US have relations with India. Yes we are a part of India. Putting the need to have a seperate state aside (for now) - we need to raise awareness of what goes on India to the world. Why would people care? The world cares (Animal rights activists) about the animals being consumed in China The world cared about the numerous people being stoned to death in pakistan / afganistan The world cared when a cat was thrown in a wheelie bin for 15+ hours - and cried outrage - one event went worldwide within hours -The woman was vilified... In India, lives are being taken by the police. But the rest of the world dosnt know this? India is a tourist attraction, would westenners want to visit for a cultural trip if they knew that the police were corruptand they were undafe? No they'd opt to go on a safari in africa instead People may not take our side, but atleast we can raise awareness, if deserve the right to be safe in India. But the world thinks India is perfect. The world knows about the catholic's and protestants, it knows about the plight in Ireland and the IRA. The world knows about Idi Amin, and what happened in Uganda. We know about the Gurkhas, the palestinians, the gaza strip, jews, the kosovans... we know there are issues, we know there are injustices... No one knows about Sikhs? The assumption is that it's all hunky dory in India. We could take the stance that why would people want to help? nothing will change... If we were savy about this we could protest on key days - protests and negative publicity will effect the indian stock market if only for a short period (it happend in egypt, and happens in all countries when they are big concerns), and it would happen in india as there are many economical links between India and the UK.... And as suggested stop the wheat from going out for a planned 2 day period? Hit them financially and with time they just start to listen, and realise that they cant treat Sikhs in India the way they have been doing. Planned Oil strikes in the UK - cause mahem... planned and agreed mahem is good. Planned and agreed protests in india cant be punished with the world watching? (I sincerly hope) We cant get our point across by force, we cant rely on anyone to help us... but if we can cause even a tremor in the Indian Stock Market for a few days... it will let the indian government know that there actions in India will be answered by the Sikhs in the rest of the World. And were not asking the UK to take the Sikh side against the Hindu/Muslim - Were asking for human rights, against the indian government and police. Hopefully Sikh Organisations may see this post and arrange a peaceful global event. Other countries inability to make change should not be a reason for us not to try, and make India a better place to live. These are just my thoughts, i cant shout them at the TV when watching Sangat / Sikh TV / Sikh Channel, so i thought i'd post here... Post is made - hopefully somthing will come out of it. I agree completely!

Lets hope we can arrange a Global Protest - All Gurdwara manage to arrange a Nagar Kirtan of Vaisakhi - if we really wanted to, a PEACEFUL Global Protest could be arranged. I think that is really all i'm after. Thanks for offereing to bring it their attention, i truely feel that this would raise awarness. Hmmm.... i think the logistics of getting our on state is somthing that we would need look into - if it did happen, anyone currently in the Sikh state would be free to stay there. Were not a violent religion we wouldn't to make peopel leave there homes. Sikhs live in the UK, in a Hindu chooses to live in the Sikh state, he's welcome to, we live side by side in India, so would we not continue to? But i digress.... My main point is this... The egypt protests were violent, but there plight has been shared with the world. And the world sympathises with them. They see the violence and accept that there right to want change. I do not want a violent protest, we already successfully arrange a Global Nagar Kirtan on Vaisakhi - a Peacefull one. Lets arrange a Global event to highlight the way Sikhs are being mistreated in India. Human Rights lawers and activists will back us. And for anyone who asks why would the UK or US back us? In 2010 David Cameron described Indian - British relations as the "New Special Relationship" The US see's India as it's ally in the fight against terrosim with Pakistam and Afghanistan. The relationship is there - we just need to exploit it. A number of people highlighted the obstacles - what could go wrong. And i feel that to often this is used as a reason to just continue as we are. Whilst we continue to plod along nothing is ever going to change. Putting the State issue to one side. We need to raise awareness of what is going on in India. They dont care about Sikhs or our walfare, they do however care about there place in the world economy, the way they are percived in the worlds eyes. They do not want bad publicity. Lets exploit this. UK imports the majority of it's tea from India, the TATA group is a massive part of the UK market, there are many other links and protests timed correctly would impact there stock market - which they would be very unhappy about. Firstly we need to fix things in India - let the police and government know that whilst Sikhs in India dont have a voice, we do... Surely we can do that - even the crazy gurdwara politics can see the need to do this... as at the minute it's someone elses son thats been killed and tortured, tomorrow it could be someone in your family. Whilst the people in India have no voice we have the skills, the professions and the ability to try and bring the inhumane treatment to light.

Were always being told to forget the past, move on... yet here in 2011 we have lost yet another precious life - Shaminder Singh Shera - at the hands of the Indian Government. Whilst we didnt know the issues in egypt - with the recent publicity, the world is now aware, Obama and other high profile people are watching. The egyptyion government is being watched. Things will change. At the minute the people do have the power there. Nobody knows about what Sikhs want. Nobody knows that we want our own state. The way the Partition was conducted in 47 was wrong. However were now in a position where Sikhs are held in a higher regard by the british, we even have memorials for the Sikhs that lost there lifes in the World War - surely now is the time to protest here in the UK and in India. And try and get the UK Government involved in fixing what they failed to do back in 47? Surely they have a responsibilty in correcting there mistakes? Even more so now that we have proof of what the Indian Police / Government did only a few weeks ago. I must admit that i'd be worried about the safety of Sikhs in India if they protested, but we really do need to a large scale peacefull protest. Maybe a scheduled 1 day protest, on the same day, in UK, India, Canada, America and in as many other countries as we can arrange it? Mind you it MUST be peacefull - we cannot give people the opportunity to think bad of us or as violent religion. Maybe on Vaisakhi, then Independance Day - and regularly there after. The protests in egypt have effected there stock markets, with India becoming an up and rising country they wont appreciate protests which could effect there financial markets, or the world watching them. It's just a thought - and somthing i've been thinking about alot since the egypt protests started. If we really do want our own state - surely now is the time to take action - Globally? Protests gain publicity - publicity gains awareness. With awareness we may just get the backing we need to get our own state, and bring the 84 perpetrators to justice. With the World watching the Indian Government they will have to agree to a change. We would of course need all the Sikh Organisations to back this, arrange it and get all the relevant permissions and do it properly. Is this doable?

Sikh Sangat is definately a good place to start, but instead of relying on others, maybe go to a Gurdwara, sit amongst the Sangat. Listen to the Kirtan. Then ask questions. Of course were all here too.

Or somthing as simple as being anaemic... I've always felt the same, and just assumed that i needed extra sleep... but after tests i found that my iron levels are low... and therefore have to take extra iron supplements but i did notice the difference after starting on them... Vegetarians dont get as much iron reserves as meat eaters - our only food supplies are dark green veg... brocolli cabbage etc... and unfortunately our sabjee and dahl dosnt quite give us enough... meat eaters get their main supplies from red meat... Go get your self tested - your Doctor will be able to help you out. Good Luck!

FYI whilst Flaxseed oil does have omega-3 in it, and is preferred by some people, some doctors suggest that flaxseed oil should not be taken by pregnant women. The reason is that flax seed, like soy or even more so, seems to have an effect on estrogen and hormones and might interfere with your body during pregnancy - just something for the ladies to keep in mind. Ask your doctor before taking if your expecting or planning...

The only other difference that i have been told of with the weddings is the fact that the couple used to stand for the lavan and do matha teekh after each one, that way they were bowing in from of the SGGS. Whereas now we seem to walk around not only the SGGS but also the Giani whilst doing the lavan... There are a few elders that in my family that got married this way.... Any way back on topic... Sitar girl penji said it perfectly, as a kid i used to see other people running around, they used to go and stand outside, and naturally you want to be with them, but my mum made me sit with her. Which was the best way for me to learn. But bringing your kids to Gurdwara is the first step, i know of some kids who cant even speak Punjabi, and i feel so bad for their grand parents cause they have no way of communicating with them. There is a 9 year old at my local gurdwara, who goes to the punjabi class. He dosnt know any punjabi, cant speak it, i feel so bad for him. His parents have put him in a great academic school (tuition fees per year are v high!!), his english vocabulary is great. But he has no knowledge about his religion / culture / where he came from. He told me that he only has to learn punjabi because his dad has property in India and when he gets older his dad didnt want him to 'embarass' him by not knowing any punjabi. It wasnt his fault no one spoke punjabi with him as a kid, he's now finding it difficult to learn.

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First and foremost i'm glad that you aware of the issues that may occur when it's time to settle down. But you will be married one day. If you Dad hasnt resolved his drinking issues by then be aware of how scary his behaviour would be for someone new to the family. Having said that, he is your Dad, it it wasnt for him you wouldnt be here. And im sure you get on with great when he's sober, and as difficult as it's going to be you need to work on getting him to stop drinking, or atleast cutting it down. There is no point in getting angry at him after the event, you need to try and prevent it. And i know thats difficult to do, but you need to try. You'll find your perfect partner soon, when you do, look after her.

If also find it disrespectful for people to think that there own 'pyar and sagan' is more beneficial than the saropa that the married couple have just been given, and the lavan that they have just taken in front of Vaheguru... I was once told that back in the day they never used to have the brothers assisting the bride with the lavan, as the marriage was between the wife and husband and there only sehara (help) was Vaheguru so what use was it in the brothers walking there sister around. As times have gone on, we all seem to have followed with the trend... dont know how that happend??? Or what is correct?? I'm gone completely of topic now... Sorry!

A few months back, i wasn't well, couldnt get an appointment with the Dr so decided to go to the walk in centre. I didnt need any money, but i knew that my purse was empty so on the way, i stopped at the cash point and withdrew some money. I didnt need it but did it anyway. When i got to the clinic there was no parking, i had to park outside on the road. When i got out and locked the door somthing made me look back, a group of people approached me, 3 men and a woman, if i hadnt of looked back i would of been taken competly by suprise. Anyway to cut a long story short, they pointed a gun to me and said then wanted my car, i gave them my keys and refused to get in but they made me. Luckily i had just withdrew some money, so they took that, and when they finished going through my bag, they decided to put the cd player on... and as they did, i realised what was in the CD player, Panj... the idiots... danced along to it, i snapped out of my panc attack and remembered Vaheguru... i was let out 10 miles later. I was kept safe that day... For those that ever doubted, Vaheguru is always around, and helps us in many ways... we just need to listen, observe and acknowledge...

It's all very well sitting on a forum saying that the police are nothing, don't be scared of them etc... But it's hardly the message to be sending out to the younger posters on this site. The police are there to help us. Personally i'd say that whether the police in your area is good or not depends which side of the law your on. As good people, we should never need to come into contact with the police (of course i have no idea how things work in USA / Canada etc)... unless of course we are reporting a crime. There are always going to be bad examples of any organisations, our own community has good Sikhs and bad Sikhs. There are good Doctors, and bad Doctors (Harold Shipman) in the medical profession. And likewise we have some very good police men/women and also some corrupt ones. However they are the people that we turn to when were in danger or need help, I was recently a victim of a horrible crime, and i can honestly say that the support that i recieved from the police and CID was fantastic. But i've no doubt that the criminals awaiting trial have a different view point to me. Just a final note... I believe that every one deserves respect, unless of course they do or say somthing which goes against your (Sikhi) principals - they then need to earn your respect. Give respect and you'll get it back.

My brother anh bhabhi went to watch Yaariyan, they really enjoyed it. Pursuit of happiness is also a brilliant movie... children of men is great too!!

___Singh___ (the OP), how are you doing? Have you been to see the Dr?

LOL! I know what you mean, but i can honestly say that, i dont get scared. Paranoid, extreme and fear and the words used in the review of the book by a book reviewer. Dark rivers of the heart does however show you how much power the government can have. As for sary movies... i love them! I dont get scared, i just love the suspense!! I think the last time i got scared was when i watched Freddie in Nightmare on elm street (but i was a kid)!! For those of you that are into the psychological/horror genre Wes Cravens Serpent and Rainbow is really good (http://imdb.com/title/tt0096071/). There is a real life incident of voodoo and zombies in haiti... if you ever get a chance have a watch...

I admit that i couldnt access that link... it says that it cant be access from my country (UK)... i admit that i did do a search on Ben Harper though, he has a good voice...

I understand what your saying, and that may in fact be the norm in some cultures. But regardless of what the elders in those societies think, those girls are not mature enough to be married of. There still kids... thats why i find it so disturbing. I wonder who the guys marry?? or do they have to wait untill there men before they can get married?? (I'm not expecting you to know the answer to that... just a question that come to mind) It's a cultural difference, but at that age there just not mature enough... anit must be a very scary experience... but lke you said if thats what there used to, they know, no difference... dosnt make it any easier for the young girls though...

this is wrong on so many levels... but it happens and what we need to do is try and change this trend, but how? Those poor girls, that must be so scary! Many of them wouldnt of even hit puberty and they've been sent away with a man more than twice her age!! The guys must have psychological issues too!!! You know this really makes me sick, and i wish i hadn'y followed the link to look at the other photos...

LOL!

I admit... that i luurve Bob Marley... Rise up this mornin, Smiled with the risin sun, Three little birds Pitch by my doorstep Singin sweet songs Of melodies pure and true, Sayin, this is my message to you-ou-ou Singin, dont worry bout a thing, cause every little thing gonna be all right. Singin, dont worry, dont worry bout a thing, cause every little thing gonna be all right!

Just out of curiosity, who does this to you? and where... as in work? college? I only ever have this problem when over in France (with work), but after my first visit over they all (well the people that i work with over there) realised that i only shake hands... i only hug my family theres no way im going to do that air kissing stuff with strangers!! If it's someone who you see regularly and therefore there likely to continue to do it when ever you meet, you need to be honest and tell them. Best to be honest or if your not comfortable with that, just try and extend your hand first...

- Green Mile - Amazing!!! An all time Fav! - Shawshank Redemption - Unbreakable - Lord of the Rings trilogy - Stigmata - Interesting... - Madagascar - I Love this movie... and must of watched it well over 20 times!!! - Ice Age 1 and 2 - A Bugs Life I recently watched - This is England - Rise of the Foot Soldier which were a reflection of old england based on true crime stories... Very scary... Were so lucky to be accepted in the wider society, first second and third generation immigrants would of gone through loads back in the days (these movies are by no means racist movies just touches on the difficulties...) Slightly of topic... But if any of you like to read i love Stephen King and Dean Koontz and the following are my favourite reads: Dean Koontz - Dark Rivers of the Heart It's a paranoid, extremist reflection on the abuses commited by those possesing the weapon of governmental power in america. I Love horror movies and my love of horror has bled through into my reading too, but this book has a fear bigger than the unkown... the government... It's definately worth a read!! Stephen King - Firestarter - Misery - Rose Madder - Green Mile

Last year i booked my brother, bhabhi, niece and nephews into Venture (http://www.thisisventure.co.uk/home.aspx) for there 20th anniversary. It was a little expensive but it was definately worth it! My husband and i also had some pictures taken there at then of 2007 and are very happy with the results. These pictures have a great contemporary feel to them and are by no means the norm... they will look great on display at your house. In terms of price, a 8'10 pic is £75, we got 3 of these and asked a friend in the photo scene to scan and enlarge it so we didnt have pay the extortonate prices that venture were paying... I think snappy photos have also started to fo pictures against the white back drop too... i'd suggest you find a style of photo then look for a studio...