singh1986

I think in some regions of the UK segregation is really bad and over the top. In my local Gurwara in East Midlands non-Sikhs use Gurghar facilities such as the gym, play groups etc I find the west midlands and west london from what I have seen quite segregated. I have a black friend that comes visit often and feels completely comfortable going to a Gurdwara here because he says people are welcoming but he said he wouldn't dare go into a Gurdwara in West Midlands where he is looked at with suspicion... he understands a little punjabi and would often hear "choor". I think with segregation comes suspicion and tension in a community. It is no wonder where in the UK is more segregation you are more likely to find race riots and ethnic tension. Thankfully for now Leicester seems safe from such problems. Also some of my friends (from different races/religions) say they would feel at risk walking in certain areas at night just because of their ethnicity in Birmingham? This I find Bizarre... On the other hand we as Sikhs are segregated along caste and ethnicity lines (Afghans) ourselves anyway. hmmm...

I have family that live in Southampton... there is no community cohesion amongst Sikhs full stop. There are 2 Gurdwaray literally across the road from each other because the old community fell out with the new incoming one so they made their own Gurdwara.... you go to either one or the other apparently (so I'm told... also rapidly growing Radhoswami presence in city) The Bhatra Gurdwara is called Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara... I remember when I was really young in the 90's there was full English breakfast being served but then a few years ago they released this statement... youtube.com/watch?v=kI2C3fIq2Ic So I dont know what they are doing anymore...

I remember a few years ago when I went Khalsa Camp, a few Singh's got up and left the Diwan during Amritvela, waited outside and then came back in again. This was a regular occurrence with the same Singh's. Do some AKJ have different nitnem?! (I remember someone saying to me it had something to do with Dasam Granth Banis... I didnt pay much attention at the time but now I'm curious!)

Sorry... kinda of related. I made a thread about it but the new book Sikhs in Europe by Knut A. Jacobsen, Kristina Myrvold talks about Caste, Ravidas community etc... to be honest I feel sorry for "low"caste people and what they have had to put up with... makes you think who really are the "low" castes... the way Jatts behave I'd categorize them as low... in the book it shows how Jatts have a unjustified superiority complex... really interesting read with an analysis of this stupid mentality and where it has come from...

Sikhs in Europe: Migration, Identities and Representations by Knut A. Jacobsen, Kristina Myrvold.I have only read a few pages in this book yet... focusing on Spanish Sikhs but it has already been a real eye opener regarding Caste and Gurdwara politics. I think its sometimes good to get outside perspectives on the Sikh community that is impartial from any baggage... I've been impressed with the amount of research done in this book. I recommend it...

I can very much relate to you as this is exactly how I felt when I went through my A'levels and through my degree and a lot of my friends who now have jobs feel exactly the same... that lack of motivation you have to do your college work etc earlier is not a rare thing... even through my degree I would only start assignments the day before and a lot my brainy friends in the morning a couple of hours before deadline!!!! My advice... 1st - Carry on with your A'levels. Work as hard as you can. Try your best to the extent that you wont ever look back and regret the lack of effort you put in! Believe me... having good A'levels is very important!!! 2nd - You are too young to think about what you are going to become, especially if academically you are lacking motivation. When applying at University pick a subject you are passionate about... now you said Sikhi... you can link Sikhi to a Politics Degree, Journalism, International Relations, Media... remember at uni you have a dissertation so you can always link it back to Sikhi... use your passion for Sikhi and channel it into academics! But remember to fully look at what Uni you are applying to and what the course structure is like that allows you to do this! 3RD - AND VERY IMPORTANT!!! Get a part time job... in anything and try and "move yourself up" try and get promoted... work like a dog during summer holidays maxing out on hours, 40 +.... NOW,even if you do manage to get a job in this tough jobs market you will come to the realisation that isn't so easy doing a job that requires low qualifications with very low wages... you feel f'ed up with A'levels and college? Just try and imagine working minimum 9-5 being treated like dirt doing very menial or intensive physical/mental work for little money that gets taxed....BUT you need to do this experience because you will have this attitude as most teenagers do to just give up on education and you can just work and it cant be that bad! I took a year out before I went Uni and it was the biggest kick up my backside when I realised I needed to educated because I was getting nowhere with the crappy job I was doing... hardly had savings and couldn't get anywhere else with no qualifications... You may come across people that have become successful without qualifications but in this day and age they are the exception... Stick at it and try and get a part time job... then you will appreciate what college/uni can do for you!

So true about disgusting acts in parkarma of the Harmandir Sahib... several women I have spoke to have felt harassed and so many people have been pick pocketed. Its such a shame that in such a place you have to protect yourself from being robbed and molested. There is so much crime and stupid behaviour in Darbar sahib even... had a random guy come up to my cousin sister and propose marriage and wouldn't take the hint to go away.... absolute stupidity!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4760kepFq-s Finally, it looks like a positive film from bollywood. I don't know much about Milkha Singh to be honest so this should be interesting. Although Im not saying Bollywood films are historically accurate....

I agree Leicester is not boring and has a massive Sikh community. I would recommend a visit to GuruTegh Bahadur Gurdwara in Leicester. Amazing and diverse sangat in a thriving Gurdwara... In addition to the national space centre^ and Sikh Museum there is an amazing Jain Temple and Swami Narayana Mandir you could visit... the architecture is amazing!!! The Belgrave road area would be the Gujarati version of Southall...

V&A Museum has some Sikh artifacts... I also would recommend a visit to Southall... First time I saw such a heavy concentration of Sikhs living in one area. Visit the different Gurdwaray and interact with Afghan Sikhs... I personally found them fascinating :biggrin2: Although not Sikhi related I always enjoy going Camden Market... you get to see/taste/smell all sorts of weird and wonderful things and see people from around the world! But that's if you like that sort of thing! There is so much to explore and do in London... every area is different. Greenwich is nice if your into History/Architecture and they have the Cutty Sark there... National Gallery nr Westminster?! Don't have to spend loads exploring London. Shepards Bush Gurdwara is historical.... was opened in 1908.

I have seen this posted around and discussed and a lot of people are "outraged"!!! But... is the local Hindu community hiring the hall out to practice their religious Pooja/rituals? If so, what is the problem? Its not as if Sikhs have to enter the hall whilst it is happening and its not in the Gurdwara itself!? Are we becoming too intolerant that we now cant even handle other faiths using our community halls for occasional religious events? Yes their form of worship is seen as against the principles of Sikhism but for example Guru Hargobind Ji allocated an area for muslims to pray in Hargobindpur and so Guru Ji is okey with it and facilitated a permanent structure being built for other faiths to pray why cant we allow access to temporary facilities?! . Just my opinion though.

As someone who has a lot of friends that go to Niddar Singh one thing is evident! Those that have learnt from in the past couple of years have all started eating meat (Burger King, McDonalds etc)... at first I thought who am I to judge? Im not exactly knowledgeable about Sikhi... then a few started drinking alcohol... I thought ok thats bad... but they justified it as Nihang maryada... I was like okeyyy Now a few although a small amount are hooked on Marijuana and other substances. It has been difficult watching friends and people I was very close too change! They now mock me and other members of the Sangat as Vashnu Sikhs or Basuria (sp?) havent a clue what these terms mean in detail :blush2: But I was like okey whatever. Now I'm not denying whether ShasterVidya is any good... it seems really good and nifty and his students always impress in Nagar Kirtans BUT they have had a personality change... swear for fun, eat meat openly, some drink alcohol and a few are what I can only describe as druggies! Now that is fact and reality whether people are willing to admit it or not!

Well its obvious now they are reading this forum! The practically mentioned it and made direct quotes from peoples posts. However, I think the discussion went well and it was good to hear people from other faiths supporting Sikhs!

I just wanted sangat to be made of aware of this brilliant piece of software that is being used by primary schools more and more! http://www.textease.com Download it, its Free! This interactive learning process keeps the children so engaged in what they are learning! They can easily create animation and record sounds to create storylines books etc. I used it on my nephew and friends to create story of Chotay Sahibzaday! You can easily upload pics and then give them sound plus other things, its very child friendly... I'm still learning! Get creative peoples and hook the younger digital generation with technology to learn about Sikhi! You can get a group of children to do a Jaikara record it and add it to the storyline! They love it! If you have kids you will know how this generation find technology way more engaging! Its a fantastic educational tool for Sikhi and other national curriculum activities!

Although I agree to an extent. I always come across people that state "O but we cant even run a Gurdwara properly" But this is assuming all Gurdwaray are run badly! I have seen Gurdwaray run fantastically well! Like every country is run differently as Khalistan will be so are Gurdwaray run differently... we should not tar all Gurdwara committee's or management with the same brush in my humble opinion. I never seen any post on this forum from people praising the hardwork and good organisation of a Sikh youth camp or how committee members keep the sangat engaged! Not all Sikhs are inept!!!

As I stated previously Khalistan will have its own negative aspects but that does not necessarily mean its going to be the new Pakistan... and making Sikhism the primary benefactor is not exactly a bad thing! The make up of Khalistan could be like other religion based affluent countries like Qatar, Brunei or have the tolerance of modern Turkey... I would argue Sikh principles if followed would lead to a tolerant thriving nation in Khalistan! But then we always have people that say it will be Pakistan even heard Somalia once lol, its all speculation!

Well I think it will be tolerant and allow other religions to be in involved in political/state roles... I base my assumption on the fact Muslims and Hindus have been able to practice their religion in areas dominated by Sikhs in relative safety for centuries! MJS govt had people of differing faiths in high positions and I have never heard anyone quibble over this, Most Sikhs respect Peers and Sadhus which can be seen in nearly every pind in Punjab... So why do you think Sikhs will be intolerant to other religions?

For OP....We would like to think so! Most would advocate it! Are you personally against free speech? Where has this question come from? Do you think Sikh principles are against free speech? Should Khalistan be created I think its difficult to predict what its going to be like... it will be unique! No other country like it... as no country is a carbon copy of each other, they all have their negative aspects and positives! But unless someone is a fortune teller its hard to predict... but as long as basic Sikh principles are protected there should be tolerance and free speech... IMO

Khalistan wont be "like" Pakistan, or India or USA! I love how everyone turns into mystic meg and predict what the country will be like! Every country is different... as long as Sikh principles are truly applied I don't see it turning into Pakistan! I hear this all the time!!! What are people basing this on exactly? Any empirical proof? Are you trying to say Pakistanis and Sikhs in Punjab have the same mentality? NO. Morals and Norms? NO. Politics? NO. Culture? NO. Religion? NO. What is the link everyone keeps making that Khalistan will be exactly like Pakistan?!?!

It is the Daily Mail... they might not even have their facts right!

My cats tends to do this with frogs and birds! They do this more often if you've been extra nice to them recently so they bring a "present" to you. I find it decreases if you spray your cat with just plain water to indicate you don't approve! A small water gun will do but only whilst they have their prey. At least this stops them bringing half dead animals into your garden/house. I have two brothers and their quite big so as you can imagine by morning my garden was littered. Even had to deal with moles and a neighbours chicken once but then that could have been a fox. Not pleasant!

Speaking to politically active BJP members in Gujarat and UK, there seems to be a growing faction that is moving away from the extremist Hindutuva ideology and Hindu nationalism... its weak compared to RSS/Shiv Sena backers BUTT its growing....! Not all BJP'ers want to associated with nationalist hardliners that want to stop foreign influence and propagate the drinking cow urine sort of ideology... The backing off the memorial might be a shrewd political move... but I sense change

Sikh Channel has already got in trouble for having people just making the statements below by OFCOM! Unless the people are willing to pay the fines I think we should be grateful we even have a platform in the first place... the rhetoric of RajoanaTV is a definite NO! “This is a message to the oppressors that you have done what you did and you can do more but we are ready to seek a homeland for ourselves”. “We want to rule ourselves. If there is any other solution, tell us. There isn‟t any”. “India is democracy, it‟s a secular nation…[people] confuse these two things for respect for human rights”. “The Indian Government had committed “genocide” against the Sikhs.” “In India there is one law for the majority and another law for the Sikh minority”. “The Sikhs should realize that they are slaves”. “In genocide, people are physically eliminated. But you can also eliminate them mentally by making them subservient and slavish. That is being done to the Sikhs in India”. http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/enforcement/broadcast-bulletins/obb192/obb192.pdf

Regardless of whether they were Sufi, Shia or Sunni, they were muslims! I still think its disrespectful to hate on "Pakis" (a word that the admin's surprisingly seem to freely allow on this forum )they were all Muslim with Mohammed as their prophet and yet people think its acceptable to slander the prophet of Islam!? Remember their are "Paki" sufi's as well... Certainly, There is a problem with sex attacks in the Pakistani community and their leaders and Imams constantly condemn it and preach against it and are trying to stop it! However we should not hate and malign the whole community... I just hope any Muslim that is reading this forum doesn't think all Sikhs discriminate and demonise thier religion... its starting to look like an EDL, white supremacist forum on here! Next the word "Nigger" will become acceptable..

They do give statements in condemnation... the problem is the extremists get all the attention in the media... all people have to do is contact a local Imam and ask them whether these acts are anti-Islamic! http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/9707238.Bradford_Imams_seek_action_on_sexual_grooming/ There are plenty of Muslim forums out there as well....people will see widespread condemnation! But for some reason we automatically seem to be believe the voice of Wacko's with no real power in their community.... REMEMBER the religion people are slandering is also the religion of Sufi's of Punjab such as Abdullah Shah and Peer Buddhu Shah as well as the descendents of Bhai Mardana...