Freed

Vaheguru Ji ka Khalsa Vaheguru ji ki Fateh !! Greetings and Good wishes to all on the Avtar Purb of Shamsher Pita, Sahib Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Panth ke Wali, Kalgidhar ji Sache Patshah ! A 'Hukum Khaas Furman' - a special injunction, bearing the signature of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib - issued to the Sangat of Patna for their help to the Guru's family on the birth of Gobind Rai. Details ; Takht Patna Sahib *Pictures from Gurdwaras in India and Pakistan - Mohinder Singh S Shankar - NIPS - 2004 From the Diwan of Bhai Nand Lal 'Goya' * from The Pilgrim's Way - Diwan of Bhai Nand Lal Goya - B P L Bedi - PUP - 1999 From the Ganj Nama of Bhai Nand Lal * From Bhai Nand Lal Granthawali - Ed. Ganda Singh - PUP - third ed 2000 ਦੋਹਰਾ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਪੂਰਨ ਗੁਰ ਅਵਤਾਰ ॥ ਜਗ ਮਗ ਜੋਤਿ ਬਿਗਾਸ ਰਹੀ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਬਿਚਲ ਨਗਰ ਅਪਾਰ ॥ ਸਚਖੰਡ ਦੇ ਦਰਬਾਰ ॥ (arta - sri Hazoori Rehraas Sahib) GurFateh ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Tender Touch The Archeress Pure Longing - This painting by Gurkirn Kaur Khalsa shows her desire and that of all Sikh women to perform the Ishnan sewa at Darbar Sahib - still denied to women *from Pure Longing Fulfilled - Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa 1999 The Care and Cherishing of Kesh The closest women have come to perfoming Kirtan Sewa at Darbar Sahib - 1979 Vikram Singh and Jatha - a sewa still denied Rehat Pyari *from Spirit Born Magazine - Vaisakhi 1999 A Mother's Poem - giving strength to Sikh Children *Taken from Style of the Lion -Jasprit Singh Theresa Singh - Akal - 1998 - pg 93 GURBAR AKAAAL ! Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh !!! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Morcha for Punjabi Suba 1960 These pictures show women at the forefront of the Morcha for Punjabi Suba - the second picture is of a widow of a protester shot at Patiala, courting arrest with her children in Amritsar *from The Illustrated History of the Sikhs 1947 -78 - Gur Rattan Pal Singh -1979 Women at the Forefront of the 'Dharam Yudh Morcha' of the 1980s *from Khalsa Panth - Khushwant Singh Raghu Rai - 1984 The Ghallughara 1984 The Army Attack on Darbar Sahib - painted by The Singh Twins Details The Singh Twins at work *from Twin Perspectives - Paintings by Amrita and Rabindra KD Kaur Singh - 1999 Delhi Massacre 1984 Widows Arpana Kaur , infront of her work depicting the horrors of the Delhi massacre *from The Sikhs - Khushwant Singh Raghu Rai Widows of the Chattisinghpore Masscre in Kashmir Dr Inderjit Kaur - who carries on the Great work started by Bhagat Puran Singh at the Pingalwara Amritsar *from Garland around my neck - Patwant Singh Harinder Kaur Sekhon - 2001 Sewa Simran Amrit *from Khalsa Panth - Khushwant Singh Raghu Rai 1984

Depictions of Nihangs and Nihangnis / Singhanees *from Piety and Splendour - B N Goswamy -Nat Mus 2000 A verse from Prof Mohan Singh's Rani Sahib Kaur - she was a princess from the Patiala Dynasty - who fought the Marathas. This is a famous poem - My Mother would recite it to us as children. *from 'Rani Sahib Kaur' - Kasumbhrha - Prof Mohan Singh -Lahore Book Shop - pg 53 Pilgrims at the Darbar Sahib Pilgrims at Darbar Sahib Amritsar - during the visit of the Prince of Wales 1905 The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 1919 Bibi Balbir Kaur - whilst demonstrating in the Jaito Morcha on Feb 21 1923, Bibi Ji was shot at by British Troops - the bullet hit her child -which she was carrying - she laid the child by the side of the road and carried on the march singing Gurbani, eventually she was also shot. Just on that day 100 people were killed The Panja Sahib saka - in 1922 a train carrying Sikh prisoners arrested during the Guru ka Bagh morcha was passing through Panja Sahib railway station - Sikhs gathered to feed them Langar , but the British refused to stop the train. The Sikhs said if Guru Sahib can stop a rock with his hand his Sikhs can stop a train - so Men and Women sat on the track and stopped the train. The Jaito Morcha *from Makhan Singh 1995 The Cover of Bhai Vir Singh's 'Sundri *from Sundri - Bhai Vir Singh - BVSSS - 1983 ed Portrait of Rani Raj Kaur - from an edition of Rana Surat Singh - by Bhai Vir Singh *from The Feminine Principle in the Sikh Vision of the Transcendent - Cambridge - 1993 Illustration from Bhai Vir Singh's Punjabi Autumn * from Nargas songs of a Sikh - Bhai Vir Singh trans Puran Singh - J M Dent - 1924 Cover of Warrior Princess * from Warrior Princess - Harjit Lakhan - 2001 Maharani Bakhtavar Kaur - senior Rani of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala - grandmother of Capt. Amrinder Singh CM of Punjab *from The Unforgettable Maharajas - Paul & Kapoor - 2003 The Horrors of Partition 1947 This clip is from the 1986 mini series of Bhisham Sahni's novel - 'Tamas'- It is very powerful - it dramatises the events in the Potohar and Bari Doab areas of West Punjab. In a village Sikhs gather in a Gurdwara to protect themselves from Muslims - The Muslims attack- the menfolk go to fight - the women then gather in the darbar - the singing of 'Gagan Damama Bajeo' sends shivers down your spine . When the women realise the muslims are coming into the Gurdwara they march to a well and jump in -to save their honour - taking the Singhaneen of mir mannu 's prison as inspiration. at the end you will see that Rababis come into the gurdwara and sing 'Jagat Jalanda Rakh' - the Rababis have been stopped by the Muslims from going to the gurdwara to perform kirtan saying they are 'Kafirs' for singing Gurbani - but also the Sikhs have stopped the rababis from coming saying they are muslims. The clip is very powerful - and shows the sacrifices of Sikh women during Partition. Click on this link to see the clip (apologies for the quality !) http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...19&hl=en-GB

Gyani Gyan Singh's description of Sikh Women - When the Khalsa Walked unopposed into Delhi 1781 When Sardar Baghel Singh and the Khalsa walked unopposed into Delhi - they were accompanied by a number of Singhaneean - Gynai Gian Singh describes their Royal bearing and stature - some were dressed in full Bana with Tall Dastars and heavily armed, others were finely dressed - their dress is described - while some are dressed as 'warrior men' the rest are described as wearing salwars of 20 yards , silver ornaments weighing 10 ser ( 2 pound weight) and their hair was in 'Chundian' top knots one and a half hands high (Dedh gith) and their kurte (tops) were embroidered . The Begums of the emporer - said to the Sikh women that we are just poor slaves you are blessed to be free. *from Panth Prakash - Gyani Gyan Singh - Bhasha Vibhag - 1987 Ed- pg 1150-4 Sardarni Sada Kaur - Wife of Gurbakhsh Singh Sardar of the Kanhaiya Misl - fought in battle against Ranjit Singh - though eventually sought an alliance by marrying her daughter to Ranjit Singh. It is said that see was the power behind the throne and that she "was the ladder by which Ranjit singh reached the Summit of power" Sketch of Sardarni Sada Kaur - attributed to Kehar Singh *from Punjab Painting - RP Srivastava - Abhinav - 1983 - plate 53 Rani Mehtab Kaur - daughter of Sada Kaur - married to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and mother of Maharaja Sher Singh *from a flyer for a Lecture on Sikh women Rani Chand Kaur - daughter of Jaimal Singh Kanhaya - married to Maharaja Kharrak Singh , mother of Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh *from Maharaja Ranjit Singh - Jean-Marie Lafont - Oxford -2002 pg 133 Rani Jindan - Rani of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and mother of Duleep Singh. from a fresco in the Haveli of the Sandhanwalia Sardars of Raja Sansi *from Maharaja Ranjit Singh ,as patron of the Arts - Marg 1981 *from Lafont (2002) *from Sikh portraits by European Artists - F S Aijazuddin - 1979 - plate v The famous Rani Jindan Portrait *from The Kapany Collection The hands of Rani Jindan cast in marble by Duleep Singh *from Maharaja Ranjit Singh - Mohinder Singh - NIPS 2002 pg 73 The Death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh *from The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms - Susan Stronge - V&A 1999 A Sikh woman soldier *from Dr Daljeet 2004 pg 143 A Sikh Marriage Detail - while Sikh female portraiture is rare - it is even rarer to see depictions of elders *from Sikh Art - Kerry Brown - Routledge - 1999 plate 9 Bhai Vir Singh Detail * from Brown 1999 plate 20 "The departure of the Heroes" soldiers leaving for a campaign detail * from Marg 1981

Mata Sahib Devan / Sahib Kaur -- Mother of the Khalsa *from Gurdwaras Patwant Singh - HB- 1992 - pg 54 Gold panel from Baba Atal Tower * both from Randhawa ( 2000) *from Makhan Singh (1995) Mata Gujri and The Sahibzadas in the Thanda Burj *from Makhan Singh (1995) Mata Ji and The Sahibzadas receiving milk from Moti Mehra in the Thanda Burj *from P. Satbir Singh 1996 - pg 44 Mai Bhago - The Brave *from Makhan singh 1995 The Rifle said to belong to Mai Bhago kept at Nander Mata Sundari Ji - The wife of Guru Gobind Singh Ji - Mata Ji guided the Panth during the early 1700s . Mata Ji commissioned Bhai Mani Singh to collect the writings of Guru Gobind Singh and compile the Dasm Granth Sahib. *from Patwant Singh 1992 A Hukumnama sent by Mata Sundari Ji From Dr Daljeet (2004) pg 109 Gurdwara Mata Sundari, Delhi *from Patwant Singh 1992 pg 113 The Tradition of the Faithful Bibi Rajni and her leper husband - cured by faith *from Makhan Singh 1995 The Brave Faithful Singhneean in Mir Mannu's prison - we remember these brave Sikh women in our ardas - who in the1700s were imprisoned and tortured made to grind 60kg had their children butchered infront of them but stayed true to the last *from P Satbir Singh (1996)

Gurfateh ! Fantastic Post Bhen ji ! Here is a post I put up a while back on some forums ( I don't think I posted it here) - I thought I'd post it here to add a few pictures to your great post. Just a small request - I've posted a short verse about Rani Sahib Kaur of Patiala - if anyone has a picture of her I would love to see it - she is a great heroine of mine. Enjoy the post - it's a little long - but worth the long read Here is the post - from early 2006 ******************************************************************************** *taken from Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Steek (Fareedkot Wala Teeka) - Bhasha Vibhag -4th ed 1992 - page 1005 Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh ! This large post was prompted by the visit of my niece. She is starting to learn to read and has become a real book-worm, she loves Lemony Snicket and Harry Potter but she also loves to come to her Mama's house (me) to read my books on Sikh Heritage, especially 'Warrior Saints' 'Sikh Heritage' and 'The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms'. It was while looking through these that she came out with a very pertinent and cutting question - the way kids do - "where are all the pictures of Sikh women ?" It then struck me that she was right, many of those books have absolutely no pictures of women. Some may have mythological depictions of Sita and Parbati or Raag Raagnis,some have portraits of Rani Jindan, but many have none at all. This prompted my wife and me to look through all our books and these pictures represent the collection we found for my niece. It is our hope this collection will help inspire and educate everyone on the pivotal role of Sikh women. The list is not exhaustive - it is limited to pictures we could find in our book collection. This post is dedicated to All Sikh Women - All Mothers, Guru Ke Mahel , Mahaan Shahids, Brave steadfast bahadar Singhaneean. To all Mata-jis, Bee-jis, Respected Grandmothers and mothers, Cherished sisters,soulmate partners and beloved daughters. In a time when daughters are still murdered in Punjab (and around the world) despite Guru sahib's command - Sikhi is the only dharam that expressly forbids the murder of female children - perpetrators being called 'Kurimaar' and ostracized by the sangat - this crime still persists - before it was done by placing 'Gur' in the mouth of the baby girl and saying ; "Gur khayeen te puni kateen , Aap na ayeen veeran nu ghateen" ( eat sugar and spin cotton , come not again but send brothers) now it is murder perpetrated in the sex determination clinic. Misogyny is still rife in Punjab despite Guru Sahib's Hukums - when Guru Nanak was asked by the Siddhas why he had "added yeast to milk" by leading a householders life he replied that you denounce women but you still rely on women as you go begging for food to them. The same question was asked to Guru Hargobind he replied that ; Daulat guzran hai Aurat Iman hai Puttar nishan hai (money is my servant, Wife is my conscience and children keep the race going) Still today in popular Punjabi culture you will hear that - "a women is like a shoe" that "Janani di matt pichey geechee vich hundi" ( a women's brain is in the back of her head) such sexist views are very prevalent as well as many superstitions regarding women. It is my hope that this post will show how women have played a pivotal role in Sikhi and continue to do so. It is mothers who care for and cherish their children's Kesh and show the importance of Kesh. It is mothers who instill the self confidence in their children to wear turbans It is mothers who enshrine beautiful gurbani in the hearts and on the lips of their children It is mothers who place gutkas into the hands of their children , who sing their children to sleep with gurbani "Tati Vao na lagaien" (Bilaval M5). I bow my head to these Mahaan Sikh Women ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed' The birth of Guru Nanak - from a Baba Atal Tower fresco - showing Mata Tripta and Bibi Nanaki A painting showing the same scene *from Punjab Painting - RP Srivastava - Abhinav - 1983 - plate 130 Guru Nanak rejects the Janao detail of Bibi Nanaki The marriage of Guru Nanak *from The Sikhs - T S Randhawa - Prakash - 2000 - pg 102 Bibi Nanaki and her husband Jai Ram - Bibi Nanaki is sometimes referred to as the first Sikh *from Sikh Heritage in Paintings- Makhan Singh - Perfect - 1995 pg19 Guru Nanak with his parents returns from his 12 year 'udasi' *from B40 Janamsakhi Guru Baba Nanak Paintings - S Hans - GNDU - plate 6 The wife of Guru Nanak - Mata Salakhani with their sons Lakhmi Das and Sri Chand The Guru Sahiban spoke out against Sati (burning of the widow with her husband)and Pardah (the veil) Guru Amar Das set up 'Manjian' to do 'prachar' which were like 'parishes' . He appointed men as well as women * From Makhan Singh 1995 pg 28 Mata Khivi - Mata Khivi the wife of Guru Angad Dev. Mata Ji has the unique honour of being the only contemporary of the Guru Sahib's to be mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib - Her dedication and sewa is recorded in Ramkali Ki Waar *from Makhan Singh 1995 *from Fareedkot wala Teeka STTM translation balava(n)dd kheevee naek jan jis bahuthee shhaao pathraalee || Balwand says that Khivi, the Guru's wife, is a noble woman, who gives soothing, leafy shade to all. la(n)gar dhoulath va(n)ddeeai ras a(n)mrith kheer ghiaalee || She distributes the bounty of the Guru's Langar; the kheer - the rice pudding and ghee, is like sweet ambrosia. This Shabad is by Bhatt Sathaa and Balvand in Raag Raamkalee on Ang 967 Bibi Bhani - Bibi Bhani the daughter of Guru Amar Das - has the unique honour of being a Guru's daughter, Guru's wife (Guru Ram Das) , Guru's Mother (Guru Arjan Dev). The mother of the first Sikh Shaheed Guru Arjan , her great grandson was Guru Tegh Bahadar , Great Great Grandson was Guru Gobind Singh. Tradition says that Bibi Bhani was dedicated to the sewa of Guru Amar Das Ji - her father and in contrast to Punjabi tradition continued this sewa after her marriage to Guru Ram Das *from Sikh Heritage - Dr Daljeet - Prakash - 2004 - pg 65 Mata Ganga - The wife of Guru Arjan Dev -She received from Baba Buddha the blessing that her son would be a great warrior whose powers no one could tame - Guru HarGobind Sahib *from Album Central Sikh Museum - P. Satbir Singh - 1996 - pg 34 This is the rath (carriage) said to have been used by Mata ji to visit Baba Buddha *from Gurdwaras in India and Pakistan - Mohinder Singh - NIPS- 2004 - pg 57 Mata Sulakhani - receives a blessing from Guru Hargobind Sahib - her entire family sacrificed their lives for the Panth * from Makhan Singh 1995 Mata Gujri - wife of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Mother of Guru Gobind Singh Ji

Pracheen Jang-Nama from 'Pracheen Vaaran Te Jang-Namey' - S Shamsher Singh Ashok - Sikh Itihaas Research Board SGPC - 1950 These Short films pay homage to the Shaheeds of Saka Chamkaur and Saka Sirhind. This first film is "Dassien Kalgi Waleya Ve" - Sung by Satwinder Bitti - lyrics - Kewal Singh Fauji Click link to see the clip; http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...30&hl=en-GB This Film is "Kalgidhar Panth Pyaare Da" - sung by Satwinder Bitti - It has beautiful lyrics by Charan Singh Safri - the line "Bijli payi Lishka mardi eh - Disdi paye Laash Jujhaar di " and the visual of 'Dekh ke Undith' is particularly heart rending. Click link to see the clip; http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...54&hl=en-GB This Video is of The Nabhe Vale Bibbiyan and Balwant Singh Premi - "Putran da Daniyan Dhan Kurbanyian" Click link to see the clip; http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...22&hl=en-GB Hope you enjoyed the post GurFateh ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Devender Singh paintings - from Saka Chamkaur (published 1979) Ram Waeerker painting from the 'Amar Chitra Katha' 1970s comic 'Guru Gobind Singh' Gurdwara Pariwar Vicchora on the banks of the Sirsa - site of the separation of Guru Sahib from his family Devender Singh painting of the 'Thanda Burj' 1960s Calendar prints Devender Singh paintings from 'Nikkian Jindan Vadda Saka' - published 1977 Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib - site of the Shahidi of the Cchote Sahibzaday Interior Jor Mela - Fatehgarh Sahib

Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh !! In Eternal Respect, Love, Honour and Homage to Baba Ajit Singh Ji , Baba Jujhaar Singh Ji , Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji. Here are a collection of images and a ' Pracheen ' Jang-Nama by an unknown author - edited by Shamsher Singh Ashok from the original Puratan Manuscript. Early 19th Century Pahari watercolour from the workshop of Purkhu - Guru Gobind Singh Ji with the Four Princes - The Sahibzadas Guru Gobind Singh and The Sahibzadas - mid 19th Century watercolour Gilded Panels from Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai Sahib, Amritsar. Guru Gobind Singh Mata Ji and the Sahibzadas The Beloved Sahibzadas Frescoes from the walls of Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai Sahib , Amritsar Baba Sahib Ajit Singh Baba Sahib Jujhaar Singh Sahib Baba Zorawar Singh and Sahib Baba Fateh Singh Late 19th century - The four sons of Guru Gobind Singh Kirpal Singh paintings from the Central Sikh Museum, Amritsar Battle of Chamkaur - Sahib Baba Ajit Singh Sahib Baba Jujhaar Singh Sahib Baba Ajit Singh - Central Sikh Museum Amritsar Garhi Sahib - Chamkaur Sahib - site of the Battle of Chamkaur

Gurfateh ! With all the recent 'brouhaha' over the installation of a portrait of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the Central Sikh Museum ; http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071130/main4.htm Here is something I thought you might like - I found it among some old books and papers. It's a sticker for your car - made by some Sikhs from Gravesend UK - it was given out free during one of the many Protest Marches of 1984. I remember seeing quite a few cars with these stickers on them in the 1980s. Here is a picture of the sticker Enjoy ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

ਬਾਝ ਗੁਰੂ ਡੁਬਾ ਜਗੁ ਸਾਰਾ Baajh Guru dubaa jag saara (Bhai Gurdas vaar 1 pauri 29) Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh !! May Guru Sahib shower blessings on all on this Special Day - The Prakaash Purb of Jagat Guru, Sahib Sri Guru Nanak Sahib To mark this day here are some images of Guru Nanak from the 18th and 19th century. This first watercolour is a Pahari painting perhaps from the workshop of Mankot , dating from the second quarter of the 18th Century. It depicts as inscribed on the back "Sri Nanak ji" - the depiction is markedly different from that which is usually seen. Guru Nanak is shown as an aged slight figure sat in meditation. The most striking aspects are the 'Pothi' inscribed with what appears to be 'Satgur prasad' , the mala worn around the neck and on the wrist together with 2 bracelets and a ring in the left ear. Goswami states the ring is a reminder in the Indian tradition of The Master. *Collection - Government Museum and Art Gallery - Chandigarh This tinted brush drawing is also Pahari from the workshop of Nainsukh of Guler and dates from the last quarter of the 18th century. It depicts Guru Nanak seated with saintly men and devotees perhaps performing keertan. To my mind the drawing stresses the importance of Gurbani and Sadh Sangat. At its centre the drawing has a large 'Pothi' - with a 'morchhal' - a fan of peacock feathers and devotees bowing. The pothi is opened and you can read the glorious salok from Sri Sukhmani Sahib. * From FareedKot Vala Teeka vol 1 page 641 (Sri Guru Granth Sahib - Raag Gauri Sukhmani - Guru Arjan Dev Ji ang 293) (Translation - Nikki-Guninder Kaur Singh 1995) They to whom the Guru gives the eyeliner of wisdom, their dark ignorance disappears. Through grace, we meet the faithful, says Nanak, our mind is enlightened. Bhai Mardana is depicted with rabab and a younger devotee with cymbals, another aspect to note is the 'Kharavan' or wooden sandals placed on a plinth. *Collection - Government Museum and Art Gallery - Chandigarh This watercolour from the last quarter of the 18th century depicts as inscribed in persian characters, in a gold cartouche, above the painting "tasvir-i dervissh nanakshahi" a picture of a Nanakshahi dervish. This could be a painting of a devotee of Guru Nanak or it could be, as argued by Goswami, a likeness of Guru Nanak. The aspects of the depiction that stand out are the seating postion , it is not crossed legged but with one knee raised and the other bent, and the red book in hand , not 'landscape' size pothi but an upright volume. * Kapany Collection In this last watercolour from the end of the 19th century, we have a more familiar depiction of Guru Nanak seated with Mardana. The painting shows the famous sakhi of when Guru Nanak stopped the boulder, rolled at him by Wali Kandhari ,with his open 'Panja' The painting shows Wali Kandhari atop the hill with a devotee or perhaps Bhai Bala (??) and Bhai Mardana with rabab and Guru Nanak with outstretched palm or 'Panja' *Collection - Government Museum and Art Gallery - Chandigarh ** All Pictures from ' I See No Stranger - Early Sikh Art and Devotion ' B N Goswamy , Caron Smith - Rubin Museum of Art, 2006 Hope you enjoyed the pictures - Once again Lakh Lakh Vadaai to all on this special day. * Bhai Gurdas 'Gur Avataar' Vaar 1 Pauri 23 *from Varan Bhai Gurdas - Dr Jodh Singh - 1998 - pg 53 Gurfateh ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Gurfateh ! Ardass from The Khalsa Sundar Gutka , published by the Buddha Dal. Ranjit Singh Freed

ਤ੍ਰੱਪੇ ਤਾਜੀ ॥ ਗੱਜੇ ਗਾਜੀ ॥ ਸੱਜੇ ਸਸਤ੍ਰੰ ॥ ਕਛੇ ਅਸਤ੍ਰੰ ॥੫੨੧॥ The horses jumped, the warriors thundered and began to strike blows, being bedecked with weapons and arms.521. (Ram Avtar - Sri Dasam Granth Sahib) Equestrian Nihangs Gurfateh ! Ranjit Singh Freed

I saw you ! - You are REALLY tall ! - I think I might of accidently tripped you up with my foot as you walked past me :lol: I was the big Singh in the black shawl ---- you've got the same camera as me ! looking forward to seeing your pictures, Freed

Gurfateh !! Freed

Gurfateh ! I have noticed a very disturbing trend on SikhSangat.com - Singhs/Kaurs disrespecting the Dastaars of other Singhs/Kaurs Please think before posting - what may seem like a 'funny' or 'flippant' comment to you may be extremely offensive to someone else. Just because you have not come across some aspect of another's dress or behaviour, do not be so quick to judge or point a finger. In this case Kesh is 'Guru Ka Mohar' together with the 'Dastaar' it is worthy of the utmost respect - it has been blessed by Guru Sahib with 'Amrit' - and any 'Satkar' we give to our Kesh is not enough. To illustrate here is a quote from the Rehatnama of Bhai Daya Singh. ਦਹੀਂ ਦੂਧ ਘਿ੍ਤ ਸੇ ਇਸਨਾਨ ਕਰੈ ਧੂਪ ਦੈਵੈ ਫੂਲ ਚੜ੍ਹਾਵਹਿ (Wash your Kesh with yogurt, milk and Ghee Dry it in the sun and perfume with incense, decorate and adorn it with flowers) Here are a couple of pictures also Bhujungy with flowers Nihang Baba with woollen flowers I have no intention to offend or single any individual out - just a disturbing trend I have noticed - Being Singhs/Kaurs we should know better ! ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੋਂ ਨੇਹੁ ਸੁ ਕਰਨੋ ਬੇਰ ਭਾਵ ਮਨ ਤੇ ਪਰਿਹਰਨੋ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੰਘ ਪਰ ਸ਼ਸਤ੍ਰ ਨ ਕਰੇ ਜਾਨ ਗੁਰੂ ਖਾਲਸੇ ਤੇ ਡਰੇ [੪੩] (A Singh should always show love and affection to another Singh, Remove all hate and ill will from your heart, A Singh should never raise his weapon against another Singh, See all Singhs as The Guru , Fear the Khalsa (43)) (Rehatnama Bhai Desa Singh) Bhul Chuk Maaf Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

'Refugees in their own City.' This image has always deeply affected me - the boy in the foreground bearing the scars of having his kesh hacked off -with his hands outstretched- especially. We cannot know what these Sikhs went through, or the horrors they saw and suffered - these are very disturbing images - they have always haunted me - I am posting them so we never forget - As a mark of Respect and Remembrance. Gurfateh Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh ! This post is dedicated to all those who lost their lives and loved ones in the Massacre that followed the death of Indira Gandhi , 31 October 1984. We must never forget. I tend to avoid posts on 1984, I do have lots of material, as I was in my early teens at the time, but as it is still a very painful episode - I tend to avoid posting it. I am aware people have very varied views about 1984 and it is a very divisive issue , anytime I have posted threads about 1984 they tend to descend into outrageous namecalling and disrespectful language - and I don't want to be responsible for such disrespect to the names of those who gave their lives. I have been persuaded to post some material by a forum member, who made the point that many members were not even born in 1984 - so I should share some of the material I have. So in memory of all those who gave their all,here is just a very small part of the material I have. My only request is that all posters keep their responses civil and do not post anything they would feel uncomfortable saying in 'Sadh Sangat' . Here are some videos and pictures - apologies for the quality but they are over 20 years old. A news report from the BBC from around 1983 - looking at the 'Dharam Yudh Morcha' and the events that led eventually to the army attack in June 1984 http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...52&hl=en-GB A couple of short snippets from the above film - showing a short interview with Sant ji ( in the above film the audio jumps) http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...69&hl=en-GB http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...62&hl=en-GB The Army Attack June 1984 These very rare pictures come from the Observer Magazine - they show the days before the attack. They show the Singhs ready for what was about to happen ; Laughing on the balcony of the Akal Takht ; Gun positions and a wounded Singh - This is the first time I am sharing these pictures - they are very hard for me to view - Please show these Singhs some respect - regardless of your views - and think before you post any comments . The Huge Protest in London June 1984 - after the Army Attack I was at the march - my abiding memory is the sheer level of noise - the Sangat was so loud and angry - but above all united. ITN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azSfPxzwtCE BBC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTTLg9-pyj0 The ' Southall Celebrations' after the death of Gandhi BBC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llzHlzmz0Bc ITN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3c8ZIOA2TI Eastern Eye C4 News reports of the Killings in Delhi Nov 1984 BBC http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...15&hl=en-GB ITN http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...97&hl=en-GB BBC http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...86&hl=en-GB Frontpages of UK newspapers Nov 1984

Here are some hilarious remixed videos Punjabi music with Rick Astley and Elvis - They just seem to work really well ! Rick Astley / De le Ghera http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsa5QsOeXBM Elvis / Ravinder Grewal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfR5GtWytnw What do you think ?

ਸਦਕੇ ਓਏ ਸਰਦਾਰਾ !! ਟੇਡੀ ਪੱਗ ਵਾਲਿਆ !! :WW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYGEfUDxJYg

Gurfateh ! Go for Flaxseed !! Flaxseed in Punjabi is 'Alsee' ਅਲਸੀ - also called linseed in English If you know anything about Punjabi Old School 'Babay' - they were brought up on Panjeeri or 'Pineean' (Little balls of Panjeeri) - made up of Desi Ghee, sugar , flour, almonds and Linseed Seeds (Flaxseed) This Panjeeri is also given to breast feeding mothers - to build up their strength If you look at old school panjabis brought up eating a lot of Alsee - they have no trouble with bad joints. My Grandad is in his late 90s - and fit as a fiddle - he is very particular and steadfast in his Rehat - getting up at Amrit Vela and bathing in cold water (He still lives in Punjab) - he is a strict vegetarian (To the point where he tells me off for wearing a leather belt - he says that is beadhbe to my kacchera !! ) All Punjabis used to be brought up on Alsee valey Pineean - only now is modern science catching up with what our Puratan Bibian always knew ! Just cut out or reduce the sugar ghee etc if youre worried about the fat - and keep the Linseed/ Flaxseed. It comes as seeds or as oil which you can dress salads with or just add to your normal foods or drink. Give it a go It's better than fish which pick up all sorts of stuff in the sea - infact the omega 3 comes from the stuff the fish eat - the fish don't generate it themselves - they get it from the plankton they eat. Keep to the rehat Guru Sahib (Your Panj) gave you - Guru Sahib is Ang Sang ! Gurfateh ! Freed

Gurfateh ! SaRpAnCh Sahib your inbox is full - I can't send you a PM ! waiting to send you some stuff Freed

Tarn Taran Sahib The pavilion on the roof of Tarn Taran Sahib And to finish some ਦੁਰਲਭ - (Durlab) extremely rare and fascinating pictures of the "Arjun Deva Mela, Lahore" - perhaps recording the last ever mela before partition. The mela - in the background you can see the Shahi Qilla, The Samadh of Ranjit Singh and Gurdwara Dehra Sahib. The mela - looking toward the River Ravi. Outstanding and very poignant images - I hope you enjoyed them. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh ! Ranjit Singh Chohan (Freed)

Gurfateh ! It's bonus time at work so it means I can indulge my triple passions of buying books, Shastars and Vinyl records - being a sensible married man (well almost sensible) - I can't just 'splurge' buy like I used to - got bills to pay ! Anyway enough of my domestic arrangements !! - I recently got my hands on a first edition of Max Arthur Macauliffe's 'The Sikh Religion' 1909 - I previously only had an Indian 'budget' copy with very poor reproductions of the illustrations. I've also bought a copy of John Clark Archer's 'The Sikhs' from 1946 - it also has some wonderful photographs - In line with the great Sikh tradition of 'Vand ke Chhakna' I am sharing these books with all of you. So for your enjoyment here are some of the illustrations - I've focussed on pictures of Sikh Built Heritage. * From 'The Sikh Religion, It's Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors' - Max Arthur Macauliffe. Oxford 1909 Darbar Sahib at the start of the 20th Century The view from the Baba Atal Tower - you can see the 'Bungay' around the parikarma, The gothic clock tower and the Minars of the Ramgarhia Bunga complete with domes. Note the many trees and you can also see 'Guru Ka Bagh' Guru Arjan's shrine The Sri Takhat Sahib Akal Bunga Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai Sahib Fatehgarh Sahib detail Mukhtsar Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded Bhagat Namdev's Shrine at Ghuman (10 km west of Sri Hargobindpur in Gurdaspur district) - dates from the 14th century with parts built by Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and Sada Kaur details * From 'The Sikhs, in relation to Hindus, Moslems, Christians and Ahmadiyyas. A Study in Comparative Religion' - John Arthur Clark Archer. Princeton 1946 Entrance to Darbar Sahib c1930s - this entrance is now the main 'Ghanta Ghar' entrance Darbar Sahib The Darshani Deori The famous 'Jhanda Bunga' - now demolished. A Nihang Baba stood infront of the Akal Takht - the arch behind him is now where the Miri Peeri Nishan Sahibs were moved to, after the original Jhanda Bunga was demolished , to widen the parikarma. The Akal Bunga / Akal Takat Sahib The view through the Darshani Deori