Freed

Gurfateh ! Here is a collection of Nishan sahibs and Battle Standards - they have a variety of symbols ranging from pipal leafs, sun bursts, depictions of Durga to the 'degh tegh fateh' symbolism mentioned by 'Gurbar Akaal' ji - some also have no symbol at all , such as the captured 'Akali' black standard kept at Lichfield. click the links to see them Lichfield Cathedral captured Battle Standards http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showtopic=23633&st=0 Nishan Sahibs and Sikh Battle standards http://www.sikhsangat.com/index.php?showtopic=23687

Can anyone read Arabic / Shahmukhi script ? If you can, could you translate this - it's from a 'Gagar' my mum received as part of her 'Daaj'. It's probably a name in Urdu - everyone in the family has a different idea of whose name it is - so I'd be grateful if anyone could decipher it. Many Thanks in advance

I can't remember if I've posted this before - but here is a great film on Udham Singh. It's directed by Horace Ove - "The Equalizer" , was shown on BBC 2 (UK) in 1995. Please click link to see the film http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...23&hl=en-GB 'Freed'

Jallianwalla Bagh in 1919 On the right you can see the 'shrine' where people hid from the bullets and on the left under the smallest tree you can see the 'Martyrs Well' Udham Singh at Sunam in 1933 Udham Singh (on right) with Puran Singh Binning of Luton, Bedfordshire UK Udham Singh in 1937 A Photograph taken on the Guru Nanak Janam Diwas Gurpurb - 18 November 1937 at the first Gurdwara in the UK - 79 Sinclair Road London W14 - Udham Singh can be seen right at the back detail of Udham Singh The exterior of 79 Sinclair Road Shepherds Bush London W14 - then and now Hope that wasn't too long winded an answer to your question ! Cheers! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Gurfateh ! The location where Udham Singh shot Sir Michael O'Dwyer, (the Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab in 1919) is The Tudor Room, Caxton Hall, Caxton Street, London SW1. The nearest tube station is St James's Park (Circle/District Line). The 'listed' building is being refurbished as posh flats and a 10 storey office block. As you'd expect there is no 'Plaque' commemorating the event !! - though one of my relatives from India expected to see one! Here are some pictures Caxton Hall 1940s Caxton Hall today The proposed office block Front page of the 'Daily Mirror' - 14 March 1940 The Pistol used by Udham Singh - now in the 'Black Museum' Scotland Yard. Handcuffed Udham Singh being led away by Police Sir Michael O'Dwyer Brigadier-General R E H Dyer - photograhed in 1919

GurFateh ! As you all know I have a love for all things 'Puratan' - so here is my contribution to the Dumalla thread - a beautiful picture of Akali Nihangs a friend found on the internet - I have no details of where it's from or it's date - But it is Wonderful ! It shows Akalis playing chess , Combing their Kesh and doing 'ragra'. I am particularly struck by the Chess - as this debunks the myth that all Nihangs were and are 'drug addled simpletons' - a myth which is quite prevalent in some circles. The picture brings to mind the Glorious shabad of Guru Arjan Sahib *from Aadi Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Steek - (Fareedkot Wala Teeka) Jild 1 pp 1107 - Bhasha Vibhag Patiala 4th ed 1992 STTM translation Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gujri on Pannaa 522 Fifth Mehla: naanak sathigur bhaettiai pooree hovai jugath || O Nanak, meeting the True Guru, one comes to know the Perfect Way. hasa(n)dhiaa khaela(n)dhiaa paina(n)dhiaa khaava(n)dhiaa vichae hovai mukath ||2|| While laughing, playing, dressing and eating, he is liberated. ||2|| I suppose some may have a few minor issues with the picture - such as the the dastar being on the floor when combing the kesh - maryada states that dastar should be tied sitting in 'Asan' , 'kacchera' should be covered and dastar should not touch 'kacchera' or the ground . Another issue could be the performing of 'Ragra' bareheaded - However I don't think these detract the beauty of the image . Also are they playing chess? - I thought it could be 'Chaopar' as mentioned in Gurbani and famously played in the MahaBharat - but I believe that is played on a cross type 'board' with dice - so I have stuck with Chess. Maybe Jassa Singh Ji could confirm if it's Chess or some other game as he is our special 'Indian correspondent' ! Here is the picture - Enjoy ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Gurfateh ! Here are some more pictures of Sikh soldiers marching with Sri Guru Granth Sahib during the Mesopotamia Campaign, 1918 (Mesopotamia is now modern Iraq, eastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, and Southwest Iran) and also some pictures of a "desert Diwan" The pictures are from; http://www.sikhcybermuseum.org.uk Freed

GurFateh Bhai Sahib ! Is this the picture you're looking for ? The photograph is of British and Sikh Officers of The 14th Ferozepore Sikhs in 1900 , all are wearing large Dastars (10 yard Khakhi Safa) and Chakars. Here are some close ups - * Taken from "Portrait of Courage - Century of the 5th Battalion, The Sikh Regiment. XLVII (D.C.O) SIKHS" - Maj.Gen. Prem K. Khanna MVC & Pushpinder Singh Chopra - M S Con. - 2001. Hope that was what you were looking for. Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Here are 2 versions Hope they are of some use Freed

Here are 2 versions Hope they are of some use Freed

A Nihang Singh and his Singhni - Aw Bless ! As my family comes from from Doaba here are a couple of pictures for all those who say there is no 'culture' in the Doab - just agri'culture'. ! The beautiful ruins of the medieval sarai at Nur Mahal (near Jalandhar) Nakodar (Jalandhar) - 'City of Fakirs' - 17th century tombs the tomb of Mohammed Momin - tanpura player of Khan-i-Khanan , one of Akbar's 'Navratnas' The tomb of Haji Jamal And finally ...... A crumbling 'Haveli' in Bassi Pathana (near Sirhind) a reminder of past glories Hope that wasn't too long !! Enjoy ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

"Gujjars" Hitching a free ride from a 'Trolley' Tractors in the shadow of Gurdwara Parivar Vichora 'Kanak di Rakhi' - looking after the ripe crop - note the Lantern - is it a 'Goodmans Lalltan' ? Kids in the 'Kamaadi' - sugarcane 'Tori vala Saag' - Cooling down Gadda races

********* Modern Pictures Cha di Hatti - tea seller Amritsar 'Raffle Donali' - Baran Bore

'Shabeel' - giving water to the thirsty. This photograph is like the iconic picture of Bhai Kanhaiya - with the sewadar giving water from a 'Musk' skin carrier. Teaching Gurbani - an Ustad and students Kneading the dough for 'Parshadey' making 'parshaday' Fanning the Sangat 1973 Kar Sewa of the Sarovar Amritsar 'Jorian di Sewa' Students of the Central Sikh Orphanage Amritsar

Village kitchen Village 'Been Baja' - bagpipers Bhangra 'Kusrey' - the 'entertainment' / gatecrashers at a 1970s wedding http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/4708/88ky7.png A village wedding - note the 'Kanaatan' - coloured marquee / tent - now rarely seen The 'Hal' - ploughing the land Sugar Cane harvest - 'Belna' and 'Gurh' Sewa in the 1960s Bhagat Puran Singh and Piara Singh - the 'Garland' around his neck

A 1920s Mud Village Pre Green revolution Punjab - 1960s a persian wheel - a 'Halt' Rasoi - kitchen Sparse living conditions - with calendars as decor Roof Tops - no TV antennas, satellite dishes, or water 'tankys' in the shape of airplanes or weightlifters ! Cattle market Traffic

A Village Mela Bhangra Lambardaars (numberdar) of Gurm village (Ludhiana) 1920s Lambardaars of Raikot village (Ludhiana) 1920s 'Suhaaga' with 'balld' used to remove large clumps of soil 1920s wrestling match between Sikh and Muslim soldiers The "Great" Gama (1882-1960), also known as Rustam-e-zaman Gama Pahelvan, Pehlwan & undefeated wrestler

Amritsar booksellers Amritsar Shopkeepers 1926 - 'Lode Vele di roti' afternoon meal 1940s - Grinding wheat for flour and Churning Milk Sikh Zamindaars - Sardar Bahadur Jai Singh of Bidowali (Malva) - note the ties and jackets worn with 'salwars' and a Lungi/tamba Sardarni Bachint Kaur of Bodlan (Doaba)

Stereoviews of Amritsar In front of the Akal Takht Amritsar schoolchildren Amritsar street scene Anaglyphs of the stereo images

A 'Sadhu' outside the Harimandir Sahib - 1903 The Harimandir Sahib in 1903 The view from the Baba Atal tower The Darbar Sahib and the Ramgarhia Minars with domes The Darshani Deori and walkway Ragees at the Darbar Sahib with tantee saaj - The photograher Gertrude Bell makes this very 'imperial' comment about the picture - Near Golden Temple. "There were two men outside playing on a sort of lute and singing praises of the Granth, but they can't have been very serious worshippers, for when I stopped to photograph them, I heard them interpolate into the song 'and the Mem Sahib came and took a picture' - all in the same squeaky tune. Perhaps he was telling the Granth about me!" !!!!!!!!!!! Hmmmm Bathers - the Akal Takht can be seen in the distance

Vaheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Vaheguru Ji Ki Fateh ! In the 'Bachitra Natak' ( seventh 'adhiaaie' chapter) Guru Gobind Singh Ji writes of his return to 'Madra Des' - the ancient name for the Punjab - and of being loved, cherished and cared for in the Land of his Ancestors. ਮਦ੍ਰ ਦੇਸ ਹਮ ਕੋ ਲੇ ਆਏ ॥ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਦਾਈਅਨਿ ਦੁਲਰਾਏ ॥੨॥ "Madra des ham ko le ae. Bhant bhant daian dulrae" In this post I have collected some of my favourite images of Punjab - old and new - it is rather image intensive but I hope you will take the time to look at them all , and enjoy them. This post is dedicated to the Three ' Punjabs' - the one in Pakistan, the one in India and the one scattered all over the globe. Lahore - Ranjit Singh's Samadh and the Badshahi Masjid - c.1860 A persian wheel - 'Halt' - Punjab - 1903 A domed bullock cart - 'Gadda' 1903 The GT Road in 1903 A Lahore street scene Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Samadh - Lahore 1903 The 'Bhangian di Tope' - the Zamzama Gun - [Cannon made in Kabul, brought over by Ahmed Shah Abdali and used in the Battle of Panipat. Cast from bronze and copper. Captured by the Bhangi Misl Sardars .Under Ranjit Singh it became the symbol of the Sikh Empire. Made famous by Rudyard Kipling in "Kim"] - Lahore 1903 Women fetching water from a well - 1903 A Sikh village - 1903 - note the 'Kachhe Kote' - mud houses Driving Oxen ('balld')

Gurfateh ! Some interesting pictures Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgarhia - here seated on the left with his sons Jodh Singh and Bir Singh - a Simple but very engaging portrait - by the hand of Purkhu of Kangra c.1780, in the National Museum Collection,New Delhi. * Picture from Piety and Splendour- Sikh Heritage in Art - B N Goswamy - Nat Mus 2000 The 'coronation Slab' from The Muhgal Takht-e-Taus or peacock throne brought from The Red Fort Delhi by Jassa Singh Ramgarhia - when the Sardars walked unchallenged into the Mughal Court - now in the Ramgarhia Bunga Amritsar . It is amazing to think that the orders to Behead Sri Guru Tegh Bahadar Ji were made from that throne and within a hundred years the Khalsa had taken over Delhi and tore down the throne and brought it to Amritsar. A Nishani of the blessing of Guru Sahib that 'Raaj Karega Khalsa' Another portrait of Jassa Singh Ramgarhia - from the Lahore Museum - he is shown on the left with Amar Singh Phulkian (of Patiala) - painted c.1845 enjoy ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Gurfateh ! The quick reply to your question is :- The sarovar is 'almost' square it is 510 feet by 490 feet and is 17 feet deep The Darbar Sahib is 40 feet 4 inches by 40 feet 4 inches - internally the main Darbar is 17 feet by 17 feet. There are 58 small domes on the top floor each on a base 2 feet by 2 feet The walkway is 202 feet 10 inches long and 21 feet wide. The Detailed reply to your question with full dimensions and historic notes (courtesy of P S Arshi's excellent book) is as follows :- **Taken from 'Sikh Architecture' - P S Arshi - IPH - 1986 New Delhi pp 102 - 106 Hope that answers your question ! Gurfateh Ranjit singh 'Freed'

Gurfateh ! Here is a very fine painting of Rustam on his horse Rakhsh, slaying a dragon. Rustam is the Great Hero of the Persian Epic 'Shahnama' - written by Firdaus in around AD 1010. In the painting dated around 1780 - you can see the white elephant of the Shah, which broke loose but was hit with a mace and killed by Rustam when he was just 10 years old. Rustam is shown slaying a dragon, in his hand is a bifurcated sword - perhaps a Zulfikar sword ?, what makes this painting, perhaps a folio from a copy of the 'Shahnama', even more interesting is the presence of an image of Guru Nanak Sahib and perhaps an image of Guru Arjan Sahib. The picture appears in B N Goswamy's book - but he gives no explanation of why the images of the Guru Sahiban, albeit drawn on the folio at a later stage, would appear on a painting of Rustum. I have my own theory, it is just that a personal theory / idea - I believe perhaps this copy of the Shahnama was made for a Sikh. It must be remembered the Guru Sahiban were well versed in Persian - Guru Nanak had a Persian teacher and Guru Gobind Singh was well versed in all the Persian Classics as shown in the Zafarnama and their Bani. Persian was also the Court Language of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. I have been told that Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Baaj (Falcon) was named 'Rustam' - after the Hero of Firdaus' epic 'Shahnama' - taking all that into account perhaps the presence of the image of the Guru Sahiban is not that unusual. What do you think ? - please add your views Enjoy the Pictures Rustum , Folio from Firdaus' 'Shahnama' - Circa 1780 - E India - Samrai Collection. Detail - Guru Nanak Sahib Detail - Guru Arjan Sahib Detail - Rustam The Shah's elephant *Picture from - 'I see no stranger - Early Sikh art and Devotion' - B N Goswamy , Caron Smith - RMA Mapin - 2006 Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

A Kuka A portrait of a Namdhari Sikh - a Kuka by Kapur Singh - late 19th century Note the shaster in the dastar, the lack of buttons on the chola/kurta - just a side opening, and the wollen mala and 'khazana' bag / satchel. Does anyone know what the fan like objects are in the foreground?