mschawla

For Latest discussion by Justice Ajit Singh Bains, Dr. Ujagar Singh Bawa and Dr. P. S. Ajrawat on the the treatment of Sikhs in India, go to http://www.passionfortruthtv.com/431new.html and play. Please give your comments. Thanks

I have seen a lot of posts discussing future plans of movies etc. but no body, it seems, is concerned about the present situation in which Sikhs are in and we do not make a concerted effort to bring our grieviences to the westren democratic countries and their leaders and decision-makers. We should be active in joining letter writting campaigns about different issues. It is very easy to do with e-mails. More people show their concers the world will find out the truth about what happened to Sikhs in the last 20-50 years. So I will urge every body reading this to join in these camapigns and urge others to do so. Thanks for listening.

PETITION TO UN SECRETARY GENERAL http://www.PetitionOnline.com/UN2425/petition.html Although we Sikhs are convinced about the 1984 tragedy as nothing less than a full-scale genocide of Sikhs in India, we realize that a full UN Investigation must take place to categorize it as an act of genocide. Trevor Barnard of London reported on April 24, 2004 that the Sikh Federation (UK) is urging all British Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to support a declaration tabled in the Parliament calling on thenited Nations to mount an investigation to decide whether the slaughter of Indian Sikhs in 1984 should be regarded as genocide. The Sikhs of U.S.A., India and the world should join Sikhs of UK in making an appeal to his Excellency UN Secretary General for a Commission of Truth and Justice under the auspices of the UN. So please sign and spread the word to every body you know through your means to sign this petition. There are total of three Petitions on the web site "www.passionfortruthtv.com". One the above mentioned issue. Other two are issues of US State Department's video on "Terrorism:A War without Borders", where Sikhs were called terrorists and the issue of Sikh turban in France. Please sign all the petitions and spread the word. Thanks. M. S. Chawla Producer "PASSION FOR TRUTH" TV Program "PUNJABI COMMUNITY HOUR" TV Program "PUNJABI COMMUNITY HOUR" Radio Program On the Web Web Pages: www.passionfortruthtv.com www.geocities.com/~mschawla

I was requested by an American (who is doing research on Sikhism and Sikhs) if I would be willing to answer some of his questions. I said sure. So I received a list of questions, which I attach for every body to think and give your responses so that we could provide rational answers so as to portray the best possible, BUT CORRECT, image of Sikhs. So please provide as many responses as you can. thanks. ====================================================== LIST OF QUESTIONS. 1. Can you explain to me what you do in a typical Sikh service? ( and how often a week you attend) 2. How do the Sikhs fit into the modern world today? 3. How do Sikhs see themselves in this culture at this time? 4. What values are important to Sikhs 5. What is your world view? 6. What do Sikhs believe a good person should be? 7. Where do they stand on evil, science, capital punishment, homosexuality, abortion? 8. How do Sikhs judge what is true & good; false and bad?

Since my last post in this forum in the catagory of "Downloads" ( which you can all see) , when I reported that SGPC had not cared to declare 1984 as the THIRD Ghallughara (Holocast) of Sikhs, no response so far has been received from SGPC who was requested again and again for responding. So I am preparing the following appeal and am circulating here for your views as to what should we do. Please give your suggessions. Thanks.=====================================================To: Secretary General United Nations Dear Mr. Secretary General, We the Sikhs of United States of America and the world call on your Excellency for a "Commission of Truth and Justice under the auspices of the UN to comprehensively investigate whether the slaughter to which Indian Sikhs were subjected in 1984 constitutes genocide as defined in the Genocide Convention and the relevant international law".As you know, the golden temple is the holiest of Sikh Shrines. In 1984, the Indian army attacked this shrine killing thousands of innocent children, women and old men pilgrims. Major portions of the complex were destroyed. The Indian army, in addition to the attack on this most important Temple, also attacked simultaneously 31 other Sikh temples throughout the State of Punjab. Again In November of 1984 thousands of Sikhs were killed by the roving mobs with the connivance of the the ruling party leaders of the Indian Government throughout India. These murders were carried out by a systamatic planning by the Government leaders even under the very nose of Indian Government in the Indian Capital, Delhi. All this was carried out with the support of the Government police and law enforcing personnel. All these have been very we ll documented by the American-based Human Rights Watch and the British-based Amnesty International. All this must remind the peaceful and just people of the world that holocast of innmocent people did not end with the jews during the Nazi Germany.Although we Sikhs have been describing the slaughter as genocide, a full UNInvestigation had never taken place. Trevor Barnard of London reported on April 24, 2004 that the Sikh Federation (UK) is urging all British Members of the Euro-pean Parliament (MEPs) to support a declaration tabled in the Parliament calling on theUnited Nations to mount an investigation to decide whether the slaughter of Indian Sikhs in 1984 should be regarded as genocide. The Sikhs of U.S.A. join Sikhs of UK in making an appeal to your Excellency for a Commission of Truth and Justice under the auspices of the UN.Sincerely,

Since my last post when I reported that SGPC had not cared to declare 1984 as the THIRD Ghallughara (Holocast) of Sikhs, no response so far has been received from SGPC who was requested again and again for responding. So I am preparing the following appeal and am circulating here for your views as to what should we do. Please give your suggessions. Thanks. ===================================================== To: Secretary General United Nations Dear Mr. Secretary General, We the Sikhs of United States of America and the world call on your Excellency for a "Commission of Truth and Justice under the auspices of the UN to comprehensively investigate whether the slaughter to which Indian Sikhs were subjected in 1984 constitutes genocide as defined in the Genocide Convention and the relevant international law". As you know, the golden temple is the holiest of Sikh Shrines. In 1984, the Indian army attacked this shrine killing thousands of innocent children, women and old men pilgrims. Major portions of the complex were destroyed. The Indian army, in addition to the attack on this most important Temple, also attacked simultaneously 31 other Sikh temples throughout the State of Punjab. Again In November of 1984 thousands of Sikhs were killed by the roving mobs with the connivance of the the ruling party leaders of the Indian Government throughout India. These murders were carried out by a systamatic planning by the Government leaders even under the very nose of Indian Government in the Indian Capital, Delhi. All this was carried out with the support of the Government police and law enforcing personnel. All these have been very well documented by the American-based Human Rights Watch and the British-based Amnesty International. All this must remind the peaceful and just people of the world that holocast of innmocent people did not end with the jews during the Nazi Germany. Although we Sikhs have been describing the slaughter as genocide, a full UN Investigation had never taken place. Trevor Barnard of London reported on April 24, 2004 that the Sikh Federation (UK) is urging all British Members of the Euro-pean Parliament (MEPs) to support a declaration tabled in the Parliament calling on the United Nations to mount an investigation to decide whether the slaughter of Indian Sikhs in 1984 should be regarded as genocide. The Sikhs of U.S.A. join Sikhs of UK in making an appeal to your Excellency for a Commission of Truth and Justice under the auspices of the UN. Sincerely,

I just read about recent World Sikh Council’s Chairman Kuldeep Singh Open Letter of February 12, 2004 to U.S. Senator John Kerry expressing appreciation for his apology and asking for a meeting to continue dialog expressing shock on his comment of January 31, 2004 linking Sikhs with terrorism. But then he appreciated his response of February 6, 2004, and called it as positive and said that response reflects his thoughtfulness and statesmanship. The question is "Are the Sikhs in USA satisfied with Kerry's remarks of February 6, 2004?” In the next paragraph Chairman Kuldeep Singh said that Sikhs were having a peaceful struggle for redeeming their distinct national status, but were subjected to India's state terrorism and anti-Sikh media blitz. Thousands of Sikhs -- men, women, and children -- were massacred during this official reign of terror in the 1980's and 1990's. Repeated appeals for transparency, accountability, and restitution were ignored and relegated to "a cry in the wilderness." This was amply documented in many fact-finding reports by human rights organizations and independent observers, both in India and abroad. He then expressed his desire to meet with him soon, at a place and time convenient to him, for further dialogue on this matter. I have no question about this letter except that we should have expressed our dissatisfaction with his response of February 6,2004 clearly and then requested a meeting with him. As I understand that World Sikh Council - America Region, based in Columbus, Ohio, claiming a representative body of Sikh institutions in America, 28 gurdwaras and 8 organizations (including SMART and Sikh Coalition), working under the patronage of Akal Takht. What I am saying is: (1) Sikhs do make history, but do not write history. Others than Sikhs are writing the history of 1984. (2) For the last 20 years we have suffered because of the timidity of our Sikh leaders of not being bold enough to challenge the history being written by others. They have been calling Sikhs as terrorists and have been successful in convincing the whole world including USA that Sikhs were terrorists in 1984 instead of a Sikh holocaust in 1984. The proof is clear that US State department made a video “Terrorism: A War without Borders” in which it called Sikhs, in 1984 Golden Temple attack segment, as terrorists. (3) During the last 20 years we Sikhs and our leadership should have declared 1984 happenings as a third (3 rd) Sikh holocaust (Ghallughara) to be written in history. If we had declared it quickly the western countries would not have taken the word of then Government. (4) An eminent and most reliable person, like Justice (Retd.) Ranjit Singh Narula, Chief Judge, in Punjab & Haryana High Court, used the correct word, Ghalughara, for the tragic events of 1984 in his article in ” The Sikh Review” magazine. (5) I wrote an article on declaring 1984 as 3 rd Holocaust of Sikhs and it was also published in “The Sikh Review’ magazine Of August 2002. (6) I have been requesting SGPC to declare 1984 as 3-rd holocaust (Ghallughara) in SGPC’s list of “EVENTS THAT SHAPED THE SIKH HISTORY”. In spite of repeated requests to SGPC there is no response from our highest Sikh body. (7) If World Sikh Council – American Region claims to have a patronage of Akal Takhat, it should first force our own Akal Takhat and SGPC to declare 1984 as a third holocaust of Sikhs. Only then we will have any leg to persuade others and USA government to correct its past mistakes. (8) Finally I request everybody, reading this, must write to Akal Takhat and SGPC to declare immediately 1984 as a year of Sikh Third Holocast (Ghallughara).

I just read about recent World Sikh Council’s Chairman Kuldeep Singh Open Letter of February 12, 2004 to U.S. Senator John Kerry expressing appreciation for his apology and asking for a meeting to continue dialog expressing shock on his comment of January 31, 2004 linking Sikhs with terrorism. But then he appreciated his response of February 6, 2004, and called it as positive and said that response reflects his thoughtfulness and statesmanship. The question is "Are the Sikhs in USA satisfied with Kerry's remarks of February 6, 2004?” In the next paragraph Chairman Kuldeep Singh said that Sikhs were having a peaceful struggle for redeeming their distinct national status, but were subjected to India's state terrorism and anti-Sikh media blitz. Thousands of Sikhs -- men, women, and children -- were massacred during this official reign of terror in the 1980's and 1990's. Repeated appeals for transparency, accountability, and restitution were ignored and relegated to "a cry in the wilderness." This was amply documented in many fact-finding reports by human rights organizations and independent observers, both in India and abroad. He then expressed his desire to meet with him soon, at a place and time convenient to him, for further dialogue on this matter. I have no question about this letter except that we should have expressed our dissatisfaction with his response of February 6,2004 clearly and then requested a meeting with him. As I understand that World Sikh Council - America Region, based in Columbus, Ohio, claiming a representative body of Sikh institutions in America, 28 gurdwaras and 8 organizations (including SMART and Sikh Coalition), working under the patronage of Akal Takht. What I am saying is: (1) Sikhs do make history, but do not write history. Others than Sikhs are writing the history of 1984. (2) For the last 20 years we have suffered because of the timidity of our Sikh leaders of not being bold enough to challenge the history being written by others. They have been calling Sikhs as terrorists and have been successful in convincing the whole world including USA that Sikhs were terrorists in 1984 instead of a Sikh holocaust in 1984. The proof is clear that US State department made a video “Terrorism: A War without Borders” in which it called Sikhs, in 1984 Golden Temple attack segment, as terrorists. (3) During the last 20 years we Sikhs and our leadership should have declared 1984 happenings as a third (3 rd) Sikh holocaust (Ghallughara) to be written in history. If we had declared it quickly the western countries would not have taken the word of then Government. (4) An eminent and most reliable person, like Justice (Retd.) Ranjit Singh Narula, Chief Judge, in Punjab & Haryana High Court, used the correct word, Ghalughara, for the tragic events of 1984 in his article in ” The Sikh Review” magazine. (5) I wrote an article on declaring 1984 as 3 rd Holocaust of Sikhs and it was also published in “The Sikh Review’ magazine Of August 2002. (6) I have been requesting SGPC to declare 1984 as 3-rd holocaust (Ghallughara) in SGPC’s list of “EVENTS THAT SHAPED THE SIKH HISTORY”. In spite of repeated requests to SGPC there is no response from our highest Sikh body. (7) If World Sikh Council – American Region claims to have a patronage of Akal Takhat, it should first force our own Akal Takhat and SGPC to declare 1984 as a third holocaust of Sikhs. Only then we will have any leg to persuade others and USA government to correct its past mistakes. (8) Finally I request everybody, reading this, must write to Akal Takhat and SGPC to declare immediately 1984 as a year of Sikh Third Holocast (Ghallughara).

I just read about recent World Sikh Council’s Chairman Kuldeep Singh Open Letter of February 12, 2004 to U.S. Senator John Kerry expressing appreciation for his apology and asking for a meeting to continue dialog expressing shock on his comment of January 31, 2004 linking Sikhs with terrorism. But then he appreciated his response of February 6, 2004, and called it as positive and said that response reflects his thoughtfulness and statesmanship. The question is "Are the Sikhs in USA satisfied with Kerry's remarks of February 6, 2004?” In the next paragraph Chairman Kuldeep Singh said that Sikhs were having a peaceful struggle for redeeming their distinct national status, but were subjected to India's state terrorism and anti-Sikh media blitz. Thousands of Sikhs -- men, women, and children -- were massacred during this official reign of terror in the 1980's and 1990's. Repeated appeals for transparency, accountability, and restitution were ignored and relegated to "a cry in the wilderness." This was amply documented in many fact-finding reports by human rights organizations and independent observers, both in India and abroad. He then expressed his desire to meet with him soon, at a place and time convenient to him, for further dialogue on this matter. I have no question about this letter except that we should have expressed our dissatisfaction with his response of February 6,2004 clearly and then requested a meeting with him. As I understand that World Sikh Council - America Region, based in Columbus, Ohio, claiming a representative body of Sikh institutions in America, 28 gurdwaras and 8 organizations (including SMART and Sikh Coalition), working under the patr onage of Akal Takht. What I am saying is: (1) Sikhs do make history, but do not write history. Others than Sikhs are writing the history of 1984. (2) For the last 20 years we have suffered because of the timidity of our Sikh leaders of not being bold enough to challenge the history being written by others. They have been calling Sikhs as terrorists and have been successful in convincing the whole world including USA that Sikhs were terrorists in 1984 instead of a Sikh holocaust in 1984. The proof is clear that US State department made a video “Terrorism: A War without Borders” in which it called Sikhs, in 1984 Golden Temple attack segment, as terrorists. (3) During the last 20 years we Sikhs and our leadership should have declared 1984 happenings as a third (3 rd) Sikh holocaust (Ghallughara) to be written in history. If we had declared it quickly the western countries would not have taken the word of then Government. (4) An eminent and most reliable person, like Justice (Retd.) Ranjit Singh Narula, Chief Judge, in Punjab & Haryana High Court, used the correct word, Ghalughara, for the tragic events of 1984 in his article in ” The Sikh Review” magazine. (5) I wrote an article on declaring 1984 as 3 rd Holocaust of Sikhs and it was also published in “The Sikh Review’ magazine Of August 2002. (6) I have been requesting SGPC to declare 1984 as 3-rd holocaust (Ghallughara) in SGPC’s list of “EVENTS THAT SHAPED THE SIKH HISTORY”. In spite of repeated requests to SGPC there is no response from our highest Sikh body. (7) If World Sikh Council – American Region claims to have a patronage of Akal Takhat, it should first force our own Akal Takhat and SGPC to declare 1984 as a third holocaust of Sikhs. Only then we will have any leg to persuade others and USA government to correct its past mistakes. (8) Finally I request everybody, reading this, must write to Akal Takhat and SGPC to declare immediately 1984 as a year of Sikh Third Holocast (Ghallughara).

Go to "www.passionfortruthtv.com" and click on link "Passion For Truth TV" and you will see lot of TV programs. Pick and click under the heading "Down Load and Run", Similarly there is an other link "Punjabi Community Hour TV". You can do the same thing. Thanks. Please send comments to "mschawla@hotmail.com". there

Thank you very much for supporting the petition drive to President Bush. With your help we hope to appeal vigorously the White House to withdrw the State Dept. video. Lot of people asked us if this topic was discussed on the TV program. May be you can put this information on your resources that : Yes we did TV programs on "State Department's Goofup" and also on "The French Law", where American viewpoint was also presented the American panelists. One can view both of these programs on our web site www.passionfortruthtv.com and clicking link to Passion For Truth TV. For any problem one can contact us at mschawla@hotmail.com. Thanks.

Let us keep our focus on actions instead of just letting our hurt and anger out. So I hope that every body, who participate in these discussions, also write an e-mail or letters to SGPC requesting him to take further action to declare 1984 a 3rd Ghallughara (Holocast). The information on the article on 3rd. ghallughara is available on the web site "www.passionfortruthtv.com".

Let us keep our focus on actions instead of just letting our hurt and anger out. So I hope that every body, who participate in these discussions, also: (1) sign the petition to President Bush avilable at our web site "www.passionfortruthtv.com", (2) write an e-mail or letters to Senator Kerry campaign requesting him to take further action to clarify his stand. We should also include in our e-mails/letters the reasons for our arguments, but no anger. (3)Since President Bush and Democratic nominee, Senator Kerry, are going to have debates on verious issues, we should, somehow, get our issue of "USA TOTALLY DEPENDING SOLELY ON THE MIS-INFORMATION (SUPPLIED BY FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE COUNTRIES WHERE THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA IS COMPLETELY CONTROLLED BY GOVERNMENT AND WHERE ALL THE MINORITIES (SIKHS, MUSLIMS AND EVEN CHRISTIANS ARE KILLED SYSTEMATICALLY BY MOBS WITH THE CONNIVANCE THE GOVERNMENT LEADERS)" be introduced. All the three actions are assential. But for item 3 I would like to have suggetions from you all. We have discussed this issue on our TV programs quite often. Some of those programs can be viewed on our web site.

I tend to agree quite a bit (but not completely) with the arguments presented by Cali Khalsa. We have to be pregmatic instead of full of emotions. I agree that we are hurt quite a bit and emotions do play a role in our lives. I like Cali Khalsa 's approach pf quietly working behind the scenes to modify Kerry's thinking by presenting him with the facts as we know them convincing him about the trecherous role of supplying mis-information and aboslute lies by the Indian Government. Cali Khalsa's approach should be accepted and appreciated so long it can and achieve the ultimate goal of convincing the leaders about the truth so that they can take necessary action not to malign Sikhs in USA.

I appreciate all the comments. Let us also keep on sending e-mails to SGPC to take quick action on this subject. Thanks.