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Some exceptional excerpts from a rare interview with Baba Gurbachan Singh Ji Manochahl (BTFK):- Q. Is there any hope of the militants joining Akali leaders? A. Frankly Akali Dal leaders are irrelevant and most of them want the militants to be exterminated. Those who speak for us, do it only out of for fear of the bullet. Q. But Simranjit Singh Mann has been speaking for the militants. A. Mann is mentally bankrupt and keeps contradicting himself, which could be due to his torture in jail. I have met him and I have been disappointed. His bankruptcy is indicated by the people in his group. One of them sells opium and another used to refer to Sant Bhindranwale as a Chambal dacoit and Congress(I) agent. Yet Mann claims to uphold the ideals of Sant Bhindranwale. He thinks no end of himself just because he spent four years in jail. Read more at: https://tisarpanthdotcom.wordpress.com/2016/11/05/from-the-killing-fields/

Are there any good Shastar makers out there who produce high quality products, at a reasonable rate, and also deliver overseas? If so, please post their details here. Thank you very much.

Was the radical Hindu plan to march or expose the Sikh youth ~ intelligence agencies having a field day after yesterday's events Having recorded the faces of those who gathered at Beas to face down the fascist radical Shiv Sena and its threat to march through Panjab, the Panjab police has today begun arresting young Sikhs under false charges and cases. According to latest news reports, Panjab Police yesterday arrested two Sikhs; Arvinder Singh (alias Mitha Singh) from the village of Pallia Khurd near Rahon in Nawanshahar and Mandeep Singh from Jagraon. According to police, the two men supposedly belong to the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and they further allege they were preparing to target different dera (cult) heads, retired top-ranking police officers, and activists of fanatical Hindu organisations. In the past few months, Mandeep Singh who lives in Canada, had returned to India and Arvinder Singh had arrived from Doha in Qatar, where he works. But investigators have also admitted that both men travelled on valid documents and have no history or involvement in any crime. As the police story goes, "Arvinder and Mandeep Singh were further luring Sikh youths with a clean image and no criminal record to fox the security agencies and to launch strikes. Furthermore, police teams are now conducting raids at different places to arrest other members of these 'sleeper cells'. However, experience shows that Panjab police work hand in glove with political agents and these type of arrests and subsequent fabricated charges, are designed by people from 'high above' and used to threaten and terrorise the innocent. The Sikh Relief team are closely following these latest arrests and for further updates see their page at Sikh Relief.

How and why Islamic ideology is the fuel behind ISIS. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-abbas/think-isis-are-not-islami_b_8608048.html

9 days before Malcolm X was assassinated, he made a solidarity visit to the streets of one of England's largest and oldest Sikh communities: Smethwick. Whilst different areas of Birmingham always housed different immigrant groups it was always only Smethwick that had a Sikh majority. Things in Smethwick however, were far from rosy. Racism against the Sikhs was so fierce and mainstream that a local Sikh, Avtar Singh Johal, asked Malcolm X to come and visit and, help. To his credit, he came. He could have shown solidarity with many black areas or Muslim areas but it was to this Sikh area that he came and when he came, he said what he had seen there was worse than what was happening in America. The day Malcolm X came to visit:

Please send us any program information and posters, our aim is UNITY and EKTA in the panth. Make the Sangat aware of events/programs in your area. ?? Great intermediary page to promote ekta and keep up with the latest events and programs. Updated video and image content daily. Please follow uk Sikhs on Instagram and Facebook

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sikh-community-syrian-refugees-1.3330872Khalsa Jee, why do I feel that its not such a great idea to send them to the Khalsa Schools?

Scamgress/Khangress PM Rajiv Gandhi justifying massacre of our Sikh brothers HS Phoolka & BJP Leader R P Singh releases video of Rajiv Gandhi justifying 1984 riots. The video is nearly 31 years old in which Rajiv Gandhi is seen saying 'Bdaa ped girta hai toh Dharti toh hilegi hi' after riots of 1984 which took place after Indira Gandhi's assassination.

Lots of Sikhs and non-Sikhs ate tweetings #Sikhlivesmatter hashtag on twitter bascially give a 1 finger salute to british/western mainstream media for not covering the killings of peaceful protesters in india.

Apologies if someone is wondering why I start topics in this section of the site. I don't consider myself an intellectual in any form; too much of a pendu for that, lol. Anyway, are there any books which look at Sikh history in the 20th century in reference to our experiences in India, preferably 1947 to the 1990's? Basically, how we've been treated by the Indian government as a collective, not just individual experiences on a local level? Are there such books?

MUST READ Part I PART II of II Sept. 20, 2015: During his visit to Anandpur, the city was under attack by an alliance of Rajputs and Moghuls. Kalgidhar Pathshah Ji asked Bhai Ji to do water seva because he had been undertaking water seva for so long, for the Sikhs fighting in the battle. Bhai Ji happily agreed to comply with His Hukam. Bhai Ji, wearing white robes, was often seen with a mashak (a water pouch) in the battle field, serving water to wounded soldiers without any discrimination. It was amazing that due to Bhai Ji's spiritual state, he had easy access to frontiers of all warring factions. He would fearlessly continue his seva while arrows were flying and swords were being swung at each other, and where bloodshed, violence, and hatred was the order of the day. However, in that battle, Bhai Ji with his love and compassion, pour water into the mouths of the wounded, bless them with his hand on their head, and heal the fallen and wounded soldiers, who would then rise and resume battle. His acts of compassion inevitably stirred up doubts and criticism among some Sikhs who were unable to comprehend the ways of a Brahmgyani, like Bhai Ji. They judged him from his outwardly conduct and were outraged with his conduct. They complained about this to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj saying he was a traitor even though Maharaj Ji said he was a blessed Sikh. They said, he eats and lives with us, but gives water to the enemy and that he claims to be a Sikh despite his friendship with the enemy as he was helping the enemies heal so that they could get up and attack the Khalsa again. They also said that they tried to stop Bhai Kanhaiya Ji several times from giving water to others, but that he would not stop. Maharaj Ji called for Bhai Ji and told him that his fellow Sikhs were complaining about him and asked him to respond. Bhai Ji humbly stated that as mortal always sin, however, he never gave water to the enemy. Guru Ji enquired from Bhai Sahib about that, to which Bhai Ji replied "I see you alone, my master in every person, I cannot distinguish between the Turks , the Sikhs and You." The Sikhs got angry and told Guru Ji that Bhai Ji was lying. They said that yesterday, in a skirmish, they severely injured a Mughal commander Noori Shah, an associate of Wazir Khan, left him there thinking him to be dead. However, last night, he regained consciousness and loudly asked for water, which Bhai Ji immediately obliged. He also took Noori Shah to the Mughal camp and treated him for his wounds. Guru Ji smilingly asked him whether he gave water to the Mughals, which Bhai Ji denied. Then, He asked whether he gave water to the Pahari Hindus, which Bhai Ji denied. Again, He asked whether he gave water to the Sikhs, which Bhai Ji also denied. The omniscient Guru continued with His divine game, and asked whether he was even doing His assigned seva. Bhai Ji replied that, in the battlefield he is serving water, but he did not see Sikhs, Mughals or Hindus, but that he just saw his omnipresent Satguru Patshah. He said how can one who is smitten with your love, see someone else anywhere and then therefore not give water to those in whom you live. He said he was just giving water to his Satguru Patshah. Some of the Singhs got angry at this untenable explanation in their opinion, and went for their swords, asking Guru Ji's permission to punish Bhai Ji. But, Guru Ji told the Sikhs to look into Bhai Ji's eyes. When they gazed closely into his eyes, they saw Guru Ji's reflection. This was proof that Bhai Ji indeed saw Guru Ji's everywhere, and that he was telling the truth. Guru Ji explained what it meant to be a blessed Sikh, and dispelled doubts of Sikhs that Guru Ji was just defending his favorite Sikh. Sri Dashmesh Pita Ji, smilingly looked at his Sikhs and pointed to Bhai Kanhaiya Ji, saying that he understood the deeper message of the Gurus' teachings correctly and that they all should strive to learn to live like him. Guru Ji told them to let him carry on with his mission. He said that many more will follow in his footsteps and keep the tradition of Nishkam sewa alive. Maharaj Ji declared that Bhai Sahib was my real follower, i.e., a true Sikh, treading the Divine Path as a Gurmukh. Maharaj Ji said that Bhai Ji made his life a living example of Gurbani because Sikhi is meant to be a spiritually experiential way of living. Guru Ji then reminded the Sikhs of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji' Maharaj Ji's Shabad in which He said that He had totally forgotten His jealousy of others, since He had found the Saadh Sangat. He said that no one was his enemy or stranger, and that He got along with everyone. He accepted Waheguru's will as good, which was the sublime wisdom He had obtained from omnipresent Waheguru. Thus, the great Guru spoke to the narrow-minded Sikh soldiers to fight in the battlefield, only to uphold the divine cause rather than fight with ill will, anger, and hatred because such a fight would not lead them to the path of the divine. The 10th Nanak also told the Sikhs that Bhai Ji has adopted the rehat of five elements of human composition: pure and cleansing water which washes filth of others, indiscriminant fire that gives warmth to all, air and earth which treat everything equally, even if someone has dug into the earth or decorated it, and the sky which is so wide and inclusive as it covers the whole earth. Satguru Maharaj Ji took him in embrace and took balm from his pocket and gave it to him, and told him to put balm on the wounded also when serving water; and put his Own stamp of approval on Bhai Ji's seva. After the end of Battle, Guru Kalgidhar Patshah asked Bhai Ji to go back to his home town, Sodhara, and with His grace, continue his seva and simaran. One of the key teachings Bhai ji used to emphasize was that a Sikh must be compassionate by nature, and if he should see someone in any difficult situation, he should pray for his emancipation and divine grace. The first fallen Mughal soldier who was healed by Bhai Ji was so touched by Bhai Ji's seva that after the war ended, he came to Bhai Ji. Bhai Ji was in trance on the bank of a nearby river. After Bhai Ji opened his eyes, the former soldier paid respect and offered him an expensive jewel. Bhai Ji smiled said these stones are not useful for him and threw it into the river. This made the him upset, and he asked Bhai Ji to give it back to him. Bhai Ji looked at the river, which immediately split into two. From the middle arose a sand spot with so many jewels. Bhai Ji asked him to take his jewel back. Bhai Ji lived 70 years full of contentment, love and compassion. He preached unity of humankind and God. His Gnostic life epitomized all the values of Gurbani such as Naam Simaran, service, obedience and surrender to Guru's will, renunciation, bliss, and divine grace. His journey was long and arduous. He is credited with the founding of the seva panthi or adanshahi sampradya. One day, in his pleasure, he patted his main sevadaar, Seva Ram, and expressed his appreciation of his seva and simaran. Bhai Ji told him that since he passed all the tests, he should take charge of seva and spread naam as ordained by Guru Maharaj. Nearing his time to go to the eternal place of Waheguru, on one bright morning, he discussed death and after death rituals with the sangat. During the discussion, it was mentioned that there either is the option of cremation or burial followed by extensive rituals. Bhai Ji, also added that holy people always live in transcendent state, and shed their body as a snake casts off his skin. Crossing all limits of humility, Bhai Ji then said that as poor people we cannot afford funeral expenses, if one of us had to leave this world as divinely ordained, it would be better to submerge one's body in running water. He said that it would be good for aquatic creatures. The sangat did not catch the clue, and thought it was a general sermon. That same evening, he came in the sangat as usual and sat with the support of wall. Exegeses were told and minstrels were reciting Gurbani. Usually, at a set time, Bhai Ji would signal them to stop. However, Bhai ji did not signal them this time. Everyone was exhausted. A sevadar went up to him to check on him and found his body motionless, and discovered that he had left his mortal body and went to his beloved's place, Sachkhand. The distraught and shocked sangat now understood the mystery of Bhai Ji's parable about death and after rituals. As per Bhai Ji's wish, the sangat submerged his body in a running stream nearby. As the news spread, Bhai Ji's family received news about his departure. They saddened by his passing and lamented for being unable to conduct traditional funeral activities. They hired divers to find his mortal remains within 18 miles of the river, but could not locate anything. In the entirety of the cosmos, Bhai Ji saw the only One, and eliminated all intellectual barriers. He overcame mind's fickleness and did not see the duality. His life exemplified that in the game of Love there is no duality and judgment; there is no victory or defeat, no enemy or friend, no loss or benefit, no hatred or attachment, and therefore no discrimination. His life proved that so long as mind control one's existence, there are going to be artificial barriers within humanity, therefore no justice. The mind cannot see all as equals with the omnipresent Light because it invariably studies, contemplates, and reinforces duality. Only Guru's grace in the form of Brahamgyan can illuminate the mind and erase roots of darkness, then one can see omnipresent Waheguru Akaalpurakh in his creation, and Bhai Ji's exemplified the same. Only those who are immersed in Naam and enlightened with the Guru's Grace, like Bhai Ji, who are holy and pure, have the capacity to be just because they see the cosmos in their own form and vice-versa. Only they can see HIM in both sargun and nirgun form in all, and give limitless space and love to everyone in their heart, therefore clairvoyantly can engage in the eternal salvation of human beings. Bhai Sahib Bhai Kanhaiya Ji, paved the way for the salvation of many others. His name and conduct will remain in eternity.

guys i just found this http://sikhsiyasat.net/2015/09/14/sikh-youth-summit-on-capitol-hill-brings-government-awareness-to-sikh-issues/ can they do this to us i love to hear from you guys

The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050 Why Muslims Are Rising Fastest and the Unaffiliated Are Shrinking as a Share of the World’s Population The religious profile of the world is rapidly changing, driven primarily by differences in fertility rates and the size of youth populations among the world’s major religions, as well as by people switching faiths. Over the next four decades, Christians will remain the largest religious group, but Islam will grow faster than any other major religion. If current trends continue, by 2050 … The number of Muslims will nearly equal the number of Christians around the world. Atheists, agnostics and other people who do not affiliate with any religion – though increasing in countries such as the United States and France – will make up a declining share of the world’s total population. The global Buddhist population will be about the same size it was in 2010, while the Hindu and Jewish populations will be larger than they are today. In Europe, Muslims will make up 10% of the overall population. India will retain a Hindu majority but also will have the largest Muslim population of any country in the world, surpassing Indonesia. In the United States, Christians will decline from more than three-quarters of the population in 2010 to two-thirds in 2050, and Judaism will no longer be the largest non-Christian religion. Muslims will be more numerous in the U.S. than people who identify as Jewish on the basis of religion. Four out of every 10 Christians in the world will live in sub-Saharan Africa. These are among the global religious trends highlighted in new demographic projections by the Pew Research Center. The projections take into account the current size and geographic distribution of the world’s major religions, age differences, fertility and mortality rates, international migration and patterns in conversion. Globally, Islam is the fastest growing religion in terms population growth, including net gains from conversions. Out of all the major religions studied in the research, Islam is projected to gain the most "net" conversions. And all other religions combined – an umbrella category that includes Baha’is, Jains, Sikhs, Taoists and many smaller faiths – are projected to increase 6%, from a total of approximately 58 million to more than 61 million over the same period. Complete Report: http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/religious-projections-2010-2050/ =================== From the report, the entire "Other religions" block will increase by only 3 million, which means that for next 35 years, Sikhs will increase by--at best--1 million or so. This is very disheartening. There are lots of stupid, irrelevant threads on Muslims on this forum. But if there's one thing we should talk about when it comes to Muslims--it is this: Islamic discipline. Muslims are a global people and a global civilization (only one of the two global civilizations to have ever established by human race). They have huge resources, massive power, tens of nation-states, their own militaries, nuclear forces, global corporations, and large diasporas etc, with history of staying global superpowers of centuries and centuries. But they act and preserve themselves as if they are a "nascent religion" that can become extinct or something. They always spread their religion, culture, and civilization globally (even in West now!). Muslims, out of all the people existing on planet Earth, preserve and practice their culture/religion with most sincerity, discipline, and pride. Their girls are extremely loyal to their faith. International scientific studies have shown, consistently, that Muslims are least likely to engage in pre-marial sex, reject things like gay marriage most ferociously amongst all peoples, are least consumers of Alcohol, drugs are punishable by death!, and Muslims as a whole stick to their culture and civilization most ardently--and expand it globally when they move/migrate to far corners of Earth! Pew's survey (Portrait of American Muslims) in 2009 showed the 59% of Muslim girls in the United States observe Hijab "Often or all the times." Quite inspiring! And that's in the United States out of all places! Imagine the sincerity and dedicate Muslims (especially Muslim girls) have globally within their Islamic nations! While we Sikhs are a people with no state, no military, extremely small size, very few in numbers and so on--and yet we act as if we are big guns in world and make no effort to preserve (let alone spread) our religion/culture/way of life. Our apnay log are doing intermixing, inter-faith marriages, drugs, alcohol in punjab, just hedonism and fun...and lack of traditional moral code where getting married and having a family is considered a great thing. Lack of discipline has causing our already small community to shrink even further. Its mind boggling. Muslims should be "relaxed" and should enjoy their lives..while Sikhs should be disciplined and work to spread their culture. But its opposite! Our Sangat can learn a thing or two---even from those who aren't a "model" to follow in many other aspects.

I have heard some people say Sikhism is a mixture of Hinduism or that alot of the beliefs come from Hinduism. As I have not done extensive study on this I am not able to make a judgment. But what are the facts on this?

I have noticed that of all the South Asian communities in the UK The Sikhs are one of the most whitified communities. Many of the girls think they are some rock punk chicks so to speak and the boys think they are they are some cockney geezers. init mate! London Town! lolThey even act white or even black if you come from the endz. But on a serious note why do many Sikhs act white. They have even changed their names to English names . Are Sikhs losing their identity, religion and culture? Why cant Sikhs just be Sikhs? I think alot of this is down to the mass media ie telvision, music, popular culture which is corrupting the young minds of Sikhs and making them confused. We need to get our sikh youth off their televisions where they are being brainwashed into the western culture of going down the pub having 20 affairs and having kids with 3 different men. ect

I often wondered why do Christian fundamentalists want to convert Sikhs when our numbers are not even that big compared to other world religions. I used to think it was only the Muslims that wanted to convert our people, yet there is growing evidence there is a serious push by Christian leadership to do the same. We don't have anything against Christians or their faith we do not actively try to convert them they chose to come into sikhi by their own research and initiative. There are no support networks for new converts to Sikhism even thats how crap our current missionary status is. yet for some reason the backward ideologue Christians are hell bent on trying to poison impressionable and naive punjabi Sikhs into their abrahmic faith. What is it about our faith and the geo-political agenda of Christian leadership in controlling the punjabi population and indian punjab? Because we should all know by how the western world operates it funds groups to destabilise regions around the world for their own economic and political reasons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdTBIfMWYDg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfMqKqY7jGw

Waheguru From: http://dailysikhupdates.com/uk-sikhs-establish-first-ever-parcharak-school-for-sikhs/ Sangat ji, *New Parcharik School – by Basics of Sikhi* Starting from End June 2015-* In our search for parcharaks we found many people saying, “I would do parchar if I knew more about Sikhi”. Since not everyone is able to go to India to learn Sikhi, Basics of Sikhi is setting up a Parcharik School in the UK to train-up people who want to become parchariks. This will be a full-time 6 month course and we are hiring a full-time tutor to teach it. He is a native British Sikh who has spent many years learning in India from some of the best renowned traditional school. The school will be near Birmingham and its likely to be residential, ie students will be living at studying at the school for 6 months at a time. Students from America, Canada and Europe are welcome but majority of teaching will be in English or Punjabi. At the end of the training programme, given progress and ability to teach as well as willingness, there is likely to be a job offer for students to join Basics of Sikhi. Ideal Entry requirements • Amritdhari and Keeping Rehit • Enthusiasm for sikhi parchaar • Have taken opportunities to do parchaar • General life experience • Good familiarity of BoS content • Healthy, able to sit on the floor for long periods of time • Happy to prepare food, clean and maintain house • Charismatic, be able to engage with general public Desirable • To be able to read Gurmukhi • Speak basic Punjabi If you are interested or know anyone who is, please get them to apply with a CV and covering letter to info@everything13.org

Sat Sri Akal Sangat, Here I am to discuss a very important issue, Most of you must have gone through the answers to the question "What is the funniest sardar joke you've heard?" on www.quora.com. I had also gone through and I felt bad, as a huge social platform like quora was being used to shame Sikhs. Some people may say , it is "fun", but targeting a particular religion in public like this is not acceptable. Anyway, I happened to edit the question(which Quora allows). However, the person who had posted the question reframed it to the same again; I edited it again and this process continued for sometime. After that I mailed quora-moderation to take action against this question. The other person must have also mailed them to check why someone (me, I was anonymous) repeatedly editing the question. I did get a message from quora saying that it is not okay to edit any question in this way, also, Quora removed all the joke answers from the question. But still the question is there; the moderation team has reframed it to "What are some Sardar Jokes?". It has also mentioned some strict guidelines which the answers, if any, must adhere to. Two or three new answers(jokes)had been posted but they were removed as they didn't meet the guidelines. Although Quora will be strictly observing the joke answers now, and would remove them if they are actually demeaning the religion, but still, I feel that the presence of the question itself is unacceptable. Why should such a question be allowed on a big social platform like Quora, which is meant for knowledge and awareness sharing? Here is the link to the reframed question : http://www.quora.com/What-are-some-Sardar-jokes All the members here, I would request you to go to this link and downvote and report this question. If a sufficient number of downvotes is reached, Quora will be forced to remove it. Also please write a formal email to this email id : tatiana@moderation.quora.com, explaining that this question is hurting religious sentiments and should be removed. ] Please show unity and do this ! Thank You :-)

So, I've been watching the trailers for the new Hollywood rom/com 'Learning to Drive' due to be released late this summer. Ben Kingsley's the lead and he plays a Sikh driving instructor. From what I can see from the trailers, this movie might just do an amazing job of showing the mainstream population what normal, wonderfull people we are and how amazing our religion is. Not really into rom/coms so can't say I'm looking forward to seeing it, but I am looking forward to the inevitable favourable reaction towards Sikhs that will come with it. Here's a trailer:

sat sri akal to all , this is my first topic here, though i was silent reader of this forum for the past 2 yrs. i have seen many muslims (pakistanis to be precise) saying things like sikhs killed many muslims, raped women and did a hell lot of bad things to the muslims during partition. They spread a lot of hate against us on social networking sites , blaming us for the partition violence . I know we did attack them , but was our retaliation that extreme? most of the sikhs simply keep mum on this issue and don't reply them back. i want to know our sangat's view on this.

A Tale of Changing Faiths: Amritsar, Punjab: Majha region of North Punjab (India) is a traditional Sikh-Akali belt. It has the history of protecting Sikhism and Harimandir Sahib from the onslaughts of the invading traders. Sikhs under Baba Gurbakash Singh, Baba Deep Singh and Baba Naudh Singh are known to have laid down their lives along with their fellow Sikhs showing heroic deeds against the invaders on Sri Harmandir Sahib. Every driver bows and stops at the Samadhi of Baba Naudh Singh on Amritsar-Tarantarn road. Bowing my head too, I pointed to S. Balwant Singh (name changed): Me: ‘This is the most revered place in my heart only next to Sri Harmandir Sahib since the Sikhs laid down their lives fighting to protect Sri Harmandir Sahib”. Balwant: “Should have been certainly so”; his half-hearted answer perplexed me. Me: I remarked, “You appear to be thinking otherwise!” Balwant: “No, No not so as you think, but it is not the same now” His reply was equally surprising. Me: “Why so?” Balwant: “The places of sacrifices of the martyred Sikhs have now been converted into money-spinners by Babas…. Seven Dera like gurdwaras have come up within these six-seven kilometres within a span of three-four years.” He said what he has been watching daily since all these Deras are very close to his Home. Me: “How come this sudden build up?” I was feeling quite hurt. Balwant: “Seeing one another benefitting, they sprang up. The most earnings are in Tahla Sahib. The most respected is the Dera Gillwali where even the most influential family of Punjab makes monthly visits, and people approach for getting their problems from administration solved.” His reply led me to further enquiry: Me: “Where is that Dera?” He explained: Balwant: “while coming from Sri Amritsar, you saw the widened double highway ending. The highway has been widened up to the place only where the VIPs have to come each month and not beyond.” Me: I was quite intrigued by this. “Is the political influence being used for such like things?”. Balwant: “Political influence ensures dominance of the ruling over the ruled.” Me:“But that is no Raj-Dharma. Where is the democracy?” He just laughed at my reply. Balwant: “Do you know how dominance is maintained?” questioned the advocate sitting close by. Me: “How” Balwant: “Using religion, using police, using drugs to decimate.” Me: “I do not think it could be so.” Balwant: “It is so. I am fighting cases against the police officials who have been carrying orders of their bosses to file false cases against certain individuals. Even a CBI inquiry is ordered against one SHO.” The advocate said. ‘Even the senior officers posted in this area are of Punjab cadre. Central cadre officers are not being posted as they tried to arrest the trend of fast flow of drugs in the area. They had to be posted at the behest of the local political leaders who maintain this free flow. Most of the youth are now in the grip of drugs.” Me: “Protecting crime? Leaders are supposed to get justice for the people and not to subdue them. Why do the people select them” I was rather vociferous. Balwant: “Yes! They protect crime and suppress opposition. Keep the people ignorant and help Deras to develop their influence.” He was clear in his answer. “How come they protect and suppress opposition?” I wanted to know. Balwant: “In this area drugs and local brand of liquor is a lucrative business. It is all flourishing under the patronage of local political leaders. You would have seen a story on Aaj Tak recently where large scale liquor distillation was going under the nose and knowledge of the local MLA. The SHO was helpless since he was refrained from taking any action against these criminals. As was said earlier, those who oppose these leaders are found behind the bars even on false cases. Even it is in the knowledge of the High Court that these false cases are being filed often. Most dastardly cases are of peddling drugs which are generally leveled against the most serious opponent and specially the political opponents. People are put behind bars and no one is allowed to help them. This is the same area where maximum eliminations in fake encounters took place during the militancy days. People have started taking injustice as their fate.” It was quite shocking. To clarify further, I questioned: Me:“What is the effect of the Deras?” Balwant: “Deras lure the ignorant and fill the coffer. Instead of teaching Sikhism, they propagate personality cult, showing Dera heads as supreme. They also propagate Hindu ritualism like breaking coco-nuts and tying red thread (molly). Frankly, they have damaged the Sikhism beyond redemption.” Me: ‘Beyond redemption! What do you mean?’” Balwant: Pointing to his servant he said: “This boy has become Chrisitian recently. Do you know why when his father is Nihang?” Me: “Christian? How is it?” I enquired. I wanted to know from the person direct. I called the boy, named Nima (name changed) and questioned, Me: “Are you a convert to Christianity?” Nima: “Yes!” He reluctantly said. However he came out slowly since he had been listening to us intently and knew the base of the discussion.” “Not me alone. Most of the poor and the unemployed youth are becoming Christians. Most of the youth got their hair cut already and have become apostate. Public in general have curtailed going to Gurdwaras and even deras now as they know their truth. They find new Churches as the better places to go. All aound these deras we have new churches: Varpal, Nikka Chabba, Balachak; all these villages are having new churches within these 6-7 kilometres. A large Number of Churches sprung up recently in the entire border belt of Tarantaran and Gurdaspur areas and people are converting to Christianity en masse.” Me: “You said your father is a Nihang, a devout Sikh. Why did you convert to Christianity?” Nima: “Why? We are not inhuman as they treat us. They give us no favour. They give no jobs to us but still want us to obey them like slaves. Why should we. They want the youth be drugged and destroyed. They have no human life considerations. The pastors treat us very humanly and sympathetically. They treat us equal and as important as anyone else. They help us in need. You will soon seen most of the downtrodden converting en masse if these leaders and dera people go on treating us like this.” I was shocked at the anger the boy had against the higher castes, deras and the ruling combine. More shocking was the trend of conversions. I could not sleep well in the night and was woken up by the blaring of the speakers at about 3 AM from 3-4 deras cum gurdwaras. Amidst them I could listen to the sound “Ameen” from pastor of the church nearby and thought of Giani Gurdit Singh, Gurmukh Singh and Jawahar Singh of the Singh Sabha Movement at the conversion of four Sikh Youth. The number now has become so large now without any of Gurdit Singh’s standing up now! As I was being shown those seven Dera type gurdwaras, finding heaps of Coconuts around, I felt that it certainly needs a “Sikh Sudhar movement” or “Sikhi Bachao Lehar’ to save the new generation from going astray.

Kiran Bedi Latti Charge in 1978.

Last Updated: Friday, 5 December, 2003, 13:31 GMT E-mail this to a friend Printable version Reunion heals partition wounds By Zulfiqar Ali BBC correspondent in Muzaffarabad Harbans Kore hugs daughter Zeenat Bibi at the reunion A 77-year-old Indian woman who has had two homelands, two husbands and two religions has finally brought her family together after decades of separation. "My wish was to see my children again once in my lifetime and my wish has come true," said Harbans Kore at the family reunion in Pakistan. Ms Kore, a Sikh, had travelled from the Indian city of Ahmedabad to meet the Muslim son and daughter she had not seen for more than 40 years. Ms Kore's story began at the time of the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan in 1947. She and her husband were Kashmiri Sikhs living in the village of Pataika, 16 kilometres (11 miles) north-east of Muzaffarabad in what is now Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Tensions between Muslims and those Hindus and Sikhs still living in the area were such that after a few years Ms Kore's husband fled to India. I wish she could stay with us but she cannot because she has to go back. She has a family there also Zeenat Bibi, daughter She was left behind. Assuming the husband had gone forever, Ms Kore converted to Islam, marrying a Muslim man named Hadayatullah. Together they had a son, Manzoor Hussein Awan, and a daughter, Zeenat Bibi. But in the mid-1950s, Ms Kore was forced to leave for India under an agreement between Islamabad and Delhi to reunite women with their original families. That was when her separation from daughter Zeenat and son Manzoor began. In India, Ms Kore re-converted to Sikhism and had another two daughters and a son with her first husband. Telephone contact For many years, the members of the divided family did not know of each other's whereabouts or even if they were alive. Then seven years ago Zeenat, now 53, and her brother, 48, found out through a relative that their mother was still alive. Brothers in arms Dalveer Singh and Manzoor Hussein Awan "It was just two years ago that we were able to locate her telephone number and then we spoke by telephone, wrote letters and exchanged pictures," said Zeenat. The family wanted to meet immediately but heightened tension between the now nuclear rivals India and Pakistan prevented it. It was not until the recent thaw and the resumption of a bus service between the Pakistani city of Lahore and India's capital, Delhi, in July that their dreams were realised. Ms Kore finally crossed back into Pakistan last week, accompanied by her Sikh son, Dalveer Singh, and her daughter-in-law. They were greeted by Zeenat and Manzoor, along with grandchildren and other family members, at the Wagah border crossing. One of Ms Kore's Sikh daughters joined the reunion this week, along with the daughter's husband and own daughter. Ancestral village Ms Kore said: "It is lovely to see my children after all these years. I am lucky to see my son and daughter and my grandchildren again after such a long time and I feel so happy." Until seven years ago the divided family had had no contact Ms Kore and other family members are staying with her family in Muzaffarabad until the middle of December. But one person Ms Kore could not be reunited with was her Muslim husband - he died two years after she left for India. Ms Kore wants to show her ancestral village to her Indian children but is not sure if the authorities in Muzaffarabad will allow her to go there. Zeenat said: "We know how we suffered all these years and how badly we missed our mother. I wish she could stay with us but she cannot because she has to go back. She has a family there also." Her only other regret was that her mother could not attend the wedding of her son last October. She invited the family but they could not get the visas or bus tickets in time. Manzoor said of the reunion: "We have been deprived of our mother's love and affection for more than four decades and now we are so happy to meet our mother and family. "It is the first time in my life I have found this happiness. Everybody is happy - my wife, my children, my sister and every member of our family that we are together again." Have any people here got relatives in pakistan?

I thought I would start a thread for people to share pictures of different sikhs across the world. This has nothing to do with caste, so dont show pictures of people from different castes. This is just to show the beauty of our faith and the different colours and cultures who follow it from a variety of regions. :biggrin2: