tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151344102024-03-14T16:35:21.169+00:00rsinghRavjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.comBlogger380125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-54781943861303898312011-06-14T16:36:00.001+00:002011-06-14T20:53:18.605+00:00Benghazi Sikh soldiers War CemeteryRead more on http://ravjeetsingh.blogspot.com/2011/06/sikh-soldiers-war-cemetery-in-benghazi.html<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-39447633421173203862011-06-03T12:10:00.002+00:002011-06-03T12:11:05.122+00:00updates at www.ravjeetsingh.blogspot.comIm just remaking blog, I think I shall stick to the new one at http://ravjeetsingh.blogspot.com .<br /><br />If you want to welcome to read.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-38902087753317434602010-06-11T09:19:00.001+00:002010-06-11T09:19:23.289+00:00Sea turtles in Gulf of Mexico -help these voiceless and defenseless creatures! Eco-criminals should sink or swim in their poison!<div>Dear people: </div> <div> </div> <div>"You are the fish. You are the tortoise. You are the abundant ocean." Guru Granth Sahib</div> <div> </div> <div>Whilst BP officials and their Chief Executive struts about assuring the world and the US President that they will eventually clean up their sick and poisonous gigantic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico; there are countless animals, birds and fish who are being terminally contaminated and killed by this entirely corporate, profit driven disaster. The planet, animals, and, humans, are simply fodder for companies like BP, Esso, Shell, Union Carbide to simple trample over, in pursuit of their glorious multi-billion profits. The Chief Executives and their cosy colleagues, get rich and fat on these massive profits, enjoying their mega-comfortable lifestyles in the rural billionaire homes, ranches and farm-houses;, with their hunting and shooting adventures and their 4x4s. Whilst the rest of the world around them, decays, suffers, contaminates and dies becuause of their filthy, morally debased, pursuit of monetary riches. </div> <div> </div> <div>What BP have done in the Gulf of Mexico, and have done before elsewhere and will invariably do again; is ECO-CIDE! Killing and maiming the planet, and its varied life forms. I am tempted to say that, the chief executive and senior officials of these moronic profit making gigantic machines, should be all gathered up and dumped right in the thick of this poisonous oil slick. They should be told sink or swim in the poison of your own making!</div> <div> </div> <div>It is left to the Robin Hoods, Banda Singh Bahadurs of past and present, to fight this legalised murder of the planet and its animals. The poor, dismepowered, money-less humans who are not part of the chain of profit making, like the tens of thousands of residents of Bhopal (central India) who bore the direct brunt of the 1984 Union Carbide chemical explosion - the "worlds deadliest industrial accident"; are also treated like the abundantly defenceless, voiceless animals. Bhopals residents too, are profitless, voiceless, defenceless animals. Indeed, a good taste of what animals feel and suffer, through a human experience! </div> <div><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7145106.ece" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.timesonline.co.uk/<wbr>tol/news/world/asia/<wbr>article7145106.ece</a></div> <div><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/5978266/Bhopal-gas-disasters-legacy-lives-on-25-years-later.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/<wbr>news/worldnews/asia/india/<wbr>5978266/Bhopal-gas-disasters-<wbr>legacy-lives-on-25-years-<wbr>later.html</a></div> <div> </div> <div>As part of the righteous fight back against these murderous giants, please help and support groups like Defenders of Wildlife in their bid to save and rescue the animals and birds of the Gulf of Mexico. There are many other good groups doing their part. Help them all! </div> <div> </div> <div>Our riches lie in the life of diversity on this mother planet, that we should nurture and empower to grow and flourish. Our riches lie in the sacred circle of life, not in the elites and cliques that seek to maim, contaminate and dominate. </div> <div> </div> <div>Power to the Planet! Power to the Animals! Power to the People!</div> <div> </div> <div>jagdeesh singh </div> <div>SIKH ENVIRONMENT NETWORK V| SARBAT DA BHALLA</div> <div><a href="http://www.sarbat-da-bhalla.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.sarbat-da-bhalla.blogspot.<wbr>com</a></div> <div><a href="http://www.sikh-environment-network.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.sikh-environment-network.<wbr>blogspot.com</a> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-78905759303881510602010-06-02T19:46:00.001+00:002010-06-02T19:46:25.637+00:00The Noble 'Servant' Of Peshawar<h1> The Noble 'Servant' Of Peshawar </h1> <div class="photo photobig aligned"><a href="http://gdb.rferl.org/33C14DD3-7639-4318-9DA2-164240660090_mw800_mh600_s.jpg" rel="ibox" title="Khurshid Khan (in yellow head-covering) shining shoes to help show brotherhood with the Sikh community in Peshawar."><img alt="Khurshid Khan (in yellow head-covering) shining shoes to help show brotherhood with the Sikh community in Peshawar." src="http://gdb.rferl.org/33C14DD3-7639-4318-9DA2-164240660090_w527_s.jpg" border="0" /></a><p class="photo_caption">Khurshid Khan (in yellow head-covering) shining shoes to help show brotherhood with the Sikh community in Peshawar.</p></div> <div class="date"> June 02, 2010 </div> Khurshid Khan, an eminent 60-year-old lawyer and deputy attorney general of Pakistan, wants to "heal the wounds" of the terror-stricken minority Sikh community in that country.<br /><br />So he does an extraordinary thing at a temple in the northwestern city of Peshawar.<br /><br />Every day when he handles his work as a legal expert, Khan visits a Sikh temple in center of the city, wraps a piece of cloth around his head to show his respect, and sits in the doorway to shine the shoes of Sikhs, whose community has come under frequent attack by Taliban militants over the last few years.<br /><br />Two months back, militants in Khyber Agency abducted three Sikhs and demanded for a huge ransom for their release. Two were eventually freed, but one, Jispal Singh, was killed in brutal fashion and his corpse left on the roadside in the tribal area.<br /><br />"I went to offer my condolences to the family of Jispal Singh and that was a turning point in my life," Khan tells RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal. "I realized that as a Pashtun I should work to 'heal their wounds' by becoming their sewadar (servant). I want to give them a message of love and brotherhood, and that's why every day I am here to shine their shoes."<br /><br />Khan says he is himself a landlord and doesn't even shine his own shoes at his home. But his cause inspires him to sit on the ground on a daily basis and shine 70-80 pairs of shoes.<br /><br />"I can see the light of love in their eyes for me and my people," he maintains.<br /><br />He adds that Sikhs have lived in the area with the dominant Pashtun communities for centuries, pay taxes, and play an important role in the economic progress of the region. But still, he laments, we fail to protect their lives and properties.<br /><br />They are being killed and kidnapped by the Taliban in Orakzai, Kurrum, and Khyber tribal regions, Khan says, adding that other Pakistanis must stand by them in these critical hours and give them a sense of oneness and brotherhood.<br /><br />An estimated 28,000 Sikhs live in Pakistan, including about 10,000 who live in the tribal region and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of the conflict-ridden country. In May 2009, Taliban militants destroyed 11 Sikh homes in the Orakzai tribal district after accusing them of failing to pay "taxes." The ongoing conflict in the Buner and Swat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has displaced more than 200 families.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-86890470296270879282010-05-29T07:39:00.000+00:002010-05-29T07:40:02.454+00:00Amritsar 1984<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5Csingh%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="Edit-Time-Data" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5Csingh%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_editdata.mso"><!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape 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</style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1027"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-size: 26pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Amritsar</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 26pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"> 1984<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">31<sup>st</sup> May 1984 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Satwant could feel her clothes sticking to her, the heat was unbearable, she had spent the night tossing and turning trying to get a goodnights sleep. She glanced at her watch, it was 4am, she thought, <i style="">I need to get up, help milking the cows so Bibi (mother) doesn’t change her mind about letting me go to Amritsar.</i> She quickly rose to her feet and looked into her parents bedroom and saw that Bibi was still sound asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">She quickly made her way over to the water pump and poured some water onto the top of it, to ignite the waters trajectory from below. She gave the hand-pump some quick bursts of arm-action and splashed the water over her face. This wasn't a nice sensation as she could taste salt from her perspiration of the night and the water was warm. Satwant placed a bucked under the pump she again energised the flow of water, with some hard and fast movements of her hands and arms. The water now collected was cool and refreshing, she again washed her face, the sensation soothed her in the humid and windless surrounds of her <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">village</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Maheroo</st1:placename></st1:place>, Jalandar. <span style=""> </span>She filled 4 buckets of the cool water so her family could utilise it. <span style=""> </span>Her Bibi had woken up and she walked over to her, Satwant quipped “Bibi, I’ll start milking the cows,” her Bibi replied, “fine, you go ahead and I’ll join you shortly.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Satwant picked up some rope and took a bucket of water over to the feisty kicking cow. Satwant quickly grabbed the cows back legs to tie them with the rope, but in her haste she forgot about the cow’s tail and she received a whipping blow of the cow’s tail in the eye. She shuddered and immediately felt perspiration on her neck, she swooned backwards. She resolutely gathered herself and squinting through one eye, still managed to tie the cow’s legs with the rope. After tying the cow’s legs she got up grabbed a stick and gave the cow some vicious blows to let her know who the boss was. The cow resigned to her fate and allowed Satwant to milk her, she first washed the udders which were covered in dung and mud.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Bibi walked over, “You are blessed my daughter, you took on the battle-axe cow,” Bibi could work at double the pace of Satwant, so in the time that Satwant had milked the battle-axe cow, Bibi had finished milking the other two cows. Upon completion they emptied their buckets of milk into the milk-man’s container and kept one-eigth of the milk for themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">5am </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style=""> </span>Bibi said to Satwant “Don’t worry daughter you will go to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Amritsar</st1:city></st1:place> with your uncle today.” Satwant’s stomach churned with butterflies, she quickly hugged her mother and kissed her forehead, her mother jokingly said “Stop clinging to me, it is already too hot, do you want me to come down with heat stroke.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">7am </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style=""> </span>Mama Jagjit and Mami Jasbir (maternal uncle & aunt) turn up with their 2 year old boy Suraj and 4 year old daughter Parveen. They had planned the trip to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Amritsar</st1:place></st1:city> and were to take Satwant and her brother Balwant. Satwant’s duty for the trip is to look after Suraj and Balwant’s got to help look after Parveen, that’s why Mama and Mami had wanted to take them to go with them as the pair of children are quite a handful.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">9am </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style=""> </span>Satwant, Balwant, Mama and Mami board the ‘Shane Punjab’ train at Phagwara Junction train station to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Amritsar</st1:city></st1:place>. After about 90mins of hustle and bustle in the train and the excruciating heat of travelling in cattle-class in the train, they all took a sigh of relief at the arrival at <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Amritsar</st1:place></st1:city>. Thankfully the kids had perfectly slept the whole time.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">10.30am</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style=""> </span>After alighting from the train, we all gasped for air and thankfully drank at the public water points at the <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Amritsar</st1:city></st1:place> train station. The water was warm but we drank it nonetheless, as we were too poor to afford cold drinks. We had planned to return to Maheroo on the next day after a whirlwind visit.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Satwant:</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style=""> </span>We make our way out of the station on foot, I and Balwant have to carry the bags as Mama and Mami carry the children. It’s about half a mile walk to Durgiana Mandir and we start the walk with a slow pace, in order to stay as cool as we can. It takes us about 30 minutes to get there. We enter the Mandir after depositing our shoes in the shoes-stand. I walk into the shrine and see the Mandir shining in the middle of the water tank, with it’s gold plated dome. Immediately, I realise the marble floor is burning hot and I run to whatever matting I can find on the walkway. We’re not a particularly religious family, we are Sikhs but we also pay our respects at shrines of Devta’s (Demi-Gods) and those of the Hindu Faith. My Mami had wanted to come to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Amritsar</st1:place></st1:city> for the well-being of the kids.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">We pay our respects at the Mandir, offer parshad (holy offering, purchased at the entrance of the temple), and joyfully bathe in the water tank to cool ourselves, in the afternoon sun. I’m not too sure of the historical significance of the shrine and hear it could possibly be the original home of Mata Sita and her sons Luv and Kush, some aeons ago (the family of Lord Rama of the Hindu Faith). I wasn’t particularly bothered any reason to get out of Maheroo was a God-send and <st1:city st="on">Amritsar</st1:city> is one of the largest cities of <st1:place st="on">Punjab</st1:place>, so I was just in awe of the city.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">After leaving the shrine we find some shade under a banyan tree and eat our lunch which was handed to us by Bibi in the morning. She carefully packed misse parshade (lightly flavoured chapattis), we drank water from the public tap and Mama purchased milk from the street-traders tea stall for Suraj.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">2pm </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style=""> </span>The afternoon heat was at it’s worst now, but Mama and Mami decided we should travel on to the Golden Temple and then rest when we get there. We made our journey through the alley ways of Amritsar, the rich aroma’s, rickshaws and glaring shopkeepers calling out for business, all defined the Amritsar experience for me, as we dodged people and street traffic in the alley ways to the Golden Temple.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">We passed Lohgarh Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship), which was a commanding fort on our way and went past Gurdwara Guru Ke Mehal, arriving at the Golden Temple near the clock tower entrance, whilst seeing the roof-top of Akaal Tahkat to our right. <span style=""> </span>We deposited our shoes, washed our feet in the soothing water wash basin and when I saw the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Golden</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>, butterflies stirred in my stomach and a cool soothing sensation ran through my spine. When seeing the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Golden</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place> I was so humbled and over-whelmed that I dropped to my feet and bowed. When my forehead hit the ground, I could feel static energy reverberate through my forehead and my whole body. I was quickly brought back to earth by Suraj violently slapping me in the head, he had done this to get my attention, I looked up in anger and then I heard Mami hollering at me, “Hurry up! What are you doing? We need to keep together as a group,” I quickly got to my feet and we alighted the stairs to enter the Gurdwara.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">We promptly entered the shaded areas of the walkway (parkarma), took water at the Punjabi Sevak Jatha Shabeel (water point) and decided to get some sleep in the shade there. We all peacefully slept here, on the hard marble surface, using our bags as pillows for the next 2 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">5pm </span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style=""> </span>We awoke and then offered parshad at the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Golden</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>, I was amazed at the intricacies of the frescos and embedded jewels of the whole Gurdwara. <span style=""> </span>The gold artwork and cladding was fascinating as were the expensive throws and flowers around Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee. I was used to going to the village Gurdwara and mechanically bowing, running to get parshad and leaving immediately. So this experience of being over-whelmed by the art and beauty of a Gurdwara was fresh and inspiring.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The Akaal Takhat intrigued me, with it’s weapons and arms of Sikhs and Gurus. We saw the end part of the daily display of the weapons as we paid our respects. As night fell we had Langar (blessed free food) at Guru Ramdas Langar Hall and went to sleep again in the shaded area of the parkarma.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">1<sup>st</sup> June 1984<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">We were woken by an elderly woman, frantic but cautious. <span style=""> </span>She whispered to all of us to wake up and leave the Gurdwara. She said the Gurdwara has been surrounded by the army and a curfew is in place. <span style=""> </span>She chillingly said, <i style="">“leave and save your children in any way that you can to my Mama and Mami.”</i> My Mama cursed my Mami, “Stupid woman, I told you to wait a little longer before making this trip, the power-mad Bhindranvale and Indira Gandhi are both going to get us killed,” she lightly slapped him on his upper arm and said quietly “Keep your voice down, somebody could hear you.” <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The reality of what was going on around me, suddenly dawned on me. I looked around and now realised that, what I thought was normal for the <st1:placename st="on">Golden</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype> and <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Amritsar</st1:place></st1:city> was possibly more sinister. <span style=""> </span>I thought of armed Sikh men I had seen around the complex and the large presence of security forces across <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Amritsar</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">We spent the rest of the day in the sweltering heat, flittering from pillar to post and thinking of what to do next.<span style=""> </span>We didn’t leave, as there was indiscriminate fire from the army outside, into the complex. <span style=""> </span>Luckily at this point the armed Sikhs in the complex were not firing back. This bamboozled me, as I had an image of gung-ho fire squads of Bhindranvale. <span style=""> </span>To the contrary armed Sikhs across the complex were sheltering, guarding and guiding innocent pilgrims into safe havens across the complex. We ended up taking shelter in Guru Nanak Niwas and in <span style=""> </span>rooms built to usually house about 3 people, about 20 of us were crammed in. There were literally thousands of pilgrims locked into the complex, a few brave pilgrims did leave through the exits near Baba Atal, the Sikh reference library and the Akaal Takhat as there were pockets of entry points through which they could risk leaving and not being detected or shot by the security forces.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I fell into a torrent of thoughts as night approached and we sweated profusely in the night hue and heat. I thought, <i style="">I am only 14 years old, I have not got married, finished schooling, had children, I do not deserve to die!</i> Even though I had never prayed before in my life, I mentally started reciting “Satnaam Vaaheguroo,” (True is the Name, He is the wondrous enlightener).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">9.30pm</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"> <span style=""> </span>We heard a loud knock at the door and someone shouting, “Open.” Everyone in the room was scared and someone near the door opened it. To our shock an armed Sikh was standing at the door, he looked like one of Bhindranvale’s henchmen. He mechanically looked around the room and ordered me and another girl, who was about 14years old also, to get up and leave with him. <span style=""> </span>My Mama shouted “No way” he quietly replied “brother, we need her to do some seva with us,” my Mama’s voice got louder and he still said “NO” but then quickly said “Take me instead!” The Singh firmly said “No, we need her, we can do this the easy way or hard,” he pointed at his assault rifle. My Mama backed down, I and the other girl - Surjit, were ushered out of the room with the Singhs pointing their guns showing us the way.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The Singhs proceeded towards Manji Sahib Diwan Hall, one in front of us and one behind us. As we approached we could see a fire, as we got closer we realised it was a funeral pyre, I shuddered in fear. <span style=""> </span>Horrified I thought, <i style="">am I going to be burnt alive?</i> There were about 20-25 Sikhs gathered around the fire, we were stopped about 20 feet way. The Singhs then said to us <i style="">“He was a great Sikh, he was shot today on Baba Atal Gurdwara. He died a warriors death, his name is Bhai Mehnga Singh. We have brought you here, as we thought we can’t help everyone, but if we can help some younger sisters then we should try to do that.”</i> They then sternly spoke, <i style="">“More than likely you will die in the violence that is to follow.<span style=""> </span>The government is hell-bent on killing innocent pilgrims and Sikhs, they have purposely decide to attack the complex now, as thousands are gathered here in preparation for the memorial programmes for the martyrdom of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Jee which is on the 5<sup>th</sup> June.”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I was now confused thinking what are they talking about, will they still kill us? The Singh continued, “You are young women and you may be abused by the army, we have two cyanide capsules,” the Singh reached into his pocket and handed me a capsule, as he did Surjit, “You should take this capsule if the situation gets too bad and death is a better option.” They then marched us back to the room, before re-entering our room at Guru Nanank Niwas, I requested that I be allowed to talk to Surjit, the Singhs gave us some space. I whishpered to Surjit “We can’t tell our families about these capsules, we must conceal them and not tell anyone,” Surjit nodded agreeing with the suggestion, she said “but what shall we say has just happened?” I said “Don’t worry, leave the talking to me, just follow my lead,” she again nodded in agreement. We signalled to the Singhs that we were happy to re-enter the room, they opened the door and we entered.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Both our families rushed to greet us, the Singhs just left without saying anything. I quickly said “The Singhs asked us to make chapattis in the Langar Hall and to tend to the wounds of their fighters, me and Surjit said we have never made chapattis and have no medical knowledge, so they brought us straight back.” Surjit half-winked at me, showing approval of my cover-up story. My Mami started blabbering, “How dare they, they knew this room has been designated for families with young children, they should have gone elsewhere.” I calmly put my hand on my Mami’s shoulder and said, “we are back safely,” and she hugged me and I could feel Suraj and Parveen clenching at my legs.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">My brother Balwant, was very subdued and quiet. <span style=""> </span>Once all my family had fallen asleep, I whispered to Balwant, “Are you okay?” he said “No! did those militants do anything to you?” I replied, “No – they were very polite to us.”<span style=""> </span>He then gently stroked my head and said, “I love you, I know I haven’t been a good brother …” I could see the tears welling up in his eyes. <span style=""> </span>I put my finger on his lips and said, “You don’t need to say anything, I know.<span style=""> </span>Don’t worry we will get out alive.”<span style=""> </span>Balwant – “I sure hope so.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">2<sup>nd</sup> June, 1984 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">We spent the whole of the next day in the room, only venturing out to the corridor to use the toilets.<span style=""> </span>The men in the room went out of the room at 12pm to get food from the Langar Hall.<span style=""> </span>They brought back enough food for one meal, for everyone in the room.<span style=""> </span>A lot of us were now suffering from dehydration due to the heat.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">3<sup>rd</sup> June, 1984<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -72pt;"><b style=""><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">10am - We get a visitor to the room, he says he is an employee of SGPC (Shromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee – the management committee of the Gurdwara complex).<span style=""> </span>He says that there will be an announcement to allow innocent pilgrims to leave the complex, he says we can all leave then.<span style=""> </span>We all rush after him, thinking we have a slim hope of survival.<span style=""> </span>In all about 200 people join this sort of walk to freedom.<span style=""> </span>We are all assembled collectively at Manji Sahib Gurdwara and eagerly await the announcement from the army.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">At 11am the announcement is made by the army that innocent pilgrims can leave and no harm will come to them.<span style=""> </span>The army announced that pilgrims leaving, must leave through the Brahm Buta Market exit gate. When signalled by the SGPC workers the whole procession started walking towards the gate, I had realised that the SGPC workers conspicuously ensured they were at the back of the procession. I halted Surjit’s family and mine and said “Lets go to the end of the lines, like the SGPC workers,” my Mami looked at me, as if to say, <i style="">are you crazy?</i> Fortunately, at this point I saw the same Singh who had taken me and Surjit standing on an upper floor of the Langar Hall with his gun in toe. <span style=""> </span>I pointed him out to my Mami signalling he has told us to go to the back, my Mami quickly obliged, for fear of getting shot by the Singh, even though, he wasn’t even looking at us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">All of a sudden, gun fire stared and about 40 of the people at the front of the procession were immediately gunned down. Everyone ran helter skelter, for cover. I grabbed Parveen and ran towards the Langar Hall, I dived to the floor, smashing Parveen’s chin on the floor and cracking her front teeth. She whimpered, but bravely didn’t cry. <span style=""> </span>We then crawled our way to the Langar Hall. I lost my brother, mama, mami and Suraj in the chaos. I never saw them again. Surjit had followed my lead and made it to the Langar Hall with me.<span style=""> </span>I later learnt from family members that Balwant had told them the following;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">.............................<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Balwant:</span><b style=""><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">“Mama, Mami, Suraj and I made it back to Manji Sahib. Some of the leaders of the SGPC and Akali Dal (Sikh political party) were trying to reassure the congregation that they would assure a safe escape, but there was much incessant bickering due to the earlier calamity of the 40 innocent pilgrims being gunned down by the army. Then a few hours later, these leaders left the complex with their arms in the air and about 70 others they had not taken to arms and were not involved any firing against security forces. But this time the leaders were forced to the front of the procession. We were shocked by the earlier incident and decided not to try leaving again.<b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Suraj died on died on the 4<sup>th</sup> June from dehydration and Mami died from banging her head so hard in the wall, in anguish of his death. She was already weak from dehydration and trying incessantly to breast-feed Suraj. She was like a crazed woman when he died and banged her head with much fervour, into a wall 2 or 3 times and the bleeding killed her. Mama tried unsuccessfully to get her treated and took off his own turban in an attempt to bandage the wound. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Me and Mama survived to 6<sup>th</sup> June, as we both took the drastic step of drinking bloodied water from the Sarovar (sacred water tank of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Golden</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place> that pilgrims bathe in). <span style=""> </span>It made my stomach churn and I was nearly sick, when I first drank it. <span style=""> </span>When Mama realised this, he slapped me so hard on the face, that I got an instant scar, he hollered, <i style="">“You stupid boy, you will die! If you don’t drink.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">On 7<sup>th</sup> June, the army took control of the whole complex.<span style=""> </span>I and Mama had survived by playing dead.<span style=""> </span>We used to lie down between dead bodies and went undetected like this. At times we were even trampled upon by army personnel and I and Mama both developed bleeding in our mouths due to biting in agony, whilst trying not to make a sound in the excruciating pain. At about 12pm we watched the army killing Sikh men by tying their turbans around their backs, these were non-combatant pilgrims. They were all shot at point blank range. After witnessing this, Mama grabbed me by the shoulder and said, “We are only going to survive this, if we pretend we are militants. We are going to have to find some guns and surrender to the army, they will not kill us then as they will try to extract information from us.” I thought he was insane and looked</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"> <span lang="EN-US">musingly</span></span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"> up at him. He then lashed a back-handed slap across my face. “Trust me, it is our only chance of survival!” he shouted and his voice broke as he said it. I could see he was desperate. He was at the end of his tether, I agreed with him as I thought we’re dead anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Mama’s plan worked, we conducted a fake surrender throwing empty guns (we had recovered) on the floor in front of the army personnel and throwing our arms in the air. At this point of surrender, I stared straight at the guns of the soldiers, waiting for a gun to launch a bullet that would pierce my body. <span style=""> </span>But Mama was right, the soldiers cautiously approached us and sent us to Ladha Kothi Jail. This was full of people from the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Golden</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>, all the prisoners were from there.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Mama died on 17<sup>th</sup> July 1984. He died from the relentless torture he endured at Ladha Kothi. <span style=""> </span>He would get hung upside down, then, they would start interrogating him, trying to force him to make confessions or give information that he simply did not have.<span style=""> </span>To force him to speak they would beat him with metal rods, electrocute him, run wooden logs over his legs and sexually abuse him.<span style=""> </span>The sleepless nights between 7<sup>th</sup> June - 17<sup>th</sup> July were unbearable for him. <span style=""> </span>He persistently cursed his luck saying, “What possessed me to surrender as a militant, this place is worse then hell itself. God please bring my death!” He also used to caressingly beg for my forgiveness, <i style="">“Son, I am sorry, I shouldn’t have slapped you, my stubbornness has led us here, please forgive me, please forgive me...”</i> This was our daily ritual and he used to fall asleep everyday begging my forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I was labelled a hardcore militant due to my age. <span style=""> </span>Eventually I was released from prison when I was 13years old. <span style=""> </span>I returned to my village - a disturbed 13year old, due to all that I had witnessed and experienced. Due to continuous police harassment after returning to Maheroo, I took the step of trying to protect myself rather than be a victim of physical violence from the state machinery. <span style=""> </span>I joined the Khalistan Commando Force as Bhai Manbir Singh was its leader and he was from the village Chaheroo, which is neighbours my village.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I was involved in militant actions until the age of 18 and eventually came to the <st1:country-region st="on">UK</st1:country-region>, to escape from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. My parents were both killed by the police when I was 17 years old, as they kept harassing them about my whereabouts.<span style=""> </span>They were both killed being tortured by the police. I had no real inclination to faith initially and became a practising Sikh, due to the unjust and inhumane way that the state treated me, faith was the only thing that gave me solace and some hope of a better future.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">.............................<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Balwant became mentally unstable and could not settle in to life when he arrived in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>He no longer had a recollection of what ‘normality’ was, he could not adjust to finding a job, working, buying a house and getting married – things we may take as a normal course of life.<span style=""> </span>All that he had endured took it’s toll in the most unforgiving manner, he committed suicide at the age of 22.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">.............................<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">3<sup>rd</sup> June, 1984<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Satwant:</span><b style=""><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">When we entered the Langar Hall, the door was slammed shut by an armed Sikh. I looked around frantically and quickly realised that the Langar Hall was a mini fortress.<span style=""> </span>There were sandbags piled next to openings and armed Sikhs were guarding the rations. I also saw wiring which had been erected and realised a mini wired network for communications had been set up. <b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">The Singh who had given us the cyanide capsules came over and greeted us saying, “Sisters are you okay?” I pointed at Parveen and she started crying and blood started to pour out of her mouth. The Singh quickly picked her up and ran with her behind some sandbags.<span style=""> </span>Behind the sandbags there was a Sikh woman with a turban on. I was shocked at the sight of her turban as I had never seen a woman wear a turban before, she calmed Parveen down, cleaned her wounds and applied some cream to stop the bleeding from her mouth. The Singh came back after about 10 minutes and said “I am Seva Singh, if you want to survive, I suggest you stay here and I promise to ensure your safety.” Me and Surjit were re-assured by Seva Singh and asked how we could be of help.<span style=""> </span>He said we could assist the injured pilgrims and we started helping the woman who had treated Parveen. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">4<sup>th</sup> June, 1984<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">We stayed in the Langar Hall until 4<sup>th</sup> June. <span style=""> </span>At about 12pm Seva Singh came over to us, he said “I have arranged for your escape you must come with me immediately and do exactly as I say.”<span style=""> </span>Me and Surjit nodded in agreement. Seva Singh told us that there was an opening at the back wall of Baba Atal Gurdwara, he and another Singh would ferry us to the safe house. We followed his orders, our path from the Langar Hall to Baba Atal was treacherous as we had to dodge sniper fire and come under attack from commandos, who were parachuted down from aircraft. <span style=""> </span>We witnessed about 20 commandos were making their descent down, the Sikh militants opened fire, firing at their parachutes so when they landed they were seriously injured. We had witnessed the army continuously kill Sikhs indiscriminately between the 1<sup>st</sup> June to 4<sup>th</sup> June and were coping the best we could, with the war-like situation and killing all around us.<span style=""> </span>We couldn’t believe that the Indian Army had turned the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Golden</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place> complex into a killing field.<span style=""> </span>It beggared belief that a whole scale army operation against it’s own people was underway.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">As for the journey to Baba Atal we also had to walk over dead bodies of Sikhs and Indian army soldiers. <span style=""> </span>The stench of death was sickening and unforgettable. We successfully dodged sniper fire until Baba Atal Gurdwara, where Surjit was grazed on the arm by a bullet, thankfully she only sustained a minor injury. As for our escape, Surjit and I had to make separate ways out from the complex, both ferried by a Singh each. Surjit had made it safely in to a Sikh household and I never saw her again. <span style=""> </span>Me, Parveen and Seva Singh waited for the other Singh (who had taken Surjit to the safe house) to return safely, before leaving ourselves. One Singh had to remain near to the wall opening, to guard it from the army entering the complex from it.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">Now it was our turn, me and Parveen made it safely to a flat of a Hindu family who were sympathetic to innocent pilgrims. Seva Singh bid us farewell and I bowed and touched the dust of his feet raising it to Parveens brow and my own. I thanked Seva Singh, “May you live on, and have a good life, my brother,”<span style=""> </span>he was a little embarrassed and smirked, saying “Whatever God will’s will happen,” he turned and left, I peered out of a window of the flat to see Seva Singh leaving, about 40 yards from the house, he fell to sniper fire, a bullet had pierced his chest. I ran to him, the Hindu family tried to stop me for their own safety and mine, but I wasn’t thinking of the consequences and my safety and ran to his aide. <span style=""> </span>I raised his head in my lap and stroked his forehead, he looked up and said “Vaheguroo.” He then passed away in my arms. <span style=""> </span>I cried and screamed in agony.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I was crying for somebody I didn’t know, had known for only a few days, but he was the only adult who provided safety and a sense of family for me. At that point in time he was all I had. I sat there crying for about a minute, I glared back at the flat and saw Parveen staring at me. <span style=""> </span>I signalled for her to stay there and made my way back to the flat. She innocently asked “<i style="">Where are mummy and daddy now?”</i> I replied, <i style="">“I am your mummy and daddy now”</i> and she said, <i style="">“But you are my deedi (sister).”</i> <span style=""> </span>I said, <i style="">“I am now your sister, mummy and daddy. We have to live with these people until we save enough money to go and see mommy and daddy.” </i>She was pacified temporarily.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">For the next 6 years, me and Parveen lived with this Hindu family in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Amritsar</st1:place></st1:city>, we changed our names to Hindu ones and lived with them as their servants.<span style=""> </span>They became our surrogate family and we were treated lovingly, but had to put up a pretence of being servants, in front of other people to not raise suspicion. <span style=""> </span>The head of the household was a gentle kind-hearted man, who was sympathetic to the Sikh cause and he kept in touch with influential Sikhs in the militancy. These Sikhs in turn paid for our upkeep.<span style=""> </span>This family had been helped earlier by Bhindranvale in a dispute about dowry demands in the marriage of their daughter.<span style=""> </span>Living with this family changed my whole outlook on Bhindranvale and what I termed, <i style="">Sikh Terrorists.<span style=""> </span></i>Living in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Amritsar</st1:place></st1:city>, I had easy access to recordings of Bhindranvales speeches and learnt that he was not the monster the media and government had projected him to be.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">When I was 20 years old, I left <st1:city st="on">Amritsar</st1:city> to go to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Germany</st1:place></st1:country-region> and had to leave Parveen in an orphanage. <span style=""> </span>She was than 10 years old. I was married in <st1:state st="on">Berlin</st1:state> to a Sikh through the contacts of my new family of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Amritsar</st1:place></st1:city>. I never tried to contact my real family or Parveen’s, as we would have risked the lives of our new Hindu family and were grateful to just be alive.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I am now 40 years old and live in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Birmingham</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>. Parveen is now 30 years old and is married with one child. We did eventually make contact with our relatives in 1995 when <st1:place st="on">Punjab</st1:place> turned to what some refer to <i style="">‘normality’</i> at the end of the guerrilla warfare.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I am now divorced and can never forget June 1984. The famous verse of <i style="">“I have seen all other places, none compare to you,”</i> in reference to the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Golden</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>, has very different connotations for me and Parveen.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I attend the annual remembrance march in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">London</st1:city></st1:place> in June and rally in Trafalgar square.<span style=""> </span>I mourn for what I witnessed, lived through and live through. <span style=""> </span>I feel a numbness that is indescribable when I think of these events. My only solace in life is meditation, as that is the only escape I have found that works. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I pray for the safety and well-being of all humanity, “Nanak Naam Chardi Kala, Tere Bhane <st1:personname st="on">Sarb</st1:personname>at Da Bhalla” (May the name of God gifted to me by Guru Nanak, keep me in high spirits and I pray for the betterment of all humanity, oh Lord).<span style=""> </span>I have no hatred, enmity or anger towards those that killed my family and so many other Sikhs.<span style=""> </span>My closure is not sought in viewing myself as a victim.<span style=""> </span>Rather I spend my days with resilience as thousands of Sikhs before me have done.<span style=""> </span>Sikhs have been persecuted throughout History.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I hope that Sikhs realise that what happened to us should lead them to take<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>positive action to try and get some redress, or at the very least to not forget.<span style=""> </span>They should open their minds and hearts to the human side of what happened to us as a people.<span style=""> </span>Thousands suffered and live on with horrifying memories.<span style=""> </span>As a community and a people, we don’t like being victims and this is portrayed with the rightful glorification of martyrs.<span style=""> </span>The point I’d like to make is, the martyrs make up a minority and the majority who survived have also suffered immensely but little has been done or is being done to unearth their stories and support them. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";">I still have the cyanide capsule that my brother Seva Singh gave to me.<span style=""> </span>The small time I had with him, inspired me so much that he became my reference point or alter ego and I would think of how he would handle a situation and in this way I always found a solution to my problems.<span style=""> </span>After years of searching I recently found photos of him.<span style=""> </span>I take out the cyanide tablet every year at Rakhria (an Indian festival which marks the vow of protection that a brother gives to his sister and their love), the capsule is then placed in front of his photo and I place my fingers lovingly over his photo and wave my hand over my brow – in the hope that his dust still magically inspires me to live on and be an ounce of the Sikh that he was.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t202" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" stroked="f"><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style=""> <table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td width="156" height="35"></td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td style="vertical-align: top; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;" bgcolor="white" width="484" height="281"><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--><span style="position: absolute; left: 0pt; z-index: 251657728;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td><!--[endif]--> <div shape="_x0000_s1026" style="padding: 3.6pt 7.2pt;" class="shape"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Century Schoolbook","serif";">This is a fictional account which is based upon the real events of June 1984.<span style=""> </span>All of the characters are fictitious, but all the places referred to in the narrative are real, including Ladha Kothi detention centre.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-US"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:106.5pt;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\singh\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png" title="akaal_publishers"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="file:///C:/Users/singh/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.jpg" shapes="_x0000_i1025" width="142" height="168" /><!--[endif]--></span><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Bookman Old Style","serif";">www.akaalpublishers.com<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <!--[if !mso]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-79428058059183557742010-04-19T20:08:00.001+00:002010-04-19T20:08:57.579+00:00Prince battles for Sikh regiment in army<h2 class="asset-name page-header2"><a href="http://news.independentminds.livejournal.com/6781255.html">Prince battles for Sikh regiment in army</a></h2><br /><p> Highly controversial plans to raise a Sikh regiment within the British army has pitched the Prince of Wales into conflict with the Ministry of Defence (MoD).</p><p>The MoD believes that such a force would be divisive and immensely difficult to organise, even though the proposal has the support of some past and present senior officers.</p><p>The Prince, colonel-in-chief of a number of regiments, has taken a keen interest in ethnic minority recruitment and is known to have lobbied for a separate <a name="cutid1"></a>Sikh regiment in meetings with General Sir Charles Guthrie, while he was chief of defence staff.</p><p>Leaders of Britain's half a million Sikhs think the Royal backing significantly boosts their chances of a regiment of their own. They say such an unit will be no different from the Scots, Welsh and Irish Guards or the Gurkhas, and there will be no shortage of young recruits from a community that prides itself on its martial heritage.</p><p>Sikhs have fought for the Crown, from Flanders to Burma, as part of the old British Indian army, with a large number winning decorations for gallantry. They continue to play a central role within the Indian Army and have produced several of the country's chiefs of staff.</p><p>Mohan Singh Gill, one of a group of former servicemen campaigning for the setting up of a regiment, said "The army has a shortfall in recruits and we have young men to fill that. We have a warrior tradition and nothing to prove if you look at our record."</p><p>Harbinder Singh Rana, the chairman of the Maharaja Duleep Singh Sikh Centenary Trust, said "The army should do this because we have a legacy of military achievement with this country. I could give the army 280 names tomorrow."</p><p>Outside consultants brought in by the MoD to attract ethnic recruits have also rejected the Prince's proposals and advised against forming such an unit.</p><p>The MoD points out that a Sikh regiment will be a religious one. There are also logistical problems. There are currently only six Sikh officers and 18 other ranks out of the Army's 105,000 personnel, which would make it impossible to form a purely Sikh officer corps.</p><p>A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Prince of Wales is very interested in the matter of recruitment from ethnic minorities. He believes there should be a debate on this issue and that, of course, includes the Sikhs with their martial traditions." </p><a name="cutid1-end">http://news.independentminds.livejournal.com/6781255.html</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-52255026472852166182010-04-19T19:29:00.002+00:002010-04-19T19:32:11.892+00:00David MilibandWhile I do not endorse Labour or any other politcial party I just came accross a post by David Miliband, Sec of State talking about his visit to Gurdwara in Southall.<br /><br />http://blog.davidmiliband.info/?p=188<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-31306310840371383822010-04-16T11:52:00.001+00:002010-04-16T11:52:54.644+00:00Sikh to take top post at MasterCard<h1 class="rdheadline">Banga to take top post at MasterCard</h1> <p class="rdbyline">THE ASSOCIATED PRESS</p> <!--BEGIN ARTICLE--> <!--IMAGE--><table width="230" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="10"> </td><td><img src="http://www.seattlepi.com/dayart/aponline/20357.06Mastercard-CEO.sff.jpg" alt="photo" width="220" border="0" height="227" /></td></tr> <tr><td width="10"> </td><td><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica;font-size:78%;">In this undated photo provided by Mastercard, President and Chief Operating Officer, Ajay Banga, left, and CEO Robert W. Selander, are shown. Banga will take over as CEO in July.(AP Photo/Mastercard) </span></td></tr></tbody></table><!--END IMAGE--> <p>PURCHASE, N.Y. -- MasterCard said its president and chief operating officer will take over the company's top job and announced Monday that CEO Robert W. Selander will retire at the end of the year.</p> <p>Ajay Banga, 50, becomes CEO in July.</p> <p>During a press conference Monday, Banga said his focus will be on MasterCard's global growth. MasterCard, based in Purchase, N.Y., generates 55 percent of its revenue outside of the U.S.</p> <p>He said by emphasizing local markets, the payments processor can take advantage of its worldwide reach. "Local presence and local thinking is the best way to ensure your ability to grow while you leverage global scale," Banga said.</p> <p>Banga was part of a leadership shake up at Citigroup last year, where he had worked for 13 years. He left the bank in June, following chief financial officer Gary Crittenden, who left the month before.</p> <p>New York-based Citigroup, a major lender in the subprime market, was rocked as the housing bubble burst and the recession took hold.</p> <p>Bana was brought to MasterCard for the top job.</p> <p>Banga's original contract with MasterCard allowed him to leave the company with a $4.2 million signing bonus if it failed to offer him promotion to CEO before June 30.</p> <p> "The news should come as no surprise," wrote Janney Capital Markets analyst Thomas C. McCrohan, noting the contract provisions. He called Banga "an overall highly seasoned executive with broad consumer financial services experience around the globe."</p> <p>Banga had headed Citigroup's Asia Pacific division.</p> <p>Beyond its core business of debit, credit and prepaid cards, Banga said Monday that he sees e-commerce and mobile commerce as key components of MasterCard's future.</p> <p>The incoming CEO pointed to one example as a model for the types of opportunities ahead: last week's announcement of a deal between MasterCard and NextJump to provide online shopping tailored to a customer's prior spending.</p> <p>Mobile commerce, particularly smart-phone based money transfers and payments, is another arena he targets for expansion, pointing to pilot projects in local markets around the world that are already under way.</p> <p>Brazil, China and India are among the markets MasterCard will emphasize, he said.</p> <p>Selander, 59, will stay on as executive vice chairman and board member until he retires on Dec. 31. He has been the company's CEO since 1997.</p> <p>MasterCard said in February its fourth-quarter profit rose 23 percent as it raised fees to offset fading credit card use in the U.S. Revenue rose to $1.3 billion, from $1.22 billion a year ago.</p> <p>Shares of MasterCard Inc. rose 69 cents to close at $259.57 Monday.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-8806438118494186712010-04-04T15:45:00.002+00:002010-04-04T15:55:51.580+00:00honesty<p>>>> vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ke fateh<br /></p><p>>>> pyare jio, a nice post forwarded to me by a local Gursikh.....<br /></p><p>>>> Several years ago, a gyanee from out-of-town accepted a call to a<br /> >>> Gurdwara in canada<br /></p><p>>>> Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from<br /> >>> his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the<br />>>> driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong<br /> >>> to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who<br />>>> would worry about this little amount?<br /> </p><p>>>> Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it.<br />>>> Accept it as a gift from Vaheguru and keep quiet.<br /></p><p>>>> When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed<br />>>> the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change."<br /></p><p>>>> The driver, with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the new Gyanee in<br /> >>> town? I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I<br />>>> just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I ' ll<br />>>> see you at gurdwara on Sunday."<br /></p><p>>>> When the Gyanee stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the<br />>>> nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh Vaheguru, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."<br /></p><p>>>> Our lives are the only Teachings some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Sikhs and will put us to the test! Always be on guard -- and remember -- You carry the name of Guru ji on your shoulders when you call yourself "sikh."<br /></p><p>>>> Watch your thoughts; they become words.<br /></p><p>>>> Watch your words; they become actions.<br /></p><p>>>> Watch your actions; they become habits.<br /></p><p>>>> Watch your habits; they become character.<br /></p><p>>>> Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.<br /></p>>>> vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ke fateh<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-1136277342560624822010-04-04T15:38:00.001+00:002010-04-04T15:40:04.169+00:00Comments of British Generals<p>These comments of British Generals regarding the Sikhs and their Turban.<br />These quotes are from my book, How Europe is Indebted to the Sikhs - Role of<br />Sikhs in Europe <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/2930247126/smallbusin0f7-20&usg=AFQjCNEbQhHhgY-pCiUZK2h-TkDn5kbpDA">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/2930247126/smallbusin0f7-20</a> during WW II, Vol. II.<br />- Bhupinder Singh (Holland) </p><p><br /></p><p>Lt.General Sir Reginald Savory K.G.T., C.B., D.S.O., M.C. states in a letter<br />to Mrs.G.Scott, Scientific Section, House of Commons Library:<br /></p><p>"... I have known Sikhs to pick bullets out of their turbans during and<br />after battle. In fact the turban absorbs the shock of a bullet possibly<br />rather better than a tin helmet. If the turban is properly tied, it will<br />also form an effective buffer too, for instance from a toss from a motor<br />bicycle.<br /></p><p>During World War 1, when the steel helmet was first introduced, we British<br />Officers of Sikh Regiments tried to persuade our men to wear them, but they<br />steadfastly refused, and have done so ever since."<br /></p><p>A letter from Major General B.W.Key, C.B., D.S.O., M.C. to Gyani Sundar<br />Singh Sagar states:<br /></p><p>"... At the outbreak of World War II I was serving at A.H.Q. (Army<br />Headquarters). Shortly after I was sent for by the C. in C. General Sir<br />Robert Cassells. He asked me if the Sikh Regiment was prepared to wear steel<br />helmets. I replied that they had not done so in World War I, that it was<br />contrary to their religion, that we had never interfered with religious<br />tenets, and was it worthwhile arousing strong feelings to reduce head<br />injuries by an infinitesimal proportion? I also pointed out that the Sikh<br />Pagri (Turban) was a very good protection in itself to head wounds.<br /></p><p>This latter point I would emphasise as regards riding motor bicycles. There<br />is no question that the Pagri offers greater protection than an ordinary hat<br />or cap.<br /></p><p>The reasons given above were accepted by the C. in C. India. Sikhs did not<br />have to wear steel helmets, and I hope the same reasons will satisfy the<br />Government."<br /></p><p>A letter from Col. H.A.Hughes, D.S.O., M.B.E., D.L., and J.P. to Gyani<br />Sundar Singh Sagar:<br /></p><p>"Thank you for your letter of 6th August 1975 enclosing Sir Reginald<br />Savory's letter. May I say I entirely agree with all that the General says.<br />I was in the 2nd Royal Battalion Sikh Regiment during the Frontier Campaign<br />of 1936-38 on the N.W.Frontier of India.<br /></p><p>My Regiment consisted entirely of Sikhs and of course they always wore the<br />Khaki Safa (Turban to the uninitiated!)<br /></p><p>During World War II I commanded the 4/16th Punjab Regiment from the battle<br />of El Alamein to Tunis. In this battalion I had a company of Sikhs plus<br />those in H.Q. Company. They all wore the Safa and I certainly had no more<br />head wounds in this battalion than in any other battalion in which the<br />soldiers were wearing steel helmets.<br /></p><p>In Great Britain we claim to support religious tolerance. Why therefore<br />should we try to force someone to do something which is definitely against<br />his religious convictions?<br /></p><p>The Sikhs have fought for us in so many campaigns and laid down their lives<br />for us - I consider that we owe them a great deal and have now a chance to<br />repay our debts in a small way by allowing them to wear Turbans instead of<br />crash helmets while driving motor cycles.<br /></p><p>I give you my full support in your struggle to get exemption and wish you<br />the best of luck."<br /></p><p>In "The Sikh Regiment In The Second World War" by Colonel F.T. Birdwood,<br />O.B.E., the last words of the foreword of this book written by General Sir<br />Frank Messervy, K.C.S.I., K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O. state<br /></p><p>"Finally we that live on can never forget those comrades who, in giving<br />their lives, gave so much that are great and good to the story of the Sikh<br />Regiment. No living glory can transcend that of their supreme sacrifice. May<br />they rest in peace.<br /></p><p>In the last Two World Wars 83,005 turban wearing Sikh soldiers were killed<br />and 109,045 were wounded. They all died or were wounded for the freedom of<br />Britain and the World, enduring shellfire with no other protection but the<br />turban, the symbol of their faith."<br /></p><p>Turban vs. Helmet<br /></p><p>In the early days of World II (1939-1945) the Sikh Regimental Center, then<br />known as 10th Battalion the Sikh Regiment, was stationed in Nowshera (now in<br />Pakistan), when I got enrolled in June 1940.<br /></p><p>I recollect that Maj Gern Kilroy (who had earlier commanded its No: 4<br />Company as a Captain) was deputed by the Army HQ (then called General HQ) to<br />visit the Training Center to convince and persuade the Sikh soldiers being<br />drafted to the European War Zone, to wear helmets (even over their turbans )<br />to protect themselves from sustaining head injuries. The entire gathering<br />opposed the idea.<br /></p><p>Ultimately he came forward with a bet that let any one soldier accompany me<br />to the battle field where heavy shelling is going on. If that person yet<br />refuses to wear a helmet, I will reward him with Rs. 100 and in case he then<br />wares it, he will pay me Rs.1 only for losing the bet. (In those days a<br />soldier's monthly salary was only Rs.16).<br /></p>He was astounded to see that all the listeners raised their hands, in<br />acceptance of the challenge. He left the stage with a smile and submitted<br />his findings to Army HQ, where the idea was nipped in the bud for good.<br />- Gurbachan Singh Bedi, Ottawa, Canada.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-44664592430243408582010-04-04T15:35:00.001+00:002010-04-04T15:35:54.536+00:00What should Pope Benedict XVI do?<div id="page1"><p>Interesting article below</p><div class="headline"><h1>What should Pope Benedict XVI do?</h1></div><div class="clear"> </div><span class="name">By Ajit Singh Sahota, Citizen Special</span><span class="timestamp">April 3, 2010</span><p>This matter relates to one religion, and I wonder if it was a fair question to ask the other religious communities! However, no religion or institution is immune to such tragedies and betrayal on a large scale. The issue of victimization of people in any place of worship or by a religious authority figure is an important one, and one that all communities face, not just the Roman Catholic Church.</p><p>Public media reports suggest that the abuse was widespread in the Catholic Church, and that proper, timely action may not have taken place. At this juncture, Pope Benedict XVI must be working on what he should do; all we can say is what any institution should do in face of such allegations.</p><p>Sikhs are taught to respect all religions equally. Sikh Gurus and their followers suffered brutal oppression with sacrifices and extreme physical tortures, for "freedom of religion." Sikh religion is a very young religion as compared to others. In India five centuries ago, the masses were oppressed by the rulers and the priestly classes of the dominant religions at that time.</p><p>There are many verses in Sikh Scriptures identifying that "we all are fallible, Guru Creator Alone is infallible." Guru Nanak said, "I am not good and no one is bad, Wondrous Lord alone is the Saviour of mortals." It is the same One Lord that resides in all of us. Errors in judgment and crimes committed by some clergy must be addressed according to the laws of various jurisdictions.</p><p>It should be an opportune time for members of clergy at all levels of religious institutions worldwide to acknowledge the need for the healing of victims of abuse.</p><p>The Catholic Church would be best served by leading efforts to facilitate victims' healing and to prevent further abuse. Some examples could be: providing victims access to funds for counselling and other healing therapies; establishing accountable protocols and positions that may receive anonymous reports of abuse by clergy and are mandated to investigate and force appropriate action. This should be seen as an invaluable opportunity for religious institution reform.</p><p>In the Sikh religion, the Guru eliminated the need for clergy altogether, by ordering Sikhs to receive all instruction directly from the Shabad Guru (Word ) in Sikh Scriptures, for a direct communion with the Supreme Power rather than through any intermediaries such as priests.</p><p>The abode of God is in all beings and everywhere.</p><p>Ajit Singh Sahota is a retired biologist from Agriculture Canada and a founding member of the Sikh National Archives of Canada; he was president of the World Sikh Organization of Canada from 2001 to 2005.</p><div class="copyright">© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen<br />http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/What+should+Pope+Benedict/2760037/story.html<br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-72386425689424813242010-03-28T08:04:00.003+00:002010-03-28T08:12:23.568+00:00Jasvir Kaur: UNITED SIKHS Haiti humanitarian aid volunteerExcellent article on UNITED SIKHS AID volunteer out in Haiti. Below is a snippet I have taken from interview.<br /><br /><a href="http://sikhchic.com/article-detail.php?id=1349&cat=8">Jasvir Kaur: A Life Well Lived</a><br /><br /><p> She is not a woman of complicated words, just simple actions. </p> <p> I came across Jasvir Kaur towards the end of 2004, on a trip to Chicago where I was invited to speak at the IFCAPS (Institute for Conflict and Peace Studies) Conference - on the topic of Sikh women and their place in society today. </p><p> This International Woman's week at sikhchic.com, I am honored to bring you Jasvir Kaur Singh ... in her own words. </p> <p> <strong><em>Jasvir, what can you tell us about yourself? </em></strong> </p> <p> I am a pharmacist. I moved to Chicago from Punjab in 1980 in my elementary school years. My free time is spent doing yoga, listening to music (Punjabi folk, classical Indian, Sufi, R & B, etc.). I also love biking, hiking, running and spoiling my nieces. </p> <p> <strong><em>What do you want to be when you grow up?</em></strong> </p> <p> A helpful, genuine and dedicated GurSikh. </p> <strong><em>Why does the seva concept of Sikhi appeal to you the most? </em></strong> <p> It is a positive way to impact your own life as well as the life of others. Because humans are co-dependent on one another, it forms a brother/ sisterhood despite man-made biases and boundaries. </p> <p> <strong><em>How did you get involved </em><em>with volunteerism in the field of humanitarian aid? </em></strong> </p> <p> After graduating from pharmacy school, I felt fortunate to be educated and thankful to the Guru for blessing me with Sikhi. I felt it was my duty to now empower others that may not have the same opportunities as I have had. I went to India for a year to volunteer. </p> <p> A lesson I learnt was that to blindly give my donations to an organization is irresponsible. I was able to see first hand where the sangat's money was going and it wasn't to the orphan children, widowed mothers and the poor, as promised in speeches at gurdwara fundraisers. </p> From then on, I made a promise to myself that along with giving monetary donations (daswandh), I would also give my time in helping others. So, the journey began. <p> <strong><em>What are your personal ruminations from these trips?</em></strong> </p> <p> The tsunami experience was interesting; I learned that people have different definitions of seva. It is difficult to find people who give selflessly without want of fame and glory. </p> <p> My most recent trip to Haiti taught me how little I appreciate my life and good fortune. This impoverished nation with a country of now homeless people taught me that genuine happiness and wealth lies in strong faith in God and simplicity in life. </p> <p> Although the Haitian patients lie in the hospital beds with no home to go after being released, mothers with their children would throw their hands up and sing praises of God for being alive. I saw no anger or resentment, just praises and acceptance of God's Will. Even though their day to day needs were not met, they stood resilient. </p> The respect we were given when we went to a poor village by the pastor of the community is unforgettable.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.sikhchic.com/cms/articles/photo1/jasvir-b.jpg" alt="" /><br /><p> <strong><em>What areas were you able to contribute in? </em></strong> </p> The medical field - helping doctors cleaning wounds and applying medication. Also helped organize and set up pharmacies with the medicinal donations sent from around the world. <p> <strong><em>What are the Haitians in most need of in the short term and long term? What can Sikhs provide? </em></strong> </p> <p> They still need the basics - food, water, medical help. Long term, they need housing, health and hygiene, medical care, but most of all, education. </p> <p> The Sikh community can provide both short and long term needs. We are doing an excellent job with langar seva and in the medical field already. I believe long term is imperative for them to rise above their impoverished state of being that was there even before the quake hit. </p><p><br /></p>Read more: http://www.sikhchic.com/article-detail.php?cat=8&id=1349<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-26591463487282072912010-01-17T07:09:00.001+00:002010-01-17T07:24:12.799+00:00Haiti needs YOU!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RY7RaMFeK60/S1K6x_iB6YI/AAAAAAAAAKA/1P0Ltw5dggo/s1600-h/UNITED+SIKHS-UK+Haiti+appeal+poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RY7RaMFeK60/S1K6x_iB6YI/AAAAAAAAAKA/1P0Ltw5dggo/s400/UNITED+SIKHS-UK+Haiti+appeal+poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427605868965390722" border="0" /></a><br />You have seen the devastation of Haiti on TV. Now please switch on to their needs. The UNITED SIKHS team , headed by Lt Col Gurbachan Singh and 4 volunteers including doctors, has arrived in Haiti through the neighbouring islands. They have found that looting and devastation is painful to describe. They have set up a base camp and and wish to set up a langgar service (hot community meal) and distribute food and medical supplies urgently.<br /><br />See the UNITED SIKHS appeal poster attached . Please put it up an your local Gurdwara or community centre.<br /><br />We need your help.<br /><br />If you can volunteer in Haiti please Join UNITED SIKHS at www.untedsikhs.org/join and you will receive an automatic email acknowledgment with a link to a health history form and a volunteer application form for field projects. Kindly fill both forms and email them to volunteer@unitedsikhs.org asap.<br />If you would like to donate , you may do so online at www.unitedsikhs.org/join, or post a cheque, payable to UNITED SIKHS, to us at PO BOX 43799 8SS<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-58748358894886570062009-12-28T07:11:00.001+00:002009-12-28T07:14:11.949+00:00Flying USADecember 27 2009<br />14th Poh (Samvat 541 Nanakshahi) <br /> <br />Press Release<br />Are your Travelling in bound to the United States. What does it mean to YOU?<br /><br />New York, NY, Dec 26, 2009: Your safety is our priority. Passengers flying from International locations to U.S. destinations may notice additional security measures in place. Since the recent airport high alert on all in-bound flights to the United States, you will find that you are being screened for turbans at the airports and maybe profiled. Additionally due to the busy holiday travel season, both domestic and international travelers should allot extra time for check-in. <br />Passengers travelling internationally could see:<br /><br />Increased security screening at gates and when they check their bags, as well as additional measures on flights such as stowing carry-ons and personal items before the plane lands.<br />Expect delays on US-bound flights. Keep in mind this is a holiday season and the busiest time of the year.<br />US-bound flights have been restricted for one carry-on item.<br />Sikh passengers have been known to be targets for increased security checks and associated harassments worldwide. Recently, a Sikh passenger was harassed in Poland during a security procedure at the airport without any justified reason. <br />We are seeing an increased number of cases where Sikhs returning from Pakistan after a visit to the Sikh shrines have to undergo excessive screening, delays and harassment at the US airports on in bound flights. This screening then becomes a pattern under which they get screened/harassed and delayed following on every International flight in bound to the United States of America. <br />Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement Saturday that passengers flying to the U.S. from overseas may notice extra security. However, she said "the measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere."<br /><br />UNITED SIKHS is closely monitoring complaints of harassment from Sikh passengers for International in-bound flights and will take the issues on a case by case basis with the TSA and Department of Homeland Security. For this we need your help and request you to report your experience at all International Airports by filling in the form available at: http://unitedsikhs.org/exp-at-americanairports<br />Report all Turban (dastaar) related harassment experiences at the USA airports or International airports at http://unitedsikhs.org/turban_screening<br />If you feel that you have been racially profiled, if in the USA, please call us at: <br />1-888-243-1690 or from outside the USA at 001-646-688-3525. You can write to us at law@unitedsikhs.org<br />Resources for Travellers:<br />Helpful Hints for Holiday Travellers: http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/civilrights/travelers.shtm<br />Flight Delay Information- Air Traffic Control System Command Center: http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/usmap.jsp (Check with your airline if your flight is affected here.Information on wait times at security checkpoints is available here.)<br />Department of Homeland Security’s Traveller Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP) http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/customer/redress/index.shtm<br />TSA Claims management Branch: Department of Homeland http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/customer/claims/index.shtm<br />Airport Checked Baggage Guidance Material: http://www.tsa.gov/research/checked_baggage_material.shtm<br />Civl Rights for Travellers (Office of Civil Rights and Liberties): http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/civilrights/travelers.shtm<br />The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA):<br />Overview: http://www.tsa.gov/research/foia/index.shtm<br />Department of Homeland Security FOIA: http://www.dhs.gov/xfoia/editorial_0579.shtm<br />United States Coast Guard FOIA: http://www.uscg.mil/global/foia.asp<br />United States Secret Service: http://www.treas.gov/usss/foia.shtml<br />For an earlier press-release on this issue read: http://unitedsi khs.org/PressRe leases/PRSRLS-1 4-12-2009-00.ht ml<br /><br />Issued By:<br />Legal Coordinator - West Coast<br />Amardeep Singh<br />Phone: 646-315-3909/408-838-2264<br />Email: law-usa@unitedsikhs.org<br /><br /> <br />Keep in Mind <br />1) Report your Turban (Dastaar) related harassment experiences on all in-bound and local flights in or to USA at http://unitedsikhs.org/turban_screening<br /><br />2) If you are continuously harassed on all US inbound international flights, immediately do the following-<br /><br />a) Apply for a DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS Trip) by filing a complaint at: http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1169676919316.shtm <br /><br />b) Report your experience at http://unitedsikhs.org/exp-at-americanairports<br /><br />3) The original and revised Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Guidelines can be read at http://www.unitedsikhs.org/FAAGuidelines.pdf<br /><br />4) Travel Screening procedures are available at the UNITED SIKHS website at: http://www.unitedsikhs.org/turbanscreening/TSA-KYR.doc<br /><br />Contact Us<br />To Contact UNITED SIKHS, please visit: www.unitedsikhs.org/contact.php<br /><br /> OUR MISSION<br />To transform underprivileged and minority communities and individuals into informed and vibrant members of society through civic, educational and personal development programs, by fostering active participation in social and economic activity.<br /><br />UNITED SIKHS is also an avenue for networking between like-minded organisations to establish and nurture meaningful projects and dialogues - whether social, cultural or political- to promote harmony, understanding and reciprocity in our villages, towns and cities.<br /><br />UNITED SIKHS is a coalition of organisations and individuals, who share a common vision based on the belief that there is no greater endeavour than to serve, empower and uplift fellow beings. The core of our philosophy is an unwavering commitment to civic service and social progress on behalf of the common good.<br /><br />Accordingly, UNITED SIKHS has sought to fulfil its mission not only by informing, educating and uplifting fellow beings but also by participating in cross-cultural and political exchanges to ensure that the promises and benefits of democracy are realized by all.<br /><br />We at UNITED SIKHS believe that the development of enlightened and progressive societies can be made possible by socially conscious groups of people who make a commitment to develop and direct human potential. Our work, efforts and achievements stand as a testament to our faith in this vision.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-35169980460715333332009-12-19T16:23:00.002+00:002009-12-19T16:26:05.332+00:00Giani Ji's Katha - The futureGiani Thankur singh Katha on future and what will happen. I haven't listened to it all but here is link.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.scottishsikhs.org/audio_files/mp3//Edinburgh/Giani%20Thakur%20Singh%20Ji%20Patiale%20Wale%20-%2009-12-09/Katha%20-%20Giani%20Thakur%20Singh%20Ji%20Patiale%20Wale%20-%2009-12-09.mp3">Link</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-3211115557576359082009-12-09T17:15:00.001+00:002009-12-09T17:18:57.044+00:00Sikhs in hospital in Ludhiana, Panjab from attacksFor background information on the violent attacks by authorities on Sikh protestors Sikhs please see <a href="http://manvirsingh.blogspot.com/2009/12/sikhs-attacked-in-ludhiana-panjab.html">Attacked in Ludhiana, Panjab</a><br /><h3 class="post-title"><br /></h3><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/T5NAvLbcKMs&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/T5NAvLbcKMs&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-87587181335601857752009-11-30T09:29:00.001+00:002009-11-30T09:29:52.261+00:00Thought for Today: Sikh Philosophy and History<div>Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh</div> <div> </div> <div>One of the countless expamples of the Sikh's courage comes at the battle of Kohima, Burma in 1944. The 15rh Sikh Regiment headed by Naik Gian Singh was facing defeat. The Sikh solidiers wer well entrenched in teh sweltering swamps of Burmese jungles. The Japanese, better suited and well motivated were strongly pushing westward to the plains of India. As the merciless machine gun shots from the Japanese foxholes burst from the bush, Gian Singh pushed forward with his men behind him, he ordered his men to cover him as he single handedly cleared foxhole after foxhole.</div> <div> </div> <div>Despite being severely wounded, he continued to push through the intense fire and cleared a stragegically vital road, The Japanese were forced to retreat. Gian Singh received the Victoria Cross, the highest order of gallantry in the British Army at the end of the war.</div> <div> </div> <div>Today in the Kohima cemetery, among the 1,378 grave markers is the famous Kohima memorial with its historic incription:</div> <div> </div> <div>"When you go home tell them of us, and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today"</div> <div> </div> <div> <table summary="This table contains a full size picture with descriptive text below, this table is used for display purposes only" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" width="100%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="middle"> </td></tr> <tr> <td align="middle"><img alt="Photo of Naik (Corporal) Gian Singh VC 15th Punjab Regiment" src="http://www.wewerethere.defencedynamics.mod.uk/wewerethere_old/images/hrphot_06-03.jpg" width="430" height="391" /> </td></tr> <tr> <td align="middle">Naik (Corporal) Gian Singh VC<br />15th Punjab Regiment </td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div> </div> <div>Bhul chuk dhi khima, H</div> <div> </div> <div>Source: <a href="http://www.boss-uk.org/" target="_blank">www.boss-uk.org</a></div> <div>Picture: Naik Gian Singh</div> <div> </div> <div>Contributed by UNITED SIKHS Volunteer, Harbans Kaur</div> <div> </div> <div>Regards!!<br />Administrator</div> UNITED SIKHS<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-53476266099839295422009-11-15T13:51:00.001+00:002009-11-15T13:53:01.292+00:00FT article on Darbar Sahib<span style="font-weight: bold;">The holy city of Amritsar<br /></span>http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/ff70c156-cfe0-11de-a36d-00144feabdc0.html<br /><div class="ft-story-header"><p>By James Lamont </p><p>Published: November 13 2009 23:45 | Last updated: November 13 2009 23:45</p></div><script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> function floatContent(){var paraNum = "3" paraNum = paraNum - 1;var tb = document.getElementById('floating-con');var nl = document.getElementById('floating-target');if(tb.getElementsByTagName("div").length> 0){if (nl.getElementsByTagName("p").length>= paraNum){nl.insertBefore(tb,nl.getElementsByTagName("p")[paraNum]);}else {if (nl.getElementsByTagName("p").length == 3){nl.insertBefore(tb,nl.getElementsByTagName("p")[2]);}else {nl.insertBefore(tb,nl.getElementsByTagName("p")[0]);}}}}</script><table id="U220131577693cIH" align="center" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="470"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="center" width="100%"><img alt="The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India" src="http://media.ft.com/cms/1053807c-cffe-11de-a36d-00144feabdc0.jpg" align="left" width="470" height="271" /></td></tr><tr><td align="left" valign="center" width="100%"><span class="gen-freestyle-fsmaller">The Golden Temple in Amritsar</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Amritsar was the first place to which Manmohan Singh, the prime minister of India, travelled after convalescing from heart surgery earlier this year. The dignified Singh, India’s first Sikh prime minister, went from New Delhi to Amritsar, a dusty city in north-west India, to give thanks for his life. Amritsar is to the Sikh what Jerusalem is to the Christian and Jew, Mecca to the Muslim and Varanasi to the Hindu. The Golden Temple, or Darbar Sahib, is the holiest Sikh shrine.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-40910984804985947722009-10-18T09:23:00.002+00:002009-10-18T09:37:25.198+00:00Raag Darbar AmritsarAmritsar Raag Kirtan Darbaar 2009 recordings<br />http://gaavosachibani.net/KeertanSamagams.aspx?&AlbumID=A0008<br /><br /><a href="http://gaavosachibani.net/Kirtan/Raag%20Darbar%20-%2008%20Oct%2009/Prof.%20Kartar%20Singh%20-%20Raag%20Darbar%202009.mp3">Prof Kartar Singh</a><br /><a href="http://gaavosachibani.net/Kirtan/Raag%20Darbar%20-%2008%20Oct%2009/Bhai%20Balbir%20Singh%20-%20Raag%20Darbar%202009.mp3">Bhai Balbir Singh Amritsar</a><br /><a href="http://gaavosachibani.net/Kirtan/Raag%20Darbar%20-%2008%20Oct%2009/Bhai%20Gurmeet%20Singh%20-%20Raag%20Darbar%202009.mp3" class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'">Bhai Gurmeet Singh Jee Shant </a><br /><a class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'"></a><a href="http://gaavosachibani.net/Kirtan/Raag%20Darbar%20-%2008%20Oct%2009/Bhai%20Harjinder%20Singh%20-%20Raag%20Darbar%202009.mp3">Bhai Harjinder Singh Jee (Sri Nagar Wale) </a><br /><a class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'"></a><a href="http://gaavosachibani.net/Kirtan/Raag%20Darbar%20-%2008%20Oct%2009/Bhai%20Manjeet%20Singh%20-%20Raag%20Darbar%202009.mp3">Bhai Manjeet Singh Jee (Hazoori Ragi Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar) </a><br /><a class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'"></a><a href="http://gaavosachibani.net/Kirtan/Raag%20Darbar%20-%2008%20Oct%2009/Bhai%20Niranjan%20Singh%20-%20Raag%20Darbar%202009.mp3">Bhai Niranjan Singh Jee (Jawadi Kalan Wale)</a><br /><a class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'"></a><a href="http://gaavosachibani.net/Kirtan/Raag%20Darbar%20-%2008%20Oct%2009/Bhai%20Nirmal%20Singh%20-%20Raag%20Darbar%202009.mp3">Bhai Nirmal Singh Jee Khalsa (Hazoori Ragi Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar)</a><br /><a href="http://gaavosachibani.net/Kirtan/Raag%20Darbar%20-%2008%20Oct%2009/Bhai%20Sarabjeet%20Singh%20-%20Raag%20Darbar%202009.mp3" class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'">Bhai Sarabjeet Singh Jee (Hazoori Ragi Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar) </a><a class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'"><br /></a><a class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'"></a><a href="http://gaavosachibani.net/Kirtan/Raag%20Darbar%20-%2008%20Oct%2009/Bhai%20Sarabjit%20Singh%20Rangela%20-%20Raag%20Darbar%202009.mp3">Bhai Sarabjeet Singh Jee (Durg Wale) </a><br /><a href="http://gaavosachibani.net/Kirtan/Raag%20Darbar%20-%2008%20Oct%2009/Bibi%20Ashupreet%20Kaur%20-%20Raag%20Darbar%202009.mp3" class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'">Bibi Ashupreet Kaur (Ludhiana Wale) </a><a class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'"><br /></a><a href="http://gaavosachibani.net/Kirtan/Raag%20Darbar%20-%2008%20Oct%2009/Chardikala%20Jatha%20%28USA%29%20-%20Raag%20Darbar%202009.mp3">Chardikala Jatha (USA) </a><a class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'"><br /></a><a href="http://gaavosachibani.net/Kirtan/Raag%20Darbar%20-%2008%20Oct%2009/Dr%20Gurnam%20Singh%20-%20Raag%20Darbar%202009.mp3" class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'">Dr. Gurnaam Singh Jee (Patiala Wale) </a><a class="ToolText" onmouseover="javascript:this.className='ToolTextHover'" onmouseout="javascript:this.className='ToolText'"><br /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-34529347842941114422009-10-03T15:40:00.002+00:002009-10-03T15:46:46.147+00:00Two place God does not reside<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="400" height="300"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=e0c6da0c90&photo_id=3945167925"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=e0c6da0c90&photo_id=3945167925" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Video from http://www.flickr.com/photos/imindersingh/<br />Bhai Surjeet Singh at Khalsa Camp 2009, http://www.khalsacamp.com<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-7497352019158537552009-09-29T19:36:00.001+00:002009-09-29T19:37:58.183+00:0019th Century Necklace Owned by Wife of Last Sikh Ruler Ranjit Singh for Sale at Bonhams<p align="justify">LONDON: An important 19TH Century emerald and seed-pearl Necklace from the Lahore Treasury, reputedly worn by Maharani Jindan Kaur wife of Ranjit Singh, the Lion of the Punjab (1780–1839), is for sale in Bonhams next Indian and Islamic sale on 8th October 2009 in New Bond Street. </p> <p align="justify">The necklace has six polished emerald beads, one later converted to a pendant, each bead gold-mounted and fringed with seed-pearl drop tassels, fastened with a gold clasp. It comes with a fitted cloth covered case, the inside of the lid inscribed: "From the Collection of the Court of Lahore formed by HH The Maharajah Runjeet Singh & lastly worn by Her Highness The Late Maharanee Jeddan Kower" It is estimated to sell for £25,000-35,000.</p><p align="justify">This rare necklace comes from the Collection of Maharajah Ranjit Singh and Maharani Jindan Kaur (1817-63), which was sold by Frazer and Hawes from Garrards, Regent Street, London. </p><p align="justify">Between 1849 and 1850, when the British took control of the court in Lahore, they entered the Treasury, where they found the court jewels wrapped in cloth. The Treasury was fabled to be the greatest and largest treasure ever found. The most famous and well-known jewels were taken away as gifts for Queen Victoria, including the Koh-i Noor and the Timur Ruby. </p><p align="justify">The Maharani Jindan Kaur was born in 1817 in Chahar, Sialkhot, Punjab. Of humble origins, she was the daughter of Manna Singh Aulak, the Royal Kennel Keeper at the Court of Lahore. She grew into a young lady of exquisite beauty and came to the attention of Maharajah Ranjit Singh at a young age. Manna Singh was reported to have pestered the Maharajah, promising that his daughter would make him youthful again. In 1835, she became Ranjit Singh's seventeenth wife and in 1838 bore him a son, Duleep. Duleep was his last child and just ten months later Ranjit Singh died following a stroke. Jindan was the Maharajah's only surviving widow, rejecting the practice of 'Sati' or throwing herself on the funeral pyre with his other wives, choosing to bring up her young son instead. </p><p align="justify">Ranjit Singh's empire stretched from the Indian Ocean to the Himalayas, with its southern boundary bordering British India. His court was fabled for its patronage of the arts and sciences, and for its riches. </p><p align="justify">The Russian painter Alexis Solykoff wrote on visiting the court: "What a sight! I could barely believe my eyes. Everything glittered with precious stones and the brightest colours arranged in harmonious combinations". Upon the Maharajah's death, his body was carried through the streets to his funeral pyre in a golden ship, "with sails of gilt cloth to waft him into paradise'. I</p><p align="justify">mmediately after his death, Ranjit Singh's golden empire began to crumble. His eldest son, Kharak Singh took the throne, but was murdered two years later; the reign of Sher Singh was similarly short-lived and he was assassinated in 1843, upon which Duleep was proclaimed Maharajah at the age of five, with his maternal uncle as Prime Minister and his mother, Jindan, as Regent. His uncle's position as Prime Minister was brief, after the Khalsa Army declared him a traitor and killed him. As Jindan came to power, she was swiftly confronted by the British army that had moved to her southern border in the hope of conquering one of the last independent states of northern India. </p><p align="justify">As Regent, Jindan became a thorn in the side of the East India Company. She waged two unsuccessful wars against the British, the First and Second Anglo-Sikh Wars of 1846-49, which brought about the annexation of the Punjab. In 1846 she was deposed as Regent and in February 1847 the British took possession of the capital, Lahore, installing Sir Henry Lawrence as British Resident to oversee their affairs.</p><p align="justify">The British continued to see her as a major threat to their control of the Punjab, since she was instrumental in organising Sikh resistance, rallying her armies to battle and plotting rebellion against the British. Thus in August 1847, to halt her influence on the young king, Duleep was sent away from the palace and Jindan was ordered by Sir Henry Lawrence to the Summan Tower of Lahore Fort and was then was incarcerated in the fort at Sheikhurpura. After being moved around several prisons, in 1849 she escaped from British captivity at Chunar Fort, leaving a note for the British: "You put me in a cage and locked me up. For all your locks and your sentries, I got out by magic....I had told you plainly not to push me too hard – but don't think I ran away, understand well that I escape by myself unaided...When I quit the fort of Chunar I threw down two papers on my gaddi and one I threw on a European charpoy, now don't imagine I got out like a thief!". Disguised as a beggar woman, she fled to the Himalayas, where she found troubled sanctuary in Kathmandu, Nepal. All her jewels and gold that had been left in the government treasure in Benares were confiscated, with the added threat that if she went to Nepal she would lose her pension as well. </p><p align="justify">In Kathmandu, she lived under the protection of the Nepalese King and government, and spent her time studying scriptures and doing charitable work through a temple she had built near her house. Life was not easy for her and she was kept as a virtual prisoner with a meagre allowance. Under pressure from the British officials at Kathmandu, who portrayed her as dangerous with her alleged efforts to create disaffection against the British, the Nepalese imposed humiliating restrictions upon her. </p><p align="justify">The young Maharajah, Duleep, was moved to Fategarh, where he lived under the guardianship of Dr John Login and his wife, and eventually arrived in Britain in 1854, at the age of sixteen, where he was adopted as a godson by Queen Victoria. Under the influence of the Logins, he converted to Christianity and was brought up as a young English gentleman. In 1860, Duleep sent his native attendant to Kathmandu to find out about his mother and a report came back through the British resident at Nepal that: "The Rani had much changed, was blind and lost much of her energy, which formerly characterised her, taking little interest in what was going on". The Governor General agreed to a meeting based on this report of the Rani's condition, thinking that the last queen of the Punjab no longer posed a threat. </p><p align="justify">In 1860, tired of her exile and isolation, and the indignity she was made to suffer, she travelled to meet her son in Calcutta. For the first time in thirteen and a half years, they were reunited at Spence's Hotel in January 1861. Duleep found her almost blind and suffering from poor health. He offered her a house in Calcutta, but she expressed her wish to stay with her son, following years of enforced separation. And so it was agreed that the Rani would travel to England. Her private property and jewels, previously taken by the British authorities, would be restored to her on the basis that she left India and in addition she would be granted a pension of £3,000 per annum. Her jewels were returned to her at Calcutta at the start of the journey. </p><p align="justify">On the 1st August 1863, Jindan died in her Kensington home in the country of her sworn enemy, just two and a half years after being reunited with her son and leaving him inconsolable. In 1864, permission was granted to take the body to India, which had been her dying wish, and she was cremated at Bombay (Duleep was not allowed to go to the Punjab), her ashes scattered on the Godavai and a small memorial or samadh erected on the left bank. In 1924, her ashes were later moved to Lahore by her grand-daughter Princess Bamba Sutherland, and deposited at the samadh of Ranjit Singh. Finally the 'Messalina of the Punjab' returned home to rest. </p><p align="justify">Courtesy-bonhams.com</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-32299734022594784982009-09-29T16:45:00.001+00:002009-09-29T16:46:32.339+00:00Argentina<h1>Sikhs seize onto culture in remote Argentina</h1><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pqzMgznE2w<br /><br />True parchar would be going to places like this and supporting the sangat with Gurmat vichaar smagams and camps to ensure Sikhi remains generation after generation.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-54254805394150336022009-09-25T09:34:00.003+00:002009-09-25T09:49:35.822+00:00Remember the Battle of Saraghari - 12th September 1897 - "greatest act of courage in military history"<p>12th September 1897 </p><p>Described by British military historians as the "greatest act of courage in military history" "Of courage and braveryA tale be told Long forgotten, brought forthFrom the memories of the old.Of 21 men who Died at duty's callWho laid down their livesAnd let not the fort fall.</p><p>(To read the rest, click the link)<a href="http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030920/windows/rhyme.htm">http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030920/windows/rhyme.htm</a></p><p> </p><p>Battle of Saragarhi: 21 Sikh soldiers (36th Sikh Regiment) defended to death, the Fort of Saragarhi in the Kohat, North-west Frontier, against 10-15,000 Afghan and Orakzai tribal armies. "The British, as well as the Indians, are proud of the 36th Sikh Regiments. It is no exaggeration to record that the armies which possess the valiant Sikhs cannot face defeat in war" - Parliament of the United Kingdom[5]”</p><blockquote>“"You are never disappointed when you are with the Sikhs. Those 21 soldiers all<br />fought to the death. That bravery should be within all of us. Those soldiers<br />were lauded in Britain and their pride went throughout the Indian Army. Inside<br />every Sikh should be this pride and courage. The important thing is that you<br />must not get too big-headed it is important to be humble in victory and to pay<br />respect to the other side." - Field Marshal William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount<br />Slim[9]</blockquote><blockquote><p>"The British, as well as the Indians, are proud of the 36th Sikh Regiments.<br />It is no exaggeration to record that the armies which possess the valiant Sikhs<br />cannot face defeat in war"<br />British Parliament<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saragarhi">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Saragarhi</a><br /><a href="http://www.saragarhi.org/">http://www.saragarhi.org/</a><a href="http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?q=Battle+of+Saragarhi&hl=en&rlz=1R2GGIC_en-GB&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=xEO7SpnRIsGQjAfbsY27Cw&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4">http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?q=Battle+of+Saragarhi&hl=en&rlz=1R2GGIC_en-GB&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=xEO7SpnRIsGQjAfbsY27Cw&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4</a><br /><a href="http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-warriors/battle-of-saragarhi-1897.html">http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-warriors/battle-of-saragarhi-1897.html</a></p><blockquote><p>"The British, as well as the Indians, are proud of the 36th Sikh Regiments. It is no exaggeration to record that the armies which possess the valiant Sikhs cannot face defeat in war" </p><p>- Parliament of the United Kingdom[5]</p><p>"You are never disappointed when you are with the Sikhs. Those 21 soldiers all fought to the death. That bravery should be within all of us. Those soldiers were lauded in Britain and their pride went throughout the Indian Army. Inside every Sikh should be this pride and courage. The important thing is that you must not get too big-headed it is important to be humble in victory and to pay respect to the other side." - Field Marshal William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount Slim[9]</p><p> </p><p>"The British, as well as the Indians, are proud of the 36th Sikh Regiments. It is no exaggeration to record that the armies which possess the valiant Sikhs cannot face defeat in war" - Parliament of the United Kingdom[5]</p><p> </p><p>"You are never disappointed when you are with the Sikhs. Those 21 soldiers all fought to the death. That bravery should be within all of us. Those soldiers were lauded in Britain and their pride went throughout the Indian Army. Inside every Sikh should be this pride and courage. The important thing is that you must not get too big-headed it is important to be humble in victory and to pay respect to the other side." - Field Marshal William Joseph Slim, 1st Viscount Slim[9]</p></blockquote></blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-50938972476290305892009-09-13T15:24:00.001+00:002009-09-13T15:26:52.557+00:00My Guru & IIf you walked into this Gurdwara and instead of the Guru Granth Sahib being there, say it was Guru Nanak, or Guru Amar Das or Gur Tegh Bahadur, sitting there – how would you act? How would you carry yourself when walking in? Would your mind-set be any different? Would your muthha tek take on a different meaning? Would you be more attentive and alert during the divan? Would you be more eager to listen to his words and try harder to understand him?<br /><br />Guru Ram Das says:<br /><i>Baani Guru Guru Hai Baani Vich Baani Amrit Saarey<br />Bani is the Guru and Guru is the Bani. And it’s within this Bani, that Amrit is found.</i><br /><br />Thus, the Shabad (”The Word”) is, was and always will be the Guru. History tells us that even during Guru Arjan’s time, the Granth (then referred to as the Pothi Sahib because it was yet to be completed and anointed Guru), was the center of the congregation, the center of the Darbar, even in the presence of Guru Arjan himself.<br /><br />The saakhis tell us that Guru Arjan had so much reverence for the Pothi Sahib that he kept it on an pedestal elevated even from himself, and joined the Sikhs in paying obeisance to it. This tells me that it is not the person, the attire or the physical attributes that make the Guru; instead, it is the Shabad. But we call the ten physical forms (from Nanak to Gobind Singh) Guru because they were the living manifestation of that Shabad.<br /><br />They lived the Shabad. We sing it, they lived it.<br /><br />Guru Nanak was so immersed in the Shabad that the two became one.<br /><br />He says in Raag Ramkalee:<br /><i>Shabad Guru Bhavsaagar Tariye Ith Uth Eko Jaanai<br />Shabad is the Guru that will ferry you across the terrifying world-ocean.</i><br /><br />So, if this is the case, how can the Guru Granth Sahib we bow before, be any different than Guru Angad or Guru Amar Das sitting before us?<br /><br />We refer to the Guru Granth Sahib as the living Guru. But is it really living to me?<br /><br />Some say we have it harder, because we don’t have a physical Guru simply telling us what to do, particularly since, in Sikhi, we don’t believe in “holy” persons being the official “interpreters” of scripture. Thus, it falls upon us to make the effort to listen to, read, and apply the lessons to our lives.<br /><br />People often asked, “What does the Guru Granth Sahib say about this or that?” About life after death, about good and evil, about socio-political issues, such as abortion, divorce, climate change, etc., and the children are often disappointed when I can’t point them to a direct quote – a simple “Thou shalt …” – to answer their question.<br /><br />To some, this is frustrating; but I find it … beautiful!<br /><br />The Guru refrains from giving commandments or a list of do’s and don’ts. Instead, He has compiled 1430 pages of divine poetry that provides a structure for our life and a personal map to guide us through our daily choices and challenges. Instead of quick and fast answers , the Guru has trusted and empowered his Sikhs, to reflect, discuss and interpret the Word [within basic parameters] and form our own opinions and make ethical decisions accordingly … for anything and everything.<br /><br />So, is the Guru living?<br /><br />I can go through life and treat the Guru Granth as a mere idol and bow before it out of empty ritualism, or I can take the time to reflect on Gurbani – to think, reason, understand and genuinely act on the Guru’s teachings … and that is when the Guru comes alive.<br /><br />As a Sikh, do I need the Guru in my life? This is where Gurbani is as very clear…black and white:<br /><i>Anand Anand Sabh Ko Kahai Anand Guru Tay Jania<br />Bliss! bliss! Everyone talks of bliss! Bliss is but known only through the Guru.</i><br /><br />Then he goes on to say:<br /><i>Jai Ko Gur Tay Vaymukh Hovai Bin Satgur Mukhat Na Paavai<br />One who turns away from the Guru and becomes “baymukh” – without the True Guru – shall not find liberation.</i><br /><br />The role of the Guru is to enlighten and bring us to a heightened sense of awareness, to establish that connection with the Divine. The forces of kaam, krodh, lobh, moh and ahankaar – lust, anger, greed, attachment and pride – are so strong that it is only through the Guru that we can overcome them.<br /><br /><br />Throughout this festive year, there have been many celebrations, kirtan darbars, nagar kirtans, conferences and seminars and symposia, discussions and debates on all aspects of the Guru Granth to mark this special milestone – but I truly hope that we, even if we are small and isolated communities, <b><u>take this opportunity to develop and strengthen our personal relationship with the Guru</u>.</b> I believe this one-on-one conversation, this spiritual dialogue with the Guru, is essential in our self-discovery – which is fundamental to being a Sikh.<br /><br />On this very early stage of my journey with the Guru, I have learned that all roads on this path lead to within. As the Guru says:<br /><i>Mun Tu Joth Saroop Hai Apna Mool Paichan<br />O my mind, you are the embodiment of this Divine Light – recognize it, O, recognize your own origin … the true origin of thy self.</i><br /><br />I have been the beneficiary of a lot of advice and guidance in my life, but one of the most meaningful things has been what a friend once said to me: “You know, many think the Guru Granth Sahib’s 1430 pages are about the Guru’s lives and teaching … but, in reality, it’s about you.” And I believe this. There is not a Shabad I come across where the Guru is not challenging me, where the Guru doesn’t push me to question myself.<br /><br />I often stop in my tracks while reading Baani and ask: Is he referring to me? Am I one of those ego-filled beings that he is talking about, that is, obsessed with myself and my own thinking? Am I being humble in my actions, am I truly forgiving to those who have hurt me, do I speak lovingly to others? Am I really walking the walk … or am I just talking the talk?<br /><br />This is my dialogue with the Guru, and with my Ardaas and his Grace, I continue to strive to improve myself every time I stand before him.<br /><br />So I hope this year will not end as just a celebration of a historical event, but instead, be the motivation for a spiritual event – for personal change, within me, within each of us … that brings us closer to the Guru.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15134410.post-23554836977142019872009-04-27T07:21:00.001+00:002009-04-27T07:21:31.403+00:00Churchill on Sikhs : The Story of the Malakand Field Force<h4><span style="font-size: 7.5pt;">Wed Mar 4, 2009 10:37 pm (PST) </span></h4> <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext05/mkdff10.txt" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174);">http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/<wbr>etext05/mkdff10.txt</span></a><br /><br />In the Sikh the more civilised man appears. He does not shoot naturally,<br />but he learns by patient practice. He is not so tough as the Pathan, but<br />he delights in feats of strength--wrestling, running, or swimming. He is<br />a much cleaner soldier and more careful. He is frequently parsimonious,<br />and always thrifty, and does not generally feed himself as well as the<br />Pathan. [Indeed in some regiments the pay of very thin Sikhs is given<br />them in the form of food, and they have to be carefully watched by their<br />officers till they get fat and strong.]<br /><br />15. During the fighting above described, the conduct of the whole of the<br />garrison, whether fighting men, departmental details, or followers, is<br />reported to have been most gallant. Not the least marked display of<br />courage and constancy was that made by the small detachment in the<br />signal tower, who were without water for the last eighteen hours of the<br />siege. The signallers, under No.2729, Lance-Naik Vir Singh, 45th Sikhs,<br />who set a brilliant example, behaved throughout in a most courageous<br />manner; one of them, No.2829, Sepoy Prem Singh, climbing several times<br />out of a window in the tower with a heliograph, and signaling outside to<br /><br />the Malakand under a hot fire from sungars in every direction.<br /><br />The Sikhs arrived first, but by a<br />very little. As they turned the corner they met the mass of the enemy,<br />nearly a thousand strong, armed chiefly with swords and knives, creeping<br />silently and stealthily up the gorge, in the hope and assurance of<br />rushing the camp and massacring every soul in it. The whole road was<br />crowded with the wild figures. McRae opened fire at once. Volley after<br />volley was poured into the dense mass, at deadly range. At length the<br />Sikhs fired independently. This checked the enemy, who shouted and<br />yelled in fury at being thus stopped. The small party of soldiers then<br />fell back, pace by pace, firing incessantly, and took up a position in a<br />cutting about fifty yards behind the corner. Their flanks were protected<br />on the left by high rocks, and on the right by boulders and rough<br />ground, over which in the darkness it was impossible to move. The road<br />was about five yards wide. As fast as the tribesmen turned the corner<br />they were shot down. It was a strong position.<br /><br />In that strait path a thousand<br />Might well be stopped by three<br /><br />Being thus effectively checked in their direct advance, the tribesmen<br />began climbing up the hill to the left and throwing down rocks and<br />stones on those who barred their path. They also fired their rifles<br />round the corner, but as they were unable to see the soldiers without<br />exposing themselves, most of their bullets went to the right.<br /><br />The band of Sikhs were closely packed in the cutting, the front rank<br />kneeling to fire. Nearly all were struck by stones and rocks. Major<br />Taylor, displaying great gallantry, was mortally wounded. Several of the Sepoys were killed. Colonel McRae himself was accidentally stabbed in the neck by a bayonet and became covered with blood. But he called upon the men to maintain the good name of "Rattray's Sikhs," and to hold their position till death or till the regiment came up. And the soldiers replied by loudly shouting the Sikh warcry, and defying the enemy to advance.<br /><br />On the right Colonel McRae and his<br />Sikhs were repeatedly charged by the swordsmen, many of whom succeeded<br />in forcing their way into the pickets and perished by the bayonet.<br />Others reached the two guns and were cut down while attacking the<br />gunners. All assaults were however beaten off. The tribesmen suffered<br />terrible losses. The casualties among the Sikhs were also severe. In the morning Colonel McRae advanced from his defences, and, covered by the fire of his two guns, cleared the ground in his front of the enemy.<br /><br />How terrible that march must<br />have been, may be judged from the fact, that in the 35th Sikhs twenty-<br />one men actually died on the road of heat apoplexy. The fact that these<br />men marched till they dropped dead, is another proof of the soldierly<br />eagerness displayed by all ranks to get to the front. Brigadier-General<br />Meiklejohn, feeling confidence in his ability to hold his own with the<br />troops he had, ordered them to remain halted at Dargai, and rest the<br />next day.<br /><br />NATIVE NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES.<br />Killed. Wounded.<br />No.5 Company Q.O. Sappers and Miners . 3 18<br />24th Punjaub Infantry . . . 3 14<br />31st " " . . . . 12 32<br />45th Sikhs . . . . . 4 28<br />Q.O. Corps of Guides . . . . 3 27<br /><br />TOTAL NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN KILLED AND WOUNDED--153.<br /><br />Colonel Goldney simultaneously advanced to the attack<br />of the spur, which now bears his name, with 250 men of the 35th Sikhs<br />and 50 of the 38th Dogras. He moved silently towards the stone shelters,<br />that the tribesmen had erected on the crest. He got to within a hundred<br />yards unperceived. The enemy, surprised, opened an irregular and<br />ineffective fire. The Sikhs shouted and dashed forward. The ridge was<br />captured without loss of any kind. The enemy fled in disorder, leaving<br />seven dead and one prisoner on the ground.<br /><br />On this occasion, our provisions were supplemented by the hospitality of<br />the khan. A long row of men appeared, each laden with food. Some carried<br />fruit,--pears or apples; others piles of chupatties, or dishes of<br />pillau.<br /><br />Nor were our troopers forgotten. The Mahommedans among them eagerly<br />accepted the proffered food. But the Sikhs maintained a remorseful<br />silence and declined it. They could not eat what had been prepared by<br />Mussulman hands, and so they sat gazing wistfully at the appetising<br />dishes, and contented themselves with a little fruit.<br /><br />The<br />Sikhs, who now numbered perhaps sixty, were hard pressed, and fired<br />without effect. Then some one--who it was is uncertain--ordered the<br />bugler to sound the "charge." The shrill notes rang out not once but a<br />dozen times. Every one began to shout. The officers waved their swords<br />frantically. Then the Sikhs commenced to move slowly forward towards the<br />enemy, cheering. It was a supreme moment. The tribesmen turned, and<br />began to retreat. Instantly the soldiers opened a steady fire, shooting down their late persecutors with savage energy.<br /><br />Afterwards in<br />the Mamund Valley whole battalions were employed to do what these two<br />Sikh companies had attempted. But Sikhs need no one to bear witness to<br />their courage.<br /><br />Out of a force which at no time exceeded 1000 men, nine British<br />officers, four native officers, and 136 soldiers were either killed or<br />wounded. The following is the full return:--<br /><br />BRITISH OFFICERS.<br />Killed--Lieutenant and Adjutant V. Hughes, 35th Sikhs.<br />" " A.T. Crawford, R.A.<br />Wounded severely--Captain W.I. Ryder, attd. 35th Sikhs.<br />" " Lieutenant O.G. Gunning, 35th Sikhs.<br />" " " O.R. Cassells, 35th Sikhs.<br />" " " T.C. Watson, R.E.<br />" " " F.A. Wynter, R.A.<br />Wounded slightly--Brigadier-General Jeffreys, Commanding 2nd Bde.<br />M.F.F.<br />" " Captain Birch, R.A.<br />BRITISH SOLDIERS.<br />Killed. Wounded.<br />The Buffs . . . . 2 9<br />NATIVE RANKS.<br />Killed. Wounded.<br />11th Bengal Lancers . . 0 2<br />No.8 Mountain Battery . . 6 21<br />Guides Infantry . . . 2 10<br />35th Sikhs . . . . 22 45<br />38th Dogras . . . . 0 2<br />Sappers . . . . . 4 15<br /><br />The next day the first instalment of rifles was surrendered. Fifteen<br />Martini-Henrys taken on the 16th from the 35th Sikhs were brought into<br />camp, by the Khan of Khar's men, and deposited in front of the general's<br />tent. Nearly all were hacked and marked by sword cuts, showing that<br />their owners, the Sikhs, had perished fighting to the last. Perhaps,<br />these firearms had cost more in blood and treasure than any others ever<br />made. The remainder of the twenty-one were promised later, and have<br /><br />There are many on the frontier who realise these things, and who<br />sympathise with the Afridi soldier in his dilemma. An officer of the<br />Guides Infantry, of long experience and considerable distinction, who<br />commands both Sikhs and Afridis, and has led both many times in action,<br />writes as follows: "Personally, I don't blame any Afridis who desert to<br />go and defend their own country, now that we have invaded it, and I<br />think it is only natural and proper that they should want to do so."<br /><br />Such an opinion may be taken as typical of the views of a great number<br />of officers, who have some title to speak on the subject, as it is one<br />on which their lives might at any moment depend.<br /><br />The Sikh is the guardian of the Marches. He was originally invented to<br />combat the Pathan. His religion was designed to be diametrically opposed<br />to Mahommedanism. It was a shrewd act of policy. Fanaticism was met by<br />fanaticism. Religious abhorrence was added to racial hatred. The Pathan<br />invaders were rolled back to the mountains, and the Sikhs established<br />themselves at Lahore and Peshawar. The strong contrast, and much of the<br />animosity, remain to-day. The Sikh wears his hair down to his waist; the<br />Pathan shaves his head. The Sikh drinks what he will; the Pathan is an<br />abstainer. The Sikh is burnt after death; the Pathan would be thus<br />deprived of Paradise. As a soldier the Pathan is a finer shot, a hardier<br />man, a better marcher, especially on the hillside, and possibly an even<br />more brilliant fighter. He relies more on instinct than education: war<br />is in his blood; he is a born marksman, but he is dirty, lazy and a<br />spendthrift.<br /><br />In the Sikh the more civilised man appears. He does not shoot naturally,<br />but he learns by patient practice. He is not so tough as the Pathan, but<br />he delights in feats of strength--wrestling, running, or swimming. He is<br />a much cleaner soldier and more careful. He is frequently parsimonious,<br />and always thrifty, and does not generally feed himself as well as the<br />Pathan. [Indeed in some regiments the pay of very thin Sikhs is given<br />them in the form of food, and they have to be carefully watched by their<br />officers till they get fat and strong.]<br /><br />There are some who say that the Sikh will go on under circumstances<br />which will dishearten and discourage his rival, and that if the latter<br />has more dash he has less stamina. The assertion is not supported by<br />facts. In 1895, when Lieut.-Colonel Battye was killed near the Panjkora<br />River and the Guides were hard pressed, the subadar of the Afridi<br />company, turning to his countrymen, shouted: "Now, then, Afridi folk of<br />the Corps of Guides, the Commanding Officer's killed, now's the time to<br />charge!" and the British officers had the greatest difficulty in<br />restraining these impetuous soldiers from leaving their position, and<br />rushing to certain death. The story recalls the speech of the famous<br />cavalry colonel at the action of Tamai, when the squares were seen to be<br />broken, and an excited and demoralised correspondent galloped wildly up<br />to the squadrons, declaring that all was lost. "How do you mean, 'all's<br />lost'? Don't you see the 10th Hussars are here?" There are men in the<br />world who derive as stern an exultation from the proximity of disaster<br />and ruin as others from success, and who are more magnificent in defeat<br />than others are in victory. Such spirits are undoubtedly to be found<br />among the Afridis and Pathans.<br /><br />---------------<br />since all been surrendered.<br />Total Casualties, 149; with 48 horses and mules.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Anng Sanng Vahiguroo</div>Ravjeet Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04770073683514199798noreply@blogger.com0