First Sikh warden in Pakistan

Daily Times reports on the first Sikh warden in Pakistan.
Read the entire article here. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C04%5C27%5Cstory_27-4-2007_pg13_6

Sikh traffic warden becomes celebrity

By Faizan Bangash

LAHORE: “Since yesterday, I have been hearing different greetings, such as sat sari kaal, jo bolay so nihal and ballay ballay from car and bus drivers, motorcyclists and children. Lahoris are really very loving people and these are unforgettable moments for me,” remarked Dr Gulab Singh, the first-ever Sikh to be appointed traffic police warden in Pakistan, in an exclusive interview with Daily Times.

Gulab, the 25-year-old Sikh traffic warden, who hails from Nankana Sahib and now lives in Defence Housing Authority, said that joining the force as a sub-inspector was a dream come true for him. Pledging to do his duty wholeheartedly, he said that the loving welcome he had received from the public had added to his joy. He said he had joined his duty station on Wednesday, and by the second day, dozens of children had forced their parents to stop the car so that they could meet him. Singh is deputed on Alif Laam Meem Chowk on Aziz Bhatti Road in Cantt.

Gulab said he was born in Nankana district in January 1982. His father, Manna Singh, is a farmer and a father of seven—five boys and two girls. Gulab is the youngest of the siblings. Gulab completed his matriculation in Nankana district, graudation in Lahore and then received a doctorate in homeopathy from Bahawalpur. Gulab said he also operated a homeopathic clinic, which he might have to shut down because of his new and demanding posting.

Gulab said he applied for the sub-inspector post when announcements inviting applications appeared in newspapers, but did not tell his family. He informed them only after he was appointed, which translated into a delightful surprise for them, he added. Commenting on his training process, Gulab said, “The attitude of my fellow trainees and officers was very good towards me. Nobody ever forced me to do anything against my religious beliefs.” He said he had no problems wearing his kara (bangle), or keeping his kirpan (dagger) on him. He added that, as he was a vegetarian, green meals were arranged for him in the mess during the training period. “I am very grateful to my officers for this gesture,” Gulab said.

Gulab is multilingual and has command over Urdu, Punjabi, Pashto, Seraiki, and Sindhi. He added, “I can also speak English, but not very fluently.” Gulab also said that he was fond of Punjabi bhangra music and that his favourite singers are Abrar-ul-Haq, Harbajhan Maan and Waris Baig. In terms of the future, Gulab said, “I will do my duty honestly, work like a true and dutiful citizen, and dream of a corruption-free atmosphere.”

Indian president praises Sikh saint for cleaning river by sewa

the Indian president, on a visit to Greece has praised a sikh saint for cleaning an entire river with sewa (voluntary service).

Kalam hails Sikh priest’s work

ATHENS: In distant Greece, President A P J Abdul Kalam praised the work of a Sikh priest in Punjab who had cleaned up a “polluted and choked” local river to illustrate how the art of “giving” by individuals and nations could promote happiness around the world.
Kalam, who was speaking to the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, a leading think-tank, has been interspersing all his lectures here, as well as earlier ones at Strasbourg, with messages from Indian saints and philosophers.
On the “great societal mission of giving”, Kalam spoke about the “marvellous development” taking place in Sultanpur Lodhi in Punjab.
The president said when he went there last year, he was delighted to see the rejuvenated Kali Bein, where Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak had received enlightenment and which over the years had become a weed-choked drain. It is now clean due to the efforts of Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, a priest in a local gurdwara.
“Babaji had organised people’s participation in stopping the massive flow of sewage into the Kala Bein and cleaned the 160km-long polluted and choked rivulet within the last five years by deploying, on an average, 3,000 kar sewaks (volunteer pilgrims) per day.
“Today, one can feel the flow of fresh water in this rivulet released from the Tarkina Barrage by the government,” Kalam recounted to his highbrow audience here on Thursday evening.
He said the revival of the rivulet had recharged the water table as hand pumps that had become dry for the past four decades were now pumping out water. And speedboats had begun running on the river, and the 3km stretch had become a beautiful site with bathing ghats, trees and orchards on its banks and well laid out roads running parallel to the
waterway.
“I also saw the great happiness of giving on the faces of volunteers who had physically participated in this task. This is a great example of giving and the happiness arising out of giving,” the president said, saying the parable also applied to nations who had the responsibility of promoting peace and prosperity by
“giving”.
The subject of the president’s address at the think-tank was the “Dynamics of Peace and Prosperity”. Although the subject was meant to be for strategic thinkers, the president, as usual, spoke in his deep philosophical vein, comparing the “knowledge centres” of the civilisations of Greece and India with wisdom from Indian thinkers and gurus. – IANS

Gurdwara Sahib in Singapore - World capitals

The Gurdwara Sahib Silat Road is located at Silat Road, now renamed Jalan Bukit Merah. It is the first-ever Sikh gurdwara to be built in Singapore.
The gurdwara has an old history having been completed in 1924. It was reopened in Ocober 1995.
Among other things, it has the largest palki sahib and the largest dome on a gurdwara outside India.
Further information and images are available here. http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_402_2004-12-14.html

Via Rail allows Sikh kirpan; World Sikh Organization welcomes decision

The World Sikh Organization is pleased with VIA Rail's agreement to finally permit devout Sikh passengers to travel while keeping their articles of faith intact. The changes in policy made by VIA Rail and instituted on January 12, 2007, recognize the significance of the Sikh code of conduct mandated for all practicing Sikhs.
WSO President Gurpreet Singh Bal today expressed respect and admiration
for Balpreet Singh, a 26 year old Ottawa law student who was removed from two
VIA trains in 2005: "We offer Balpreet our heartiest congratulations for his
perseverance to ensure that all Canadians are afforded the same protection to
freely practice their faith. His calm, dignified, purposeful citizenship is an
example to us all. Balpreet's success will be felt by all people of faith."
All initiated (Amritdhari) Sikhs are required, by religious mandate, to
maintain five articles of faith upon their person at all times, as part of a
disciplined lifestyle of devoted religious practice. The kirpan, as one of the
5 articles of faith, represents spiritual power. It reminds the wearer of
her/his mortality, and the corresponding obligation to always stand up against
injustice. A Sikh is prohibited from using the kirpan in any aggressive
manner. "Sikhs honour a specific code of conduct because our purpose is to
serve humanity. Our visibly distinctive attire is one way the public can
easily identify someone who values peace, justice, and security. It is
extremely important for Canadians, in today's fearful world environment, to
recognize a kindred spirit when they see a Sikh," said Ajit Singh Sahota,
Director of Administration.
The WSO is pleased that both VIA Rail and Balpreet Singh worked together
to resolve this issue. "Perhaps this will inspire more corporations, public
and private, to review their own practices, and become proactive in their
approach to accommodating Canadian customers of diverse religious backgrounds.
By engaging in a constructive dialogue with communities who are negatively
affected by arbitrary safety and security policies, we can prevent future
misunderstandings, and work cooperatively to achieve the same goals." Said
Anne Lowthian, Executive Director.

Mobile exhibition on Sikhism

PUNJAB govenrment shall be organizing a mobile exhibition depicting Sikh paintings, records, documents and monuments. This is being done to preserve Sikh history and culture and create awareness about Sikh history among the masses.
Disclosing this Jagjit Puri , Secretary Tourism, Cultural Affairs and Information & Public Relations said that the Photographic reproductions of the painting, lying with state archieves, depicting the life of the Sikh Gurus especially Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, famous Anglo-Sikh Wars, Sikh 'Morchas' and also facts relating to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and rajas and maharajas of Sikh States would be included in the painting exhibition. He also said that out of the 64 monuments, photographs of the 13 monuments of the Sikh history and Sikh sates would also be exhibited during the exhibition.
Interestingly Puri was in charge of publicity during the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa in 1999 during the earlier tenure of Parkash Singh Badal led Akali government. He was posted as Director, Public Relations.
Mr. Puri further said that a five member committee under the Chairmanship of Mr. Shiv Singh, President Lalit Kala academy, Arts Council Chandigarh has been constituted to look into the arrangements of the exhibition. All the required arrangements for the Photo Exhibition would be made by the information and public relations departed, he added.

Pollution threat to holy Sikh shrine - Golden Temple

CNN IBN reports a story about the Golden Temple, holiest shrine of the Sikhs being affected by pollution
Golden Temple: Smog's next casualty?
Amritsar (Punjab): The Golden Temple-- a most revered shrine for the Sikh community in the country is losing its polish. Yes according to a report, the 24 carat gold that covers the roof of the sanctum sanctorum is becoming a copper shade because of pollution. READ HERE....http://www.ibnlive.com/news/golden-temple-smogs-next-casualty/39206-3.html

Sikh wins discrimination case in US

The Times of India reports that a Sikh has won discrimination case in the US:
A California judge has ordered a fitness centre to pay damages to a Sikh man after the firm denied him a job on religious and ethnic grounds.
A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Bally Total Fitness to pay $24,000 to Sukdev Singh Dhaliwal, who applied for a sales job with the fitness centre in 2004. During the course of the interview Dhaliwal, who was born and raised in California, was asked about his religious and ethnic background and later denied the job...READ FULL STORY HERE....http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sikh_wins_discrimination_case_in_US/articleshow/1957462.cms

Vaisakhi celebrations in US

US media has also reported on Vaisakhi celebrations in US
Sikh Community Brings in New Year
By Rachel Ensign
On Saturday, more than 75 people gathered together in Barton hall to celebrate the Sikh holiday of Vaisakhi with a moon bounce, a D.J. and samosas, a popular South Asian pastry.The event was run by the Cornell United Sikh Students Association. Sikhism is the fifth largest organized religion in the world with 23 million adherents worldwide. The religion originated in northern India in the sixteenth century and its members are known for their uncut hair and distinctive turbans....read full story....http://cornellsun.com/node/22713

Vaisakhi in Malaysia

East Malaysian newspaper the "Daily Express" reports on Vaisakhi celebrations.

Sikh New Year to be celebrated in big way
Kota Kinabalu: Vasakhi is a Sikh New Year, the birthday of Khalsa Panth (Order of the Pure) and a day of baptism, all rolled into one.
Sikhs in Sabah will celebrate the auspicious occasion on April 14 in a big way, said Darshan Singh, assistant secretary of Kinabalu Singh Sabha. But the celebration had actually begun...read full story....http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=49063

New Gurdwara Sahib at Chesapeake, Virginia

Chesapeake in Virginia gets a new gurdwara sahib.
read here....

Region's first Sikh house of worship opens in Chesapeake
By JANETTE RODRIGUES, The Virginian-Pilot

CHESAPEAKE - A woman dressed in a tunic and flowing pants slipped off her shoes after she entered a Sikh house of worship just off Great Bridge Boulevard.
She washed her hands, pulled up the scarf draped across her shoulder so it covered her hair and walked into the prayer room, where a reader sitting on a raised platform chanted scripture from the Sikh holy book. She bowed her head to the floor before sitting cross-legged on it......http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=122876&ran=75411

Vaisakhi parade coverage in British media

The British media has been covering the Vaisakhi day parade. Here are some links


Sikhs get ready for a new year festival
SIKHS from across the city are set to gather together to mark one of the key dates in their calendar with a vibrant dinner and dance.
Vaisakhi holds deep significance for the community. As well as celebrating the New Year, it also commemorates the birth of the religion. read full article here....http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news?articleid=2719021

Chief saves city parade
Oxford's Sikh community are celebrating after tomorrow's religious celebrations were given the last-minute go-ahead, thanks to the city's police chief...read full article...http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.1345842.0.chief_saves_city_parade.php

Sikhs gather to mark Vaisakhi Day
By Chris Briddon
Worshippers at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh celebrated Vaisakhi Day on Saturday with religious services and singing of Shabads (Sikh holy hymns) by minstrels througout the day....read full article ....http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/display.var.1344394.0.0.php

Drums come out for Sikh festival
By Carl Brown
SIKHS from across east London celebrated the festival of Vaisakhi in Waltham Forest at the weekend. People descended on the Sikh temple, or Gurdwara, in Francis Road, Leyton, for seven days of celebrations last week.....read full story.....http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1340721.mostviewed.drums_come_out_for_sikh_festival.php

Thousands celebrate Sikh festival in Redbridge
By Megan Reynolds
THOUSANDS of Sikh's from celebrated one of the most important religious festivals of the year at Redbridge's Gurdwara Karamsar on Saturday....read full article here...http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/display.var.1331619.0.0.php

Southampton welcomes in the Sikh New Year
By Ushma Mistry

THOUSANDS of Sikhs will join the traditional procession through the streets of Southampton this weekend as they celebrate their new year.
The festival of Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year, will be celebrated in Southampton on Sunday with a number of events.
The festivities will begin at the Civic Centre at 9.30am with the Raising of the Nishan Sahib, the traditional flag-raising ceremony....read full story....http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/display.var.1325931.0.southampton_welcomes_in_the_sikh_new_year.php

Sikh festival of Vaisakhi
By Alison White
THOUSANDS of people are expected to parade through Gravesend town centre today to celebrate the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi.The procession, called a Nagar Kirtan, will begin at 11.30am today.Around 5,000 people at expected to join in....read full story...http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.1320171.0.sikh_festival_of_vaisakhi.php

Bust of Maharaja Duleep Singh bought by Sikh?

While the BBC has reported that "The bust of the Indian Prince and Sikh hero Maharaja Duleep Singh, made by a British sculptor almost 150 years ago, has been sold at auction for £1.7m...." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/norfolk/6575009.stm
The Times of India writes that "Maharaja Duleep Singh's bust has been sold to the highest bidder — a Sikh family — to grace its private collection.".. read here..http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/TOIonline/India/Royal_bust_bought_by_Sikh/articleshow/1936181.cms

The story of Duleep Singh and how he was converted to Christianity and later apologised to Sikhs and became a Sikh once again shall be posted later.

Finnish translation of Japji Sahib

We came across this amazing work on Sikh Spectrum.
Minna Hapuoja has translated japji Sahib into Finnish, her own language.
http://www.sikhspectrum.com/112005/finnish.htm

The translation can be found here.. http://www.sikhspectrum.com/112005/japji/page1.htm

Gurdwara in Tehra, Iran - world capitals

We do not have a video here, so we are posting a photograph taken during the visit of the Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on April 12, 2001. The External Affairs Minister Shri Jaswant Singh and the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Shri Omar Abdullah are also seen.

Gurdwara in Singapore - world capitals

Kirtan at Gurdwara Sahib in Singapore (Katong)


Another kirtan recital at Gurdwara Katong, Singapore

Gurdwara Sahib in Kabul, Afghanistan - world capitals

Here is kirtan recital at Gurdwara Sahib in Kabul, Afghanistan


And here is a celebration to mark the Gurpurab of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism.

Gurdwara in Copenhagen, Denmark - world capitals

Here is a video of nagar kirtan in Copenhagen, Denmark.


And here is a kirtan darbar at Copenhagen

Amazing French blog

We shall be listing some amazing and interesting blogs here to pay tribute to their hardwork.
This is an amazing French blog on Sikhs, Sikhi and Sikhism that we came across. For those who love French or know French, this is a must visit blog.