Sikh World

Pic of the Week...!!!

2009-03-15T23:33:00.002+05:30

By Dupinder veerji....

British play on Sikh religion showcased in Chandigarh

2009-01-23T23:41:00.000+05:30

Chandigarh, Punjab: “Blessed are those whose spell of ignorance is broken, truth has revealed itself in their soul, their illusion is over and knowledge absolute shines within,” this divine utterance of Guru Nanak Dev, elucidating the ultimate achievement for a mortal being forms the basic concept of the theatrical production. ‘Guru Manyo Granth’ staged at the Tagore theatre in Chandigarh to a packed house.

The play produced by the London-based Punjabi Theatre Academy and Guru Nanak Sikh School was enacted at the Tagore Theatre here on Monday evening by five British and ten Indian artistes.

"We had received an overwhelming response in Britain and the response was equally encouraging here. We consider theatre a non-political and non-profit medium to maintain a link with our roots," Sukhdev Singh Komal, president of the Punjabi Theatre Academy, told IANS.

The dialogues in the play were in both Hindi and English, and there was extensive use of PowerPoint slides to show the Sikh Gurus and various religious places. The production followed Guru Gobind Singh's historic journey from Talwandi Sabu to Nanded Sahib during 1705-08.

“We cannot play the characters of Sikh Gurus that is why we have chosen the medium of slides to portray them. We also showcased the original place of action in the backdrop of the scene like Golden Temple and Jama Masjid to make our play dynamic," said assistant director Gaurav Sharma.

"We have seen many Indian production houses coming to Britian and performing there but this is probably the first time that some Britain-based theatre group has brought a production to Punjab. This is our endeavour to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Guru Granth Sahib,” said Komal.

The young actors from Britain were also very enthusiastic about performing in India.

“It was a great feeling and a proud moment for me to perform before the Punjabi audience here. I was thrilled to see the huge crowd and am really looking forward to more such opportunities to perform in India,” said Camilla Sidhu, a member of the troupe.

The historical play hailed as the British bilingual theatrical bonanza of religious and socio-cultural relevance is a joint production of the Guru Nanak Sikh School UK and the Punjabi Theatre Academy UK.

The serenity and tranquil environment pervaded the venue even as art lovers thronged the theatre waiting in reverence to see a rare spectacle.

The audio-visual effects and soulful gurbani recital in the background with chiaroscuro effects augmented the presentation level though the production design apparently suited to the foreign milieu and needs improvement.

The actors from Chandigarh city scored over those hailing from UK but nevertheless a bold effort by SS Chhokar and Sindras to propound the ethical values of Gurus to the West through the vibrant medium of theatre.

News Source: www.deccanherald.com

Americans taking to Sikh philosophy

2009-01-23T23:37:00.001+05:30

NEW DELHI: As 'Vikram Singh' sang Sikh hymns at a recent inter-faith concert in Washington, few could remain without giving him a big applause as the voice singing the verses belonged to none other than Vic Briggs, a prominent rock star of the 70s, who has now embraced Sikhism. Singh is infact the first non-Indian Sikh to have performed at Golden Temple in Amritsar. But then he is not the only American who has taken to Sikhism, according to Dr Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, the number of these 'turban-wearing American Sikhs' is nearly 50,000.

"In the last decade, some Americans who have become Sikhs are mainly through the contacts with American Sikhs and some local Indian Sikhs," Dr Rajwant Singh, Chairman, Sikh Council on Religion and Education, said in an email from Washington.

"Recently there is also surge in numbers of people becoming Sikhs in the Latin America. There have been reports of people turning to Sikhism in Brazil, Chile, and Peru. Men and women are equal who are converting," he said. Explains Dr Jaspal Singh, a Sikh scholar and former diplomat "these Americans are impressed with the Sikh philosophy, which has universal appeal. Sikhism is the youngest religion and modern in outlook."

Various Sikh groups have been working there with the NRI Indians, to keep the Sikh identity intact and the locals are also very much impressed with their work, he says. And this is happening at a time when there is crackdown on overt expressions of religious identity in the West, especially in Europe.

This is infact a reflection of the religious diversity of America. "It is important for us to come together during these challenging time," said Chattar Singh Saini of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation.

According to Dr Rajwant, Vikram Singh joined a kirtan group at the Interfaith Conference and added guitar, Dilruba and Sitar in the Kirtan. In addition, tanpura and surmandal were played.

Prior to becoming a Sikh, he was a rock star with a very popular group, The Animals. Vikram Singh does exceptional kirtan and was actually the first non Indian Sikh to do kirtan at Golden Temple in Amritsar, he said.
News Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Sikhs fed up over incidents, seek better community awareness.

2008-07-25T00:20:00.003+05:30

Tuesday, July 22nd 2008 - More than 100 Sikhs and supporters of the Sikh community marched through the streets of Richmond Hill.

The five-day suspension handed out to a Richmond Hill High School student who attacked a Sikh classmate was extended to more than four months after pressure from the Sikh community.

But members of that community would like to see the city do more to protect them and educate others about their religion.

On June 3, Jagmohan Singh Premi, 18, was punched in the face by a student holding keys between his knuckles. The punch resulted in an orbital fracture, the keys narrowly missing Premi's eye.

School officials initially suspended Premi's attacker for five days, but after protests from the Sikh Coalition and the community, the punishment was extended to 89 days.

"I think a suspension is fine, and it's important," said Amardeep Singh, executive director of the Sikh Coalition. "But I think it's more important to take educational steps to make sure everyone understands who Sikhs are in school, not just focusing on one individual."

The attack on Premi was just one of many on Sikh students. Even after the Richmond Hill incident, assaults are still happening in city schools, advocates say.

The Sikh community continues to feel misunderstood, noting a belief among some non-Sikhs that Sikhs are terrorists. Two years ago, another Sikh student from Queens was called "Osama" and teased. Others have had their hair cut off by angry classmates.
The Sikh Coalition, an organization born after 9/11 to counter discrimination and bigotry, has been trying to make sure that Richmond Hill residents learn about the Sikh faith.

The Department of Education has also created the "Respect for All" policy, which prohibits any harassment related to race, color and religion in schools.

But Sikh advocates say little has changed.

"The people feel bad when their kid goes to school and these crimes happen," said Amrik Singh, 62, a Sikh storeowner in Richmond Hill. "We want to solve the problem. We want to tell the whole community to pray for the whole community, for the whole world."

On June 30, more than 100 Sikhs and supporters of the Sikh community marched through the streets of Richmond Hill. In front of Richmond Hill High School, student victims of abuse spoke out alongside adult advocates, for a stronger response from the city.

"We're here today because we're basically fed up," said Amardeep Singh, who led the rally. "The school officials have been very good with trying to create a system to track and monitor bias. What they haven't done is create a plan to protect Sikh kids in particular.

"Our biggest focus right now is making sure that everyone knows who Sikhs are, why they keep their hair long and why they wear turbans, knowing that it might reduce tension to take steps on our own," said Amardeep Singh.

The Sikh Coalition also produced a movie about Sikh customs that aired last month on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network, and uploaded an awareness-raising video on YouTube.

The video, "This Is Why Sikhs Are Hot," has had more than 38,000 views.

It has a serious message topped with a fun veneer, a nonaggressive way to help explain Sikh customs.

Meanwhile, Sikh residents continue to feel threatened.

"I feel bad because of the discrimination in America," said storeowner Amrik Singh. "This is America losing something. They're losing reputation. The reputation is the one bank balance. When you lose something every day from the bank balance, you are poor."

By Anna Bernstein and Evan Wood - Children's Pressline
Additional reporting by Oliver Gonzalez, Cherry Kim, Daranee Nasonkhla, Maurice Parker, Shaakira Parker and Nitzia Scott

News Source : www.nydailynews.com

"Sundri: The Brave Kaur"

2008-06-15T15:10:00.004+05:30

Sundri show attracts over 5000 people in Toronto

Sunday, 11-May-08 became a landmark day in history of Sikh Movies. "Sundri: The Brave Kaur"produced by Vismaad opened a record weekend. This was first time any movie on Sikh subject was presented as mainstream movie through ticketed shows on big screen. The Sunday showings were culmination of a relentless work during past month by highly motivated team of over 40 Sikh youths lead by Suneet Singh, CEO Datawind Inc. The whole effort including financial contribution by Suneet Singh and team of volunteers was purely with seva motive, and not for profit.
The Sikh populace in attendance at 19th April Toronto Sikh Parade had a pleasant surprise when Nagar Kirtan passed by a majestic Bill Board of Sundri. Never before was any movie on Sikh subject promoted on such a grand scale. The flamboyant graphics of Sundri overwhelmed the emotions and left an indelible mark on every mind.

The local TV and Radio programs, always hungry for sound bytes, suddenly had something which caught their imagination. Sundri was being discussed on every channel. Harmeet Singh had a run of special features on "Beyond Belief" which is broadcast across Canada on Vision Television (Channel 60). Sursagar TV called movie Director Sukhwinder Singh thrice on its live talk shows. Mr. Dilbag Chawla featured Sundri folk song by Joginder Singh Jogi on his immensely popular show "Rangla Punjab" apart from interviewing Sukhwinder Singh.

The end result was constantly ringing movie hotline manned by five volunteers till the very last moment. In the last week Movie tickets were fast vanishing from stalls put up at Dixie Gurughar. When organizers announced to home deliver family packs it caught like a wild fire and took everybody unawares. It took such proportions that ultimately home delivery of tickets had to be stopped and instead online reservations were made with provision to collect tickets at gate.

Over 5000 people watched the 8 screenings of the movie on 11-May and 18-May with most of the shows packed to capacity. The audience across the board was highly impressed and included people from all walks of life. Mr. Bicky Dhillon MPP, Family of Hon. Navdeep Bains MP, Tiger Junior s/o Tigerjit Singh, Dr. Tejinderpal Singh (Doola Ji) and many other personalities graced the occasion.

The movie hotline 647-722-3496 is still ringing with people calling to reserve tickets for 18th May showings. Many youth have volunteered to deliver tickets during the week and later Today "Sundri: The Brave Kaur" is the most recognizable phrase in Greater Toronto Area. It has every reason to aptly become a global phenomenon very soon considering the immense popularity of "Sundri", the novel by legendary Bhai Vir Singh ji, on which the movie is based. The fame of movie could be judged by demands of similar showings pouring in from Hamilton, Ottawa, Cambridge, Rochester (NY), Windsor, Detroit, Calgary, Surrey (BC), Seattle, Kamloops, etc.

News Source: sundrithemovie.blogspot.com

Sikh offers opening prayer in Senate

2008-06-13T00:27:00.000+05:30

"Ek onkar satnam. There is but one God," began the prayer that opened the Pennsylvania Senate on Tuesday, as Nirmal Singh of Fairview Twp. became the first Sikh to perform that traditional duty.

"Join me in the prayer. Ek On Kar, Sat Nam, There is but One God, True is His Name.

We pray, to the One God, Who created this universe, with all its colorful diversity, rang, as we call it.

We pray to the One God, under whose Divine Ordinance, Hukam, this Universe abides.

We pray to sabna jia ka ik data, the one God who provides for and sustains all this creation.

Pray, give us the understanding that this world is a dharamsal, an arena for righteous living – much of what people can accomplish in life, happens through their own Kal, their endeavor.

We pray for kirpa, thy divine mercy, to enable us all to be prayerful, to enable us all to provide for our families, enable us all to share with those in need, and enable us all not to shy away from doing what is right that truly is the righteous way.

Help us pray help us nurture a society, where we all live as a fraternity, with none feeling excluded or treated as a stranger Where we say some, and listen some, where we bring harmony peace, caring and sharing to our corporate, communal lives, and help each and every one of us, to grow, develop, and contribute towards a common good.

We pray for this sangat, this assembly, heavy is your responsibility and difficult are the choices you have to take as leaders of the people.

We pray for you individually and collectively to be blessed with the wisdom to conduct your business today and everyday in service of and for the well being of the citizens of this commonwealth.

We close this prayer as always seeking tere bhane sarbat ka bhala — that the well being of one and all in this world be thy will.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!" prayed Singh.

The Senate's tradition of opening with prayer drew a complaint from a watchdog group last year that the prayers often contain language only a Christian would use -- for example, "in Jesus' name."

Prayers in civic settings are constitutional only when they're nonsectarian, said Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Senate officials said they comply with the law by ensuring prayers come from a variety of faiths, not by monitoring prayers.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that developed in India during the 15th century. Singh's prayer included phrases from Sikh scripture.

"Sikh teachings are very universal, and I have tried to structure this prayer around its universality," he said in an e-mail. "My concern obviously was to try and offer an invocation that is universal in spirit and intent but can be traced back to its Sikh linkage."

Drew Crompton, counsel to Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, said he's heard no more from Americans United since an exchange of letters late last year, but a spokesman for the group said the Senate's prayer policy still has a problem.

"We're glad that a handful of religious minorities" have been invited to the Senate, said spokesman Joe Conn, but "many of the prayers still have a sectarian slant."

In recent months, prayers have been given by Jews, a Unitarian, and a Buddhist.

Atheists have asked for an invitation. "I couldn't say fervently no," Crompton said. "But I don't know how atheists pray."

Steve Neubauer of Mount Wolf, president of Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, said he wrote an invocation that opened a York County Commissioners meeting three years ago.

Singh is a retired Indian Army colonel and business executive who has lived in the U.S. since 1987. He belongs to the Blue Mountain Gurdwara in Bethel Twp., Berks County.

-By MARY WARNER
Of The Patriot-News
MARY WARNER: 255-8267 or mwarner@patriot-news.com

News Source: www.pennlive.com

Navraj Singh Bassi plays Canadian football

2008-06-13T00:21:00.000+05:30

PATIALA: Navraj Singh Bassi of Vancouver will be making history when he will take the field in the Canadian Football League with his patka on. The 6-foot-6-inch-tall Sikh footballer will play for Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders.

If he plays in his team's match against BC Lions on July 4, he will be the first Sikh to play football with a patka. Till now the headgear was considered a hindrance among Sikhs who wanted to play this game. Interestingly, Navraj's brother Pavan is a super heavyweight boxing champion and his father, Kulwinder Singh Bassi, supports Navraj's passion for the game.

Kulwinder said, "We are very excited that he will be given an opportunity to showcase his talent and by the grace of God he will excel in the sport he has loved since he was a child." Talking about his team, Pavan said, "Saskatchewan coaches are really impressed with his abilities and Navraj is really enjoying the team atmosphere."

Notably, Navraj has played on both sides of the ball as an offensive lineman as well as a defensive lineman but Saskatchewan, who are very excited to have him in their team, hope to use him on both the D-Line and as a blocking tight-end.

Harbans Singh Jandali, former president of Ontario Sikh and Gurudwara Council told TOI from Toronto that Punjabis living in the area were very eagerly waiting for the match and a large number of them would be in Vancouver to cheer up Navraj.

Navraj, who weighs 294 pounds, attended college at the University of Oregon. Despite receiving more than 40 offers for football scholarships, the North Delta Secondary School player chose to stay in the northwest to remain close to his family. He played a few seasons with the Oregon Ducks.

A leading Punjabi broadcaster in Canada, Kuldeep Deepak, said with pride, "We have registered our community's presence on the football field also."

News Source: sikhcess.com

Golf Digest apologises for portraying Sikh Guru as a golfer.

2008-06-11T22:04:00.000+05:30

NEW YORK: The hugely popular golf magazine, Golf Digest has issued an apology to the Sikh community for portraying a Sikh Guru as a golfer on its cover. According to Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the editor-in-chief and chairman of Golf Digest magazine, Jerry Tarde, has issued an apology to the Sikh community for using the image of Guru Arjan Dev Ji in its May 2008 edition.
The item showed him as a "golfing guru", holding a golf club and offering advice. In a written communication sent to SALDEF, Tarde stated, "Our editors regret this mistake and have learned an important lesson.
Thank you for accepting our apology." Golf Digest has assented to issue a public apology to the Sikh community in the August issue of the magazine which will come out in July as asked by hundreds of community members. In addition, Golf Digest agreed to SALDEF's demand to stop the use of the image in their magazine or web site in the future.

The printed apology in the August 2008 edition of Golf Digest will read as follows: "It has been brought to our attention that an illustration in the May issue of Golf Digest inadvertently depicted a golfing character resembling an image of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, who is a revered religious figure in Sikhism. This was not our intent. We apologize for the use and for any offense to the Sikh community."

The issue was brought to SALDEF's attention by a Sikh blogger based in Washington DC, who did a detailed analysis of the imagery. SALDEF had earlier organized a petition (now closed), calling for people to express their "displeasure" about the image. On page 66 of the publication appears an article titled "The Golf Guru" which answers reader's questions about general topics associated with golf.

The beginning of the article features an image which, at first glance, appears to be a South Asian man dawned in a turban and beard, holding a golf club and wearing a golf glove. The image used is an obvious play on words where consumers have their questions answered by a "Golf Guru." However, under closer examination, the image Golf Digest uses appears to in fact be a widely distributed picture of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Sikhism's fifth Guru.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji was instrumental in strengthening the message of equality and freedom of the Sikh faith. SALDEF has contacted Golf Digest publisher, Thomas Blair commenting, "While we understand the message that Golf Digest attempted, and failed, to send to their consumers, the decision to use the specific picture shows the cultural and religious ignorance of Golf Digest staff and senior executives."

News Source: indiapost.com