“I felt a need to contribute in some way to the younger generation who is deprived of listening to the Saakhi’s (stories) related to the ten Sikh Guru’s and thus I have come up with an mobile application called ‘Saakhi’ which would connect them to the life histories of the Sikh Guru’s,” says Bahrain-based Gurpreet Singh over a telephonic interview with Hindustan Times.

“Today the Sikh community is passing through a turbulent phase because we are getting detached from the rich history and teachings of the Gurus which are imbibed in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib,” adds Gurpreet, who was born and brought up in Jalandhar and now lives with his family in Bahrain and is working as business manger in a food company .

Singh took long years to compile the knowledge base for this mobile application but technically it took him three months to launch it.

While elaborating on the need to launch this application, he says, “There is decadence in our society because the bedtime saakhis (stories) that we heard from our grand-parents are no longer being passed to the next generation. However, now the tech-savvy youth can directly be in touch with the history by downloading the mobile app.” he says.

“In Saakhi, stories are presented as audio files and not in written form. It contains short audio stories of four-to-six minutes each. Users can listen to one story everyday along with their children. Each story ends with a short message to make the learning relevant to modern times. A folder of ‘Sawaal-Jawaab’ (FAQ’s) is also there, with frequently-asked questions on the Sikh way of life. Interestingly, I have added a section of photography on Sikh parenting,” he reveals.

~ Source- Hindustan Times

In India, there are hundreds and thousands of jokes made on Sardars and the famous one is “Sardar ke 12 bajgaye.” People usually associate the dialogue BARAH BAJ GAYE (its 12 ‘0’ clock) with Sardars (Sikhs). It is a remark which means that they go into a ‘mad’ mood at twelve o’ clock and start acting crazy and do all sorts of crazy things. We even say this dialogue to anybody who acts really foolish at any point of time.

And, what’s even worse, we leave no opportunity to reduce any Sikh we know to a mere joke. But not many of us are aware of the story behind the origin of this dialogue. It’s time we tell you how the ’12 baje gaye’ phrase got associated with the Sikhs.

During the 18th Century, India was invaded by Nader Shah, the Shah of Persia. Nader Shah’s army raided Delhi in the year 1739 and looted Hindustan. Countless Hindus and Muslims were killed and the women were held captives. The only people who stood against these people were the Sardars. Sardar Jassa Singh who was the Commander of the Sikh army at that time decided to attack Nadir Shah’s Kafila. With ‘guerilla’ tactics, they attacked the Muslim camps and liberated the Hindu women from the clutches. They even helped those rescued women return home safely.

The usual time of such attacks was either at noon or midnight. The attacks were so ferocious, that the Muslims began dreading the expected attacks of the Sikhs at 12 o’ clock, midnight or noon.” After that time when there occurred a similar incidence, people started to contact the Sikh army for their help and Sikhs used to attack the raider’s at Midnight, 12 O’clock.

History Behind ‘Sardarji Ke 12 Baj Gaye.’

It was these people who coined the phrase that “Sardaron ke barah baj gaye.” But over time, the Hindus started referring to this kind gesture in the form of the 12 o’clock joke without even realizing that had it not been for those Sikhs, their women wouldn’t have survived.

The irony is that descendants of the rescued people are making fun of the rescuers. They went out of their way to help their brothers and what they got in return was an insensitive joke that stereotyped their community on a ridiculous level.

It’s easy to joke on a Sardar, but it’s too difficult to be a Sardar. We think it is time to stop joking about this incident. So now I guess anybody who reads this might reconsider before using this dialogue.

-Chaitanya Konduru

~ Source: allindiaroundup.com

On 2 March 1945 on the road between Kamye and Myingyan, Burma (now Myanmar), where the Japanese were strongly positioned, Naik Gian Singh who was in charge of the leading section of his platoon, went on alone firing his tommy gun, and rushed the enemy foxholes. In spite of being wounded in the arm he went on, hurling grenades. He attacked and killed the crew of a cleverly concealed anti-tank gun, and then led his men down a lane clearing all enemy positions. He went on leading his section until the action had been satisfactorily completed.

On 2nd March, 1945 on the road between Kamye and Myingyan, Burma, where the Japanese were strongly positioned, Naik Gian Singh who was in charge of the leading section of his platoon, went on alone firing his Tommy gun, and rushed enemy foxholes. In spite of being wounded in the arm he went on, hurling grenades. He attacked and killed the crew of a cleverly concealed anti-tank gun, and then led his men down a lane clearing all enemy positions. He went on to leading the section until the action had been satisfactorily completed.

SHARE & SREAD this SIKH Braveheart!

~ Source:

Sikh Coalition partnered with the White House Asian American and Pacific Islander Initiative (AAPI) to launch Act To Change – a national campaign aimed to raise awareness of bullying in our nation’s schools.

We are pleased to report that this initiative is already having incredible and immediate results.

The Sikh Coalition’s Law and Policy Director, Arjun Singh, joined three Sikh community members, all of whom have long advocated for anti-bullying reform, for a high-level meeting with senior administration officials at the White House.
Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett joined Arjun Singh, Dapinder K. Ahluwalia, Aasees Kaur, and Tejinder Singh for a roundtable discussion that featured the Sikh perspective along with a broader discussion on how federal agencies can better combat bias-based bullying.

Aasees and Tejinder are the sister and father of Japjee Singh – a Sikh student from Georgia who courageously contacted the Sikh Coalition after being bullied for years. Dapinder’s son was bullied so badly in a private school in New York City that when the school refused to properly respond, she was forced to relocate to a new school district in New Jersey.

My brother spoke out and with the support of the Sikh Coalition, we refused to let the DeKalb County school district ignore the problem of bias-based bullying,” said Aasees, who also volunteers as a Sikh Coalition Advocate. “Now we’re at the White House working to ensure that the rest of the country addresses the problem too.”

Dapinder (19K) Dapinder, like so many Sikh families across the United States, faced the horrible choice of speaking up and tackling the problem publicly or fearing that publicity would make the problem worse for her son. “The bullying of my son has altered our lives forever, but to be at the White House, working with the Sikh Coalition, and talking about this problem head on makes me believe that the future for the next generation of children in our schools will be better.”

An effective response to bullying must begin with the acknowledgement that bullying is an epidemic and is prevalent in classrooms across the nation. We must stand up, reach out and speak up.
As always, we urge all Sikhs to practice their faith fearlessly.

~ Source: Sikhnet

Two Amritdhari (initiated Sikhs) named in the Canadian cabinet after an election that saw the following Canadian Sikhs elected, including 5 who wear turbans, 5 women, and 4 who have been named cabinet members:

Harjit Singh Sajjan was sworn in as Minister of National Defense; Navdeep Singh Bains was appointed as Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

Harjit Sajjan immigrated to Canada from India with his family when he was five years old.

Having grown up in South Vancouver, he benefited from everything this diverse and culturally rich community had to offer. While attending local elementary and high schools, Harjit was active in many of the sporting and athletic programs.

Harjit is married to Dr. Kuljit Kaur Sajjan, a UBC-educated family doctor, and together they have two young children.

Harjit Sajjan has four operational deployments; one to Bosnia and three deployments to Afghanistan. He has been awarded the following honours in recognition of his service to Canada:

Order of Military Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal (Afghanistan)
General Campaign Star (Afghanistan)
Mention in Dispatch
Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
NATO Service Medal (Bosnia)
Golden Jubilee Medal
Diamond Jubilee Medal
Canadian Forces’ Decoration
US Army Commendation Medal
Chief of Defence Staff Commendation
Deputy Minister Award (Department of National Defence)

Harjit Sajjan was a member of the Vancouver Police Department for 11 Years serving in South Vancouver and was selected as a Detective for the Gang Crime Unit. Harjit has long been advocating for education and mentorship programs that engage the youth to become more active members of society, while strengthening youth defense against the rule of gangs and drugs.

Born in a small village in India, Harjit learned the importance of the very basic human necessities at a young age. He is immensely grateful for the privilege of being a Canadian and now participates in humanitarian efforts where ever he can make a difference. He and his wife have four sponsored children and support many charities that promote health and education to impoverished children.

Navdeep Bains

Mississauga-Malton MP Navdeep Singh Bains has been named Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
Having served as the MP for Mississauga-Brampton South from 2004 to 2011, Bains, 38, a long-time Trudeau friend and advisor, gained extensive experience as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and as the Liberal Critic in a number of portfolios.

Bains, a former Brampton resident and Turner Fenton Secondary School graduate, was the first MP for Mississauga-Brampton South when that riding was created in 2004 and, after last month’s election,he returns to Ottawa to serve as the first MP for Mississauga-Malton 11 years later.

Bains, an accountant/financial analyst and visiting professor at Ryerson University, said in a tweet he’s “honoured” to be Canada’s next Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.

-DailySikhUpdate

Harjit Sajjan immigrated to Canada from India with his family when he was five years old.

Having grown up in South Vancouver, Harjit benefited from everything this diverse and culturally rich community had to offer. While attending local elementary and high schools, Harjit was active in many of the sporting and athletic programs.

Harjit is married to Dr. Kuljit Kaur Sajjan, a UBC-educated family doctor, and together they have two young children.

Harjit Sajjan has four operational deployments; one to Bosnia and three deployments to Afghanistan. He has been awarded the following honours in recognition of his service to Canada:

Order of Military Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal (Afghanistan)
General Campaign Star (Afghanistan)
Mention in Dispatch
Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
NATO Service Medal (Bosnia)
Golden Jubilee Medal
Diamond Jubilee Medal
Canadian Forces’ Decoration
US Army Commendation Medal
Chief of Defence Staff Commendation
Deputy Minister Award (Department of National Defence)

Harjit Sajjan was a member of the Vancouver Police Department for 11 Years serving in South Vancouver and was selected as a Detective for the Gang Crime Unit. Harjit has long been advocating for education and mentorship programs that engage the youth to become more active members of society, while strengthening youth defense against the rule of gangs and drugs.

Born in a small village in India, Harjit learned the importance of the very basic human necessities at a young age. He is immensely grateful for the privilege of being a Canadian and now participates in humanitarian efforts where ever he can make a difference. He and his wife have four sponsored children and support many charities that promote health and education to impoverished children.

~ Tapasleen kaur
~ New Delhi, 5th Nov ’15

While stories such as the Khalsa Aid helping Syian refugees or a Sikh man using his turban to save a boy’s life warm our hearts immensely, incidents of racism and cultural discrimination do the exact opposite. It’s been four years since Osama Bin Laden’s death but racial discrimination in the US seems to know no bounds.

As if racial profiling in the States wasn’t enough, prejudices against the Sikh community in general adds more murk to the damage. The following incident, shared by The Sikh Coalition, is a testimony to this fact.

When Parampal Singh Ghai and his father visited a famous Nathan’s joint in Maryland (Baltimore) to get some dinner, little did they know that they will be subjected to racial bigotry. While they waited for their dinner to arrive, they noticed the restaurant staff calling out to people by their names. Since Parampal hadn’t been asked his, imagine his horror when he looked at his receipt that identified him as ‘Osama’ instead of Parampal.

The humiliation was enough to leave a long-lasting blow, however when Parampal confronted the employee, he didn’t receive an apology. Instead, coupled by another employee and customer, they simply laughed. With a ‘deepening humiliation’, Parampal returned his food back to the staff.

The Sikh Coalition writes:

“Since the 9/11 attacks, Sikh Americans, who wear religious turbans and maintain unshorn hair, have repeatedly endured bigotry and violence because of a mistaken and offensive affiliation with members of the Al Qaeda terrorist network. Many have been called racial slurs such as “Osama,” “raghead” or “terrorist,” at the workplace, on the streets, and at school. Just last September, Inderjit S. Mukker, a father, was physically was attacked on his way to the grocery store in a Chicago suburb and also called a “terrorist,” “Bin Laden,” and told to “go back to your country.” Sikh school children have not escaped the backlash. In a recent national survey, the Sikh Coalition found that approximately 67% of turbaned youths nationwide report being bullied and verbally harassed because of their Sikh religious identity. The Sikh Coalition has also represented Sikhs who have faced verbal harassment in the workplace, including at Autozone, an auto parts company, that allowed a Sikh employee to be repeatedly harassed and subjected to “terrorist slurs” by customers such as “Bin Laden.””

~ Source: IndiaTimes

After 4 years of being Canada’s third most important language, Punjabi officially became the third language in Parliament of Canada after English and French.

1.40% of Canada’s population comprises of Sikh people. They are not only credited for paving the path to Canada for all South Asian immigrants but have also created the presence of Sikhism in the United States.

The said action was taken after the election of 20 Punjabi-speaking candidates to the House of Commons.

The Parliamentary elections, which were conducted on 19th October led to the selection of 23 South Asian-origin members, 3 out of whom do not speak Punjabi

Out of 20 Punjabi speaking members, 14 are males and six are females. Also, 18 are Liberals and two are Conservatives.

Prime Minister-designate, Justin Trudeau, is scheduled to unveil his Cabinet this week.
MP Deepak Obhrai of Conservative Party said, “The voice of the Indo-Canadian community will now be very well represented in the Parliament. In the overall aspect of it, the South Asian community won.”

It’s a big step for Canada’s Parliament. It’s finally official.

~ News Source: First Post

After knowing about the plight of drought-affected families in Latur district, a group of SIKHS announced monetary help to the affected and have also decided to adopt an entire village in Marathwada – often looked at as India’s emerging farmer suicide capital, DNA reports.

Maharashtra Sikh Association has extended monetary help to 25 drought-affected families in Latur district who they say needed help in the deepening crisis.

“We went to Marathwada and visited many places. The situation is quite grim. We immediately extended monetary help to the 25 drought-affected farmers,” Mal Malkit Singh, spokesperson of Maharashtra Sikh Association told DNA.

He also told ,”one girl in Marathwada committed suicide for the lack of money to buy a monthly pass for a government bus.

“We met her family and decided to take care of her sister’s education. If she wants to go abroad we are ready to fund her education,” he said.

While announcing to adopt a village, Singh said their focus is to keep drought-ravaged families alive.

“We want to focus on sustainable development. As a part of the adoption we will build check dams so that particular villages do not face water shortage in the summer,” he said.

“Farmers are the backbone of our economy. We have to help and save them,”” Singh added.

Currently, the group is hoping that other people will also follow their path.

Great by the SIKH Community who came to their rescue when almost 80% of the state is facing a drought with more than 600 farmers already committing suicide this year.

~ Source: Scoop Whoop

Once upon a time, there was an Indian hockey legend who was known as the world’s most feared penalty corner specialist of his generation. He participated in three Olympics – winning a medal each time. His name was Prithipal Singh.

But this shining star’s life was very short. He was murdered in broad daylight by his own students in the campus of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana.

Today, a movie based on his life is all set to be released. And it will unfold some of the most interesting and inspiring aspects of his life.

The feature film called ‘Prithipal Singh…a story’ is expected to hit the silver screen by early next year. It has been directed by Babita Puri, who is the first woman to direct a Bollywood sporting biopic. The film will be premiered at the All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival next month.

Here are five interesting things that you should know about Prithipal Singh:

1. A wonderful player since the very start

Prithipal Singh started his hockey career in 1950 as a part if his college hockey team. He was appointed the captain of the team in 1955.

Nicknamed “King of short corner” by hockey commentators, Prithipal Singh stunned everyone with his performance from the very start of his career. He participated in the Munich festival held in Germany where he was recognised as the best full back player in the world. He was also awarded the “Roll of Honors” in 1955 for his all-round achievements in sports and education.

2. A jack of many trades

Prithipal was not just an incredible hockey player, but also a post-graduate in agriculture. He worked for Punjab Police as well as the Indian Railways. Later, he became the deputy director for youth welfare in PAU, Ludhiana. In 1965, he was awarded the Railway Minister’s Medal for being the Best Railway Sportsman.

3. His memorable performances at the Olympics

Prithipal participated in three Olympic games and each time he surprised the world with his incredible performance. He bagged medals in all three of them — silver in Rome (1960), gold in Tokyo (1964), bronze in Mexico (1968).
In the Tokyo Olympics, India scored a total of 22 goals, out of which 10 were scored by Prithipal alone.

4. His tragic death

It came as a shock for the world when Prithipal Singh was murdered. And that too by his own students at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), where he worked as the sports director. The year was 1983 and he was shot in broad daylight.

On that fateful day, Prithipal parked his bike outside his office at 8:20 am. Suddenly two students pulled out revolvers and shot him. The entire incident was witnessed by over 50 university officials and students. Unfortunately, none of the witnesses came forward to support Prithipal, nor did they identify the accused in court.

5. Holder of the first-ever Arjuna Award conferred to a hockey player

Indian Government acknowledged his incredible performance in hockey and honoured him with the first-ever Arjuna Award conferred to a hockey player. He received the award in 1961 by the then Indian President, Rajendra Prasad. He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1967 for his meritorious contributions to world hockey.

Share & Spread for the WORLD to know about his INSPIRING LIFE!

~ Source: betterindia.com