Lieutenant General Gurdeep Singh has taken over as the Chief of Staff (CoS), Western Command headquarters as reported byDefence spokesman.

Lt Gen Singh was commissioned into the Kumaon Regiment in June 1977 and is an alumnus of National Defence Academy and Indian Military Academy.

Singh has a distinguished career spanning more than 38 years during which he tenanted various command, staff and instructional appointments in Western, Eastern and Northern Commands.

The General officer successfully commanded an Infantry Battalion in J&K including Siachen Glacier. He commanded an Infantry Brigade and Infantry Division with varied operational roles in J&K, the spokesman said.
The General Officer has attended prestigious professional courses including Defence Services Staff College and Senior Command Course, he said.

The General Officer was Commandant, Infantry School, Mhow prior to taking over as the Chief of Staff, Western Command.

Source- EconomicTimes

An Indian-American cardiologist has donated $1.5 million to the University of California -Irvine for creating a Sikh studies department on its campus .Dr. Harvinder Sahota donated the money to the university to create a department, to be named after Sahota’s mother, Bibi Dhan Kaur Sahota, reports India West.

The department will teach Sikh studies as a regular course.“My mother taught me never to degrade anyone and respect everyone,” Sahota was quoted as saying.“I still abide by the lessons she taught me as a child. I wanted to honor my mother for the woman she was and the man she helped me turn out to be,” he told the paper.

A graduate of the Patiala Medical College in Punjab, Dr Sahota created perfusion angioplasty balloon in the mid-1980s. Now it is being used throughout the world, including India, Mexico, Ukraine and Russia.

The syllabus will cover Sikh studies from 1469 to 2015, and beyond. The department will include graduate and undergraduate courses in Sikhism, and students will have the opportunity to visit Sikh temples as part of the study program. The university is also planning for the collaboration with Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, Punjab.

The courses are expected to begin in September 2016.

~ Source: americanbazaaronline.com

It was pouring down with rain as about 50 people queued for their evening meal on a city centre street. For many, this will be their only meal of the day. They collected containers of soup and rice pudding, a bread bun and a bottle of water from outside Marks and Spencer, in Albert Street.

Braving the unkind weather is the Guru Nanak’s Mission; a collection of doctors, dentists, receptionists and unemployed people from all backgrounds with one motive – to provide food, no strings attached.
And if it wasn’t for the group of volunteers who take time out from their lives to provide the free food, they would go hungry.

Many of their beneficiaries are homeless, some have regular shelter but little else, while others may be comparatively privileged but are still welcomed with open arms.

“It doesn’t matter if you have your last fiver in your pocket or a million pounds, we will give food to anyone who asks for it – although it’s generally those who really need it that come,” said Harry Bhaker, 26, who set up the group in March 2013 with four others.

“The main thing is about equality and we serve only vegetarian food, so no one is discriminated against.
“People come to help us for the same reason – they are inspired by what we do and want to inspire others.
“Those we help might be a bit too proud to come to our temple and ask for food, so we take it out to them.
“Me and my brother were recently walking into the train station the night after we had been serving when we saw someone with the rice pudding we had given out the previous night. You realise that someone saved that for their next meal – it’s genuinely making a difference.”

The mission follows the 500-year-old concept of langar, the term used in Sikh religion where food is served in a gurdwara – place of worship – to all visitors for free, regardless of background.

Mr Bhaker’s group was inspired by an idea in Derby, where food is shared by taking it out into the streets rather than inviting visitors inside.

It is now run from three of the six gurdwaras in Nottingham. Each one has a storage room filled with donated food items, including rice, pasta, sugar, tomatoes, tea and lentils.

Up to 60 volunteers are involved in preparing and cooking food in communal kitchens at temples in Percy Street on Monday, Nottingham Road on Wednesday and Norton Street on Thursday. They then pack up the meals – which can range from chips and baked beans to burritos – and take them to the same spot in Albert Street at about 7.30pm on each of those nights.

Graphic designer Jatinder Hanspal, of West Bridgford, has been volunteering since last October with wife Meena, 41, and three-year-old daughter Preet.

The 43-year-old said: “Giving up two or three hours of your evening a couple of days a week doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.

“It’s fulfilling to see the food you’ve prepared going to people who are really, really thankful. The biggest thing I’ve noticed is that it’s not just homeless people – only about 70 per cent of them are.”

Steve Moore, of Forest Fields, joined as an atheist but says he has been drawn to the “goodness” of Sikhism.
The 43-year-old said: “It means a lot to me to show that, whatever background you come from, you can take part.
”At the end of the night, when we say our goodbyes, I just feel a bit better about myself that I’ve helped someone and made their life a little bit easier.”

Many of the people who take the food form queues early in anticipation of the volunteers’ arrival. They take the food to their homes or shelters, or immediately find a step outside a nearby shop to eat their meal.

Jonathan Rawling, of The Meadows, is a regular recipient. The 25-year-old, who was homeless for two years but now has accommodation, said: “There’s a really good atmosphere. It’s very important what they do because most of these people are on the streets and this could be the only source of food for them.

”At the moment, I’ve got one packet of spaghetti, so without their help, I’d be looking for food somewhere else.”
Carlton Forbes, 52, of Arnold, said: “It’s a very reliable and brilliant service that helps all walks of life.
”I don’t really cook and I’m a bachelor, so it’s very important to me. It’s amazing to have a hot meal three nights a week.”

Volunteer Jag Bhaker, 24, said: “They’re always here before us, no matter what the weather is like – it’s a really humbling feeling.

“The rainy days are often when they need our help the most and they always come out because they know we’re a reliable service.”

The group can be contacted via the Facebook page Guru Nanaks Mission Nottm.

The Nottingham Post launched a major new campaign to make our community a better place – and we asked for your help.
We want 1,000 people to promise to do a good deed or act of kindness over the next 12 months.

Our Good Deeds Notts campaign will see organisations, businesses and individuals – including staff from the Post – raising money for charity, volunteering in their communities and giving their neighbours a helping hand.
And we want to celebrate all your good deeds by featuring them in the paper and on our website.
Last weekend volunteers helped kick off our campaign with a sponsored head-shave and dog walking.
Christine Brooke, of The Park Dog Walking Group, said: “I think the campaign is marvellous; every day we should try to do a good deed.”

Staff from the Post also helped launch Good Deeds Notts. They gave blood at the Nottingham Donor Centre and others held a cake sale to raise cash for local charity Maggie’s.
Editor Mike Sassi said: “One thousand good deeds sounds like a very big target – but it can be reached. We never cease to be amazed by the generosity of the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

“This campaign helps the Post turn that generosity into headline news. It also helps us, on behalf of our city and county, to say thank you to so many selfless people who make this such a great place to live and work.”

Dozens of organisations have promised to back our campaign, including Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County councils, the Playhouse, Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and Nottingham Hospitals NHS Trust.
We also have the backing of businesses such the Nottinghamshire Building Society, Experian and Alea Casino and Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse.

Councillor Alan Rhodes, leader of the county council, welcomed the campaign.
He said: “This underlines the Post’s commitment to highlighting the good things about our county and the great things that Nottinghamshire folk do every day.”

nottinghampost.com

A mini township, to be known as tent city, will be developed in 26 acre area in Saran district to accommodate lakhs of Sikh pilgrims likely to visit Patna Saheb during the Guru Gobind Singh’s 350th birth anniversary celebration in January, 2017. The township will be equipped with all the modern facilities.

A joint team of the gurdwara managing committee and divisional commissioner, Saran, will identify the land before August 15. This was decided at a high-level meeting held recently under the chairmanship of CM Nitish Kumar, said an official. Lakhs of pilgrims from across the world are expected to visit the Patna Saheb gurdwara in 2017.

After identifying the land, the officials would work out a plan for developing basic civic amenities like water supply, electricity, sewerage and road connectivity. The government plans to develop it by the end of next year, said an official.

Two hundred beds would be added to the Guru Gobind Singh hospital in Patna City area for providing basic healthcare to the visiting pilgrims. On the law and order front, the ongoing construction work of Chowk police station would be completed at the earliest. CCTV cameras would also be installed in the Patna City area to avoid any untoward incident during the celebration.

The CM has directed chief secretary Anjani K Singh to review the ongoing progress work in the third week of this month. The South Bihar Power Distribution Company has been entrusted with the task to provide uninterrupted power supply to the ‘tent city’.

An approach road from Patna Saheb to Patna Ghat railway station would be developed to manage traffic. The ministry of railways would be asked to develop Patna Ghat station as a full-fledged terminal to facilitate seamless travel for thousands of visiting pilgrims.

The urban and housing development department has been asked to send a proposal to the chairman, Railway Board, for construction of a two-lane road and to widen the road near Patna Ghat railway station.

The government is also contemplating to give 3200 square feet of nearby open land to the gurdwara management committee on lease to accommodate the pilgrims. The state road construction department has been directed to widen 30 nearby roads for providing more space for heavy vehicles.

Urban development and housing development department principal secretary Amrit Lal Meena briefed the CM about the progress made in this regard.

Source- Times of India

A small band of Sikh businessmen and doctors in Myanmar have come together to provide assistance and medical in the wake of the country’s massive flooding woes.

Badged themselves as the Myanmar Young Sikh Aid (MYSA), they aim to collect funds and organise manpower to help as many people as they can.

They have set up base at the Gurdwara at 80th Street, Mandalay. Here, they pack food and other relief items to be dispatched out.

Since 1 Aug, they have got themselves registered with the Myanmar authorities and launched a Facebook page (search for Myanmar Young Sikh Aid) to communicate with the wider world.

“We are just doing from the bottom of our heart. We give every single minute to them for helping,” MYSA Facebook page editor Harleen Kaur tells Asia Samachar in a telephone conversation on late Sunday evening.

They are determined to do their bit to help their countrymen in dire need of help.
“Most of our members run their own businesses. We are doing this [volunteer work] merely to help our people in distress,” said Harleen, a second-year civil engineering student in Myanmar, a volunteer herself.

As of Aug 10, more than 100 people have died and nearly one million people affected by the flooding following weeks of torrential rain, according to state media.

There is much work that needs to be done, and MYSA is joining the many other agencies and relief outfits offering assistance.

Their story reminds the way Global Sikhs came about in the wake of the tsunami that hit hard Aceh, Indonesia. A group of Sikhs in Malaysia then had huddled together in Kuala Lumpur to form a relief outfit which was named Global Sikhs.

Khalsa Aid, a UK-based Sikh relief outfit, has joined forces with MYSA which is based in Mandalay, some 700km into the mainland from the coastal area which has been hit hard by the monsoon rains.

Since formation, MYSA has raised funds, both internally and from abroad, to send out relief teams to affected areas.

The teams have also covered villages like Khone Zaung, Ma Taw Ghone, Pauk khone, Kyin Ghone, Kan La, Se Daw village and Ghu Gyi.

Another UK-relief agency, United Sikhs, have also sent out its team to Myanmar to assist in the relief work.

As at Sunday, MYSA had managed to raise K23 million (Myanmar currency is called kyat. US$1 is about K1,232). “We have received about 235 lakh so far. We also had some pledges from the UK and Thailand, but have yet to receive the money,” she tells Asia Samachar. That is equivalent to about RM73,000 or S$25,800 or US$18,700. The group is updating the donation list on its Facebook.

The work on the ground is daunting simply due to the sheer scale of the disaster.

~ Source: Asiasamachaar

The Sri Dasmesh Pipe Band certainly left an impression at the World Pipe Band Championship in Glasgow, Scotland. The identity of the Khalsa dress, given by the great Sri Guru Gobind Singh is having such an amazing effect that they received good media coverage, the latest being in the London-based newspaper The Guardian.

In a pictorial on the competition, badged at the Olympics of the pipe band, the Malaysian Sikh based band were given generous coverage. On the online version, Sri Dasmesh made four out of the 10 photos ran. What a feat!

“When I saw the Guardian newspaper showing a pictorial of the world pipe band contest, I knew there would be at least one pic of the Sri Dasmesh band. I didn’t expect it to hog so many,” commented a participant of a Sikh discussion group.

~ Source: Asiasamachaar

After working more than a year on the case by SALDELF, It was recently announced that the state of Illinois confirmed that Sikhs can now wear their turbans in their driver’s license photos.

After receiving reports that Sikh Americans and members of other communities were being asked to remove their turbans, and in some cases to modify their articles of faith, in order to get their driver’s license in Illinois, SALDEF began pursuing the change.

The Sikh organization engaged in discussions with the Drivers Service Department to create religious accommodations for Sikhs and members of other faiths. It resulted in a published poster and handout on these accommodations, which is being shared with every office in the state, as well as the public.

“The release of this poster and guidance confirms the right of every American to practice their faith,” said SALDEF executive director Jasjit Singh in a statement. “A driver’s license or photo identification card is a basic need in today’s society. We commend Secretary (of State, Jesse) White and the department for addressing this problem and publishing a valuable resource for all residents of Illinois.”

SALDEF teamed up with the Council on American Islamic Relations, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the South Asian American Policy and Research Institute to work on the issue.

-Indiawest.com

Oscar-Winning Actor Sir Ben Kingsley will now be seen as a soft-spoken Sikh New York cab driver in a upcoming film, which touches upon the issue of discrimination the community faced in a post-9/11 America. He plays Darwan Singh Tur in the movie Learning to Drive, to be released this week.

71-year-old actor plays a soft-spoken and righteous cab driver, proud of his Sikh identity, who settles in New York after getting political asylum in the country.

Kingsley praised the Sikh community on the Jimmy Fallon talk show, particularly voicing appreciation for the help extended by them to New Yorkers in after the 9/11 attacks.

“I hope after the film that the wonderful Sikh community or the next Sikh that you see with those great turbans and everything, you just may be give them a second look and think about the past, his exile and where he has come from,” Kingsley said.

“The Sikh drivers after 9/11 turned off all their metres and were slowing down and asking people where is your loved one, I will help you find them. All the Sikh community in New York, beautiful.”

The distinguished actor gets into the skin of his character and looks and behaves every bit the Sikh he portrays.
He has seamlessly adapted the Sikh mannerism when it comes to tying the turban or offering prayers at the Gurdwara.

~ Source: dnaindia.com

I was sitting near the boarding gate of my ‘Air France’ flight to the United States. A man of seemingly European origin made himself comfortable on the bench close by. He had been staring at me in a strange way since the time I noticed his presence. After a brief smile, he came up to me and explained the reason behind his behavior. Why do you have that thing on your head? He asked. I was glad of his interest and answered him enthusiastically. This was the first time I was confronted with this kind of question. Little had I known that it would become the most frequent query once I left India – asked by known and strangers alike, a zillion times. So, why do I wear a turban? What are its significances, advantages and limitations? Here, I try to answer some of the most frequent turban queries.

Sikh turban is an article of faith that has been made mandatory by the founders of Sikhism. It is not merely cultural paraphernalia. The symbolisms of wearing a turban are many from it being regarded as a symbol of sovereignty, dedication, self-respect, courage, devotion, and style, but, the foremost reason all practicing Sikhs wear a turban is just one – out of love, obedience and commitment to the wishes of the founders of their faith. The turban is deeply intertwined with the Sikh identity and is a manifestation of the mission given to all Sikhs – to fearlessly stand against tyranny and protect the downtrodden. Wearing a turban ensures that no Sikh can hide in the crowd and escape this responsibility. Turban was included in the Sikh dress code contrary to the prevailing diktat that only the superior class could wear a turban. The Sikh prophets sought to uplift the subjugated and make them the equals of the highest of the high. They diligently worked to create an egalitarian society dedicated to justice and equality.

Sikh turban has an immense spiritual as well as historical significance. Just being exposed to this royal attire brings about changes to person’s attitude and psyche. It is a popular belief in northern India, where most Sikhs come from, “Anything anyone else can do, a Sikh can do better.” In a country diseased by poverty and teeming with beggars, no Sikh can ever be found stretching out hands for alms. In a swarm of people, a Sikh is always expected to act as a leader and fight oppression. At the same time, turban brings a great deal of responsibility. It provides Sikhs with a unique identity and unwanted attention. This means that Sikhs are accountable for each and every action since there is no hiding. Zeal and Courage are must to acknowledge being different, to be singled out in the crowd, and hence easily recognizable and accessible. A person’s actions are no longer just tied to him or her; they are visible to everyone, which helps in becoming more disciplined and virtuous.

Turban has indeed become synonymous with Sikhism. In the western countries, 99.9% of the people who wear turban are Sikhs. Yet, other religions have similar tenets. The turban’s importance can be found in just about every culture and religion, starting with the ancient Babylonians to western religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and several eastern traditions. The Old Testament proclaims, “Once they enter the gates of the court”, implying God’s courts, “they are to wear linen vestments. They shall wear linen turban.” From English-turban, French-tulband, Portugese-turbante, Dutch-tulbans, Romanian-tulipan, Persian-sarband, Turkish-sarik, Egyptian-pjr to Indian or Punjabi-pugree, turban has been part of every civilization. Muslim men (particularly religious elders), Afghan men, Iranian leaders, Indian men (in addition to Sikhs), men from Turkey, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Arab Persian Gulf, and desert people from all over the world wear turban for varied number of reasons.

Although essentially religious, the Sikh turban, in practical terms, is not without merit. It is made to measure of fine cotton and tied daily. It fits the contour or shape of the head, and is very comfortable once habitual. Contrary to what many people think, Sikh turban is light (few ounces only) and soft on the head. Like a vacuum flask, it is an ideal headgear for both winter and summer. Even in icy winds it keeps the head and ears cozy and comfortable, while under the hot perspiring sun, it has more utility than many people would think. The turban is hygienic for anyone with long hair (Sikh men and women keep their hair unshorn) and provides reasonable safety for the head. It is fast and easy to tie and inexpensive compared to any other hairstyle one can think of. For variety and taste, pick any possible color; match it with any part of attire with a choice to sport a different head color every single day! If you thought coloring hair red or blue was cool, think again!

Due to its distinguishable nature, the turban has often been a target during times of oppression. 9/11 terrorist attacks provoked uninformed and ignorant people to carry out series of hate crimes against innocent Sikhs who were mistaken for Arabs and Muslims (to avoid misinterpretation – hate crimes against any community are equally tragic and unacceptable). The public redefined the turban as an official Bin Laden headgear and anyone wearing it, his supporter. Post 9/11, Sikhs have been targets of several hate crimes including the recent Wisconsin Sikh Temple shooting. This is the cost Sikhs continue to pay for being different. But, it is nothing new. Sikh history is rampant with such carnages, some of which have been much worse. It requires courage to face the gawking public, sometimes furious, sometimes fearful. These hate crimes are just an example, rather comfy, of the times that have shaped the Sikh character.

The turban being part of Sikhism has given me much inner strength, courage, wisdom, clear conscience, and the ability to stand up to my actions. I have enjoyed every moment of it and threatening episodes have only made me a stronger and better human being. Every time excited children gaze at me from the back seat windows of their car, I am reaffirmed of the legacy and the virtues of the Sikh identity.

~ Photo Credit: turbanmasters.com
~ Source: CNN

A 23-year-old, SIKH student from the US has found a perfect solution to this problem by developing water-resistant socks.

Jaspreet Singh, a law student at Wayne State University in Detroit, is the man behind this idea. The socks look like a regular pair of athletic socks, but when they come in contact with liquid, it beads up and runs off because of the fibres which are fused with water-resistant particles.

Singh got the idea during a public speaking class at the University of Michigan where he was supposed to pitch in a business idea. It took him about 18 months to come up with the final prototype for hydrophobic athletic socks.

When submerged into water, they will get wet, but not as quickly as regular socks, and they will dry faster. There are completely waterproof socks in the market, but they are not breathable and are not soft. On the other hand, Singh’s socks are for everyday use, he says.

He launched an online crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for his project and managed to raise more than his goal of $10,000 just within two days.

The socks brand name is 5 Water Socks, which is inspired from both Punjab and Detroit. The five is to signify the Great Lakes and also because Punjab is known as “the land of five rivers“.

~ Source – thebetterindia