It’s time we tell you how the ’12 baje gaye’ phrase got associated with the Sikhs.

If legend is to be believed, the story dates back to the 18th Century when India was invaded by Nader Shah, the Shah of Persia. Nader Shah’s army reached Delhi in March 1739 and a massacre followed.

Countless Hindus and Muslims were killed and the women were held captives. When his armies were crossing through Punjab, the Sikhs devised a plan to attack them and free the women. But since Nader Shah’s army was huge as compared to them, they decided to visit his camps only at night and free as many women as they could as stealthily as possible.

They even helped those rescued women return home safely because they knew how important a woman’s dignity was. 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.

They went out of their way to help their brothers.

Source: mensxp.com

Next Time you come across a Sardar Joke, make sure you SHARE this with them!

By taking the traditional concept of the “Langar”, or shared meal, out of the Gurdwaras and onto the street, these Sikhs have successfully managed to extend the idea of service globally, spreading its glory worldwide!

This April, two Sikh organisations in New Delhi and Amritsar sent food relief to victims in post-earthquake Nepal. Apart from contributing 25,000 food packets a day each, they sent out teams of cooks and volunteers to set up community kitchens. These served hot meals to over 10,000 people a day.

Meanwhile, in the UK, the homeless are turning to Sikh community kitchens for hot meals as demand for food banks rises.

Meals are offered free, and everything from the buying of the food, to the preparation of the meals, is based on donations.

Spirit of service

The importance of selfless service or “seva” has been emphasised in the lives and teachings of the Sikh gurus. According to Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, sharing one’s time and wealth with those in need is the best possible action. The idea of “langar” as a community kitchen was developed by Guru Nanak in his settlement at Kartarpur, now in Pakistan.

Devotees would farm the land before preparing food and sharing the meal. Langar – which refers to the community kitchen as well as the food served – was developed as a practical manifestation of the teachings where devotees were encouraged to work hard and share the fruits of their labour.

Sharing a langar – which includes cooking, serving, eating and cleaning up – emphasised the idea of equality beyond any categorisations of caste, gender, social status, ethnicity, or religion.

The introduction of “langar” into the Oxford English Dictionary in 2008 highlighted that this key tenet of the Sikh tradition had entered mainstream vocabulary. Those who experience langar in gurdwaras for the first time are often amazed at the scale of what is essentially a volunteer effort.

Gurdwaras are playing an important role as food banks, with an estimated 5,000 meals served to non-Sikhs each week by Britain’s 250 gurdwaras. In addition, Sikhs in the diaspora are increasingly making efforts to take langar out of the gurdwara so that it fulfils its core objective of serving the whole community.

In Canada, the Seva Food Bank serves food to low-income families. In Los Angeles, the Khalsa Food Pantry and Khalsa Peace Corps provide meals to the destitute, while the Sikhcess project provides food and clothing to the homeless in a number of local communities across the US.

British Sikhs have established food relief organisations in cities across the UK. The Midland Langar Seva Society in Birmingham, the Kirpa Food Bank in Wolverhampton, Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen based in Doncaster and Edinburgh, the Bedford Langar project, the Sikh Welfare and Awareness Team (SWAT) based in London and Nishkam Help based in Birmingham and Leeds are some examples.

In addition to contributing to the communities they live in, Sikh charities such as United Sikhs also contribute to humanitarian efforts in different parts of the world as needed. Khalsa Aid, a UK based Sikh charity, which has provided disaster relief in Albania, Turkey, Somalia and Pakistan, made the headlines in 2014 when British Sikhs helped the Thames Valley and Somerset flood victims by delivering sand bags, food and medical supplies to those affected.

Demonstrating values and beliefs

The vision behind much of this food relief lies in the spirit of selfless service. The offering of food to all as a central tenet of the Sikh tradition has meant that Sikhs are often the go-to community for food relief. Indeed, given their non-proselytising nature, Sikhs are able to use langar as a practical demonstration of the values promoted by the Sikh gurus rather than simply talking about their beliefs.

For these Sikhs in diaspora, rather than simply referring to members of a particular ethno-religious group, “community” refers to anyone they engage with at a local, national or even international level. This view extends the idea of langar to the whole world, and allows them to put into practice the ideal of “Sarbat Da Bhalla” or, “working for the betterment of all”.

~ Source: theconversation.com

In a rare honour, Jalnidh Kaur, a student from Punjab, has won a Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford. It is the world’s oldest and the most prestigious international graduate scholarship program.

The scholarship allows her to pursue her post-graduation at the University of Oxford, UK, and consists of funding of all the tuition fees for two years of post-graduation, air travel, plus a maintenance stipend to cover her boarding and lodging expenses.

The Rhodes Scholarship is given to youth of outstanding intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to service. It supports students who demonstrate a strong propensity to emerge as ‘leaders for the world’s future’.

Jalnidh Kaur has pursued Economics Honours at St Stephen’s College, Delhi. She intended to do an M.Phil. in Economics at the University of Oxford. Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Bill Clinton are but two of the famous recipients of the scholarship in the past.

Jalnidh Kaur, a resident of Ludhiana, Punjab, is the only child in the family. Her father is an Associate Professor at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana and her mother is a Lecturer at Guru Nanak Girls College, Model Town.

Formerly a student at Guru Nanak Public School, Sarabha Nagar and the Sacred Heart Convent School, Jalnidh will complete her Bachelor of Arts this year. Jalnidh was also honored by the University of Hawaii, USA, with the title of Junior Fellow, the East-West Center.

In addition to formal academic prizes, Jalnidh achieved second prize in the ‘Budding Economist’ Quiz at Confluence National Economics Festival and pioneered the business plan ‘EurekaWow’ which promotes the concept of senior-to-junior knowledge sharing.

Alongside her academic work, Jalnidh founded Éclair, now a country-wide organization with over 100 volunteers offering informal schooling for children living on the streets.

She served as Youth Coordinator for the Punjab division of the Civil Society Against Drugs movement during the Punjab Assembly Elections in 2012.

She is also the author of three books, namely – ‘Divine Pills’, ‘Work is More Fun than Fun’ and ‘Economic History of India’. Longer-term, she would like to help combat the extreme social disparities in the world around her through contributing to value-based interventions based on social science research.

~ Source: Sikhchic

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The contribution of Sikh and other Indian soldiers in the First World War will be commemorated at a special exhibition in Reading.

Reading residents can acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of more than 1.5 million Indian soldiers who fought for Britain at the Legacy of Valour exhibition between Sunday August 2 and Monday August 31 at Reading Town Hall in Blagrave Street, Reading.

The free exhibition will display rare photographs of Indian soldiers, as well as highlighting the connection with Reading Town centre, where many Indians trained as Royal Flying Corps combat pilots.

The display will be opened on Saturday August 1 at a special ceremony by high commissioner of India to the UK Ranjan Mathai and her majesty’s lord lieutenant of Berkshire James Puxley.

Inderpal Dhanjal, Legacy of Valour project leader, said: “India provided Britain with a massive volunteer army in its hour of need. Over 1.5 million Indian soldiers and support personnel, one in six, served during 1914-18, fighting in all major theatres of war.

“The Legacy of Valour exhibition commemorates the remarkable but forgotten contribution of Sikh and other Indian soldiers in the First World War.

.”Legacy of Valour is a heritage project that was launched in October 2014 as part of the First World War centenary, with the aim of getting the Punjabi community living in Reading and Wokingham to learn, understand and share the contribution of Indian soldiers between 1914 and 1918.

The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the local Punjabi community. It is also supported by local organizations.

~ Source: getreading.co.uk

Ranbir Kaur was the first Sikh woman to join the US armed forces in 2003. She went on a one-and-a-half-year mission to Afghanistan. She had joined the US National Guard at the age of 17.

She was born in Nijjran village of Jalandhar district, Punjab, the young fighter reached the US as a seven-year-old after her father Mahan Singh, pursuing the American dream, secured a green card in 1990.

She was brought up in an isolated town called Earlimart, in California, her brush with the uniform dates back to 2001 when she was a freshman (Grade IX) in high school at Delano, which was the closest city.

In 2003, the daughter of a Sikh grape grower who faced the ire of white supremacists, who posted spam emails terming her recruitment as a means to seek citizenship. However she was already a US citizen, and the young girl set about proving her detractors wrong through hard training.

During the 2005 Katrina hurricane in New Orleans, the devout Sikh was instrumental in the recovery of the Guru Granth Sahib after the New Orleans Gurudwara was submerged.

United Sikhs, an organisation, had sought her assistance and Ranbir got everybody moving after she announced that the living Guru of the Sikhs was under water. Amid random shootings, air force rescue experts David Cruz and Tom Bausmas rescued the Guru Granth Sahib in an operation that lasted 22 hours.

After serving in Afganistan Ranbir was reassigned to Iraq were last year she was injured. She was returned to the States for a four week recovery period. She has returned to complete her tour of duty with her unit in Iraq.

~ Source: DailySikhUpdate

Sikh Delegation raised a demand for a Sikh regiment in the US Army to recognize the contribution of Sikh soldiers during the World War II.

A meeting with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central USA, Eileen O’Connor in Washington was held and demand was put forth to raise a separate Sikh regiment in the US Army recognizing the contribution of Sikh soldiers during the World War II under Dwight D Eisenhower who was the Commander of allied forces and later became the US president.

The delegation requested the US department of State to introduce Sikh history in Schools and sought cooperation in areas such as health care and cultural exchange programs.

“US appreciates the contribution of Sikhs and values for Sikh Religion and considering the same Sikhs have been allowed to be part of the military service with their full attire including turban and will also forward the request of setting up of Sikh regiment to the concerned authorities”, Eileen O’ Connor said to visiting delegation.

~ Source: indiatoday.intoday.in

The haveli was the residence of one Ranjit Singh’s finest general in the own town of Ranjit Singh’s birth. Today an Islamic madrassa is being run in the haveli.

There is an old Hindu temple complex at Katas, in Chakwal district of Punjab, which may probably date back to at least the 10 AD.

Katas is a very sacred place for the Hindus. It is located on a hill six kilometers from village Choa Saidan Shah of Chakwal district. The place is mentioned in the ‘Mahabharata’ and according to Hindu religious belief, both Katas and Paskar (Ajmer) are the eyes of Shiva. Paras Nath Jogi breathed his last here. The Founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Ji also visited Katas and had set his foot here. This place thus also came to be known as ‘Nanaknawas’. It was the abode of contemplation for groups of mystics, ascetics and Jogis etc.

It also has great historical significance because it was the place where the Arab traveler and historian Al-Beruni attempted to measure the circumference of Earth, and where he studied and learnt Sanskrit, and eventually wrote his renowned “Kitab-ul-Hind”. Even today groups of Hindu pilgrims come from India to visit it regularly to worship.

At Katas, is also a small fortified mansion or traditional ‘haveli’ which goes by the name of ‘Hari Singh Nalwa di Haveli’ (the Haveli/Mansion of Hari Singh Nalwa). This Hari Singh was a famous Sikh general and administrator who served as governor in Kashmir and Hazara areas during Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s time, and one of the bulwarks of the Sikh regime in Punjab. He died in 18 at Jamrud, in the Pashtun tribal areas, and his death was a major set back or blow to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Sikh power generally.

According to local information, this ‘haveli’ at Katas, named after Hari Singh, was probably made by this able commander sometime in the 19th century, some 10-12 years prior to his death. He also used to come and visit this holy site and stay here and it is presumed he built it for his own use as well as a sort of garrison to protect this holy site. Not much is known about this place now, local people dont seem to have much knowledge, and the government are equally clueless and disinterested. Despite being a place much-visited by Hindus, the temple complex and this fine old ‘haveli’ and other old buildings, are falling to rack and ruin.

~ Source: historyhpak.blogspot.in

Once a 17-year-old girl who was addicted to cocaine came forward and asked, “Can Guru Granth Sahib Maharaj forgive my past sins, and put me on the path in the future?”. When the Hukamnama Sahib was taken, Guru Sahib answered said:

ਪਿਛਲੇ ਅਉਗੁਣ ਬਖਸਿ ਲਏ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਗੈ ਮਾਰਗਿ ਪਾਵੈ ॥2॥
Please forgive my past actions, God, and place me on Your path for the future. ||2||
This can also be interpreted as: “I have forgiven your past sins, and I put you on the future.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIWTSHQozp4

On another tour when Bhai Sukha Singh was in America someone came up to him and asked, “Can Guru Granth Sahib ji talk? He said, “Let’s go to Guru Granth Sahib”. The man said, “I want to hear Guru Granth Sahib ji say that they can speak. It if doesn’t come up in the Hukamanma then think about what I’m saying”. Bhai Sukha Singh thought, “Ok my job is done, Guru ji it is up to you to take care of this from here”. The man wasn’t a bad person; he just misunderstood what the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is. He thought it is a book with some spiritual understandings.

No, Guru Granth Sahib Ji is spirituality. It is not a prophet. It is the message. It is the voice. So they did an Ardaas and received a Hukam. After the first line came up, the man put his head down. Not with shame but with sharda (belief), with satkar (respect). And it was

ਹਰਿ ਨਾਵੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਗਲਾ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਵੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਮਸਲਤਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਹਮਾਰੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਨਿਤ ਸਾਰਾ ॥

My conversation is with the Lord’s Name, and my counseling is with the Lord’s Name; the Lord’s Name always takes care of me.

Which can be interpreted as, “ You can speak to me. You can ask my advice. It is the Name of God that looks after me.

So when we take a Hukamnama Sahib, it’s that it’s just a random Shabad that may or may not be applicable. It is a direct message to you.

Message by Bhai Sukha Singh Ji

~ Source: Sikhnet

The Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships hosted a cultural literacy workshop focused on the Montgomery County’s Sikh Community on July 14 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Rockville Library.

The workshop was hosted by the Kaur Foundation- a nonprofit organization that helps communities through education- and was designed to increase awareness of Sikh American identity and heritage, and cultivate cultural sensitivity.

“Our goal is to bring about understanding in the community through education. Through awareness we can create change,” said Geetika Kaur, director of education and community engagement for the Kaur Foundation.

Montgomery County EEO Officer Angela Washington shared remarks on community diversity followed by an educational video and a short discussion.

“The culture diversity workshops are a really important piece of the office of community partnership. It increases the sets of awareness the global community in Montgomery County and it really gives a platform for communities who traditionally don’t have a voice,” said Diane Vu, Asian liaison and language access coordinator for the Office of Community Partnerships.

~ Source: Sikhnet

Amitoj Singh is the Junior Powerlifting National Champion in US!

“It was surreal. I worked really hard for this,” said Chhabra. “I worked really hard for this. It was a long journey. I’ve been working out since I was 14; competitively powerlifting since last May. I’ve got a lot of great people behind me, like my coach.”

He was helped by his trainer Adam Lauritzen of Silverback Strength and Conditioning to add over 100 pounds on his dead lift in the last year alone. He topped out at 573 pounds to propel him to the title.

“I’m extremely proud. It’s pretty amazing, really,” said Lauritzen. “He’s got the genetic talent, he’s got the work ethic. And that only comes along every once in a while.”

Singh won the title in the full power Raw event, a combination of three lifts. The bench press, the squat and the deadlift. He finished with 1,383 total pounds to win the Junior Championship in the 198 pound weight class.

He admitted ,”I’m not satisfied with my performance, I had to cut about 20 pounds (to make weight) and I think I could have done better, especially in the squat and the bench. Other than that, it feels great. All the hard work, it’s all paid off.”

A graduate from Galena High School has been dominating the Junior circuit for a while now. He broke four Nevada state records back in October at the Central California Open which was in the 18-19 age division. Now in 20-23 age group, he still holds those same records and currently has seven Nevada state records.

“‘He’s just going to get stronger,” said Lauritzen. “So our job now is to make sure he keeps progressing and stays healthy enough to continue going up.”

“I’d like to dominate in the open division as well. My goal is to dominate,” added Singh. “I don’t want to just focus on Junior. I want to be the best of the best.”

You appreciate your spirit & zeal towards your goals!

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