Punjab never fails to surprise! Another heart-warming story of inter-communal camaraderie where Sikh helped in building a Mosque for Muslims which was said to be the oldest relic of Sarwarpur.

A wealthy Sikh family in Sarwarpur was moved by the fact that Muslims had nowhere to worship in the village, decided to rebuild the old mosque, using the original foundation, for the 11 Muslim families and some other migrant farm labourers in the village.

A native of Sarwarpur, Sajjan Singh Ghuman, who is now a businessman based in Birmingham, England, funded the entire project. “For the village’s majority population of Sikhs we had a Gurdwara. But the village Muslims had to trudge 10km to Samrala town to offer Friday and Eid prayers. We knew they wanted to get a mosque in the village,” said Mr Ghuman’s brother, Joga Singh, a wealthy farmer in Sarwarpur.

“On behalf of Sarwarpur Sikhs I approached my brother and he immediately agreed to fund the mosque. Muslims had a mosque here and it got lost in the riots. So, by returning the mosque to the Muslims we feel we have performed our duty, which had been long overdue.” Men from 300 Sikh and 11 Muslim families joined with construction workers to rebuild the mosque at the site where the original structure was razed in 1947.

Muslims raised the ‘Allah-o-Akbar’ slogan and offered the first prayer in the mosque since Partition under the leadership of the Shahi Imam who congratulated the Sikhs for their noble gesture and said that the Sikh people have proved with their magnanimous behavior, their tolerance and brotherhood, which has no match in the country,” reported the Milli Gazette, a Delhi-based English-language newspaper that reports on issues concerning Indian Muslims.

Mohammad Tufail, 80, the eldest Muslim resident of Sarwarpur, said the construction of the mosque was a “dream come true”. “Mohammad Jameel, a 32-year-old day labourer, said: “If our Sikh brothers did not come forward, we could have possibly never got a mosque in our village ? They are like our real brothers.”

“The building of this mosque by the Sikh community will serve as a good lesson for those communal leaders who often trigger riots in the country in the name of religion,” Maolana Ludhianvi said.

The rebuilding of a mosque by Sikhs, 63 years after it was demolished during Partition riots in 1947, has been hailed by social activists and religious leaders across India as a rare display of harmony in a country torn by frequent communal violence.

This heart warming gesture has surely bound our hearts with faith & sentiments of interfaith!

Sagarjeet Singh is the only Sikh Doctor in Sind and 3rd MBBS Sikh Doctor of Pakistan. He hails from Shikarpur. He belonged to a lower middle-class family. His father worked as an accountant of a rice mill. His mother had a deep desire to get his son educated and was ready to sacrifice whatever it took to get him successful. She even had to mortgage her jewelry for his matriculation fees.

Gradually the hard work & sacrifices started paving his way to success.

He bagged the sixth position in the entrance conducted at his district as well as got two scholarships in Chandka Medical College. He did his house-job in JPMC Karachi and then worked in UAE for 6 months.

He came back after completing his post graduation, currently he is pursuing his training in Nephrology in SIUT Pakistan. He has specialized his training in Kidney transplant and Nephrology. SIUT is known to be the Only Institute in Pakistan to have its first successful transplant.

In Pakistan, Sikhs are considered a hard working community having a population of about 50,000 Sikhs there are ONLY 4-5MBBS Doctors

While sharing his experience in Pakistan, he remarks “ You won’t believe that Sikhs are loved & respected by the people of Pakistan more than anyone else. When I Joined the SIUT hospital in Karachi, I was the Only Sikh Doctor in the entire Hospital but still I was able gathered so much warmth & respect from everyone. I gained the trust and confidence of the patients in a very short span of time. All those trendsetters among Sikh youth are able to achieve such milestones only because of higher education.”

“Sikhs got popularity in the sectors of medical science, army, police department and banking only due to quality education which turned out to be their asset. Though, a large number of rich and wealthy Sikh families dwell here but none of them has acquired fame due to their wealth.”

He shares his special message for the Sikhs especially the youth-

“Education is a real jewel and wealth that can never be stolen. It polishes your skills and develops your character.

I, therefore convey my message to the entire Sikh nation to educate their children!

Secondly, I request entire Sikh youth to work more efficiently with their firm stand on practicing Sikhi in order to represent their nation among the BEST because Sikhs working in all these sectors (medical, trade, police, army and politics etc.) are actually the ambassadors of their Sikh nation.”

Share & Spread to celebrate Pride!

~ Tapasleen Kaur

Tarandeep Singh – Gets Up, Shows Up, Never Gives Up.

Salute to this Father’s commitment of ensuring his kid’s education.

“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.”

Tarandeep Singh, young student of Akal Academy, Kajri – proved that no amount of rainfall or flood will minimize his zeal to go to school even if he has to swim his way all across the rain water with his father. He crossed puddles of water for about two months not loosening his spirit to learn at School. Such is his thirst for Education!

Challenges can only restrict you. To succeed is your State of Mind! Don’t barrier it!

~ Pic courtesy – Gurpreet Singh Mann

Edmonton-based SBI BioEnergy lead by InderPal Singh to build $10-million mini-refinery at the Edmonton Research Park to demonstrate proprietary technology that turns vegetable oils, animal fats and tall oil — a by-product of the pulp and paper industry — into renewable diesel and jet fuel.

It’s the only technology known that can convert biodiesel into renewable diesel.

The company behind a refinery to turn fat and grease into renewable fuels says the pilot plant could soon offer another local market for Alberta farmers and cut greenhouse gas emissions at the same time

“This is a crucial step for getting into commercialization,” said Inder Singh, founding president and CEO of SBI. The project would also help attract investment partners that SBI needs to move into its full-scale production goal of 240 million litres a year by 2018.

He has been working on this technology for over eight years now and finally hit the target.

When it begins operations in 2016, the pilot plant will be capable of producing up to 10 million litres of “drop-in” renewable diesel and jet fuels. Drop-in refers to the fact they are chemically indistinguishable and perform similarly to petroleum fuels. Singh believes his products may eventually replace biodiesel and ethanol.

As higher concentrations can be blended into regular fuel to meet renewable fuel standards, the renewable fuels can cut greenhouse gas emissions.Refineries in Canada prefer to buy renewable diesel over biodiesel because it is fully compatible with existing infrastructure, distribution systems and engines, according to SBI.

SBI’s refining process uses a catalytic technology that doesn’t use any water or create any waste material or use any hydrogen, Singh said. The process could become a new market for non-food canola, damaged by weather or in storage, he said.
“Once our commercial plant is up, we will probably be buying in the tune of $200 million worth of farm produce,” Singh said.
SBI expects to hire 25 more employees within a year to add to its current staff of eight.

“We’re pleased to have financially supported the development of SBI’s new renewable fuel pilot plant,” said Steve Price, CEO of Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions.

“Its facility strengthens Alberta’s expanding byproduct sector and gives Alberta farmers a new market for off-grade canola.”

~ bmah@edmontonjournal.com

Share & Spread this very UNIQUE eco-friendly technology innovated by a Sikh!

Forty years back on March 15, 1975, the Indian men’s hockey team accomplished a historic feat by beating Pakistan 2-1 in the World Cup final to earn the title of champions. Till today the World Hockey Cup is won by India won only 1 time in 1975.

Led by captain Ajit Pal Singh, the team left no stone unturned to ensure that they got the Cup home from Kuala Lumpur. He was rightly acclaimed as one of the best center forward in the world during his time. He led India to a sensational victory in the third world cup hockey tournament at Kuala Lumpur in 1975.

Born on April 1, 1947, Ajit Pal Singh learnt the alphabet of hockey of hockey in his native Sansarpur village, the bastion of hockey during the time. A number of players from this village had already represented India in Olympics and a number of international tournaments.

He first played in an international hockey tournament at Bombay in 1960. Later he represented India in Japan in 1966. Having finished his studies at the school, Ajit Pal Singh joined LayallPur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, which had honor of number of star hockey player. Ajitpal Singh Got the first real break when, as a student of B.A. part I ,he was selected in Indian Team to play in Pre- Olympic Hockey Tournament in 1967 at London. There after he did not look back and came permanently on the Roles of Indian Hockey team .Next year Ajit Pal Singh gave a dazzling show of Stick work in the Mexico Olympic Games. He showed what a fine sense of distribution he had and how he helped make the half line function smoothly. Ajit Pal Singh showed such dexterity and skill at his position that he was included in the world Hockey teams of 1971,72 and 73. He next represented India in 1974 in Asian games at Teheran. Consequently he was included in the Asian All-Star Hockey XI the same year.

But he reached the pinnacle of glory in 1975 when he led India to the third world cup hockey victory in Kuala Lumpur in the most trying circumstances. The Punjab Government had borne all expenses prior to the participation by organizing a camp for the team in Punjab. The Whole country was in a great jubilation. For the first time the Hockey seemed to get priority over the cricket in the country.

Ajit Pal Singh next toured New Zealand. But 1976 in the Montreal Olympic Games India Suffered the most humiliating defeat under Ajit Pal Singh when they finished Seventh. No One seemed ready for an answer what went wrong for, India had fielded practically the same team which had won the Third World Cup Hockey tournament title.

Fed up with Indian Show at the Montreal and in the view of the mounting criticism in the country, Ajitpal Singh retired from the International Hockey scene. However, he continued playing for the BSF where he was employed as Assistant Commandant. He was also not happy the way the Indian Hockey Federation managed its affairs treating the players shabbily off and on the field.

Four years later Ajit pal Singh came out of retirement to play in champion Trophy Tournament at Karachi in 1980. Ajit pal Singh awarded the Arjuna Award in 1972.

~ Bibliography Source – sikh-history.com

Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sri Guru Ram Das Ji is a historical Sikh Gurdwara in Pakistan.

This is that holy historical place where Guru Ram Das was born on 24th September, 1534 (25 Asuj, Samwat 1591) to Sodhi Hardas Ji and Mata Daya Kaur. Guru Sahib spent first 7 years of his life here. This place is situated inside Delhi Darwaza, near Purani Kotwali Chowk in Chuni Mandi.

The ancestral house of the Guru was small in size, so Maharani Nakain requested to Maharaja Ranjit Singh at the time of birth of Kanwar Kharak Singh, for permission to rebuild this historical place a new. As a result of this, the Maharaja purchased the surrounding buildings from the Qazis and got a Gurdwara of dimensions 122′-6×97′-6 built which was somewhat similar to the Harmandir Sahib, Amritsar. On the west is an open yard and Nishan Sahib is fixed on the South-West corner.

The Singh Sabha Movement got set going from this Gurdwara in 1927 A.D. According to Gurdwara act, this Gurdwara came under S.G.P.C. Management.

At the time of partition, eighteen Sikhs faced martyrdom there.

~ Source: Sikhiwiki

Constable Mandeep Kaur is one of the officers involved with Operation Spice, which aims to reduce the Papatoetoe Indian community’s risk of victimization.

She says. “Officers are also pushing for Indian people to join Neighbourhood Support and community patrols because they are under-represented in those groups”.

Her success will inspire other young Sikhs to work hard in all professions. Her achievement has brought laurels to the entire Sikh community worldwide: a positive portrayal of what Sikh women are truly capable of.

Share & be the part of the Pride!

~ Source: FB/Jobolesonihal

Jamrud or Jamraud (Fatehgarh) a village at the southeastern approach to the Khyber Pass in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan NWFP for short where the Bab-e-Khyber (Khyber gate) built in 1964 stands across the road today.

In 1837, Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa a well-known and respected General of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Khalsa forces proposed the construction of a massive fort in order to provide a base for further advances through the formidable defile. Hari Singh built this massive mud fort in an unbelievably short time of 54 days.

However, Amir Muhammad Khan of Kabul (Afghanistan) clearly sensing the danger of allowing the Sikhs to have such a sizeable post from which to launch attacks deep into his Afghani territories attacked it in early 1837.

Defeated by the Sikhs his forces retreated to Kabul. In April 1837, the local tribesmen followed suit and attacked the fort as well. At this point Bibi Harsharan Kaur made her famous walk to Peshawar to retrieve the ailing Hari Singh Nalwa and Sikh reinforcements.

The superior Afgan force was defeated but the Sikhs suffered a major setback as Hari Singh Nalwa was wounded in the battle and died soon after on 19th Visakh, Samvat 1894 (1837).

There are many different tales of the general’s last stand. In one version he has one horse shot out from under him and is shot himself after he remounts and charges the Afgans again.

In another version the fabled General, after being ambushed and shot twice, sensing he was dying, had himself tied to the wall of his fort so the attackers, such was their fear even of his name, would continue to think he was alive and lose heart.

Such was his fame in the area that Hari Singh Nalwa’s name continued to be used by the Pathan mothers of the area to frighten their children into being quite and falling asleep by saying, “Chup Hariya Raghle” (Be quiet Hari Singh has come.) Modern research seems to point to the Dogra Brothers involvement in having him shot by one of their agents.

The fortress is situated on a mound covering a hundred square yards. It has an outer wall and an inner wall having only one entrance in each wall in the days of Hari Singh.

The route inside spirals to the top, from where one can get a commanding view of the stony barrenness that leads into the famous Khyber Pass. In 1924, the British took over the fort and constructed new barracks. Today it is part of the Peshawar garrison, and prior permission is required to tour the interior of the fort.
Jamraud fort is located about 18Km from Peshawar in FATA (Federally Administrated Tribal Areas), and all foreigners must seek permission from the Peshawar administration to go to Jamrud.

Additional sites near the fort:

A Samadhi or shrine of Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, erected in 1892 by Baba Gajju mal Kapur of Peshawar.
Underground cells, once used as a prison.
The sweeping view of the Khyber Pass from the top.
Gurdwara Jogan Shah.
Gurdwara at Jamrud
Samadhi of Bhai Phola Singh

~ Source: DailySikhUpdate

The river Ganga that has been loaded with pollutants at every inch while the Govt is formulating policies to clean it, the water of the holy river is pure and drinkable here at the Baoli Ganga Pargat.

The narrow well present at the Gurdwara Badi Sangat in Nichi Bagh is believed that through the grace of the ninth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, the stream of holy water of the river Ganga appeared at the place.

“The water well is situated near the sanctum in the main hall of the Gurdwara since 1666 when Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib arrived the city to meet one of his follower. However, the well is not just a source of ground waters, it provides water from the river Ganga, as it is written in our holy book,” claimed Sardar Mahendra Singh, manager of the shrine appointed by Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee.

The stream appeared is still preserved in the form of a narrow well and the devotees drink its water as nectar.

“The water is pure and drinkable without any pollutants. Moreover, by the blessings of Guruji, the curative properties also existed in it. Thus, the followers come and have it for the sake of their good health.”

Recalling the history of the water well, Mahendra said, “During the seven-month and 13-day long trip of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib to Varanasi, he stayed at the resident of Bhai Kalyan Mal, the site of the present Gurdwara Bari Sangat. One day he was getting ready for meditation, when Kalyan Mal came and asked him to go for a holy dip in the river Ganga on the occasion of eclipse. In reply, Guruji said that the river existed here only and asked to remove a stone on the floor. A flow of holy water came out and he took bath. After this, the water level goes down and the place is preserved as Baoli Ganga Pargat till the date.”

Having length and width of three feet each, the water well is deep inside and remains filled with water round the year, informed the manager.

A devotee told us in the Gurdwara, “I used this water for all the sacred ceremonies hold at my place as holy water of river Ganga. It is pure, drinkable and also contains divinity.

Share & Spread the divinity.

~ Source: volganga.com

Sikh Bodybuilder Navtej Singh is new Tara’s Champion. He became the New North India Winner in 2005 He belongs to Kartarpur, Punjab, India. Dope free Navtej has all eyes set to go high in the field of national and international bodybuilding.

He has been titled as Mr Punjab, Mr North India, Mr India, Mr Europe, Mr World Overall Champion. He won the prestigious award of Mr Olympia Amber Prix and held the 5th Position in the Championship.

He is the member of the National Bodybuilding Team India and has participated at the International Contests and won the following championships:

Over All Champion “Amber Prix International” (1968-2012), Lithuania held in 2011
Category Champion at Europe Championship Open, Lithuania , 2011
Third Position at Europe Professional Championship Open, Russia
Fifth Place at World Professional Championship, Slovakia

Share & Spread his outstanding performances & achievements!

~ Source: Fitness Freak of India