She has dedicated her life to the noble but onerous mission of rescuing unwanted and unclaimed newborn girls and giving them a secure home and future.

She has touched the lives of many who’ve been cruelly shunned by their own. She hails from Amritsar, Punjab. Her passion for this touching cause is commendable. She has adopted 80 girls and has raised them motherly warmth, taking care of all their nutritional & educational requirements.

She has dedicated her life to dispelling a bit of the darkness that engulfs Punjab, indeed all of India. It highlights the poisonous truth of gender inequality in India.

We salute her passion for this cause and for providing support to these beautiful children.

This Kaur is a Mother of Hope!

~ Source: India Today

The sport was an obvious childhood passion for Jasjit after coming from a village synonymous with Indian hockey, but it was not until he got into college after turning 18 that he seriously pursued the game, the report adds.

“I was a late starter and did not get serious about playing hockey until I got into college,” Jasjit tells the agency. “For one whose village is Sansarpur, the passion for hockey was always there. I used to play as a child, but ours is a family of doctors and the focus was scientific education,” said Jasjit, who scored two goals in the 3-2 win over Malaysia that placed India in the last-four round.

“It was as a student of Jalandhar’s Khalsa College that I got into hockey seriously,” he says.

The late-starter bloomed pretty quickly, making the national team in less than five years after playing his first competitive game. Jasjit made his international debut as a half-back during the 2014 World Cup at The Hague against Belgium. His big chance to make a mark came when India’s new coach Paul van Ass picked him as a drag-flicker and he got the opportunity to be the main penalty corner shooter in the absence of injured V R Raghunath and Rupinder Pal Singh.

Jagjit, 24, justified the faith with the two late goals from rising drag-flicks that went into the net and ensured India’s victory. These two goals, says Jasjit, were his first from drag-flicks in international hockey.

Sansarpur had till date given 14 Olympians, 19 internationals who represented India and other countries, 110 national-level players and another 132 who represented various military teams, said Popinder Singh Kular, a hockey player who also published his PhD dissertation on “Social, cultural and educational ethos of sports: A case study of Sansarpur village in Punjab”.

“It is in our blood. We are born to play and win. Our built and determination has made us winner in hockey since the beginning. The Indian Hockey team lost its winning streak after 1976. You may call it a coincidence, but after 1976 no one from Sansarpur was included in the team,” he was quoted in a 2014 article in The Tribune.

~ Source – AsiaSamachar

Avvall Allah Noor Upaya, Kudrat key sab bandey!

Inmates of all castes and religions stand united with the thread of faith during the Ramzan fast to spread the amazing message of communal harmony.

Sikhs, Muslims & Hindus set a new exemplary of communal harmony as they all come together, ignoring their caste and religion, to fast during Ramzan to show solidarity.

The rest of the inmates decided to spread the message of love during Ramzan. Since the Muslim inmates celebrate Diwali and Gurpurab with the same zeal, they all decided to reciprocate the gesture by fasting.

The loving gesture has drawn them closer. As these friends chat and spend time together all day and finally break their fast in the evening, they pray not just for their families, but for the families of all who have been keeping the fast with them.They have created a positive atmosphere in the Ludhiana jail in addition to spreading the message of love and communal harmony.

Camaraderie of faith that goes beyond religion!

~ Source: Indiatimes

The British have kept a 350-year-old Saroop of Adi Granth for over 130 years inside the British museum. The Saroop kept in the British library is one of the 20 oldest Saroops to exist in the world.

It is dated from the 17th century (Circa 1660-1675). The original Adi Granth was compiled by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in 1604, known as the Kartarpur Wali Bir currently in the possession of the Sodhi family of Punjab.

The Saroop was purchased by the British Museum in 1884 from the Reverend A. Fisher, who had been principal of a missionary school in Amritsar in the Punjab.

The Adi Granth was completed in 1604, and installed in the Golden Temple; Baba Buddha was appointed Guru’s Granthi. Guru Arjun Dev Ji told his Sikhs that the Adi Granth was the embodiment of the Guru, and should be treated in the same fashion as they respect him. When Guru Arjun Ji first completed the Adi Granth, he placed it upon his own bed and slept on the floor. Its words were written without any spaces or breaks.

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last of the Sikh Gurus to take human form, dictated the entire Granth Sahib at Talwandi Sabo now called Damdama Sahib. Dhir Mal, the son of Baba Gurditta and grandson of Guru Hargobind, had taken possession of the Adi Granth; he refused to give it to Guru Gobind Singh when the Guru asked for it. Dhir Mal taunted the Guru, “If you are a Guru, then prepare your own.”

The tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji added the bani of 9th Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji into the Adi Granth and in 1708 declared it to be Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the eternal Guru of the Sikhs.

The British Museum has split it’s Saroop of Adi Granth into different parts and have committed sacrilege by treating it as a book.

Manjit Singh addressed the concern in 2012 to the British Museum by stating the following:

“The Guru Granth Sahib/Adi Granth should NOT ever be dissected or kept as a ‘book’ in the British Library. This manuscript needs to be ‘reconciled’ with the remaining Adi Granth from which it was dissected. It then needs to be returned to a Sikh gurdwara (Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar) for it to be laid on its canopy and used in worship. Sikhs bow to the Adi Granth. It is NOT a ‘prayer book to be shelved and archived. This manuscript needs to be returned to the Sikh community and given the full regalia that every Guru Granth Sahib is. I would be interested to discuss this matter with the British Library.”

~ Source: Daily Sikh Update

A Sikh man who removed his turban to cradle the injured head of a child has been felicitated for his efforts. Harman Singh has received the district commander’s certificate of appreciation at the Counties Manukau police district awards, held at Manukau Institute of Technology.

Singh was recognized rescued a 6-year-old Daejon Pahia after the youngster was hit by a car. Singh made world headlines he removed his turban to staunch the blood flowing from Daejon’s head.

Inspector Bruce O’Brien, the prevention manager for the Counties Manukau central policing area, praised Singh for his “outstanding compassion and empathy”.

He was “overwhelmed” when he received the email inviting him to the awards ceremony, the 22-year-old said “I’m a shy guy, but it’s nice. I’m so happy.” The media attention following the incident had taken some getting used to.

“It was very uncomfortable doing the first TV interview but the second or third time, you get used to it.”
Singh said his relatives back in India were very proud to hear he was receiving the award. And he said he would not hesitate to act if ever in a similar situation.

“If something else happens, I have the maturity and I can do the same thing.”

The Sikh man who captured the hearts of people across the globe when he took off his turban to cradle a boy’s head who had been hit by a car and this was a very emotional moment for him to get honored for his noble act of compassion.

~ Source: stuff.co.nz

Nihangs are a tribe that are scattered around Punjab, India. Dating back to the time of the ever expanding Mughal Empire where they were the first line of defense fighting simply for the right to live free from oppression. Each nihang was trained in the martial art of “Shastar vidiya”; The art of swordsmanship allowing them to be very agile yet very destructive. They have dedicated their whole lives to defending their faith.

Known for their martial arts, sword fighting abilities, military expertise and bold blue attire, their traditions have changed very little over the past 300 years.

Due to the success of the Vaisakhi event which took place on Saturday 11th April, Raman Singh’s art work for my latest series Nihang, Nomads of Punjab was put on display until 24th April 2015 at City Hall, Central London.

The Event was organized by the Mayor of London and the positive feedback of the series has given him the opportunity to share his life long passion to explore history and heritage.

Despite being warriors they are a symbol for world peace, Nihangs are saint soldiers! They exist to spread love and preserve peace.

Courtesy – www.ramansingh.co

Share & Spread to appreciate the efforts put in, digging the Sikh Heritage to the surface!

Akal means the Throne of the Immortal and is the highest political institution of the Sikhs. “Akal” means “The Timeless One” – another term for God. “Takhat” means “throne” in Persian. The Akal Takhat is an impressive building that sits directly in front of the causeway leading to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, India.

The original structure of Akal Takht was built by Guru Hargobind ji, Bhai Gurdas ji and Baba Buddha ji, with their own hands. No other person or artist was employed to build the platform. Guru ji remarked that the seat of guru would serve the panth for eternity. Guru ji raised the height of the platform to twelve feet, defying the royal edict of Jehangir that no other person except the Emperor himself can sit on a raised platform of more than three feet. Guru Hargobind would regularly sit on the raised platform, Takht, with all marks of royalty and dispence justice for all disputes of Sikhs.

The Akal Takhat was built a fraction lower than the Harimandir Sahib, implying the order of importance, that the search for spiritual grace was always to lead.

A similar balancing of assertion and submission was built into Guru Hargobind’s daily routine, which alternatively highlighted the shrine, with its spiritual function and self-effacing architectural symbolism, and the throne platform, with its assertion of sovereignty and temporal authority. The Guru started the day with worship in the Harimandir; he would then go on a hunt in the late morning and grant audience from the Akal Takhat in the afternoon.

~ Source: Sikhiwiki

A 42-year-old Sikh man was declared brain dead at AIIMs, Delhi becomes the ninth cadaver donor this year. Institute director Dr M C Misra said the man’s heart, liver and two kidneys have been transplanted in the bodies of four recipients, while his corneas have been preserved in the AIIM’s eye bank.

Sikhism stresses the importance of noble deeds, selfless giving and sacrifice which is always exemplified by the Sikh Gurus.
Saving a human life is one of the greatest things one can do as an act of selflessness. Since life continues after death in the soul, and not the physical body. The last act of giving and helping others through organ donation is both consistent with, and in the spirit of, Sikh teachings.

His heart was transplanted into a 48-year-old male suffering from dialectic cardiomyopathy, while his kidneys went to two different males.

Due to non-availability of a suitable recipient at AIIMS, his liver was offered to Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences and transplanted into a 54-year-old man suffering from acute and chronic liver failure.

“The patient was admitted to Rockland Hospital in Qutab Institutional Area with complaints of severe headache and pain in the right side of the body on June 23. A sudden haemorrhagic attack left him brain dead,” said Rajeev Maikhuri, senior organ transplant coordinator, Organ Retrieval Banking Organization at AIIMS. A patient is termed brain dead when he or she has suffered complete and irreversible loss of all brain functions and are clinically and legally dead.

Maikhuri said that that the patient’s family agreed to donate his organs when neurosurgeons explained about the condition. Names withheld to respect privacy.

A noble initiative by the family members which proved to be a blessing for others.

Organ Donation is truly a gift of life. An inspiring story of loss and hope, pain and joy and acts of selflessness.

This is true spirit of Chardikala, thinking as a well wisher for others even after undergoing a huge loss!

~ Source: ndtv.com

It’s a scene of complete devastation in Amreli, which has been ravaged by the worst floods in 90 years. Almost 600 villages are inundated; roads have been washed away due to flash floods in Shetrunji river and its tributaries. The condition of farmers is extremely miserable.

In such distressful hours of need Sikh Volunteers of Khalsa aid extend a helping hand to the affected victims, providing them clean drinking water and other basic necessities.

Hats off to the team & their spirit of humanity!

~ Source: Khalsa Aid

The ideal season to perform this raag is in the summer time.
Guru Teg Bahadur ji bani is composed in this …the last raaga of the SGGSji.
Guru Tegh Bahadur ji,

Ang 1352:

Asks us to understand that wealth is like a dream so why are we so proud? Even the empires of this earth are like walls of sand. The body will perish.

Moment by moment yesterday passed ….today is passing as well…meditate on the Eternal,

So the inspiration of this painting are the Sand Dunes ….that are here today and gone tomorrow. It is a great analogy for the transient nature of our existence.

This painting came together fairly quickly….I was in class, I set out the paints, canvas and brushes and in a few hours this painting came came together….perhaps I was in the zone…or was it that I had been thinking about the Guru’s words for some time but there it was, by the end of class, this composition had come together.

The Guru wants me to reflect why am I so proud of the worldly goods? Of my worldly achievements? Moment by moment a whole life is passed…..

This world is an illusion…nothing that I have of this world shall go with me.

Guru advises me …. Meditate on the eternal truth

~ By Dr Navjeet Kaur