This American magazine wrote an article some time ago on why they believe Sikhs are one of the greatest warriors in history.

Originally Published by the Exiled Magazine

FRESNO, CA — I think I’ve finally found a religion I can convert to. I’m thinking of turning Sikh. And we’ll just slide right by all the puns popping into your little heads, if you don’t mind. The Sikhs are just the coolest warrior tribe around. Take their scripture.

It all started when I got a letter from a guy named Gill, a Sikh in the UK, whining about how I’d talked up all the other warrior tribes but never had a word to say for the Sikhs. “Give us some love, Gary,” Gill whined.

Well, the War Nerd makes war, not love, but after weeks of looking into this Sikh thing, I gotta give the bearded boys their due. The Sikhs have one of the most amazing military histories on the planet. And they’re still living through their Golden Age right now. One of the great last stands in Sikh history happened less than 25 years ago, when 200 Sikh militants holed up in their version of the Mormon Tabernacle, the “Golden Temple” in Amritsar, India. Anybody with sense knew those 200 Sikhs were going to fight like demons, because that’s what Sikhs have been doing for the past 400 years. Sikh military history is so packed with glorious last stands that George Armstrong Custer would be a smalltime footnote if he’d worn a big turban to go with that long hair and beard of his.

It was 1984, and the Indian Army must have known it was in for a big bloody mess to get the temple back, especially since its upper ranks are filled mostly with Sikh generals, Sikhs being the designated hitters of the Indian war game. But Indira Gandhi was PM, and she was a lady who didn’t like being disobeyed, so she ordered her Sikh Commanding General to overrun the temple.

Mistake. The Sikh CO inside the temple was a dude named Shahbeg Singh, who pretty much single-handedly engineered the collapse of the Pakistani Army in the 1971 Indo-Pak War. It was Shahbeg who organized the Mukhti Bahini, the Bangladeshi guerrillas who made history by being the first Bengali armed force in history not to pee in their dhotis and flee at the sound of gunfire. In fact, this Sikh must’ve given the Bengalis some kind of Sikh blood transfusion because they fought well enough to make the West Pak garrisons surrender en masse even before Indian troops crossed the Bengal border. After that it was the end of history for East Bengal, except for a bunch of whiney George Harrison begging chanteys, and a tidal wave or two.

Well, this same Shahbeg arranged the defense of the Golden Temple so well that at the end of a seven-day battle with the Indian Army’s best units, his 200-odd amateur militants had inflicted 83 KIA on the army and even managed to blast the first tank to enter the compound. They paid a price, naturally – at least 500 Sikh dead. But Sikhs — well, if there’s one thing you can say about ‘em, it’s that they’re willing to pay any price.

And they make the enemy pay, too. Less than five months after Indira Gandhi ordered the attack on the Temple, she was strolling into her garden to be interviewed by that fat old Brit with the Russian name, Peter Ustinov, when the Sikhs got their revenge. It must have been a pretty scene, the fat man sweating in the Delhi heat, Indira swirling up in her best sari — when BOOM! Two of her bodyguards, who were Sikhs, naturally, opened fire on her with machine guns, turning her into human chutney. She died before the sweat dried on Ustinov’s chins. And then, just to add to Ustinov’s fun, her other non-Sikh bodyguards started blasting at the Sikh shooters, killing one and wounding another.

Shortest — and loudest — interview the old battle-ax ever gave. Last, too.

That was the Sikh revenge for “Operation Bluestar,” the temple raid. By the way, that’s another of these lame ops titles they keep coming up with. Should’ve called it “Operation Blowback,” or “Operation Indira, Are You Sure?”

For the Sikhs, this was just like Chapter Two Million in a long and glorious series of battles, assassinations and massacres. The Sikhs were born in the Punjab, the coolest part of India. Every conqueror in history headed that way as soon as he got his learner’s license at 15. Punjab was the last, and the toughest place Alexander himself ever tried to take. He was so impressed with the army of Pontus, as they called it then, that he said every Punjabi deserved to be called Alexander. Which was high praise, since Alex was never known for modesty.

Before him even those lazy necrophiliac Egyptians had a stab at the Punjab. I couldn’t believe it when I read it, but apparently those Nile-side loungers had the energy to attack the Punjab. Everybody had a turn, though it was the Persians and the Afghans who turned invading the Punjab from a healthy, occasional fun evening into an unhealthy obsession.

Born at village Churpur in Ludhiana district of Punjab, where she grew up playing with mud toys and mud cakes, manpreet Kaur had never thought of this day, when she walked to the stage to get two gold medals, one in MA in instrumental music and other un overall MA topper at the convocation of Eternal University, Baru Sahib .

Kaur was among 40 students who were conferred degrees and honours. She was also given employment by the Kalgidhar Soceity which runs the university. Her father is a security guard in a pvt company and his mother is a housewife. Manpreet and her siblings hardly had an opportunity to good education.

“ Its and experience which I can’t explain in words. When I came here in 2005, as a school drop out, I never thought I would have this privilege. My parents found it tough to meet my expenses of my education. My mother who heard from someone about free education being imparted here to girl children of poor families, brought me here to shape my future. Today she had tears of joy when she saw me with two gold medals and also a dignified job at Akal Institute of Divine music.” – Manpreet Kaur

She will be travelling around the World, US, Canada, England for carrying the legacy of the Trust through Kirtans and fund raising programmes organized to support children and girls like her.

She wants to find her space in the music world and revive the Saranda which is facing neglect.
She gives all the credit of her success to Baba Iqbal Singh Ji who has framed the career of nearly 60,000 students, many of them imparted free education and residential facility!

– Indian Express

The Team Kaleigh 10K Challenge was organised to raise additional funds for seven-year-old Kaleigh Lau, of Snakes Lane East, Woodford Green.

In April last year, Kaleigh, was told she had Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a very rare and aggressive tumour.

Since then she began to suffer double vision, unbalanced walking and her left hand became very weak.

Earlier this year, she started travelling to Mexico every month with her family, to try and find a way of halting the tumour through a pioneering treatment.

So far, Kaleigh has responded well to the treatment and now Team Kaleigh is raising money in order to ensure the seven-year-old can continue to travel abroad.

At Sikhs in the City Running Club on November 26, a whole host of friends, family and complete strangers united to run a challenging 10K on a blustery winter day.

Mayor of Redbridge Councillor Linda Huggett gave a rousing speech before starting the race and was on hand to present medals for every runner.

She said: “It’s amazing to see everyone here today and I congratulate every runner for their dedication and human spirit.”

Celebrated runners included Jog on Hijabi Lynne Northcott, who is preparing for the London Marathon whilst raising money for a Gambia water project for Penny Appeal, Timi Veerasamy from Dagenham 88 and prolific long distance running legend Harmander Singh.

Organiser Jason Li said that the most uplifting moment of the race was watching “brave Kaleigh take part and complete the course in her wheelchair”.

He added: “I’m just relieved the event ran like clockwork.

“The weather was cold but the sun was out. We had no rain and even little Kaleigh participated.

“Everyone looks so happy and there is a great spirit of togetherness – It’s been perfect.”

Kaleigh’s Father Scott Lau thanked everyone for their support: “We are very blessed to have so many people come out and support Kaleigh and her determination has spurred us on even more. It’s just been an amazing day.

“We will do whatever it takes to make life easier for Kaleigh and it’s just fantastic that we have so many unbelievable people joining us on this journey.

“I’m really proud of everybody and immensely inspired by my own daughter. This illness hasn’t got a cure at the moment and we want to make a change as Team Kaleigh.

“It’s been emotional and we are full of pride – thank you everyone.”

The route was run on Roding Lane South, Woodford Bridge Road and Woodford Avenue with several friendly volunteer marshalls manning road crossings.

Readers who wish to make a donation should state clearly your full name, add a reference: “TK 10K” with your deposit and if possible an email to jasonli.kaleighstrust@gmail.com so that it can be added to the event’s fundraising total.

A Dream doesn’t become a REALITY through Magic, it takes Sweat, determination and Hardwork!

Hailing from a small village in Ludhiana, Manpreet Kaur always dreamt of making an impact beyond just her village.

On the Fifth Convocation Ceremony of Eternal University, Manpreet Kaur was awarded the University Medal for being an over all best student in her Post Graduate studies.

Her Journey from a Govt School to Akal Institute of Rural Women Empowerment was full of struggles. Her father worked as a Security Guard in a private company. He got her name registered in the Akal Institute of Rural Women Empowerment which underprivileged young women from remote areas. These students are imparted spiritual education and Divine music on ancient Indian stringed instruments.

]After completing education here, these girls become eligible enough to easily secure service as educators in reputed schools.

Till Now 822 girls have been given Free education under this program.

She completed her Xth and XIIth from Akal Academy, Baru Sahib. She was given an opportunity to pursue her education FREE of cost by Baba Iqbal Singh Ji who truly believes in the POWER of Education to uplift the women of Rural Villages.

Manpreet Kaur is teaching at Akal College of Divine Music and Spiritualism

– Tapasleen Kaur

GENERAL MOHAN SINGH was the founder of INA (Indian National Army), which was later renamed as Azad Hind Fauj by Subash Chandra Bose ji)

It was Mohan Singh started the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauz) in Singapore to fight against the British. But history has all but forgotten his role. He is a man whose contribution to the struggle for independence of India has been suppressed.

When Japanese occupied Singapore in 1941, Mohan Singh who was in the Army, took the initiative to form the Indian National Army (INA), enlisting 40,000 Indian soldiers of the British Indian Army who were imprisoned by the Japanese.

He sold the plan to the Japanese to free the soldiers and let him form the Indian National Army, which would invade India to free it from British occupation. He led the INA in Singapore till 1943.

In the two years as its leader, he realized that the Japanese who were till then supporting the INA were going to be equally bad if they entered India to overthrow British. He then had disagreements with the Generals of Japanese army in Singapore, questioning their hidden agenda to overtake India and establish the Japanese rule.

Mohan Singh was then arrested by the Japanese and jailed in Singapore. The Japanese then got Subhash Chandra Bose from Europe to Singapore and renamed Indian National Army to Azad Hind Force and made him its new commander.

When in 1945 Japan surrendered in Singapore and British came back to power, Mohan Singh was taken into custody by British for planning against them. He was then deported for trial to India. But fearing an uprising in India on his trial, at a time when British were feeling weak in India, he was later released.

Mohan Singh finds an honorable mention in the Singapore History Museum but unfortunately in India and Pakistan, the history is silent about the pioneer who started the Indian National Army army outside the shores of India to oust the British.

-Amardeep Singh

He lives in Singapore. His interests in photography, culture, history and spirituality were honed while pursuing an active career in the financial industry. He contributes to many reputed magazines and maintains a Blog (www.amardeepphotography.com). His email: amardeepsinghranghar@yahoo.com.sg

Malaysian-born Inderjeet Singh has been appointed as the first Canadian Sikh Chaplain at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

The appointment is collective effort by the Sikh community of British Columbia (BC) to place someone with a higher education administration and student affairs background to the position.

The role of the chaplain is now widely used and accepted term to refer to men and women who represent their religion or philosophical traditions.

Inderjeet possess a Master of Education and served in Student Affairs, Residence Life, Greek Life and International Students Admissions for six years, while being a student and graduate student at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

“This is an interesting challenge. We need to connect the divide between today’s youth interests and traditionally-inspired spiritual practices,” he told Asia Samachar.

As a practicing Sikh, Inderjeet, known as Indy to his friends, had played an active role in the Sikh camps and activities run by Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (SNSM), a Kuala Lumpur headquartered Sikh youth body.

He had been also involved in coordinating and running Sikh camps in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, United States and Canada since the early 1990’s.

As a chaplain, he will also develop a culture of sharing through Langgar; serve as the advisor and resource to the UBC SSA; increase the visibility of the UBC SSA in all university activities; serve as an essential contact for the parents of Sikh international students while at UBC; and also act as the liaison between UBC and the Sikh community of BC.

Besides serving the needs of the Sikh students, the chaplain participates in international student orientations, Imagine UBC, the Wellness Fair, as well as the convocation. Chaplains also participate in special programs, festivals, cultural exhibitions and art displays.

The Sikh Chaplain will be part of the University Multifaith Chaplains Association, which contributes to the well-being of the UBC community. The association addresses and engages the community in faith and spirituality, meditation and emotional healing, friendship and community, citizenship and leadership, and, intercultural dialogue and collaboration.

On the chaplain role, information at the UBC website notes that opportunities for religious observance are available under the guidance of Ccaplains representing a variety of faiths.

“Chaplains are an important spiritual resource for students, but they are not UBC employees and are completely separate and independent from UBC.

“They are accountable to and financially supported by their own religious constituencies, and they do not act under the direction or authority of UBC,” it adds.

For the past five years, Inderjeet has been developing and conducting his latest programs for 200 teenagers in New Westminster, BC (Sukh Sagar Gurdwara), according to a note at Sikhs On Campus website.

Here, he coaches and mentors youth volunteers, educating and empowering them to run camps, classes, and events focused on religious philosophy, citizenship, culture, and social and communications skills.

Inderjeet also serves as a coordinator for Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen, a program to feed the homeless in Vancouver’s Eastside, serving nearly 50,000 meals per year to the needy.

-Asia Samachar