The month of ‘Poh’ (which starts around mid of December) marks the memory of martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s four sons – the ‘Chaar Sahibzaade’. This month brings sadness for the Sikhs as it reminds how Guru Sahib’s Sahibzaade, especially Chhote (younger) Sahibzaade, were martyred by cruel regime of that time.

A tradition of ‘not observing any sort of celebrations during martyrdom days’ used to prevail among the Sikhs until last few decades. In some regions the tradition is still observed by the Sikhs and they do not mark any celebrations during martyrdom days.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) has urged the Sikh masses to resume the tradition and avoid any sort of celebrations during martyrdom days.

In what is known as “Sakka Chamkaur Sahib”, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s elder Sahibzaade – Sahibzaada Baba Ajit Singh Ji and Sahibzaada Baba Jujhar Singh Ji attained martyrdom, while in “Saka Sirhind”, younger Sahibzaade – Sahibzaada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzaada Baba Fateh Singh Ji, were martyred by bricking them alive in a wall.

Religious functions in Chamkaur Sahib on December 20, 21 and 22 and in Fatehgarh Sahib on December 26, 27 and 28 will mark the memory of martyrdom of Chaar Sahibzaade.

~ Source: SikhSiyasat News

Dr. Arjinder Singh Sekhon joined the United States Army in 1984. He became Amritdhari (Baptised Sikh) when he was 3 year old. During his time of service, his articles of faith never impeded his success. His Sikh identity never interfered with his ability to create strong relationships with his fellow service members. .He lives in Yuba City in California State, USA. His wife Dr Daljit Kaur is dental doctor. He has 2 daughters and 3 sons.

He rose through the ranks to Colonel and was given a Battalion Commander position through which he oversaw a unit of 600-700 soldiers. He was selected 6 times to the post of a Commander to command 5 different battalions and a Special Operations Brigade. He was the first Sikh Indian Physician to become a Colonel. He retired from the Army after 25 years of meritorious service on January 30, 2009.

He fought in the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and then in Operation Enduring freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003. He was also single engine, multi-engine pilot and a combat helicopter pilot. In 1998, a battalion under his command was the only battalion to pass the Exercise Optimum Focus among all army battalions in the United States Army.

Before ending his career, he was decorated with various awards including a Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, an Army Flight Surgeon Badge, two Army Achievement Medals, 6 Army Commendation Medals, two National Defense Medals, and a Global War Against Terrorism Medal. He was given the certificate of achievement by the Secretary of Defense for participating in and winning the cold war.

Born on January 20, 1949 in village Wadala Kalan near Rayya (District Amritsar) he passed higher secondary from Khalsa College Higher Secondary School, Amritsar in 1964, Pre-Medical from Khalsa College, Amritsar in 1965 and MBBS from Govt. Medical College, Amritsar in 1971. He is the son of Ajaib Singh Sekhon who was D.P.E. in Khalsa College Amritsar at that time.

Dr. Sekhon went to the United States in 1973 and became a Board Certified Specialist in the fields of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine and Tropical Medicine. He was awarded a Fellowship in American College of Physicians, American College of Chest Physicians, and American College of Angiology. He went to the University of Northern California Law School to graduate with Jurist Degree and the United States Army War College to graduate with Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies.

In the Army he graduated from United States Army College of Aviation Medicine to become a Flight Surgeon. He joined John F. Kennedy School of Special Warfare and Center to become a Psychological Warfare Officer. He went to National Defense University to graduate from National Security Strategy Course and Army War College to graduate from National Defense Strategy Course. So he became one of the most educated and trained Army officers in the United States Armed Forces. He is the first Indian-American to obtain the one of the highest military education.

In 2006 he entered American Politics to seek the Democratic Party Nomination to the United States House of Representatives and became the first physician from India to win the Primary election and got the Democratic Party nomination by defeating his America born opponent by over 5000 votes.

He has been inducted into the United States Congress library as a historical event for being the first Sikh Colonel to become a Battalion Commander in the United States Army.

Raising High with Gursikhi makes us feel proud & inspires the Sikh Youth Generations to come! Spreading the fragrance of their success worldwide!

Dhan Sikhi! Dhan Khalsa!

~ by Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala
~ Source: http://www.sikhnet.com/

The Chief Khalsa Diwan’s museum boasts of 75 weapons mentioned in the ‘Shastar Naam Mala’ penned by Guru Gobind Singh. Weapons on display at the Chief Khalsa Diwan museum located on the Central Khalsa Orphanage premises in Amritsar.

You may have seen museums preserving articles of historic importance for posterity, but in a unique initiative, the Chief Khalsa Diwan here has got the weapons of the times of Guru Gobind Singh made afresh on the basis of their description in “Shastar Naam Mala” compiled in “Dasam Granth” and showcased them in a museum.

When The Tribune team stepped into the museum, located on the premises of Central Khalsa Orphanage, it was pleasantly surprised to see shimmering weapons tastefully displayed in glass cabinets with each weapon having its name mentioned in Punjabi and English. At the centre of the museum is a huge portrait of Guru Gobind Singh and below it is a picture frame displaying a few verses of “Shastar Naam Mala”, a composition mentioning the names of weapons used during his lifetime. On either side of the Guru’s photograph are two huge spears — Wada Sela and Naagni Wadi.

While Wada Sela was used to tear apart shields sitting atop an elephant on the battleground, Naagni Wadi is a type of spear with its head in serpentine shape, with which Bhai Bachitter Singh took on a drunken elephant during the second battle of Anandpur.

The museum till now has succeeded in procuring 75 weapons mentioned in the “Shastar Naam Mala”. These include shamsheer, marthi, sela barchha, baaghnakha, faadi guraj, saithi, kadara, safajang, bugda, kirch, karauti, khanda, wadkari, kattas, shikarga, badamcha to name a few.

On the one hand, you have baaghnakha, a claw-like weapon designed to fit over the knuckles and on the other you have jamdaadh, two-blade dagger which looks like demon tooth. Then there is sarohi (a special sword), bichhua (crooked dagger), asi (curved sword), and different types of arrows. The museum also boasts of microfilms of 67 hukamnamas (edicts) of various Sikh gurus, which include 24 of Guru Gobind Singh, 28 of Guru Teg Bahadur, six of Guru Hargobind and eight of Mata Sundari. Surprisingly, not many people are aware about the museum which came up about a couple of years back.

Orphanage official Daljeet Singh Bedi and Superintendent BS Saini said the museum was a treasure trove of knowledge for the new generation. Though the Diwan authorities say it is open to all, no effort seems to have been made to draw the visitors. Not even a board has been put up outside the orphanage’s main entrance highlighting the museum.

Dwelling on the genesis of the idea, the Chief Khalsa Diwan’s honorary secretary and orphanage in charge Bhaag Singh Ankhi said he would often read the names of weapons, while reciting gurbaani and would wonder how they would have been. “One day I decided to raise a museum in which we can put on display all such weapons so that the next generation not only reads about them but can also see them. First I zeroed in on an expert who could guide me in this job. Then I travelled to Maharasthra, Agra , Patiala and Damdama Sahib in search of these weapons. Sikligars of Maharashtra were a great help in reproducing these weapons while the Nihangs also chipped in with their effort,” he averred. On publicising the museum, he said they would take the necessary measures in this regard very soon so that the people, including non-Sikhs, can be sensitised on Sikh history.

The “Shastar Naam Mala” is made of 1,318 verses spread over five chapters in 98 pages in the “Dasam Granth”. The opening chapter of 27 verses is an invocation to Bhagauti (sword) for assistance and contains the names of 30 weapons. Here the sword is personified as God. In the list that follows, the weapons of the day are presented under fanciful names, such as “Baaghnakha”, “Toofani Gola”, “Naagani Wadi” and “Aradh Chandar Teer”. Many of the weapons are listed in the form of riddles. The second chapter, having 47 verses, revolves around “chakra” (spears and quoit) though it also mentions about sword, “jamdadh” and “sehthi”. There are 178 verses which dwell on different names of arrow, while another 858 verses name modern weapons like the gun.

Hence, this museum is a treasure trove of knowledge for the new generation!

~ Source: http://www.sikhnugget.com/

The Live Interactive Worldwide Gurdwara Locator Map helps you to easily find out about an existing Gurdwara & moreover you can add new ones as well.

The map uses the Google Map engine and it is a part of SikhiWiki – the comprehensive “Encyclopedia of the Sikhs.
With the help of this Amazing innovation, Just by Clicking at the Flags on the Map, you can locate any Gurdwara anywhere in the World!

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Are you aware of the event that led to Turbans?

The event that changed the history of Sikhs was 339 years ago when Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Guru of the Sikhs displayed an act that no other prophet had ever done. Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb was on a mad rush to convert entire India to Islam and people were deprived of their religious freedom. The only choice in front of the people was to convert or loose one’s life!

A group of Kashmiri Hindu Pandits, approached Guru Tegh Bahadur in Punjab for help. On his advice, they were told to tell Aurangzeb that they would willingly convert if Tegh Bahadur could be convinced of adopt Islam. Under Aurangzeb’s orders, he was arrested in July 1675 and kept in an iron cage in Delhi for over three months, till November 1675. To break his spirit, he was tortured immensely.

To instill the highest element of fear, his three disciples Bhai Sati Das ji, Bhai Dayala Ji & Bhai Mati Das ji were tortured to death in a most inhuman manner.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s spirit to stand firm for the cause of freedom could not be weakened and when Aurangzeb failed to persuade him to abandon his faith, he was finally beheaded in public at Chandni Chowk on 24 November 1675.
He sacrificed his life to protect the right of any individual to practice a faith of his choice and to not be pressurized into conversion.

This event changed the history of Sikhs, as thereafter the community adopted the Turban as a visible sign of defiance against tyranny of the rule. To Sikhs, the turban became a visual display of their internal steadfastness.

Amardeep Singh, beautifully captures the variety of turbans worn by the Sikhs, a symbol of purity and integrity for Sikh Religion.

It gives us a sense of belongingness. Wrapping a turban every day is our declaration that this head, this mind is dedicated to our Creator who laid his life for ensuring religion freedom to all not. The turban becomes a flag of our consciousness as well as our crown of spiritual royalty.

Turban is our Badge of Identity & our inner commitement to Akal Purakh!

Dhan Sikhi! Dhan Khalsa!

~ Source: amardeepphotography.com

Non-duality between the Self and Divine, is the pinnacle of spiritual wisdom but the journey to this stage of understanding requires the human mind to anchor on duality. It is for this reason why the seeker sees the benefit in visiting spiritual places and performing religious acts that provides them solace.

Who said understanding spirituality was ever easy?

During a visit to the Golden Temple, the Sikh Gurdwara at Amritsar, as I turned my camera to capture the visiting Seekers, the words of Bhagat Ravidas could be heard being sung from the sanctum sanctorum.

You are me, and I am you-what is the difference between us?
We are like gold and the bracelet, or water and the waves.
If I did not commit any sins, O Infinite Lord,
How would you have acquired the name, ‘Redeemer of sinners’?
You are my Master, the Inner-knower, Searcher of hearts.
The servant is known by his God, and the Lord and
Master is known by His servant.
Grant me the wisdom to worship and adore you with my body.
O Ravi Daas, one who understands that the Lord is equally in all, is very rare.
Bhagat Ravidas (Page 93, Guru Granth Sahib)

~ Sourcce: amardeepphotography.com

Bhinder, a 6-foot-2 guard of Sikh heritage, solidified his status as a Division 1 prospect. Sukhman Bhinder is one of the best true point basketball player in the Class of 2015 in Australia.
Competing with six Aussie teammates touring the midwest with AUSA Hoops — an organization offering exposure to Australian players, Bhinder displayed an advanced understanding of the floor as he dissected opposing defenses. Able to score off the drive, shoot and find open teammates, he propelled his squad to a big upset win in its final game of the day against a team filled with high-level prospects.

Bhinder has dreamed of Division I ball since he was a kid. He’ll spend the next week and a half with AUSA on the AAU circuit, and certainly knows what’s at stake.

“It’s much more personally driven,” he said. “I know there’s a standard to set, and I’ve got to play up to it. Whatever you can showcase is for real this time, in front of coaches.” With a strong frame and promising bloodlines (his father stands 6-6, his older brothers 6-7 and 6-3), Bhinder took care of the ball and changed speeds off the bounce effectively. Leading vocally, but also by simply competing harder than anyone else on the floor, the intangibles his coaches rave about were easy to see.

“He’s probably one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever met,” says Rhys Murphy, coach, founder and president of AUSA Hoops. The Sydney native played college ball at Oregon State and Chaminade. “The build he has comes from being in the weight room all the time. He’s finding his feet. As he gets comfortable and realizes what we want him to do, to be aggressive on the court, I think he’ll really show some people his ability.”

~ Source: Facebook.com/Sikhism

Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi showed Bravery by giving Refuge to Sikhs during 1984 Massacre. One of the two winners of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, Kailash Satyarthi, saved Sikhs during the 1984 pogrom that rocked India following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi.

He was one of those rare people who dared to protect Sikhs by taking them into their refuge when they were being hounded by the goons with the help of the police. Satyarthi, a children’s rights activist, founded Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save Childhood Movement) in 1980 to free poor children from the shackles of bonded labour and abuse in different parts of India.In the first week of November 1984, Satyarthi gave refuge to Sikhs in his house after a massacre began following the assassination of then Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.

According to prominent Indian human-rights lawyer Harvinder Singh Phoolka, Satyarthi did this despite receiving threats from those involved in rioting. “He was one of those rare people who dared to protect Sikhs by taking them into their refuge when they were being hounded by the goons with the help of the police,” Phoolka told the Straight over the phone from New Delhi. He first came in contact with Satyarthi when he saw him working at refugee camps to help victims of the violence.
Phoolka has been singlehandedly fighting in the courts for those targeted in anti-Sikh violence during that era and coauthored When a Tree Shook Delhi, which is based on his own experience as legal counsel for these people. He has also been giving free legal aid to Satyarthi’s initiative against child abuse.

“Together we have launched many public-interest litigations to stop child exploitation in factories,” Phoolka stated. Doing this was not easy and according to Phoolka, Satyarthi has received many threats from business people. “Eventually we were successful in getting some of the businesses involved in child labour shut.”

Phoolka said that because Satyarthi is a humble person and not publicity-hungry, he hasn’t received enough prominence in the media. “He believes in working without much effort to gain media attention,” Phoolka explained. “That is one reason that not many people know about his good work, but he is a well-respected figure in the activists’ circles.”

The Nobel Peace Prize comes 30 years after Satyarthi decided to protect Sikhs. A controversial Indian government military operation had been launched to flush out armed Sikh militants from inside the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar. It’s the holiest shrine of the Sikhs. The army invasion left many people dead and the buildings inside the shrine destroyed. This sparked angry protests around the world, including a huge demonstration of Sikhs in Vancouver.

~ Source: www.straight.com

A heart-warming story from Khalsa Bikers who were in Belgium in November to remember the Sikh soldiers who died in World War 1 serving in Europe.

“This gentleman approached us whilst we were walking around Menin Gate Belgium. He asked Payara Singh, “are you the leader of these boys?”

He then questioned “You’re Sikhs, aren’t you?”, to which we replied yes. He then went on to state “my dad was serving with Sikhs in Burma and India. He always told me that he trusted the Sikhs. I trust you, do you know what I mean? I trust you Sikhs”. He then gave us a firm handshake and walked away.

It was a special moment and really took us aback; the actions of our forefathers have left a lasting impression on the world. How great they must have been.”

~Source: Khalsa Aid