Wearing helmets for women riding pillion on a two-wheeler is now mandatory in the national Capital, though Sikh women have been exempted, with the Government amending the rule 115 of Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993.

“Wearing helmets is now mandatory for women pillion riders in Delhi. However, Sikh women have been keept out of its ambit on religious grounds,” said a top transport department official. Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had also given the go ahead to this proposal making helmets mandatory for all women pillion riders, except Sikh women.

According to transport department, In Delhi alone, a total number of 576 two wheeler riders lost their lives during 2012. The main risk factor for motorized 2 wheeler users is the non-use of helmets and head injuries are the major cause of death, injury and disability among them. Many of these head injuries could have been prevented or their severity reduced through the use of helmets.

“As per the directions of LG, wearing helmets will not be mandatory for Sikh women riding pillion on two-wheelers. Delhi Government has amendended the rule 115 of Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993,” the official said.

In 1998, the Delhi government had made wearing helmets mandatory for all pillion riders, but following objections from the people belonging to Sikh community, it had to amend the Delhi Motor Vehicle Rules, 1993 in June 1999 and made it optional for women.

After getting recommendations from the traffic police, Delhi Commission of Women and NGOs working for road safety, Transport department decided to make helmets mandatory for women pillion riders. On May 2 this year, transport department had invited suggestions from the general public on this issue after getting goahead from L-G.

During suggestions, some Muslim groups also demanded the same relief for burqa-clad women riding pillion in the capital.

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

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Guru Gobind Singh Circle Canada held another Gurmat Crash course in the city of Brampton at Dixie Gurdwara Sahib on August 22, 23 & 24, 2014. This was another jam-packed session after the Kitchener and Guelph this year. Children were excited to learn and participate. Spellbound number of kids participated and showed up all the three days.

This crash course was conducted on the “Sikh Bhagats Part-2”. It was great to see fully prepared Sevadaars with seating schedule, gifts, badges, ballots, presentations, sound system, langar, study material and much more. It was a three day format with the exams of which the winner will be awarded with MacBook Air and more great prizes. It was mesmerizing to see the way around 464 children of all age groups plus 295 parents sitting quietly and learning Sikhism. It was the way it was presented full of activities, practical teaching, games, gifts and multimedia that made kids so attentive.

GGSSC would like thank all the participants’ parents, children, sevadaars and Gurdwara management for making this Camp successful.

Click Here to view all photos.

~ By Binder Mandur
~ Source: Sikhnet.com

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His accent was strange, the turban even more so.

But when Harnam Singh Hari walked up to a pile of cement bags and hoisted a pair of the heavy sacks at once, that was all the introduction he needed — he got the job.

With most workers at the cement plant struggling to load just a single bag, the young Punjabi’s prodigious strength and a willingness to work made his unfamiliar dress and accent a moot point.

Hari had found his home — and Alberta in the year 1909 had found its first Sikh citizen.

“He was the first in Calgary, and likely the first in Alberta,” said Mona Hari Bartsoff, a great granddaughter of the pioneer.

This weekend, Singh Hari is finally getting some recognition for a daring rags-to-riches story even more daunting than most, with the dedication of a city park in his name.

Located in the southwest community of Kingsland, Singh Hari Park is on the very land the strapping ex-soldier eventually farmed, a 400-acre spread stretching from what is now Chinook Centre to Heritage Dr., between Macleod Tr. and Elbow Dr.

When he sold the hog operation to developers in 1956, Singh Hari was among Calgary’s richest citizens — a far cry from the penniless stowaway thrown off the train at Exshaw, where a cement plant had recently opened.

Just getting to that Alberta mountain town was a dream come true for Singh Hari, who’d heard glowing tales of Canada while serving with the British Army in Burma.

Married at 23 and with a young son in India, Singh Hari was convinced Canada was the place to build his family’s future — and though he faced an uphill struggle as a non-European immigrant, he was determined to follow his dream of farming.

Despite knowing he ultimately risked rejection at the Canadian border, Singh Hari left his family in India, first for Hong Kong and then a ship to San Francisco, where he managed to argue his way into America on the basis of past military service.

From there, he talked his way over the border into Vancouver (and likely paid, there being a large fee for non-whites at the time) where he worked a time for a menial wage at a sawmill before sneaking aboard the train to Alberta.

After his stint in Exshaw, Singh Hari landed a job tending the stables at Calgary’s Eau Claire sawmill, and with those small wages managed to buy a single pig, which he fed for free.

“Because he was so ingenious and made friends easily he was able to feed that one pig with food scraps from the CPR dining cars,” said Bartsoff.

Like John Ware before him, Singh Hari found the young city called Calgary didn’t really judge men on their skin colour or manner of dress — just their work ethic and dealings with others.

Some said he might have an easier time without the turban, but no one much bothered when he kept it.

“He never had problems,” said Bartsoff.

With his son Ojager joining him in 1919 (his wife didn’t follow until 1932, after more than 20 years separation), Singh Hari gradually built the hog-farming empire that would earn him the nickname “The Indian Emperor” among his Calgary peers.

It was a lucrative business, with contracts to supply meat during the wars — but Singh Hari was generous, and is also remembered for giving free ham to poor families in Calgary.

As the city expanded, the family moved south, and direct decedents of Calgary’s first Sikh citizens are still farming near High River.

For his family, the little park named for Harnam Singh Hari is a proud moment — a symbol of a dream fulfilled.

“We are really moved when you think of the courage it would take to leave his homeland, and come here with nothing,” said Bartsoff.

“He followed his dream and very few people manage to do that — he followed his love of farming.”

~ Source: www.calgarysun.com

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Melbourne, Australia (August 23, 2014): It is learnt that “Billionaires Australia” has compiled a list of Top Ten conquerors of the History. Sikh warrior Hari Singh Nalwa has topped the list, followed by Genghis Khan and Alexander ranked as second and third.

Here is the list (order reversed) and introductory text that was produced by Billionaires Australia on July 14, 2014:

The history of mankind is one sculpted by the results of epic wars. From the earliest forms of society through to the modern day, the fates of entire civilisations have been decided by the swords of soldiers and the commands of their leaders.

What better list to create, therefore, than one celebrating the greatest military leaders to have ever graced the annals of history. Here Billionaires Australia has done just that – join us as we countdown the top 10 conquerors of all time.

1. Hari Singh Nalwa
And so we find ourselves at the exclusive number one spot on the Billionaires Australia list of the greatest conquerors in the history of the world. And the man who resides atop of this list is Hari Singh Nalwa.

The Greek writer Euripides is famously quoted as saying: “Ten soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head.” Hari Singh Nalwa is a testament to this; the man defied the odds time and time again, affirming his reputation as a truly legendary military leader.

There is a magnitude of reasons why he warrants the top place on this list and one of them is that he achieved so much with so little; whereas many of the aforementioned conquerors had the benefits of vast resources, Hari Singh Nalwa, part of the illustrious Uppal family, relied on ingenious tactics and unparalleled courage to defeat much larger armies.

He lived from 1791-1837 and was the commander-in-chief of the Sikh Empire’s army. His military campaigns throughout the Middle East brought order to turbulent areas and suppressed various uprisings. Despite having much smaller numbers, he defeated armies across India and restored the territories to the Sikhs. Most famously, he became the only man in history to take the Khyber Pass – the mountain path that connects Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is a truly remarkable feat that illustrates his strategic brilliance in battle.

In 1804 Hari Singh Nalwa was attacked by a tiger while on a hunt. Refusing the help of any of his fellow hunters, the great leader tackled the beast with his bare hands and broke its jaw, killing it instantly and earning him the moniker Baagh Maar (Tiger-killer).

There is not a military leader in the world that has not heard about and studied the exploits of Hari Singh Nalwa. He remains a revered military figure who defeated his adversaries time and time again without the help of a giant empire behind him. To find out more about his innumerous victories and his legacy, watch the videos below.

2. Genghis Khan
The man occupying the second positions on the list of great conquerors is Ghengis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire – the largest contiguous empire in history. He created such a huge empire by uniting many of the nomadic tribes and confederations in northeast Asia while also asserting his dominance with a sword in his hand.
He lived from 1162-1227AD. Like Attila the Hun, the name Genghis Khan has become synonymous with gruesome and brutal warfare. The Mongul warlord sacked villages and towns across modern day Asia, showing a ruthless hunger for power and expansion while leading by example in the heat of battle. In his lifetime he conquered 4,860,000 square miles, more than any other ruler in history.

3. Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great once remarked: “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.” Well, the man who sits at number three in our countdown of great conquerors was certainly a lion-like leader.
By the age of 30 Alexander had conquered much of the known world through military force. He took down the mighty Persian kingdom and his empire spread from Gibraltar to the Punjab, while he also made Greek the lingua franca of his time. Using the phalanx formation in his armies, the ruler revolutionised the art of war during the period of ancient history and deserves his position near the summit of this exclusive list.

4. Attila the Hun
Few names in history illicit such a fearful response as Attila the Hun. The leader of the barbarian Huns, the fourth greatest conqueror on this Billionaires Australia list plundered and pillaged everything in his path.
Attila lived in the 5th century. With an empire that stretched from Central Asia right across to modern Germany, he was one of the most fearsome enemies of the Western and Eastern Roman Empires. Attila was well known for his cruelty and took no mercy on his enemies, making him an often-vilified military leader, but an exceptional one nonetheless.

5. Julius Caesar
It is hard to talk about great military conquerors and not talk about the man who holds the fifth place on our list: Julius Caesar. As the most famous ruler of history’s most famous empire, Julius Caesar led the armies of the Roman Republic to victories across Africa and Europe.
The subject of a Shakespeare play, the respected military and political leader was eventually assassinated by Brutus in 44BC. But in the years before Caesar had used his military nous to extend the reaches of the Roman Empire to territories far and wide.

6. Cyrus the Great
At number six on the countdown is Cyrus the Great. It is a name perhaps not as well known as some in this exclusive collection but Cyrus’ military might ought not to be underestimated.
Cyrus conquered the Median Empire and Lydia, becoming Persian king by 546BC. Seven years later, Cyrus defeated the Babylonians and liberated the Jews and by the time of his death in 530BC he was the ruler of the largest kingdom the world had ever seen. Not only was he almost unbeatable on the field of battle, his political leadership is also evidenced by the fact that his empire, which spanned three continents, would live on for a long time after his death because of the infrastructure he put in place.

7. Francisco Pizarro
The man placed seventh on the list is Francisco Pizarro, a Spanish conquistador who lived from 1471-1541. In the story of how Spain came to rule much of South America the name Hernan Cortes has often dominated the history books, but in reality Pizarro’s exploits were far more notable.
He led three expeditions across the Atlantic and on the third one he defeated much the Incan Empire with no more than 160 men on horseback. Taking advantage of more advanced technology but also showing a brutality in the execution of his opposition’s leaders, Pizarro altered the face of history when he conquered modern Peru.

8. Napoleon Bonaparte
Moving forward about 2,000 years, the man coming in at number eight on the Billionaires Australia list of greatest conquerors in the history of the world is the unmistakable Napoleon Bonaparte. Standing at just five-and-a-half feet tall, Napoleon might not have been the most physically imposing but on the battlefield he was unmatched in his military prowess.
Living from 1769 to 1821, he rose to prominence in the European wars which followed the French Revolution. First as a general and later the Emperor of France and the King of Italy, Napoleon spent the best part of two decades leading his armies to war across the continent, recording countless famous victories on the way. At his peak the little man reigned over more than 70 million people.

9. Hannibal Barka
Hannibal Barka, simply known as Hannibal, has earned his position at number nine on the list for his historic exploits against the Romans. Indeed, he is widely considered to be the Roman Empire’s greatest adversary, leading the Carthaginian forces against Rome in the Second Punic War.
Living 200 years before the birth of Christ, Hannibal is best remembered for marching elephants across the Alps but in military schools throughout history he has been used as a shining example of a master tactician. He fought the Romans with smaller, poorly equipped armies but constantly came out on top.

10. Timur aka Tamerlane
Taking the number 10 spot on the Australia list of great conquerors is Timur, otherwise known as Tamerlane, a Turkish ruler from the 14th century. Timur oversaw the restoration of the Mongol Empire of Genghis Khan, who you can read about later.
He was a revered military leader and conquered large parts of West, South and Central Asia to become the most powerful ruler in the Muslim world. As founder of the Timurid dynasty, his army was feared across the continent and historians have estimated that his military campaigns were responsible for the deaths of 17 million people, earning him a barbaric reputation.

~ By Parmjeet Singh
~ Source: http://sikhsiyasat.net/

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Two truck drivers have been charged with human smuggling after 35 Afghan Sikh stowaways, one of them dead, were found in a shipping container at a dockyard in Britain.

Stephen McLaughlin, 34, and 33-year-old Timothy Murphy, both lorry drivers from Northern Ireland, are charged with conspiring to facilitate illegal entry into the UK.

They are currently in police custody and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.

The Sikh stowaways, aged between one and 72, were found at Tilbury docks in Essex a week ago after the port workers heard banging and screaming coming from a container.

The post-mortem examination of the dead man, identified as 40-year-old Meet Singh Kapoor, had failed to establish the cause of his death and inquiries are continuing.

The 34 surviving stowaways, including 10 men, nine women and 15 children, one as young as one, are all in the care of the Home Office after being questioned by police and are seeking asylum in the UK.

The Sikhs, who had been inside the container for 18 hours, were believed to have fled Afghanistan after suffering persecution and police have said they appear to be victims of human trafficking.

The ship had docked after an overnight trip across the North Sea and several of those in the container were suffering from dehydration and hypothermia.

Families had to perch on top of large receptacles of chemicals surrounded by what little luggage they could carry, with too little room to stand.

They had barely enough room to move and nowhere to relieve themselves.

~ Source: http://www.business-standard.com/

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AMRITSAR: Sikh groups here have volunteered to perform sewa at gurdwaras in Afghanistan after the recent spate of migration of the community following their persecution by Taliban.

“Sikhs are leaving Afghanistan. We have several historical gurdwaras there. Who will take care of them? So, we have decided to send Sikh jatha to Afghanistan to perform sewa in gurdwaras,” said Nankana Sahib Sikh Yatree Jatha president Swaran Singh Gill on Thursday.

Thirty-five Afghan Sikhs, including 13 children, were recently found in a shipping container in UK’s Tilbury docks. The Sikhs from Afghanistan were forced to leave their country following harassment by Taliban.

Gill said he had written to both home ministry and Afghanistan embassy urging to grant permission to send an 11-member Sikh jatha to Afghanistan before they leave for Pakistan to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in November.

Acting president of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Bishan Singh told TOI over phone from Lahore on Thursday that there were historical gurdwaras in Kabul, Jalalabad and Ghzani in Afghanistan.

During his way back from Mecca, Guru Nanak Dev had traveled through Afghanistan and had held discourses with Muslim holy saints in Kabul. He said the migration of Sikhs was due to their discrimination and persecution. He said around two decade ago, there were more than 2.25 lakh Sikh population in Afghanistan which has now come down to a few thousands only. There was a sizeable number of Sikhs in Ghazni but many of them had migrated to Pakistan or India.

Gill also said he would also meet officials of home ministry and Afghanistan embassy in Delhi to expedite the matter.

~ Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Washington: Over 100 representatives from gurdwaras across the US have pledged support for National Sikh Campaign’s plan to engage top US political operatives and media firms for presenting the community positively.

Meeting here over the weekend for a grassroots meeting called by the newly formed NSC, the gurdwara representatives set a target of raising $5 million to shape the Sikh image in America, according to a media release.

During the strategy session, Geoff Garin of Hart Research, who served as Hillary Clinton’s former top political strategist and Isaac Baker of AKPD Message and Media, President Barack Obama’s media firm, outlined a roadmap of how Sikhs can change perceptions in the US and how crucial the campaign will be to the future of Sikhs.

Garin, also gave the meeting’s participants an exclusive update on NSC’s groundbreaking messaging research that will underpin the effort and inform the community how it can effectively communicate to the American public.

NSC executive director Gurwin Ahuja said, “The Sikh community in US has never been more educated, more wealthy, and more successful than today.”

In a strategy session focused on specific action steps to make lasting change in the US, Sikh Leaders worked together to create a realistic region by region breakdown of US gurdwaras and fundraising strategies.

Rajwant Singh, President of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education and senior advisor to NSC, said, “The consensus was that there is a critical need for this kind of media strategy for the Sikh community.

“Secondly, all possible efforts need to be made to include as many gurdwaras as possible in the network as partners,” he said.

“Thirdly, our goal is to keep the focus on introducing Sikhism and the Sikh identity while showing the positive contribution of the community in the media,” Rajwant Singh said.

Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, President of the Oak Creek Gurdwara, Wisconsin, where six worshippers were killed in a shootout on Aug 5, 2012, said:

“We are 100 percent behind this campaign.”

~ Source: http://zeenews.india.com/

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A RARE turban goes on display this weekend as part of an exhibition on the North-East’s Sikh community.

The Sikh ‘fortress turban’, usually housed at the British Museum and one of only five of its kind in the country, goes on show at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens on Saturday (August 23).

Such headdresses were once worn by skilled Sikh warriors to protect the head and hold weaponry, although this particular turban was made for ceremonial purpose.

This distinctive symbol of Sikh faith and history is part of a wider exhibition on Sikh culture, which continues until November 16.

The exhibition, organised in partnership with Sunderland Gurdwara and Durham University’s Oriental Museum, will also include free family craft activities and turban tying demonstrations on Wednesday, August 27 between 11am and 12:30pm, and 1:30pm and 3pm.

Councillor John Kelly, Sunderland City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Public Health, Wellness and Culture, said: “One of our city’s many strengths is its diversity of communities.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to get to know more about the history of the Sikh community.”

~ By Tony Kearney
~ Source: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/

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after Believes that “Guru is everywhere”

In 1964, when some of the weapons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji were brought back from England, an Englishman, in complete Sikh form, accompanied them. Out of curiousity, someone asked the Englishman what inspired him to adopt the Sikh form. Was it due to respect for the weapons or was there some other reason? The explanation given by him at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi is something that should be of interest to all readers.

“My name was A. David. I happened to be commanding a Sikh Regiment during World War II. My Regiment suffered very heavy losses fighting the Germans. Most of the Sikh jawaans (soldiers) of my Battalion were killed. Only a few survived and we were all surrounded by the Germans. As there were very remote chances of our survival, I called the Subedaar major of the Battalion and informed him about our precarious situation. Death was facing us and there was no chance of survival. I suggested to him that the jawans should individually attempt to escape from the enemy encirclement and save their lives.

The Subedaar Major replied, “We cannot bring ignominy to the Sikh Regiment by running away from the battlefield.” However, he suggested that they should perform an Akhand-Paath ceremony and take action as per the Divine Hukam (Holy Command). Accordingly, necessary security arrangements were made and the Akhand-Paath ceremony was completed without interruption. After the supplicatory prayer (Ardaas), the Divine Hukam from the Holy Scripture was explained to me by the Subedaar Major and the religious teacher (Granthi).

The Guru’s instruction as per the Divine Hukam was that we should not abandon the battlefield; victory will be ours. Then I conveyed to them the miracle that I had witnessed during the supplicatory prayer. While standing with my eyes closed during the Ardaas, a fully armed Sikh on horseback with a unique grandeur appeared in front of me and ordered “Follow me.” I pointed out the direction in which the fully armed Sikh went after giving the order and asked them about the identity of the warrior. The Subedaar Major said that from the description I had given, he seemed to be none other than Sri Guru Gobind Singh himself!

So, we got ready and launched an attack in the direction pointed out by the Guru. After a short while, we were able to break through the German encirclement and save ourselves. We then got in touch with the Brigade Commander on wireless and requested for additional help.

After the war, I reflected upon the incident and the divine personality who had saved our lives from the impregnable enemy encirclement in a desperate situation by ordering me to follow him. I made up my mind to follow him for the rest of my life. I resigned from the Army and along with my daughter, embraced Sikh Dharam with the initiation ceremony of the Khalsa. Now my name is Devinder Singh and my daughter’s name is Surjit Kaur. This is due to the blessings of Guru Gobind Singh that he made us his disciples.”

~ Sorce: http://dailysikhupdates.com/

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