Washington – Newly formed National Sikh Campaign launched by US Sikhs has hired the most prominent political consultant in Washington DC to begin the first-ever exploration of creating positive perception about Sikhs among Americans.

Geoffrey Garin, who helped direct the strategy team for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, and in 2012 he served as the pollster and strategic advisor to Priorities USA, the super PAC supporting President Obama’s reelection, will take an in-depth survey of feelings and misperceptions towards Sikhs in order to develop messaging that will deliver new information and visuals that can positively change attitudes toward Sikhs. This research will lay the foundation for the largest promotion of Sikhs in the western world coordinated by National Sikh Campaign, a ground breaking initiative launched by few prominent Sikhs from across America gathered by the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE) earlier this year in Washington, DC.

Gurwin Singh Ahuja, Executive Director of National Sikh Campaign and who was part of the Obama’s two election campaigns in Ohio, said, “We have hired Garin due to his exceptional record in American politics and policy research and he is without a doubt one of the most prominent pollsters of our generation. Sikhs have been part of American scene since we first immigrated to North America 100 years ago and there is no one better than Mr. Garin to properly conduct a study that can show how Sikhs can dispel the misperceptions about our community and portray us as part and parcel of American society.”

Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of SCORE, said, “ Geoffrey Garin will head an unprecedented campaign that will examine Sikhism and its current place within the American psyche. It is important that we create positive awareness about Sikh community’s presence in America and its contribution in strengthening this nation. This study led by Mr. Garrin will help us tailor our message effectively and help us launch the biggest PR campaign for Sikhism and Sikhs in America. It will create an conducive environment for Sikhs to rise politically, socially and economically even more. The National Sikh Campaign is an undertaking that will require participation and support of all sections of the community.

According to Gurwin Ahuja, “The campaign will be reaching out to Gurdwaras, Sikh organizations and stakeholders all across America and internationally to create the largest network of connected Sikhs on the planet while exposing the world to Sikhism and the positive values it possesses. This is a historic moment for the Sikh community, as it represents one of the first steps in effort that will magnify “Chardi Kala”, the Sikhs’ sense of infinite optimism, and how it has succeeded in America and throughout the world. The campaign plans to engage individuals across the U.S. while providing grassroots organizing throughout Sikh communities.”

Now the current president of Hart Research, Garrin has undertaken landmark policy research for many of the nation’s leading foundations and educational institutions on a wide variety of issues, including global health, school reform, college affordability, health care reform, global climate change, and federal fiscal policy.

The meeting was hosted at the historic Willard Inter Continental, near the White House in March 2014, and was facilitated by SCORE. It included presentations from AKPD, a media firm behind Obama’s campaign as well as Paul Monteiro, former Associate Director of Office of Public Liaison at the White House. Several prominent Sikh attendees immediately became the initial charter members of this endeavor.

~ Source: www.sikhcampaign.org

The National Sikh Campaign is launching a historic (data-driven, grassroots and media campaign) effort to build a grassroots movement with the best political consultants in the world to change the perception of Sikhs in North America.

We’re reaching out to various Gurdwaras, Sikh organizations and stakeholders within America and internationally to create the largest network of Sikhs and the most influential PR effort ever for Sikhism.

The Sikh community needs to define who we are because we know: Sikh values are American values.

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“My innovation – the app Sales Desk is developed with a mission to lead in the retail industry.”

Coming from anyone else this would sound like an idle boast, but Yuvraj Singh is no ordinary 18 year old. The Jalandhar boy was computer literate before he had even learned how to read, a fact that led him to be nominated for the Guinness and Limca books of world record, and made him the local media darling at the tender age of four. He would also go on to launch his first website www.yuraj.name at 12 years old and followed that up by starting his own company Devil’s Infotech in 2010. He names his parents, both software engineers, as his inspiration.

Sales Desk, a mobile app to help retailers keep track of their sales records is the result of his interaction with his father’s clients, mostly retailers who he says were constantly exasperated by current methods of tracking sales. The innovation helped him get shortlisted from among four and a half thousand hopefuls for Innovation Jockeys season 2.

“Sales Desk filters data in four categories that are daily sale, weekly sale, monthly sale and yearly sale. The user can view the total sale and generate tax and email reports very easily using my application,” Yuvraj explains. The app aggregates sales data in a way that also allows the retailer to monitor sales data at multiple venues.

Yuvraj is currently pursuing his Integrated B.Tech – M. Tech Diploma in Computer Science Engineering from Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar. When asked about his hobbies and passions the 18 year old innovator says there is little outside the world of computers that interests him. His current obsession with mobile platforms ensures that he spends most of his time ‘exploring different parts of upcoming apps and technologies’ to inspire and improve his own creations. He is currently working on an Instant Messaging Application which he promises will be worlds apart from existing apps.

So what inspires him to keep innovating?

Source: http://innovationjockeys.net/

Six valiant walkers have accomplished an unbelievable journey to raise awareness and goodwill among the races and raise funds for UNITED SIKHS humanitarian aid projects for underprivileged children all over the world, as well as raising funds for the Gurpuri Foundation, that cares for many orphans and children in need in South East Asia.
The group, who began their walk on the 17th of May at 5am, walked for approximately 7 nights and 8 days, with a distance of nearly 300 kms. This entailed 10 hours of walking per day. The enthusiastic walkers were motivated and greeted by the public as they commenced on this charitable and adventurous journey.

Rishwant Singh, The Flying Singh and UNITED SIKHS Aid Coordinator for Asia Pacific said: “Each step is built on the energy of the previous step and holds the energy of every step before it. Your steps today have such weight that they can create the most beautiful lightness of heart. With lots of humility and acceptance I am grateful for walking every step in thunderstorms to the searing sun.10 hours a day for 8 days covering almost 300 kms from the bottom of Singapore to the middle of Melaka. The body is the instrument of the mind but the true miracles happened when the mind shut down and the spirit took over. The Good Will Walk #GWw2014 completed made me believe I can do anything if I set my mind to it but moreover beyond the mind the spirit is the true mover of making extraordinary things happen.”

The walk began from Silat Rd Gurdwara in Singapore to Malacca Gurdwara in conjunction with the Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji’s yearly gathering in Malacca, which is the largest gathering of Sikhs in South East Asia.
 The group stopped over in Gurdwaras in JB, Pontian, Batu Pahat, Muar and finally at Gurdwara Sahib Malacca.

As they entered a new town, to visit a different Gurdwara, the walkers were welcomed by jubilant sangat members, members of the public, school children and bhangra duos, who cheered them on and walked alongside them as they continued to reach the end of their journey.

Sukhveer Singh from Cameron Highlands and one of our full distance walkers said: “The last step of the #Goodwillwalk, proved me that nothing is impossible to achieve if we are optimistic and determined to reach our end goal regardless of the challenges, obstacles and injuries that we had to endure along our journey.”

UNITED SIKHS would like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined the walked, joined, supported and donated. For those who were unable to take part in the walk but would like to contribute towards humanitarian relief work, please click here .

It is through actions such as this that UNITED SIKHS is able to raise money and awareness for it’s relief aid projects. This is how we continue to utilise the donations we receive now and in the future.

MEET THE WALKERS!

The group of included: Rishwant Singh (The Flying Singh), Dya Singh, Amanpreet Kaur, David Atthowe,Antion Vickram Singh Meredith aka Vic Briggs and Sukhveer Singh.

On 16 June of every year since 1606, the Sikhs have commemorated the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru and the first Sikh Martyr. Before the arrest, torture and Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, the Sikhs had nothing to do with weapons or violence, as all the Sikh Gurus had taught the message of compassion, love, dedication, hard work, worship of one God and the commitment to peace and harmony for all the peoples of the world.

Background

During the Guruship of Guru Arjan many thousands of the native people had began to follow the teachings of Sikhism and both the Hindus and those who had converted to or been born as Muslims were crowding into Govindwal (the centre of the Sikhs during the late 1500s) where they were soon becoming Sikhs.

The Mughal clergy, who had long chaffed at the tolerance of Akbar, grew ever more angry of the popularity and the growing following of the Sikh Gurus, but after the death of Akbar in 1605, in his sonJahangir they saw their best chance to destroy the Sikh institution. Jahangir, unlike his father was a fundamentalist Muslim who soon was influenced with the idea of turning the whole of Hindustan (as the Mughals called their kingdom in Northwest India) into an Islamic State. The powerful Hindus associated with the Mughal Court, having seen their own power base rapidly disappearing under the influence of Guru Arjan, joined the Muslim Ulema in their attempt to influence Jahangir into arresting Guru Arjan, hoping to plunge a dagger into the heart of Sikhi.

Jahangir, with his own jealousies, promptly obliged the enemies of Guru Sahib. Many baseless allegations were soon levelled against the Guru; the old claim that the Sikh Granth defamed the Hindu and Muslim religions was leveled again; it was also claimed that the rebellious Khusrau, Jahangir’s son who Akbar and many nobles of his Darbar (court) saw as a more fitting Emperor, worthy of ruling India, more than the wine loving, opium taking Jahangir, had been aided by Guru Arjan.

But in the war of succession Jahangir had won and Khusrau had managed to hold onto Punjab alone. Diwan Chandu Shah (who had finally warmed to a marriage of his daughter with Guru Arjan’s son Hargobind, had lost no anger when his proposal had been refused by Guru Arun Dev ji) went to Jahangir and “filled his ear with poison against the Guru”.

Accordingly in late May 1606, Guru Arjan Dev was arrested and brought to Lahore where He was subjected to severe torture. He was made to sit on a burning hot plate after which red hot sand was poured over his head and body. It is said that Mian Mir (a Muslim Sufi Saint and friend of Guru Sahib) tried to intercede on behalf of Guru Sahib, but Guru ji forbade him to interfere, as he is said, in the “Will of the Almighty”. Guru Ji’s body was blistered and burnt, as he was subjected to unrelenting torture. After several days, Guru Arjan Dev was allowed to take a cooling bath in the nearby river, Ravi.

As thousands watched the Guru, he entered the river never to be seen again. Thus Guru Sahib embraced martyrdom on Jeth Sudi 4th (1st Harh) Samvat 1663, (May 16, 1606).

The martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib radically changed the entire character of Sikhism from a passive people to courageous saint soldiers.

Acc. to some Historical Sources it is said that Guruji’s 6 days of torture took place at Chandu’s place.

Day 1 of Torture

Guru Jee was not given anything to eat or drink. He was not allowed to sleep at night. He was kept awake. Guru Sahib bore all this calmly. He remained immersed in Simran and repeated from his lips, “WaaheGuroo, WaaheGuroo, WaaheGuroo…” and sang Shabads from Gurbani.

Day 2 of Torture

On the following day, Chandu made the Guru sit in a red-hot caldron. He filled the vessel with water. He ordered his men to light a fire under the copper vessel. The water began to get hot. After a time, the water began to boil. It SCALDED the Guru Sahib’s body. But Guru Jee sat calmly and quietly. He felt no pain, nor did he cry out or even sigh. He felt no anger against those who were torturing him. He remained absorbed in the sweet remembrance of Waheguru and repeated,
“All is happening, O Waheguru, according to Thy Will. Thy Will is ever sweet to me.”
The boiling water made the Guru’s flesh soft and left blisters all over the body.

Day 3 of Torture

On the third day, Chandu ordered his men, “Make some sand red hot in iron pans. Seat the Guru in boiling Water. Then pour the red hot sand on his head and body”. The water boiled Guru Sahib’s flesh from below. The burning red hot sand burned Guru Jee’s head and body from above. The persons engaged in torturing him were wet with sweat. They felt most uncomfortable because of the heat. It was the hottest summer month. But Guru Sahib kept calm and quiet. Again, Guru Jee felt no pain, nor did he cry out, sigh or feel anger. He kept thinking of Waheguru and doing Simran. Guru Jee repeated:
Teraa kee-aa meethaa laagai.

O Waheguru! Your actions seem so sweet to me.
Har naam padaarath naanak maaNgai.
Nanak begs for the treasure of the Naam, the Name of the Lord.

Guru Sahib said, “All is happening in accordance with waheguru’s will. Men who stand for Truth have often to suffer. Their sufferings give stregnth to the cause of Truth. Go, brother. Pray for me. Pray for the success of my cause. Pray for victory to truth.”His friend and devotee, Mian Mir, a Muslim saint, rushed to see him. When Mian Mir saw the ghastly scene, he cried out and said, “O Master! I cannot bear to see these horrors inflicted on thee. If you permit me, I would demolish this tyrant rule (Mian Mir is said to have possessed supernatural powers at that time).” The Guru smiled and asked Mian Mir to look towards the skies. It is said that Mian Mir saw Angels begging the Guru’s permission to destroy the wicked and the proud.

Mian Mir asked, why was he enduring the suffering at the hands of his vile sinners when he ossesseth superpowers?
The Guru replied,”I bear all this torture to set an example to the Teachers of True Name, that they may not lose patience or rail at God in affliction. The true test of faith is the hour of misery. Without examples to guide them, ordinary persons’ minds quail in the midst of suffering.”Upon this Mian Mir departed commending the Guru’s fortitude and singing his praises.

Day 4 of Torture

On the fourth day, Guru Ji was made to sit on a plate of iron that was heated from below until it became red hot. Then scalding hot sand was poured over his body. Guru Sahib sat calm and quite, without a cry or sigh, feeling no pain. He sat with his mind fixed on Waheguru, living the message of Gurbaani as he accepted the Will of Waheguru sweetly.

Day 5 of Torture

On the fifth day, GChandu thought to suffocate him in a fresh cowhide, in which he was to be sewn up. Instead the Guru asked for a bath in Ravi river which flowed embracing the walls of Lahore city. Chandu revelled at the thought that the Guru’s body full of blisters, would undergo greater pain when dipped in cold water and hepermitted him to bathe in the river. The soldiers were sent to escort the Guru. The Master’s disciples saw him leaving. He looked at them still forbidding any action. He said,”Such is the Will of my God, submit to the Divine Will, move not, stand calm against ll woes.”

Crowds watched the Master standing in the river and having a dip. The light blended with Light and the body was found nowhere. Hail to the Master! Thou art Wonderful- Martyr, the greatest. Thou art the Greatest!

Guru Arjan sowed the seed of martyrdom, which became the heritage of the Sikhs.

Source: http://www.sikhiwiki.org/

Lahore, Pakistan: As per certain media reports a resolution seeking the Parkash Gurpurb of Guru Nanak Sahib to be made a public holiday in Pakistan’s Punjab province, has been approved by the Pakistan’s Punjab state assembly.

As per information available with the Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) the resolution was approved in the Punjab Assembly on May 28.
Sardar Ramesh Singh, the first Sikh member of the Punjab Assembly, had reportedly tabled the resolution.

The passing of the resolution comes just a few days after members of the Sikh community stormed through the gates of Parliament House to protest against the alleged desecration of Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

The protesters later regretted for entering the premises in a violent manner and forwarded a list of demands to members of the Senate.

Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq had assured the 13-member Sikh committee that he would forward their demands to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

~ Sikhs in Pakistan

MALACCA: Over 50,000 Sikhs from all over the region turned the historic city into a sea of turbans when they converged at Malacca’s sole gurdwara to commemorate the anniversary of revered missionary Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji.

The commemoration that began on Friday reached its climax yesterday when devotees and pilgrims made a beeline for the temple at Jalan Temenggong here.

The temple also witnessed daily recitals of the Kritan (holy verses), chanting and singing of religious hymns and reading of the holy scriptures a day before the three-day festival.

The annual commemoration that is observed in the third week of May was also attended by several renowned Sikh priests from India, as well as community leaders from Australia, Canada and Asian countries.

Over 50 stalls were also set up within the temple compound and along Jalan Temenggong, selling a host of merchandise ranging from traditional foodstuff to religious articles.

United Sikhs Malaysia, an NGO representing the local Sikh community, also completed a 300km goodwill walk from Singapore at 6pm yesterday.

The walk, which commenced on May 17, was led by Rishi Singh Randhawa from Singapore’s Silat Road Gurdwara Sahib.

~ By R.S.N. MURALI