Sikhs in the UK will be exempted from wearing hard hats at construction sites, British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced.

“From now on Sikhs don’t have to wear hard hats at construction sites in our country,” Cameron said last night at a Vaisakhi reception he hosted at 10, Downing Street.

“We have already stopped searching of turbans in the UK,” he said, describing British Sikhs as “absolute role models in integrating with the British society.”

Construction sites are considered to be one of the most dangerous workplaces and hard hats are worn as a precautionary measure.

Recalling his visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Cameron said, “I will never forget my visit to Amritsar and the peace and tranquility I experienced there.”

“I know how much pain there was after the Blue Star Operation (in 1984).”

He said he wanted adequate representation of Sikhs “everywhere" – including the Army and Judiciary.

He said, “this year marks the 160 years since the first Sikh arrived in Britain. Since then, the story of British Sikhs has been one of success – of many thousands of people making a positive contribution in so many ways.

“From the Sikh entrepreneurs and small businesses who are creating jobs, to the business leaders who are helping to boost overseas trade, from the hardworking families who are getting on in life, to the sportsmen and women who do our country proud. Sikhs are a key part of our island story.” to help us personalise your reading experience.

He said, “As we celebrate the Sikhs contribution to Britain today, let’s also reflect on what their ancestors did for this nation in the past. A hundred years ago, well over 1.2 million men from India many of them Sikhs, fought alongside Britain the First World War.Many fought and fell for the freedom we enjoy today and we must never forget that.”

India’s High Commissioner to the UK Ranjan Mathai,leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul, Lord Navnit Dholakia, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords and Dr Rami Ranger, winner of record five Queens’ awards for exports were among those who attended the function.

~ Jagpal S Tiwana
~ Toronto, Canada

On March 2nd, Ikk Onkar launched ikkonkar.com in New York. The website is the first ever platform which uses your location to find nearby Gurdwaras and identifies what events are happening at that location. Mahinder Singh, CEO of Ikk Onkar Media, first thought of the idea around a year ago. His motivation came from a feeling that all Sikhs have felt at some point in their lives. As Sikhs are immigrating to all corners of the world, they are slowly losing their sense of community. In a foreign environment, the only place that can give them a sense of peace is their local Gurdwara.

Gurdwaras have been very helpful to the first generation of immigrants. If you look now, there is a Sikh Gurdwara in almost every major city around the world. The problem now is with the second generation, who were raised in foreign countries and don’t feel any attachment to Sikhism. The fault is not their own. The world is more complex than before and it’s not going back. Even 1ST generation immigrants, who are parents now, are feeling the effect of this change. They are losing interest in their community and Sikhi in general.

To address this problem, we have created the Ikk Onkar platform. Using our platform, a Gurdwara, regardless of its location, can share their events, programs, images and videos with their local members and the world at large. Their members in return can give their feedback and ecommendations. Also, daily visitors to the site can also view live stream programs from Gurdwaras around the world and have access to the Daily Hukamnama and several radio stations. This channel of communication is not just a way organize but it’s to instill a sense of belonging which will have a large effect on the Sikh population. So that the next the time you see someone walking down the street, you can exchange greetings and not just walk away after an awkward stare.

So, I hope that the Sikh Community all over the world will support us in this effort and share their feedback as we start to rollout more new features.

Source: ikkonkar.com

A Canada-based Punjabi businessman has emerged to be the highest bidder of a historic sword that once belonged to Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

The sword inscribed with “Akal Sahai Ranjit Singh Lahore” on the blade in Gurmukhi, was originally put up for auction last month by Mullock’s auctioneers in the UK, but withdrawn at the last minute after it generated huge interest.

A few weeks later, it was put up for auction again – this time at a private auction and via a sealed process – with bids pouring in from anonymous people from across the world, including Punjab, London, Hong Kong, New York and Mongolia.

Bob Dhillon, the proud owner of the sword which is described as an early 19th century curved talwar with remnants of gold pitted around the hilt, says he is “absolutely elated”. The engraved silhouette on the upper part of the sword depicts Ranjit Singh seated beside a cushion with the inscription “Ranjit Singh” beneath.

Dhillon says: “I am humbled that after 165 years, my family will be able to help our community become the custodian of our own history. It is probably the first time that such an artefact will be held in Canada and when it comes, you all are welcome to take a look at it.”

Dhillon was in India last February, as a member of a visiting delegation headed by the Governor General of Canada, when he read about the forthcoming UK auction of the sword in the Tribune. On returning to Canada, he contacted the auctioneers, only to be told that the sword had been withdrawn from the sale. When it was put up for sale again a few weeks later, he put forward his bid.

Mullock’s auctioneer Richard Westwood-Brookes, who was involved in the original sale, said: “It was a potentially unique piece with historic connections to the most famous of all rulers of Punjab. The fine craftsmanship on the sword indicates that it was certainly of a very high status and there are also indications that when it was first made, the hilt was covered in gold and it must have been a most spectacular piece.”

Dhillon is the President and CEO of Mainstreet Equity Corp, a real estate company, as well as the owner of National Payments. He is the Honorary Consul General for Belize in Canada and owns 3,000-acre island in Belize, which is being developed into a world-class tourist resort.

Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/

Even though women are barred from performing kirtan at the Golden Temple, a team of women who now shoulder the responsibility of restoration of the fast deteriorating wall decorations within the Darbar Sahib. Hailing from different parts of India and belonging to different faiths, these women will soon bring these beautiful paintings back to their original glory. Known as fresco paintings, this style of painting is also called the “Sikh School of Art”. These paintings which adorn the main Darbar Hall and the walls of the staircases are done with natural colors and are renowned all over the world for the detailing and delicacy of the art.

These frescoes were originally painted in 1830 during the time Maharaja Ranjit Singh took on the gilding of the Darbar Sahib. They were done by artist Giani Sant Singh along with many muslim artists. Again in 1910 Bhai Gian Singh Naqaash worked on them for 32 years. The third restoration was done in 1962 wherein varnish was used and this caused many of these beautiful paintings to deteriorate further.

Women in the Golden Temple:

Six Women Team

Women1 (84K)Namita Jaspal, working with her team of 6 other women, is restoring these magnificent paintings to their original glory. They are using scientific techniques to preserve these age old traditions and to save them for posterity. Detailing out the process, Namita says that first they will remove the damaged parts and then using a fine brush fill in the areas needing attention treating it appropriately. She is gravely concerned since much of the artwork from the staircases upto the walls is already in poor condition.

The artwork is covering is almost 2,500 sq.ft of space on the walls and 4,000 sq.ft. space in the staircases. The women started working on the project in December 2013 and hope to complete this task in four months. The manager of the Golden Temple, Mr. Pratap Singh points out that the Golden Temple is the only unique place in the world where this style of art is still there. This time around, the SGPC plans to get it right and will cover the restored walls with a special glass covering.

Next time we visit the Golden Temple we would do good to remember to keep our hands off these beautiful walls.

Courtesy of www.bhaskar.com

KISUMU COUNTY, Kenya: Kisumu residents, who tore down a religious monument erected in the center of the lakeside city, claiming it was satanic, were overawed by the color, splendor, and solemnity, rolled out by members of the Sikh community celebrating 100 years of the Siri Guru Singh Sabha Temple in commemoration of which, the damaged monument was built.

Typical Sikh Procession
Typical Sikh Procession
The city was in a carnival mood, with prayers, song, drum beats, and trumpet melodies renting the air, as hundreds of Sikh faithful from all over East Africa marched from the historic temple in a road show like no other.

The procession was made up of trucks, tractors, and even tankers, bedecked with flowers, and religious colors, carrying revered Sikh leaders as it snaked its way through downtown streets to the Guru Nanak Darbar Temple in Milimani, and back.

Refreshments were available in plenty for everyone present.

Nominated MP Sonia Birdi graced the occasion, and delivered a message of reconciliation, and respect, among all communities for lasting peace.

She urged forgiveness, and remission, for the people who destroyed the monument that cost the community so much to erect, saying it takes divine intervention for anything to happen.

Ms Birdi praised Kisumu people for maintaining peace, and displaying respect for their Sikh contemporaries throughout the procession, and ceremonies.

She described the Kisumu event as significant by the way it united the Sikh community.

“This kind of unity ought to be maintained, and built on, for the greater good,” she said. “It is high time national education was conducted to enlighten the people on the differences between Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, and even Christians. To achieve this, we need mascots to preach the message of peace, love, and unity, as a prerequisite to prosperity.”

Charanjit Singh Hayer, the chairman of the centenarian temple, which still retains its original architecture, called for unity, and understanding, irrespective of religion, race, or culture.

He lauded the Sikh community in Kisumu for remaining strong in spite of challenges, such as the destruction of the historic monument.

A plaque at Kisumu’s Siri Guru Singh Sabha Temple located on Mosque Road indicates that S Attar Singh, whose title is given as Permanent Way Inspector of the Uganda Railway, laid the temple’s foundation stone on December 21, 1913.

The controversial Sikh statue was brought down “for the sake of peace” in the lakeside city. The residents had claimed they would welcome only sculptures of Kenyan heroes in the town. One of the Sikh, Bilayi Singh, said they would build a water fountain instead. He said the Sikh community worships one god, not the devil.

Source: www.Sikh24.com

We are pleased to introduce to our Sangat, an exceptionally blessed and gifted Painting Artist; a graced supporter & contributor of Sikh community, S. Inderpal Kaur, who expresses the ageless Eternal Truth, as enshrined in Holy Guru Granth Sahib, through the medium of her paintings in a delicate, subtle and creative art forms to help one discover the conscious and the unconscious self within.

About the Artist – On the personal front, Inderpal Kaur is a passionate personality having keen interest in understanding & contemplating Gurbani which fuel her thoughts, which she exquisitely incorporates into Art in her brain & then reproduces it creatively onto Canvas. “I am not an Artist, I Paint in my brain combining ‘Bani’ with Art“, she quoted during an interview with us, she also told us about how in the year 2001 when she went to Canada, she got exposure to people of different faiths and then developed deep interest in Inter-Faith and how she could identify a common Spiritual Element behind.

Inderpal Kaur, whilst describing about her work of art told the paintings are created in 3 sets of series known as Spiritual Journey, which has 6 Steps. Her work was much appreciated and bought by Canada’s Mayor – Suzan Fennel as well. The paintings are blissfully refreshing – besides being a visual delight they open one’s mind to the incredible power within to become great human being.

“I have a great interest in reading my religion and then there is no end as to the means of expressions one can use. I choose to conceptualize my understanding of Sikhism through imagining the hidden meanings and then get the essence crafted onto paper. It’s a blend of concepts handcrafted into painting carrying a world of Gurmat Gyan. I visualized these images to be painted on canvas by my artist. This whole project took 8-9 years of hard work to manifest. My mission is to inspire people for reflection on Gurbani to seek divine wisdom so in this new innovative endeavor I have made efforts in deeper interpretation of certain Gurbani verses that would help one with overcoming hurdles in one’s spiritual growth. The paintings along with rare visual delight purify the mind.” She said.

These painting are available in both English and Punjabi.

She releases her work under the Banner of UNISON CREATIONS, more details about her work can be found at www.unisoncreations.ca

Dhan Sikhi! Dhan Khalsa!

NEW DELHI, 5th Apr ’14: In a first-of-its-kind in the world, Hallmark India Pvt. Ltd., part of London-based Hallmark Group, has launched ‘The Sikh collection’ of 25 pure Swiss Silver Ingots (.999) layered in 24-carat gold of Sikh heritage stamps. To preserve the value for the collectors, the ‘Premium Edition’ with 25 ingots has only 3,700 complete sets each.

The limited ‘Sikh’ collection celebrates the rich cultural and spiritual legacy of the Sikhs. To ensure the highest quality, each Sikh Heritage Stamp Ingot has been crafted by the world’s finest artisit and Swiss craftmen.

“The ‘Sikh’ Collection is unquestionably one of the finest collections of engraved silver ingots that have ever been produced, unrivalled anywhere in the world. It has taken more than 40 months of intensive artistic endeavor, fine sculpture and skilled engraving to create the 25 Master Dies ready for minting,” said Mr. R.A. Wainwright, Chairman, Hallmark Group Limited.

“The stamps comprising “The Sikh Collection” have been selected from the Sikh Heritage Stamps which are with UK Punjab Heritage Association. They have been carefully chosen to reflect the most important personalities and moments in Sikh history representing the unique cultural heritage of Sikhs,” said Amandeep Singh Madra, Chairman, UK Punjab Heritage Association.

The collection commemorates the remarkable impact the Sikhs have had on 500 years of world history. Beginning with the lives of the gurus and the emergence of the Sikh empire, to their role in two World Wars and continuing contribution in modern times through every facet of life.

All ingots are minted in solid silver (2.2mm thick) and layered with pure 24-carat gold, and each stamp perforation is diamond cut. The collection showcases an ingot with the iconic image of Guru Nanak with his constant companions (the Hindu fan-bearer BhaiBala and the Muslim rebeck – player BhaiMardana), the exquisite handwriting of Guru Gobind Singh from ‘The AdiGranth Sahib’, a vibrant ingot based on 19th century painting which shows Guru Gobind Singh riding a majestically camparisoned piebald stallion, and one ingot shows a historic panoramic view of Harmandir Sahib to mention a few of them.

Placed in a handmade, lacquered wood collector’s chest with mother-of-pearl spatula to lift the ingots, each set has 25 complete fact cards and an collector’s album, a jeweller’s cloth, cotton gloves and a special hardbound edition of “The Golden Temple of Amritsar”. Each subscriber is issued an officially numbered ‘Certificate of Authenticity’, confirming the edition limit and the precious metal purity of each stamp ingot. Each ingot will vary in size and the price of each is fixed at Rs. 8,500 (inclusive of all duties and taxes).

“For more than three decades, Hallmark Group has dedicated itself to the reproduction of historic images as engraved solid silver ingots and ‘The Sikh Collection’ is a rare and treasured heirloom which needs to be preserved for future generations,” added Mr. Wainwright.

Source: www.prnewswire.co.in

The founder of Royal family of Malerkotla was Shaikh Sardar ud-din Sardar-i-Jahan, a Sherwani Afghan originating from Daraban. He received a jagir of 58 villages near Ludhiana and three lakhs of rupees as marriage gift, after marrying a daughter of Sultan Bahlol Lodhi of Delhi in 1454. The ruling family descends from Shaikh Salar ud-din the issue of this marriage.

The founder of the Malerkotla state was Bayazid Khan, who rose high in rank in the Mughal army. Saving the life of the Emperor Aurangzeb from an attacking tiger, he received high honours and recognition as an independent ruler. He was granted the right to construct a defensive fort, which he named Malerkotla, from which the state took its name. According to family tradition, he summoned Shah Fazl Chishti, a Sufi saint, and Damodar Das, a Hindu sadhu, to place the foundation stone, thereby also laying the foundations for the spirit of communal harmony and religious toleration that characterise Malerkotla.

Nawab Sher Muhammad Khan, Bayazid’s grandson, earned the undying gratitude and honour of the Sikhs. He had interceded with the Emperor in an attempt to stay the execution of Guru Gobind Singh’s two young sons, after their capture at Sirhind. Guru Gobind Singh on learning this kind and humanitarian approach profusely thanked the Nawab of Malerkotla and blessed him.

The spirit of communal harmony that pervaded the history of this little state endured even through the most difficult period during partition in 1947. As the rest of the Punjab went up in flames, and hundreds of thousands perished at the hands of their neighbours, Malerkotla remained an oasis of peace.

It was a warm, summer Monday morning. My dad was driving to the University of St. Thomas (St.Paul, MN) campus for my first day at journalism camp. My dad was looking for ways to get me out of the house to do something productive, and he found out about the ThreeSixty Introduction to Journalism Camp, a four week camp promoting diversity by teaching teenagers journalism. At first, I was incredibly reluctant to go. I wasn’t a big fan of writing, and I would rather do anything else than spend an entire day in a classroom learning how to write, especially after a long freshman year. However, I really didn’t have much of a choice, so I dragged myself to the classroom. When I first entered, I was pleasantly greeted by the three adults who I would be working with, including my editor for my first year with the program.

We spent the first half of the day introducing ourselves to our peers, talking about journalism and its role in the world, and talking about how journalism practiced. The first skill we were taught was the art of the interview. The only way to really learn interviewing was to actually do it, so we were asked to go out onto the college campus and ask anybody a list of questions. This, without a doubt, was one of my more nerve-wracking experiences. After wandering around a little, I finally managed to get myself to ask a normal looking guy for an interview. Honestly, that first interview did not go so well, but my interviewee was nice and made it a lot easier. And that was the beginning of a lot of amazing experiences.

During that four-week camp, I wrote two stories, a reported story and a personal essay. My first reported story, was about a church pastor, who worked to try to pull young people off the crime-ridden streets of North Minneapolis by using devotional Hip-Hop music. In addition to this, I started an essay about an experience of hatred that I had endured, post 9/11, as a young, eight-year old child and its effect on me and my understanding of people. After working through several drafts, and spending five or six hours editing that piece with my editor, Annie, my essay was submitted to the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest, where it won a third place award, while competing with other papers. The hard work had been rewarded and my days with ThreeSixty would keep improving.

I’ve written many articles for ThreeSixty on a wide range of topics from the seriousness of religion and politics to lighter topics like sports. My new editor, Tom, helped me hone my skills furthermore and he developed me into a better writer. The year after the intro camp, I participated in the faster paced advanced journalism camp. And, then I took a 20-hours per week paid internship with the program, in which I was able to interview women’s basketball star Seimone Augustus. The highlight came in January 2014, when I won a first place award at the Better Newspaper award, thanks to the wonderful help I received from my journalism mentors, the staff at ThreeSixty.

In my time with ThreeSixty Journalism, not only have I enjoyed myself, but I have learned a lot about the world. I reported about experiences I never would have imagined of, and I interviewed people I thought I would never talk to. I learned many skills such as being able to write fluidly and being able to talk to people without being too intimidated. In the end, my experiences with ThreeSixty has been a valuable life lesson about how we as individuals are so small compared to the immensity of the world.

Amolak Singh

2 April 2014, CHANDIGARH: India centre of Sikh American Chamber of Commerce (SACC) has started inviting applications from young entrepreneurs to develop digital apps for social development and make a difference in the lives of people, said Manipal Dhariwal, president, SACC, India. The World Summit Youth Award (WSYA) is a unique global contest which brings together young developers and digital entrepreneurs — under 30 years of age — who use internet and mobile technology to put the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) into action and make a difference, he added.

SACC India, he informed, has also recently been appointed as the networking partners for the UN’s World Summit Youth Award (WSYA) supported by the Unido, Unesco, and UNDP. Mohali-based IT entrepreneur Maninder Singh Bajwa, holds the distinction of being the India ambassador for WSYA programme for 2013-14, having been selected through similar global competition for his iScula educational platform for parents of school children.

The last date for applying for the award is June 15. Register Here – http://register.icnmdb.at/Youthaward/2014/