In Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Saint Ravidas’s Jayanti was celebrated in a unique way by Panditrao Dhaeranavar with polishing the shoes of those PGI Doctors who have been trying to learn Punjabi and Hindi language to communicate with patients for better treatment. The celebration of Ravidas Jayanti on the campus of PGI gathered attention o f many relatives of patients who were taking rest on the lawns of PGI campus. The shoes of senior resident doctor Puneet, doctor Vishwanath and doctor Pratap were polished in public by panditrao dharenavar, assistant professor, government college, sector-46 Chandigarh who kept on saying in public that he will keep polishing the shoes of all those give respect to Punjabi language and learn it. He also said that the in-dissent behavior of patient’s relatives towards doctors few months back was really bad in taste so there is urgent need to give respect to doctors who are next to God.

The aim of the PGI is to provide better medical service to all the sections of the society. Panditrao said that in order to meet the main aim of the PGI, common people of the society need to give high respect to doctors and trust them. Saint Ravidas’s message of one God and simple life was also discussed among patinent’s relatives and Panditrao polished the shoes of one relative’s patient who agreed to the fact that he will respect doctors till his last breath.

Gurdwaras within 100 kilometres of Oroville Dam in Northern California in the United States have opened their doors for all residents evacuated from the area following fears of dam collapse and flooding.

Erosion at the spillway on Lake Oroville is still to be plugged and threatens to flood downstream towns of Yuba City, Turlock, Oroville, Fresno and Sacramento. With floodwater expected to reach certain places by Monday evening (Tuesday as per Indian time), the US government ordered evacuation of 1.9 lakh people. A large number of people of Indian origin, particularly Punjabis, reside in these towns.

“We have decided to accommodate as many people evacuated from the flood-affected areas as possible,” said Jaswant Singh, president of the Yuba City Gurdwara, which is a 40-minute drive from the erosion site. He said announcements were made on the local radio and TV for evacuees to reach the gurdwara. “As many as 20 families from Oroville reached here on Sunday night and the gurdwara management is taking care of them. We are serving them morning langar, and are making preparations to deal with any eventuality,” said the gurdwara secretary. Gurdwaras in Turlock, Fresno and Sacramento have also decided to chip in.

Kanwar D Singh from San Ramon, California, said there was no immediate reason to be alarmed, but the situation could worsen. “The coming two days are very crucial,” he said. One lakh cusecs of water is reported to be flowing out of the breach, following unprecedented rains in the area that filled the dam to capacity.
Karmandeep Singh Bains, a peach farmer in Yuba City, said all school, colleges and offices have been closed in the area. “As many 25,000 rescue workers have been put into service, and youngsters associated with gurdwaras in the region are also making preparations to provide all possible help to evacuees, irrespective of their ethnicity,” said Bains.

ਦਸਤਾਰ ਮੁਕਾਵਲੇ ਦੇ ਤੀਜੇ ਆਡੀਸ਼ਨ ‘ਚ ਸੈਕੜੈ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਕੀਤੀ ਸ਼ਮੂਲੀਅਤ

ਚੌਹਾਨ,ਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਸੰਗਰੂਰ/ਧਰਮਗੜ੍ਹ ੧੨ ਫਰਵਰੀ- ਸਰਬੰਸਦਾਨੀ ਸ਼੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਦੇ ੩੫੦ ਸਾਲਾ ਜਨਮ ਸ਼ਤਾਬਦੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਰਪਿਤ ਆਰੰਭੀ ਜੀਵਤ ਕਈ ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਲਹਿਰ ਤਹਿਤ ਕੌਮ ਦੀ ਸਿਰਮੌਰ ਸੰਸਥਾ ਕਲਗੀਧਰ ਬੜੂ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੇ ਸਹਿਯੋਗ ਨਾਲ ਚੇਅਰਮੈਨ ਸਤਿਨਾਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਬੜ੍ਹੀਖਾਨਾ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਰਵਾਏ ਜਾ ਰਹੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਅੰਦਰ ਆਪਣੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਲੇਠੇ ਅਤੇ ਨਵੇਕਲੇ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਐਵਾਰਡ ੨ ਦਾ ਤੀਸਰਾ ਔਡੀਸ਼ਨ ਸੰਤ ਅਤਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਵਰੋਸਾਏ ਨਗਰ ਮਸਤੂਆਣਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੀ ਪਾਵਨ ਧਰਤੀ ਮਸਤੂਆਣਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਵਿਖੇ ਸ਼ਾਨੋ ਸ਼ੌਕਤ ਨਾਲ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ।ਇਲਾਕੇ ਦੀ ਨਾਮਵਾਰ ਸੰਸਥਾ ਅਕਾਲ ਕਾਲਜ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ ਸਹਿਯੋਗ ਸਦਕਾ ਖੇਡ ਗਰਾਊਂਡ ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਵਿਖੇ ਹੋਏ ਇਸ ਔਡੀਸ਼ਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੰਗਰੂਰ ਅਤੇ ਬਰਨਾਲਾ ਜਿਲ੍ਹਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਸੈਂਕੜਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਤਦਾਦ ਵਿੱਚ ਉਤਸ਼ਾਹ ਨਾਲ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਹੋਏ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰ ਤਾਂ ਮਸਤੂਆਣਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੀ ਧਰਤੀ ਤੇ ਦਸਤਾਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਹੜ੍ਹ ਲਿਆਕੇ ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਦਾ ਧਿਆਨ ਆਪਣੇ ਵੱਲ ਕੇਂਦਰਿਤ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ।

ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਉਤਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਜੱਜਮੈਂਟ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਜਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਖੇਤਰ ਦੇ ਅੰਤਰ- ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਜੱਜ ਸਾਹਿਬਾਨ ਭੁਪਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਥਿੰਦ, ਬੇਅੰਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਮਾਵੀ, ਗੁਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਿੰਗ, ਕਰਮਜੋਤ ਸਿੰਘ, ਪਰਗਟ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਬਾਖੂਬੀ ਨਿਭਾਈ ਅਤੇ ੨੦ ਮਈ ੨੦੧੭ ਨੂੰ ਹੋਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਅਗਲੇ ਸੈਮੀਫਾਇਨਲ ਮੁਕਾਬਲੇ ਲਈ ਔਡੀਸ਼ਨ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਵਰਗ ਅਤੇ ਜੂਨੀਅਰ ਵਰਗ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ੧੦੦ ਦੇ ਕਰੀਬ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਯੋਗੀ ਚੋਣ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਏ।ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਉਚੇਚੇ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਪਹੁੰਚੇ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਮਲਕੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੰਗਾਲ, ਹਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੰਜੂਮਾ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਅਕਾਲ ਧਰਮ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਕਮੇਟੀ, ਹਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਰੇਵਾਲ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਅਕਾਲ ਧਰਮ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਅਤੇ ਸਿਆਸਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੁੱਗਾਂ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਨੇ ਭਰਵੀਂ ਇਕੱਤਰਤਾ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਇਸ ਉਪਰਾਲੇ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਲਾਘਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਅਜੋਕੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਅਜਿਹੇ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਮੁੱਖ ਲੋੜ ਦਰਸਾਉਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਵਿਰਸੇ ਤੋਂ ਭਟਕ ਰਹੀ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਪੀੜੀ ਦੇ ਲਈ ਇਹ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਚਾਨਣ ਮੁਨਾਰਾ ਬਣ ਕੇ ਉੱਭਰਨਗੇ।ਰੋਜਾਨਾ ਅਜੀਤ ਦੇ ਜਿਲਾ ਇੰਚਾਰਜ ਸੁਖਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਫੁੱਲ ਨੇ ਸ਼ਮੂਲੀਅਤ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਹ ਵਿਲੱਖਣ ਉਪਾਰਲੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਜਰੂਰੀ ਹਨ ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਸਾਡੇ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਅਖੌਤੀ ਸੱਭਿਆਚਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਅਪਣਾਅ ਕੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਹਾਨ ਵਿਰਸੇ ਤੋਂ ਦੂਰ ਹੋ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਜਥੇਦਾਰ ਗੁਰਮੇਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਬੜੀਖਾਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਭਾਈ ਸਵਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੜੂ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਅਵਾਰਡ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਮੇਤ ਅਤੇ ਨੇੜਲੇ ਰਾਜਾਂ ਦੇ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਉਤਸ਼ਾਹਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਕਰੀਬ ੧੫ ਸਥਾਨਾਂ ਤੇ ਔਡੀਸ਼ਨ ਕਰਵਾਏ ਜਾਣਗੇ ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਸਜਾਉਣ ਦਾ ਹੋਕਾ ਘਰ ਘਰ ਪਹੁੰਚਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰਲੇ ਰਾਜਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਵੀ ਪ੍ਰਫੁੱਲਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾ ਸਕੇ। ਆਪਣੇ ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਟਰੱਸਟ ਦੇ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਆਗੂ ਜਸਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਲੌਂਗੋਵਾਲ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ੨੧ ਮਈ ੨੦੧੭ ਦਿਨ ਐਤਵਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਅਕਾਲ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ ਦਮਦਮਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਵਿਖੇ ਹੋਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਫਾਈਨਲ ਮੁਕਾਬਲਾ ਜਿੱਤਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸੀਨੀਅਰ ਵਰਗ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਯੋਗੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕ੍ਰਮਵਾਰ ੧ ਲੱਖ, ੫੧ ਹਜ਼ਾਰ, ੩੧ ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਜੂਨੀਅਰ ਵਰਗ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਤੀਣੋਗੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਕ੍ਰਮਵਾਰ ੧੧ ਹਜ਼ਾਰ, ੫੧੦੦ ਅਤੇ ੩੧੦੦ ਦੇ ਇਨਾਮ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਜਾਣਗੇ।

ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ੨ ਅੰਤਰ-ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਜੱਜਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੁਲੱਟ ਮੋਟਰਸਾਈਕਲਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਦੇ ਖੇਤਰ ਵਿਚ ਕੰਮ ਕਰ ਰਹੀਆਂ ਤਕਰੀਬਨ ੧੦੦ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਨੁੰ ਵੀ ਉਚੇਚੇ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਸਨਮਾਨਿਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਪ੍ਰਿੰਸੀਪਲ ਜਸਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਧੂਰਾ ਸੰਤ ਅਤਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਕਾਲਜ ਅਤੇ ਮਨਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਖੁਰਦ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਵਿਰਸਾ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਲਹਿਰ ਨੇ ਸਰਦਾਰੀਆਂ ਟ੍ਰੱਸਟ ਦੇ ਇਸ ਉਪਰਾਲੇ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਲਾਘਾ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸਾਡਾ ਸਭ ਦਾ ਫਰਜ਼ ਬਣਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਆਪਣੇ ਵਿਰਸੇ ਤੋਂ ਦੂਰ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਨੌਜਵਾਨੀ ਨੂੰ ਵਿਰਸੇ ਨਾਲ ਜੋੜਣ ਲਈ ਮਿਲਕੇ ਸਾਰਥਿਕ ਕਦਮ ਚੁੱਕੀਏ। ਸਰਦਾਰੀਆਂ ਟ੍ਰੱਸਟ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਭਾਗ ਲੈਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਮੂਹ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਨੁੰ ਸਰਟੀਫਿਕੇਟ ਅਤੇ ਅਗਲੇ ਦੌਰ ਵਿਚ ਪਹੁੰਚਣ ਵਾਲਿਆ ਨੁੰ ਬੈਚ ਅਤੇ ਮਹਿਮਾਨਾਂ ਨੁੰ ਵੀ ਟਰਾਫੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਨਮਾਨਿਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ। ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਸਟੇਜ ਸੰਚਾਲਿਕ ਦੀ ਭੂਮਿਕਾ ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਮਹਿਰੋਂ, ਜਗਰਾਜ ਸਿੰਘ ਢੱਡਰੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਅਦਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਕਲਗੀਧਰ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਟਰੱਸਟ ਮਹੇਰਨਾਂ ਕਲਾਂ, ਵਿਰਸਾ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਸਰਦਾਰੀ ਲਹਿਰ ਪੰਜਾਬ, ਨਿਊ ਸਰਦਾਰ ਗਰੁੱਪ ਬਡਰੁੱਖਾਂ, ਸੰਤ ਅਤਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਚਾਰ ਲਹਿਰ ਉੱਭਾਵਾਲ ਦੀਆਂ ਟੀਮਾਂ ਸਮੇਤ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਿਰਕ, ਹਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੰਧੇਰ, ਰਣਯੋਧ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੁੱਬੇ, ਗੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਜਾਖਾਨਾ, ਸਮਸ਼ੇਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਢੱਡਰੀਆਂ, ਰਾਜਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ, ਸੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਿਰਕ, ਜਗਸ਼ੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਖਾਲਸਾ, ਬਹਾਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੁਨਾਮ, ਹਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਹੰਝਰਾਹ, ਰਾਜਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਡਰੁੱਖਾਂ, ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੰਗਰੂਰ, ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਲੋਹਾਖੇੜਾ, ਲਵਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੁੱਲਟ, ਗੁਰਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੰਧੇਰ, ਕਾਰਜ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਿਰਕ, ਭੁਪਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਕੈਂਸਰੇ, ਹੀਰਾ ਸਿੰਘ, ਨਿਰਮਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੱਠਲ, ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਿਰਕ, ਬਿੰਦਰ ਪੰਚ ਢੱਡਰੀਆਂ, ਜਗਸ਼ੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਾਂਧੀ, ਹਰਮਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਗੋਲਡੀ, ਧਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਮਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਿਰਕ, ਰਮਨਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਸ਼ੇਰੋਂ, ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੀਮਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਜਰਨੈਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ ਸਮੇਤ ਵੱਡੀ ਗਿਣਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਰਦਾਰੀਆਂ ਟਰਸੱਟ ਦੇ ਸਮੂਹ ਸੇਵਾਦਾਰ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਸਨ।

ਵਿਰਸੇ ਤੋਂ ਭਟਕ ਰਹੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਪੀੜ੍ਹੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਹੀ ਰਾਹ ‘ਤੇ ਪਾਉਣ ਲੋੜ

Two Sikhs demonstrated how to tie a purple cloth into a turban around his head.

The 24-year-old from Des Plaines had studied a variety of religions in college and learned about Sikhs in class. But during a Palatine event called “Get to Know Your Sikh Neighbor,” he and dozens of other visitors were able to expand their knowledge by talking to Sikhs from their community, learning about their values and understanding the challenges they face.

“It’s kind of an awareness program to let people know who they have in their community,” Suevel said. “When I heard there was an opportunity to come out and meet Sikhs in the local area, I was excited to participate.”

Sikhs have been living in the Chicago suburbs for decades, event organizer Thakar Basati said, but in recent years — and particularly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — many have suffered from hate crimes, discrimination and cases of mistaken identity.

Through the event held at the Palatine Public Library, he said, the Sikh Religious Society hoped to inform the public of Sikhs’ beliefs and highlight their contributions to society. Palatine is home to one of the largest Sikh places of worship, called a gurdwara, in the Midwest.

In addition to trying on turbans, attendees sampled Indian snacks and tea, listened to guest speakers, asked questions and engaged in a discussion about the Sikh religion.

“We want to educate people about who we are and why we have a turban on,” Basati said. “That’s what distinguishes us from other people. They look at the turban and say, ‘Who are these people?’ Other than the turban, we are like anybody else.”

Mike Gilley of North Barrington, who learned of the event through Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist in Palatine, said the forum allowed him to show his support for those who are perceived as being different.

“Any time that we take time to listen deeply to other people and learn what their concerns are and what pains they experience, that influences how we react and respond,” Gilley said. “I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

-DailyHerald

Guru Har Rai Ji (Gurmukhi: ਗ੝ਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ) (31 January 1630 – 20 October 1661) was the seventh of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on Tuesday, 19 March 1644 following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Guru Har Gobind Ji. Before Guru Ji died, he nominated Guru Har Krishan Ji, his son as the next Guru of the Sikhs. The following is a summary of the main highlights of Guru Ji life:

Continued the military traditions started by his grandfather Guru Har Gobind Ji
Kept 2200 mounted soldiers at all times.
Was disturbed as a child by the suffering caused to plants when they were accidentally destroyed by his robe.
Made several tours to the Malwa and Doaba regions of the Punjab
Guruji’s son, Ram Rai, distorts Bani in front of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, after which the Guru is supposed to have said, ” Ram Rai, you have disobeyed my order and sinned. I will never see you again on account of your infidelity.”
The Guru nominated his youngest son, the five year old Har Krishan as the Eighth Sikh Guru; Guru Har Krishan Sahib on Sunday, 20 October 1661.

Guru Har Rai ji was the son of Baba Gurdita Ji and Mata Nihal Kaur Ji (also known as Mata Ananti Ji). Baba Gurdita was son of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind. Guru Har Rai ji married Mata Kishan Kaur Ji (sometimes also reffered to as Sulakhni Ji) daughter of Sri Daya Ram Ji of Anoopshahr (Bulandshahr) in Utter Pradesh on Har Sudi 3, Samvat 1697. They had two sons: Baba Ram Rai Ji and Sri Har Krishan Ji.

Although, Guru Har Rai Ji was a man of peace, he never disbanded the armed Sikh Warriors (Saint Soldiers), who earlier were maintained by his grandfather, Guru Hargobind. He always boosted the military spirit of the Sikhs, but he never himself indulged in any direct political and armed controversy with the contemporary Mughal Empire. Once on the request of Dara Shikoh (the eldest son of emperor Shahjahan), Guru Sahib helped him to escape safely from the bloody hands of Aurangzebs armed forces during the war of succession.

Once Guru Sahib was coming back from the tour of Malwa and Doaba regions, Mohamad Yarbeg Khan, (son of Mukhlis Khan, who was killed by Guru Hargobind in a battle) attacked the kafla of Guru Sahib with a force of one thousand armed men. The unwarranted attack was repulsed by a few hundred Saint Soliders of Guru Sahib with great courage and bravery. The enemy suffered a heavy loss of life and fled the scene. This self-defense measure, (a befitting reply to the unwarranted armed attack of the privileged muslims), was an example for those who professed the theory of so called non-violence or “Ahimsa Parmo Dharma”. Guru Sahib often awarded various Sikh warriors with gallantry awards.

Guru Sahib also established an Aurvedic herbal medicine hospital and a research centre at Kiratpur Sahib. There also he maintained a zoo. Once Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Shah Jahan fell seriously ill by some unknown disease. The best physicians available in the country and abroad were consulted, but there was no improvement. At last the emperor made a humble request to Guru Sahib for the treatment of his son. Guru Sahib accepting the request, handed over some rare and suitable medicines to the messenger of the emperor. The life of Dara Shikoh was saved from the cruel jaws of death. The emperor, whole heartily thanked and wanted to grant him some “Jagir”, but Guru Sahib never accepted.

Guru Har Rai Ji also visited Lahore, Sialkot, Pathankot, Samba, Ramgarh and many places of Jammu and Kashmir region. He established 360 Sikh missionary seats (Manjis). He also tried to improve the old corrupt Masand system and appointed pious and committed personalities like Suthre Shah, Sahiba, Sangtia, Mian Sahib, Bhagat Bhagwan, Bahagat Mal and Jeet Mal Bhagat (also known as Bairagi), as the heads of Manjis.

Suthre Shah was born in sampat 1672, in the village of Berampur in the house of Nanda Khatri. He was born with a full set of teeth, his father after consulting the pundits and astrologers, placed the child outside the house, leaving him to and uncertain fate (most likely death), but it just so happened that Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib ji, on his way back from Kashmir, saw the abandoned infant and took pity on him and he order his sikhs to carry the child with them, it was Guru Hargobind sahib ji who named the child ‘Suthra’.

Guru Har Rai Sahib faced some serious difficulties during the period of his guruship. The corrupt massands, Dhir Mals and Minas always tried to preclude the advancement of the Sikh religion.

Recitation of Gurbani

One day the Sikhs asked the Guru whether those who read the Gurus’ hymns without understanding them derived any spiritual advantage from it. The Guru gave no reply at the time, and next morning went hunting. En route, the Guru came across a broken pot which had held butter. The rays of the sun were melting the butter on the broken pot fragments. The Guru took one of these fragments in his hand and said, “Look my Sikhs, broken pot shards – when they are heated, the butter that adhered to them readily melts. As the grease adheres to the potshards, so to do the Gurus’ hymns to the hearts of his Sikhs. At the hour of death the Gurus’ instruction shall assuredly bear fruit. Whether understood or not, it has within it the seed of salvation. Perfume still clings to a broken vase.” The meaning of the parable is that whoseoever daily reads the Gurus shabads shall assuredly obtain peace. And even though he may not fully understand them, God will undoubtedly assist him.

Guru Ram Das has said: “The Word is the Guru, and the Guru in the Word, and in the Word is the essence of ambrosia.”

Bhai Gonda

A devout Sikh called Bhai Gonda used to stay with the Guru. He was a saint in thought, word and deed. Guru ji was very much pleased with his sincere devotion and asked, “Bhai Gonda, go to Kabul, and instruct the Sikhs there in the worship of the true Name, and preach the Sikh faith. Feed holy men and pilgrims with the offerings you receive and send whatever remains here for the upkeep of the Langar. These are to be your duties, and I am confident that you will succeed in them.”

Although Kabul was a foreign country and there was danger from Muslim bigotry in living there, Bhai Gonda cheerfully accepted the task given to him. On arriving there he built a Gurdwara and carried out all the Guru’s instructions.

One day, while Bhai Gonda was repeating the Japji, he felt as if he was actually clinging to the Guru’s feet. He was in such a state of abstraction that he became quite unconscious. He grew as absorbed in the sight of the Guru as a drop of rain in the ocean. The Guru knew what was passing through Bhai Gonda’s mind, and sat firmly on his throne keeping his feet together. At mid-day, when dinner was announced, the Guru made no response. When the announcement was repeated an hour later, he still remained silent. A longer interval later, the call was again made for the third time and cook asked permission to serve the food, but again the Guru did not speak. Several Sikhs gathered together and were about to make a representation to the Guru, when he finally spoke. “Brother Sikhs. Bhai Gonda is in Kabul. He is in thought, word, and deed, a saint of the Guru. He today clasped my feet. How can I take them away from him? How can I go take my dinner until he lets go? I am therefore waiting until the conclusion of his meditation and obeisance.” Bhai Gonda did not awake from his trance before twilight, and it was only then that the Guru felt free to take his meal.

Dara Shikoh

The Emperor Shah Jahan had four sons by different wives: Dara Shikoh, Shuja Muhammad, Aurangzeb, and Murad Baksh. Dara Shikoh was the heir-apparent, and was very dear to his father. Aurangzeb was very cunning, clever and ambitious, and was fixated on succeeding to the throne. (The name Aurangzeb means – fit for the throne) He administered tiger’s whiskers in a dish to his eldest brother and he became dangerously ill as a result. Astrologers were sent for, pirs and fakirs were called, all known charms, spells and incantations were tried but to no avail. Wise men were assembled together and they came to the decision that until the tiger’s whiskers could be removed, there was no hope of a recovery. They were of the opinion that if two ounces of chebulic myrobalan (scientific name: termininalia chebula; known in Ayurvedic medicine as Aralu, credited with having laxative and stomachic properties) and a clove weighing one masha were administered, his health could be restored.
The Emperor searched everywhere for the ingredients but they could not be found – it was only until his Prime Minister, who had heard of the Gurus’ fame, was informed that there were available from the Gurus’ storehouse, that hope was restored. Although the Emperor was hostile to the Guru, yet as the Guru’s house was a mine of sympathy and compassion for all, there was no doubt that he would grant the articles required. The Emperor humbled himself before the Guru and sent a letter. The Guru was pleased that the Emperor had such confidence in him as to write such a friendly letter, and consented to give the required medicines. “Behold,” said the Guru, “with one hand man breaks flowers and with one hand offers them, but the flowers perfume both hands alike. The axe cuts the sandal tree, yet the sandal perfumes the axe. The Guru ought, therefore, to return good for evil.”

The ingredients were weighed and it was explained that these medicines would cause the hardest substance taken to be digested. To these ingredients, the Guru added a pearl which was to be ground and used as a subsidiary remedy. The Emperor was naturally very pleased and forgot all his enemity with the Guru, and vowed that he would never again cause him annoyance. His medicine was administered and effected a speedy and complete cure.

Ram Rai

After the death of Shah Jahan, the attitude of the state headed by Aurangzeb towards the non-muslims, turned hostile. Emperor Aurangzeb made an excuse for the help rendered to prince Dara Shakoh by Guru Sahib during the war of succession and framed false charges against Guru Sahib who was summoned to Delhi. Baba Ram Rai Ji appeard on behalf of Guru Sahib in the court. He tried to clarify some mis-understandings regarding Guru Ghar and Sikh faith, created by Dhirmals and Minas. Yet another trap, which he could not escape, was to clarify the meaning of the verse “The Ashes of the Mohammadan fall into the potter’s clot, it is moulded into pots and bricks, and they cry out as they burn”. Baba Ram Rai in order to please the emperor and gain his sympathy distorted Gurbani. When Guru Har Rai Ji was informed about this incident, he immediately excommunicated Ram Rai Ji from the Sikh Panth and never met him, through the later pleaded repeatedly for forgiveness. Thus Guru Sahib established a strict property for the Sikhs against any alteration of original verse in Guru Granth Sahib and the basic conventions set up by Guru Nanak Sahib.

Dr Kamal, who ran a field hospital while serving with the US army in Afghanistan in 2011, has been promoted to a Lt-Colonel.

He serves in the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion at Fort Dix, New Jersey, as a disaster medicine expert in the Army Reserve. He is also a member of the Truman National Security Project’s Defense Council.

Lt-Col Kamal has been frequently mentioned in cases where Sikhs serving in the US army battle to be allowed to serve with their turbans and beards intact, as per the requirement of their faith.

“This is a shared promotion,” said Lt-Col Kamal, referring to his wife Chinar Kaur Kalsi and his family and friends.

In the battle to serve with their turban and beard, some major developments were announced early this year.

On 3 Jan 2017, the US army issued a directive that requires brigade-level commanders to grant religious accommodations for hijabs, beards, and turbans with unshorn beards and hair for soldiers in all roles unless the requester’s religious belief is not sincere or if the Army identifies a specific, concrete hazard.

The directive makes it easier for Sikhs to serve with their religious articles of faith intact.

“Sikhs have served honorably in the US military since the early 1900s—with their religiously mandated turbans and beards. More than 80,000 Sikh soldiers died fighting alongside Allied forces in WWI and WWII, but a policy change in the early 1980s effectively banned Sikh articles of faith from entering into the military. In 2009, I became the first Sikh in nearly a generation to receive a religious accommodation that allows me to serve with my turban and beard, and more soon followed,” Kamal, then a major, wrote in article for The Hill in March 2016.

He sacrificed more than sweat, blood and tears for this success! Share & Spread to #Salute him!

This is a translation of Shri Japji Sahab in Urdu by Master Lal Singh Anand ji ‘Khalsi’ ,Goverment Pensioner , Head Master Khalsa High School ,Sudder, Peshawar .

He was the maternal great-grandfather of my wife Gurmeet Anand and also Paternal grand father of my brother -in law Col Prithi Pal Singh , born in Lahore , nearly five months after this book was published in mid 1936 .
Col Saheb recollecting Urdu words he had learnt in Lahore before partition holding this sacred book 80 years after its publication ..for the first time in his life

The south Indian doctors of PGI will get crash course in Punjabi language from 1st February to 21st February . Panditrao Dharenavar, who has been teaching Punjabi to south Indian doctors since one year will dedicate his time to teach Punjabi to make doctors well verse with Punjabi language so that the conversion between patient and doctor is in local language so that the treatment will be better which is the main aim of PGI. The crash course will end on International Mother language Day, 21st February.

PGI has got more than 750 doctors and more than 100 nurses from south India who have been trying to learn the local language, Punjabi with the help of Panditrao, assistant professor in government college sector 46 Chandigarh are showing great interest to learn Punjabi language, To encourage learning interest among doctors, Panditrao is giving “Angad Award” to Doctors.

Thanking previous director Doctor Yogesh Chalwa for the permission to teach Punjabi, Panditrao said that he will not only teach to teach Punjabi but also Hindi till his last breath because it is the better way to serve society. Panditrao is originally from Karanataka but has learnt Punjabi so well that he has penned down 12 books in Punjabi and translated Sri Jap Ji Saheb, Sri Sukhmani Saheb and Zafaranama into Kannada language.