सितंबर 1897 में ब्रिटिश-इंडियन आर्मी की तरफ से अफगानिस्तान के नार्थ-वेस्ट फ्रंटियर स्थित सारागढ़ी के मैदान में 14,000 अफगानों से लोहा लेने वाले 36 सिख रेजिमेंट के 21 जवानों की शौर्यगाथा को बड़े पर्दे पर उतारा जाएगा। फिल्म “चाइना गेट फेम राज कुमार संतोषी द्वारा बनाई जा रही इस फिल्म का ऑडिशन 8 अगस्त को अमृतसर में लिया जाना है। जानिए, 21 सिखों के साहस और वीरता की कहानी…

21 सिखों के साहस और वीरता की ये है कहानीः

-सारागढ़ी उत्तर-पश्चिम सीमांत प्रांत में स्थित था, जिसे अब पाकिस्तान स्थित खैबर पख्तूनवा के नाम से जाना जाता है।

-इन इलाकों में आदिवासी पश्तून समय-समय पर ब्रिटिश सैनिकों पर हमला करते रहते थे।

-इससे बचने के लिए अंग्रेजों ने वहां कई किले स्थापित किए। इनमें से लॉकहार्ट किला और गुलिस्तान किले के बीच कुछ मीलों की दूरी थी।

-इन दोनों किले पर एक साथ नजर रखी जा सके, इसके लिए दोनों किलों के बीच सारागढ़ी पोस्ट की स्थापना की गई।

-सारागढ़ी चट्टानी चोटी पर स्थित था और उसमें सैनिक पोस्ट के साथ-साथ एक सिग्नलिंग टावर भी लगा था।

सारागढ़ी के किले पर कब्जे के लिए कई हमले हुए…

27अगस्त से 11 सितंबर 1897 के बीच पश्तूनों ने सारागढ़ी के किले पर कब्जे के लिए कई हमले किए, लेकिन 36वीं सिख रेजिमेंट ने हर बार उनके मंसूबों पर पानी फेर दिया। १२ सितंबर १८९७ को 10 हजार पश्तूनों या पठानों ने सारागढ़ी के सिग्नलिंग पोस्ट पर हमला किया, जिससे लॉकहार्ट और गुलिस्तान के किलों के बीच संपर्क टूट जाए। लेकिन इसके बाद जो हुआ उसे इतिहास में २१ सिख सैनिकों की वीरता की दास्तां के तौर पर हमेशा याद रखा जाएगा।

क्या हुआ था 12 सितंबर 1897 को:

इस दिन सुबह ९ बजे सारागढ़ी के सिग्नलिंग पोस्ट की कमान संभाल रहे ३६वीं सिख रेजिमेंट के गुरुमुख सिंह ने लॉकहार्ट के किल में कर्नल हॉटेन को इस हमले की जानकारी दी। लेकिन कर्नल ने तुरंत मदद मुहैया करा पाने में असमर्थता जता दी। इसके बाद सारागढ़ी के किले में ३६वीं सिख रेजिमेंट के २१ सिख सैनिकों ने हवलदार ईशहर सिंह के नेतृत्व में हमलावरों को मुंह तोड़ जवाब देने का निर्णय लिया।

वीर सैनिक की शहादत से बड़ी जीत कैसे हो गई :

सबसे पहले शहीद हुए भगवान सिंह. अफगानी सैनिकों ने सिख सैनिकों को आत्मसमर्पण करने का प्रस्ताव दिया, जिसे उन्होंने ठुकरा दिया। इस बीच अफगानी सैनिकों ने दो बार किले का गेट खोलने का प्रयास किया लेकिन नाकाम रहे। इसके बाद दीवार को उड़ा दिया गया। फिर हुई दोनों तरफ के सैनिकों के बीच आमने-सामने की जंग।

एक ऐसी जंग जिसकी मिसाल शायद दुनिया के किसी और युद्ध के मैदान में मिलती हो। १० हजार की विशाल सेना के सामने मुट्ठी भर २१ सिख। लेकिन इन वीर सिख सैनिकों ने अफगानी सैनिकों की हालत खराब कर दी। जो बोले सो निहाल, सत श्री अकाल की हुंकार के साथ सिख सैनिक विशाल अफगानी सेना पर टूट पड़े और एक-एक सिख सैनिक दस-दस अफगानी सैनिकों पर भारी पड़ा। ईशर सिंह के नेतृत्व में सिख सैनिक पूरी वीरता के साथ लड़े और वीरगति को प्राप्त हुए, सिग्नलिंग पोस्ट संभाल रहे गुरुमुख सिंह शहीद होने वाले आखिरी सिख सैनिक थे। कहा जाता है उन्होंने अकेले ही 20 अफगानी सैनिकों को मौत के घाट उतार दिया था।

600 अफगानी सैनिकों को मौत के घाट उतार दिया था…

आखिर में २१ सिख सैनिकों के शहीद होने के बाद अफगानी सैनिकों ने सारागढ़ी के किले को तबाह कर दिया। इसके बाद वह गुलिस्तान के किले की ओर मुड़े लेकिन सिख सैनिकों से पार पाने में उन्हें इतना वक्त लग गया कि १३-१४ सितंबर की रात को मदद के लिए और अंग्रेजी सैनिक आ गए और अफगानी गुलिस्तान के किले को नहीं जीत पाए। पश्तूनों ने बाद में माना कि २१ सिख सैनिकों के साथ लड़ाई में उनके 180 सैनिक शहीद हुए। लेकिन जब बचाव दल पहुंचा तो उसने सारागढ़ी के किले के आसपास 600 से ज्यादा लाशें देखी, जिससे पता चलता है कि उन 21 वीर सैनिकों ने करीब 600 अफगानी सैनिकों को मौत के घाट उतार दिया था। 14 सितंबर को जवाबी कार्रवाई करते हुए अंग्रेजों ने सारागढ़ी पर फिर से कब्जा कर लिया।

-Source: Dainik Bhaskar

सितंबर 1897 में ब्रिटिश-इंडियन आर्मी की तरफ से अफगानिस्तान के नार्थ-वेस्ट फ्रंटियर स्थित सारागढ़ी के मैदान में 14,000 अफगानों से लोहा लेने वाले 36 सिख रेजिमेंट के 21 जवानों की शौर्यगाथा को बड़े पर्दे पर उतारा जाएगा। फिल्म “चाइना गेट फेम राज कुमार संतोषी द्वारा बनाई जा रही इस फिल्म का ऑडिशन 8 अगस्त को अमृतसर में लिया जाना है। जानिए, 21 सिखों के साहस और वीरता की कहानी…

21 सिखों के साहस और वीरता की ये है कहानीः

-सारागढ़ी उत्तर-पश्चिम सीमांत प्रांत में स्थित था, जिसे अब पाकिस्तान स्थित खैबर पख्तूनवा के नाम से जाना जाता है।

-इन इलाकों में आदिवासी पश्तून समय-समय पर ब्रिटिश सैनिकों पर हमला करते रहते थे।

-इससे बचने के लिए अंग्रेजों ने वहां कई किले स्थापित किए। इनमें से लॉकहार्ट किला और गुलिस्तान किले के बीच कुछ मीलों की दूरी थी।

-इन दोनों किले पर एक साथ नजर रखी जा सके, इसके लिए दोनों किलों के बीच सारागढ़ी पोस्ट की स्थापना की गई।

-सारागढ़ी चट्टानी चोटी पर स्थित था और उसमें सैनिक पोस्ट के साथ-साथ एक सिग्नलिंग टावर भी लगा था।

सारागढ़ी के किले पर कब्जे के लिए कई हमले हुए…

27अगस्त से 11 सितंबर 1897 के बीच पश्तूनों ने सारागढ़ी के किले पर कब्जे के लिए कई हमले किए, लेकिन 36वीं सिख रेजिमेंट ने हर बार उनके मंसूबों पर पानी फेर दिया। १२ सितंबर १८९७ को 10 हजार पश्तूनों या पठानों ने सारागढ़ी के सिग्नलिंग पोस्ट पर हमला किया, जिससे लॉकहार्ट और गुलिस्तान के किलों के बीच संपर्क टूट जाए। लेकिन इसके बाद जो हुआ उसे इतिहास में २१ सिख सैनिकों की वीरता की दास्तां के तौर पर हमेशा याद रखा जाएगा।

क्या हुआ था 12 सितंबर 1897 को:

इस दिन सुबह ९ बजे सारागढ़ी के सिग्नलिंग पोस्ट की कमान संभाल रहे ३६वीं सिख रेजिमेंट के गुरुमुख सिंह ने लॉकहार्ट के किल में कर्नल हॉटेन को इस हमले की जानकारी दी। लेकिन कर्नल ने तुरंत मदद मुहैया करा पाने में असमर्थता जता दी। इसके बाद सारागढ़ी के किले में ३६वीं सिख रेजिमेंट के २१ सिख सैनिकों ने हवलदार ईशहर सिंह के नेतृत्व में हमलावरों को मुंह तोड़ जवाब देने का निर्णय लिया।

वीर सैनिक की शहादत से बड़ी जीत कैसे हो गई :

सबसे पहले शहीद हुए भगवान सिंह. अफगानी सैनिकों ने सिख सैनिकों को आत्मसमर्पण करने का प्रस्ताव दिया, जिसे उन्होंने ठुकरा दिया। इस बीच अफगानी सैनिकों ने दो बार किले का गेट खोलने का प्रयास किया लेकिन नाकाम रहे। इसके बाद दीवार को उड़ा दिया गया। फिर हुई दोनों तरफ के सैनिकों के बीच आमने-सामने की जंग।

एक ऐसी जंग जिसकी मिसाल शायद दुनिया के किसी और युद्ध के मैदान में मिलती हो। १० हजार की विशाल सेना के सामने मुट्ठी भर २१ सिख। लेकिन इन वीर सिख सैनिकों ने अफगानी सैनिकों की हालत खराब कर दी। जो बोले सो निहाल, सत श्री अकाल की हुंकार के साथ सिख सैनिक विशाल अफगानी सेना पर टूट पड़े और एक-एक सिख सैनिक दस-दस अफगानी सैनिकों पर भारी पड़ा। ईशर सिंह के नेतृत्व में सिख सैनिक पूरी वीरता के साथ लड़े और वीरगति को प्राप्त हुए, सिग्नलिंग पोस्ट संभाल रहे गुरुमुख सिंह शहीद होने वाले आखिरी सिख सैनिक थे। कहा जाता है उन्होंने अकेले ही 20 अफगानी सैनिकों को मौत के घाट उतार दिया था।

600 अफगानी सैनिकों को मौत के घाट उतार दिया था…

आखिर में २१ सिख सैनिकों के शहीद होने के बाद अफगानी सैनिकों ने सारागढ़ी के किले को तबाह कर दिया। इसके बाद वह गुलिस्तान के किले की ओर मुड़े लेकिन सिख सैनिकों से पार पाने में उन्हें इतना वक्त लग गया कि १३-१४ सितंबर की रात को मदद के लिए और अंग्रेजी सैनिक आ गए और अफगानी गुलिस्तान के किले को नहीं जीत पाए। पश्तूनों ने बाद में माना कि २१ सिख सैनिकों के साथ लड़ाई में उनके 180 सैनिक शहीद हुए। लेकिन जब बचाव दल पहुंचा तो उसने सारागढ़ी के किले के आसपास 600 से ज्यादा लाशें देखी, जिससे पता चलता है कि उन 21 वीर सैनिकों ने करीब 600 अफगानी सैनिकों को मौत के घाट उतार दिया था। 14 सितंबर को जवाबी कार्रवाई करते हुए अंग्रेजों ने सारागढ़ी पर फिर से कब्जा कर लिया।

-Source: Dainik Bhaskar

More than three dozen Sikhs received various medals for the Singapore National Day Awards 2016.

There are 22 men and 15 women Sikhs who made the cut this time around.

Among the women on the list are District Judge Jasvender Kaur and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore Senior Assistant Director Corporate Communications Satwinder Kaur.

Also on the list are Bukit Merah CCMC Vice-Chairman Sarjit Singh and former parliamentarian Inderjit Singh, who is a member of the Nanyang Technological University Board of Trustees.

Also listed is Rajpal Singh, who was appointed as Consul-General Singapore to the Consulate-General in Johor Bahru in December 2015.

They are part of the 3,959 individuals in 19 award categories who received honours which recognises various form of merit and service to Singapore.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE STAR [BINTANG BAKTI MASYARAKAT]

Mr Sarjit Singh s/o Fujah Singh, PBM, Vice-Chairman, Bukit Merah CCMC

THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MEDAL (SILVER) [PINGAT PENTADBIRAN AWAM (PERAK)]

Ms Jasvender Kaur d/o Saudagar Singh, District Judge, Criminal Justice Division State Courts

THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MEDAL (BRONZE) [PINGAT PENTADBIRAN AWAM (GANGSA)]

Mr Rajpal Singh s/o Santokh Singh, Consul-General Singapore Consulate-General in Johor Bahru Ministry of Foreign Affairs

THE COMMENDATION MEDAL [PINGAT KEPUJIAN]

Mr Savinder Singh Dhillon, Head of Department Si Ling Sec Sch, Ministry of Education

Mr Surjeet Singh, Administration Manager Bukit Batok Sec Sch, Ministry of Education

Ms Satwinder Kaur d/o K Singh, Senior Assistant Director Corporate Communications, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Ministry of Transport

THE PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL [PINGAT BAKTI MASYARAKAT]

Mr Sukhmindar Singh, Member, Potong Pasir CCC

Mr Inderjit Singh Dhaliwal, Member, Nanyang Technological University Board of Trustees, Ministry of Education

THE EFFICIENCY MEDAL [PINGAT BERKEBOLEHAN]

Mdm Balvinder Kour, Management Support Officer Professional & Adult Continuing Education Academy, Singapore Polytechnic

Ms Jasbir Kaur d/o Harban Singh, Defence Executive Officer SAF Personnel Hub (West), Ministry of Defence

Ms Surinder Kaur Basra, Retail Executive NHG Pharmacy National Healthcare Group

THE LONG SERVICE MEDAL (PINGAT BAKTI SETIA)

Ms Nirmaljit Kaur d/o Shiv Singh, Defence Executive Officer Ministry of Defence

Mdm Karamjit Kaur, Senior Teacher Bendemeer Sec Sch, Ministry of Education

Mr Gulzar Gurdev Singh Sandhu, Teacher Gan Eng Seng Sch, Ministry of Education

Ms Surjeet Kaur d/o Shamsher Singh, Teacher St Joseph’s Institution, Ministry of Education

Miss Balbir Kaur d/o Katar Singh, Management Assistant Officer NUS Libraries, National University of Singapore

Ms Lkhvinder Kaur, Health Advisor National Skin Centre National Healthcare Group

Ms Amarjit Kaur d/o Pritam Singh, Senior Customer Service Associate, National University Hospital, National University Health System

Ms Dalbiro d/o Jassa Singh, Senior Staff Nurse, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital Singapore Health Services

Ms Balbir Kour d/o Surat Singh, Senior Associate Executive, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore Health Services

Mr Awtar Singh Brar s/o Amrik Singh, Chief Warder (2), Cluster A, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Dave Singh Calais, Superintendent (1) Cluster B, Singapore Prison Service Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Jetendra s/o Dharam Pal Singh, Inspector of Police (1) Airport Police Division Singapore Police Force Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Avtar Singh Dhillon, Assistant Superintendent of Police (1) Clementi Division, Singapore Police Force, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Sushminder Singh s/o Endar Singh, Rehabilitation Officer (1) Cluster A, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Terence Singh s/o J Devinder Singh, Sergeant, Cluster C, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Surender Singh s/o Jagdish Singh, Staff Sergeant, Cluster B, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs

Miss Ranjit Kaur d/o Jagtar Singh, Staff Sergeant, Coastal Command, ICC (Sea) Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Jogindar Singh s/o Naranyat Singh, Staff Sergeant, Cluster C, Singapore Prison Service Ministry of Home Affairs

Mdm Pajang Kaur, Staff Sergeant, Ports Command, ICC (Sea) Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Gurmukh Singh s/o Rajan Singh, Staff Sergeant, Cluster A, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Amarjeet Singh s/o Sarjit Singh, Assistant Superintendent of Police (1) Tanglin Division, Singapore Police Force, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Daljit Singh s/o B Gurbachan Singh, Chief Warder (1), Community Corrections Command Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs

THE LONG SERVICE MEDAL (MILITARY) [PINGAT BAKTI SETIA (TENTERA)]

MWO Sanjee Singh s/o Saraina, PB, Singapore Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence

1WO Jagdeep Singh s/o Gurdial Singh, Singapore Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence

ME3 Harjit Singh s/o Santa Singh, PB, Singapore Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence

ME2 Karamjit Singh s/o Mehinder Singh, Singapore Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence

Source-AsiaSamachar

More than three dozen Sikhs received various medals for the Singapore National Day Awards 2016.

There are 22 men and 15 women Sikhs who made the cut this time around.

Among the women on the list are District Judge Jasvender Kaur and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore Senior Assistant Director Corporate Communications Satwinder Kaur.

Also on the list are Bukit Merah CCMC Vice-Chairman Sarjit Singh and former parliamentarian Inderjit Singh, who is a member of the Nanyang Technological University Board of Trustees.

Also listed is Rajpal Singh, who was appointed as Consul-General Singapore to the Consulate-General in Johor Bahru in December 2015.

They are part of the 3,959 individuals in 19 award categories who received honours which recognises various form of merit and service to Singapore.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE STAR [BINTANG BAKTI MASYARAKAT]

Mr Sarjit Singh s/o Fujah Singh, PBM, Vice-Chairman, Bukit Merah CCMC

THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MEDAL (SILVER) [PINGAT PENTADBIRAN AWAM (PERAK)]

Ms Jasvender Kaur d/o Saudagar Singh, District Judge, Criminal Justice Division State Courts

THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION MEDAL (BRONZE) [PINGAT PENTADBIRAN AWAM (GANGSA)]

Mr Rajpal Singh s/o Santokh Singh, Consul-General Singapore Consulate-General in Johor Bahru Ministry of Foreign Affairs

THE COMMENDATION MEDAL [PINGAT KEPUJIAN]

Mr Savinder Singh Dhillon, Head of Department Si Ling Sec Sch, Ministry of Education

Mr Surjeet Singh, Administration Manager Bukit Batok Sec Sch, Ministry of Education

Ms Satwinder Kaur d/o K Singh, Senior Assistant Director Corporate Communications, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Ministry of Transport

THE PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL [PINGAT BAKTI MASYARAKAT]

Mr Sukhmindar Singh, Member, Potong Pasir CCC

Mr Inderjit Singh Dhaliwal, Member, Nanyang Technological University Board of Trustees, Ministry of Education

THE EFFICIENCY MEDAL [PINGAT BERKEBOLEHAN]

Mdm Balvinder Kour, Management Support Officer Professional & Adult Continuing Education Academy, Singapore Polytechnic

Ms Jasbir Kaur d/o Harban Singh, Defence Executive Officer SAF Personnel Hub (West), Ministry of Defence

Ms Surinder Kaur Basra, Retail Executive NHG Pharmacy National Healthcare Group

THE LONG SERVICE MEDAL (PINGAT BAKTI SETIA)

Ms Nirmaljit Kaur d/o Shiv Singh, Defence Executive Officer Ministry of Defence

Mdm Karamjit Kaur, Senior Teacher Bendemeer Sec Sch, Ministry of Education

Mr Gulzar Gurdev Singh Sandhu, Teacher Gan Eng Seng Sch, Ministry of Education

Ms Surjeet Kaur d/o Shamsher Singh, Teacher St Joseph’s Institution, Ministry of Education

Miss Balbir Kaur d/o Katar Singh, Management Assistant Officer NUS Libraries, National University of Singapore

Ms Lkhvinder Kaur, Health Advisor National Skin Centre National Healthcare Group

Ms Amarjit Kaur d/o Pritam Singh, Senior Customer Service Associate, National University Hospital, National University Health System

Ms Dalbiro d/o Jassa Singh, Senior Staff Nurse, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital Singapore Health Services

Ms Balbir Kour d/o Surat Singh, Senior Associate Executive, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore Health Services

Mr Awtar Singh Brar s/o Amrik Singh, Chief Warder (2), Cluster A, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Dave Singh Calais, Superintendent (1) Cluster B, Singapore Prison Service Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Jetendra s/o Dharam Pal Singh, Inspector of Police (1) Airport Police Division Singapore Police Force Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Avtar Singh Dhillon, Assistant Superintendent of Police (1) Clementi Division, Singapore Police Force, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Sushminder Singh s/o Endar Singh, Rehabilitation Officer (1) Cluster A, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Terence Singh s/o J Devinder Singh, Sergeant, Cluster C, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Surender Singh s/o Jagdish Singh, Staff Sergeant, Cluster B, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs

Miss Ranjit Kaur d/o Jagtar Singh, Staff Sergeant, Coastal Command, ICC (Sea) Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Jogindar Singh s/o Naranyat Singh, Staff Sergeant, Cluster C, Singapore Prison Service Ministry of Home Affairs

Mdm Pajang Kaur, Staff Sergeant, Ports Command, ICC (Sea) Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Gurmukh Singh s/o Rajan Singh, Staff Sergeant, Cluster A, Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Amarjeet Singh s/o Sarjit Singh, Assistant Superintendent of Police (1) Tanglin Division, Singapore Police Force, Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Daljit Singh s/o B Gurbachan Singh, Chief Warder (1), Community Corrections Command Singapore Prison Service, Ministry of Home Affairs

THE LONG SERVICE MEDAL (MILITARY) [PINGAT BAKTI SETIA (TENTERA)]

MWO Sanjee Singh s/o Saraina, PB, Singapore Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence

1WO Jagdeep Singh s/o Gurdial Singh, Singapore Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence

ME3 Harjit Singh s/o Santa Singh, PB, Singapore Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence

ME2 Karamjit Singh s/o Mehinder Singh, Singapore Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence

Source-AsiaSamachar

After the Aug. 5, 2012, mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek by a gunman with reported ties to white supremacist organizations, a group of Sikh-American friends wanted to do something to help educate others about Sikhs, Sikhism, and how Sikh Americans contribute to the community.

Because all five had motorcycles, they realized they could use them to reach out to the larger biker community. They created Sikh Riders of America.

“We are doing this selfless service for couple years with a hope to bridge the gap between diverse communities and spreading lake of love with the very basic principle of Sikhism, which is sharing with everyone,” Gurinder Singh Basra of Sikh Riders of America told NBC News. “We live in a diverse world, where we all need to learn about each other and start a positive dialogue about any misunderstandings. [Our] ultimate goal is to educate everyone that we are all brothers and sisters and there shall be no place for hate in our lives and hearts.”

“We are doing this selfless service for couple years with a hope to bridge the gap between diverse communities and spreading lake of love with the very basic principle of Sikhism, which is sharing with everyone,” Gurinder Singh Basra of Sikh Riders of America told NBC News. “We live in a diverse world, where we all need to learn about each other and start a positive dialogue about any misunderstandings. [Our] ultimate goal is to educate everyone that we are all brothers and sisters and there shall be no place for hate in our lives and hearts.”

According to the organization, it has donated $44,500 in two years, including to the Euless Police Department in Texas, Wounded Heroes Fund supporting returning U.S. veterans, and Khalsa Aid to help in Nepal after the earthquake.

For the upcoming fourth annual National Day of Seva, a day of service organized by The Sikh Coalition in memory of the shooting at Oak Creek scheduled for the weekend of Aug. 13, The Sikh Riders of America will be cooking and serving three meals, or langar, at the Bakersfield Homeless Center.

Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji along with Bhai Mardana Ji reached Hasan Abdal in Baisakh Samwat 1578 B.K. corresponding to 1521 ACE in the summer season. Under a shady cool tree, Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana started reciting Kirtan and their devotees gathered around. This annoyed a local saint, Hazrat Shah Wali Qandhari, who meditated atop a nearby hill but he was helpless.

According to legend, Bhai Mardana was sent three times to Shah Wali Qandhari by (Guru Nanak) so that he would provide him with some water to quench his thirst. Wali Qandhari refused his request and was rude to him. In spite of this, Mardana still very politely stuck to his demand. The Wali ironically remarked : “Why don’t you ask your Master whom you serve?”

Mardana went back to the Guru in a miserable state and said “Oh lord! I prefer death to thirst but will not approach Wali the egoist.”

The Guru replied “Oh Bhai Mardana! Repeat the Name of God, the Almighty; and drink the water to your heart’s content.”

The Guru put aside a big rock lying nearby and a pure fountain of water sprang up and began to flow endlessly. Bhai Mardana quenched his thirst and felt grateful to the Guru.

On the other hand, the fountain of Shah Wali Qandhari dried up. On witnessing this, the Wali in his rage threw a part of a mountain towards the Guru from the top of the hill. The Guru stopped the hurled rock with his hand leaving his hand print in the rock.

Observing that miracle, Wali became the Guru’s devotee.This holy and revered place was named Panja Sahib by Hari Singh Nalwa, the most famous general of the Kingdom of the Sikhs. He is credited with having built the first gurdwara at this place.

Barely a teenager when his parents and three siblings were slaughtered in the post-Partition violence, he began to run seriously only after joining the Indian Army.

By 1958, the Flying Sikh – as he came to be known – was British Empire and Commonwealth Games champion over 400 metres.

But it was the Olympics two years later that Milkha is remembered for.

For 200m, he led the final before disastrously deciding to conserve some energy.

Otis Davis of the United States and Germany’s Carl Kaufmann sped past, as did South Africa’s Malcolm Spence, who Milkha had beaten in Cardiff in 1958.

If anything, Davis’s was an even more incredible tale.

After four years in the army, he had gone to the University of Oregon on a basketball scholarship.

He tried out for the track team, coached by Bill Bowerman – one of the founders of Nike – when he was 26.

Two years later, he had Olympic gold, in a world record time of 45.07 seconds.

More than half a century on, Milkha’s fourth place – the time of 45.73s was an Indian record for nearly 40 years – remains the country’s high watermark at the Olympics.

The hockey team won gold eight times between 1928 and 1980, and Abhinav Bindra won the 10m air rifle event in Beijing (2008), but nothing captures the world’s imagination quite like what happens on the athletics track, in the swimming pool or inside the boxing ring.

Three of Milkha’s successors came close to glory.

Gurbachan Singh Randhawa finished fifth in the 110m hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, while Sriram Singh set a blistering pace and led the great Alberto Juantorena for more than 500m before fading in the 800m final in Montreal (1976).

Eight years later, in an Olympics missing the leading athletes from the Eastern Bloc, PT Usha missed out on a 400m hurdles gold by 0.01 of a second.

It is unlikely that any of the 36 Indian athletes that have qualified for the track and field competition in Rio de Janeiro will win medals.

The United States-raised Vikas Gowda made the final in the discus four years ago, but the fact that they are there at all is a massive fillip for a country that faces constant jibes about the conspicuous lack of athletic prowess.

Milkha is now well into his eighties, but even for those that never watched him, he remains the Flying Sikh, a reminder of a distant time when Indians could actually dream of making the final of the Olympics’ blue-riband events.

Source- thenatinal.ae

When Canada’s men’s field hockey team takes to the field at the Olympic Games on August 6 against Germany, the lifelong dreams of sixteen athletes will be realized.

For defender Jagidsh Gill and his Canadian teammates, the Olympic dream has not come without sacrifice.

Going to the Olympics requires obvious compromises: finances, relationships, education, career advancement, and simple things like time spent with family and friends.

But for Gill, one decision on the Road to Rio meant potentially missing out on the Olympics altogether.

It is a decision that highlights the type of character Gill embodies.

When Gill first started playing hockey back home in India, getting to the Olympic Games was always his goal. But the road there wasn’t always clear.

When an opportunity to move to Canada came in 2006, he had to make the decision of putting his dreams of playing hockey on the world’s biggest stage on hold at the age of 21.

“Sometimes when we have a lot things going on in our lives we have to settle down,” he says. “Olympic dream was my priority for sure, but that time the conditions were getting worse.”

He came to Canada for a better life. But with his family back in India and relying on him for support, the decision to step away from hockey was necessary.

“I was the only one earning at the time, my sisters were studying”

So he took a break from the time that he arrived until 2009, when he was comfortable to begin playing again.

“I played in the National Championship for the Ontario team,” he says. “Then through there I got a chance in the camp in 2009. I came to the camp, they liked me.”

Gill wasn’t yet a permanent resident or citizen, so despite the interest from the National Team, he couldn’t compete for Canada.

He spent 2010 training but not going on tour. He was able to get his citizenship in 2011 and his first tournament was at the Pan American Games in September of 2011.

“Some dreams are not easy to get, there is hard work to get it,” he recalls. “I pushed myself to get those dreams. Dreams always have to be protected.”

Gill’s dreams not only include continuing to play hockey but also providing an opportunity for his family to achieve their own dreams.

Along the way, he was able to sponsor his sisters and bring them over to Canada. And now his family lives in Vancouver and is about to see him become an Olympian in Rio.

“I wasn’t able to speak. Everything was just so numb,” he says of being named to the Olympic team. “That was a really different feeling in my life and I will never forget that.”