Presenting yet another example of communal harmony, the Jama Masjid of Ludhiana and a Gurdwara came forward to donate money to Sikh organization Khalsa Aid, so that the Langar (community kitchen) service being run by Sikh volunteers for Rohingya refugees is continued at Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

Shahi Imam Punjab Maulana Habib ur Rahman presented a cheque of Rs 8.32 lakh to the volunteers of Khalsa Aid at Jama Masjid premises in Field Ganj of Ludhiana. Interestingly, the sum also includes Rs 1 lakh contributed by Gurudwara Dukhnivaran Sahib of Ludhiana, one of the largest Sikh temples in Punjab. Their head priest Pritpal Singh said Sikhism is not about differentiating among people on basis of religion.

“WE HAVE DONATED THE AMOUNT FOR THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY,” HE SAID.

Sikh volunteers from Khalsa Aid were also honored at Jama Masjid for running langar for Rohingya refugees.

“Sikh volunteers have shown the true spirit of humanity by filling the empty stomachs of Rohingya refugees. I also thank all those people who came forward to donate for this noble cause and we were able to collect Rs 9.32 lakh for it. Even when Hindu pilgrims were killed by terrorists during Amarnath yatra, we had protested against it. No one can be targeted on basis of religion. We thank Sikh community for running langar for Rohingya refugees,” said Rahman.

Meanwhile, Gursahib Singh, Khalsa Aid volunteer informed that the langar service at the border for Rohingya refugees is running unabated since September 14 and thousands being fed on daily basis.

“We were trolled on social media for serving Muslims and people questioned us that why Hindus are never fed. But Sikhism means serving humanity not any religion. Also, at the border there are not only Muslim refugees but also Hindus who have fled Myanmar. We are serving everyone without any differentiation on the basis of religion. If we will do that, it is not Sikhism. Guru ka langar is always open for all,” he said.

Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana reached the city of Tulamba in Multan. By the side of the road, they saw a very big and beautiful house. Sajjan,whose real name was Sheikh, had constructed that inn for the comfort of the travellers. In that inn, everyone was given a room to pass night and free meals were served to one’s fill. There was no discrimination, be the traveller a Hindu or a Muslim. In that inn, Sheikh had got constructed on one side,a temple for the Hindus to worship and on the other side a mosque,for the Muslims to pray.

Sheikh used to dress like a saint during the day and engaged himself telling beads on his rosary. Seeing him thus, everyone who met him called him Sajjan, the virtuous man or friend. Sajjan had plenty of land which was tilled by labourers. He had adopted another means of income of which no one except his partners knew. He used to kill the travellers staying for the night, throw their bodies into a well and misappropriate their belongings.

Sajjan guessed that Guru Nanak was a wealthy man. He served Guru Nanak and Bhai Mardana very well. Guru Nanak could read what was in the mind of other people. Nothing could remain hidden from him. Guru Nanak read all his black deeds from his conversation with his companions. After dinner, Sagan requested Guru Nanak, “O holy man, come and sleep in comfort inside. The night has well advanced.” Guru Nanak said, “Salian, we shall sing a hymn in the praise of the Lord and then sleep.” Guru Nanak started the recitation of the hymn.

When Sajjan heard the hymn and understood the meanings, he suspected that Guru Nanak had come to know his black deeds. That was why he was saying, “A utensil made from bronze looks bright outside but when it is rubbed it makes the fingers black. Even if it is washed, that bronze will not be free from blackness. Decorate empty houses outside as you wish but when they are demolished,they will be empty inside. Human bodies are like houses. The bodies devoid of virtues are of no avail. The white clad holy men who rob those gone astray, are like storks at places of pilgrimage,who eat frogs. They cannot be called devotees. A man’s shrewdness, wisdom and service are useless unless he gives up bad deeds. To become virtuous, one needs the help of the Lord.”

When the recital of the hymn was finished, SaUan fell at Guru Nanak’s feet. At the bidding of Guru Nanak, he distributed all his accumulated wealth among the poor, began to earn his living truthfully and became a true Sajjan.

ਕਵਿਤਾ-ਨਸ਼ੇ ਸ਼ਰਨਜੀਤ ਕੌਰ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਸੁਚੱਜੇ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਲਿਖੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਇਹ ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਧਰਮਗੜ੍ਹ ਛੰਨਾ ਦੀ ਛੇਂਵੀ ਜਮਾਤ ਦੀ ਵਿਦਿਆਰਥਣ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਵਿਚ ਇਹ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਓ ਜਾਗੋ ਆਪਣੇ ਆਲੇ-ਦੁਆਲੇ ਦੇਖੋ। ਨਸ਼ੇ ਤੋਂ ਦੂਰ ਹੋਵੋ ਤੇ ਚੰਗਾ ਜੀਵਨ ਬਤੀਤ ਕਰੋ ਕਿਉਂ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਦਗੀ ਖਰਾਬ ਕਿਉਂ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹੋ। ਮਾਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਲਈ ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਹੀ ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕਰਦੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਮੇਰਾ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਨਸ਼ੇ ਤੋਂ ਦੂਰ ਰਹੇ, ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਨਸ਼ੇ ਨੂੰ ਹੱਥ ਨਾ ਲਾਵੇ। ਆਪਣੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਦੇ ਲਈ ਹਰੇਕ ਮਾਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਪੁੱਤਰਾਂ ਦਾ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਛੁਡਾਉਂਦੀ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਆਖਦੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਪੁੱਤਰੋਂ ਆਪਣੀ ਜਵਾਨੀ ਨੂੰ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਬਰਬਾਦ ਨਾ ਕਰੋ। ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਾਰ-ਵਾਰ ਇਸ ਕਵਿਤਾ ਵਿਚ ਇਹ ਗੱਲ ਦੱਸੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲਿਓ ਨਸ਼ੇ ਤੋਂ ਦੂਰ ਹੋਵੋ। ਆਪਣੇ ਜੀਵਨ ਨੂੰ ਸਵਾਰੋ। ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਅਕਾਲ ਅਕੈਡਮੀ ਇਸ ਤਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਬੱਚਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਦੇ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ ਜੋ ਬਚਪਨ ਵਿਚ ਹੀ ਨਸ਼ੇ ਤੋਂ ਦੂਰ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਕਵਿਤਾਵਾਂ ਵੀ ਲਿਖ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ ਤੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਸਿੱਖੀ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਪ੍ਰਫੁਲਿਤ ਰੱਖ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ।

ੲਿੱਕ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀ ਪੋਤਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਅਵਾਜ ਮਾਰੀ ਤੇ ਪੁੱਛਿਆ ਕੇ ਮੇਰੀ ਰਾਣੀ ਧੀ ਅੱਜ ਕੱਲ ਗੁਰੂਦੁਆਰੇ ਕਿਓਂ ਨੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ?
ਅੱਗੋਂ ਆਂਹਦੀ ਦਾਦਾ ਜੀ ..ਜੀ ਜਿਹਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਦਾ ..ਓਥੇ ਲੋਕ ਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਘੱਟ ਤੇ ਪਾਲੀਟਿਕਸ ਜਿਆਦਾ ਡਿਸਕਸ ਕਰਦੇ ਨੇ , ਘਰੇਲੂ ਝਗੜੇ ਚੁਗਲੀਆਂ ਲੜਾਈਆਂ ਰੌਲਾ ਰੱਪਾ ਦਿਖਾਵਾ ਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਬੜਾ ਕੁਸ਼ ..ਏਦਾਂ ਲੱਗਦਾ ਜਿਦਾਂ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਬੱਸ ਏਹੀ ਕੁਝ ਲਈ ਹੀ ਰਹਿ ਗਿਆ ਹੋਏ ..ਬਸ ਸਭ ਕੁਝ ਝੂਠਾ ਜਿਹਾ ਲੱਗਦਾ ..ਤੁਸੀਂ ਹੀ ਦੱਸੋ ਏਦਾਂ ਕਿਓਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ ?

ਗਹਿਰ ਗੰਭੀਰ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਵਿਚ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਅਗਲੇ ਦਿਨ ਆਪਣੀ ਪੋਤਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਕਹਿ ਕੇ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਲੈ ਗਿਆ ਕੇ ਚੱਲ ਬੀਬਾ ਅੱਜ ਤੇਰੇ ਸੁਆਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਜੁਆਬ ਲੱਭਦੇ ਹਾਂ ਪਰ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਮੇਰਾ ਇੱਕ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਨਾ ਪਊ !
ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਨੇ ਉਸਨੂੰ ਪਾਣੀ ਨਾਲ ਨੱਕੋ ਨੱਕ ਭਰਿਆ ਗਲਾਸ ਫੜਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਤੇ ਆਖਿਆ ਕੇ ਪੁੱਤ ਇਹ ਫੜ ਤੇ ਦੀਵਾਨ ਹਾਲ ਵਿਚ ਬੈਠੀ ਸੰਗਤ ਦੁਆਲੇ ਦੋ ਚੱਕਰ ਕੱਟਣਾ ਪਊ ਪਰ ਇੱਕ ਚੀਜ ਦਾ ਖਿਆਲ ਰੱਖੀਂ ਕੇ ਜੇ ਇੱਕ ਵੀ ਤੁਬਕਾ ਥੱਲੇ ਡੁੱਲਿਆ ਤਾਂ ਮੈਥੋਂ ਤੇਰੇ ਸੁਆਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਜੁਆਬ ਨੀ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਣਾ !
“ਠੀਕ ਹੈ ਦਾਦਾ ਜੀ” ਆਖ ਕੁੜੀ ਬੜੇ ਹੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਨਾਲ ਗਿਲਾਸ ਫੜ ਤੁਰਨ ਲੱਗੀ ਤੇ ਕੁਝ ਚਿਰ ਮਗਰੋਂ ਚੱਕਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਕਰ ਖੂਸ਼ੀ ਖੂਸ਼ੀ ਦਾਦੇ ਜੀ ਕੋਲ ਆ ਕੇ ਦੱਸਣ ਲੱਗੀ ਕੇ ਦੇਖ ਲਵੋ ਇੱਕ ਤਰੁਬਕਾ ਡੁੱਲਣ ਨੀ ਦਿੱਤਾ ..ਹੁਣ ਦਿਓ ਮੇਰੇ ਸੁਆਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਜੁਆਬ !

ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਨੇ ਪੁੱਛਿਆ ਕੇ ਬੇਟਾ ਜਦੋਂ ਗਲਾਸ ਫੜ ਕੇ ਤੁਰ ਰਹੀ ਸੀ ਤਾਂ ਤੈਨੂੰ ਬੈਠੀ ਸੰਗਤ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਕੋਈ ਇਨਸਾਨ ਪਾਲੀਟਿਕਸ ,ਚੁਗਲੀਆਂ ਜਾਂ ਫੇਰ ਹੋਰ ਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਦਾ ਸੁਣਾਈ ਦਿੱਤਾ ?
ਕਹਿੰਦੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਾਦਾ ਜੀ ਬਿਲਕੁਲ ਵੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਿਓੰਕੇ ਤੁਰੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਦਾ ਮੇਰਾ ਸਾਰਾ ਹੀ ਧਿਆਨ ਤਾਂ ਗਿਲਾਸ ਵੱਲ ਸੀ ਕੇ ਕਿਤੇ ਕੋਈ ਪਾਣੀ ਦਾ ਤੁਬਕਾ ਥੱਲੇ ਹੀ ਨਾ ਡਿੱਗ ਜਾਵੇ …!

ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਆਖਣ ਲੱਗਾ ਕੇ ਪੁੱਤ ਇਸੇ ਤਰਾਂ ਹੀ ਕੁਝ ਇਨਸਾਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਫਾਇਦਿਆਂ ਲਈ ਗੁਰੂ ਘਰ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਲਟਿਕਸ ਬਿਜਨਸ ,ਚੁਗਲੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਵੈਰ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਦਾ ਅਖਾੜਾ ਬਣਾ ਧਰਿਆ ..ਏਦਾਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਆਇਆ ਤੇ ਅੱਗੇ ਵੀ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੀ ਰਹੇਗਾ ..ਪਰ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਾਰਾ ਧਿਆਨ ਓਹਨਾ ਚੀਜਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਹਟਾ ਕੇ ਪੂਰੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਚੋਂ ਨਿੱਕਲਦੀ ਇਲਾਹੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਰੂਪੀ ਵਿਚਾਰਧਾਰਾ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਹ ਵੱਲ ਲਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ ਤੇ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਬੇਹੱਦ ਜਰੂਰੀ ਹੈ ਕੇ ਉਸ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਵਿਚਾਰਧਾਰਾ ਦਾ ਇੱਕ ਵੀ ਤਰੁਬਕਾ ਸਾਡੇ ਮਨ ਵਿਚ ਵੱਸਣੋਂ ਨਾ ਰਹਿ ਜਾਵੇ ..ਮੇਰਾ ਯਕੀਨ ਮਨ ਕਦੀ ਵੀ ਗੁਰੂਘਰ ਤੋਂ ਬੇਮੁਖ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ !
ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਉਸ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਗਏ ਇਸ ਤਰਕ ਦੀ ਅੱਜ ਸਮੁੱਚੀ ਇਨਸਾਨੀਅਤ ਨੂੰ ਸ਼ਿੱਦਤ ਨਾਲ ਅਪਨਾਉਣ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ !!!

In India, hundreds of thousands of people are homeless, disabled, and poverty ridden; leading a miserable life under the open sky on the roadsides. They are without safe drinking water or food, and no access to medical care. These homeless people emit foul smell which makes it difficult for passersby to go near and lend them a hand. Many of them die due to either: starvation, extreme cold, heat waves, sunstrokes, gastroenteritis, or other illnesses.

BRINGING THE DESTITUTES TO ASHRAM: Guru Amar Das Apahaj Ashram is a registered charity located near village Sarabha of district Ludhiana, Punjab. Disabled and homeless people are picked up from the roadsides and brought to this Ashram. Many are found in severe critical condition, nearing their last breath. In the Ashram they are provided shelter, food, clothes, medical treatment, nursing care and other basic necessities of life: FREE OF COST.

FOUNDING OF THE CHARITY: The charitable trust “Guru Amar Das Apahaj Ashram” was founded in 2005 by Dr. Naurang Singh Mangat (pictured right), a former Professor and Scientist of PAU, Ludhiana, University of Windsor, and Morrison Scientific Inc. of Calgary. Before building the Ashram, for many years Dr. Mangat pedaled his bicycle on the roads of slum areas in and around Ludhiana city to help homeless-sick people crying for help. He picked up these people and took them to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. He paid for all expenses and stayed with these patients in the hospital to ensure they received the care they needed. He started construction of the Ashram in March 2009 and admission of patients began in April 2011. The Ashram has been built on the sole foundation of helping the needy irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

To date, nearly 150 homeless needy people were admitted in the Ashram. After receiving medical treatment and nutritious food, many of these were rehabilitated and able to find their footing in life again. However nearly 55 patients, who could not become fit for work, live in the Ashram permanently. Out of these 55 patients, about 15 are severely critical. These patients are mentally and physically disabled, unable to answer the call of nature, cannot recall their own name or whereabouts, and have no relative to ever inquire about them. When people visit the Ashram, some of them tend to break down emotionally after seeing their pains, and wish that no one should suffer this fate.

UPHILL TASKS AHEAD:
To build a small hospital in the Ashram so that immediate better medical treatment is provided to the patients instead of transporting them to an outside hospital. A full time doctor onsite is also required.

The remaining two storeys of the Ashram need to be completed to accommodate the increasing number of needy patients. A separate building for the ladies is also an urgent requirement

Email: nsmangat14@hotmail.com, Website: www.apahajashram.org .

Please like Facebook page for updates on the Ashram:
www.facebook.com/Guru-Amar-Das-Apahaj-Ashram-487373268061404/

Source-SikhNet

Atambeer Singh has been a Black & White Cabs driver for nearly nine years. He was the proud recipient of ‘Best Business Class Driver’ in 2014.

According to Black & White Cabs, on Thursday the 8th of June 2017, Singh noticed that the driver of a black Range Rover he was following had left a bag on top of his car.

“The driver and his wife had been smoking next to the car. When they had finished their cigarettes they both entered the car, forgetting they had placed the bag on the roof,” said Mr Singh.

Singh retrieved the lost bag as it slid off the roof on a busy intersection.

He also tried to follow the Range Rover but lost it amongst the busy city traffic.

As Singh arrived at Chermside to drop off his passenger he began the process of trying to track down the owner of the bag.

The bank documents and statements all had the same name on them, “Daniel”.

Singh used this name, phone numbers and email addresses on the bank documents to try and track down Daniel, but all his correspondence received no response.

He even went to the address on the documents, only to find that Daniel had recently moved out.

Facebook was his last resort, and after a few messages and voice mails left on Daniel’s Facebook, finally Singh received a call from Daniel.

Source- Sbs.com

In the hostile atmosphere between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Uri terror attack, there is a common thread which holds people of two countries together – love for the freedom fighters. Many social and cultural organizations have come together to celebrate 109th birth anniversary of revolutionary Bhagat Singh by organizing a fair at his ancestral house in Bangay village under Jaranwala tehsil of Faislabad district.

The event is being organized by Punjab Lok Sujag and Kuknas, in collaboration with Punjabi Waves and Art Home Media Agency. Rizwan Safdar, one of the main organizers and regional manager of Lok Sujag, said, “This is the second time that we are organizing this event. My organization and Kuknas are civil society outfits working to promote Punjabi language and heroes of this part of the world. Bhagat Singh’s struggle was beyond the boundaries of religion or country. He wanted freedom for all. Whole Jaranwala is proud of him that he fought against British imperialists and he is our hero.”

As the relations between India and Pakistan turned acrimonious after the Uri Attack with clamour getting louder for war, Safdar said, “If Pakistan and India want to progress and end all evils like poverty, we must be peaceful. War is not a solution. Peace is our message. Common people don’t want fight, they want peace.”

The organizers said last year whole village was there to celebrate Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary and this time they were expecting around 800-1,000 people to participate in the event.

Apart from singers like Jassi Lakhpuria, Sanwal Dhillon and Aslam Lohar singing local songs, music and trailer of short film ‘Swaraj’, made by some of the students of Government College University, Faisalbad, would be released during the event.

Head of Kuknas Tohid Chatha said “We, the people of Lyallpur, love our history and our heroes. So we celebrate them. We salute the struggle of Bhagat Singh.”

Some of the organizers said freedom fighters contributions were not area-specific but had a wider reach. Programme manager at Punjab Lok Sujag Amir Butt said, “We believe that Bhagat Singh is a true son of the soil and a freedom fighter. He didn’t fight for a specific religion or region. He fought for the freedom of the subcontinent. I believe that history of any region or country is not a history of people belonging from one specific religion. State narrative needs to change now.”

Makers of ‘Swaraj’ said it was a great honour for them that the art work of their short film was being released on Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary at his native village.

Meanwhile, Indians also appreciated the event being organized in Pakistan. “We cannot deny the fact that we have a common past. Tension between India and Pakistan will rise and fall but we do share our history and freedom fighters. It is really a good news that in this hour of rising tension between two countries, some organizations are rekindling the light of friendship,” said writer Kewal Dhir, who is frequent visitor to Pakistan as a goodwill ambassador.

“I must appreciate the villagers who have beautifully maintained the belongings in his native village as I had seen that during my visit there around 4-5 years ago,” he added.

COURTESY: TIMES OF INDIA

This Chinese Man recites Gurbani Kirtan in his Melodious Voice. A perfect example of how devotion and faith towards almighty is way above the fine boundaries of religion.

Share & Spread to appreciate!

Talent Show at Akal Academy, Dhudial was recently organized as it saw the need for an event to boost up the talent to enable them get rid of stage fear and add on to the public speaking skills. The event saw great responses from the staff members, guests and teachers who were all praises for the performances.

Talent shows are a great way to put the student’s skills to use. Talents come in many forms; it boosts the confidence of the participants. The students bagged appreciations and won the hearts with amazing standalone performances. The students had to perform standalone activities of mimes, skits, speech, recite action and religious songs and much more. Students also got a platform to show their skills with stage decorations. Certificates were awarded to the students for their meritorious performance in various fields.

Appreciate the efforts!

~ Tapasleen Kaur
~ New Delhi, 10th Mar ’15