News & Update

Two weeks ago I came across a young Somalian man. He said, “Mr Singh, I really respect Sikhs. You give free food in your temples. I have eaten many times.” I smiled back. He then said, “You Sikhs are the one’s who have come to rescue the world. You are special.” I was bit taken aback by his remarks.

He ended with, “I pray that when I have children they wear turban, have long uncut hair and wear a kirpan like you. I would like them to wear the 5 Ks and have the same beliefs as you because you are good people and come to the rescue the world. But not everyone is blessed to be one.”

A very short but moving conversation.

– ManvirSingh.blogspot.in

After 740 Sikhs with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur were captured, 100 were executed daily. Mother of a Sikh Warrior said he’s not a Sikh and had obtained orders to release him, but upon hearing this he said.

“I am a humble Sikh of the Guru, my mother is telling a lie, So please execute me along with my other Sikh Brothers”

Towards the end of November 1715, the remaining defenders were running out of ammunition and food. They were trying to exist on boiled leaves and the bark of trees, and were gradually reduced to mere skeletons. Then on 17th December, 1715, Abdus Samad shouted across the separating moat, that he would not allow any killing by his men, if Banda opened the gate to the fortress.

When Banda ordered the gate be opened, the Mughals rushed in to spear or stab as many as three hundred of the half-dead and helpless defenders. About 200 were captured alive and handcuffed in twos.

Banda Singh had chains round his ankles and his wrists, and was then locked in an iron cage. The Mughals were still afraid that he might escape and so they placed a guard on each side of the cage with swords drawn and the cage was placed aloft an elephant, which led the procession, which paraded through Lahore, before proceeding towards Delhi.

Zakaria Khan, the son of the Lahore Governor, then took charge. and in order to give the Emperor a bigger present, he ordered his men to lop off more heads of Sikhs that they caught on the way, and he loaded them on to the carts that carried the 300 from (Gurdas Nangal). The rest Sikhs around 740 Sikhs along with Banda Singh were taken to Lahore, and thence to Delhi.

The cavalcade to the imperial capital was a grisly sight. Besides 740 prisoners in heavy chains, it comprised seven hundred cartloads of the heads of the Sikhs with another 200 stuck upon pikes. On 26th Fehruary, 1716, this procession neared Delhi, and Farukh Siyar ordered his Minister Mohammed Amin Khan to go out to receive them and to prepare them for a suitable display in the town.

Source- DailySikhUpdate

Simmer Pal Singh started a peanut farm a few years back in Argentina, has now grown by leaps and bounds and become an “uncrowned king” of rice, soya and corn plantations in South America.

His company Olam, based in Singapore and run by people of Indian origin, is one of the major rice traders of the world. He has has an area of 20,000 hectares of peanut farms. He grows soya and corn in 10,000 hectares, and has leased 1,700 hectares of land in Concordia in Entre Rios province for rice cultivation.

He has cultivated commendable rapport with the Argentines in the same efficient way with which he cultivates the land.

Singh has impressed everyone with his hard work spirit and also with the pleasant Latino way in which he manages his Argentine employees.

The Argentines admire this young SIKH’s dynamism and adore his turban, thinking that he is a Maharaja.

Source- theweekendleader

Many household tend to look at the daughters as liabilities and often considered a sign of badluck.

In a contrast to such families who think this way, stands Bibi Parkash Kaur, who was herself abandoned 60 years ago herself and now she adopts those who are shunned by their families.

She has dedicated her life since 1993 to the noble but onerous mission of rescuing unwanted and unclaimed newborn girls and giving them a secure home and future.

Siya was only a few hours old when she was found in a drain, wrapped in a black polythene bag. Reva was a newborn when her parents decided to dump her near the highway off Kapurthala. Razia and Rabiya were just a few days old when they were discovered in the fields outside Jalandhar.

‘Unique Home’ welcomed every kid with warmth and affection. Unique Home is run by a trust named after Bhai Ghanayya Ji, a disciple of Guru Gobind Singh. The trust aims to raise these children as healthy individuals and arm them with all the social skills and educational qualifications that they need to face life on their own terms.

She says “They are my own children,” the lady says. “They are never made to feel like abandoned children.”

Under her care & tutelage, they are well equipped to face the world and live a dignified life. Even after they are married, her responsibility doesn’t end there , she continues to look after them even after marriage.

She has managed to touch the lives of many! If only Prakash Kaur’s selfless spirit would rub off on society at large.

~ Source: scoopwhoop.com

Seeking to address the allegations regarding the “so-called restrictions” imposed on the wearing of the Sikh turban, France clarified that there was no ban on Sikhs wearing turbans in public places.

In a clarification, the embassy said France upheld the freedom of religion, as well as the right not to have one, and opposed discrimination on this ground. The “ban” on turbans, it said, was applicable only in public schools.

“French law in this matter is very precise: the restriction applies to the wearing of all visible religious signs, without any discrimination, and it applies only to public schools. It leaves it to the heads of public schools to take the most appropriate measures, so that it is implemented in a sensitive manner,” said the embassy, adding that, “There has been no particular problem in its application.”

Source -Hindustan Times

One of the bravest battles of the 1971 war was actually fought hundreds of kms away from Bangladesh, to protect the town of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir.

The 6th Sikh Battalion heroically defended the strategically important town against a numerically superior Pakistani force 44 years ago.

Officials said that during the 1971 conflict, the heroic stand of the battalion against a numerically superior enemy saved the politically important town of Poonch. The battle was fought from December 3-6.

As India joined the war on behalf of then East Pakistan on December 3, 1971, Pakistan attacked on the Western front. Pakistani brigades in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) comprising 5 Frontier Force Rifles, 7 POK Battalion and 51 Punjab Regiment were given the task of capturing two piquets as also the helipad in Poonch which were held by the 6 Sikh.

The assault began on the evening of December 3 but 6 Sikh, with artillery support, held them off for three days after which there was no major attack. The battalion suffered eight casualties and 33 were wounded. For their action, the battalion won one Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) and five Vir Chakras and the battle honour ‘Defence of Poonch 1971.’

Maj. Gen. K.L. Rattan, then a Lt Col commanding 6 Sikh, was awarded MVC for gallantry and leadership of the highest order. He had praised the infantry-artillery cooperation in defending Poonch.

“Infantry-Artillery cooperation has to be a well-planned and well mixed concrete. So it was at Poonch. Our artillery was truly a battle winning factor,” he is quoted as having said in the book Indian gunners at war: The Western front 1971 written by Maj. Gen Jagjit Singh (retd).

Also an active participant in Counter Insurgency (CI) operations later, 6 Sikh is the first battalion to be honoured with the ‘The Chief of Army Staff Unit Citation’ for exemplary service to the nation.

~ This story was originally published on the Hindustan Times

ਬਚਾ ਲਓ ਕੋਈ ਸਿੱਖ ਵਿਰਾਸਤ

ਸੈਨ ਹੋਜ਼ੇ (ਚਰਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੰਨੂ): ‘ਬਚਾ ਲਓ ਕੋਈ ਸਿੱਖ ਵਿਰਾਸਤ!’ ਇਹ ਗੁਹਾਰ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਦਿਨੀਂ ਇੰਗਲੈਂਡ ਤੋਂ ਆਏ ਪ੍ਰਸਿੱਧ ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਲਮਸਾਜ਼ ਬੌਬੀ ਬਾਂਸਲ ਨੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਫਾਊਂਡੇਸ਼ਨ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਟੈਨਫੋਰਡ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀ ਪਾਲੋ-ਆਲਟੋ ਵਿਖੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਇਕ ਰੂਬਰੂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਲਾਈ। ਜ਼ਿਕਰਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇੰਗਲੈਂਡ ਦੇ ਜੰਮਪਲ ਬੌਬੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਂਸਲ ਨੇ ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਦੀ ਭਰਪੂਰ ਖੋਜ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਦੁਰਲਭ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨੀਆਂ ਤੇ ਘਟਨਾਵਾਂ ਦੀ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨਦੇਹੀ ਕਰ ਵਿਖਾਈ ਹੈ।

ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨੀਆਂ/ਲੱਭਤਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੋਸ਼ਟੀ ਵਿਚ ਵਿਰਾਸਤ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਯਤਨਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਨਿਘਾਰ ਦੀ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ, ‘ਬਚਾ ਲਓ ਕੋਈ ਸਿੱਖ ਵਿਰਾਸਤ!’ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਹੁਣ ਭਾਰਤ, ਪੰਜਾਬ ਤੋਂ ਲੋਕ ਰੁਜ਼ਗਾਰ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਬਾਹਰਲੇ ਦੇਸ਼ਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੌੜਦੇ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ, ਉਥੇ ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਾਸਨ ਕਾਲ ਵੇਲੇ ਦੂਰ ਦੁਰਾਡਿਓਂ ਰੁਜ਼ਗਾਰ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਯਾਤਰੀ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਪੁੱਜਦੇ ਤੇ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ। ਉਸ ਦੇ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਵਿਚ ਅਮਰੀਕਾ, ਹਾਲੈਂਡ, ਪਰਸ਼ੀਆ, ਯੂਨਾਨ, ਸਪੇਨ, ਹਾਲੈਂਡ ਆਦਿ ਤੋਂ ਲੋਕ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਕਰਦੇ ਰਹੇ। ਸ. ਬਾਂਸਲ ਨੇ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਦੋ ਪੁਸਤਕਾਂ ‘ਦਾ ਕੋਰਟ ਆਫ ਲਾਹੌਰ’ ਅਤੇ ‘ਦਾ ਲਾਇਨਜ਼ ਫਰੰਗੀਜ਼… ਯੂਰਪੀਨਜ਼ ਐਟ ਦਾ ਕੋਰਟ ਆਫ ਲਾਹੌਰ’ ਛਪਵਾਈਆਂ ਹਨ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਭਰ ਵਿਚ ਸਵਾਗਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਉਪਰੰਤ ‘ਦਾ ਸਿੱਖਸ ਆਫ ਕਾਬਲ’ ਸਮੇਤ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਈ ਦਸਤਾਵੇਜ਼ੀ ਫਿਲਮਾਂ ਵੀ ਦਰਸ਼ਕਾਂ ਨੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਪਸੰਦ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੇਸ਼ਾਵਰ, ਲਾਹੌਰ, ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ, ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਸਮੇਤ ਪਾਕਿਸਤਾਨ ਤੇ ਭਾਰਤ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਈ ਯੂਨੀਵਰਸਿਟੀਆਂ ਵਿਚ ਗਿਆਨ ਭਰਪੂਰ ਭਾਸ਼ਣ ਦੇਣ ਦਾ ਮੌਕਾ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਹੈ।

ਇਸ ਮੌਕੇ ਪ੍ਰਸਿੱਧ ਸਿੱਖ ਵਿਗਿਆਨੀ (ਫਾਦਰ ਆਫ ਫਾਈਬਰ ਆਪਟਿਕ) ਡਾ. ਨਰਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਪਾਨੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਿੱਖ ਇਤਿਹਾਸ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਲਈ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਗਏ ਲੱਖਾਂ ਡਾਲਰਾਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਚਰਚਾ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ। ਜ਼ਿਕਰਯੋਗ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਮਹਾਰਾਜਾ ਰਣਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਤ ਬਹੁਤ ਦੁਰਲਭ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨੀਆਂ ਮਹਿੰਗੀ ਨਿਲਾਮੀ ਵਿਚ ਖਰੀਦੀਆਂ ਹੋਈਆਂ ਹਨ, ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਦੋ ਮੁੰਦੀਆਂ, ਸਿਰਕੋਪ ਤੇ ਇਕ ਸੌ ਹੋਰ ਵਸਤਾਂ ਸੈਨ ਫਰਾਂਸਿਸਕੋ ਦੇ ‘ਏਸ਼ੀਅਨ ਆਰਟ ਮਿਊਜ਼ੀਅਮ’ ਗੈਲਰੀ ਵਿਚ ‘ਸਤਿੰਦਰ ਕੌਰ ਕਪਾਨੀ ਕੁਲੈਕਸ਼ਨ’ ਨੁਮਾਇਸ਼ ਵਿਚ ਆਪਣੀ ਪਤਨੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਮਰਪਿਤ ਕੀਤੀਆਂ ਹਨ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਇਸ ਆਰਟ ਗੈਲਰੀ ਨੂੰ 1999 ਵਿਚ ਪੰਜ ਲੱਖ ਡਾਲਰ ਦੇ ਕੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਯਾਦਗਾਰਾਂ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੀ। ਹੁਣ ਵੀ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਦਿੱਤੀਆਂ ਇਹ ਕੀਮਤੀ ਦੁਰਲਭ ਵਸਤਾਂ ਉਥੇ ਪਈਆਂ ਹਨ ਪਰ ਦਰਸ਼ਕਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਾਰਥਿਕ ਹੁੰਗਾਰਾ ਨਾ ਮਿਲਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਬੇਕਦਰੀ ਹੋ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਡਾ. ਨਰਿੰਦਰ ਕਪਾਨੀ ਨੇ ਹਰ ਆਮ ਖਾਸ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਸੈਨ ਫਰਾਂਸਿਸਕੋ ਜਾਣ ਸਮੇਂ ਇਸ ਮਊਜ਼ੀਅਮ ਵਿਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਆਰਟ ਦੇ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਜ਼ਰੂਰ ਕਰਨ। ਡਾ. ਦਲਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਪੰਨੂ ਨੇ ‘ਉਚੇ ਬੁਰਜ ਲਾਹੌਰ ਦੇ’ ਨਾਮੀਂ ਆਪਣੇ ਸਫਰਨਾਮੇ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਚੋਣਵੀਆਂ ਯਾਦਗਾਰਾਂ ਤਸਵੀਰਾਂ ਸੰਗ ਪੇਸ਼ਕਾਰੀ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਵਿਰਾਸਤ ਦੀ ਵਿਗੜ ਰਹੀ ਹਾਲਾਤ ਬਾਰੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਤੇ ਜੋਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਕਿ ਸਿੱਖ ਯਾਤਰੂ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਇਤਿਹਾਸਕ ਇਮਾਰਤਾਂ ਦੀ ਵੀ ਸਾਰ ਲੈਣ।

Source- Punjab Times