News & Update

Established in 1961, the largest Sikh Gurdwara in Smethwick, Birmingham in the United Kingdom, The Guru Nanak Gurdwara, lite up in colours of the French flag on Sunday, in solidarity with the victims of Paris terrorist attacks.

The Gurdwara is the first Sikh temple which was established in the United Kingdom almost 54 years ago.

The spokesperson at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick, said that the Sikh temple condemns ‘violence by the terrorists and hatred’ in Paris that claimed lives of 129 people.

Gurdwara President Bhai Malkit Singh Tehang said, “Here in UK we are following the terrible news from Paris.

We are shocked by this violence and hatred and we strongly condemn the attack, along with all those who love peace. We pray for the victims and the wounded, and for all the French people, we offer our condolences to the friends and families who have lost loved ones”.

“This is an attack on humanity and peace for all, and it requires a decisive, supportive response on the part of all of us, as we counter the spread of hatred in all forms,” he said.

He added: “There is no religious or human justification for it.”

On the decision of the Gurdwara to light up in French flag colours, he said, ” Smethwick gurdwara in UK is the largest and the oldest one and it went blue, white and red in solidarity with the people of France following the Paris terror attacks. It is a landmark building which sets an example for Sikhs around the globe especially in UK and European nations. Last month we had lit up the building in pink to mark breast cancer awareness month.

But this is to send a strong message against terrorism and that Sikh community is standing with every nation facing brutality. Terrorism is simply unacceptable.”

~ Source – Indian Express

An innovative and talented teacher from Leicestershire was awarded the title of ‘Teacher of the year 2015’ by HRH the Prince of York at a very special ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Daljit Kaur, a practicing Sikh and a Computing Teacher at Loughborough Grammar School was nominated for the award by her students. During the course of the year, TeenTech judges in collaboration with the examination board OCR shortlisted her for the highly prestigious national award and in June she was announced the overall winner.

Daljit Kaur won her coveted place in the TeenTech Awards finals through her sheer dedication and determination to bring STEM based innovation and creativity to the classroom. She has worked passionately for a number of years to create an environment whereby her students can thrive and explore their innovative ideas and maximize the potential for the ideas to become a reality. She has been at the forefront of trialing new technologies, apps and software at her school and recently secured a purchase for a programmable humanoid NAO Robot!

Every year hundreds of enthusiastic teams throughout the UK register for the contest, held by award winning science event organisation TeenTech. For participating teams to win their place in the finals, they need to prove high levels of collaboration with experts in the world of technology and engineering. Daljit Kaur has managed to successfully see many of her teams through to the finals and win their categories over the years! The judges were very impressed by her continued successes but in particular her dedication, as nearly all the creativity and innovation is done outside of the classroom in the form of after school or lunch time clubs with some trips to Universities organised on Saturdays.

As well as a full time teacher of Computer Science, a mother of three, Daljit Kaur is a trustee of the first Sikh School in Leicester, Falcons Primary School.

~ Source:

Two Sikh comedians, who have been performing under the names of Santa and Banta for the last 18 years, have announced to drop their stage names and adapt new ones.

Sign the Petition www.change.org/BanSikhJokes

Gurpreet Singh and Prabhpreet Singh based in Jalandhar who adopted the names Santa and Banta, respectively, in 1997 and rose to fame with their stage shows on social issues, they have decided to GIVE UP on their famous names in response to the recent plea seeking ban on Sikh Jokes.

They said they always believed in healthy comedy. “We never failed to make people laugh and did so without having to resort to show the community in a bad light. Negative stereotyping of a community is not good and comedians must refrain from doing that,” the comedians said.

All our silences in the face of racist assault are acts of complicity. Haters and bullies are always cowards.

Do you know what we call opinion in the absence of evidence? We call it prejudice.” What a sad era when it is easier to smash an atom than a prejudice

As long as you hate, there will be people to hate. Bigotry is bigotry whether it’s dressed up in the language of faith or not.”

Bigotry is the disease of ignorance, of morbid minds; enthusiasm of the free and buoyant. The Government SHOULD NOT allow any loopholes for religious homophobia.

Lets break the silence & TELL the World, HUMOUR is OK. RACISM is NOT

Sign the Petition www.change.org/BanSikhJokes

The Sikhs in France and UK stepped up to help people in the French capital Paris, where multiple terror strikes left more than 120 people dead, by arranging for safe shelter, providing free cab service and blood donation camps.

Gurdwaras in Paris decided to keep their doors open night and day for those stranded after the attacks. They publicised their move over social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter with the #PorteOuverte (Doors open).

Leading the charge was Gurudwara Singh Sabha in Paris along with Conseil Representatif Des Sikhs De France (Representative Council of Sikhs of France), Sikh Helping Hand, Mairie De Bobigny (office of Mayor Of Bobigny) and Prefecture De Seine Saint Denis.

Ranjit G Singh, director public affairs, Representative Council of Sikhs France, said, “It was a horrifying scene as endless gunshots were fired. We were in district 5 and it happened in district 10, few kilometres from here. We were busy watching the football match and suddenly we heard loud noises. Soon, we came out and saw the military take over the streets. We were sure that something had gone seriously wrong.” He added that eight gurdwaras in Paris would be open throughout night and day to welcome the needy.

“We have already started with blood donation at Hospital Avincennes, 93000 Bobigny and people have started lining up to give blood,” he said. He added that Sikh cab drivers were also ferrying people to their homes for free.

~ Source: indianexpress.com

The statue made by Surjit Singh Gill is restored at Desh Bhagat Park in Ghall Kalan village. Situated at a drive of nearly one hour and 15 minutes from Bathinda, the park is full of statues of martyrs, sports personalities, freedom fighters, social workers, musicians, singers and those who have contributed in the other fields.

“I left Punjab government’s job to fully indulge myself to create such statues by which people, especially youngsters and children could learn something. My aim is to build as many statues of people who have contributed for the society in one way or the other,” Surjit said.

The statue instills a spirit of sports among those who come and see such a huge statue standing tall among the others.

Surjit is busy these days making statue of the president of a Chandigarh-based NGO who is fighting against drunken driving and consumption of drugs by creating hole in his own pockets without any outside help.

Appreciating the efforts of Surjit Singh, the SSP said the development of park by Surjit, without getting any government grant, was a great Endeavour.

~ Source: Tribune

Balwant Singh, the owner of a poultry farm woke to a rude shock early Diwali day, seeing a tiger attacking chickens. Despite being unarmed, he fought the big cat for over two hours before other villagers arrived on the scene and beat the tiger to death.

Singh who works at the farm was conducting his normal routine of feeding the animals when he noticed a tiger who immediately charged at him. The Singh quickly grabbed a hold of his spear and battled the tiger.

While battling the tiger, the Singh was badly wounded and lost one of his arms and legs. The courageous act of the Singh is being appreciated by the villagers. The incident occurred at 4AM in the morning.

~ Source: TOI

Ban Plea: SANTA-BANTA Exit

Comedian drop Stages Names, To Be Now Known as Shugli-Jugli

Santa-Banta have made way for Shugli-Jugli. You got it right, the plea seeking a ban on Sardar jokes online has claimed its first casualty in Punjab. Two Sikh comedians, who have been performing under the names of Santa and Banta for the last 18 years, have announced to drop their stage names and adapt new ones.

Jalandhar-based Gurpreet Singh and Prabhpreet Singh adopted the names Santa and Banta, respectively, in 1997 and rose to fame with their stage shows on social issues; their video productions especially famous among the urban population.

However, a recent plea seeking a ban on sardar jokes egged on them to give up their famous names and choose new ones. They will now be known as Shugli (Gurpreet) and Jugli (Prabhpreet). Together, they would be known as Shugli Jodi translated as the comic pair.

So, are they hurt? Not really, they say.

“For the last few years, we too have been feeling that jokes on sardars are intended more at ridiculing the community and showing it in a bad light; it is no more about healthy humour. We also felt that people might be thinking of us when they read or saw distasteful jokes online,” they said while announcing their decision here on Sunday.

And this wasn’t an unfounded doubt. “So many times have we received calls and messages from people asking us if we were churning the jokes,” they said.

“After the petition was filed in the Supreme Court, the issue precipitated for us also and we finally decided to drop these names,” said Parbhpreet. He said that some local Sikh organizations also advised them to take a call on the issue.

They said they always believed in healthy comedy. “We never failed to make people laugh and did so without having to resort to show the community in a bad light. Negative stereotyping of a community is not good and comedians must refrain from doing that,” the comedians said.

One step closer in bringing a Positive Change

~ Source: Times Of India, Chandigarh

People all across the world woke up to the terrible news of the unfortunate terrorist attacks in Paris.

One tweet among the several thousand tweets that has caught our attention belongs to a #SIKH Rohan Singh Kalsi.

“Anyone who is stranded in Paris & needs shelter or a safe place, any Sikh Gurdwara will be happy to accommodate”

As the country reeled from a string of attacks leaving at least 120 dead, people from Paris and all across the world have opened their hearts and doors to those stranded because of the attacks.

The tweet received an overwhelming response and was retweeted around 11k times. Clearly not expecting such a response, he wrote:

It is heartening to see people from all countries and religions come together during this unfortunate time.

Stay strong, Paris. We are with you.

~ Source: scoopwhoop

Twenty-seven retired U.S. Generals have signed a letter calling on the U.S. Department of Defense to eliminate the ban on observant Sikh Americans serving in the military.

The letter, delivered to Defense Secretary Carter by the Sikh Coalition and McDermott Will & Emery LLP, unequivocally states that no American should have to choose between their faith and the right to serve our nation

Sikhs have long been known and admired for their military prowess.

~ Source: Sikh Coalition