News & Update

After knowing about the plight of drought-affected families in Latur district, a group of SIKHS announced monetary help to the affected and have also decided to adopt an entire village in Marathwada – often looked at as India’s emerging farmer suicide capital, DNA reports.

Maharashtra Sikh Association has extended monetary help to 25 drought-affected families in Latur district who they say needed help in the deepening crisis.

“We went to Marathwada and visited many places. The situation is quite grim. We immediately extended monetary help to the 25 drought-affected farmers,” Mal Malkit Singh, spokesperson of Maharashtra Sikh Association told DNA.

He also told ,”one girl in Marathwada committed suicide for the lack of money to buy a monthly pass for a government bus.

“We met her family and decided to take care of her sister’s education. If she wants to go abroad we are ready to fund her education,” he said.

While announcing to adopt a village, Singh said their focus is to keep drought-ravaged families alive.

“We want to focus on sustainable development. As a part of the adoption we will build check dams so that particular villages do not face water shortage in the summer,” he said.

“Farmers are the backbone of our economy. We have to help and save them,”” Singh added.

Currently, the group is hoping that other people will also follow their path.

Great by the SIKH Community who came to their rescue when almost 80% of the state is facing a drought with more than 600 farmers already committing suicide this year.

~ Source: Scoop Whoop

Once upon a time, there was an Indian hockey legend who was known as the world’s most feared penalty corner specialist of his generation. He participated in three Olympics – winning a medal each time. His name was Prithipal Singh.

But this shining star’s life was very short. He was murdered in broad daylight by his own students in the campus of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana.

Today, a movie based on his life is all set to be released. And it will unfold some of the most interesting and inspiring aspects of his life.

The feature film called ‘Prithipal Singh…a story’ is expected to hit the silver screen by early next year. It has been directed by Babita Puri, who is the first woman to direct a Bollywood sporting biopic. The film will be premiered at the All Sports Los Angeles Film Festival next month.

Here are five interesting things that you should know about Prithipal Singh:

1. A wonderful player since the very start

Prithipal Singh started his hockey career in 1950 as a part if his college hockey team. He was appointed the captain of the team in 1955.

Nicknamed “King of short corner” by hockey commentators, Prithipal Singh stunned everyone with his performance from the very start of his career. He participated in the Munich festival held in Germany where he was recognised as the best full back player in the world. He was also awarded the “Roll of Honors” in 1955 for his all-round achievements in sports and education.

2. A jack of many trades

Prithipal was not just an incredible hockey player, but also a post-graduate in agriculture. He worked for Punjab Police as well as the Indian Railways. Later, he became the deputy director for youth welfare in PAU, Ludhiana. In 1965, he was awarded the Railway Minister’s Medal for being the Best Railway Sportsman.

3. His memorable performances at the Olympics

Prithipal participated in three Olympic games and each time he surprised the world with his incredible performance. He bagged medals in all three of them — silver in Rome (1960), gold in Tokyo (1964), bronze in Mexico (1968).
In the Tokyo Olympics, India scored a total of 22 goals, out of which 10 were scored by Prithipal alone.

4. His tragic death

It came as a shock for the world when Prithipal Singh was murdered. And that too by his own students at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), where he worked as the sports director. The year was 1983 and he was shot in broad daylight.

On that fateful day, Prithipal parked his bike outside his office at 8:20 am. Suddenly two students pulled out revolvers and shot him. The entire incident was witnessed by over 50 university officials and students. Unfortunately, none of the witnesses came forward to support Prithipal, nor did they identify the accused in court.

5. Holder of the first-ever Arjuna Award conferred to a hockey player

Indian Government acknowledged his incredible performance in hockey and honoured him with the first-ever Arjuna Award conferred to a hockey player. He received the award in 1961 by the then Indian President, Rajendra Prasad. He was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1967 for his meritorious contributions to world hockey.

Share & Spread for the WORLD to know about his INSPIRING LIFE!

~ Source: betterindia.com

Sarah Leung, deputy head teacher of Squirrels Heath Infant School, Salisbury Road, Gidea Park, was “delighted” when she saw the tribute for the first time to pupil Milan Lall, a seven-year-old #Sikhboy who died of leukaemia in June.

She said: “It’s simply amazing.”

“You can see so much work went into creating the bench with all of the detail. We’re very happy that we have got something to remember him as he was so lovely.”

A super heroes day was held at the school where pupils and staff got to dress up as their favourite characters and raised more than £1,000 which paid for the tribute to Milan.

The bench which also features Spiderman and a samurai sword, was created by carpenter Andy O’Neill from Wild Wood Carving in Bristol.

When he was told about Milan’s story who battled leukaemia for several years, Andy couldn’t wait to get started on making the bench, with the end result completed in three days.

He said: “It is a really really sad story but memorial benches are special jobs because they do mean so much to the family and you get to put someone’s spirit into what you create.

“I am very proud of the bench and just hope that the family like it and think it is a good tribute to Milan.”
The memorial has been placed in the school’s playground where pupils can go and visit.

Sarah said: “Milan’s friends from his class have moved on to junior school so the pupils here now didn’t know him but because the bench is here, they all ask about him. We never want to forget Milan and this tribute keeps his presence alive in the school.”

Originally published by romfordrecorder.co.uk

“The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, now before us, is a good opportunity to work together in the field of works of charity,” said Pope Francis, ideally turning to other religions, in the audience for the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate. “And in this field – he continued -, especially where it counts compassion, can join us so many people who do not feel or believe that they are looking for God and the truth, people that focus on the face of the other, in particularly the face of the brother or sister in need. ”

“But the mercy we are called – added Francesco – embraces all of creation, that God has entrusted to us because we are stewards, not exploiters or, even worse, destructive. We should always propose to leave the world a better place than we found it, in the communities we live in, from little gestures of our daily lives”.

~ Source: ansa

I was coming back to home from Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, Sohana situated in Sector 78, Mohali, suddenly some ladies sitting in a Maruti car and a male driver stopped by me and started asking about someone.

These ladies tried to indulge me in their talks but I doubted them so I continued my walk. Within a moment two ladies came out from the car and they forcefully put me into the car. After which I shouted as well, but nobody heard my voice as the glasses of the car were closed.

Afterwards the ladies started assaulting me in the car, also tried to remove my gold ear rings from my ears, as my head was covered properly Dupatta, they failed to remove the ear rings. When I felt that it is turning bad I took out my Kirpan and tried to hit them with it, so that somehow I may get rid of them.

Seeing the Kirpan in my hand those ladies got afraid and after some meters, the car was stopped near stadium and they dropped me down and ran away from the spot. Later I found that four gold bangles which I was wearing in both hands were gone and when I reached home I shared the incident with my family, they all were shocked. My elder son Jatinder Sabharwal immediately reported the incident to senior police officers.

The Kirpan which was given to me by my Guru, saved my life.

– Kuldeep Kaur, Mohali

Source- SikhFeed

Daljit Nagra has been appointed the first Poet in Residence by the BBC, a role through which the Indian-origin poet will curate a weekly programme for the corporation to tell a new story about the 20th-century poetry.

Nagra, the son of Sikh immigrants from India who came to Britain in the late 1950s, curate the weekly programme on BBC Radio 4 Extra. His role will last for two years. The 49-year-old will also be appearing on various Radio 4 broadcast and social media platforms over the year while writing original work to commission.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to be given such a valuable platform as Poet in Residence at Radio 4. This position will, I am sure, inspire me to write new poetry that speaks of our complicated age,” Nagra said. “What excites me most is the chance to give exposure to my beloved art form of poetry.”

~ Source: PTI

He was the scripture reader (‘granthi’) attached to the Sikh units in the expedition to relieve General Gordon in Khartoum, Sudan. He had previously served for 19 years as an infantryman of the 6th #Punjab Regiment in many frontier fights.

The following vivid report was written by a correspondent of the ‘The South Australian Advertiser’ during his visit to the Calcutta International Exhibition on 19 February 1884:

‘One of the most interesting visitors to the exhibition during the week has been an extraordinary looking Sikh from Amritsar, a frontier district of the Punjab. From his dress and appearance this man created quite a sensation amongst the natives. His name is Heera Singh, and he is an Akali Nihang.

He stands about 6 feet 3 inches in height in his slippers, and as he wears a headdress over 2 feet in height his appearance is sufficiently imposing. This headdress is called a Guja, and is in the form of a conical puggaree, bound round with massive steel and silver chains.

From the crown it runs up to a point, the upper portion being ornamented with nine crescents of polished steel, very sharp at the edges, and capable of being used as weapons. The peak of the headdress terminates in a steel spearhead, so that a charge from one of these gentlemen, a la billy goat, would probably interfere considerably with the digestion of his adversary if delivered well below the belt.

Around the top of the hat are carried six quoits, or flat steel rings about 9 inches in diameter, very sharp on the outer edge, which, I am informed, are used by the Sikhs as weapons, being slung from the finger with such force as to take off a man’s head at a considerable distance. Round the neck a still larger quoit is carried.

The other arms carried by Heera Singh were a tulwar or curved sword, a Colt’s revolver, a dagger, and a katar — an extraordinary weapon for thrusting, which has the property of opening two blades after the fashion of a pair of tailor’s shears when the thrust has been delivered.

Heera Singh was brought to Calcutta by Mr. E. Nicholl. He has done good service for the British Government in many frontier fights. He carries the Jowaki medal, and is in receipt of a pension of four rupees per day, having served in the 6th Punjab force for nineteen years.’

~ Source: Sikhs Protecting the UK

Dalvir Kaur and her friend Balvinder Kaur don’t mind cleaning up the dirty dishes in the large kitchen of a Queens gurudwara.

“I want to do more work,” Dalvir Kaur said with a smile.

A few feet away, Daljit Singh is drying dishes with a hand towel. The 38-year old construction worker, who wears a turban, says that this type of work makes his “heart happy.”

The three individuals are just some of the devout Sikhs who volunteer their time at the Sikh Cultural Society’s “langar,” or free kitchen, located in the Queens neighborhood of Richmond Hill. They assist in the preparation of thousands of free meals a week at the Sikh temple, or “gurdwara,” where food is served almost around the clock.

Every Gurdwara in the world, no matter how large or small, has facilities to distribute free meals to the community. It is considered to be an honor to help cook and serve food to anyone that enters the langar.

At the Sikh Cultural Center–a sprawling complex in a city that is home to one of the largest population of Sikhs outside of India–Indian lentils, flatbreads, rice and colorful curries (all vegetarian) are served from gigantic pots onto individual trays. Attendees sit side-by-side on the floor and eat with their hands.

Balbir Rathor, a retired mechanical engineer, told NBC News he travels every week from his Long Island home to the Richmond Hill gurdwara to worship. Eating langar here puts him in a spiritual state of mind, he says, and is an activity he looks forward to.

“Eating langar is even more special than eating at home with my own family,” said Rathor, 73, as men around him poured water and heaped dollops of lentils and basmati rice onto his tin tray. “Eating langar is a blessing.”

There are currently about 700,000 Sikhs living in the United States who, like Rathor and the volunteers at the Sikh Cultural Society, have built their lives and careers across the country for decades.

But according to the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), Sikh Americans have often been targets of discrimination, especially after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

SALDEF notes that it has been difficult to know the true number of hate crimes against Sikh Americans because specific statistics were unavailable until recently. In March, the Department of Justice and the FBI announced it would begin tracking hate crimes against Sikh Americans, as well as against Hindu and Arab Americans.

The largest hate crime to take place against Sikhs on American soil happened three years ago on the morning of August 5th, 2012, at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek.

What started off as an ordinary day as local Sikhs gathered for service and prepared for Sunday school classes turned deadly when a gunman opened fire, killing six before turning the gun on himself.

A group of women and children were later found hiding inside a pantry in the kitchen where they sought cover.
The women had been busy before two terrified children ran to the kitchen, alerting them about the gunman. They were hard at work preparing the day’s langar meal.

‘I Volunteer Here Only to Please God’
Langar is about more than just eating free Indian food: the tradition of the community meal is as old as the Sikh religion itself–a religion that originated in the Punjab region of present-day India and Pakistan.

As the story goes, a young man was given 20 rupees by his father with the expectation that the son would use it to turn a profit. Instead, he used the money to feed hungry people he met, proclaiming that there was no venture more profitable than feeding his fellow man and engaging in selfless service.

The man’s name was Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, which is now the world’s fifth largest religion. His unselfish act is considered the first langar meal in the Sikh tradition.

Many poor and hungry people come here to eat,” Gurmeet Singh Gill, a manager at the Sikh Cultural Society, told NBC News.
“We do not ask anyone any questions,” he said, adding that some non-Sikhs also come to the gurudwara to eat, which is an expression of the Sikh principle of equality.

The langar institution, which is paid for by donations made by congregants, is based on the three golden rules of Sikhism: to earn by honest means, to give to charity, and to remember God at all times.

“If I work with my hands, then God will keep my family healthy and happy,” Dalvir Kaur said of her work at the Sikh Cultural Society. “I volunteer here only to please God.”

Source- NBC News