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The journey from a small village to icy Antarctica in itself seems highly challenging but he was the first Turbaned Sikh to explore the high seas for research purposes. It aimed at creating leaders for education, environment and sustainability across the globe through a leadership and sustainability program called ‘Leadership on the Edge’. It also aimed to identify potential sustainability leaders for a greener future.

Though a very few turbaned Sikhs could have had a chance to explore Antarctica that too for only tourism purposes, Bandanjot Singh of a small village, Handiaya was the first turbaned Sikh to head towards the South Pole as a member of an expedition. Twenty-eight old, Bandanjot, is among the 30 probably from 20 countries that had been selected for the hazardous expedition.

He devoted his energies to work for renewable and green energy initiatives in India to promote innovation and help rural India to achieve self-sustainable energy production.

Bandanjot is in the rural solar electrification projects and is associated with the leading educational institutes like IITs in electrification projects. Son of a general manager in BSNL, excited Bandanjot terms the power breakdown in the Northern grid in the recent past and Hurricane Sandy in US as the urgent points for him to explore to Antarctica as member of international Antarctic expedition(IAE) 2013. The expedition, he said aimed at creating leaders for education, environment with the theme of ‘Leadership on the edge’.

Having done the integrated course of B.Tech instrumentation and MSc Physics from BITS Pilani, Bandanjot, is presently working for a US company National Instruments. A fortunate meeting with Sir Robert Swan, who is the first person to walk both the north and the south pole made him work hard to be a part of the expedition.

As much as he conquered Antartica, he has surely conquered the attention of the Sikh Youth

Kudos to BandanJot Singh for making Sikhs proud! One of the potential Leaders of The Greener Future!

~ Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

From Kurukshetra, Guru Nanak Dev went to Haridwar. On the auspicious day of Vaisakhi, a large number of priests and Hindu devotees used to gather for offering water to their dead ancestors, according to the prevailing Hindu tradition.

All those devotees were bathing in the River Ganges, and were offering water towards East, which, according to their belief, would quench the thirst of their dead ancestors. To put the pilgrims and the priests on the right path of spirituality, Guru Nanak Dev started offering water of the River Ganges towards the West, which was Punjab side. This annoyed the priests, who questioned Him, “Are You mad, that You are throwing water towards the West against the traditional ritual?” The Guru humbly replied, “My crop in West Punjab is parched due to lack of moisture and so, I am throwing water in that direction to save my crop from withering.”

The priests questioned His stupid action and said to the Guru, “How is it possible that water offered by You can irrigate Your crop hundreds of miles in the west, whereas it falls into this river itself within a few yards?” Guru Nanak Dev said, “How is it that your water being thrown towards East could possibly quench the thirst of your ancestors, who have subtle bodies and are roaming in the cosmos thousands of miles from this place?” Many of the wise priests understood His divine Wisdom and bowed before Him in reverence for His divine Knowledge.

Guru Nanak Dev told them that after reciting and meditating the Divine Name, they would definitely quench the thirst and would have their ego eradicated for getting salvation. In a lengthy discourse, they clarified their doubts and started meditating on the Divine Name.

~ Source: Sikh Faith Book
~ Written by Baba Iqbal Singh Ji

The Hari Singh Nalwa Academy located in Leicester, United Kingdom teaches martial arts, combat, and fitness training for the local community. The Academy has a high number of young children learning to stay fit who take advantage of the various classes.

However, the interesting thing is the academy has a good number of Kaurs learning self-defense and mixed martial arts.

Kaurs have throughout history been pivotal at many points in Sikh history by showing their bravery from Mata Bhag Kaur Ji to Bibi Bhagael Kaur Ji to Sardarani Sada Kaur who led Singhs when conquering Lahore. The Kaurs had also made up a good percentage of the Khalsa Fauj during the turbulent times from the 1730s to 1780s.

Perhaps with such excellent training facility and coaches of Hari Singh Nalwa Academy, the day for the first Sikh female MMA fighter might not be too far. UK is one of the places in the world where youngsters are coming back to Sikhi in very high numbers and programs such as the Academy’s approach of teaching self-defense will reawaken the warrior spirit of Sikhs.

~ Source: facebook.com/HariSinghNalwaCombatAcademyLeicester

When it comes to India travel, the state of Punjab, which borders Pakistan, doesn’t make it to the top of that many itineraries.

That’s good news for intrepid travelers.

From temples so gold they’ll make your eyes water, to food you’ll be longing for days after it hits your lips, Punjab is India at its colorful, lively best.

1. Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)

Located in Amritsar, the holiest shrine of the Sikh religion, Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), is Punjab’s top attraction. Reflections of its gold-encrusted dome shimmer in the clear water of the Amrit Sarovar (Pool of Nectar), which greets those who enter from the north gate, the most impressive of all four entries. To take it all in, it’s best to simply walk around the marble pathway surrounding the pool.Its waters are said to have healing powers. Devotional music, bathing pilgrims, golden carps and meditating devotees add to the atmosphere. Worth keeping in mind: There’s a long line to visit the inner sanctum (Darbar Sahib), where the holy book of the Sikhs, “Guru Granth Sahib,” is kept. Visits are best scheduled for the late afternoon and early evening; every night the temple complex is illuminated. Simply stunning.You can end the day at the temple’s langar. The scale of its free meal, put on daily by volunteers, is impressive, with 50,000 meals served each day, according to temple officials.

2. Punjabi eats

The city of Amritsar has a rich culinary heritage. Building a big enough appetite to give it the attention it deserves is a challenge. Extra-large tumblers of yogurt lassi is an Indian food lover’s dream destination. The best way to get a balanced taste is to start in Kesar Da Dhaba. Hidden in the twisting lanes of the old part of the city, it’s reached only by foot, cycle rickshaw or bicycle. Founded in 1916, the restaurant is particularly popular with vegetarians. There’s crispy butter-smeared tandoori bread; the house specialty, daal makhani, comes with a thick layer of ghee. The creamiest and freshest yogurt lassi in Amritsar is at Surjan Singh Milk Bhandar; the thick drink is a mini-meal in itself.

3. Border face off

One of Punjab’s most interesting rituals is the lowering of the flags ceremony, held at India’s Wagah border each evening before sunset. Wagah is about 25 kilometers from the Pakistani city of Lahore. Indian guards in red and gold turbans march out to meet their Pakistani counterparts in a choreographed affair greeted with loud applause from onlookers. It’s a splendid show of patriotism, pomp and panache. To secure good seats, it’s best to get there by mid afternoon or arrange for a VIP pass from the Border Security Force station. For security reasons, bags and backpacks aren’t allowed. The border is 30 kilometers from Amritsar and takes about 45 minutes to reach by car.

4. Punjabiyat Lodge

The main lounge at Svaasa is tastefully decorated with antique pieces and art from the family. The main lounge at Svaasa is tastefully decorated with antique pieces and art from the family’s personal collection. Punjabiyat Lodge doesn’t conjure quintessential images of India. Instead what you get here are feather-light beds with unobstructed views of green fields as far as the eye can see. The nature retreat in Punjab’s agricultural heartland is a great place to de-stress through simple rural experiences. Visitors can lend a helping hand to farmers, cycle around the village, milk cattle or take a tractor ride. Rooms are luxurious but eco-friendly. Guests get a sense of remoteness and privacy; there are only four cottages, all set in a wheat field. Meals are a pleasure. Breakfast is served near the fields, lunch under the shade of sprawling trees and dinner on a terrace under a canopy of stars. Most meals are made with ingredients grown on the lodge’s farm, says Punjabiyat manager Jagdeep Singh. Punjabiyat Lodge is in the village of Saidowal-Gunopur, about 75 kilometers from Amritsar.

5. Sarai Amanat Khan

A scenic 45-minute drive from Amritsar, Sarai Amanat Khan is an old, crumbling caravanserai (roadside inn). Built by Mughals in 1640, it’s a fantastic remnant of ancient architecture. It once served travelers on the Agra-to-Lahore trade route and was a prosperous pit stop back in the day. These days, the historic ruins only hint at its glorious past. Photogenic features of the complex include an arched entry, fading calligraphy, Persian tiles, eroding walls and a mosque. Amanat Khan, the inn’s namesake, is believed to be the same guy who etched the calligraphy on the Taj Mahal in Agra. It’s a great day trip from Amritsar.

~ Source: http://edition.cnn.com/

The Paintings highlights the huge contribution of Sikhs in the UK , 83,000 Sikhs died in the World Wars and a further 109,000 were injured. As Sikhs began appearing on the battlefields, hospitals, towns and farms of Europe during World War One, for many it marked the first time that they had ever seen a Sikh in real life. The appearance of the Sikhs generated a level of curiosity among Europeans about these exotic looking turbaned warriors from the Far East now in their midst to defend them. Paintings and drawings of Sikhs by artists including portraits, scenes of camp life and frontline action helped to satisfy the general public’s curiosity and the hunger for more information about them.This exhibit features a unique collection of paintings and drawings of Sikh soldiers from the First World War.

Striking portraits of Sikh prisoners of war painted by German artists reveal a fascination with ethnic studies as each soldier is meticulously recorded in lifelike detail, including how they tie their hair under their turbans. The time of these paintings marked the formative years of German ethnic studies that would later culminate in the Nazi ideas of race and racial superiority in the following decades. Looking at these lifelike paintings of Sikh prisoner’s one can see in their faces a quiet dignity; their spirit had not been broken in captivity by their German captors.

Fascinating sketches of Sikhs in northern France from the portfolio of artist Paul Sarrut reveal another dimension of the culture and humanity of the Sikhs beyond the stereotypical image of the Sikh as a fierce warrior. Sarrut effectively captured not only personalities with striking portraits but also provides an intimate glimpse into the world of a Sikh soldiers existence between the realms of peace and rest at camp and the brutal violence and intensity of battle at the front.

Almost a century after they were first painted and drawn these images continue to be relevant not only for their artistic merit but also as a time-capsule providing the viewer with an intimate glimpse into the life and experiences of Sikh soldiers in a world at war.

~ Tapasleen kaur

The New Year Honors is a part of the British honors system and is given annually on New Year’s Day, i.e. 1 January. It is marked by naming new members of orders of chivalry and recipients of other official honors. These awards are presented by or in the name of the reigning monarch, at present by Queen Elizabeth II. The honors are being given since 1890. Queen’s New Year Honors for the year 2015 were given on 1 January 2015. The honors were conferred on more than thousand persons, which included several persons of Indian-Origin from various field. Here we have the proud members of the Sikh community honored with respect & dignity. One of them being Mr Gurmel Singh.

Gurmel Singh has been the Chief Executive of the world’s first dedicated Sikh memorial built in Derby , representing the millions of Sikhs who died in six holocausts and both World Wars. The museum is dedicated to the Sikh Culture commemorating the valor & bravery of the Sikh soldiers. He has been proudly awarded a MBE for services to the community. The memorial highlights the huge contribution of Sikhs in the UK , 83,000 Sikhs died in the World Wars and a further 109,000 were injured. Gurmel Singh had been a consistent volunteers who helped set up the National Sikh museum “. Mr Singh had been on a fundraising campaign for the memorial and got a number of voluntary contributions. He got a large number of young people involved who were interested in their heritage and offered their skills for free when it came to the building of the memorial.

The museum is a modern, packed, multi-channel museum with real artifacts that allow the visitor to appreciate the rich and complex heritage of the Sikhs in a story of courage & sacrifice, recognizing their huge contributions.

We appreciate Mr Gurmel Singh for serving the National Sikh Museum & preserving the rich Sikh Heritage for the generations to come!

~ Source: