News & Update

Prof Panditrao’s Never Ending Faith in Sikhism makes travel places to quit Dera in the name of spirituality and surrender yourself solely to the holy texts. We salute his contribution in transforming young minds with his highly impressionable views and take on following the correct spiritual path.

Indian Sociologists might be busy either in the classrooms or busy in writing books but here is a humble Sociologist who is busy in villages of Haryana in teaching bad effects of Honor killing and Khap Panchayat. Panditrao Dharennavar who is an assistant professor in post graduate government college, Chandigarh has taken up the task of rural transformation by eye opening them and inspiring them to surrendering to the supreme power by following the religious texts.

Panditrao who is basically from Karnataka has learned Punjabi so well that he has translated Sri Jap Ji Saheb, Sri Sukhmani Sahib and Zafar Nama into Kannada. He requested the villagers to follow the philosophy of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Sri Bhagwad Geeta, Holy Bible, Holy Quran, instead of going to Deras. He has traveled to Panchkula. Ambala, Shahabad. Panditrao urges people to follow the philosophy of Sri Guru Granth Saheb, Sri Bhagwad Geeta, Holy Bible, Holy Quran, instead of falling into the preys of Deras. He tried to convince people and corrects their framework of mindset. His efforts in educating minds are commendable!

He has plans to visit all the districts of Haryana to make them aware about Honor killing, Female foeticide. Panditrao also taught Punjabi to Haryana students on his way to different places of Haryana.

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Home Secretary Theresa May unveils Derby statues to war heroes. One of the statues was a statue of a Sikh Soldier who served in the world wars and the second was of Baba Banda Singh Bahadar.

It is not widely known that almost a million Indians fought on the side of Britain during the First World War. Among them, 20% were Sikhs, despite making up only 2% of the Indian population – meaning their contribution was ten times more than any other community in India.

It is the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War when the Sikh community in Derby decided to pay its own tribute. More than 138,000 Indian troops, many of them Sikhs, found themselves in the trenches of Belgium and France during the war, with more than a quarter of them becoming casualties.

Home Secretary Theresa May was specially invited to the National Sikh Heritage Centre and Holocaust Museum in Princes Street, Derby, today, to unveil two large statues of Sikh soldiers and two plaques – one in English and the other in Punjabi

The museum – the only one of its kind in the world – was opened in 2009 and is run entirely by volunteers. This time it was intended to commemorate the Sikh soldiers who fought in the First World War. The exhibition includes images of Sikh soldiers, military memorabilia and a soldier’s uniform.

Gurmel Singh, The secretary general of the Sikh Council UK, said he was delighted that Mrs May had come to Derby for the unveiling. He remarked”This museum is very important because it contains a great deal of Sikh heritage. It has put Derby on the map as visitors come to visit from across the world. It has also helped to regenerate this area of Derby.

Feeling honoured to perform the ceremony, Mrs May adds with enlightenment “The statutes are “thought-provoking” and it is right that we remember and pay tribute to the brave soldiers.

“They found themselves on cold European battlefields but answered our call in our hour of need.
“They showed great valour and sacrifice to give us the freedoms we enjoy today.”

Sikhs were allowed to use traditional Sikh weapons such as chakrams and talwar swords, and it was not uncommon to see the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, being carried before a marching Sikh battalion or even on the front lines among the battling troops.

Mrs May recognises and salutes the huge contribution of the Sikhs on the battlefield.

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~ Source: Derby Telegraph

Eh Janam Tumhare Lekhe’- A Story that reveals Selfless life of Bhagat Puran Singh’ to be released in January’15.

The film will depict significant moments in Bhagat Puran Singh’s life, his childhood, his time at a refugee camp after Partition, his religious belief and impact of his mother’s teachings that ultimately changed the course of his life and his lifelong vow to serve social outcasts. He died in 1992.

A man of conviction and deep religious values, Bhagat Puran Singh used to roam the streets of Amritsar, carrying the destitute off the streets on a hand-pulled rickshaw and bring them to Pingalwara for care and shelter. The society has become a home to over 2,000 inmates and runs several rehabilitation and educational programmes for special children and homeless

“The idea for the film was conceived years ago, but we could make it possible only with enough finances. The intention behind the film is to let the world know about the selfless life of Babaji and show the world that despite the challenges, everything is possible. The youth today needs a role model, someone to take inspiration from. Babaji’s story will help them understand about determination, dedication and essence of helping others,” says Bibi Inderjit Kaur.

Bibi Inderjit Kaur is hopeful that the film will encourage youngsters to adopt the principles of his life, “He began his journey without a single penny in his pocket but a heart full of determination and servitude. He wanted to change the mindset of people, the ones who believe charity only begins with money. The film shows his life just as it happened without any fictionalised bits added for the sake of entertainment.”

Acclaimed actor Pavan Malhotra will be seen portraying the role of Bhagat Puran Singh and a significant part of shooting for film happened at the Pingalwara in Amritsar. The actor, who stated that he knew little about the Bhagat Puran Singh’s work, was overwhelmed by his life story. “He shared once that Babaji’s life has a lot to learn from and he could only present a fraction of it, playing the real character. There are endless tales about his life, but it’s too difficult to show everything in a two and half hours film,” says Inderjit.

The trailer of the film is already out and received appreciation. The movie will be released in January’15.

~ Neha Saini
~ The Tribune

The youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji, Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh Ji were born at Anandpur Sahib. Thier grandmother Mata Gujjar Kaur Ji was especially close to the young Sahibzadas. When Guru Ji’s family evacuated from Anandpur Sahib, Mata Ji took charge of both of them as the column moved out of the city.

While crossing on horseback the rivulet Sirsa, then in spate, the three were separated from Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Ji. Gangu, who had worked for the Guru’s family, also succeeded in crossing the stream. He escorted them to his own house in the village of Kheri, now known as Saheri, near Morinda in presentday Ropar district. While unsaddling the horse he saw that there was some cash in the saddlebag. This tempted him to treachery. He not only stole the saddlebag during the night, but also planned to betray the fugitives to the government in hope of a reward.

On the morning of 7 December 1705, the day of the fateful battle of Chamkaur, Baba Zorawar Singh ji, along with Baba Fateh Singh ji and their grandmother, was taken into custody by Jani Khan and Mani Khan Ranghar, the officials at Morinda. They were despatched on the following day to Sirhind where they were consigned to the Cold Tower (Thanda Burj) of the Fort.

On 9 December 1705, Baba Zorawar Singh ji and Baba Fateh Singh ji were produced before the faujdaar, Nawab Wazir Khan, who had just returned from Chamkaur with his feudal ally, Nawab Sher Muhammad Khan of Malerkotla. Wazir Khan tried to lure the Sahibzadas to embrace Islam with promises of riches and honours, but they spurned the suggestion. He then threatened them with death, but they remained undaunted. Death sentence was finally pronounced. Upon Sher Muhammad Khan’s intercession for the innocent children to be spared their lives, they were given some more time to ponder over the suggestion to convert. Sahibzada Zorawar Singh ji and his brother spent another two days of severe winter in their old grandmother’s lap in the Cold Tower.

Still adamant, they were, on 11 December 1705, ordered to be sealed alive in a wall. As the masonry around their tender bodies reached chest high, it crumbled. The Sahibzadas were sent to the Cold Tower again for the night. The next day, 12 December 1705, the alternative of conversion being again turned down, Baba Zorawar Singh ji and Baba Fateh Singh ji were martyred by sealing alive in a wall. The aged Mata Gujari Kaur ji, who had all along been kept in the Cold Tower, only a little distance away, breathed her last as the news reached her ears. Mata Gujari ji through upbringing of her grandsons played such an important role in Sikhism that as Sikhs, we can owe our existence to her. It was due to her teachings that the young Babas did not bulge from their Dharma and attained martyrdom, thus continuing and emphasizing the institute of martyrdom in Sikhism.

Seth Todar Mall, a wealthy merchant of Sirhind, performed the cremation of the three dead bodies the following day. The site of the fateful happenings, since christened Fatehgarh Sahib, close to the old town of Sirhind, is now marked by four Sikh shrines. A religious fair is held here from 25 to 28 December every year to honour the memory of the martyrs.

~ Source: http://www.panthic.org/