News & Update

Drug Addiction Grips not only the addict but his family too. In Punjab, India 73.5% of the youth is addicted to drugs, and 40% of all men are addicted to drugs. The experts have already begun to put an expiry date on the state seeing its worsening state.

Women carry an additional burden of taking care of not only the negative effects of drugs but their husband’s, father’ and on’s illness. The wives often take on the social, household, economic responsibilities of the addict husband.

“With men falling prey to drugs, women and children bear the brunt of living in a toxic atmosphere of crime and violence fueled by addiction,” reported The Hindu newspaper.

The spousal abuse or “wife-victimization” includes increased domestic violence, increased risk of STD/HIV transmission, and aggravated physical and emotional distress.

Women in Punjab fall into drugs because of three primary reason that is coming from problematic homes where family members are drug addicts, the education system fails to impart the students with dangerous effects of drugs.

Drug use is often associated with a new definition of feminism, women’s liberation, and female independence.
When you or someone you love falls into the prey of addiction to alcohol or another drug, it can be hard to know where to turn. We can provide you with the due courses of action.
Regardless of where people are suffering, it is our duty, as Sikhs, to help them.

As Guru Arjan Sahib wrote, “All that is seen is You, Lord, the expansion of the expense. Says Nanak, the Guru has removed my doubts, I recognize God in all,” Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ang 51.

Together, we can conquer this devastating disease and reduce the stigma of drug-abuse. Get Started!

We have Our Akal De-addiction Centre situated at Cheema Sahib, Sangrur is licensed for 30 beds and ensures requisite staff as per requirement of the licensing authority.

Spirituality is an essential component (apart from psychological and medical ones) of the overall management and treatment of addiction patients in our Centre.

Counseling and psychotherapy related services are provided to each and every patient and the respective family members.

In the wake to save Punjab, we at The Kalgidhar Trust run an Akal De Addiction Center at Cheema Sahib, Sangrur that is licensed for 30 beds and ensures requisite staff as per requirement of the licensing authority. It also has a fully organized outpatient department (OPD). The treatment costs are kept as low as possible. Poor (BPL) and needy cases are given fee concessions. Relapse cases are also given fee concession so as to encourage such patients to re-seek treatment.

All types of basic amenities are available in the centre premises. The in-patients are provided with fresh and nutritious food, fruits and tea etc. Round the clock nursing facility is there to take care of the patients.

Spirituality is an essential component (apart from psychological and medical ones) of the overall management and treatment of addiction patients in our Centre. For this purpose a structured timetable is followed. Counseling and psychotherapy related services are provided to each and every patient and the respective family members.

All types of latest medicines are used to treat the patients. It is ensured that adequate stock of all these medicines is maintained. The prescribed medicines are dispensed to patients visiting the OPD for follow-up and treatment. The indirect aim of providing such a facility is to encourage a regular follow-up on the part of patients. The record of the patients is properly kept and maintained. This Centre has its own computerized lab to do routine blood and urine tests.

In a span of less than a decade since its inception in the year 2004, Akal De-addiction Centre has emerged as a popular joint for addiction treatment amongst the addiction afflicted populace, both local and abroad.

We are committed to a Drug-Free Punjab, are you?

~ Source: http://www.kaurlife.org/
~ Edited by Tapasleen Kaur

In the final segment of our four-part series on the impact of AB1964, California’s Workplace Religious Freedom Act, we bring you the inspiring story of Officer Jaskirat Singh from Milpitas, California.

Officer Singh made headlines earlier this year when he graduated from the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium Police Academy at the College of San Mateo. Since May 2014, Officer Singh has worked for the Milpitas Police Department (MPD) as a uniformed police officer.

Officer Singh became interested in law enforcement when he joined the MPD’s Explorers Program at the age of 16. In the Explorers Program, Officer Singh won the first place trophy for Traffic Accident Investigation and the third place trophy for the Sample Entry Level Police Officer Written Examination. He knew law enforcement was the dream career for him.

Today, he is a police officer in the busy Milpitas area, near San Jose, California, and has been assigned to patrol detail, including handling emergency 911 calls and conducting traffic stops.

Officer Singh has been fully accommodated for his Sikh articles of faith at work and receives significant support from MPD, his colleagues and fellow agencies. He wears a black, uniformed turban with his police uniform. He also successfully passed his gas mask test, creating a seal with the respirator.

Thanks to AB1964, the government of California has created a more welcoming environment for employees of all faiths who wish to practice their religion while pursuing their careers. Although Officer Singh is one of a handful of turbaned Sikh police officers on active duty in U.S. law enforcement, he will not be the last. In his words, “Being Amritdhari, being a practicing Sikh, it is still possible to be a police officer in the United States.”

We wish Officer Singh the best of luck in his career and commend the Milpitas Police Department for its commitment to religious diversity in the workplace. We urge other police departments across the country, including the New York City Police Department, to follow suit.

Community Leadership Makes a Difference

The AB1964 victories described in this series could not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the California Sikh community, which made numerous trips to the state capitol to testify at hearings and show their support for the law. Although the bill was introduced by State Assembly Member Mariko Yamada and sponsored by the Sikh Coalition, the grassroots activism of the California Sikh community during each step of the legislative process made all the difference.

– Source: http://sikhcoalition.org/

Guru Nanak is in the stars and skies, Guru Nanak’s love light never dies.

Guru Nanak’s in the rivers and seas, Guru Nanak’s in the grass and trees.

Guru Nanak hears each being’s cries, Guru Nanak’s love light never dies.

Guru Nanak’s in the desert and dune, Guru Nanak’s the Shabad Kirtan tune.

Guru Nanak’s in the sun and moon, Guru Nanak’s with me night and noon.

Guru Nanak’s in my heart and soul, Guru Nanak’s vision is my greatest goal.

Guru Nanak’s Naam is in every breath, Guru Nanak’s Amrit destroys death.

Guru Nanak’s hand is above my hair, Guru Nanak protects me everywhere.

Guru Nanak’s in each beating heart, Guru Nanak’s the dawn after dark.

Guru Nanak’s the light of my life, Guru Nanak’s my Father higher than high.

Guru Nanak is Guru Granth Sahib jee, Guru Nanak’s in our lives eternally.

Guru Nanak is my very best friend, I bow to Guru Nanak again and again.

~ Harjit Singh

Guru Nanak Sahib (the First Nanak, the founder of Sikhism) was born on 15th April, 1469 at Rai-Bhoi-di Talwandi in the present district of Shekhupura (Pakistan), now Nanakana Sahib. The Birthday of Guru Nanak Sahib is celebrated on 15th Kartik Puranmashi i.e. full moon day of the month Kartik. On this day the Birthday of Guru Nanak Sahib is celebrated every year. (But some other chronicles state that Guru Nanak Sahib was born on 20th October,1469) Guru Nanak’s father, Mehta Kalyan Das, more popularly known as Mehta Kalu was the agent and Chief Accountant of Rai Bular. Guru Nanak ‘s mother was Mata Tripta, a simple, pious and extremely religious woman. Nanak had an elder sister, Nanki, who always cherished her younger brother.

Nanak was an extra-ordinary and different child in many ways. God provided him with contemplative mind and rational thinking. At the age of seven, he learnt Hindi and Sanskrit. He surprised his teachers with the sublimity of his extra-ordinary knowledge about divine things. At the age of thirteen, he learned Persian and Sanskrit and at the age of 16, he was the most learned young man in the region. He was married to Mata Sulakhni ji, who gave birth to two sons: Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das. In November 1504, Guru Nanak’s elder sister Nanaki ji took him to Sultanpurlodhi where her husband Jai Ram ji got him the Job of storekeeper in the Modikhana of the local Nawab, Daulat Khan Lodhi.

At the age of 38, in August 1507, Guru Nanak Sahib heard God ‘s call to dedicate himself to the service of humanity after bathing in “Vain Nadi” (a small river) Near Sultanpur Lodhi. The very first sentence which he ‘ uttered then was, ” There is no Hindu, no Musalman”. He now undertook long travels to preach his unique and divine doctrine (Sikhism). After visiting different places in Punjab, he decided to proceed on four long tours covering different religious places in India and abroad. These tours are called Char Udasis of Guru Nanak Sahib.

During the four journeys, Guru Nanak Sahib visited different religious places preaching Sikhism. He went to Kurukshetra, Haridwar, Joshi Math, Ratha Sahib, Gorakh Matta (Nanak Matta), Audhya, Prayag, Varanasi, Gaya, Patna, Dhubri and Gauhati in Assam, Dacca, Puri, Cuttack, Rameshwaram, Ceylon, Bidar, Baroach, Somnath, Dwarka, Janagarh, Ujjain, Ajmer, Mathura, Pakpattan, Talwandi, Lahore, Sultanpur, Bilaspur, Rawalsar, Jawalaji, Spiti Vally, Tibet, Ladakh, Kargil, Amarnath, Srinagar and Baramulla. Guru Nanak Sahib also paid visit to Muslim holy places. In this regard he went to Mecca, Medina, Baghdad via Multan, Peshawar Sakhar, Son Miani, Hinglaj etc. Some accounts say that Guru Sahib reached Mecca by sea-route. Guru Sahib also visited Syra, Turkey and Tehran (the present capital of Iran). From Tehran Guru Sahib set out on the caravan route and covered Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad. The real aim of the tour was awakening the people to realise the truth about God and to introduce Sikhism. He established a network of preaching centres of Sikhism which were called “Manjis”. He appointed able and committed followers as its head (preacher of Sikhism). The basic tenents of Sikhism were wilfully conceived by the people from all walks of life. The seeds of Sikhism were shown all over India and abroad in well-planned manner.

In the year 1520, Babar attacked India. His troops slaughtered thousands of innocent civilians of all walks of life. Women and children were made captives and all their property looted at Amiabad. Guru Nanak Sahib challenged this act of barbarity in strong words. He was arrested and released, shortly after making Babar realising his blunder. All the prisoners were also released.

Guru Nanak Sahib settled down at Kartarpur city (now in Pakistan) which was founded by him in 1522 and spent the rest of his life there (1522-1539). There was daily Kirtan and the institution of Langar (free kitchen) was introduced. Knowing that the end was drawing near, Guru Nanak Sahib, after testing his two sons and some followers, installed Bhai Lehna ji (Guru Angad Sahib) as the Second Nanak in 1539, and after a few days passed into Sachkhand on 22nd September, 1539.

Thus ended the worldly journey of this god-gifted Master (Guru) of mankind. He rejected the path of renunciation Tyaga or Yoga, the authority of the Vedas and the Hindu caste system. Guru Nanak Sahib emphasised the leading of householder’s life (Grista), unattached to gross materialism. The services of mankind Sewa, Kirtan, Satsang and faith in ‘One’ Omnipotent God are the basic concepts of Sikhism established by Guru Nanak Sahib. Thus he laid the foundations of Sikhism. He preached new idea of God as Supreme, Universal, All-powerful and truthful. God is Formless (Nirankar), the Sole, the Creator, the self-existent, the Incomprehensible and the Ever-lasting and the creator of all things (Karta Purakh). God is infinite, All-knowing, True, All-giver, Nirvair, and Omnipotent. He is Satnam, the Eternal and Absolute Truth.

As a social reformer Guru Nanak Sahib upheld the cause of women, downtrodden and the poors. He attacked the citadel of caste system of Hindus and theocracy of Muslim rulers. He was a born poet. He wrote 974 hyms comprising Japji Sahib, Asa-Di-Var, Bara-Mah, Sidh-Gosht, Onkar (Dakhani) and these were included in Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Arjan Sahib. He was also a perfect musician. He with the company of Bhai Mardana composed such tunes in various Indian classical Ragas that charmed and tawed wild creatures like Babar, subdued saging kings, raved bigots and tyrants, made thugs and robbers saints. He was a reformer as well as a revolutionary. God had endowed him with a contemplative mind and pious disposition. Guru Arjan Sahib called him “the image of God, nay, God Himself”.

~ Source: sgpc.net

Nankana Sahib is a holy place where the founder of Sikh religion, the dispeller of darkness, the most enlightened global Guru, Guru Nanak Dev ji was born early in the morning to Mata Tripta Ji and Mehta Kalu Ji on 15th April, 1469 (Baisakh sudi 3, Samwat 1526).

Bhai Gurdas in his Var (Var 1/27) has equated this event with the sun that lights up the earth after a dark night :

Jeeu Kar suraj nikaleya, taare chhipe andher paloa. (Var 1/27)

According to Puratan Janam Sakhi, the trees starting dripping juice, many a pauper became rich, the diseased were blessed with health. The earth heaved a sigh of relief.

According to Janam Sakhis, when Daulta Dai, the maid nurse was offered money, she refused it on the plea that she had already been rewarded by the very glimpse of the holy baby. Guru Nanak gave his first message that he belong to God and would exert the people to worship His Name. Bhai Nand lal ji has well said that Guru Nanak was asked by the Almighty to turn the face of humanity towards Him.

The township of Nankana Sahib was earlier known as Raipur and later on as Rai-Bhoi-di-Talwandi but after the birth of Guru Nanak, it began to be known as Nankian Sahib/Nankana Sahib. It is situated at a distance 48 miles on the west from Lahore.

Guru Nanak Dev ji passed his whole childhood and young age in Nankana Sahib. At the age of nine, when Pandit Hardyal asked the boy Nanak to put on Janeo, he refused to have the thread that discriminated amongst mankind. The Janeo which was made of the silk for a brahmin, of cotton for a Khatri, of wool for a Vaish and which was strictly abandoned for Shudra. And again which is three folds for brahmin, two folds for Khatri and only one fold for Vaish. He asked the Pandit if he had the thread made of compassion the cotton, contentment the yarn, continence the knot and purity the twist, he was ready to wear it. The Pandit was dumb-founded :

Daeya kapah santokh soot jatu gandhi sat watt.
Eihu janeo jeea ka hai ta pande ghatt. (p. 471)

When he joined a school at Nankana Sahib, the Guru is said to have written fundamentals of education on the wooden takhti provided to him. He enlightened the people when he wrote simply the first alphabet of Persian script ‘alaf’ and conveyed the message of unity of Godhood.

Guru Nanak Dev got married on 21st , may 1487 to Bibi Sulakhani, Daghter of Mulchand Khatri of Batala. It was at Nankana Sahib that he met Bhai Mardana, who was his life long companion for 47 years, listening and singing Guru’s gospel. According to the Sikh history, Guru Nanak at the age of 22 years, in 1491 A.D. went into silence for days together. He did not eat a single morsel and utter a single word.

His father Kalu ji sent for a local physician / Vaid. The vaid found nothing wrong with the young Nanak and found himself in a quandary as to what to tell his father because Nanak was absolutely healthy. Guru Nanak said ,” I have no physical ailment. Thou, the simple physician, knows not the pangs arising from the heart”

Bhola vaid na jaaneie karak Kaleje maah. (P. 1279)

Guru Nanak Dev Ji stayed at his birthplace up til 35 years of age and hereafter went to Sultanpur.

For a long time, this place remained in normal form. In A.D. 1613 (Samwat 1670), Guru Hargobind visited the birth place of Guru Nanak and entrusted the responsibility of looking after this place to Alamst, an ardent disciple of Baba Sri Chand. Since then Udasis, (the followers of Guru Nanak’s Son) looked after this place for a long time.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh got a magnificent building built there and at the behest of Baba Sahib Singh, the Maharaja gave 700 acres land as religious endowment to his holy shrine but the Udasis continued to maintain the place. They had the charge of this place during the times full of stress and strife for the Sikhs But with the passage of time, in early 20th century, these Udasis Mahants began to treat this revenue free jagir as their personal property and indulged in erotic and luxurious life. To get these historical Gurdwaras from the hands of these apostates the Gurdwara Prabandh Sudhar Movement was started. One peaceful Jatha that entered Gurdwara Janam Asthan was mercilessly hacked by the mercenaries of Mahant Narain Dass. Even the holy Sri Guru Granth Sahib was made target of thier bullets. Many a people belonging to this jatha were tied to a Jand and burnt alive. The Martyred half-burnt bodies were thrown into the well.

This incident gave such an impetus to the Gurdwara Reform Movement that the Mahants had to hand over the shrines to the Sikh Sangat. The magnificent building of this gurdwara along with the beautiful gardens, enthrals the onlookers and devotees. There is a big Sarovar and a spacious inn which provides accommodation to the pilgrims. The historical Jand and the well are still existing, telling the tale of atrocities perpetuated by Mahant Narain Dass on simple-hearted and peace-loving Sikhs. According to Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha, the author of Gurshabd Ratnakar Mahan Kosh, this shrine had 18 thousand acres of land attached to it and a cash endowment of Rs. nine thousand eight hundred and ninety-two also.

By the partition of the Indian sub-continent, the Sikhs not only lost many lives, wealth etc. but also their most loved and revered shrines which went to the other side of the border. After this partition, a mention of Nankana Sahib Gurdwara in the daily ardaas or prayer has become a regular feature. These Sikh shrines in Pakistan are managed by a Waqf Board and every year, Sikh Jathas visit these shrines on four different occasions.

At present there are 25-30 Sikh families residing in Nankana Sahib and as a result of this, daily service is performed and bani is recited. Bhai Partap Singh is functioning as the Granthi. At the occasion of Guru Nanak’s anniversary, about three thousand Sikh devotees from India visit Nankana Sahib. Sikhs from all over the world come there too.

~ Source: sgpc.net