News & Update

~Haryana Sikh Couples can now get their marriage registered under the Anand Marriage Act

Sikh couples in Haryana will now be able to get their marriages registered under the Anand Marriage Act instead of the Hindu Marriage Act.

Fulfilling the long-pending demand of Sikhs, Haryana government on Wednesday announced the formation of rules to register Anand Karaj, the Sikh marriage ceremony, solemnized by the community members.

The fresh move seems to be an attempt by Bhupinder Singh Hooda government to woo the community members ahead of upcoming assembly polls in October. Political observers feel that the community members have a significant say in 30 assembly seats of Sirsa, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Karnal Lok Sabha constituencies and a presence in Faridabad and Gurgoan.

With around 15% inhabitants, Haryana has the second largest population of Sikhs in the country after Punjab, said Didar Singh Nalvi, president of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC) (ad hoc).

Welcoming the fresh move, Nalvi said, “It’s a belated but right decision.”

Sikh groups have been maintaining that members of the community face problems abroad as their certificates are issued under the Hindu Marriage Act.

“The officials ask the members of my community how their wedding was registered under the Hindu Marriage Act when they belong to Sikh religion,” said Nalvi, who has been fighting for separate SGPC for Haryana for the past 14 years.

“It seems that the government has taken this decision keeping in view the next assembly elections. But still, we are happy,” he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, former president of Punjab and Haryana Bar Association Kulbir Singh Dhaliwal said, “We were waiting for such a move since long. Such issues have emotional impact on the mindset of every individual, who wants the law should recognize their way of wedding.”

Although the Anand marriage law was enacted in 1909, there was no provision for registration of marriages, which were registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The parliament had passed the law allowing Sikhs to register their marriages under the Anand Marriage Act instead of the Hindu Marriage Act in 2012, but Haryana has issued the notification now.

Meanwhile, the new rules, which have been implemented with immediate effect, would be called Haryana Anand Marriages Registration Rules, 2014

~ Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

– A ship boarded by Baba Gurdit Singh which was renamed as ‘Guru Nanak Jahaz’

Finally, an honour comes for Komagata Maru ship voyage, and that from the country that denied entry to Indian immigrants on board the ship on racial basis. The Canadian postal department would release a stamp on Tuesday to commemorate the centenary of incident.

It was on May 23, 1914, that Komagata Maru, a Japanese steamship hired by Baba Gurdit Singh, set sail for Canada with 376 Indians on board.

The Indians were not allowed to disembark at Vancouver in Canada and the ship sent back. On reaching India, the British government ordered firing on the passengers as the ship anchored at Budge Budge port near Kolkata; at least 20 were shot and others imprisoned.

The stamp shows Baba Gurdit Singh standing along with others on the ship, which was renamed ‘Guru Nanak Jahaz’. It would be released at Ottawa by the federal employment and multicultural minister Jason Kenney, and be priced at $2.50, which means it could be used for mailing international letters.

Last year, announcing the release of the stamp, Canada Post described the Komagata Maru incident as “one of several early 20th century incidents involving systematic restriction of Asian immigrants…”

The incident inspired Indians to challenge the Canadian racist anti-Indian immigration laws, following which thousand of Indians living in the US came back to India to throw out the British from India. Historians often call it as the first nail in the coffin of the British Empire.

Even Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a public apology in 2008 in Surrey Park, close to where the incident took place.

Welcoming the stamp release, Ludhiana professor Harish Puri, an authority on the history of the Ghadar movement, said, “It will once again recognise that the regimes of the time didn’t do justice with immigrants. Such gestures make a huge difference.” Last year, the Indian postal department, too, issued a stamp to commemorate the Ghadar Movement Centenary.

~ Vishav Bharti, Hindustan Times  Chandigarh

Guru Arjan the Fifth Sikh Guru compiled the original version of the Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru’s older brother Prithi Chand as well as others had started passing off some of his own compositions as the hymns of the Gurus. Guru Arjan realized that if this situation was allowed to continue it would be the undermining of the Sikh religion. The Sikhs needed an authentic compilation of the hymns of their Gurus. Thus Guru Arjan started collection the original verses of all the Gurus. He sent trusted Sikhs such as Bhai Piara, Bhai Gurdas and Baba Buddha across the country in search of original manuscripts. Guru Arjan made trips to Goindwal, Khadur and Kartarpur to visit the families of the previous Gurus. Guru Arjan collected original manuscripts of the Gurus from Mohan (son of Guru Amar Das), Datu (son of Guru Angad) as well as Sri Chand (son of Guru Nanak).

Guru Arjan now pitched a tent by the side of Ramsar tank in Amritsar and started the arduous task of compiling the first edition of the Holy Guru Granth Sahib. Bhai Gurdas was entrusted as the Guru’s scribe for the master copy. The monumental task was finally completed after a number of years. This original edition of the Guru Granth Sahib known at that time as Pothi Sahib was installed on a high pedestal within the Harmandir Sahib in August 1604. Guru Arjan seated himself at a lower level and instructed all Sikhs to bow before it, not as an idol, but as the book of divine inspiration which instructed living men in the ways of God and dedicated secular life. The revered Baba Buddha was appointed the first Granthi (custodian) of the book. Guru Arjan dictated that unlike the Hindu scriptures, the Pothi Sahib could be open to reading by anyone of any caste, creed or sex.

~ Source: http://www.sikhs.org/

The D day is a very special day for every Bride and Groom, and if it’s initiated with the name of God, then there’s nothing like it!

This groom too stepped into his new life by initiating his wedding day in such a special way that took everyone by a pleasant surprise, leaving a smile on every face.

According to information, resident of Dasuha’s Krishna Nagar – NRI, Sandeep Singh is a software engineer living in Canada since last 6 years. Last Sunday, Sandeep’s wedding with Khadial Sainhiya’s Nishi Pal Kaur took place where Sandeep’s father S. Kuldeep Rai refused to accept dowry of any kind from the bride’s family.

On the day of wedding, during the event of ‘Anand Kaaraj’, Sandeep initiated his new life by doing ‘Sewa’ at the Gurdwara; he alongside his newly wed wife Nishi, cleaned the floor of the Gurdwara with broomsticks, which surprised everyone.

In today’s time, when girls marry men who are addicts and greedy for dowry, everyone praised the Groom upon witnessing this noble gesture of this newlywed couple and said “that’s how a groom should be!”. Jathedar Baba Jogender Singh honored both the families by presenting then with ‘Siro-paos’ and saidthat everyone should derive inspiration and learn from this couple!

~ Ramandeep Singh
~ New Delhi, 8th May ’14

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Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab: It is learnt that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has started preparations at Fatehgarh Sahib and at Chappar Chhirri to observe the Sirhind Fateh Dihara to commemorate the victory of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and Sikh forces against the Mughal rulers in Sirhind.

According to a news published at YesPunjab.Com, While talking to media-persons [at Fatehgarh Sahib] on Saturday (May 03), the SGPC interim committee member Karnail Singh Panjoli said that the celebrations would be held for two days on May 13 and 14.

He said a ‘historic Khalsa March’ would start at 9 am on May 13 from Gurdwara Chhappar Chhirri and would conclude at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib after passing through Landran, Chunni, Badali Ala Singh, Mukarpur, Kotla Bijhara and Gurdwara Jyoti Sarup.

As per information the march would be ‘flagged off’ by SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and Baba Balbir Singh of Buddha Dal, Baba Nihal Singh Harian Vela of Tarna Dal, chief of the Bhidichand community Jathedar Avtar Sngh Sursingh Wale, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma and Baba Gulzar Singh of Karsevawale.

“A large number of Nihangs would be participating in the historic event” said Panjoli.

He further added that gatka competitions would also be organised on the intervening night of May 13 and 14 at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib.

He said a meeting of the religio-social organisations and Shiromani Akali Dal has also been convened on May 5 to finalise the programmes.

He said that invitations had already been dispatched to religious and social organisations.

~ Source: http://www.sikhsiyasat.net/