News & Update

A Sikh scientist has a role to play in the current media uproar on the bauxite mining operations in Kuantan, a city in the Malaysian state of Pahang.

The extensive media coverage on the long-standing bauxite mining issue took a new life with a front-paged coverage entitled ‘Generations will suffer’ by the New Sunday Times on 3 Jan 2016.

The coverage, extending into five full pages, was based on what the newspaper called a ‘well-researched’ report from a group of 17 Malaysian scientists and environmental professionals.

Assoc. Prof Dr. Harinder Rai Singh, a coastal and marine ecologist attached to the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), is one of them.

The report, submitted to the Malaysian Federal government as well as the state government, warned of devastating conseqences to the population and environment in Kuantan if uncontrolled mining of bauxite continues.

The environment speacialists had concluded that their report was a ‘scientifically sound assessment of the present bauxite mining operations in Kuantan, and the environmental, health and safety issues confronting the people of Kuantan’.

“We do not claim to have all the evidences and data necessary to make a comprehensive assessment. However, we strongly opine that the available data and information, as well as good common sense, points towards an impending manmade disaster, if necessary corrective and remedial measures are not immediately taken by the regulatory and responsible authourities,” they said.

They noted that mining for bauxite was not unique to Malaysia as many countries have done it responsibly before us.

“All that we and the people of Kuantan ask for is that the mining operation be done properly according to international standards and best practices. Malaysia is heading towards a developed nation status and we cannot be doing something that is as irresponsible and unsustainable as this,” they asserted.

Dr Harinder Rai is known as a passionate scientist, and besides science, his passion is playing the tabla where he occassionally plays in gurdwaras, and in the past for ghazal performances.

His area of expertise includes environmental monitoring and ecosystems ecology for marine, coastal as well as aquatic systems.

He is actively involved in various preliminary and detailed environmental impact assessment (DEIA) studies. He is also a subject matter specialist certified by the Department of Environment and an expert panel for the same on matters related to marine, coastal and aquatic issues.

Besides that, he is also a panel for e-Science grants under the Ministry of Science as well as sit in the national committee for the Research & Development of the Mangrove Ecosystem.

Harinder Rai is also the author for chapters on the Mangrove Ecosystem in the Handbook on the Marine Living Coastal Resources, Marine Biodiversity Expedition Report by the Marine Parks of Malaysia, co-author of the Biodiversity Sector for the MegaScience Study under Academy of Sciences Malaysia, and part of the experts drafting the National Oceans Policy.

~ Source: Asia Samachar

More than 500 low-income families here received help this season at a Holiday Community Food Drive hosted by Khalsa Care Foundation, a Sikh American non-profit organization that provides community services for children, youth and adults, and sustains the social vitality and cultural vibrancy of the Sikh American heritage, according to a press release.

The event, which took place at the Sikh gurdwara, included a warm vegetarian meal, giveaways, games and a raffle. Organizers and volunteers distributed 1,500 bags of food, toiletries and amenities, clothes, toys and more to the more than 500 families gathered.

In addition, there was a raffle of four Target gift cards worth $50 each and toys for several families. Children and teenagers also enjoyed carnival games, prizes, ice cream, cotton candy and popcorn.

Guests include representatives from the offices of Congressman Tony Cardenas, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, L.A. city councilman Felipe Fuentes, Senator Robert Hertzberg, Assemblywoman Patty Lopez and LAUSD board member Monica Ratliff.

According to the 2010 Census, roughly 17 percent of households in Pacoima are at or below the poverty level.
A recent study by The Center for Southern California Studies at California State University, Northridge, showed that the proportion of families living at or below the poverty level remains extremely high in the Northeast San Fernando Valley with Pacoima exceeding countywide averages.

In the past, the Sikh American community has provided food and needed items to the Fred Jordan Mission on Skid Row, but in recent years it has looked to support local families and neighbors in Pacoima through a holiday community event at its gurdwara as part of “seva,” selfless service to others.

Source- IndiaWest

Just two years after moving from her native Shahbad in Haryana to Fatehgarh Sahib to train under Baldev Singh, Amarinder Kaur, 16, has led the state’s under-19 team to win the title at the 61st National School Games held from December 25-30 in Bhopal.

The captain of the victorious team, she had now gained fame and recently even appeared in Amitabh Bachchan’s show ‘Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi’. Even as the victory over Uttar Pradesh in the finals tasted sweet, its margin a whopping 13-0 still remains the icing on the cake.

Amarinder was declared the best player of the tournament for being the highest scorer.

Harinder Kaur Harry, manager of the team, who accompanied them to Bhopal, said, “The opposition seemed demoralised even as the match had not even been played halfway. This was a proud moment.”

Belonging to a lower middle-class family, Amarinder along with other players came to Fatehgarh Sahib around two years ago with her coach Dronacharya awardee, Baldev Singh who was working in Haryana sports department.

Baldev Singh then established an academy which is run by Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak committee.
All girls who played during the tournament are from Fatehgarh Sahib taking coaching from Baldev Singh.

Amarinder’s grandfather would take her to Shahbad where Baldev Singh used to run an academy after crossing a distance of 8 km from her native Dhantori Village to develop her interest in Hockey.

“He would never allow me to take leave even when the conditions were not favourable. Be it cold or rain, he would always accompany me to the ground which is why hockey has become an integral part of my life now,” said Amarinder.
Ask if she misses her family, she confidently says, “I do not have the time to miss them, I am always doing practice and by the end of the day, I get so tired that I sleep.”

Baldev Singh on his part, claims that Amarinder is a unique talent. “Amarinder us unique and is very devoted to the game. I can bet that future of Punjab’s hockey is bright and the only requirement is the right direction,” Baldev said.

“It is sad that the girls who have won a gold medal have not received anything from the Punjab government whereas Haryana government gives Rs 70,000 to such players. These athletes need to be encouraged for their efforts and fuel their passion for the game,” he added.

Baldev added that for consistent results, the girls needed to practice on astroturf and junk practice on normal ground. “It is the government’s responsibility to provide appropriate practice facility to players.”

Share & Spread to be a part of her victory!

~ Source: Hindustan Times

My name is Vikram Singh, I was born and raised in California, USA and I’m 24 years old. I grew up in the Bay Area, in a very Sikhi oriented environment. Since my dad was a raagi I spent a lot of time in sangat and kirtan, which had a lasting impact on me. When I was around 15 or 16 I created my own website and recorded videos of myself doing magic tricks with a webcam, before youtube, facebook, or iphones existed. They were links people could download and I had managed to build a small reputation as a magician among friends. I performed magic throughout school, college and work informally for my friends and professionally for events across the country. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from UC Davis and I’m currently working as a Software Engineer.

What inspired you to get into magic? Where there any particular trick that captured your fascination?

In kindergarten we had a magician visit our classroom. I went up as a volunteer and both the magician and I put a silk in our hands, but her’s disappeared and mine didn’t. The silk disappearing trick really got me. and that day I vowed to learn how to perform this illusion. A few years later I was given a magic set by one of our family friends and since then I’ve been practicing, performing magic, learning and continuously searching for more sources and ideas.

What is it like performing in front of large crowds?

Well, I do still get nervous and have butterflies in my stomach before performing, but I’ve gotten more used to it over time and the nervousness has lessened. Right before starting I’m thinking about how many people are staring at me and I have the fear of messing up. But as soon as I get started and hear the first round of applause or laughter from the audience, it confirms that they’re enjoying my performance and puts me in the zone. Once I’m in that mode I don’t worry about it for the rest of the show because I’m so focused on entertaining and interacting with the audience.

What other interests do you have?

Some of my other interests include doing kirtan/playing musical instruments and working on hands-on projects. I like inventing new gadgets and turning discarded materials into works of art or functional items (like wallets). These are usually posted on my website under the “Stuff” section. I also enjoy graphic design and often work on digital projects for various organizations and clubs. I actually have my own T-shirt line which I designed and is available on my website. I also enjoy writing, reading, playing video games and cracking jokes with friends.

What instrument do you play and what do you talk about when you play at a Gurdwara?

I play both tabla and harmonium, as well as dilruba although I’m not as good at it. I often accompany my father (Bhai Manmohan Singh) on tabla or side vaja, and I am also part of Baani Veechaar Jatha. Along with the kirtan, I do Katha in English and Punjabi so that the sangat, especially the youth, can understand the meanings of Gurbani and connect with the kirtan. I usually just talk about the shabads we are singing, what they mean and how we can apply them to our lives. Whatever I say isn’t just for the sangat but applies to me as well.

Is there anything else you would like to mention or any message you would like to give people?

I’d just like to tell everyone out there, make sure you pursue your passion. I’m not saying this as a cliche` phrase, I actually mean it. Take time to to look for the meaning in what you do.. its easy to fall into a routine and do something just because its convenient or pays well. Its always good to have some creative outlet to pour your energy into, beyond school and work. Sometimes we just need a release from these things, don’t forget to take it!

One important thing I’ve learned is that its very easy to judge people without knowing much about them, but if you actually sit down and talk to someone, you’ll be surprised at the amazing stories and experiences they may have been through. So just give people a chance, be receptive. At the same time, don’t put anyone on a pedestal. We can love and respect or even admire people, but after some point we just risk being disappointed when they fall short of our expectations. Only Guru Sahib and Waheguru are perfect.

Lastly, enjoy yourself but also remember that chasing after worldly wealth and success cannot provide lasting happiness. I don’t mean to sound preachy but I really believe this. I’m not saying don’t have fun or don’t strive for success, but remember that most of these things we do only provide temporary “highs”, sometimes even at the cost of our physical or mental well-being. The only thing that will satisfy us in the end is the Love and connection with Waheguru, so we should constantly work towards that.

May you continue to bring smiles and laughter to the world. Thank you for speaking with us, it was fun.
Seeing the smiles and looks of amazement on people’s faces keeps me going. I believe that making someone’s face light up with wonder and delight IS real magic.

Source- www.sikhnet.com

Dalai Lama “Guru Granth Sahib enshrines the message of universal brotherhood and good of all mankind.”

Max Arthur Macauliffe-

“It would be difficult to point to a religion of greater originality or to a more comprehensive ethical system than Sikh religion. The Sikh Scriptures contain sublime truths, the study of which cannot but elevate the reader spiritually, morally and socially. There is no tinge of sectarianism in them. They teach the highest and purest principles that serve to bind the man to man and inspire the believer with an ambition to serve his fellowmen, to sacrifice all and to die for their sake.”

“Mankind’s religious future may be obscure; yet one thing can be foreseen. The• living higher religions are going to influence anch other more than ever before, in the days of increasing communications between all parts of the world and branches of, human race. In this coming religious debate, the Sikh religion and its scriptures, the Guru Granth, will have something special of value to say to the rest of the world.”

Miss Pearl S. Buck, a Nobel laureate wrote:

When I was in India in 1962, one of the notable events of my Visit was the presentation to me of the English version of Sri Guru-Granth Sahib, translated and annotated by Dr. Gopal Singh.

I was deeply grateful to receive this great work, for in the original it was inaccessible to me, and this was a matter of regret, for I have had many Sikh friends, and have always admired their qualities of character.

Now that I have had time in my quiet Pennsylvania home to read their scriptures slowly and thoughtfully, I can understand why I have found so much to admire.

The religion of a people has a profound and subtle influence upon them as a whole, and this is true whether individuals do or do not profess to be religious.

“I have studied the scriptures of the great religions, but I do not find elsewhere the same power of appeal to the heart and mind as I find here in these volumes. They are compact in spite of their length and are a revelation of the concept of God to the recognition and indeed the insistence upon the practical needs of the human body. There is something strangely modern about these scriptures and this puzzled me until I learned that they are in fact comparatively modern, compiled as late as the 16th century when explorers were beginning to discover the globe upon which we all live is a single entity divided only by arbitrary lines of our making. Perhaps this sense of unity is the source of power I find in these volumes. They speak to a person of any religion or of none. They speak for the human heart and the searching mind.”

Arnold Toynbee, a historian

Arnold Joseph Toynbee (1889 – 1975) was a British historian whose twelve-volume analysis of the rise and fall of civilizations, A Study of History, 1934-1961, was a synthesis of world history, a metahistory based on universal rhythms of rise, flowering and decline, which examined history from a global perspective. His work includes over 50 titles on various aspects of world history.

Toynbee has given very high and prominent place to the Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji in Sikh History. He calls Guru Ji a “divinity of highest rank.” He gets emotional when he writes about Guru Sahib’s contribution in the formation of Khalsa. Again and again he emphasizes the fact that there cannot be any person like the Sikh Gurus.

“Mankind’s religious future may be obscure; yet one thing can be foreseen. The living higher religions are going to influence each other more than ever before, in the days of increasing communications between all parts of the world and branches of human race. In this coming religious debate, the Sikh religion and its scriptures, the Guru Granth, will have something special of value to say to the rest of the world.”

~ Source: DailySikhUpdates

That Santa-Banta joke you just read on the Internet could be among the last as the Supreme Court is on its way to decide if such jokes offend the Sikh community or are just in good humour.

Community-based humour is not uncommon in a country where every state and community breeds a stereotype. By putting up such humour on the Internet, money is being made.

On 30 October last year, a lawyer identifying herself to be from the Sikh community, filed a public interest litigation before the apex court seeking a ban on websites carrying ‘sardar jokes’ as they make money by portraying the Sikh community as ‘persons of low intellect’.

A bench led by chief justice of India T.S. Thakur heard the lawyer who explained how derogatory the jokes are for her community. Her own kids did not want to be identified with traditional Sikh surnames, she said, as they feared they would be ridiculed.

The bench, however, was more interested to know, like everyone else in the courtroom, if the matter needed the attention of the court at all. After deliberating for half an hour, the judges decided to admit the plea and give it a fair hearing.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (DGPC) also moved a petition seeking a ban on such jokes as they violate human rights of members of the Sikh community. To be fair, judges have said during the hearing that the friends they have from the Sikh community are quite jovial and tolerant and do not get offended by such jokes.

On 4 January, a three-judge bench asked if the petitioner would prefer the case being heard by a judge from the Sikh community. When the bench sought the personal views of additional solicitor general PS Patwalia, a Sikh himself, he answered that the community views the issue “seriously”.

Complex legal issues surrounding freedom of speech and expression and reasonable restrictions on the same have not yet cropped up in the court hearing. Banning websites without a second consideration is another story. The government in August last year banned 857 websites containing pornography only to do reverse the decision quickly.

As the law stands, the Supreme Court in 1989, giving a liberal interpretation of freedom of speech in the S. Rangarajan case had said, “It is the duty of the State to protect the freedom of expression since it is a liberty guaranteed against the State. The State cannot plead its inability to handle the hostile audience problem.”

Gautam Bhatia, a Delhi-based lawyer and author of Offend, Shock, and Disturb- Free speech under the Indian Constitution doubts if the plea is legally sustainable. “The only possible legal provision that could be applicable is section 153A of the Indian Penal code, which penalises stirring up enmity or hostility between groups or communities,” he said.

“However, the Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear that there need to be two communities between whom the hostility/enmity is being created. If I, as an individual, crack jokes about Sardars, it isn’t illegal.”

~ Source- Livemint.com

A Sikh-American attorney has been appointed as the top prosecutor in the most populous county in New Jersey, becoming the first South Asian to occupy the post in the state.

Gurbir Grewal, 42 was sworn in as acting Bergen County prosecutor on January 4, succeeding John Molinelli whose 14-year long tenure has ended.

A report in news website NorthJersey.com said Mr Grewal, a former federal prosecutor, has fought major white-collar crimes for the US Attorney’s Office and most recently served as chief of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

The report quoted Mr Grewal as saying that he hopes to work to build on the reputation of his office and enhance it.

He told the gathering at his swearing-in that he “cares deeply” about the county and is “deeply committed to public service.”

“I want to spend my time here just seeing how I can make this an even better place,” he said.

Mr Grewal described his appointment as an “honour and privilege” and said the office of the Bergen County prosecutor is in “many real ways sets the standard for other prosecutor’s offices throughout the state.”

Mr Grewal was also sworn in as an assistant attorney general in Trenton by acting state Attorney General John Hoffman.

He said he intends to meet other law enforcement personnel over the next several weeks to know their challenges and resource issues.

“I hope to prove to you over the next several years, and maybe more, that I’m a quick learner, I’m a hard worker, and I will always be straightforward,” the report quoted him as saying.

~ Source: NDTV

Chandigarh can be easily summed up in three words: perfect, pristine, and Punjabi!

Since its inception, we have known there is no better place to live in than Chandigarh. Neatly planned and divided symmetrically, Chandigarh is nothing short of a utopia. And BBC agrees, for they have just named it the most perfect, ‘remarkable ideal’ city in the world.

In a story that the BBC ran, ‘Is this the perfect city?’, writer Jonathan Glancey takes us down its history and bares open its soul. He discusses how the planning, infrastructure, neighbourhood and the amalgam of tradition and modernity makes Chandigarh a flawless metropolis.

Some of the less known facts about this city beautiful

• Named after Goddess Chandi, Chandigarh houses the ancient temple of the warrior deity in district Panchkula.
• A union territory, Chandigarh is capital to both Punjab and Haryana.
• The city was designed by French architect, Le Corbusier. It is the first planned city of India post-independence.
• Chandigarh was also home to the Harappan civilisation.
• The city’s official emblem, ‘Open Hand’ is a symbol for peace and reconciliation.
• Chandigarh is both the cleanest and the happiest city in India, according to two different surveys conducted in 2010 and 2015 respectively.
• It is also the first smoke-free city in the country.

There are a million more reasons that make Chandigarh a paradise on planet earth. Share your thoughts in the comment box below!

~ Source: Indiatimes.com