News & Update

At an age when most pensioners are winding down their lives, Fauja Singh begins a new one. Fauja Singh is 104 and is believed to be the world’s oldest runner.

In his late 80s, and feeling “more dead than alive” following the loss of his wife and one of his sons, he took up marathon running.

Now 104, he has become an unlikely celebrity despite a birth defect that prevented him being able to walk until the age of five.

“When I took up running, it was like meeting God himself. I have been running ever since.” With his distinctive flowing grey beard and the traditional Sikh headgear that has earned him the nickname “the Turbaned Tornado,” Singh has been a star entrant at marathons all over the world.

More medical tests done when he was 99 “showed that I was a man of 40 years of age.”

Singh grew up in a village in the Jalandhar district of the north-western Punjab state along with his four brothers and sisters and their parents.

“One doesn’t know about life’s complexities at that age. Whatever means one has always seems to be enough,” he said. “Life was good because we had land and animals … there was no stress.”

As well as soothing his soul, running has also brought Singh unexpected fame — he appeared in an Adidas advertising campaign along with soccer superstar David Beckham and boxing legend Muhammad Ali in 2004. A strict vegetarian (he appeared in a campaign by animal rights group PETA) Singh describes himself as “an illiterate person” — this interview was translated from Punjabi with the help of his coach.

Most of Singh’s marathons were charity fundraisers, in line with his Sikh beliefs. “There are two noble things in life: one to do charity and other to look after your body,” he said.

“This includes the high principles outlined by my religion, to earn an honest living and to share your means with those less fortunate. “I am inspired by honest people who don’t cheat others. To me the famous are those who are kind to fellow human beings and dedicate their life to charity.” And it is his religion that helps him keep going with that spirit.

~ Source: UnitedSikhs

The 17th annual Sikh festival will make its way into town on Sunday, drawing crowds of more than 3,500 from all over California.

The free event features a festive procession with bright colors, lively music and awe-inspiring displays of sword fighting. The display of mock battles and swordsmanship is a tradition dating back more than 300 years.

The festival also gives attendees a taste of many traditional foods.

The parade will last about four hours, beginning at noon at the Gurdwara Sahib Temple at 2765 Peach Ave., then move along Main Street to the Guru Nanak Temple on B Street.

Livingston Mayor Pro Tem Gurpal Samra, who helps organize the event, said it isn’t only for Sikhs, but for everyone in Livingston and beyond. Thousands of people from Fresno, Los Angeles and the Bay Area make their way to Livingston for one of the biggest Sikh events in the region.

According to the National Weather Service in Hanford, temperatures will drop in time for the festival. The forecast for Sunday is sunny with a high of 82 degrees, providing much-needed relief from Friday and Saturday’s temperatures, which have spiked to the mid-90s.

“The winds should be light in the morning and afternoon on Sunday,” said William Peterson, meteorologist technician with the National Weather Service.

The Sikh festival is funded solely by donations, according to organizers.

Sikhism is a religion that was founded in India. It has 27 million followers, more than 5 million of them living outside India. Sikhs make up nearly 20 percent of Livingston’s population.

~ Source: www.mercedsunstar.com

During the 1971 war against Pakistan in Bangladesh, General Jagjit Singh Arora and the Sikhs made a 90,000 strong Pakistani army surrender without any causalities. The Singhs shouting Jaikare (Sikh Slogan) Bole So Nihal ! Sat Sri Akal approached the war site.

After looking at the Sikhs and hearing the Jaikare the Pakistani General A. A. K. Niazi surrendered and all 90,000 Pakistani troops became prisoners of war. The Pakistani army fled the villages they had occupied along with many of the villagers. A Sikh soldier found a woman who was left behind in a Pakistani village. The soldier took care of the old lady, provided her with food, and tried to locate her family. This act of kindness was recorded in governmental files.

When the Sikh troops entered further into East Pakistan which is now Bangladesh, they found hundreds of woman left behind who were abducted by enemy troops and were raped. The Sikh Soldiers took off their jackets and some removed their turbans to cover the naked bodies of the woman.

The Sikh troops provided protection for the women while they were under control of the country.

Sikhs have a very long history of protecting women on enemy grounds. Sikhs led the charge in the 1700s of bringing back abducted woman by Ahmed Shah Abdali from Delhi to be sold in Afghan markets. The Sikhs would attack the caravans of Abdali and bring back them women to their villages.

~ Source: Daily Sikh Updates

Prime Minister Stephen Harper honored the recipients of the third Prime Minister’s Volunteer Awards (PMVA) at a special ceremony in Toronto. He was accompanied by Joe Oliver, Minister of FINANCE.

The Prime Minister’s Volunteer Awards recognize two national recipients – one for lifelong achievement and one for an emerging leader – as well as 15 regional recipients, including individuals, businesses and not-for-profit organizations. The awards also highlight best practices in community leadership and encourage partnerships across sectors.

National award recipients are:

• Lifelong Achievement: Dr. Myron & Mrs. Elaine Semkuley, Calgary, Alberta.
• Emerging Leader: Matt Cardwell, Whitby, Ontario.

Regional award recipients are:

• Community Leader: Cody O’Brien (Atlantic); Sylvie Ethier (Quebec); Dr. Syed Aslam Daud (Ontario); Rev. (Dr.) Deborah Olukoju (Prairies); and Raghbir Singh Bains (British Columbia and the North).
• Business Leader: LaHave River Credit Union (Atlantic); Industrial Alliance Insurance and FINANCIAL Services (Quebec); The Printing House Limited (Ontario); Chandos Construction Ltd. (Prairies); and Victory Square Labs (British Columbia and the North).
• Social Innovator: New Brunswick Youth Orchestra (NBYO – Sistema New Brunswick) (Atlantic); La Tablée des Chefs (Quebec); Haven on the Queensway (Ontario); Canadian Western Agribition (Prairies); and Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association (British Columbia and the North).

The recipients were presented with medals, certificates and lapel pins during the ceremony. As part of their recognition package, each recipient will identify a not-for-profit organization to receive a one-time FUNDING grant in their honour. Not-for-profit organizations identified by the 15 regional awards recipients will each receive $5,000, and those identified by the two national awards recipients will each receive $10,000.

Quick Facts

Created in January 2011, the Prime Minister’s Volunteer Awards fulfill a commitment in the 2010 Speech from the Throne to recognize the contributions of Canadian volunteers.
This annual event is aimed at inspiring Canadians from all walks of life to find new ways of making a difference in their communities.
The call for the 2015 nominations for the Prime Minister’s Volunteer Awards will be launched on April 13, 2015, and will run until June 30, 2015.
In 2014, Canada was ranked third in the World Giving Index.

Quotes

“Canada ranks near the very top of the World Giving Index. Our generosity is evident abroad, but it is also plainly seen every day, right here at home. Contributing to their community is the primary motivation for Canadian volunteers, who gladly and freely give their time, energy and experience. I am pleased today to recognize these extraordinary individuals and organizations who are improving the lives of Canadians across the country.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper

“Social challenges are being tackled in new ways across the country. Local organizations could not achieve the incredible level of success they do, and Canadian communities would not be as vibrant if it weren’t for the talented, capable volunteers and charitable efforts of innovative organizations from coast to coast to coast.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

~ Source: pm.gc.ca

Thousands of applicants applied and the list went through its first round of selection. 100 applicants made it and Taranjeet is among them. He is the only Sikh on the list. From these 100, 24 will ultimately be selected for a one way trip to Mars to start the first colony on the red planet. Taranjeet Singh is good mannered, well humored, open-minded, intelligent, adventurous and spiritual. If humans meet martians surely an earthling like Taranjeet will leave a good impression. Here is our conversation with him and going to Mars.

Can you tell us a little more about yourself and your background?

Born and raised in India and Sikh-Punjabi heritage, I am pursuing the doctoral degree in computer science at the University of Central Florida in USA. I served two consecutive years as chairperson in Indian student association spreading Indian cultural awareness and bringing universal integrity among various student organizations. Past two summers, I have taken responsibility of welcoming new Indians student at UCF by arranging airport pickups and temporary accommodations. Outside campus, I have been involved in the various events organized by Interfaith Council of Central Florida and raising awareness of different issues such as anti-bullying in schools and hate crimes in the community.

My hobbies include serving community, exploring scientific knowledge, and spreading smiles. My parents and two elder sister who are married live in Indore, India. I am very simple person who believe that we are spiritual beings on human experience in this world. I value compassion and caring for all people, including self.

Do you have further aspirations for education?

I planned to enter academia after completing my current education. I have been teaching since first years in bachelors. I can understand very mindset of students in order to explain the problem. I love school and its learning environment.

If you are selected for the mission, what will be the first thing you’ll do when you arrive on the red planet?

Obviously, it is very difficult to express emotions and feeling of landing on Mars. It will depend on the mental condition, circumstances as well as hardship involved. One thing is certain that I will pay my gratitude to Waheguru for the safe journey and blessing for the life on Mars. I will stretch my body and take a run on red planet after spending seven months in small transit habitat for sure.

What do you think of the prospect of never returning to earth?

Yes. It is a one way trip to Mars and they have no plans to bring back us as of now. I think it is one incredible opportunity to leave your footprints in the course of human history. Getting people to Mars will be bigger than any single leap of exploration people of this planet ever taken. Regarding the clause “point of no return” also has brighter side to it. This clause actually provides extra motivation to astronauts and prevent them FROM HOMEsickness or mental trauma to pass the time anyway and go back to Earth as nobody will come to take them home and they have to accept Mars as their new home. The separation from loved ones, which will occur certainly at someone point in life, so why having fear of it. As somebody once told, “Future does not belong to the faint hearted, it belongs to the brave”.

Is there anything in Sikhi that helps to inspire you about Mars One?

As a member of the Sikh community, I strongly believe that Sikhi helps me a lot to prepare my mind for this mission. Removing the fear of death, a detachment of worldly things, and taking a righteous stand in the society is all part of the Sikh tradition. Sikh scripture talk about the existence of other worlds where life exist and we are not alone in the universe. I am committed to living my life with Sikh way of life style which includes earn honestly, share with needy and serve selflessly. Living in the Rehat makes me ideal candidate for this mission. Treat others with kindness, abandon any intoxicating substance, and maintain a healthy mental and physical state are valuable teaching of Sikhi.

Do you have a message for the youth?

manas ki jat sabhe eke paihcanbo – recognise all of mankind as a single caste of humanity. It is a great illusion when we think that people living with us in home as our only family. We understand the importance of neighbors when we visit other states. Two Indians share happiness seeing each other in other countries. Similarly, we will understand the importance of being human species together as a family when we start journey out of this earth and start looking for life on another planet. This thinking will give us motivation to unite and bring ends to all wars.

~ Source: sikhnet.com

. The word Nihang literally means crocodile. They describe themselves as the “Akaali,” which means undying or immortal army. They have dedicated their whole lives to defending their faith.

Known for their martial arts, sword fighting abilities, military expertise and bold blue attire, their traditions have changed very little over the past 300 years.

They were initially established by the later Sikh Guru prophets to defend the defenseless (during this time huge amounts of Hindus were being decimated by the Mogul invaders), and to guard Sikh Gurdwara temples.

Today many Nihangs have jobs such as doctors, lawyers, engineers and artists, among other occupations. Many Nihang Sikhs live with very little material wealth and a possession, living spiritual lives, in prayer, training in martial arts and taking care of themselves and helping their communities. Nihangs are saint soldiers – despite being warriors they are a symbol for world peace.

They exist to spread love and preserve peace.

Photographer Mark Hartman traveled to Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, northern India, for the annual Hola Mohalla festival celebrating Holi, a tradition set by the tenth Sikh guru Guru Gobind Singh in the 17th century.

~ Source: www.msnbc.com

RAAG DEVGANDHARI

Devgandhari is an ancient raag…
It is ideally performed in the morning hours.

Guru Ram Das Ji:

Ang 527: says…

I wander here and there, bewildered like a mad person….looking for my Lord.
And later… Now exhausted I have come and surrendered to You…seeking Your sanctuary.

Let me share my thoughts on this painting…
For this one…. I was guided by the exhausting effort…looking for The Lord.
This painting is a metaphor for the tremendous effort that the MIND must undertake in the journey to the Guru.

To show this in physical terms……like going past the trees in the foreground, through the forest, over the hills, across the river, and up the mountains with steeply rising peaks…
This exhausting physical effort is a metaphor for the arduous and challenging journey that the MIND must undertake in search for The Lord.

The source of the light is on the other side of the mountain….suggesting that the effort has to be made first. …..And then with Guru’s grace ….be blessed with Divine light.

~ Dr Navjeet Kaur

RAAG GUJRI.

This is historically an old raaga that was used to sing devotional hymns.

The ideal time to recite this raag is in the rainy season and in the early morning hours.

Guru Arjan Dev ji asks us to reflect:

Ang 495:
I have searched all Shastra’s Vedas and Simritis…they all affirm one thing; without a Guru there is no liberation…..reflect this in your mind. (Vichaaro)

The Guru asks us to reflect upon the guidance given…
How do I reflect? I am surrounded by distractions all around me.
In order to reflect…(to do Vichaar) I must be able to turn my attention inwards, to be able to find a quiet place within me. The inspiration comes from the shell that is curling upon itself, as if going further inwards, of nature giving inspiration. Inspiring me to turn inwards to reflect upon the words of the Guru.

~ Navjeet Kaur (Navi)