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Though Shanu Kaur works in telecoms, art plays a big role in her life and many of her peers view her primarily as an artist.

Shanu Kaur is an artist working under the name Krantikari Art. She sketches comic book style art hoping to provoke the viewer to think. The pieces tend to be paired with a quote which she feels aptly illustrates the thought as she feels literature is also as important as art. She realised art was important to her when she was a child.

The following questions were asked.

What do you enjoy about your job the most? As much as I enjoyed drawing, I never seriously took time out to work on it and share until I got married and my husband encouraged me to take time out every day to draw. I love how there are no wrong answers with art. And how art can connect people from all walks of life, on lots of different levels. I’m a terribly shy person and tend to find myself tongue-tied in front of an audience. Tools like Facebook andInstagram have been a godsend in that sense.

Considering it is nontraditional, what were your parents’ reaction? How did you deal with their response? My parents have always been encouraging and supportive. It was my own decision not to consider it as a career because I was the one with the “traditional” views when it came to a career-path. I don’t regret this though as I feel having art as a hobby means I don’t have to work under deadlines, chasing a paycheque or to anyone else’s expectations. I tried it. It sucked the fun out.

How do balance family and work and hobbies? I’m still working on a balance but I find the biggest hindrance is procrastination. Watching tv and sitting on social media disrupt the balance.

How do you feel Sikhi inspires your work?I work under the pseudonym Krantikari which means revolutionary. I was always attracted to this word since I was a teenager. Before I got into Sikhi, I was a huge fan of Krantikaris like Bhagat Singh. The Guru is a revolutionary by nature. Sikhi is a revolutionary movement. I say “is” because we focus on the past and the great acts of the Sikhs pre-now, but don’t realize we should still be effecting change in all parts of society. And not only for ourselves. My art hopes to not only educate the ignorant but help you reflect on the times we live in and how we can all be revolutionaries by nature.

What elements of Sikh values are in your work? Part of why I started drawing again was because I was frustrated with not being able to make a change. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think my work really changes the world but I draw in the hope that in the very least, somebody is thinking or reflecting…

What lessons have you learned about Sikhi through your work? I’ve learnt how to be patient. I think part of being an artist is never being satisfied by how your work turns out. You always want to do better. I’ve also had lessons in humility. Most of the people who appreciate my work have given me so much love and encouragement it can be very overwhelming.

What advice do you have for young Kaurs who are unsure of what career they should pursue? My advice for young Kaurs would be to explore what values matter to them the most; and to think about what sort of impact they want to make in the world. I would also encourage them to seek out the support and advice from sangat — we are very fortunate to have the sense of community where everyone wants to help one another. And to always remember — Where there’s a will there’s a way!

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

The Winter Food Drive, the third Canned Food Drive in 2014, was a project of The Sikh Satsang Youth Group under the leadership of Satsang Secretary, Amandeep Singh Sidhu, and Satsang President, Maninder Singh Walia. The Winter Food Drive included a large corporate donation by PepsiCo Asian Network (PAN). The Sikh congregation and its Guru Nanak Food Pantry participated in this important endeavor to support Central Indiana families who depend on Gleaners and other food pantries to feed their families.

Our participation in the Food Drive is in response to the call by the Interfaith Hunger Initiative, the Office of the Mayor of the City of Indianapolis, and as a part of the time honored Sikh commitment to serve and feed the hungry in our midst. Amandeep enthusiastically added: “Food for everybody, no matter what?” and young Jaskirat Kaur, one of the leaders of the Satsang Youth Group, affirmed: “Incredible opportunity to help those in need.”

DISASTER RELIEF AND HUMANITARIAN CAUSES

The Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis and its individual members have a long history of stepping forward and generously assisting in a variety of community and global humanitarian relief efforts and causes over the past nearly five decades: supporting the Indianapolis-Madras Council Orphanage /School in Truchi, India; the Earthquakes in Gujarat, India, and in Pakistan; the devastating Asian and Japanese Earthquake-Tsunamis and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans; The Indianapolis Wheeler Mission, and other causes, crisis, and worthy charities through The Interfaith Hunger Initiative, Gleaners Food Bank, Midwest Food Bank – Food and Disaster Relief, American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis, The Christelhouse Schools for underprivileged in India, The Center for Interfaith Cooperation, The Indianapolis Star’s annual “Season for Sharing” (now renamed: Our Children, Our City), and many others.

In expressing solidarity, adding our voice and support (manpower, materials, and contributions), interfacing and networking with other groups and faith communities, and mainstreaming our presence, energy, and involvements, we have strengthened our sense of belonging, our shared responsibility and common humanity. This commitment is to be celebrated and we hope will always remain our guiding anchor, as we individually and collectively discover our own direction and destiny to be an integral part of the incredible American experience. By our dedicated engagement and contribution to important community and humanitarian endeavors that make a difference to life, opportunities, uplifting the burdens of others, we honor our own spiritual and cultural foundation and proud legacy. For many, that is the true year-round meaning of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Sikhs Baisakhi and Gurpurabs, Diwali, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Dalai Lama’s call for a Century of Compassion, Native American spirit and traditions, other major feasts and festivals of our family of faiths and unifying spiritual precepts.

~ Source: Daily Sikh Update

The three-day festivities of 349th Prakash Utsav (Birthday Celebrations) of Tenth and Last Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singhji, founder of Khalsa Panth and who protected the nation from invaders, concluded on Sunday with thousands of Sikh Devotees and other community faiths celebrating it with religious fervour, gaiety and devotion by offering prayers at Gurdwaras.

The major attraction of the concluding event was organised under the aegis of Prabhandak Committee, Central Gurudwara Saheb Gowliguda, near Koti where over 25,000 Sikh devotees and other community faith participated in the “VISHAAL DEEWAN” (MASS CONGREGATION) by offering prayers to Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji (Holy Scripture of Sikhs) at Central Gurdwara Saheb Gowliguda.

The congregation began this morning at 11.00 AM continued up to 4.30 PM and was marked by the recitations of Gurubani Kirtans and Kathas (Holy Hymns) by the renowned and reputed Ragi Jathas (Sikh Preachers).

Sant Baba Baljit Singh ji Khalsa of Daduwalwale, Bhai Jeevan Singh, (Ludhiana, Punjab), Bhai Hari Singh ji, Bhai Jagbeer Singh (Karimnagar) and other reputed Ragi Jathas who were specially invited from various parts of the country for the important occasion recited Gurbani Kirtans (Holy Hymns) and delivered Gurbani Vichar that stressed on imbibing the higher values of life and communal harmony for which Guru Gobind Singhji strived.

They also have thrown light on the teachings of Sikh Gurus who stood for national integration, peace, brotherhood and communal harmony. They asked devotees to follow the teachings of Guru Gobind Singh ji which are very relevant these days.

After the culmination of the congregation, the traditional Guru Ka Langar (free community kitchen) was served to all the devotees where devotees sit in the same row with great discipline promoting the feelings of togetherness, fraternity and concern for fellow human beings.

Prabhandak Committee, President S Tirlok Singh and General Secretary S.Rashpal Singh welcomed the devotees at the mass congregation.

~ S. Trilok Singh
~ President

~ Source: Sikhnet.com

Gurdwara Sahib located in South Shields, UK is the only known Gurdwara Sahib in the world which runs just on sewa of sangat. This Gurdwara Sahib has no golak, no paid granthis, kirtaniye, committee, or any employee. The Gurdwara is called Khalsa Mero Roop Hai Khaas and is the only Gurdwara to have continues Akhand Jaap since 1984, which means at least 1 person is doing Naam-Jaap at all times since 1984. The Gurdwara first opened up in 1981 by some humble Gursikhs and the tradition has been fully according to sewa for the past 33 years. The normal hardworking Sikh Sangat run the gurdwara, prepare langar, do kirtan, katha, and manage the Gurdwara all voluntarily.

~ Source: Daily Sikh Updates

Gurdwara Baru Sahib also has no paid granthis and is all run by students. The students are brought up with such divine education, they voluntarily participate in Akhand Path, Sehaj Paths, Kirtan, bringing a generation of blessed souls! In this way, they are enlightened with the divine teachings of Shri Guru Granth Sahib with deeper understanding of the Guru Sahib’s Message. These enlightened souls will be the upcoming Proud Sikh Generation to come!

An Enlightened Teacher, Emancipator, A Saint-Soldier

An Enlightened Soul, Light of the Universe, a Lion:
My mind cannot fully fathom, nor can my words possibly describe,
The rare Light that graced our world that was Guru Gobind Singh;
An embodiment of the purest virtues and uncommon excellences,
Generously manifested in this “Murd Agumurra” by God Himself
In amazing personification, in awesome magnificence.

An Enlightened Teacher, Emancipator, a Saint-Soldier,
A brilliant scholar and poet, musician and patron of the arts;
His life, autobiography, and passions attesting to a Divine Mission:
“To set in motion a spiritual and humanitarian renaissance;
Delivering humanity from the tyranny of oppression and evils;
Fighting injustice; assuring dignity of all God’s Children.”

Nanak-Guru Gobind legacy, teachings echo a Universal Spirit:
Seeing diverse cultures and communities of faiths
As God’s beautiful composite Commonwealth;
Their origin threaded and interfaced into Oneness by the Creator.
The Gurus reminded us of God’s unmistaken Commandment:
“Recognize Oneness, Unity, and Divine Spirit in all beings.”

In faithful commitment, with amazing sacrifices:
Sikh faith embraced, defended universal rights and basic freedoms
Centuries before these global concerns and cultural renaissance
Stumbled into global human affairs; welcomed in advanced nations.

Bravest of the Brave, Defender of the Faiths:
A fearless champion of universal equality and justice,
Precious human rights and cherished freedoms:
Sanctity of Life and liberty, right of self-defense;
Guru Gobind sacrificed his all to uphold the great ideals
Enshrined and celebrated in The Sikh Holy Scriptures,
Exemplified in martyrdoms of Gurus Arjan and Teg Bahadur
In defense of sacred principles, inalienable rights and freedoms.

Guru Gobind completed the final Sikh Scriptures:
Entrusting to all humanity the sacred Guru Granth Sahib,
Declaring Holy Granth as living embodiment of the Ten Gurus,
An Eternal Guru and Spiritual Guide of the Sikhs;
For students and pilgrims of faiths, a reservoir of spiritual wisdom,
Revelations, commandments, divine mystery and Eternal Truth.

At 1699-Anandpur Baisakhi, Guru created The Khalsa:
An Army of the Pure to fulfill God’s Mission;
A disciplined fearless force, placing sacred ideals above sacrifice;
In a rarest departure of prevailing traditions then and since,
Erased the distinction between The Master and his true disciples;
Paid glowing tribute, expressed deep gratitude to his Sikhs:
“For mentoring and exalting him by their unbound Grace,
For all battles won; for all his acts of generosity.”
In salutation, lasting gratitude, Guru expressed his pride:
“The Khalsa is my life, my very breath.”

In deep humility, Guru Gobind thanked the Wonderful Lord:
For the privilege of serving, for sacrifices asked of him and his Sikhs
In honoring Almighty’s Command, advancing God’s Mission.
For each of us, Guru Gobind offers a powerful testimonial trail,
A transforming brilliance, a call to be true and trusted soldiers of faith,
Give worthy testimony of life-gifts, God’s entrusted faith-heritage.

A brief earthly sojourn, a proud and momentous legacy:
From his birth at Patna in 1666 to his passing in 1708 at Nanded,
Guru saw much turbulence, darkness, anguish, and inhumanity;
Never lost faith as unfolding events tested his very soul;
Thanked the Wonderful Lord for all the trials and triumphs;
Offered an amazing testimony of Faith as Love, Service of Divine.

Guru’s life and vision have since guided generations of Sikhs and others.
Today Guru’s legacy, spiritual radiance light the farthest reaches of humanity.

A Prayerful Tribute: by Kanwal Prakash “KP” Singh

The New Year Honours lists 2015 recognised the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people across the UK.

The annual New Year’s honour’s list of the UK government included 5 Singhs for their hard work and dedication in the United Kingdom. The list includes The new knights, dames, MBEs and OBEs in the UK and overseas, plus military and police honours.

Proving that age isn’t a barrier to outstanding accomplishments, a British Empire Medal (BEM) is recommended for 103-year-old runner Fauja Singh. He is a keen charity supporter and champion for Age UK, and is widely recognised as the oldest marathon runner in the world.

Fauja Singh, 103, holds the world record for the marathon in his age group – along with five British records – and completed his last competitive 26-mile race in Hong Kong only last year.

The British Sikh runner, who returned to serious running at the age of 89, receives the British Empire Medal in recognition of his athletic achievements.

Source- Daily Sikh Updates

Please contact the following number to get a copy of Jap ji Sahib Gutka for Blind people & associations.

Special thanks to blind shelter, Veers from Delhi who made this happen and our inspiration Bhai Gurmej Singh (Sabka Hazuri Ragi Shri Darbar Sahib Amritsar)

Contact Details- +919964351918