News & Update

Sikh community in Pakistan lighted Candle of grief for the children who were massacred in School Attack Peshawar. They stand by the families of the innocent 132 lives in solidarity and pray for their Souls to rest in Peace, “Recognizing the whole Human Race As One.!”

~ Source: Khalsa Aids

Pictures have been unveiled of a new permanent memorial in honor of the Indian Sikh soldiers who fought during World War One. The “WW1 Sikh Memorial” will take the form of a statue at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, and it will commemorate around 130,000 Sikh soldiers who fought in the Great War.

A national campaign for the permanent memorial began back in August. Work is now well underway for the statue, and it is due to be unveiled in a special ceremony at the Arboretum in March next year.

Despite only making up 1% of the Indian population at the time, the Sikh contribution to the war efforts is recognized as remarkable. They constituted 20% of the British and Indian Army and were represented in more than a third of regiments at the time.

The project is being managed by the “Sikhs At War” team as part of its legacy efforts to create British-Sikh heritage initiatives. They say it is to ensure the Sikh sacrifice is never forgotten. The Midlands itself is home to many multi-generation British-Sikh families, many of whom will have an ancestral connection to the WW1 soldiers being honored in Staffordshire.

“The memorial has had a phenomenal amount of support from Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike – and with just weeks to go until we reveal the final statue we’re busy ensuring there is a lasting legacy which will inspire and educate future generations about this heroic war contribution.”

“This is a fitting memorial to our forefathers and will no doubt inspire those Indians serving now and into the future. Whether you are a soldier or a civilian we should all be grateful for the sacrifices made by such a small distinct group such as the Sikhs – and be encouraged that their contribution has made it easier for successive generations in Britain to integrate and be key players in society.”

The memorial’s sculptor is Mark Bibby, who’s from Stamford in Lincolnshire. His grandfather served alongside Indian soldiers during World War 2. He says he’s excited to have been commissioned to make this memorial in recognition of the soldiers.

“I am proud to be able to support a memorial commemorating the Sikh soldiers who fought in the Great War. The valor and courage of Sikh soldiers is something that was quite rightly commended by British Generals – as a nation we should recognize this by building a lasting tribute to the sacrifice of these often forgotten heroes”.

“This is a fantastic initiative to recognize the service, suffering and sacrifice of Sikh soldiers in the First World War. Set in 150 acres, we are home to over 300 memorials to a wide range of conflicts, groups and individuals, with many more in the pipeline. This particular sculpture will highlight and provide a lasting tribute to the 130,000 Sikh soldiers who served between 1914 and 1918, and it will become an important focal point during the period of centenary commemorations.”

The Sikh sacrifices can never be forgotten! And the World shall remember them as Great Warriors!
Dhan Sikhi!

~ Source: itv.com

Gurdwara Shri Baoli Sahib & Shri Goindval Sahib are situated in the Goindwal Sahib in Taran Taaran Distt. This is the first Sikh pilgrimage which was prepared under the supervision of Shri Guru Amar Das Ji in year 1616 AD. GURU SAHIB then blessed this holy place and decreed that whosoever does 84 paaths of JAPJI SAHIB with a pure heart and baths in the BAOLI SAHIB shall be freed from the cycle of birth and death. Shri Guru Amardas JI himself performed Seva of Gurdwara Baoli Sahib.

~ Source: worldgurudwaras.com

Photo Courtesy- Manjot Singh
www.lenspassions.com

The Film Chaar Sahibzaade has emerged as the biggest film in Indian Film history which wasn’t cover it’s cost. Punjabi audiences worldwide have carried the film strong into it’s 6th week and is still going strong at the box office. The film is expected to pass the 60 Crores mark which will be more than double for any Indian Animation Film in History. The film’s response has been so tremendous that distributors cut screens of major Bollywood films to make room for film “Chaar Sahibzaade.”

Here is a look at some of the records the film Broke:

1. Highest Rated Indian Film of all Films in History with an unprecedented rating of (9.8).
2. Highest Rated film in world film history passing the Lion King (8.9) by 1 whole point.
3. Highest Grossing Punjabi Film Ever leaving Jatt and Juliet 2 (Previous Record Holder) far behind.
4. Only Film to run in over 82 screens in Punjab with 150 screens in India and a Record 150+ Screen in it’s 5th Week and still hanging strong.
5. Highest grossing Animation Film in Indian History with earnings triple the previous record holder “Tin-Tin.”
6. All Time Grossing Indian Film in Canada
7. All Time Grossing Indian Film in UK
8. Top 5 grossing Indian Film in New Zealand and Australia All Time
9. Top 5 Grossing Indian Film in USA All Time
10. All Time Grossing Indian Film in countries where usually Indian films don’t screen such as Philippines, Sweden, Singapore.
11. Only Indian Film to play in over 30 Countries.
12. Per Screen Average Higher than any Indian Film in Overseas History
13. Only film in History where free shows were booked.
14. Only Film in Indian History to be seen by the most viewers for the First Time.
15. Only Film to Record Housefull past the 5th Week Worldwide
16. Only Film In Indian Film History to have it’s name Trend on Twitter for over 2 weeks.
17. The film had such a high positive word of mouth that demand was increasing by the hour, unseen ever before.
18. Highest grossing Punjabi Film in South India History
19. Only film to match first-week earnings total
20. Tax Free in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Delhi

~ Source: DailySikhUpdate

Words are not enough to condemn this barbaric slaughter of innocent children. It was a usual day for the kids in Peshawar. Everything was fine, until seven militants got in from the back wall of the Army Public School in Peshawar and took the school kids and staff hostage in the auditorium, where about 400 students were gathered for an event. The militants opened fire, killing everyone from teachers to students as young as ten! This barbaric activity went on for eight hours. In the name of revenge, Taliban took hundreds of lives – lives of kids, innocent little kids, who couldn’t have done anybody any wrong. It is impossible to even gauge how it may have occurred to the terrorists to commit such a savage. The news of 132 kids killed in Peshawar shook the whole world. It was not just a black day for Pakistan, but for humanity.

A teacher is believed to have been burned alive while her pupils were forced to watch as Taliban gunmen stormed a school in Pakistan. Seven Taliban terrorists attacked the Army Public School in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar yesterday, slaughtering 132 children in the deadliest terrorist attack in the nation’s history.

Harrowing eyewitness accounts revealed how students were forced to watch as bodies were burned beyond recognition. Other survivors told how they played dead while insurgents scoured the school looking for children to shoot, before open fire indiscriminately – sometimes with smiles on their faces.During a three-hour orgy of bloodshed, seven jihadists claimed at least 141 lives before themselves being killed.

Distraught parents were in tears as children were admitted to Peshawar’s Lady Reading hospital. As the death toll from the attacks rose, coffins were seen being loaded into vehicles in front of the hospital. The Afghan Taliban have criticized Tuesday’s attack as un-Islamic.

Islam doesn’t support violence nor does any other religion!

A Black Day for Humanity – Wake up World! Let our prayers go out to the hostages & innocent lives lost in ‪#‎PeshawarAttack.

~ Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji used to meditate sitting on this Rock during his stay in Mandi. It is situated in the middle of River Beas, near Gurdwara Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Mandi!

The month of ‘Poh’ (which starts around mid of December) marks the memory of martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s four sons – the ‘Chaar Sahibzaade’. This month brings sadness for the Sikhs as it reminds how Guru Sahib’s Sahibzaade, especially Chhote (younger) Sahibzaade, were martyred by cruel regime of that time.

A tradition of ‘not observing any sort of celebrations during martyrdom days’ used to prevail among the Sikhs until last few decades. In some regions the tradition is still observed by the Sikhs and they do not mark any celebrations during martyrdom days.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) has urged the Sikh masses to resume the tradition and avoid any sort of celebrations during martyrdom days.

In what is known as “Sakka Chamkaur Sahib”, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s elder Sahibzaade – Sahibzaada Baba Ajit Singh Ji and Sahibzaada Baba Jujhar Singh Ji attained martyrdom, while in “Saka Sirhind”, younger Sahibzaade – Sahibzaada Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzaada Baba Fateh Singh Ji, were martyred by bricking them alive in a wall.

Religious functions in Chamkaur Sahib on December 20, 21 and 22 and in Fatehgarh Sahib on December 26, 27 and 28 will mark the memory of martyrdom of Chaar Sahibzaade.

~ Source: SikhSiyasat News

Dr. Arjinder Singh Sekhon joined the United States Army in 1984. He became Amritdhari (Baptised Sikh) when he was 3 year old. During his time of service, his articles of faith never impeded his success. His Sikh identity never interfered with his ability to create strong relationships with his fellow service members. .He lives in Yuba City in California State, USA. His wife Dr Daljit Kaur is dental doctor. He has 2 daughters and 3 sons.

He rose through the ranks to Colonel and was given a Battalion Commander position through which he oversaw a unit of 600-700 soldiers. He was selected 6 times to the post of a Commander to command 5 different battalions and a Special Operations Brigade. He was the first Sikh Indian Physician to become a Colonel. He retired from the Army after 25 years of meritorious service on January 30, 2009.

He fought in the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and then in Operation Enduring freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003. He was also single engine, multi-engine pilot and a combat helicopter pilot. In 1998, a battalion under his command was the only battalion to pass the Exercise Optimum Focus among all army battalions in the United States Army.

Before ending his career, he was decorated with various awards including a Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, an Army Flight Surgeon Badge, two Army Achievement Medals, 6 Army Commendation Medals, two National Defense Medals, and a Global War Against Terrorism Medal. He was given the certificate of achievement by the Secretary of Defense for participating in and winning the cold war.

Born on January 20, 1949 in village Wadala Kalan near Rayya (District Amritsar) he passed higher secondary from Khalsa College Higher Secondary School, Amritsar in 1964, Pre-Medical from Khalsa College, Amritsar in 1965 and MBBS from Govt. Medical College, Amritsar in 1971. He is the son of Ajaib Singh Sekhon who was D.P.E. in Khalsa College Amritsar at that time.

Dr. Sekhon went to the United States in 1973 and became a Board Certified Specialist in the fields of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine and Tropical Medicine. He was awarded a Fellowship in American College of Physicians, American College of Chest Physicians, and American College of Angiology. He went to the University of Northern California Law School to graduate with Jurist Degree and the United States Army War College to graduate with Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies.

In the Army he graduated from United States Army College of Aviation Medicine to become a Flight Surgeon. He joined John F. Kennedy School of Special Warfare and Center to become a Psychological Warfare Officer. He went to National Defense University to graduate from National Security Strategy Course and Army War College to graduate from National Defense Strategy Course. So he became one of the most educated and trained Army officers in the United States Armed Forces. He is the first Indian-American to obtain the one of the highest military education.

In 2006 he entered American Politics to seek the Democratic Party Nomination to the United States House of Representatives and became the first physician from India to win the Primary election and got the Democratic Party nomination by defeating his America born opponent by over 5000 votes.

He has been inducted into the United States Congress library as a historical event for being the first Sikh Colonel to become a Battalion Commander in the United States Army.

Raising High with Gursikhi makes us feel proud & inspires the Sikh Youth Generations to come! Spreading the fragrance of their success worldwide!

Dhan Sikhi! Dhan Khalsa!

~ by Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala
~ Source: http://www.sikhnet.com/