Freed

GurFateh ! Dear Cr/zy, Being a bit of a stubborn pompous git I was all ready to write a huge essay on how architectural features change and how hard it is to maintain a 'stucco' front on a house and how most houses in W12 and W14 have been split into flats and their owners change the features of their houses - I was all set to defend the picture and have a go at you for 'daring' to question it !!!! -- HOWEVER I took a trip to Sinclair Road W14 and discovered that the second picture is of the wrong house !!!! That colour picture came from the website of the 24 hour museum http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/trlout_gfx_en/TRA25902.html I have taken some pictures of 79 Sinclair Road W14 and you can see that it hasn't changed - all the architectural features you mentioned are still there. Here are the pictures ; taken October 2006 I think we have all learnt a good lesson here - Don't believe all you see on the Internet !! Many Thanks Cr/zy for taking the time to post your feedback - It is very much appreciated - If you hadn't I would have been none the wiser. Someone at the 24Hour Museum didn't do their research !!! Once again Thank you !! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

I was always more of a 'Wombles' and 'Bagpuss' man - what with the proto eco warrior message and also the subplot of getting back at 'Trustafarians' - contaminating the 'Pure ideas' of the struggle - by selling them any old tat in your shop( which you either found on Wimbledon Common or was brought into the Shop by Emily) at inflated prices by stringing out some long convoluted story Now we are on the Topic it is imperative - no esstential to the survival of the Panth that 'Smurfs' be boycotted by all Panthic minded people . They are nothing but a RSS funded trap - trying to lure Simple Minded people to the Path of Krishna and idoltry. And you thought that blue colour and high pitched singing was just the product of the over active imagination of some some Scandinavian - NO it is a plot by Hare Krishnas to take over the world To quote another Dodgy Unfunny British Comedy "We're All Doomed ! " Mr Mainwaring .... Who do you think you are Kidding Mr RSS .... Dangermouse was OK Duckula was better - Don't even get me started on Chorlton and the Wheelies or Jamie and his Magic Torch - believe me I am a 'scholar' when it comes to retro Kids TV - having spent many years discussing such toss at length in the Student Union when I should have been at my Psychology lectures - I mean who needs to know about Psychodynamics or hear some half pissed lecturer drone on about Ebbinghaus or master the latest SPSS stats package- in this day and age -when you could be having a heated debate about the merits of 'Rainbow' - I mean why did Bungle wear shorts in the Summer ? or trying to remember the names of the Firemen in Chigley - Pew Hugh Barley Mcgrew Cuthbert Dibble Grub ! Any way enough of this old toss !

That is such a random fact tSingh ! I love it - I thought I was the only one who remembered the oddest things and yes I do remember - that bloke from 'allo 'allo did get knocked on the head. They don't make programmes like that anymore - Thank God ! Listen very carefully I shall say this only once ! The pill in the till, the drug in the jug, the candle with the handle on the gateau from the chateau and the painting of the fallen Madonna with the big boobies ! Complete Tosh -it was so bad it was almost good !

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji ki Fateh ! I recently found this video - it is from a programme shown on Channel 4 (UK) in around 1986. The programme was 'The Faiths Next Door' - in the clip you will see footage of a Rain Sabai Keertan in Barking, Essex UK. There are lots of familiar faces from The Akhand Kirtani Jatha UK - all a lot younger - it features a young Bhai Manjit Singh Glasgow performing Keertan - and some Gatka. See who you can recognise ! The clip is from a very dusty old video and if I remember correctly there was a storm that week so my TV aeriel had moved ! that explains the fuzzy pictures ! Enjoy the Clip - click on the link: http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...56&hl=en-GB Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh ! I was having a discussion the other day about what first sparks an interest in Sikhi. We hear a lot about how people 'nowadays are not interested in Sikhi' I thought I'd post this video from 1974 - as it marks the moment that first sparked an interest in Sikhi for me. I was born and brought up in England in your average Doaba Jatt family - We used to go to Gurdwara on Sundays ( a rented School Hall) - I didn't really understand Gurdwara - it was an opportunity to mess around - having races in the school corridors and playing the school piano. When the Sangat bought a property to make a Gurdwara - I have a distinct memory of thinking the Gurdwara was the then President of the committee's house and wondering why it was always Christmas at his house because of all the decorations ! ( I was little at the time !) In 1974 and 1975 Sant Isher Singh Rara Sahib Wale came to our home town and nearby Hitchin - I remember it was really Hot and we went 'enmasse' in a coach to the Diwan - It was like a fun school trip - I was only 5 at the time when we got to the Diwan I remember being mesmerized by the Kirtan - and the way the entire Sangat was involved. The Tune that Sant Ji played at the beginning and the Guru Ustotar at the end captivated me . To this day I still love the Shabad 'Me jan tera' and the 'Dhan He Dhan He' Guru Ustotar. I loved the way the Chimta players would hold the chimta aloft and play with arms stretched above their heads.(Real 'Theatre' reminiscent of the theatre of a catholic mass.) It was a real 'Moment' in my life . - it sparked a interest and search that I still have with me today. Many times on SA people argue about Sant Ji's style of kirtan or write about the Akhand Kirtani Jatha style of Kirtan - but I believe it is all 'prachar' - as tSingh has said in one of his posts. We all have to start somewhere . Kirtan in Sangat is amazing especially when all the Sangat is involved - it may sound melodramatic but it as if the Sangat is 'Floating' This kind of Kirtan may not be to everyone's liking (pejoratively called 'pakhand', 'headbanging' or 'hyperventilating' on SA) but it lights a spark - that spark then leads to personal searches/journies and does lead to people finding all the Wonders of Sikhi including Raag Kirtan. As Guru Sahib says 'Aap(u) aapuni budh he jeti. Barnat bhin bhin tuhe teti' Bhul chuk Maaf - and thankyou for the indulgence of this post. The Video clip is from 12 August 1974 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. - it includes the tune that started the Diwan and the Bhagat Ravi Das Shabad 'Me Jan Tera' - ( If you look closely you will see me aged 4 with a white rumaal on my Jura !! right at the front !) The Clip ; http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...67&hl=en-GB GurFateh! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Vaheguru ji ka Khalsa Vaheguru ji Ki Fateh ! As a Tribute to Bhai Gian Singh Surjeet, here is a small clip of Bhai Sahib from 1985 (in Derby UK) - a small token of Respect and Love. Bhai Sahib was an Inspiration and Mentor to many and will be sorely missed - not only by the Gravesend Sangat but by all. (apologies for the video quality it is from a very dusty old video tape) Click on the Link for the Clip ; http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...33&hl=en-GB I echo the words of Bhai sahib - "Jhoolte Nishan Rehe Panth Maharaj Ke " GurFateh ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh ! Warm Wishes to all - Hope you all have a Wonderful Diwali ! *Sahib Sri Guru Hargobind Ji * Gurdwara Bandi Chhor - Gwalior - Madya Pradesh,India *Diwali in Amritsar Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Gurfateh! The Samadh of Maharaja Ranjit Singh This clip gives a brief glimpse of the Samadh (Tomb) of Ranjit Singh as it was in 1988. You can see the Urns containing part of the ashes of Ranjit Singh and 11 of his wives who committed 'Sati' and were cremated with him. You also get a brief glimpse of the intricate ceilings. The Urns have been 'removed' quite recently as mentioned in one of Amandeep Madra Bhai Sahib's posts; http://www.sikhawareness.com/sikhawareness...pakistan+samadh here is the link to the video http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...42&hl=en-GB Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

More great information Thanks Amandeep ! Here is the caption that goes with the photo it mentions a few names (Kirpal S Sagoo , Mohan Singh Rawalpindi and Wing Commander Basant S Judge) - Great news about the book I look forward to that . In our house we reckon Khushwant Singh is this chap What do you think? - I suppose we're all used to the older Slightly dishelleved Khushwant with his trademark orange 'safa' - but he was quite dapper in his youth . If you compare the young man in the photograph with this picture from Khushwant Singh's biography (written by his son Rahul) there is a passing resemblence . Anyway enough of the Sherlock Holmes business !!! Here is a picture of 79 Sinclair Road Shepherds Bush London W12 - where the Gurpurb picture was taken - When it was still a Gurdwara * Taken from Challenge To Imperial Hegemony - The Life story of a Great Indian Patriot , Udham Singh - Navtej Singh - PUP - 1998 Is that a Nishan Sahib you can see the on the terrace above the door archway? - from the old style car and the 'Mini' parked outside the photgraph must be from the early 1960s. Here is a picture of the House today Here is a picture of the 'New' Shepherds Bush Gurdwara (Queensdale Rd W11) from the 1990s and here it is as it is today I heard a rumour that the building may be sold - does anyone know if that's true ? I guess with the extension of the Congestion Charge and the 'potential' - of any building in that postcode (by that I mean serious 'Notting Hill' cash) may mean that selling it may be too attractive an option. But it would be a shame.

Perhaps you may like to look at this link - a post by Mehtab Singh Bhai Sahib on this site - it may answer your question http://www.sikhawareness.com/sikhawareness...dd7bf4f628042b2

Dear Nirinder, I forgot to add the clearer version ! Here it is - sorry about the delay ! detail of Udham Singh detail of Indarjit Singh Enjoy Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Gurfateh ! The Horrors of Partition 1947 This clip is from the 1986 mini series of Bhisham Sahni's novel - 'Tamas'- It is very powerful - it dramatises the events in the Potohar and Bari Doab areas of West Punjab. In a village Sikhs gather in a Gurdwara to protect themselves from Muslims - The Muslims attack- the menfolk go to fight - the women then gather in the darbar - the singing of 'Gagan Damama Bajeo' sends shivers down your spine . When the women realise the muslims are coming into the Gurdwara they march to a well and jump in -to save their honour - taking the Singhaneen of mir mannu 's prison as inspiration. at the end you will see that Rababis come into the gurdwara and sing 'Jagat Jalanda Rakh' - the Rababis have been stopped by the Muslims from going to the gurdwara to perform kirtan saying they are 'Kafirs' for singing Gurbani - but also the Sikhs have stopped the rababis from coming saying they are muslims. The clip is very powerful - and shows the sacrifices of Sikh women during Partition. Click on this link to see the clip (apologies for the quality !) http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...19&hl=en-GB Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Gurfateh ! This clip is from an old yatra video made by the ISYF Southall in the late 1980s It is an incredible documentary - I believe it was made for Pakistan TV It really is amazing I first watched it many years ago - and I still love it - the way it is made and the wonderful Punjabi voiceover is excellent. The film is just tacked on to the end of the Yatra video made by the ISYF (which isn't that well made) however I wouldn't be lying if I say this is one of the best sikh history films I have ever seen . The Film shows the Sikh Gallery in the Lahore Fort Pakistan - which houses the Princess Bamba Collection it includes the Famous 'Dussehra' painting of Ranjit Singh's Darbar by A. Schoefft. It also includes many other treasures from The Sikh Raj. Enjoy it - Please accept my apologies for the atrocious quality !! http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...52&hl=en-GB Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Gurfateh ! Here is a clip from the Punjabi film 'Nanak Naam Jahaaz hai' - It shows the toshekhana in Darbar Sahib Amritsar - it includes the Jarau Chattar and sehra donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh Also it shows the canopy given to Ranjit Singh by the Nizam of Hyderabad which he gave to Amritsar - he received a punishment for donating something that he had used himself (the punishment was he gave Amritsar the Jagir and revenue of 2 villages one in Kangra one in Gurdaspur) This canopy was destroyed in the 1984 army attack. You can also see the Chaur made of strands of Sandalwood made and gifted by haji Mohd Maskeen in 1925 Apologies for the quality ! http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...19&hl=en-GB Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

*taken from Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Steek (Fareedkot Wala Teeka) - Bhasha Vibhag -4th ed 1992 - page 1005 Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh ! This large post was prompted by the visit of my niece. She is starting to learn to read and has become a real book-worm, she loves Lemony Snicket and Harry Potter but she also loves to come to her Mama's house (me) to read my books on Sikh Heritage, especially 'Warrior Saints' 'Sikh Heritage' and 'The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms'. It was while looking through these that she came out with a very pertinent and cutting question - the way kids do - "where are all the pictures of Sikh women ?" It then struck me that she was right, many of those books have absolutely no pictures of women. Some may have mythological depictions of Sita and Parbati or Raag Raagnis,some have portraits of Rani Jindan, but many have none at all. This prompted my wife and me to look through all our books and these pictures represent the collection we found for my niece. It is our hope this collection will help inspire and educate everyone on the pivotal role of Sikh women. The list is not exhaustive - it is limited to pictures we could find in our book collection. This post is dedicated to All Sikh Women - All Mothers, Guru Ke Mahel , Mahaan Shahids, Brave steadfast bahadar Singhaneean. To all Mata-jis, Bee-jis, Respected Grandmothers and mothers, Cherished sisters,soulmate partners and beloved daughters. In a time when daughters are still murdered in Punjab (and around the world) despite Guru sahib's command - Sikhi is the only dharam that expressly forbids the murder of female children - perpetrators being called 'Kurimaar' and ostracized by the sangat - this crime still persists - before it was done by placing 'Gur' in the mouth of the baby girl and saying ; "Gur khayeen te puni kateen , Aap na ayeen veeran nu ghateen" ( eat sugar and spin cotton , come not again but send brothers) now it is murder perpetrated in the sex determination clinic. Misogyny is still rife in Punjab despite Guru Sahib's Hukums - when Guru Nanak was asked by the Siddhas why he had "added yeast to milk" by leading a householders life he replied that you denounce women but you still rely on women as you go begging for food to them. The same question was asked to Guru Hargobind he replied that ; Daulat guzran hai Aurat Iman hai Puttar nishan hai (money is my servant, Wife is my conscience and children keep the race going) Still today in popular Punjabi culture you will hear that - "a women is like a shoe" that "Janani di matt pichey geechee vich hundi" ( a women's brain is in the back of her head) such sexist views are very prevalent as well as many superstitions regarding women. It is my hope that this post will show how women have played a pivotal role in Sikhi and continue to do so. It is mothers who care for and cherish their children's Kesh and show the importance of Kesh. It is mothers who instill the self confidence in their children to wear turbans It is mothers who enshrine beautiful gurbani in the hearts and on the lips of their children It is mothers who place gutkas into the hands of their children , who sing their children to sleep with gurbani "Tati Vao na lagaien" (Bilaval M5). I bow my head to these Mahaan Sikh Women ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed' The birth of Guru Nanak - from a Baba Atal Tower fresco - showing Mata Tripta and Bibi Nanaki A painting showing the same scene *from Punjab Painting - RP Srivastava - Abhinav - 1983 - plate 130 Guru Nanak rejects the Janao detail of Bibi Nanaki The marriage of Guru Nanak *from The Sikhs - T S Randhawa - Prakash - 2000 - pg 102 Bibi Nanaki and her husband Jai Ram - Bibi Nanaki is sometimes referred to as the first Sikh *from Sikh Heritage in Paintings- Makhan Singh - Perfect - 1995 pg19 Guru Nanak with his parents returns from his 12 year 'udasi' *from B40 Janamsakhi Guru Baba Nanak Paintings - S Hans - GNDU - plate 6 The wife of Guru Nanak - Mata Salakhani with their sons Lakhmi Das and Sri Chand The Guru Sahiban spoke out against Sati (burning of the widow with her husband)and Pardah (the veil) Guru Amar Das set up 'Manjian' to do 'prachar' which were like 'parishes' . He appointed men as well as women * From Makhan Singh 1995 pg 28 Mata Khivi - Mata Khivi the wife of Guru Angad Dev. Mata Ji has the unique honour of being the only contemporary of the Guru Sahib's to be mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib - Her dedication and sewa is recorded in Ramkali Ki Waar *from Makhan Singh 1995 *from Fareedkot wala Teeka STTM translation balava(n)dd kheevee naek jan jis bahuthee shhaao pathraalee || Balwand says that Khivi, the Guru's wife, is a noble woman, who gives soothing, leafy shade to all. la(n)gar dhoulath va(n)ddeeai ras a(n)mrith kheer ghiaalee || She distributes the bounty of the Guru's Langar; the kheer - the rice pudding and ghee, is like sweet ambrosia. This Shabad is by Bhatt Sathaa and Balvand in Raag Raamkalee on Ang 967 Bibi Bhani - Bibi Bhani the daughter of Guru Amar Das - has the unique honour of being a Guru's daughter, Guru's wife (Guru Ram Das) , Guru's Mother (Guru Arjan Dev). The mother of the first Sikh Shaheed Guru Arjan , her great grandson was Guru Tegh Bahadar , Great Great Grandson was Guru Gobind Singh. Tradition says that Bibi Bhani was dedicated to the sewa of Guru Amar Das Ji - her father and in contrast to Punjabi tradition continued this sewa after her marriage to Guru Ram Das *from Sikh Heritage - Dr Daljeet - Prakash - 2004 - pg 65 Mata Ganga - The wife of Guru Arjan Dev -She received from Baba Buddha the blessing that her son would be a great warrior whose powers no one could tame - Guru HarGobind Sahib *from Album Central Sikh Museum - P. Satbir Singh - 1996 - pg 34 This is the rath (carriage) said to have been used by Mata ji to visit Baba Buddha *from Gurdwaras in India and Pakistan - Mohinder Singh - NIPS- 2004 - pg 57 Mata Sulakhani - receives a blessing from Guru Hargobind Sahib - her entire family sacrificed their lives for the Panth * from Makhan Singh 1995 Mata Gujri - wife of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Mother of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Mata Sahib Devan / Sahib Kaur -- Mother of the Khalsa *from Gurdwaras Patwant Singh - HB- 1992 - pg 54 Gold panel from Baba Atal Tower * both from Randhawa ( 2000) *from Makhan Singh (1995) Mata Gujri and The Sahibzadas in the Thanda Burj *from Makhan Singh (1995) Mata Ji and The Sahibzadas receiving milk from Moti Mehra in the Thanda Burj *from P. Satbir Singh 1996 - pg 44 Mai Bhago - The Brave *from Makhan singh 1995 The Rifle said to belong to Mai Bhago kept at Nander Mata Sundari Ji - The wife of Guru Gobind Singh Ji - Mata Ji guided the Panth during the early 1700s . Mata Ji commissioned Bhai Mani Singh to collect the writings of Guru Gobind Singh and compile the Dasm Granth Sahib. *from Patwant Singh 1992 A Hukumnama sent by Mata Sundari Ji From Dr Daljeet (2004) pg 109 Gurdwara Mata Sundari, Delhi *from Patwant Singh 1992 pg 113 The Tradition of the Faithful Bibi Rajni and her leper husband - cured by faith *from Makhan Singh 1995 The Brave Faithful Singhneean in Mir Mannu's prison - we remember these brave Sikh women in our ardas - who in the1700s were imprisoned and tortured made to grind 60kg had their children butchered infront of them but stayed true to the last *from P Satbir Singh (1996) Gyani Gyan Singh's description of Sikh Women - When the Khalsa Walked unopposed into Delhi 1781 *from Panth Prakash - Gyani Gyan Singh - Bhasha Vibhag - 1987 Ed- pg 1150-4 Sardarni Sada Kaur - Wife of Gurbakhsh Singh Sardar of the Kanhaiya Misl - fought in battle against Ranjit Singh - though eventually sought an alliance by marrying her daughter to Ranjit Singh. It is said that see was the power behind the throne and that she "was the ladder by which Ranjit singh reached the Summit of power" Sketch of Sardarni Sada Kaur - attributed to Kehar Singh *from Punjab Painting - RP Srivastava - Abhinav - 1983 - plate 53 Rani Mehtab Kaur - daughter of Sada Kaur - married to Maharaja Ranjit Singh and mother of Maharaja Sher Singh *from a flyer for a Lecture on Sikh women Rani Chand Kaur - daughter of Jaimal Singh Kanhaya - married to Maharaja Kharrak Singh , mother of Kanwar Nau Nihal Singh *from Maharaja Ranjit Singh - Jean-Marie Lafont - Oxford -2002 pg 133 Rani Jindan - Rani of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and mother of Duleep Singh. from a fresco in the Haveli of the Sandhanwalia Sardars of Raja Sansi *from Maharaja Ranjit Singh ,as patron of the Arts - Marg 1981 *from Lafont (2002) *from Sikh portraits by European Artists - F S Aijazuddin - 1979 - plate v The famous Rani Jindan Portrait *from The Kapany Collection The hands of Rani Jindan cast in marble by Duleep Singh *from Maharaja Ranjit Singh - Mohinder Singh - NIPS 2002 pg 73 The Death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh *from The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms - Susan Stronge - V&A 1999 A Sikh woman soldier *from Dr Daljeet 2004 pg 143 A Sikh Marriage Detail - while Sikh female portraiture is rare - it is even rarer to see depictions of elders *from Sikh Art - Kerry Brown - Routledge - 1999 plate 9 Bhai Vir Singh Detail * from Brown 1999 plate 20 "The departure of the Heroes" soldiers leaving for a campaign detail * from Marg 1981 Depictions of Nihangs and Nihangnis / Singhanees *from Piety and Splendour - B N Goswamy -Nat Mus 2000 A verse from Prof Mohan Singh's Rani Sahib Kaur - she was a princess from the Patiala Dynasty - who fought the Marathas. This is a famous poem - My Mother would recite it to us as children. *from 'Rani Sahib Kaur' - Kasumbhrha - Prof Mohan Singh -Lahore Book Shop - pg 53 Pilgrims at the Darbar Sahib Pilgrims at Darbar Sahib Amritsar - during the visit of the Prince of Wales 1905 The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 1919 Bibi Balbir Kaur - whilst demonstrating in the Jaito Morcha on Feb 21 1923, Bibi Ji was shot at by British Troops - the bullet hit her child -which she was carrying - she laid the child by the side of the road and carried on the march singing Gurbani, eventually she was also shot. Just on that day 100 people were killed The Panja Sahib saka - in 1922 a train carrying Sikh prisoners arrested during the Guru ka Bagh morcha was passing through Panja Sahib railway station - Sikhs gathered to feed them Langar , but the British refused to stop the train. The Sikhs said if Guru Sahib can stop a rock with his hand his Sikhs can stop a train - so Men and Women sat on the track and stopped the train. The Jaito Morcha *from Makhan Singh 1995 The Cover of Bhai Vir Singh's 'Sundri *from Sundri - Bhai Vir Singh - BVSSS - 1983 ed Portrait of Rani Raj Kaur - from an edition of Rana Surat Singh - by Bhai Vir Singh *from The Feminine Principle in the Sikh Vision of the Transcendent - Cambridge - 1993 Illustration from Bhai Vir Singh's Punjabi Autumn * from Nargas songs of a Sikh - Bhai Vir Singh trans Puran Singh - J M Dent - 1924 Cover of Warrior Princess * from Warrior Princess - Harjit Lakhan - 2001 Maharani Bakhtavar Kaur - senior Rani of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala - grandmother of Capt. Amrinder Singh CM of Punjab *from The Unforgettable Maharajas - Paul & Kapoor - 2003 The Horrors of Partition 1947 This clip is from the 1986 mini series of Bhisham Sahni's novel - 'Tamas'- It is very powerful - it dramatises the events in the Potohar and Bari Doab areas of West Punjab. In a village Sikhs gather in a Gurdwara to protect themselves from Muslims - The Muslims attack- the menfolk go to fight - the women then gather in the darbar - the singing of 'Gagan Damama Bajeo' sends shivers down your spine . When the women realise the muslims are coming into the Gurdwara they march to a well and jump in -to save their honour - taking the Singhaneen of mir mannu 's prison as inspiration. at the end you will see that Rababis come into the gurdwara and sing 'Jagat Jalanda Rakh' - the Rababis have been stopped by the Muslims from going to the gurdwara to perform kirtan saying they are 'Kafirs' for singing Gurbani - but also the Sikhs have stopped the rababis from coming saying they are muslims. The clip is very powerful - and shows the sacrifices of Sikh women during Partition. Click on this link to see the clip (apologies for the quality !) http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=...19&hl=en-GB Morcha for Punjabi Suba 1960 These pictures show women at the forefront of the Morcha for Punjabi Suba - the second picture is of a widow of a protester shot at Patiala courting arrest with her children in Amritsar *from The Illustrated History of the Sikhs 1947 -78 - Gur Rattan Pal Singh -1979 Women at the Forefront of the 'Dharam Yudh Morcha' of the 1980s *from Khalsa Panth - Khushwant Singh Raghu Rai - 1984 The Ghallughara 1984 The Army Attack on Darbar Sahib - painted by The Singh Twins Details The Singh Twins at work *from Twin Perspectives - Paintings by Amrita and Rabindra KD Kaur Singh - 1999 Delhi Massacre 1984 Widows Arpana Kaur , infront of her work depicting the horrors of the Delhi massacre *from The Sikhs - Khushwant Singh Raghu Rai Widows of the Chattisinghpore Masscre in Kashmir Dr Inderjit Kaur - who carries on the Great work started by Bhagat Puran Singh at the Pingalwara Amritsar *from Garland around my neck - Patwant Singh Harinder Kaur Sekhon - 2001 Sewa Simran Amrit *from Khalsa Panth - Khushwant Singh Raghu Rai 1984 Tender Touch The Archeress Pure Longing - This painting by Gurkirn Kaur Khalsa shows her desire and that of all Sikh women to perform the Ishnan sewa at Darbar Sahib - still denied to women *from Pure Longing Fulfilled - Gurukirn Kaur Khalsa 1999 The Care and Cherishing of Kesh The closest women have come to perfoming Kirtan Sewa at Darbar Sahib - 1979 Vikram Singh and Jatha Rehat Pyari *from Spirit Born Magazine - Vaisakhi 1999 A Mother's Poem *Taken from Style of the Lion -Jasprit Singh Theresa Singh - Akal - 1998 - pg 93 Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Gurfateh ! There has been much said and done in the name of 'Beadhbi' I wholeheartedly agree with the Uk based movement to stop the Prakash of Guru Sahib in Hotels and marriage halls etc - however things are never black and white. One man's beadhbi is another's 'Sharda' In many UK Gurdwaras only certain types of people are allowed to do certain sewa - in towns with large Sangats this is no problem however in smaller towns their are problems . Is it beadhbi to allow a 'Mona' to do chaur sewa or Sukasan - or beadhbi to not do it at all? I don't have any answer to this but I have seen some "interesting" occurences - I have seen Ardas performed by a 'Mona' in a USA Gurdwara (Though I did wince a little when he said 'Sikhi Kesha swasa naal nibhaiye' - I admit ) and complete Akhand Paths performed by what some call Non -Sikhs How can we say Guru sahib is 'Jagat Guru' but then selfishly stop others (including many Sikhs ) from having the opportunity to have Guru Sahib's darshan sewa ? On a side note if you do a straw poll amongst Many Sikhs you will find that many have never seen Guru Sahib - by that I mean they may 'Matha Tek' at the Gurudwara but they have never - and I hope this is not direspectful!, seen under the Rumallas. What are people thoughts ? I am posting some pictures - I'll let the Sangat on SA decide if this is Beadbi or not - I have almost posted these a number of times but always stopped as they may cause offence or a big heated debate Admin Please remove if you feel they are disrespectful. Pictures from a UAE gurdwara in Dubai - People who have seen this have objected to the 'Pathi' in Nehru Caps / rumals and the many Pictures and Photos of Religious figures. In my home town there is a seperate 'Guru Ravi Das Bhavan' before this was built this particular sangat would come to the 'Main ' gurdwara to celebrate Bhagat Ravi Das' birthday - all the men would wear these caps - nowadays they tend to wear rumaals. Perhaps this is the case in this Gurdwara this next picture is from the Ram Rai Dehra in DehraDun It appears that the ladies are reading from Guru Sahib - There doesn't appear to be a 'Chandoa' (Canopy) and heads are not covered The Future ??? This last picture was taken by Amandeep Madra Bhai Sahib - it shows a Jain temple in Pakistan which is now a private residence - note the TV in the Palki. I often wonder what will become of the Many Gurdwaras in some UK towns - will they face the same fate as Many Beautiful Churches which have no congregations and are now Studios , night clubs, private houses ,Mosques and Gurdwaras ? I have no intention to offend - I just wanted members opinions and views Are these cases of beadhbi or people trying to find Guru Sahib and takes steps toward Him ? Bhul Chuk Maaf Freed

GurFateh ! To all sangatan on SA ! I have been sent this beautiful picture of Akali Nihangs - I have no details of where it's from or it's date - But it is Wonderful ! It shows Akalis playing chess , Combing their Kesh and doing 'ragra'. I am particularly struck by the Chess - as this debunks the myth that all Nihangs were and are 'drug addled simpletons' - a myth which is quite prevalent in some circles. The picture brings to mind the Glorious shabad of Guru Arjan Sahib *from Aadi Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Steek - (Fareedkot Wala Teeka) Jild 1 pp 1107 - Bhasha Vibhag Patiala 4th ed 1992 STTM translation Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gujri on Pannaa 522 Fifth Mehla: naanak sathigur bhaettiai pooree hovai jugath || O Nanak, meeting the True Guru, one comes to know the Perfect Way. hasa(n)dhiaa khaela(n)dhiaa paina(n)dhiaa khaava(n)dhiaa vichae hovai mukath ||2|| While laughing, playing, dressing and eating, he is liberated. ||2|| I suppose some may have a few minor issues with the picture - such as the the dastar being on the floor when combing the kesh - maryada states that dastar should be tied sitting in 'Asan' , 'kacchera' should be covered and dastar should not touch 'kacchera' or the ground . Another issue could be the performing of 'Ragra' bareheaded - However I don't think these detract the beauty of the image . Also are they playing chess? - I thought it could be 'Chaopar' as mentioned in Gurbani and famously played in the MahaBharat - but I believe that is played on a cross type 'board' with dice - so I have stuck with Chess. Here is the picture - Enjoy ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Gur Fateh All Our Prayers and Thoughts are with the families who have lost their Loved ones. Full Story http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england...ria/5377346.stm

Gurfateh ! Monty (bless his cotton socks!) doing more for UK Sikh PR !! Is this the first use of the word 'Patka' in the UK papers ? anyway a feelgood article ! http://sport.guardian.co.uk/columnists/sto...1844880,00.html Marvellous Monty joins the Singhs of praise A sporting life Frank Keating Tuesday August 15, 2006 Guardian Monty's not a one-off. Sporty Sikhs decorate the legend. On Thursday, more than three decades on, another 24-year old patka-wearing Sikh, mystically gifted, comes to The Oval to weave his spells. Bishen Singh Bedi was the very same age, and I savour the thrill of enchantment at my very first sight of him twirling his softly supple southpaw slows alongside the gasometers that midsummer of 1971. The preening choc-caps of Surrey were on their way to another county championship but that day, against the Indian tourists, successively one by one their batsmen - Stewart, Younis, Roope, Storey, Intikhab, Long, Arnold - were dispatched to the hutch, shaking their heads in baffled embarrassment at the Sikh's placidly lethal cocktail of curve and loop and spin. I could revel more in the bewitching spinmeister because, for the next five summers, I beat a path to watch his serenely captivating bowling for Northamptonshire. Is it something in the air at the matey old County Ground because it is also the home paddock of England's Monty of the moment - 24-year-old Mudhsuden Singh Panesar? Half close your eyes and in uncannily evocative outline, Monty could be resplendent ol' Bish wheeling away down there: two peas in a pod, two pearls in the same shell. If Panesar has, of a sudden, so delighted English cricket, he has warmed, too, the proud community of some half a million fellow Sikhs in Britain. Panesar speaks of his pride in his roots and his faith. Like Bedi, he wears the ancient religious symbols, the metal bracelet and, in his patka, the lock of uncut hair bound in a tiny comb inlaid with a silver sword. "Some of our successful Sikhs in Britain, alas, see continuing with such accoutrements as a hindrance, but Panesar has been an inspiration," says Indarjit Singh, editor of the Sikh Messenger. Historically, us Brits were led to believe that the Sikhs were big brawny fellows, square-shouldered, strong-armed and strong-willed for sport or battle. Despite a couple of mentor Bedi's recent star pupils - the lulling lefties Maninder Singh and Harbhajan ("The Turbanator") Singh - traditionally, we conjectured, Sikhs were not guileful in the arts and crafts of spin and made only sturdy pace bowlers or bold and bonny batsmen. I remember fondly, for instance, the strapping Sikh, Balwinder Sandhu, deceptively quick, who set in train India's day of days at Lord's in the 1983 World Cup final by at once clean-bowling Gordon Greenidge for next to nothing; and, of course, as a boy I read of how Amar Singh, in India's first ever Test match in 1932 at Lord's, dismissively swept away Sutcliffe, Ames, and Hammond - after which (in the days when quotes were quotes) the latter, England's champion Wally, ruefully pronounced: "He came off the pitch like the crack of doom." As for lusty Sikh batsmen, I recall vividly how Navjot Sidhu, bearded chin and kestrel's eye, took a fierce Test 100 at Madras off Graham Gooch's England on the 1992-93 tour. A Sikh prince was almost founding father of Indian cricket, certainly its first regal patron. The Maharajah of Patiala was devoted to (in reverse order) wine, women and cricket. He organised the first tour of cricketing Indians (mostly Parsees) to England in 1911, and hired such luminaries as Wilfred Rhodes and George Hirst to spend winters coaching his Test player son, Yuvraj. Side by side with the rise of cricket, of course, was hockey. Phenomenally, India were Olympic hockey champions seven out of eight times between the Games of 1928 and 1964 (losing only in the 1960 final to Pakistan); those immortal sides, imperishably embedded in sporting lore, were peppered with no end of immortal Sikhs - Udham Singh won four successive golds, Balbir Singh scored nine of the team's 13 goals in the 1952 tournament, Randhir Singh Gentle scored a double hat-trick six in the 1956 final alone. Singhs of Praise, indeed. I was 17 when I saw my first celebrated Sikh sportsman. The Daily Express called Milkha Singh "the Turbanned Tempest" when he spreadeagled the 440-yards field at the 1958 Empire Games in Cardiff. Wow, he went thataway! Two years later, Milkha was fourth, by a blink, at the Rome Olympics in the, still, best ever 400m final when every runner broke the 46-second barrier and the first two (Davis of the US and Kaufmann of Germany) obliterated the world record. As a teenager, Milkha had lost his entire family in the horrors of partition but now, home a hero in Kashmir and to encourage Indian athletes, he offered the equivalent in rupees of £3,000 to anyone who could break his Olympic time of 45.73 secs. All of 38 years later, in 1998, a Sikh policeman Paramjeet Singh claimed to have beaten it by 0.03 of a second at a local meet. Sensing a timekeepers' plot, old Milkha flatly refused to pay up. Well, sporting Sikhs are sticklers for accuracy and shrewd with it. Two qualities which make for priceless spin bowlers.

Gurfateh ! Here is a small version of the picture - I'll post the larger version soon - my scanner is on the blink !! *taken from www.sikh-heritage.co.uk

"My Homage to the primal Guru, my homage to the Guru who has existed throughout the ages. My homage to the true Guru, my homage to the supreme Guru" (first salok sukhmani sahib) Dedicated to "Shaheedan da SirTaaj" Sahib Siri Guru Arjan Sahib Ji - to mark the 400th Shaheedi Purb of Guru Sahib. "As fishes are at one with the waves of the river, So was the Guru, immersed in the River that is the Lord: As the moth merges itself at sight into the flame, So was the Guru's light merged with the Divine Light. In the extremest hours of suffering he was aware of nothing but the Divine Word, Like the deer who hears no sound but the ringing of the hunter's bell. Like the humming-bee who is wrapped inside the lotus, He passed the night of his life as in a casket of bliss; Never did he forget to utter the Lord's word, even as the chatrik fails never to utter its cry; To the man of God joy is the fruit of devotion and meditation with equanimity in holy company. May I be a sacrifice unto this Guru Arjan." (Bhai Gurdas - vaar 24,p 23) (trans from Ency. of Sikhism) Pahari Portrait of Guru Arjan Sahib Darshan of the Kartarpuri Bir Gurdwara Dehra Sahib - Lahore Interior Dehra Sahib Lahore Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

Some pictures that didn't show up on the original post : Bullet hole in the angs of Guru Sahib (Sheesh Mahal - Darbar Sahib) Positions on the Minar of the Ramgarhia Bunga Singhs

"Parnam" to the Shaheeds of the 1984 Ghallughara Waheguru ji ka Khalsa Waheguru ji ki Fateh ! This post is dedicated to the Countless Men Women and Children who gave their All to protect Sri Darbar Sahib in June 1984 Parnam to all those Bahadur Singh , Singhneeyan and Bhujanghian ! "Images of tanks rolling into the hallowed environs of the golden temple in June 1984 are engraved in the minds and hearts of all Sikhs. " - Patwant Singh - The Sikhs - John Murray 1999 pg 233 Singhs at the Akal Takht Kirtani Jatha Singhs performing langar sewa Bhai Amrik Singh Sant Ji Picture of the Anand Karaj of Singh Singheean 5 May 1984 - the ardas performed by Granthi Akal Takht Pritam Singh - 4 weeks later the couples defended the Darbar Sahib Preserved bullet holes from 1984 in the Darshani Deori *Pictures from Des Pardes Weekly (June 1984) 'Khooni 1984' - published by Nishkam Sewak Jatha B'ham 'Khalsa Panth' - Khushwant Singh 1984 Sikhsangat.com

GurFateh ! Is there anybody on SA who can read Arabic script / ShahMukhi ? If anyone can - could they do me a Big Favour and provide a Transliteration of the following extracts. They both come from footnotes in S.Kapur Singh's 'Parasaraprasna' The first is from Khushwaqt Rai's 'Twarikh-i-Sikhan' (1811AD) - I've included Kapur Singh's translation. *from Parasaraprasna - The Baisakhi of Guru Gobind Singh - Kapur Singh - Edited by Piar Singh, Madanjit Kaur - GNDU 2001 Third Edition page 122 The second is said to be an Afghan eyewitness verse in Pastu - describing 'Akalees' in battle *from Parasaraprasna - The Baisakhi of Guru Gobind Singh - Kapur Singh - Edited by Piar Singh, Madanjit Kaur - GNDU 2001 Third Edition page 136 Many Many Thanks in advance ! Ranjit Singh 'Freed'

GurFateh ! Wish you every success in your Yatra Bhai Sahib ! - enjoy being at the wondrous 'Charan Kamal' of Guru Sahib in the lap of the glorious Himalayas ! here is a beautiful picture of the path to HemKunt Sahib - 'Khanda Jaan Ke Haath Me Kalgi Sohe Sees So Hamri Racchia Kare Guru Kalgidhaar Jagdeesh' Ranjit Singh 'Freed'