Harbhajan

Panthic bodies criticise Damdami Taksal for installing 'Dasam Granth' Punjab Newsline Network Monday, 13 November 2006 CHANDIGARH: The Panthic bodies Monday strongly criticised installation of Dasam Granth by Damdami Taksal as Sikh scripture at Fateh Divas being observed by Damdami Taksal and a section of Sant Samaj. The convention passed five resolutions, mainly condemning misuse of Dasam Granth and institution of priesthood in Sikhism. The resolution flayed Damdami Taksal and role of Sikh clergy, a press release issued by about twenty Sikh intellectuals and bodies said. Dr.Harjinder Singh Dilgeer in is key note address said that so called Dasam Granth was not fit to be considered as scripture of a religion whereas its poetry was anti-Sikh in nature. It may be a scripture of a religion whereas its poetry was anti-Sikh in nature. He said that Dasam Granth may be a scripture of the hedonist, pornography or Shakti cults. To install it in a Gurdawara is an insult to Guru Granth Sahib. It is lioke abusing and insulting Guru Gobind Singh to call his book as Guru work it replete with such vulgar and erotic verses. He claifird that that no Sikh can dare to criticize Nitnem Banis (Jaap Sahib etc) but all rest contents of Dasam Granth are anti-Sikh literature. He sad that this was the handiwork of anti Sikh forces to create confusion among the Sikhs. He said that Shiromani Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal and priestly lass are mainly responsible for all the Sikh problems. Prof.Gurtej Singh read the resolutions and warned the Sikh Panth of dire consequences if the Sikh nation didn’t wake up and reacted in time. Rajinder Singh Khalsa who presided over the convention said that Jatha Bhindran jMehta Jatha was leading the greatest anti-Sikh movement of the history by joining hands with RSS and other antri-Sikh bodies. He said that Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala had united the Sikhs for a national goal but the present leadership is destroying the basi institutuions of Sikhs. He said that those who had been lying for 21 years about the martyrdom of Bhindrawala, one can infer what such a organization could do for the Sikhs. In other resolutions, the convention said that Dasam Granth has nothing to do with Sikhism, priestly class is the main force behind problems of Sikhs, Jatha Bhindra Mehta plays anti-Sikh role, Jaap Sahiob is not part of Dasam Granth. Another resolution condemnded the alleged attack on certain Sikhs by gumen of Akal Taskht Jasthedar Jginder Singh Vedanti at Faridabad on Sunday. Prominent among who attended the convention are Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib Chairman Dal Khalsa, Gurvinder Singh Dhanaula Chairman Miri Piri Dal, Mohinder Singh Josh founder Sikh missionary college, Principal Narinder Singh Jammu, Jagmohan Singh Giani, Giani Surjit Singh Delhi, Upkar Singh Faridabad, Bibi Harbans Kaur, Sukhwinder Singh Sabhran, Kirpal Singh Bathinda, Kashmir Singh Mukatsar, Jaspal Singh vice Chairman Dal Khalsa, Jaswinder Singh Khalsa Dubai, Harshinder Singh advocate, Col Nirmal Singh, Col Paramjit Singh and Major Mewa Singh

Don’t politicise Akal Takht: Scholars Tribune News Service Mohali, November 12 Sikh scholars have called for radical changes in management of the Akal Takht demanding that it be freed from the control of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and political parties like the Shiromani Akali Dal. This demand was raised during the two-day seminar on ‘the concept and role of Akal Takht’ organised by the Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh, which concluded at the Shivalik Public School here today. In the keynote address, Dr Kharak Singh, an eminent Sikh scholar, suggested that the authority of Akal Takht should vest with the guru panth in attendance upon Guru Granth Sahib instead of the SGPC. “The jathedar of Akal Takht should run its independent administration and be a spokesman of Akal Takht. An 11-member advisory board of eminent Sikhs well-versed in gurmat and committed to Sikh ideals should assist him,†he said. Dr Kharak Singh traced the history of Akal Takht. He said with constitution of the SGPC in 1925, Akal Takht and its jathedar became subservient to the SGPC administration. “This downward slide in the image and role of Akal Takht and near absence of its underlying all inclusive philosophy of Guru Granth Sahib and Guru Panth or “piri and miri†has reached its nadir today with the Akal Takht jathedar being a puppet in the hands of ruling political party governing the SGPC and Akal Takht merely a paper tiger whose edicts are being followed more in their breach than in compliance,†he said. Giani Gurbachan Singh, Head Granthi, Sri Harmandar Sahib, who inaugurated the seminar recommended that the spiritually and intellectually strongest person among the Sikhs should occupy the seat of the Jathedar of Akal Takht in the tradition of Guru Hargobind who appointed Bhai Gurdas as the first jathedar of Akal Takht. Dr Jagjit Singh stressed the need for insulating the office of the jathedar from the whims and dictates of the ruling clique in the SGPC and make him moral conscience keeper of the entire Sikh panth. “A committee of 31 prominent Sikhs appointed by the newly formed International Sikh Confederation should re-elect a person for this office,†he said. Dr Sukhdial Singh said Akal Takht is a symbol of Khalsa resurgence. Dr Kirpal Singh, cleared the confusion regarding the year of establishment of Akal Takht and fixed 1609 as the year of its establishment. Giani Kewal Singh, former jathedar, Damdama Sahib, said there was a need to coordinate the activities of various takhts. He further reiterated that jathedars were constantly working under pressures of political parties and individuals. “Akal Takth has allowed individuals to become bigger than the panth,†he said adding that there is an urgent need to create a system in which Akal Takht is answerable only to the panth. Giani Harinder Singh, president, Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Mr Gurdev Singh, chairman, Institute of Sikh Studies, Mr Ashok Singh Bagrian, Secretary, also spoke on the occasion. Volume 1 of English translation version of Rattan Singh Bhangoo’s ancient Sikh epic Guru Panth Parkash (Prachin Panth Parkash) translated by Prof Kulwant Singh and published by the Institute of Sikh Studies was released by Giani Gurbachan Singh on the occasion.

Sikh woman from Mumbai united with sons in Pakistan after 52 years By IANS Sunday November 12, 03:24 PM Islamabad, Nov 12 (IANS) Emotions and blood ties know no borders or religion. This was amply proved when a Sikh woman from Mumbai was reunited with her two sons in Pakistan after 52 years. Her children, born of a Muslim father, have appealed to the Pakistani government to let their mother stay on. Harbans Kaur, 75, was reunited with her sons Qaramatullah and Kudratullah, born of her first marriage to a Muslim man before the 1947 partition of the subcontinent, last week during the Guru Nanak Dev anniversary celebrations here. The sons 'cling to the mother', Daily Times newspaper said in a report from Lahore, showing a photograph of the woman flanked by her two sons. Her visa expired last Saturday but her sons do not want their mother to go. What has made Kaur's story more tragic is that she had converted to Islam after the partition, married a Muslim and bore him two sons, but was declared a 'foreigner' and deported to India in 1954. Born a Sikh in a family in Muzaffarabad, now capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Kaur was nearly killed by an uncle who was escorting her to India at the time of the 1947 partition. She survived the violence of the post-partition period and was rescued by the Muslim family retainer who brought her back to Muzaffarabad, said the paper. She married Sakhiullah, a Pakistan Army man, and moved with him and the two children on a posting to Sialkot. Police caught up with her and deported her charging that she was an Indian Sikh, despite her pleas that she had converted to Islam. Somehow reunited with her family in Mumbai, she was married to a Sikh named Core Singh, who died some years later. 'I tried my best to find my Muslim husband and my sons, but to no avail. When I returned to Pakistan two years ago as a pilgrim at Punja Sahib, I saw Jasi Singh of Faisalabad who was wearing a locket with Muzffarabad written on it. 'Jasi said he would help me find my sons, and I gave him their photographs. Jasi called me in India one day and said a college professor had recognised the pictures, and had promised to trace my sons,' Harbans Kaur was quoted as saying. With Jasi's help, the professor found her sons in 2005, 'but we could only talk over the telephone. I met my sons for the first time after almost six decades here at Guru Nanak's birth anniversary', she said. Kaur, who lives with her brother-in-law's children in India, is torn between her past and the present. 'I cannot leave my brother-in-law's children, but I cannot leave my sons here, which is troubling me now,' she added. An estimated 50 million people left their homes and crossed the border, considered history's largest migration, during the partition when the British carved out Pakistan from united India. Families were split. Some like Harbans Kaur's have taken decades to reunite. There is no clear estimate of how many families split and how many were reunited.

Sikh missionary excommunicated for blasphemous writings Varinder Walia Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 22 Taking strong and suo-moto exception to the alleged blasphemous writings and statements by Prof Inder Singh Ghagha, an alumnus of Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana, Akal Takht today directed the Sikh sangat to stop him forthwith from carrying out his religious activities all over the world. In a directive issued on the letter head of Akal Takht, the Jathedar also took similar action against Prof Ghagha's associates, including Mr Gurcharan Singh Jeeonwala, Mr Manjit Singh Sahota, Mr Karamjit Singh Gill, Mr Amandeep Singh Kang, Mr Gurmit Singh , Mr Parminder Singh Parmar, Mr Jasbir Singh Mangat and their associates. The development is considered unprecedented since Prof Ghagga and his associates were not given an opportunity to clarify their respective positions. Finding the remarks too obnoxious, the Akal Takhat this time directed the Sikhs not to allow Prof Ghagha and his associates to speak from any gurdwara or panthak stage. Earlier, one Bhag Singh of Ambala was also excommunicated on the same grounds for writing against 'benati choupai' and 'ardas'. However, he had presented himself before the Akal Takht and sought forgiveness. Later, Mr Gurbax Singh Kala Afghana was excommunicated from the Sikh panth for the same reasons. Of late, many petitions had been pouring in against Prof Ghagha, He and his group had been indulging in blasphemous writings against the Sikh ideology and 'gurbani', they allege. Interestingly, Ghagha claims himself to be associated with missionary colleges but the Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana, declared that he was not associated with the institute. The same statement had come from Gurmat Gian Missionary College where Ghagha was teaching. Mr Gurcharanjit Singh Lamba, editor of the community journal Sant Sipahi, criticsed these statements saying that merely saying that he was not associated with them had no meaning unless these institutions condemned the writings of Ghagha and Kala Afghana. Prof Ghagha who had been an ardent supporter of cop-turned- Sikh scholar Gurbakhsh Singh Kala Afghana, is presently in Canada. His speeches there triggered physical clashes between rival groups and the atmosphere was getting surcharged. Ghagha started with casting aspersions against the 'bani' of Guru Gobind Singh and then came down to passing adverse remarks on the 'bani' and history of all the gurus. The Akal Takhat directive has also given a stern direction to Sikhs not to cooperate in any of the seminars and conventions organised by Ghagha and his associates.

SPIRITUAL EGO When we make our first entry into the realms of spirituality, there comes a certain feeling of excitement, and along with it a bit of superiority for having done what the masses have not. Instead of feeling humbled that God's Grace has allowed this important first step, we feel a 'high' comprising of conceit and arrogance. So much so, that we tend to look down on the rest of humanity as 'poor unenlightened' ones. This takes away all the steps that we may have taken forward, and brings us back to 'ground zero'. This is the beginning of "Spiritual Ego", a false sense of superiority over those who have not made their first moves into the realms of spiritual learning. There was once a Sikh from Peshawar, named Joga Singh, who was in the service of Guru Gobind Singh, tenth Guru of the Sikhs, from his childhood. One day, when the Mughals were threatening to invade Anandpur, the stronghold of the Guru, Joga Singh received intimation from his parents that he should proceed to Peshawar immediately, as his marriage had been fixed. Even though the Guru needed his services at that crucial juncture, Joga Singh had to go home and fulfill his parent's wishes. But he promised his Guru, that if he was required at any moment, the Guru could have him sent for, and he would return post-haste. The Guru, wishing to put Joga Singh's devotion to test, sent him a hukumnama, or royal edict, asking him to return immediately, even though he had not completed the four ritual pheras of the Guru Granth Sahib, as the ceremony demanded. Joga Singh, the truly devoted Sikh that he was, left the ceremony incomplete, and departed forthwith for Anandpur. Everyone present went into awesome praise over the Guru's devoted disciple. On his way back, he had to halt the night at Hoshiarpur. Feeling extremely proud of his sacrificial act, he finished his dinner and went out strolling into the town. There he came across the house of a dancing girl, whom he got attracted to, the moment he saw her, through her window. Every time he tried to enter the house, the guard at the gate frowned upon him and would not let him in. Joga Singh tried all night, but the guard kept giving him sternly disapproving looks, and was adamant that he would now allow him to enter. Next morning he set out to meet his Guru. The moment he reached the Guru's Court, he was pained to find a stern look on His face, instead of a welcoming smile that Joga Singh thought he deserved. As he looked into his Master's eyes, he seemed to see the very same eyes that belonged to the guard at the dancing girl's house. Mortified he was, to realize that it was the Guru Himself who had prevented him from entering a negative place. Full of self-importance that he had obeyed his Guru overriding all other familial obligations, he had returned to expect praise and adulation showered upon him. But his Guru had humbled him by this telling act. http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_570...00100070003.htm

Meditation found to increase brain size People who meditate grow bigger brains than those who don't. Researchers at Harvard, Yale, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found the first evidence that meditation can alter the physical structure of our brains. Brain scans they conducted reveal that experienced meditators boasted increased thickness in parts of the brain that deal with attention and processing sensory input. In one area of gray matter, the thickening turns out to be more pronounced in older than in younger people. That's intriguing because those sections of the human cortex, or thinking cap, normally get thinner as we age. "Our data suggest that meditation practice can promote cortical plasticity in adults in areas important for cognitive and emotional processing and well-being," says Sara Lazar, leader of the study and a psychologist at Harvard Medical School. "These findings are consistent with other studies that demonstrated increased thickness of music areas in the brains of musicians, and visual and motor areas in the brains of jugglers. In other words, the structure of an adult brain can change in response to repeated practice." The researchers compared brain scans of 20 experienced meditators with those of 15 nonmeditators. Four of the former taught meditation or yoga, but they were not monks living in seclusion. The rest worked in careers such as law, health care, and journalism. All the participants were white. During scanning, the meditators meditated; the others just relaxed and thought about whatever they wanted. Meditators did Buddhist "insight meditation," which focuses on whatever is there, like noise or body sensations. It doesn't involve "om," other mantras, or chanting. "The goal is to pay attention to sensory experience, rather than to your thoughts about the sensory experience," Lazar explains. "For example, if you suddenly hear a noise, you just listen to it rather than thinking about it. If your leg falls asleep, you just notice the physical sensations. If nothing is there, you pay attention to your breathing." Successful meditators get used to not thinking or elaborating things in their mind. Study participants meditated an average of about 40 minutes a day. Some had been doing it for only a year, others for decades. Depth of the meditation was measured by the slowing of breathing rates. Those most deeply involved in the meditation showed the greatest changes in brain structure. "This strongly suggests," Lazar concludes, "that the differences in brain structure were caused by the meditation, rather than that differences in brain thickness got them into meditation in the first place." Lazar took up meditation about 10 years ago and now practices insight meditation about three times a week. At first she was not sure it would work. But "I have definitely experienced beneficial changes," she says. "It reduces stress [and] increases my clarity of thought and my tolerance for staying focused in difficult situations." Controlling random thoughts Insight meditation can be practiced anytime, anywhere. "People who do it quickly realize that much of what goes on in their heads involves random thoughts that often have little substance," Lazar comments. "The goal is not so much to 'empty' your head, but to not get caught up in random thoughts that pop into consciousness." She uses this example: Facing an important deadline, people tend to worry about what will happen if they miss it, or if the end product will be good enough to suit the boss. You can drive yourself crazy with unproductive "what if" worry. "If, instead, you focus on the present moment, on what needs to be done and what is happening right now, then much of the feeling of stress goes away," Lazar says. "Feelings become less obstructive and more motivational." The increased thickness of gray matter is not very much, 4 to 8 thousandths of an inch. "These increases are proportional to the time a person has been meditating during their lives," Lazar notes. "This suggests that the thickness differences are acquired through extensive practice and not simply due to differences between meditators and nonmeditators." As small as they are, you can bet those differences are going to lead to lots more studies to find out just what is going on and how meditation might better be used to improve health and well-being, and even slow aging. More basic questions need to be answered. What causes the increased thickness? Does meditation produce more connections between brain cells, or more blood vessels? How does increased brain thickness influence daily behavior? Does it promote increased communication between intellectual and emotional areas of the brain? To get answers, larger studies are planned at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Harvard-affiliated facility where Lazar is a research scientist and where these first studies were done. That work included only 20 meditators and their brains were scanned only once. "The results were very encouraging," Lazar remarks. "But further research needs to be done using a larger number of people and testing them multiple times. We also need to examine their brains both before and after learning to meditate. Our group is currently planning to do this. Eventually, such research should reveal more about the function of the thickening; that is, how it affects emotions and knowing in terms of both awareness and judgment." Slowing aging? Since this type of meditation counteracts the natural thinning of the thinking surface of the brain, could it play a role in slowing - even reversing - aging? That could really be mind-boggling in the most positive sense. Lazar is cautious in her answer. "Our data suggest that one small bit of brain appears to have a slower rate of cortical thinning, so meditation may help slow some aspects of cognitive aging," she agrees. "But it's important to remember that monks and yogis suffer from the same ailments as the rest of us. They get old and die, too. However, they do claim to enjoy an increased capacity for attention and memory." Source: Harvard University (By William J. Cromie) http://www.physorg.com/news10312.html

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060914/punjab2.htm Takht takes serious view of anand karaj violation Varinder Walia Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 13 The Akal Takht, Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, has taken serious view of the violation of ‘anand karaj’ maryada by some Sikh missionaries at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, New Delhi, some days ago. Talking to TNS here today, Mr Prithipal Singh Sandhu, personal assistant to Jathedar Vedanti, said notices were being issued to the missionaries who had arranged a wedding at the DSGMC-controlled gurdwara in violation of the traditional maryada of anand karaj. He appreciated the action taken by DSGMC chief, Harwinder Singh Sarna who blacklisted the “missionariesâ€, apart from suspending the granthi . Taking moral responsibility, Mr Tarsem Singh, Chairman, Dharam Parchar Committee of the DSGMC, had resigned. As per convention, the groom walks ahead of the bride and circumambulates Guru Granth Sahib amid recitation of hymns. However, in this case two circumambulations were taken in the traditional way but the bride walked ahead of the groom in the remaining two. This led to chaos and the wedding party was divided into two groups. The DSGMC had constituted a three-member committee to probe the matter within seven days. It is learnt that Akal Takht may summon missionaries Vir Bhupinder Singh (USA), Granthi Jai Kishan Singh and Mr Surjit Singh of the Gurmat Parchar Sabha.

Akal Takht Jathedar annuls selection of Golden Temple priests JAGMOHAN SINGH - PunjabNewsline.com Saturday, 09 September 2006 AMRITSAR: Jatehdar Akal Takht (highest Sikh Temporal Seat) Gyani Joginder Singh Vedanti during a high level meeting here Saturday annulled the selection of three designate priests of Golden Temple. Radical Sikh organisations had opposed these appointments. The name of three people were Bhai Gurbax Singh, Bhai Jaspal Singh, and Bhai Mann Singh for religious post as a priest of Golden Temple was announced by the SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) chief Avtar Singh Makkar a month ago. But immediate after the announcements made by the SGPC for the appointments of new priests of the Golden Temple, severe resentments started to come from the various Sikh religious organizations which forced the Jatehdar Akal Takht Vedanti to take suo-moto notice. During the high level meeting chaired by Vedanti, it was unanimously resolved that the designate appointments of three people as a priest of Golden Temple was null and void, since no religious ethics, norms and Sikh traditions were adhered, hence these appointments stood cancelled forthwith. According to the highly placed SGPC sources, there is set procedure to fill the religious vacancies, First of all demand is raised by the Head priest of Golden Temple, thereafter a certain religious test is conducted, followed by the interview to be conducted by the various Sikh intellectuals, heads of all main Sikh religious organizations, after that all the qualities and life character of candidates scrutinized by the ‘Dharam Parchar’ Committee of the SGPC and atlast Jatehdar Akal Takht gives his final approval, But unfortunately none of the step was followed except the hegemony of Badal. Today Vedanti chaired the high level meeting was attended by the Jatehdar Kesgarh Sahib Tarlochan Singh, JatehdarTalwandi Sabo Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Head Priest Golden Temple Gyani Gurbachan Singh, Additional Head Priest Golden Temple Gyani Mohan Singh and three priests to Golden Temple Gyani Jagtar Singh, Bhai Jaswant Singh and Bhai Mal Singh. It may be mentioned here that the name of these three people for the religious post was the choice of SAD Chief and former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal who had directed the SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar to announce their name. This is first time Vedanti in his tenure has dared to review the decision of SGPC Chief particularly which was done on the behest of Badal.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/ed...e7-8fdae46a4e66 Coming to Canada: Dream vs. reality Many young Indians emigrate in pursuit of a society less marked by class and status; some are disappointed Manpreet Grewal Special to the Sun ( The Vancouver Sun, Canada ) Wednesday, September 06, 2006 Many Indians immigrate to Canada to join family, pursue economic opportunities, enjoy a better regulated system or simply live in a cleaner environment. But many young educated Indians are here in pursuit of a classless society that values all ordinary human beings equally. In India, the power of class is palpable. Hierarchies are based on wealth, status and power. Class and status determine your access to health care, education, bureaucracy and justice. If you need cooking gas to run your stoves, how fast you get it depends on your status. If you are breaking traffic rules, your class and status will determine whether you are penalized. With class and status, you jump the waiting list for any kind of service. Whether you are at an airport or a railway station, your station in life will determine the treatment you get, which includes free cups of coffee or soft drinks and staff time from the transportation authorities. If you have wealth and power, you can sit in an office sipping your tea or coffee in a bank manager's office while dozens line up trying to get to a teller. If you have class and status, you always have people at your beck and call. Doors open smoothly and life is good. So what happens to the ones left standing in the long lineups where service can be inconsistent, inefficient and maybe non-existent? Many of them have resigned themselves to the status quo. Idealists exhaust their long list of hopeless fights. But many who are fed up and tired of feeling worthless dream of moving to North America, which they perceive is a classless society. In my several visits to India, I have come across dozens of people who want to immigrate to Canada or the United States because they believe that in these two countries "people are valued equally." They have heard that hard work is valued fairly. Those who manage to fulfil their North American dream realize to their delight that some of their perceptions are true. By and large, the western world is egalitarian. There is respectful and fair customer service and there is legislation that grants basic rights and equitable treatment. But some of these idealists are also in for some rude shocks. They find out that every society has elements of class and status. They realize that they themselves are jobless and still a nobody for a long time. Their educational credentials aren't recognized. As they struggle with the inconsistency between their dream and reality, they realize that people in powerful positions command more respect and attention in any setting. They realize that there is still a difference between white-collar and blue-collar jobs. Slowly, they recognize that factors like race and white privilege come into play even in progressive societies. The most shocking recognition they come to is the established layers of hierarchy within their own transnational Indian community. Issues of not only class, but caste and sect persist in terms of standing and image even in the West. Money and grandeur still lead to more social acceptance. Rubbing shoulders with politicians, bureaucrats and the wealthy is still prestigious. So, from the boring lineups in India, they find themselves in a fast-paced race in the promised land to climb the economic class ladder as quickly as possible. The resilient try and make it through sheer hard work over the long haul. The weak fall into the trap of quick fixes and wayward means. Cutting corners on costs, poor business practices -- all can be a temptation to compromise to make a quick buck. Some young people have caught onto these immense social pressures and are themselves looking for overnight riches. Rather than looking at education and hard work as a means to success, they are caught up in a culture of entitlement where they expect parents to provide them with fancy cars and clothes. (Unfortunately a significant number of young people have fallen into a life style of criminality, drugs and violence where many have lost their lives). The Indo-Canadian community has to check its own moral compass before it effectively redirects its younger generation. To be effective role models, adults have to learn that there is no society of equal privilege. There will always be socio-economic differences. Even in the Communist world, those in power enjoy a different stature than the ordinary people. People have to determine their own value from within, irrespective of class, race, caste and status. The message to the kids has to be that it is okay to be ambitious, but only through legitimate means. They also have to be grateful that they are in a country that at least affords them basic dignity and human rights. Manpreet Grewal is a freelance journalist based in Abbotsford. manpreetgrewal@shaw.ca © The Vancouver Sun 2006

The power of humility In genuine humility, there is enormous power. Free yourself from the demands of your ego, and there is no limit to where you can go. Let go of your desire to control others, and you vastly improve the ability to control, focus and direct your own actions. Let go of the illusion that you already know it all, and you open yourself to higher levels of enlightenment. Move beyond the need to blame, and you gain a greater degree of responsibility. Get past the impulse to place judgments on others, and you're able to focus much more clearly on matters of real and lasting value. Give up the thought that you're better than everyone else, and a whole new world of opportunity opens up to you. Stop seeking unfair advantage, and you're free to develop an unstoppable effectiveness. Quit demanding the most and start expecting the best. You'll experience a level of true abundance that you never before could have imagined. Live each moment with humility, love, respect and gratitude for the whole of life that surrounds you. And you will find a treasure that has no end. -- Ralph Marston - http://www.greatday.com/motivate/

Understanding the Power of Mantras By Ankita EVERY matter - from the tiniest DNA strand in us to the largest of continents - is in a state of constant vibration resulting in the emission of subtle sounds. The great teachers of ancient times had the power to listen to the subtlest of these sounds. They discovered that specific sounds energized specific portions of the brain thereby awakening extraordinary powers (Siddhis). They used these sounds to form sacred words that are called Mantras. Mantras have a profound impact upon us due to two reasons: - The vibration effect of the sound; and - The effect of the collective emotional energy behind that word due to constant repetition over time. Benefits of Mantras Mantras act upon our bodies by reprogramming the vibrations of the cells that have somehow gone askew. They restore the pattern of sounds at the heart of each and every cell, thus pushing the cells toward harmonious health. Mantras affect not only our physical body but also our subtle body - our emotions, intellect and soul. They positively affect our aura - the energy shields surrounding our body. We hear any word and have an emotional reaction to it. This is because we are conditioned by OUR experiences connected to that word AND the collective emotions that people have towards that word. As an example, the word "mother" when spoken with deliberation, evokes an emotional energy realignment. Just imagine the power of sounds repeated billions of times, with great collective devotion and over centuries! These sounds form the heart of Mantras and deeply influence the energy alignment within us. Mantra Meditation Repetition of a Mantra is a powerful way of keeping us in the Present and stilling our "monkey mind", which is forever jumping uncontrollably from one thought to another. The moment we inculcate the practice of being "intensely" present - with neither any 'baggage' of the subconscious past nor the remotest anxiety of the future - we, then, automatically experience great peace, profound silence and supreme joy! This, in fact, is the process and goal of meditation and using mantras is a very effective way to achieve it! Using Japa Malas for Meditation Repetition of a mantra is called Japa and a Japa Mala is a string of beads used to count the repetition of a mantra. The act of turning the beads while recitation of the mantra is extremely effective in keeping you in the present. Equally important is that it keeps you 'grounded' as you advance in meditation and helps you continually gain from the material properties of the beads. As you do Japa, you will invariably encounter wandering thoughts even as you repeat the Mantra mechanically. In such a case, gently refocus without getting agitated. The beauty of a Mantra is that EVEN a mechanical repetition exposes you to the benefits of the sacred sounds. There are various Mantras and Japa mala beads that you can use to make your meditative journey relatively smooth. These mantras and malas depend upon your individual mind and body type. They are either provided by a Guru or can be selected by yourself depending upon your intuitive sense of what 'feels right' for you - which is often the best way. In conclusion, Mantras are one of the most effective ways to experience supreme bliss and freedom from the bondage of the uncontrolled mind. Warm wishes, Ankita www.healthandyoga.com © Copyright 2006 PS-Magazine.com, otherwise the author. http://www.psychicsahar.com/artman/publish/printer_774.shtml

http://www.sikhsangat.org/publish/article_1304.shtml Sikh Leader objects to Hate Pamphlet and calls for Inter-Faith Peace By SSNews, contracostatimes Aug 27, 2006, 18:56 A Contra Costa Sikh leader is denouncing a pamphlet from an El Sobrante church that tells Sikhs their Guru Maharaj is wrong and warns them they face eternal hell unless they receive Jesus as their savior. "Please Consider These Words of Love My SIKH Friend," by Pastor Kent Brandenburg of Bethel Baptist Church, combines faith-based arguments claiming its prophecies "come true 100 percent," so the Bible can be nothing else but the absolute truth. According to the offensive pamphlet; the 10 gurus who are the pillars of Sikhism "died and stayed dead," whereas Jesus Christ defeated death, Brandenburg wrote. "His resurrection, witnessed by over 500 people, sealed the fact that Jesus Christ is God." "Without believing in Jesus Christ, you, my Sikh friend, will die in your sins, and in so doing, will be condemned to Hell forever," reads the pamphlet, which church members distributed last month at a Sikh Spiritual Peace March through El Sobrante in memory of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Maharaj Ji, who was martyred 400 years ago. The pamphlet calls on Sikhs to repudiate their religion. "First, admit you are a sinner. Second, admit you deserve Hell for your sin. Third, call on the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from your sin while giving your life to him." J.P. Singh, president of El Sobrante Gurdwara Sahib, the Sikh Center of the San Francisco Bay Area, (pictured) said the pamphlet is objectionable because "it belittles another religion." "To coexist in this country in love and peace, I think there has to be an acceptance of other people's religions," Singh said. The temple has responded to Brandenburg's missive with passages from the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, on the sickness of ego as an impediment to achieving oneness with God, and on the worship of a common God as reflected in the holy scripture of other religions. "The world is like a flower and God is the gardener. He cares for all and ignores none. Each flower has the fragrance that the gardener has put in it," the Sikh response says. Brandenburg said he has distributed the pamphlet off and on for eight or 10 years and that the message it conveys is hardly new. He said he was surprised to receive an e-mail from a local non-Sikh merchant characterizing it as "hate speech." "That message has been around for 2,000 years -- now it's hate speech?" Brandenburg said. He said the pamphlet is a message of love -- one of "tough love," akin to a stern warning to a loved one to desist from destructive behavior. Disseminating it fulfills the "Parable of the Sower" in Matthew 13 and Mark 4 in the New Testament, in which Jesus tells his followers to spread the Gospel, Brandenburg said. The timing -- July 23, a Sunday -- was spontaneous, he said. "There was a parade," Brandenburg said. "I didn't know about it until it was happening. Toward the end of our service, there was loud chanting in a non-English language, probably Punjabi, over a microphone going down Appian Way. "I have no problem with that," Brandenburg said, "but we also have the right to go down the street and give out our literature. We said nice things to the people as we handed it to them." Bethel Baptist Church is off Appian Way, along the July 23 peace march route. Singh said the peace march was not the right time to seek converts -- if ever there is one. "I feel it would be offensive, if the Christians were having an event, to pass out Sikh literature," Singh said. "We don't believe in converting people," Singh continued. "Sikhism ... believes that all religions are equal at God's door. You can achieve salvation being truthful to whatever religion you choose to practice. "The Sikh Golden Rule from Guru Granth Sahib is 'No one is enemy. No one is stranger. I get along with All,'" he said. The Sikh religion originated in the Punjab region of India in 1469 with the birth of Guru Nanak Dev. The 10th guru, Gobind Singh, died in 1708. Sikhism, like Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is monotheistic. Adam Kruggel, executive director of Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization, which is made up of more than two dozen Christian congregations, said he has met with Sikh leaders in Pittsburg and found that "our faith traditions have so much in common." "We are much more interested in working together and acting on our common values than worrying about differences that may divide us," Kruggel said. "We find that understanding and relating to other traditions has deepened people's appreciation of their faith. Our approach is not to put aside our faiths but to put them in context." The original pamphlet can be read at: http://www.cctextra.com/multimedia/pdf/bet...tist_church.pdf The reply of the Sikh Leader reads: "A happy person sees everyone as happy. A sick (wicked) person sees every one as sick (wicked). The Master (God) has the power to do anything and to get His creatures to do as He wishes. He holds spiritual joy and sorrow in His hands. O my mind, to one who has overcome his doubt and has seen God in all His creation, no one is lost. One whose mind is at peace after meeting the Guru sees peace in the entire world. However, one whose mind is pervaded by the sickness of ego is miserable and is dying while alive." [Ang 610] "Through meeting the Guru, I have given up dependence on others. I have dug a deep pit and in it buried pride, love of Maya, and desires of my mind. The Guru gave me (God's) Name which liberates me from bondage (to Maya). I have come to the Guru and all worries have been forgotten from my mind. I have no enemies left (I do not see anyone as an enemy) and I am not anyone's enemy. I have understood that all the creation is God Himself, that He pervades all. I got this understanding from the True Guru. I have befriended everyone and I am friend to all. When the feeling of separation (from God) went away from my mind, my King united me with Himself. My stubbornness is destroyed, I find Guru's Word to be sweet. It gives eternal life and has come to abide in me. O Nanak, on land, on sea, and in the air, I have seen the All-pervading God." [Ang 671] "I am a servant of all God has created. My God resides everywhere. There is no enemy or opponent. I walk hand in hand with all. We are all brothers." [Ang 887] Interfaith Understanding and Harmony "The Vedas and the Books (Torah, Bible, Qura'an) all stand and worship You. Countless people are at Your door. Numerous Brahmas and Indras with their thrones, Shivas and incarnations of Vishnu sing God's glory and so do many Pirs, Prophets, Sheikhs, and holy men. You pervade all completely and are fulfilling Yourself in all. Falsehood destroys and people can reach You only if they follow the correct way but we all do what You Yourself get us to do." [Ang 518] "Some people call you Ram, others call You Khudaa. Some serve Gosain, some Allah. O Merciful Creator and Doer, have mercy upon me. Some bathe at holy places and others go for hujj. Some do pooja others bow their heads. Some read the Vedas, others the Books (Torah, Bible, Qura'an etc.). Some wear blue, others white. Some call themselves Muslims, others Hindus. Some seek bahisht (persian for heaven), some suarg (sanskrit for heaven). O Nanak, say; whosoever has understood the Hukam (Divine order), has learnt the secret of God, the Master." [Ang 885] "This world is like a flower-garden and God is the gardener. He cares for all and ignores none. Each flower has the fragrance that the gardener has put in it. It is known by the fragrance the gardener has put in it." [Ang 1187] J.P. Singh, President Sikh Center 3550 Hillcrest Road El Sobrante, CA 94803

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060821/punjab1.htm#5 Writer of controversial book fails to appear at Takht Vedanti authorised to decide on Dasam Granth Varinder Walia Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 20 Even as the author of controversial book, Mr Jaswinder Singh, who had challenged the authenticity of Dasam Granth had failed to turn up for open debate at Akal Takht, today, the Sikh conclave, held here said that the writer did not deserve further time to clarify his position and hence stern action be taken against him as per Sikh ‘Maryada’. With the result, the representatives of various Sikh organisations authorised Jathedar Akal Takht to take final decision to clear the doubts about the authenticity of Dasam Granth for times to come. The mood of the Sikh conclave was to take stern action against the author for his alleged ‘blasphemous book’ since he had published the same despite personal intervention by Jathedar Akal Takht. There was consensus that Akal Takht should sternly implement the directive under which discussion on Dasam Granth was banned. With this, the section of Sikh scholars who had been raising doubts on the authenticity of Dasam Granth might take a back seat in the coming days. Earlier, the author of the controversial book had offered Rs 1 crore to anyone who would prove that Guru Gobind Singh had authored Dasam Granth. In a hard-hitting speech, Jathedar Vedanti said that Dasam Granth comprises Bani which had been part of daily prayer of the Sikhs and ‘Amrit Sanchar’ and hence its authenticity could not be questioned. Quoting from the Sikh history, Jathedar Vedanti said that any objections to such ‘Bani’ could not be tolerated. He said the hymns composed by Guru Gobind Singh had been an entry gate into Sikhism and certain forces wanted to demolish the same that needed to be curbed. Setting in motion another controversy, Giani Gurbachan Singh, head granthi Harmandar Sahib said that the Bani of Dasam Granth used to be recited from Darbar Sahib, Muktsar when he was posted Granthi there. He said it needed to be probed under what circumstances it was discontinued. Meanwhile, Jathedars Hazoor Sahib and Patna Sahib in their written messages said that they would endorse any decision taken by Jathedar Akal Takht on this issue. Jathedar Patna Sahib, Giani Iqbal Singh, however, said that the Bani of Dasam Granth was being recited at both Takhts outside Punjab and hence they could not tolerate raising of any doubts on its authenticity. Sikh scholar, G.S. Lamba, a editor of ‘Sant Sipahi’ said that as per Sikh Rehat Maryada decision about the compilation of Dasam Granth and its authenticity could not be questioned by any individual or group since it had to be taken by the Sikh Panth only . He alleged that some so called scholars of Sikhism had been indulging in ‘anti-Sikh’ activities. He suggested that such pseudo-scholars should not be called at Akal Takht. Earlier too, those who had questioned the authenticity of Dasam Granth were sternly dealt with as per Sikh traditions. So much so such scholars were declared “Tankhahiyaâ€. On the other hand, the representatives of various Nihang and other Panthic organisations have sought registration of criminal case against Mr Mohinder Singh Josh for using derogatory language against the ‘Bani’ which is part of ‘Rehras’ (daily evening prayer of the Sikhs). In a memorandum they asked the Home Ministry through the Deputy Commissioner to register a case under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code for hurting religious sentiments of a community .

This Shabad is by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Gauree on Pannaa 176 gourree guaaraeree mehalaa 5 || kee janam bheae keett patha(n)gaa || kee janam gaj meen kura(n)gaa || kee janam pa(n)khee sarap hoeiou || kee janam haivar brikh joeiou ||1|| mil jagadhees milan kee bareeaa || chira(n)kaal eih dhaeh sa(n)jareeaa ||1|| rehaao || kee janam sail gir kariaa || kee janam garabh hir khariaa || kee janam saakh kar oupaaeiaa || lakh chouraaseeh jon bhramaaeiaa ||2|| saadhhasa(n)g bhaeiou janam paraapath || kar saevaa bhaj har har guramath || thiaag maan jhoot(h) abhimaan || jeevath marehi dharageh paravaan ||3|| jo kishh hoaa s thujh thae hog || avar n dhoojaa karanai jog || thaa mileeai jaa laihi milaae || kahu naanak har har gun gaae ||4||3||72|| Gauree Gwaarayree, Fifth Mehla: In so many incarnations, you were a worm and an insect; in so many incarnations, you were an elephant, a fish and a deer. In so many incarnations, you were a bird and a snake. In so many incarnations, you were yoked as an ox and a horse. ||1|| Meet the Lord of the Universe - now is the time to meet Him. After so very long, this human body was fashioned for you. ||1||Pause|| In so many incarnations, you were rocks and mountains; in so many incarnations, you were aborted in the womb; in so many incarnations, you developed branches and leaves; you wandered through 8.4 million incarnations. ||2|| Through the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, you obtained this human life. Do seva - selfless service; follow the Guru's Teachings, and vibrate the Lord's Name, Har, Har. Abandon pride, falsehood and arrogance. Remain dead while yet alive, and you shall be welcomed in the Court of the Lord. ||3|| Whatever has been, and whatever shall be, comes from You, Lord. No one else can do anything at all. We are united with You, when You unite us with Yourself. Says Nanak, sing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, Har, Har. ||4||3||72|| http://www.sikhitothemax.com/Page.asp?Sour...23&Format=2

THOUGHTS Thoughts have great power. Thoughts are like seeds you plant in your mind. The more you hold onto a particular thought, the more power you invest in it. Positive thoughts give us energy and strength. Negative thoughts rob us of power and make us feel tired and strained. We are by nature positive. Negativity is the result of faulty thinking. You can change if you want to. You can't control other people, situation or circumstances, but you can control what is going on inside you. It takes time to change and transform those old patterns of thinking. Be patient with yourself. It starts with a thought..... Today! - Author unknown

http://www.sikhsangat.org/publish/article_1225.shtml Eastern News Sikhs in India and West call for Abolition of SGPC supremacy By SSNews, Aug 1, 2006, 19:24 Sikh community leaders in America have passed a resolution to abolish the supremacy of the Amritsar-based Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC). They have also called for the formation of a separate Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) in Haryana and other places. Sikh leaders here said it was a must to give equal importance to other organisations, involved in the service of their faith. "During the last 50 years, we have observed that the SGPC is involved in politics rather than taking care of Gurudwaras. It should stop dominating other institutions. The demand of setting up a committee in Haryana has come up recently. A committee in the US has also been working for the religion. Sikh institutions at other places should also be given equal importance so that they can also serve the religion," said John Singh Gill, a Sikh youth leader. He said representatives of various Sikh organisations, including the DSGMC and the American Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee should be included for the upkeep of Sikh shrines across the world. Officials of American Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee have also expressed similar concerns and demanded representation in SGPC. "This is unjust. I think every institution should have representation in the SGPC. The present Chairman of the Akal Takht should be replaced with an elected person by the representatives of various Gurudwara Prabhandak Committees," said Dr. Pritpal Singh, Coordinator of American Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee. The SGPC is criticised for the dominant role of its political wing, the Shiromani Akali Dal, in its decision-making. The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee is a Sikh religious organisation responsible for the upkeep of gurudwaras. It is also responsible for the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, which is the holiest site in Sikhism. The committee takes care of all the historical Gurudwaras in Punjab as well as in adjoining states. The SGPC has a chairman, treasurer and general secretary. The SGPC maintains all the physical, financial and religious aspects of Gurudwaras as well as keeping archeologically precious and sacred artefacts belonging to the Sikh Gurus, which include weapons, clothes, books and writings of the Sikh Gurus. The organisation's current Chief is Avtar Singh Makkar who has been criticised recently as the SGPC Tasforce has been involved in many incidents of violence against Panthic groups including their turbans being removed. Simranjit Singh Mann, Daljit Singh Bittu of Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar, Panthic groups have expressed their support for a Gurdwara Reform Movement. The All-India Shiromani Akali Dal has called for a second movement on the pattern of the earlier movement launched in twenties to liberate the Gurdwaras from the "grip of the corrupt junta". Addressing a press conference here today, the AISAD president, Mr Jaswant Singh Mann, and other leaders said, "the SGPC, having come into being by Sikh Gurdwara Act 1925, has lately been in the grip of corrupt junta, headed by Parkash Badal and his hand picked henchmen, who have totally destroyed the spiritual and divine status of sanctum sanctorum, have besieged the Darbar Sahib, Akal Takht and other Sikh Gurdwaras". He said second Gurdwara Reform Movement in the footsteps of the earlier launched in 1920 can alone liberate the Sikh gurdwaras form their "unholy clutches". He alleged that they have lowered the status of Akal Takht and other Takhts, made Jathedars mere opportunists of the SGPC shorn of any effective and functional authority. The Gurdwara Reform Movement would be launched after forming Panthic coordination committee in the coming days. It will seek revision and amendment of Sikh Gurdwara Act to remove these gaps. The AISAD leaders said the Shiromani Akali Dal headed by Badal has ceased to represent Sikhs as a political organization. It has already become a "Punjabi Party" echoing Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiat. It has drastically changed and subverted its constitution, brought amendments to completely change into an atheist secular outfit, with no policy, programme to protect rights of the Sikh people and have become a "band of corrupt, land mafia, liquor barons, rapists and social bandits", they said pointing out that the SAD has been registered under this changed constitution. The AISAD leaders said the Sikh youth, the downtrodden sections of the Dalits, deprived women would find top priority in the political schemata of the Shiromani Akali Dal, wedded to bring "Halemi Raj" covering all sections of society as ordained by Sikh Gurus, preached and practiced by the Sikh Gurus, sanctified by the sacrifice and Martyrdom in the Sikh History, preserved and protected by their heroic deeds and accomplishments. They alleged the present political stance of Badal and his coterie was totally against the basic principles and postulates of Sikh religion and therefore must be rejected. They said the Sikh diaspora all over the world has earned Sikhs their world wide international entity and need to be organized under one banner as enunciated by the Sikh Gurus. In presence of their progress and excellence in various fields, their achievements have to be acclaimed back home, as well as and to brace it into a well-knit entity They said the Sikhs are inheritors of India's Independence in 1947 and their high mark in defending and feeding India. The Sikhs issues are still unresolved. Discrimination, public policies and Government Laws are against the Sikhs and they are denied the earmarked entry into armed forces and Para military forces.

Shameless Badal .................. Please click on the following link for full news : http://www.panthic.org/news/125/ARTICLE/2670/2006-07-30.html

Firstly, it is amazing to note that Sikhs with mere worldly academic qualifications/knowledge are preaching the literal meaning of Gurbani as if they are the contemporaries of our Gurus. THEY HAVE NO SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE/ EXPERIENCE ATTAINED THROUGH YEARS / LIFE-TIME OF "NAAM DE KAMAI" ! Secondly, I perceive Gurbani as the "FARM" and Reht Maryada as the FENCE. I have observed that the sole attention is focused on the FENCE, rather then "PLANTING & HARVESTING CROPS ON THE "FARM" i.e. Naam Simran , thus side-stepping the true teaching of our Gurus ! Present events of SGPC/ AKAL TAKHT/ SAD bear true witness of the above state of Sikh Religion ! Rather than WALK the spiritual path shown by our Gurus we tend to merely TALK it thus paying only lip service ! May WAHEGURU Ji, bless us with HIS divine love and enlighten us all !

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060725/punjab1.htm#2 Panthic bodies flay Vedanti for ‘secret meeting’ Varinder Walia Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 24 The “secret meeting†between Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, and senior BJP leaders in the presence of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) supremo Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Avtar Singh, president, SGPC, here yesterday has evoked strong reactions in the Sikh circles. Rival Panthic factions, including Dal Khalsa, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, have convened an emergency meeting on July 26 at Chandigarh to discuss the matter. However, Jathedar Vedanti pleaded that he was not aware of the fact that Mr Badal would be bringing Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu, a member of Parliament, and Mr R.P. Singh, a close confidant of BJP president Rajnath Singh for the meeting. When contacted, Mr Daljit Singh Bedi, assistant secretary and in charge of the publicity wing, said the SGPC had no intention to issue a clarification about the “secret meeting.†Though the SGPC chief was present in the city, yet he did not come forward to give any clarification on the issue. Maj R.S. Gill , media adviser to Mr Sidhu, also refused to issue any clarification on his behalf. The Dal Khalsa took Mr Badal to task for “arranging†a meeting between the Akal Takht Jathedar and BJP leaders. In a hard-hitting statement, party spokesman, Mr Kanwar Pal Singh, said it was pity that Mr Badal was paving way for the RSS to make inroads into the Sikh fold. The SGPC chief, Mr Avtar Singh, who was also present in the meeting, also came in for a sharp criticism from the Dal Khalsa. Justifying the ban imposed by Akal Takht on the Rahstriya Sikh Sangat, an offshoot of the RSS, Mr Kanwarpal Singh said there was no point in trusting the RSS time and again. Meanwhile, Mr Jagmohan Singh Tony, general secretary, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar ), in an open letter to Mr Navjot Singh Sidhu, warned him for meddling in the affairs of Sikhs. The open letter reads, “of late, in cohorts with Mr Badal, you have started meddling in the religious affairs of the Sikhs. I have no hesitation in saying that you are not qualified to indulge in Panthic affairs. To accompany a Rashtriya Sikh Sangat activist, Mr R. P. Singh, in a surreptitious effort to pressurise the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib to withdraw the edict against the Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, is totally unacceptable. We will not tolerate your nefarious designs.†The Sikh clergy was already under heavy attack from the Panthic organisations for announcing exemption to all excommunicated persons from undergoing “tankhah†(punishment for religious misconduct) by January 13 next. The move is being viewed as “unprecedented†in the 400 years of the history of Akal Takht. Bhai Ranjit Singh, a former Jathedar, Akal Takht, announced that the move was unacceptable to the Sikh Panth and asked them to be ready for the dire consequences. Mr Ritender Singh and Mr Amarjit Singh, leaders of Gursikh and Shehbaz Khalsa, equated Jathedar Vedanti with “Aroor Singh,†who had honoured Gen Dyer at Akal Takht after the Jallianwala massacre. They said the Sikh Panth would not tolerate rejoining of the excommunicated Pyara Singh Bhaniara, Gurbax Singh Kala Afghana and others without undergoing “tankhah.â€

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060722/punjab1.htm Akal Takht invites excommunicated Sikhs to rejoin Sikh fold Varinder Walia Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 21 In an unprecedented ‘Gurmata’ (literally Guru’s intention), passed unanimously in presence of Guru Granth Sahib, today gave choice to all excommunicated persons to rejoin the Sikh fold by January 13, 2007 without undergoing any ‘Tankhah’ (punishment) on the pre-condition that they accept the authority of Akal Takht, ‘Granth and Panth’. Jathedar Akal Takht, Joginder Singh Vedanti, who read the ‘Gurmata’ from the rostrum of the Takht, here, said that those who had gone astray ‘intentionally or un-intentionally’ from the Sikh fold could themselves avail the special exemption given to them to mark quadricentennial century of ‘Miri Piri’ (foundation of Akal Takht) . Later talking to The Tribune, Jathedar Vedanti said that the ‘Gurmatta’ was meant for all including Nirankaris, who were excommunicated after the Sikh-Nirankari clash on April 13, 1978. The Gurmatta was pronounced to mark the ‘Miri-Piri Divas’, which was postponed for today after clash on July 2. The Sikh scholars feel that this was for the first time in the 400 years of the foundation of Akal Takht that any excommunicated Sikh was given an opportunity to re-join the Sikh fold without undergoing any atonement. ‘Ramraias , Minas , Dheermalias etc had been excommunicated from the Sikh Panth since the Guru’s period. The important personalities, who were excommunicated in recently included Joginder Singh, a editor of daily Spokesman, Canada-based Mr Gurbax Singh Kalaafghana and certain foreign-based Sikhs who were punished for violating the ‘Hukmnama’ (edict) on Langar issue. Meanwhile, Jathedar, Akal Takht has imposed a ban on any type of sloganeering, especially ‘Zindabad-Murdabad’ in any gurdwara premises of the world. The Sikh clergy has also banned press conferences in gurdwara premises. However, Bhai Mohkam Singh, a spokesman of the Damdami Taksal said that Jathedar, Akal Takht must direct the SGPC to provide suitable place for the press conferences for rival Panthic factions since the Badal faction had already been using the Shiromani Committee’s offices. In another significant pronouncement, Jathedar Akal Takht said that ‘both Jehangir and Dewan Chandu’ were responsible for the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev. This pronouncement from Akal Takht has come as great setback to the Shiromani Akal Dal, led by Mr Parkash Singh Badal since Ms Sushma Swaraj, a senior BJP leader had given a clean chit to Dewan Chandu from the Akali Dal’s stage. On this, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, President Delhi Akali Dal (New Delhi) has appreciated Jathedar Vedanti for his ‘bold statement’. However, the ‘Pashtap Divas’ passed off peacefully though senior leaders of the Badal faction, including Mr Parkash Singh Badal, and his party MLAs/MPs, Brig K.S.Kahlon and other factions, including Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, Mr Daljit Singh Bittu, Mr Kanwarpal Singh, Mr Satnam Singh Paunta Sahib and a large number of SGPC members were present on the occasion. The Task Force of the SGPC was on high alert for any eventuality. Jathedar Akal Takht, was the only person to address the Sikh Sangat.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060718/punjab1.htm#16 HIGH COURT Sikhs in custody can wear patka Our High CourtCorrespondent Chandigarh, July 17 The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Punjab Government to permit Sikhs who are in police custody to wear patka henceforth. Disposing of the petition filed by the Sikh Students Federation (SSF), seeking directions to the Punjab Government and prison authorities to allow Sikhs lodged in jails to wear turbans, the Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Mr Justice H.S. Bedi agreed with the stand of the government that the length of the "patka" should not be more than half-a-metre square in size. In its petition, the SSF had alleged that Sikh prisoners in various jails of Punjab were not being allowed to wear turbans, which are mandated as part of the Sikh religion. The petitioner had also stated that many complaints in this regard have been made to the Punjab Government, jail authorities as also the National Commission of Minorities (NCM). But, no action has been initiated in this regard. Today, the Bench was informed that the Additional Director-General of Police (Crime), Punjab, had in a communication dated July 7 sought comments from the police chiefs of various districts about the plea made on behalf of the petitioner. The police officers in the field suggested that "patka" of half-a-metre square size could be allowed for the Sikh accused while in police lock-up. The copy of the letter was also submitted to the bench which disposed of the PIL.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060714/main8.htm Board grapples with poor results by govt schools Sarbjit Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 13 The Punjab School Education Department is grappling with the problem of how to deal with teaching staff of schools yielding zero or near-zero per cent result in examinations conducted by it. There are a large number of such schools across the state. The showing of schools located in the countryside is more dismal as compared to those in the urban areas. Most of the schools in the border belt have fared poorly. “While people across the country celebrate the success of schools that show 100 per cent result, no one sheds a tear for the schools that perform abysmally, showing 100 per cent failure,†said an educationist commenting on the sorry state of affairs prevailing in the Education Department. Neither does the Council of Ministers analyze the poor showing by schools, nor the officialdom spare a thought for dealing with the problem, he said. This can be gauged from the fact that officials do not have adequate information on individual performances of government and government-aided schools in board examinations. When The Tribune reporters approached various district education officers and other officials concerned to collect information, most of them denied having any information, saying that they were yet to get reports regarding results from the schools concerned. Efforts were also made to contact the Chairman of the board, but to no avail. In Amritsar, 34 students of Government Middle School, Gopal Nagar, appeared in Class VIII examination. All failed. Similarly, at Government School in Anna Nagar, all 22 students who took the examination failed. The story is no different with government middle schools located at East Mohan Nagar and Adarsh Nagar. The villages where all students studying in government middle schools failed in Class VIII are: Amarkot (11 students), Jannanian (32), Chabal Khurd (13), Kalsia Khurd (7), Lakhna (10), Loharka Khurd (26), Maddar Mathra Bhaggi (3), Poonian (14), Shahpur (17), Sidhwan (19), Talwandi Sobha Singh (22), Bhoewali (17), Bhani Massa Singh (9), Buraj Pohla (232), Phaijpura (39), Ganda Singh Wala (37). Most of these schools are located in the border Amritsar-Tarn Taran belt. At Uggar Aulakh village, only two students passed out of 30, while in Kirhna Nagar only one student passed out of 23 and at Katra Jallian one students passed out of 10. In matric examination, 49 students appeared at Government High School, Boparai and all flunked. At Saidpur village also, all 58 students who took the examination failed. At Harike, 90 students took the examination and again none got through. Same is the case with schools at Kakkar, Kalaha, Khanpur Sheron, Rajoke, Kot Mohammad, Bhatte Bhaini, Amarkot and Assal Uttar. In Government Secondary School, Ghariala, 55 students appeared in Humanities discipline in Class XII examination and all failed. Only two students passed this examination at the school in Tur village. There are 113 government secondary schools in Amritsar and only 15 schools have regular headmasters. Around 650 posts of lecturer out of 927 are vacant. Nearly 40 per cent posts of other teachers are also vacant. At Duggri village in Ropar district, people had even held demonstrations against the near-zero per cent result in Class VIII and poor showing in Class X examination. In that school, 85 students took the Class VIII examination and 83 failed, while 31 failed out of 45 students in Class X. Surprisingly, not a single government school in the district has achieved the distinction of 100 per cent result in matric examination. Only two government schools in the district have shown result of around 97 per cent. A number of schools have shown results below 50 per cent, 30 per cent and 10 per cent. In Sangrur district, of the 40 students who appeared in matric examination of Government High School, Kalyan, 38 failed. Only one students cleared the examination out of 40 students at Government High School, Farwali, and 55 failed out of 72 students at Tallewal village. The same is a story of Bathinda, Mansa, Kapurthala, Ferozepore, Nawanshahr, Moga, Muktsar, and other districts. (The story is based on inputs from Varinder Walia, Gurbaxpuri, Deepkamal Kaur, Kiran Deep, Sushil Goyal, Perneet Singh and Dharmender Joshi.)

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/12372...-13100388c.html Sikh conference puts focus on women's topics Fresno gathering discusses double standards, violence. By Vanessa Colón / The Fresno Bee (Updated Monday, June 26, 2006, 5:34 AM) Sikh women who went public on gender inequality in their community left the 7th Jakara conference in Fresno on Sunday feeling hopeful. This year's conference focused on the issues of women from domestic violence to double standards in the household. "It's really hard being a girl but it's even harder being a Sikh Punjabi girl. There are a lot of double standards in my family," said 20-year-old Sanjeeta Shergill of Fresno. The cultural and religious dialogue sought to tackle gender inequality and remind each other that the holy book of the Sikh religion describes women as equal to men. The four-day conference, which began Thursday, creates a grass-roots forum for young people to address social and religious concerns. The conference concluded Sunday with a banquet. Tens of thousands of Sikhs live in the Central Valley. The Sikh religion, a monotheistic faith, was founded by Guru Nanak, born in 1469 in what is now Pakistan. About 225 men and women of the Sikh faith attended the conference, which targets 18- to 35-year-olds and attracts people from all over the nation and Canada. Nikkie Ranu of Fresno said some of the issues discussed, such as domestic abuse, are considered taboo, especially for the older generation. "Domestic violence is prevalent in all communities but it's huge in our community," Ranu said. More than 60% of respondents in a June 2006 survey of Sikh women said they either experienced or had seen domestic abuse. About 25% of women surveyed said they experienced sexual abuse. The survey, based on 280 people, was conducted online. Deep Sandhu of Vancouver, British Columbia, was struck by the emotional and personal experiences he learned about in the conference. "They [women] have rights, too. Women are not below class or subservient to me. ... I hope a lot people take this stuff into consideration and implement it," Sandhu said. Several young Sikh women described growing up in households where their brothers don't have a curfew but they do. Many of them said women have more pressure to uphold certain values. "She's way more strict with me," Shergill said of her mother. "She doesn't really approve of clubbing." In some Sikh families, parents allow their daughters to go out at night with friends. "My parents are a lot more liberal," said 19-year-old Karmjot Grewal of Fresno. Many of the Sikh women are against the practice of selective abortion in India and want it to end. They said females are aborted more often because their sex is considered inferior. "It's more praised to have a son. Sadly, this is still happening now," said 18-year-old Shanpreet Gill of Caruthers. Sukhjeet Batth of Fresno said some men were concerned that the conference would turn into a male-bashing event. He said it was an educational experience for men and women. "There are wrongs in our community and we need to address it," Batth said. "It's important for our youth to get together and discuss these problems. "We are the ones in the best position to start changing the views in our community." The reporter can be reached at vcolon@fresnobee.com or(559) 441-6313.

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/sto...1d-1b218bbe36c4 20,000 riled by marriage fraud Raina Delisle, The Province (Vancouver, B.C. Canada ) Published: Monday, June 26, 2006 A petition urging the federal government to change the Immigration Act to fight marriage fraud has been signed by more than 20,000 Canadians. The Canadian Marriage Fraud Victim Society wants to put an end to the practice of foreigners marrying Canadians as a way to gain permanent residency in the country. The society is calling for a three-year probationary period, during which couples must live together, before foreign spouses can be granted permanent residency. "Marriage sponsorship is a very dangerous thing," said society member and abandoned bride Navdeep Dhillon. "This is happening to a lot of people and the government must stop it." Many Canadians -- men and women -- who sponsor foreigners are quickly divorced and left financially liable for their ex-spouses under B.C.'s sponsorship default recovery program. Burnaby-Edmonds NDP MLA Raj Chouhan has been leading a campaign to raise awareness of marriage fraud but says a probationary period is "aggressive" and "unfair." "It's not a very well-thought-out solution," Chouhan said. "It will cause more harm than good." Chouhan said immigrants may find themselves in abusive marriages with no way out for three years if the proposal were adopted. The society was created in January and more than 200 people have already come forward to share their stories, said Dhillion, who believes there are thousands more. rainadelisle@png.canwest.com © The Vancouver Province 2006