G.Kaur

The Strength and Beauty of Women in the Sikh faith and in the Global Community October 5th, 2009 by Daljit Singh Recently, I was honoured to receive a request to make a contribution to Jaikara Media magazine from its editor, Harminder Kaur Bhogal. Jaikar Media magazine is a strong voice for Sikh women. It was coincidental that at the time she contected me, I was just editing the chapter on 'Women in the Sikh faith' for a yet unpublished book on "The Sikhs of Today." There has been much of coverage in magazines and on Sikhnet along with the popular "Sikh Times" recently about women and the strengths and some of the challenges they have to currently face in life. There are so many attributes of women upon which I can focus but the recent press coverage of the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, during her visit to Asia caught my attention. In this article I will excerpt some of the contents of these articles and it would be a great pleasure when she next visits the UK to interview her on behalf of the Sikh Times on her perspective on women. Her speech on that subject was entitled: Invest in women and beat the downturn. On her trip to China, she met women activists who told her about their efforts to advance conditions for women in their country. The woman faced major challenges such as employment, discrimination, inadequate health care, domestic violence and antiquated laws that hindered women's progress. "Time and tide waits for no man" and whether the situation has changed since her last visit will depend on society and their attitudes towards women. I It is spokeswomen like Gurjeet Kaur, Editor of the Sikh Times, Harminder Kaur Bhogal and many others who stand up for women everywhere and strive to articulate their concerns and their rights in society. Hilary Clinton had this to say: "The problems we face today are too big and too complex to be solved without the full participation of women. Strengthening women's rights is not only a continuing moral obligation - it is also a necessity as we face a global economic crisis, the spread of terrorism and nuclear weapons, regional conflicts that threaten families and communities, and climate change along with the dangers it presents to the world's health and security. These challenges demand everything we've got. We will not solve them through half measures. And yet too often, on these issues and many more, half the world is left behind." It is inspirational to hear this from a stateswoman. She continued: "Today, more women are leading governments, businesses, and non-governmental organisations than in previous generations. But that good news has a flip side of the coin. Women still comprise the majority of the world's poor, unfed and unschooled. They are still subjected to rape as a tactic of war and exploited by traffickers globally in a billion-dollar criminal business." Indeed the picture looks grim when one reads about the seamy side of how women are exploited. In some societies the birth of a woman is neither accepted nor acknowledged. Baby girls are smothered at birth, thrown in the Yellow River to drown in China, and expectant mothers in India terminate their pregnancy upon discovering the female gender of their baby. "Despite progress made by women in society; honour killings, maiming, female genital mutilation, and other violent and degrading practices that target women are still tolerated in too many places today. Just a few months ago something tragic happened in Afghanistan: a young girl in Afghanistan was on her way to school when a group of men threw acid in her face, permanently damaging her eyes, because they objected to her seeking an education. Their attempt to terrorise the girl and her family failed. She said, "My parents told me to keep coming to school even if I am killed." It is unthinkable and unimaginable to me that this could happen in current modern society but it goes on covertly! That young girl's courage and resolve should serve as an inspiration to all of us - women and men - to continue to work as hard as we can to ensure that girls and women are accorded the rights and opportunities they deserve. At times of major global financial crisis, Hilary Clinton maintained that: "We must remember what a growing body of research tells us: Supporting women is a high-yield investment, resulting in stronger economies, more vibrant civil societies, healthier communities and greater peace and stability. And investing in women is a way to support future generations. Women spend much more of their incomes on food, medicine and schooling for children." I totally endorse this perspective and it must become a global priority. She continued: "Women need to be given the chance to work for fair wages, access credit and launch businesses. They deserve equity in the political sphere, with equal access at the voting booth and the freedom to petition their government as well as run for office. They have a right to health care for themselves and their families, and a right to send their children to school - both their sons and their daughters; and they have a vital role to play in establishing peace and stability worldwide. In regions torn apart by war, it is often the women who find a way to reach across differences and discover common ground." In the context of the Sikh faith, equality has been advocated for the past 550 years and Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the faith, advocated equality and tolerance amongst the community. In the Siri Guru Granth Sahib we hear over and over that women play a major role in the community and the recognition of their equality. I value women's contributions and I was absolutely spellbound a by a video I saw on SikhNet called "Kaurs in Crowns." The video was taken at the Sikh Student Camp in 2008 in the UK. I religiously attend these camps to observe and report the positive experience of our Sikh faith. This was one of these wonderful camps. The video on Sikhnet impressed me deeply. The title screen speaks for itself: "So why call her bad?" The shabd by Guru Nanak Dev Ji which is used as the music for the video sums everything up beautifully and the message is nice and clear for others to absorb and treat women with respect, magnanimity and great admiration. In addition to some of the relevant points raised above by Hilary Clinton, the Secretary of State for the USA, it shows that women's role in society is crucial and is a lynch pin of any truly successful and productive society. We are born of woman, we are conceived in the womb of woman, We are engaged and married to a woman. We make friends with a woman and life continues because of woman. When one woman dies, we take another one, we are bound with the world through woman. We grow up stronger and wiser having drunk milk from the breast of woman. Why should we talk ill of her, who gives birth to Kings? Everyone is born from a woman; there is none without her. Only the One True Lord is without a woman. (Guru Nanak, Asa Di Var, Ang 473) In the video, all the women, some of whom were wearing their keski or turban for the very first time, look elegant and royal; and behind those beautiful smiles lie hidden the talents, strengths, creativity and in fact, the very foundation that society requires to build a healthier and strong world to take it forward for peace and stability. At the moment, the world is torn apart by strife, political wrangling and misery resulting from war imposed by nations on other nations because of materialism, greed and ego-driven motives of individuals or groups of individuals. These multiple problems we face today are too colossal and complex to be solved without the full participation of women.

She was the ticket to a better life Before Amandeep Dhillon's short life ended in her murder, she was caught between a new family in the GTA she barely knew and one back in India http://www.thestar.com/article/580236 The sorrow of Amandeep http://www.torontosun.com/news/columnists/michele_mandel/2009/01/11/7985746-sun.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/30/india-punjab-children-uranium-pollution

VJKK VJKF I'm going to Punjab next week and wanted to ask if anyone knows if there are any Keertan Smagams (preferably AtamRas Keertan programs) in Doaba area from mid-August to mid-September? Thank you. VJKK VJKF

Bhai Baldev Singh Part 1 Part 2

Happiness

ਜਨੁ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਧੂੜਿ ਮੰਗੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਗੁਰਸਿਖ ਕੀ ਜੋ ਆਪਿ ਜਪੈ ਅਵਰਹ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਾਵੈ ॥੨॥ Jan Nānak ḏẖūṛ mangai ṯis gursikẖ kī jo āp japai avrah nām japāvai. ||2|| Servant Nanak begs for the dust of the feet of that GurSikh, who himself chants the Naam, and inspires others to chant it. ||2|| Audio: Bhai Randeep Singh http://www.akaalproductions.com/kirtan/Kee...eep%20Singh.mp3 Bhai Balwinder Singh Rangila http://sikhee.com/audio/Kirtan/Bhai%20Balw...or%20Mangey.mp3 Prof Satnam Singh Sethi http://sikhee.com/audio/Kirtan/Prof%20Satn...or%20mangai.mp3 Atam Ras Kirtan http://www.sikhroots.com/audio/Events%20an...or%20Mangey.mp3 Bhai Baldev Singh Vadala http://keertan.gurmatchanan.com/keertan/Ra...tChanan.com.mp3 Bhai Heera Singh http://www.sikhvibes.com/kirtan/Sadh%20San...asikh%20kee.mp3

http://guruarjandev.com/ http://picasaweb.google.com/faujkhalsa/GuruArjanDevJi

Slumdog Sikhs http://www.sikhshelpingsikhs.com/

ਜਪ੍ਯ੍ਯਉ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਅਰਜੁਨ ਦੇਵ ਗੁਰੂ ਫਿਰਿ ਸੰਕਟ ਜੋਨਿ ਗਰਭ ਨ ਆਯਉ ॥੬॥ Jap▫ya▫o jinĥ arjun ḏev gurū fir sankat jon garabẖ na ā▫ya▫o. ||6|| Whoever meditates on Guru Arjun Dayv, shall not have to pass through the painful womb of reincarnation ever again. ||6|| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7HjxRyOwRo...re=channel_page Martyrdom of Guru Arjan http://sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Martyrdom_of_Guru_Arjan

Today, June 16th is the Shaheedi divas of Shaheedaan de sirtaaj, Pancham Patshah, Sahib Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj. Bhai Gurdaas Ji in Vaars Bhai Gurdaas on Ang 24 AlK inrMjnu AwKIAY Akl Ajoin Akwl Apwrw] alakh nira(n)jan aakheeai akal ajon akaal apaaraa|| The Lord is without blemish, beyond birth, beyond time and is infinite. riv sis joiq audoq lµiG prm joiq prmysru ipAwrw] rav sas joth oudhoth la(n)gh param joth paramaesar piaaraa|| Crossing the lights of sun and the moon, Guru Arjan Dev Loves the supreme light of the Lord. jg mg joiq inrMqrI jg jIvn jg jY jY kwrw] jag mag joth nira(n)tharee jag jeevan jag jai jai kaaraa|| His light is ever effulgent. He is the life of the world and the whole world acclaims him. nmskwr sMswr ivic Awid purK Awdysu auDwrw] namasakaar sa(n)saar vich aadh purakh aadhaes oudhhaaraa|| All in the world salute him and he, ordained by the primal Lord, liberates one and all. cwir vrn iCA drsnW gurmuiK mwrig scu Acwrw] chaar varan shhia dharasanaa(n) guramukh maarag sach achaaraa|| Amidst the four varnas and six philosophies the way of the Gurmukh is the way of adoption of Truth. nwmu dwnu iesnwnu idiV gurmuiK Bwie Bgiq insqwrw] naam dhaan eisanaan dhirr guramukh bhaae bhagath nisathaaraa|| Adopting the remembrance of the name (of Lord), charity and ablution steadfastly and with loving Devotion, he (Guru Arjan Dev) gets the devotees across (the world ocean). gurU Arjnu scu isrjxhwrw ]18] guroo arajan sach sirajanehaaraa ||18|| Guru Arjan is the True builder (of the Panth).(18) Bhai Gurdaas Ji in Vaars Bhai Gurdaas on Ang 24 rihdy guru drIAwau ivic mIn kulIn hyqu inrbwxI] rehidhae gur dhareeaao vich meen kuleen haeth nirabaanee|| Liberating the soul from the body, Guru (Arjan Dev) stabilised himself in the water of river as the fish remains in water. drsnu dyiK pqMg ijau joqI AMdir joiq smwxI] dharasan dhaekh patha(n)g jio jothee a(n)dhar joth samaanee|| As the moth throws itself into the flame, his light mingled with light of the Lord. sbd suriq ilv imrg ijau BIV peI iciq Avru n AwxI] sabadh surath liv mirag jio bheerr pee chith avar n aanee|| Caring not for life, as the deer keeps its consciousness concentrated when in peril, the Guru also, when undergoing suffering kept none else except the Lord in his consciousness. crxkvl imil Bvr ijau suK sMpt ivic rYix ivhwxI] charanakaval mil bhavar jio sukh sa(n)patt vich rain vihaanee|| As the black bee remains enrapt in the petals of flower to enjoy fragrance, the Guru also spent night of suffering by keeping joyfully his concentration on the feet of Lord. guru aupdysu n ivsrY bwbIhy ijau AwK vKwxI] gur oupadhaes n visarai baabeehae jio aakh vakhaanee|| The Guru like a rain bird spoke to his disciples that the teachings of the Guru should not be forgotten. gurmuiK suK Plu iprm rsu shj smwiD swD sMig jwxI] guramukh sukh fal piram ras sehaj samaadhh saadhh sa(n)g jaanee|| The pleasure fruit of the Gurmukh (Guru Arjan Dev) is the delight of Love and he accepts the Holy Congregation as the natural state of meditation. gur Arjn ivthu kurbwxI ]23] gur arajan vittahu kurabaanee ||23|| I am sacrifice unto Guru Arjan Dev.(23) Guru Sahib set an unparallel example in human history by accepting to sit on the hot iron plate (thathee thavee), and had hot sand poured over His head. We also know that by this shaheedi Gurujee taught us to live in bhana, and not use powers. Along with all this, we should also take a look at a little background behind Gurujee's shaheedi. Chandu wanted to take revenge after Gurujee rejected his daughter's rishta with Sahib Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji Maharaj Sachay Patshah. This was done because Chandu uttered severely insulting words for Gurughar. The Sikh sangat of Delhi requested Gurujee not to accept any rishta with Chandu. Also, it was Chandu who ordered all the tortures on Gurujee. Now the way I see it, Gurujee accepted shaheedi just to uphold the honor of the bachans of His Sikhs. He suffered that unimaginable torture just for maintaining the dignity of the request of His Sikhs. This makes me think, if my Guru can accept this worst torture just for fulfilling the request of His Sikhs, how can we ever doubt such a Guru while doing Ardas? Wouldn't He listen to our Ardas as well? Bhagat Prahlad was asked to embrace a hot pillar. He was undoubtedly among the highest bhagats we have had, but his mind wavered, and only when he saw an ant crawling on the pillar, did he feel confident enough to go ahead and embrace the pillar. Hazrat Ibrahim (Prophet Abraham) who is deeply respected by Jews, Christians and Muslims was asked to walk over red hot burning coal to prove his love and faith in Akal Purakh. No doubt he was a very chardi kala mseesnger of Akal Purakh, but his mind wavered as well. Akal Purakh turned the red hot coal into flowers, and Hazrat Ibrahim walked over them. However, Sahib Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj did not leave any doubts in the minds of the people of the world. He sat on the red hot iron plate without any hesitation, and had really hot sand poured on His head. Jesus had said "Oh my Lord, why have you forsaken me" when he was crucified, but Guru Sahib said qyrw kIAw mITw lwgY ] thaeraa keeaa meet(h)aa laagai || Your actions seem so sweet to me. hir nwmu pdwrQu nwnku mWgY ]2]42]93] har naam padhaarathh naanak maa(n)gai ||2||42||93|| Nanak begs for the treasure of the Naam, the Name of the Lord. ||2||42||93|| Dhann Dhann Shaheedaan de sirtaaj Pancham Patshah Sahib Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji Maharaj. ~ Mehtab Singh

Seva

'Untouchable' woman dies after Indian medics refuse treatment http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jcMJnB...uSncrG1Q6M0Aq9g

More pictures up on http://g5sikhmedia.co.uk/photo.html http://www.sikhroots.net/photos/2009/0607RemembranceRally

Just found an article I read in National Geographic 6 years ago. Untouchable http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/features...uchables-text/1 http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0306...ure1/index.html India's "Untouchables" Face Violence, Discrimination http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/20...touchables.html http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0501/online_extra.html http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/..._pod_image.html

I only watched part 7 but I'm shocked! All parts http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=IndiaU...amp;view=videos

Parnaam Shaheedaan Noon..

It's really sad to see the state of the Panth; today we have caste-based Gurdware what will the next be?!

Gurpurb diyan lakh lakh vadhaiyaan http://sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_Amar_Das http://picasaweb.google.com/faujkhalsa/GuruAmarDasJi

Bhai Harbans Singh (Jagadhari Wale) - Sukhmani Keertan http://sikhsangeet.com/albumid290-Harbans-...ni-Keertan.html

Some pictures from my trip to Gurdwara Harianbela in 2007. More pictures up on http://picasaweb.google.com/GurjeetK84 (in the folder called Punjab 2007)

Simran (Remembrance of God)

Bhai Navreet Singh - Chaupae Sahib & Anand Sahib http://www.sikhroots.com/audio/Collections...and%20Sahib.mp3 Chaupai Sahib Kirtan http://chaupaisahib.org/index.php?option=c...5&Itemid=63

This Shabad is by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Aasaa on Ang 473 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee mÚ 1 ] ma 1 || First Mehla: BMif jMmIAY BMif inMmIAY BMif mMgxu vIAwhu ] bha(n)dd ja(n)meeai bha(n)dd ni(n)meeai bha(n)dd ma(n)gan veeaahu || From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. BMfhu hovY dosqI BMfhu clY rwhu ] bha(n)ddahu hovai dhosathee bha(n)ddahu chalai raahu || Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. BMfu muAw BMfu BwlIAY BMif hovY bMDwnu ] bha(n)dd muaa bha(n)dd bhaaleeai bha(n)dd hovai ba(n)dhhaan || When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. so ikau mMdw AwKIAY ijqu jMmih rwjwn ] so kio ma(n)dhaa aakheeai jith ja(n)mehi raajaan || So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. BMfhu hI BMfu aUpjY BMfY bwJu n koie ] bha(n)ddahu hee bha(n)dd oopajai bha(n)ddai baajh n koe || From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all. nwnk BMfY bwhrw eyko scw soie ] naanak bha(n)ddai baaharaa eaeko sachaa soe || O Nanak, only the True Lord is without a woman. ijqu muiK sdw swlwhIAY Bwgw rqI cwir ] jith mukh sadhaa saalaaheeai bhaagaa rathee chaar || That mouth which praises the Lord continually is blessed and beautiful. nwnk qy muK aUjly iqqu scY drbwir ]2] naanak thae mukh oojalae thith sachai dharabaar ||2|| O Nanak, those faces shall be radiant in the Court of the True Lord. ||2||

Kirtan - Japji Sahib http://www.khalsajikirtan.com/mp3/KhalsaJi...-JapjiSahib.mp3 Kirtan - Chaupee Sahib http://www.khalsajikirtan.com/mp3/KhalsaJi...haupeeSahib.mp3 Kirtan - Asa Di Vaar http://khalsajikirtan.com/cms/index.php?op...4&Itemid=29 Kirtan - Rehraas Sahib http://www.khalsajikirtan.com/mp3/KhalsaJi...ehraasSahib.mp3 Bhai Surinder Singh Jodhpuri - Japji Sahib Da Paath Da Keertan http://sikhsangeet.com/albumid821-Surinder...Da-Keertan.html Bhai Harminder Pal Singh & Mona - Morning Nitnem in Kirtan Style http://sikhsangeet.com/albumid867-Harminde...rtan-Style.html Jaap Sahib http://www.mrsikhnet.com/mp3player/western...aap%20sahib.mp3 Bhai Dya Singh - Jaap Sahib http://sikhee.com/audio/Prayers/Jaap%20Sah...aap%20Sahib.mp3 Bhai Dya Singh - Tav Prasad Swaiyay http://sikhee.com/audio/Prayers/Tav%20Pras...d%20Swaiyay.mp3 Chardi kala Jatha - Japji Sahib http://www.mrsikhnet.com/videos/mp3/chardi...0ji%20sahib.mp3 Bhai Jeevan Singh - Nitnem in Keertan style http://media.goldenkhajana.com/audio/index...ai+Jeevan+Singh Bhai Jeevan Singh - Basant Ki Vaar (Keertan Version) http://media.goldenkhajana.com/audio/Bani/...0Version%29.mp3 Sukhmani Sahib Sangat Sangat repeating finishing with vaja and tabla. http://www.4shared.com/dir/15585138/6db3a4...__Sangat__.html Bhai Guriqbal Singh - Sukhmani Sahib (last pauri in Keertan style) Audio: http://www.4shared.com/dir/15584716/40cf07...mani_Sahib.html Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUPCHw7rnBM...re=channel_page