dalsingh101

ha ha!

Some interesting data here on literacy rates across India. They say Panjab is one of the richest states in India but the literacy rate doesn't seem to reflect this? Iz it cos we is a bit thick innit? If the stats are correct it suggests that approx 30% of Panjab's population are unparh. Thats more than 1 out of every 4 people. Explains a lot. http://india.gov.in/knowindia/literacy.php

A tune about people like me!

I have to add this. One thing that gets my goat sometimes is how frequently the agenda of Sikh Studies gets driven by nonSikhs. I know that sometimes it is helpful to have fresh eyes cast onto things and I'm not saying nonSikh scholars shouldn't be able to comment on Sikhi (respectfully). But sometimes I just can't help but think that frequently our own scholars just seem to be 'coasting' and not really upping the bar in terms of Sikh studies these days. Operating in other people's trails. Is it because we have created this hyper conservative environment for the field amongst ourselves? I can partially understand the hawkishness because of the perception that people do publish supposedly objective 'research' with hidden agendas, but is a big part of it plain laziness and lack of funding? We did have quality scholars like Padam, Seetal, Ganda Singh, Jaggi etc. The decision to publish research in English or Panjabi seems to have a big impact on the subsequent level of knowledge of Sikhs raised in diaspora I reckon. That being said, I'm noticing more and more young Sikhs are taking the time to learn Gurmukhi and study their literature. This needs to be encouraged, fostered and supported unequivocally. The Sikh intelligentsia needs to expand and as a community we need to move away from the more negative aspects of rural mentality with it's indifference to knowledge acquisition and development. We need a community wide Sikh renaissance?

My library couldn't get it. Shame. They told me to go the the British library.

Fair point. Though African Animals don't seem to lose their wildness despite hordes visiting them. But then they do appear to have infinitely more space there compared to India?

Not necessarily. Just have and enforce hardcore anti-pollution laws. Make a few examples by sticking a few whiteys in those dirty hell hole Indian prisons for a short while (on which they will later produce a number of sympathetic documentaries and maybe a film o show other whiteys here how beastly Indians are) and voila. Problem sorted. Westerners are generally well trained when it comes to not being litterbugs anyway. Well the type that would come there would be.

Guardian article on Tigers in India http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/mar/27/india-tiger-population-rise-census

It's cool, I like exposure to a wide range of interpretations of Sikhi too. Sometimes I like listening to the fast hard fast AKJ style simran (especially in winter!). I love DDT katha from Uncle/Giani Thakur Singh. Even western stuff like Snatam Kaur. PS - Stop trying to make me blush.....

Video is a bit clunky but visual quality not bad at all.

It's all about Sainsburys! lol See I told you Surya! he he I think you posted a flyer from an AKJ program oncee and I foolishly made assumptions based on that. Other than that it could be the early effects of dementia? Yep, I hope the revelation isn't too disappointing. I guess I am a sehajdhari Sikh.

I'd rather watch paint dry. Seriously. I got the wrong end of the stick then. No I'm not. I'm a dreaded, detested mona. Bottom of the barrel of the Sikh community. Considered by some to even be beyond the pale of it! lol That's not actually strictly accurate now is it.

If India wanted, they could actually profit from nature reserves. Although these goray have no qualms about attacking and killing nonwhite males, they get all protective and 'civilised' over animals (well now that their trophy hunting days seem over anyway). India could sell package holidays to these whiteys. Plus India does really need to get more clued up on the ecological front. Even though she does quite well compared to other western nations. Beautiful natural areas are an asset to any nation.

In the ideal world, all writers would have a Catholic childhood, or belong to some other religion which does the equivalent for you. Because Catholicism tells you at a very early age the world is not what you see; that beyond everything you see, and the appearance – or the accidents as they're known – there is another reality, and it is a far more important reality. So it's like running in the imagination. I think that this was the whole point for me – that from my earliest years I believed the world to have an overt face and a hidden face, and behind every cause another cause, and behind every explanation another explanation, which is perhaps of quite a different order. Hilary Mantel

You sad case (for the wedding!) I thought you was AKJ? Do you know how much Bhai Randhir Singh detested these feringhees! lol Anyway, vegetarian stuff is commonly available in most large supermarkets here and you'll get a freezer cabinet full of stuff (you lucky lucky girl!) Any of the larger Sainsburys will have these. Be careful to read the labels to avoid any GM (genetically modified) stuff and stuff with egg (if you don't eat it that is).

Must see!

You got to see this Tiger!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4SqXl9Zj6k&NR=1

Yes, they can count too it seems! And always go 2+ to investigate potential competition if the doc is anything to go by. This isn't true. You saw one chasing off a male in the doc.

Looks like they are actually matriarchal in set up! lol Tell you what. Watching this documentary just made me fall in love with the African landscape. They are SO lucky to have so much unspoilt land.

I like this.

Welcome LittleJamie!

Sorry only UK. You guys have to watch this documentary about our namesakes. The parallels with our quom are interesting. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00zv8w8/The_Truth_About_Lions_The_Social_Cat/

I agree. But this women's mum did seem to be a bit of a control freak. Plus seriously, I know that generation she is from, and certain parents were unbelievably pendu back then, like many people would struggle to imagine now. A lot of girls rebelled back then because they had absolutely no positive British raised Sikh female role models. I've seen a good few like that, really angry about the perceived 'oppression' they received. I believe a part of this was because they were comparing themselves to their white/black school friends and other media icons. She now seems to be projecting her experiences on other females of this generation, which I think is faulty. That being said, I'm sure there are still a few odd cases of forced marriage that still go on within our lot. But Laal Singh is right, this is more of a Pak/Bengali problem than a Sikh one. Or maybe things are really different up North with the community compared to south? The doc gave a glimpse into the Panjabi pind environment though. Some things were typical, like family feuds over land. lol In any case, what would you do if you had a daughter like that? I doubt many of us here would really push for a daughter to rigidly marry a stranger against her will in any case.

Here it is for the UK crew: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00znwx2/Jasvinders_Story_Shame_Travels/

No man. He is doing seva for sarbat. If he doesn't keep them busy, you know what these goray are like! They'd probably be starting a war somewhere! lol I watched some of that vid, seemed really interesting, shame about the poor sound quality. He mentions some nihang who was slapped across the face by some Christian missionary (sortly after annexation) for refusing to bow down to him. This guy apparently later murdered a missionary in revenge a few years later. It's like the hitherto unspoken of insults and degradation of apnay post 'annexation' is being exposed. He makes a point about the British targeting nihangs and only tolerating docile ones. Interesting points.