Sevadar: Becoming An Inspiring Activist

A GTA-based group, the Haloonaa Project, is working with the Sikh Research Institute (San Antonio, Texas) to put together a fantastic workshop on August 9th entitled “Sevādār- Becoming An Inspiring Activist”.

Harinder Singh and Inderpreet Singh will be coming up from the US to facilitate the workshop. The focus of the session will be to:

• Inspire Sikhs to become positive, informed activists within their communities
  Train activists to become engaged, effective leaders
• Implore attendees to continuously develop themselves while inspiring others to make positive individual and institutional changes
• Facilitate the development of one’s capabilities to impart the Sikh vision within a variety of settings
• Challenge attendees to not only act or talk like a Sikh, but to advance their thinking through questioning, self- exploration, and engaged learning

The best part of the workshop is the genuine efforts being made by the Haloonaa team, comprised mostly of first-generation "Punjabi" Sikhs, to reach out and engage second-generation "Canadian" Sikhs as one collective Guru Panth.

There's only 50 spots available. For more information or to register directly contact the Haloonaa team.

Reality show star Ishmeet Singh drowns in hotel swimming pool

Reality show star Ishmeet Singh drowns in hotel swimming pool

Celebrity singer Ishmeet Singh from Punjab drowned on Tuesday in a swimming pool at a resort in the Maldives where he went to take part in a concert, plunging the music industry into a gloom.

Gurprinder Singh Sodhi, father of 20-year-old Ishmeet, who shot to fame by winning the Star India TV Voice of India contest in November last year, said at their home in Ludhiana that the event management company, which took his son to the Maldives, informed him at around 8 pm that the singer died due to drowning in the swimming pool of the hotel where he was staying.

The B.Com second year student of MNC college in Mumbai went to the pool for frolicking but fell into its deep end leading to his drowning.

Sodhi told reporters that they were surprised that their son had died due to drowning in the swimming pool. "He had never swam before us and we are not aware whether he could swim or not," an inconsolably sobbing father said.

"The TV channels announced his death at around 9 pm, the time when were expecting to see Ishmeet perform for the first time in the Maldives", Sodhi said.

He said Ishmeet had left Ludhiana on Monday for Chandigarh from where he went to Mumbai on way to the Maldives.

Here's his last public performance in Ludhiana on July 27th:



He also had recorded an album of shabads, entitled "Satgur Tumre Kaaj Saware":

The Art of Gurmat Sangeet - GTA Raag Keertan Darbar

"Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji started the tradition of kirtan as a means of reaching God." Bhai Sahib Avtar Singh and Bhai Sahib Gurcharan Singh Ji

With the Guru's grace, the art of Gurmat Sangeet is starting to make a comeback. A new generation of Sikhs are developing an appreciation for the original Sikh instruments used to perform keertan as well as the raags in which the Guru Granth Sahib's hymns are composed.

It may be surprising to many but the vaja or harmonium is not a traditional Sikh instrument; rather it is an importation of Christian missionaries and derived from the accordian. My own journey into Sikhi has taken me from the Bollywood-inspired pop kirtan to Gurmat Sangeet and its taken several years. Just like it takes time and patience to appreciate high culture, the same holds true for listening to Gurmat Sangeet, but the reward is extraordinary.

If you're interested in learning more about Gurmat Sangeet, your first stop must be the Gurmat Sangeet Project, run in an extraordinary fashion by Sardar Sarbpreet Singh in Boston. Angad Singh also runs a great blog with lots of videos, mp3s and information. My favourite ragi is the late Bhai Avtar Singh Ji who came from a family steeped in centuries of Gurmat Sangeet tradition.

To further cultivate a sangat of Gurmat Sangeet, a group of young motivated Sikhs in the Greater Toronto area have begun monthly Raag Keertan Darbars where all the shabads are sung in raag, preferably with traditional Sikh instruments.

The August Raag Keertan Darbar will be happening on August 9th @ Malton Gurdwara starting at 8:00 PM. A website has been made for having all the RKD monthly program recordings. There's also a Facebook group set up. Email s.karanjeet at gmail.com for more information.

Snoop Singh Dogg is Kinng...

New York Times Article on Singh is Kinng and India’s New Partnership between Bollywood and Hip-Hop

I never thought I'd see the day. Snoop Dogg in a turban. Up front, I have a whole series of reservations about this film and all the mixed messages its sending about Sikhism and Sikhs (more on this another time).

However, I will say that in some twisted way, for the mainstream American masses, seeing a major hip hop star in a turban may actually help increase acceptance of it and calm some of the backlash that Sikhs have been feeling over their physical identity in the post 9/11 world.

So part me sees this circus around Singh is Kinng as an offensive cultural / secular appropriation of the Sikh articles of faith. But another part of me hopes that if this makes life a little easier for a Sikh kid on the playgrounds of Brooklyn, there was something gained. The Sikh identity is not that weak that two aging entertainers will be able to do much damage.

Fly-through of New Gurdwara in Dubai

Here's a video walk through of the new gurdwara in Dubai will look like. From its impressive and grandiose design, it looks fitting for over-the-top Dubai. And from the Sikhs in Dubai blog it looks like it'll be ready for 2009.

What happens if you talk with your phone in a concert?

Flintstones Winston Cigarettes Commercial

Heres a 1950's cigarette commercial featuring The Flintstones. Making this ad today is criminal, but I bet you that almost no one 50 years ago would have thought so. Makes you wonder what people 50 years from will think about what we schlok to children today.

SpaceTime - 3D Web Browsing

I read about these applicationa in the Economist and thought I'd try them out. Its still in the early days, so its hard to picture web browsing in 3D until you actually see it. That's why its worth watching the demos on SpaceTime or PicLens homepage. For things they do well (which is limited), its pretty impressive. It seems like a superior way of browsing through multiple images and videos.

So if you want to get a feeling of what web surfing will be like in five years give SpaceTime or PicLens a try.

Sikhism - Freewill and Destiny

PDF: Freewill and Destiny

This brochure from Project Naad explore where Sikhi sits on the spectrum of "everything is already determined" vs "its all up to me".

Here's a summary of its key points:

- Sikhism supports the soft determinist viewpoint, that most of our actions are free and the rest are determined
- Our actions are free but we are still subject to the Will of God which is the Divine Law found in nature, including Law of Karma, action and consequence
- Our own desires and past actions (Karma) pre-determines and pre-ordains our destiny
- By great good fortune we realise this chain of action and consequence (Karma)
- Through freewill we chose our true destiny as a human being, which is realising God within ourselves. We chose to love God and do good actions of meditation, sharing and honesty that give us God consciousness

Sikhs seek unity at communal meals

Sikhs seek unity at communal meals

An article from the Miami Herald on the langar at the local gurdwara. Its always interesting to see what others have to say about our institutions.

They all volunteer their time and multitask as need be. Bread and faith are shared here, where everyone is an equal.

The outsider perspectives often remind me about the institutional treasures that we Sikhs have been blessed with but have, for a variety of reasons, grown complacent over.

The langar is one of these insitutions. Founded on the values of equality and humility, it is a tool of social revolution. I can only imagine what a scandal the Gurus caused when they had princes and paupers sit side by side and eat together. In one meal, it obliterated the religious walls that had built up over thousands of years of division and subjugation. It also provided a direct means for Sikhs to practice their golden rule of Vand Ke Chhakana with the masses. And most practically, I also believe the Gurus practically understood that its hard to pray on an empty stomach.

So its sad to see what langars have been reduced to; fatty food served to (mostly Sikh) fat people who complain that they clothes get stained by sitting on the floor and that the sabji needs more salt.

But there is hope. Groups like Sikhcess have taken the concept of langar on road, feeding those that need it, wherever they happen to be. At last count, they'd served over 137,000 meals.

The Sikh Turban: Post-9/11 Challenges to this Article of Faith

Discrimination & National Security Initiative

From the Discrimination & National Security Initiative in the US comes a detailed report on the challenges faced by Sikhs after 9/11 with respect to their turban. The detailed report is available here and is definitely worth a read.

Abstract

Turbans have been worn by different people around the world for at least the past 3,000 years. For one community, the Sikhs, the turban carries deep religious significance. Members of the Sikh faith - the fifth largest religion in the world - are required to wear a turban pursuant to religious mandate.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Sikh turbans have taken on a new meaning. Because Non-Sikhs tend to associate Sikhs' turbans with Osama bin Laden, Sikhs with turbans have become a superficial and accessible proxy for the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks. As a result, turbaned Sikhs in America have been victims of racial violence and have had their identity challenged by calls for immigrant groups to assimilate into Western societies.

This essay examines how the turban has transformed from a sacred piece of attire for Sikhs to a target for discriminatory conduct and an object of marginalization after 9/11.

Part I provides an introduction to Sikhism, which originated in 17th century South Asia, and discusses the religious significance of the Sikh turban. Part II examines incidents of discrimination in several contexts involving turbaned Sikhs in America. Part III analyzes the debate surrounding assimilation that has been taking place in the West, which implicates conspicuous articles of faith, including the Sikh turban. The essay also explores the legal remedies available to turbaned Sikhs affected by discriminatory conduct or by broader policies on the wearing of turbans.

The essay discusses the post-9/11 backlash as it relates to Muslims, Arabs, and South Asians. It attempts, for the first time, to report on Sikh concerns, which, until now, have largely been subsumed in broader discussions of the post-9/11 climate.

Indian Sweet Child O'Mine

This goes into the category of things I never thought I'd ever see; a bunch of Indians playing Guns n Roses.
Having grown up on GnR's Appetite For Destruction and Use Your Illusion, I've been living out my childhood dreams with Guitar Hero III's Welcome To The Jungle.
This is just icing on the cake.

Saanjh: The Bay Area Sikh Retreat from Sept 4th to 7th

Saanjh: The Bay Area Sikh Retreat

The Bay Area Sikhs are getting into the retreat spirit. For those that have never been to a retreat, they are probably one the most funnest, educational and spiritual experiences you'll ever have. When they're done right, you'll wish you could quit your job/school and stay there forever. There's a very distinct feel to retreats that distinguish them from the typical Sikh workshops or conferences. I guess it has to do with being out in the countryside away from hustle and bustle of your daily lives; distance brings perspective and introspection.

Best of luck to the organizers of the retreat and I hope its the start of a great tradition.

Welcome to Saanjh – meaning 'partnering, sharing, connecting' in Punjabi. Saanjh is the new Bay Area Sikh retreat. We seek to provide a platform where young Sikhs can gather to connect with the Guru and with each other.

From September 4th to September 7th, Sikhs from all over North America will gather in the Monte Toyon camp and conference center in Santa Cruz, California, to inspire each other and to reinvigorate their commitment to Sikhi.

The retreat will feature interactive workshops and discussions that will explore topics such as understanding the Guru, exploring our relationship with the Guru, Sikh identity and culture, visiting our recent and past history , Sikh politics and activism. We will utilize an interdisciplinary approach featuring spiritual, philosophical, cultural, historical, political, and activist angles to explore these diverse topics. There will also be different fun activities, sports and games to engage us. We hope to challenge participants to gain a broader and more nuanced understanding of what it means to be a Sikh while inspiring activism. Participants will have the opportunity to learn to translate and interpret shabads, do prakash seva, take hukam, do ardas, and make Deg.

However, the aim of Saanjh is not only to provide information and insight on Sikhi, but create an intimate environment where we can imbue ourselves with love for the Guru. It will bring together individuals from different backgrounds in a spirit of collective understanding, learning and sharing experiences. For a motivating, stimulating, and moving experience, come join us in Saanjh.

EARLY REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!! SPACES ARE LIMITED! REGISTER TODAY!!

http://saanjh.org

For more information, email: info@saanjh.org

Fabric of a society - Thailand's Sikhs struggling to keep unique traditions alive

"The vast majority of Sikh migrants have done well since coming to Thailand. But only time will tell just how traditionally Sikh their descendants will be."

A report today from a Thai newspaper commenting on how Sikhs are struggling to pass along their religious traditions to a new generation. This just reinforces the common challenges faced by the Sikh diaspora. Regardless of what country Sikhs live in (Punjab and India included), there is a woeful dearth of effective instutiutuions to provide basic knowledge sharing on the fundamentals of Sikhism. As a community, we continuously fail to ensure that the majority of Sikh youth have a place to turn to when they want answers to their simplest yet most important of questions: What does it mean to be Sikh?

(Re)united We Stand..

Time To Change!- R. Paul Dhillon

It doesn't matter which city or country you are in, Sikh communities are divided along many lines. It often seems like we're obsessed with our differences rather than what we have in common; our Guru Granth and Guru Panth. Thankfully, we're starting to see a new generation of Sikhs come forth and challenge the status quo of divisive politics. Harinder Singh of the Sikh Research Insititute has taken this on as a personal mission. This of course means that he'll be targeted, maligned, blamed, and lambasted for his efforts, as all righteous causes are by those who have more to gain from the status quo than from change. However, if there's even the slightest chance of reconcilliation, we must pursue it feverently. We have no other choice.

For many in the much divided Sikh community – the sight of Guru Nanak Sikh temple president Balwant Singh Gill, an ardent so-called Sikh moderate, holding a candle at a vigil organized by traditionalist Sikhs to mark the Indian army’s 1984 attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar – was a shocker but also a breath of fresh air change that is needed to bring the community together and end the nonsense bickering and divisions created by self-serving community leaders, turn-coat-politicians, Indian government agents and bootlickers. Gill’s former associates are up in a lather crying about him mingling with militants but Gill should be commended for having the strength and courage to move the community forward because that is only way it can progress in Canada.

Much of the credit for this change goes to a Texas-based Sikh Harinder Singh, who is a highly intelligent and much regarded new age Sikh who wears his “Sikhi” on his sleeve but is not afraid to tell it like it is because Sikhism needs a much hard dose of reality to attain the pure harmonious love that the Gurus’ philosophy has in abundance. It is Harinder Singh’s passion and progressive outlook for North American Sikhs as well Sikhs globally that inspired Gill to break the divisions and stand with his Sikh brothers for a common cause. Harinder Singh talks about how Sikhs were a divisive lot even during the Gurus times but whenever their faith and religion required them to be one – they quickly came together as ONE!

This can be a watershed moment in Sikh history in Canada if the righteous ones come together for a common cause which means that the more militant must also do their part to show that Sikhism is above all compassionate and caring religion and not one defined by aggression and militancy! Link

Rabbi's Back..

Rabbi Shergill is back with his new album. Its very interesting to see how people respond to him as his music is definitely not bhangra but is, at the same time, different from most other Indian pop.

What I like about him is that he writes his own songs and isn't afraid to tackle issues that rarely find a voice in mainstream Indian media.

Best of all has to be his appearance. With his curly disheveled beard and loosely tied turban (with retro long turla in the back), he's proving to be a role model for a generation of Sikh youth desperate for contemporary representation in the media.

While this song is average, the rest of the album is full of solid tracks. Check it out at http://ajn.co.in/

The Guru's Wedding Gifts

The Wedding Gifts. SikhNet

I heard a stupid Sikh preacher the other day, trying to convince a mass gathering of his compatriots that the iron ring of the Guru worn off the wrist was a protection against lightning. He said, as large buildings were made safe against lightning by a rod of iron, so the Guru had saved man from the stroke of lightning. He was hopelessly flinging his arms up and down to gather some straw of a reason to prove the rationale of the iron ring, the Guru gave us as a gift. Coming to us from our personal God, dearer to us than our mother, father, sister or sweetheart, it comes to us as His gift, as His blessing.

We often hear a whole slew of rationale about why Sikhs are required to keep the articles of their faith. This is the first time I've heard about the lightning rod kara, but there's lots of other obscure justifications. This article touches on my major reason for keeping the 5Ks and the dastaar (turban). Love.

For me the parallel of taking amrit and getting married is fitting. Both require a leap of faith and the triumph of love over logic. My wedding ring means the world to me not because of its functionality or intrinsic value. Its of infinite value because it is a small declaration to me, my wife and the rest of the world for the lifelong love and devotion I have for her. Similarly, my kesh, kanga, keshera, kara and kirpan show my unconditional love for my Guru.

So why I should try to justify my articles of faith? Love is all the justification I need.

Always two sides to every story - Zimbabwe

Behind the reluctance of China and Africa to criticize Mugabe - International Herald Tribune

Its always easy to hear and agree with the mainstream perspective on an issue. With Zimbabwe, taking the high road and condemning Mugabe is easy and popular to do, as I've done for a few years now.

However this article shows there's two sides to every story and both are always worth listening to before rushing to judgement.

And so it begins..

So many thoughts, so many feelings, so many opinions, and so few people interested in what I have to say :)

Rather than talk my wife's ear off or continously pepper my friends and family with random perspectives on life, I'll post and write here instead.

If people read it great, if not, at least it'll cut down on my spoken unsolicted observations.