Taxxi (Auto Censure)

Not fully sure what to make of this short film, but here it is. It features BK Singh and Kaylee Harwood.

Sikhcess: Feed The Homeless Campaign

Sikhcess - The Toronto Chapter, get together once a month at Shromani Sikh Sangat (Dunwin) Gurdwara in Mississauga to create lunches for 6-10 shelters in the GTA region. Compassion through SEVA is the root of the Sikh religion. Deepi Singh, a sevadaar (volunteer), explains how the seva spark begins at home and in the roots of our upbringing.

1947, 1984 & Sikhs Today

Harinder Singh from the Sikh Research Institute discusses the impact of 1947 and 1984 on today's Sikh condition.

Drowning Punjab

Great to see the youth of Punjab using the power of film to tell their stories and raise awareness on the realities of substance abuse in the region. This video is by Jarnail Singh.

SikhRI Webinar: Creating Confident Kaurs

Update: You can watch the webinar here.

Another great upcoming webinar from the Sikh Research Institute:

Creating Confident Kaurs
Jasmine Kaur

Who should attend?
Anyone interested in giving an equal opportunity to young Kaurs to understand and practice Sikhi.

What is the presentation about?
This session explores the ways we can create classrooms which are a nurturing, exciting place for Kaurs. By making a conscious effort to use lessons and language which enforces the power and strength inherent to a female Sikh, and resisting traditions which implicitly, or explicitly, favors the male perspective, we can make a difference for the next generation! Come bridge the gender gaps and ensure every Sikh child in the classroom knows, with great confidence, her true worth.

Who is the presenter?
Jasmine Kaur is the Sikh Research Institute’s Director of Education. She has worked in the education field for more than 15 years. Her degrees are in elementary education, sociology, human development and family studies. Her passion is developing creative & hands on Sikhi related tools for all ages. In the last year Jasmine has conducted fun, interactive workshops for over 800 children and more than 500 parents and educators across North America.

Session Date:
19 Nov 2011
12:00 – 1:30 pm EDT (GMT - 4:00)

Register at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/317688561

Revealed GOLDEN TEMPLE documentary on Discovery channel

From The Hindu newspaper:

It took Delhi-based film-maker Rajendra Kondapalli almost a year to make a 50-minute documentary on the Golden Temple, perhaps the most sacred place for the Sikh community in India. The temple is visited by lakhs of people of various religious denominations every year.

SPREAD AWARENESS

Mr. Kondapalli, who specialises in creating non-fiction programming in various genres, was entrusted the challenging task of producing Revealed: The Golden Temple by the Public Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs.

“The basic idea behind producing this film was to create awareness about Sikhism among global audiences by distributing it through Indian missions and embassies. The documentary begins from the midnight seva, prakash or awakening ceremony to sukhasan when Sri Guru Granth Sahib is laid to rest at Akhal Takht. It also seamlessly weaves in all the other events taking place at the Golden Temple,” Mr. Kondapalli says.

Noting that the focus of the film has been on the significance of Guru Granth Sahib, Mr. Kondapalli says the documentary highlights the basic tenets of Sikhism, how it evolved and what the role of the Golden Temple's custodian, the granthi, is.

To understand the importance of Guru Granth Sahib on the life of an average Sikh, the film-maker interviewed a cross-section of devotees. Maninder Gujral is one such devotee. A doctor by profession, Mr. Gujral came all the way from his adopted home in New York to pay homage to the sacred sanctorum at Amritsar.

“He talked about the devotional angle and what seva means to the Sikh community as a whole. We have also highlighted the tosha khana, the resting place of old Guru Granth Sahibs,” says Mr. Kondapalli.

Since he had never visited the Golden Temple before this project, Mr. Kondapalli knew that plenty of homework would have to be done before starting his shooting schedule.

The film-maker had to do extensive research for five months. “After the research was over, we shot four schedules over a period of six months. We are grateful to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee president for all the cooperation they extended to our team. Without the support of SGPC it would not have been possible to make this film.”

Mr. Kondapalli says that as soon as he entered the revered place, he could sense its importance among the Sikh community as well among the spiritually inclined.

CHEQUERED HISTORY

“Sikhism is such an open religion, and everyone is welcomed with open arms. However, it was still a challenging task to make a film on the Golden Temple, which is known by a vast majority of Sikhs living in India and abroad as Harmandir Sahib. The place has had a chequered history; it was invaded during the medieval period and then in 1984, when Operation Bluestar was launched the Army stormed into the temple. We have made no attempts to conceal any of these facts,” says Mr. Kondapalli, who is executive producer and director of the documentary. (Link)

Shot in high definition, the film is being aired on Discovery TV channel this week.

Revealed - The Golden Temple

Officer of Distinction - Lt.Col. Harjit Singh Sajjan

It was an absolute pleasure watching The National's Remembrance Day show and seeing this profile of Lieutenant Commander Harjit Singh Sajjan, the pride of the Sikh Canadian Community.



Here's some other great videos on him.

Memorizing Time Lapse Views of Earth

Love the Aurora Borealis also known as Northern Lights.

Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS from Michael König on Vimeo.

Na Katal Karavo Kes by Miss Pooja

All too often our dharmak songs and community efforts are around protecting and promoting the wearing of only the dastaar (turban). In our drive to make the dastaar more attractive and relevant to youth, we seem to overlook the fact that the dastaar is actually secondary to the keeping of kesh, or unshorn hair. I hear the slogan of Dastaar Bachao (save the turban) a lot more than Kesh Bachao (save our unshorn hair) and there aren't many contemporary dharmak songs that promote kesh amongst men and women.

That's why I was pleased to come across this song by, yes of all people, Miss Pooja. I'll withold my commentary on her personal level of observation of Sikh practices as I think the message of this song is quite positive. Sure I can nitpic around the excessive bowing to images of Sikh Gurus and disproportionate focus on only Sikh boys. However, overall I quite enjoyed the song. Even the title of the song is provoking. For practicing Sikhs, the term used for cutting your hair is not katana (to cut) but actually katal karna or murdering your hair. For those with unshorn hair, cutting any hair on your body is like killing your Sikhi and disowning your Guru., hence the staunch defense of the external identity.

Let me know what you think.

Gurpurab Mubarak! This is my Nanak.

Lions of the Great War – The Sikhs, Lest we Forget

In commemoration of Remembrance Day on Friday November 11, 2011, the Canadian Sikh Heritage Museum in partnership with the Khalsa Community School will be hosting an exhibition celebrating and honouring the contributions and sacrifices made by Sikhs entitled "Lions of the Great War - The Sikhs, Lest we Forget”.

We must never forget the sacrifices made by the “Singhs” (Lions) of yesterday who fought and died to preserve the freedom we all enjoy today. Fighting in the trenches and muddy fields of Europe, in the deserts, among the mountains and on the oceans in these global conflicts, the Sikhs would win unstinting respect for their courage, bravery, patience and fortitude.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend this exciting and fascinating exhibition highlighting the contributions of Sikhs of Canada to the Great War and the moving account of Private Waryam Singh of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in battle during the Great War. Furthermore, the exhibition will feature original World War 1 artifacts including medals, pagri badges, POW images, magazines, postcards, Sikh toy soldiers and rare war film footage.

During the day over 500 students will explore the great artifacts and exhibits.

The Exhibition will be open to the public and community from 5-9 p.m. at the Khalsa Community School, 69 Maitland Street, Brampton Ontario L6S 3B5 (map).

For more information, please contact Pardeep Singh Nagra at 416 587-5498 or shmc@rogers.com.

You can visit the Facebook page here.

Annual Sikh Remembrance Day Service

Its not often that I haven moments of intense pride in being simultaneously a Sikh and a Canadian. Usually they’re different aspects of my identity that are celebrated and recognized in different quarters. However, last Sunday was one of those moments. I had the honour of attending the Annual Sikh Remembrance Day Service in Kitchner, Ontario at the grave of Private Buckam Singh. Here's what the ceremony was all about:

Military Heritage - With a long military tradition Sikhs have always been at the forefront in serving their country. Over 65,000 Sikh soldiers fought in WWI as part of the British Army and over 300,000 Sikhs fought against German and Japanese tyranny in WWII.

Past and Present - We will honour the service of our men and women of the Canadian Forces as well as remember all those who have served and sacrificed for their country in past wars.

Reclaiming a Forgotten Hero - Wounded twice on the battlefields of France in WWI, Canadian soldier Pvt. Buckam Singh was one of only 9 Sikh soldiers allowed to serve with Canadian Forces in WWI. With the discovery of his war medal and military grave the Sikh community has reclaimed a forgotten son and Canada has reclaimed the story of a hero. (Link)

Seeing the Sikh-Canadian community (and friends of the community) come together to remember one of its long-forgotten sons brought tears to my eyes. Buckam Singh connects us with not only our Guru-inspired tradition of service for the defence of others but also reminds us of how we are an essential and historical part of Canada’s social fabric. Both legacies must be embraced and celebrated with not only our children and our fellow Canadians. Sikhs have made Canada what it is today and must play a central role in what we are to become in the future. We must not be content with the personal gain and affluence that our adopted country has brought to us. We are also obligated by none other than our Guru to play a central role in improving the communities and country in which we spend our lives. For me, this is how I am inspired by the legacy of Buckam Singh.

It is amazing that a young man’s grave can lie virtually ignored for decades only to have hundreds to people descend on it to honour his sacrifice. For this we have to thank Sandeep Singh Brar. He has a gift and talent for research, archiving and documenting that is so rare in our community. His years of thankless hard work and dedication continue to bear fruit and will do so for years to come.

His discovery of Buckam Singh's life story and grave provides us with a real hero and a venue around which to build our own Sikh-Canadian Remembrance Day tradition.

Please read more about Buckam Singh and the Remembrance Day Service at www.sikhmuseum.com.

CBC news did a great story on the event. Since you can't embed their news reports, here's one that someone taped and put online:

Film Trailer: I Am Singh

Not entirely sure what to make of this movie from the trailer. Will have to watch the whole thing to form an opinion.

Paramjit Kaur Khalra

Paramjit Kaur Khalra from Ensaaf on Vimeo.

In this new video from Ensaaf, Paramjit Kaur Khalra describes the need for a truth commission to redress the thousands of disappearances and killings in Punjab, India perpetrated during the counterinsurgency of 1984 to 1995. In September and October 1995, Indian security forces illegally detained, tortured, and killed her husband, human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, for his work uncovering over 2,000 cases of extrajudicial executions and secret cremations in Amritsar district alone. Today, November 4, 2011, India’s Supreme Court upheld life imprisonment for five officers involved in Khalra’s unlawful abduction, torture, and killing. Mrs. Khalra continues to seek justice for the all victims of illegal killings and disappearances.

Ensaaf's Cascade of Voices

Cascade of Voices from Ensaaf on Vimeo.

From 1984 to 1995, Indian security forces disappeared and unlawfully killed thousands of people in the northern state of Punjab. Survivors are speaking up for their children, husbands, and wives. Ensaaf's new initiative “Cascade of Voices” showcases their determination to learn the true fate of their loved ones, as well as the continuing emotional and financial impact these abuses have had on families.

Ontario NDP Recognizes 1984 Sikh Genocide

Regardless of your political stripes, if you are a Sikh-Canadian with any sense of historical perspective, you have to be impressed with the NDP's unwavering support of Sikh issues. While other political parties, for a variety of reasons, have refused to speak truth to power regarding the true nature of the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms, not the New Democratic Party. Here's what the federal NDP's Jasbir Sandhu (Surrey North, BC) said in the House of Commons to mark the 27th anniversary of November 1984:

“It is with great sorrow that I extend my sympathies on the 27th anniversary of the tragic pogroms of 1984 that targeted Sikh men, women and children.
‪
“The New Democratic Party of Canada stands in solidarity with the Sikh community, demands justice for the survivors and an explanation for why and how this community was targeted by organized mobs.

“The victims and survivors of 1984 cannot sit idly by, waiting for the Indian government to recognize their plight and frustration. Rehabilitation and support for the broken families, especially the trauma the widows and children experienced, must be prioritized. The negligence of the police must be examined. The truth and those guilty must be brought to justice.

‪”These are not demands – these are obligations of a democratic government to its citizens.

‪”Remembrance is the tie that binds us to our past as it guides us for the challenges of the future.

‪”Lest we forget.” (Link)

Now the Ontario NDP has taken it to the next level, by openly calling the pogroms a genocide, something that Sikhs around the world have been advocating for over many years.

The ONDP stands in solidarity with the Sikh Community in remembering the November 1984 Sikh Genocide. From October 31 to November 4th 1984 thousands of Sikhs were killed across India. Hundreds of Sikh homes and businesses were burned. Sikhs places of prayers or Gurudwaras were attacked and destroyed. Members of the Sikh community were targeted and killed based solely on their religious identity. The Sikh community continues to experience trauma from the events of November 1984. We stand with the Sikh community’s call for justice and recognition of their loss. Recognition of harm suffered is the first step to healing and reconciliation.

Jagmeet Singh, MPP Bramalea-Gore-Malton made a presentation to the ONDP Caucus on the anniversary of the Sikh Genocide yesterday.

The ONDP is committed to human rights across the province and the country and continue to work with all communities in creating a better world. (Link)

It takes tremendous courage to speak the truth sometimes. I suspect there are many members of the Indian establishment that will not be happy with the ONDP's statement and they'll be likely to voice their opposition in a variety of powerful ways. Hence, why groups like the Sikh Activist Network are mobilizing their members to express their support and appreciate for the ONDP regardless of their political affiliations.

All I can say to the NDP is thank you from the Sikh-Canadian community. From years past when even most Sikhs were unwilling to discuss 1984, your leaders like Jack Layton were quietly attending candlelight vigils for the victims of this horrible violence. And today, you've spoken the truth previously unsaid by politicians -  that the state-sponsored pogroms of Sikhs in November 1984 was indeed a genocide. As defined by the UN General Assembly it was an indeed a series of  "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group" (Link)

Here's what Jack Layton himself said about the pogroms last year:

Sardul Singh Gill Gives $5M To University Of Victoria

A great story of Sikh-Canadian philanthropy from British Columbia. Sardul Singh Gill has just donated 5 million dollars to University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business. The gift will establish a permanent endowment that will disburse funds for scholarships and financial awards, international projects, teaching and research. The university will recognise the gift by naming its graduate business program the Sardul S. Gill Graduate School. Here's the article in the Globe and Mail and here's the article from the University of Victoria.

$5-MILLION GIFT HONOURS PARENTS' BELIEF IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Students at the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business will be the beneficiaries of a $5-million donation from Victoria businessman Sardul S. Gill. The gift will establish a permanent endowment that will disburse funds for scholarships and financial awards, international projects, teaching and research. The university will recognise the gift by naming its graduate business program the Sardul S. Gill Graduate School.

“Mr. Gill’s generous donation will do a great deal to strengthen graduate level business education and allow us to reward outstanding academic achievement and foster excellence in teaching,” says UVic President David Turpin.

“This magnificent gift will benefit generations of business students and advance our teaching and research programs,” says Dr. Ali Dastmalchian, dean of the Gustavson School of Business. “We are delighted to honour Mr. Gill in this way; he is a person who exemplifies the values of hard work and integrity.”