Sikh Blog Pulse

light crests over boundaries that once held sway

2012-05-31T00:47:49Z

receiving Naam feels like Guru Sahib has attached an additional cavern to my mind. when used, it fills with light that melts into the rest of my body. when unused, it’s emptiness remains present and throbs to be filled again.

it means emptiness becomes more profound. and when i’m filled, the light crests over boundaries that once held sway. the light crests smoothly – like water over sun-touched stones. in the daily dusk of my own withdrawal, Your light crests over the boundaries that once held sway over me.

MTA officially settles with Sikhs and Muslims on ‘brand or segregate’ policy

2012-05-31T00:05:35Z

Earlier this month and as a result of a seven-year long legal challenge, New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), which oversees public transit in the city, agreed in principle to eliminate the requirement that Sikhs or Muslims who wear religious head-coverings to affix a corporate logo on the head-covering, or be segregated out of public view. This policy was coined as “brand or segregate”.

The settlement was officially filed in federal court today, and includes:

Transit Authority employees will no longer be forced to choose between branding their religious head coverings with the logo for the rail and bus operator’s parent, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, or working in jobs out of the public view.

Bus drivers, train operators, conductors and station agents will now be allowed to wear their headscarves, turbans and other religious head wear, provided they are in the same blue color as their transit uniforms, according to court papers.

The Transit Authority has also agreed to pay monetary settlements totaling at least $184,500 to eight Sikh and Muslim current and former employees who filed employment discrimination claims, according to court documents.

Further:

…the settlement contains no finding of fault or liability, just modifies the uniform policy so employees can wear “turbans, headscarves and certain other forms of headwear…”

It is regrettable that this policy was put into effect apparently in response to 9/11, and that it took seven years for the policy to be changed, however it’s great news that resolution has now come and the discriminatory policy has been eliminated.

(The video above is of a press conference in 2009 by Sikhs opposed to the discriminatory MTA policy)

On being a ‘mansome’ Sikh

2012-05-30T20:01:40Z

Click here to view the embedded video.

“But, when you have a beard, a mustache, it’s like a mask. You can’t see the person’s face. It’s hidden.”

As disagreeable as the words sounded, my friend’s tone was very gentle and civil. It was almost as if he was asking me the question: why bother?

I was a nine-year-old Sikh boy with a little mustache fuzz and a patka (a Sikh boy’s headcovering), speaking with the clean-shaven teenaged Hindu boy next door whom I befriended on this extended trip to India. I would often play games with his younger brother, but with this older brother, our interaction usually took the form of conversations about our different cultures and religions.

His point about hair left me somewhat at a loss. I remember his facial expression after he made his statement – curiously waiting for a response that I would not have.

Later that evening, I presented this argument to my father. “He said people can’t see our true faces because of the hair on our face.”

My father didn’t take a second to respond. “This is my face”, he said very matter-of-factly, “this is how a man’s face naturally looks.”

This episode from my childhood came to mind when a friend brought to my attention the release of the movie Mansome (a play on “handsome”), a documentary about the increasing focus on male grooming and fixation on beauty:

From America’s greatest beardsman, to Morgan Spurlock’s own mustache, Executive Producers Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Ben Silverman bring us a hilarious look at men’s identity in the 21st century. Models, actors, experts and comedians weigh in on what it is to be a man in a world where the definition of masculinity has become as diverse as a hipster’s facial hair in Williamsburg. The hilarious follicles of men’s idiosyncratic grooming habits are thoroughly combed over as men finally take a long hard look in the mirror.

According to the man behind the documentary, Morgan Spurlock (famous for his documentary Super Size Me) :

“Now I’m being told I’m not perfect, I’m being told by this magazine I’m fat, I’m being told that I’m not good enough, and that I need to change the way I live if I want to please my woman. These are things that used to be on the cover of Cosmopolitan and are now on the cover of Men’s Health, Esquire and Details. Now that there are all these things wrong with us, how do [men] find out what’s right for us? That’s part of what the film taps into.”

To women, I am sure this will sound all-too-familiar, who for centuries have been struggling with the commercial, cultural and social pressures around what is considered beautiful or feminine. For Sikh women, this is even more the case, as they must contend with contradictory messages from outside and from within the Sikh community about uncut hair and what is considered beautiful versus what is sacred. For a discussion of this issue in the Sikh female context, Kirpa Kaur gave a great talk at the recent Sikholars conference that you can watch on YouTube – my comments on that presentation are here.

However, we’re now seeing a similar phenomenon emerging for men, particularly so as a result of the metrosexual movement of the 1990s:

Metrosexual is a neologism derived from metropolitan and heterosexual coined in 1994 describing a man (especially one living in an urban, post-industrial, capitalist culture) who spends a lot of time and money on shopping for his appearance.^[1] Debate surrounds the term’s use as a theoretical signifier of sex deconstruction and its associations with consumerism.

As a Sikh male who maintains a turban and uncut hair, I had a passing interest in this film about male grooming (which I have not yet watched), but the story about one of the men profiled in this movie made me take note:

Another is Ricky Manchanda, a New York City-based clothing company executive. Growing up as a Sikh, Manchanda spent his already awkward years in a tightly wrapped turban. He has turned the trauma of childhood teasing into a never-ending quest to tweak his physical appearance with a regimen that includes tanning, facials, eyebrow threading and exploring the latest laser skin treatments.

The inclusion of a Sikh in this documentary who shed his religious articles in pursuit of an ideal of attractiveness caught my attention. It’s a common story among Sikh men who grow up in a culture that defines facial hair as contamination or, much like the friend I had in India, an obstacle. Whether in a misguided association with terrorism, or in aspects of attractiveness and modernity, Sikh boys and men are often told and taught that the turban and uncut hair are undesirable qualities in today’s society. For one Ricky Manchanda, perhaps his childhood experiences played a factor in his never-ending quest in search of physical perfection.

The belief that hair is unattractive is reinforced not only by those outside of Sikh culture, but within it as well. For example, bearded Sikh men, when seeking a mate, are commonly and openly disqualified by Sikh women who routinely express a desire for “clean-shaven” Sikh men. This preference by Sikh women may not always be the case, but it is often enough that many bearded Sikh men consider themselves at a disadvantage compared to clean-shaven counterparts. Thus, when facial hair feels more like an obstacle, it’s not hard to understand the pressures to discard it, and become obsessed with appearance to cater to outside influences.

Often, this negative reinforcement comes from a young Sikh man’s own family. It’s not particularly unusual for a clean-shaven Sikh man to insist his son not cut his hair through childhood. It’s also not unheard of for the mothers of young Sikh men to take a negative view of the maintenance of their son’s uncut hair, or for the sisters of observant Sikh men to reject this identity when searching for their own mate. Accordingly, when their own family members reinforce already-prevalent cultural prejudices against uncut hair, perhaps it becomes too much for a young Sikh man to handle.

Sadly, it seems the only place where there is consensus about the legitimacy of the turban and beard across Sikh groups – observant and non-observant, traditional and ‘modern’, male and female – is as a practice in the Sikh wedding ritual wherein even those who reject this physical identity take on these attributes for the wedding ceremony – grooms will grow a nominal beard and tie a turban for the marriage ritual only, and discard these articles before the day is through. For those who maintain these articles in their daily lives, such ritualization of the Sikh male identity puts into question the relevance of the beard and turban in Sikh society.

A few years ago, one observant Sikh man in the west blogged about his experience (writing under the handle of “Harry Singh”) and expressed his frustrations about trying to find a Sikh mate while he maintained a turban and beard. To him, his difficulty in finding someone who shared the same faith and who would accept and support him in his religious observance was an ominous sign for our community.

All this is not to lay blame at the feet of women for what Sikh men go through with their uncut hair. It is also hard to argue that what many Sikh women go through on the expectations of men can be much worse. However, perhaps there is a common experience here to which both observant Sikh men and women can relate.

And, perhaps the situation is not as dire as the frustrated bachelor Harry Singh believed. A review of the comments on Harry Singh’s blog shows how much support there is for Sikh men to maintain their full beards, even among Sikh women. In the video below, Sikh women of western origin are adamant about their support for the open beard as well:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Further, even fully committed observant Sikh men have ‘mansome’ issues. A post on this blog by Brooklynwala discusses his experience with being “kuli dhari“ (open-bearded) rather than tying his uncut beard up under his chin:

At the age of 28, I was finally asking myself, why? It wasn’t easy to face, but when I was totally honest with myself, what I was really doing all those years was trying to make my beard look shorter, straighter, tamer, more polite. I felt a deep contradiction between my counterhegemonic aspirations inspired by the revolutionary spirit of Sikhi and my actions. I felt like I was trying to hide something, but what did I really have to hide? Since when has the Sikh identity been about hiding?

I too find myself asking these questions each day when I tie up my beard.

It was not something I always did, and in fact, I resisted this until I was about 25 years old, proudly wearing my long beard open. However, before I entered the professional workforce, I felt I needed a more groomed appearance in professional circles or else face some discrimination based on my refusal to remove the natural part of every human face. To this day, I tie up my beard, but I’m increasingly questioning my motivation for doing so – whom am I trying to please, and why?

[Cross-posted from americanturban.com. Edited for TLH.]

Quote of the Day – Contribution

2012-05-30T18:00:58Z

The key question we should regularly ask ourselves is ‘how can I raise the bar of my contribution to the world?’. This keeps us growing and trying bigger and bigger things, making the impossible possible.

By Guru’s Grace – JHBSK – 10/05/2012

Reviving the Sarbut Khalsa Tradition

2012-05-30T07:41:00Z

(Gurmukh Singh, London, United Kingdom)

The decision making tradition of Sarbat Khalsa was evolved during the first half of the 18th Century. It is likely to be revived and further developed through seminars like those arranged by the Sikh Research Institute and supported by the Sikh Council UK over the weekend of June 16 and 17, 2012. The main event on Sunday 17 June, will be at The Oxford Union, University of Oxford.

The background is the need to promote the decision making process within umbrella Sikh organisations like the Sikh Council UK, by learning from the model of Sarbat Khalsa evolved during the first half of the 18th Century. This is only possible by understanding what the concept means in this day and age. For example, which decisions need to be taken by consensus and which can be taken by the senior office holders of Sikh institutions and organisations, on their own.

Are there historical examples when Sarbat Khalsa did not deliver a consensus based decision? Are there some current examples when the consensus based approach would have been helpful? Some possible examples are: the Nanakshahi Calendar issue, the Shaheedi memorial at Darbar Sahib, and the case of Balwant Singh Rajoana.

Akal Takhat Sahib invited organisations and individuals to give views and many organisations in the diaspora, including the Sikh Council UK, did that in writing. However, it was never made clear how consensus was reached. Similarly people are now being invited to comment on the Anand Marriage Act without being clear about how the information will be used.

My interim response (below) to some similar queries following a short column article in UK's Panjab Times weekly, is based on a study of the 18th Century trials and tribulations of the Khalsa Panth, also remembered in the daily Sikh supplication (Ardaas).

Sarbut Khalsa is an expression of Panthic solidarity. That is so even when there are internal disagreements. In the 18th Century Khalsa freedom struggle, despite internal disagreement about whether or not to invade the well fortified city of Kasur, (triggered by the appeal of a Brahmin whose wife was in the Nawab’s captivity) the overriding concern was for Panthic unity and it ensured final victory. (The campaign is well described in Sardar Ratan Singh Bhangu’s Sri Guru Panth Prakash under the heading “Saakhi Prithmai Kasur Maarnai ki” in the year 1760 CE).

To my mind, Sarbat Khalsa is not, in itself, the decision making mechanism but an important end product of the consultation process. Things have become much more complicated in the 21st Century, but we also have the tools and skills to do research and base discussions and decisions on that research. Success or failure would depend on the quality of the research (equivalent to field intelligence in the 18th Century freedom struggle) and the spirit of working together for the ascendancy of the Khalsa Panth (Panth di chardhi kalla).

Great Khalsa personalities like Nawab Kapur Singh, played an important catalytic role in the Sarbut Khalsa tradition without detracting from the grassroots (Sangat) consensus aspect in decision making. Their own "authority" for decision making on their own as leaders or “office holders”, was residual. It grew in proportion to the respect and trust they won over a period of time.

These great leaders of leaders, were also talent spotters and promoted leadership qualities in those around them. Jassa Singh Ahluwallia was a stable boy at Darbar Sahib and was spotted by Nawab Kapur Singh. At some point in Sikh history, this “stable boy” in the service of the Khalsa warriors, sat on the throne of Hindostan. Other sardars grew in stature during this period through what can only be described as "team-working" by equals; very independent minded Khalsa personalities. The very mention of the names of those like Sardar Baghel Singh sent a shiver down the spines of hardened Mugal warriors and rulers.

In the modern context, we can draw lessons from the Khalsa field strategy of 18th Century. Consensus is achieved through factual information gathering on a topic or campaign (field intelligence). Draft proposal is based on that information. Consultation and drafting changes are made and final approval is given by Sangat representatives. Success or failure depends on the quality of the intelligence gathered. If the first draft "proposal" is not refused at the outset, then there is a good chance of the proposal or plan of action being adopted in due course, following discussion.

A draft proposal in today’s world, pre-supposes a research panels of Sikh scholars in diverse fields and policy experts. Regrettably, Sikh institutions, including successive Akal Takht jathedars, have failed in this respect. For that reason, we are where we are today.

Taking decisions on the basis of a Jaikara i.e. a Sikh religious slogan started by some one in a loud voice "Bolay so nihaal" and responded to in unison by those gathered "Sat Sri Akal", is a sure recipe for failure. A Jaikara interrupting a katha or Sangat presentation, should be regarded as an insult to (i.e. be-adbi of) the Sangat and the Guru. A Jaikaras should only be allowed towards the conclusion of proceedings, following the Ardaas.

Today, organisations are started by dedicated community activists with a desire to do something for the community. To start with, these activists are content to call themselves “nishkam sevadars”. Regrettably, in the Sikh community, the desire to lead has a tendency to become permanent due to personal ambition. In fact, such is this desire to lead and remain in control that the original aims of organisations to remain part of the Khalsa Panth by working towards Panth di Chardhi Kalla, are forgotten.

Also, with one person assuming almost dictatorial role, it means that those with ability and diverse skills are kept away. The single “leader” surrounds himself with sycophantic poodles! Without genuine team-working of equals, an organisation becomes entirely dependent on one person. Such organisations are starved of fresh ideas and the complementary skills needed in today’s world. They have no continuity and run into the sands when the singleton “leader” is no longer active, or passes away.

The approach of organisations started and “owned” by permanent leaders, is “top down”. That is not the Khalsa way. All gurudoms, deras and sant sampardais automatically fall into this category because they have one "spiritual" head whose command is the law for the followers (chelas). Of course, there is need for men and women with outstanding abilities and skills; but the Khalsa way is the Sangat (congregational) way i.e. grassroots or “down-upwards” in the Sarbat Khalsa tradition, perfected during the most challenging period in Sikh history. The foundation for this approach had been laid during the person-Guru period (1469 to 1708) and perfected by Guru Gobind Singh.

Organisations have specific aims and objectives. One individual or organisation cannot possibly cover all aspects of a community’s needs. That means that at national and global levels, there will always be a need for co-ordinating umbrella organisations. Every Sikh organisation, including gurdwaras, the centres of Sikh community life and holders of Sangat’s funds, must accept that need for national and international level representation of Sikh issue and concerns. More so the organisations founded and led by individuals, who, otherwise, would have done much for the community in different fields.

All that we study in management and decision making theories today, was actually practised - maybe due to collective instinct for survival - by 18th century Khalsa leadership, which, kept Panthic solidarity in the forefront.

This topic needs much thought and development in future seminars like those organised by the Sikh Research Institute.

Gurmukh Singh
e-mail: sewauk2005@yahoo.co.uk
Copy right: Gurmukh Singh UK
This article may be published or quoted from, with acknowledgement.

The Exquisite Human Structure is a Miracle - Guru Singh Teaching on May 8th 2012 from Yoga West Los Angeles

2012-05-30T00:12:00Z

CA Workplace Religious Freedom Act passes Assembly vote

2012-05-30T00:22:51Z

Supporters of AB1964 at the State Capitol in Sacramento. (photo: karaminderghuman.com | Sikh Coalition)

This afternoon, California’s proposed Workplace Religious Freedom Act (AB 1964 – mentioned previously here), introduced by Assemblymember Mariko Yamada, passed through the State Assembly:

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The state Assembly has approved a bill that would add more protections for religious freedom in the workplace, specifying that discrimination laws also apply to religious clothing and hairstyles.

Lawmakers on Tuesday approved AB1964 by Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada. The Davis Democrat says she was upset to learn that Sikh and Muslim workers continue to face discrimination at work despite laws prohibiting it.

Yamada’s bill also would allow employees to carry religious objects and clarify that segregating an employee from other workers or the public because of their appearance is not an acceptable accommodation under the law.

She says some Sikh and Muslim workers have been “relegated to the back of the store” to keep their jobs. The bill passed on a 59-3 vote and moves to the Senate.

The proposed bill is now heading to the Senate, where it must pass through several Senate committees and Senate floor vote before it will reach the Governor’s desk.

Passing the Assembly vote is a great achievement but much remains on the path to seeing this bill supporting employment equality in California to become law. If you are a California resident, you can contact your State Senator to request that s/he supports AB1964.

Filed under: Civil Rights, Politics

On being a ‘mansome’ Sikh

2012-05-29T22:28:23Z

“But, when you have a beard, a mustache, it’s like a mask. You can’t see the person’s face. It’s hidden.”

As disagreeable as the words sounded, my friend’s tone was very gentle and civil. It was almost as if he was asking me the question: why bother?

His point about hair left me somewhat at a loss. I remember his facial expression after he made his statement – curiously waiting for a response that I would not have.

Later that evening, I presented this argument to my father. “He said people can’t see our true faces because of the hair on our face.”

My father didn’t take a second to respond. “This is my face”, he said very matter-of-factly, “this is how a man’s face naturally looks.”

From America’s greatest beardsman, to Morgan Spurlock’s own mustache, Executive Producers Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Ben Silverman bring us a hilarious look at men’s identity in the 21st century. Models, actors, experts and comedians weigh in on what it is to be a man in a world where the definition of masculinity has become as diverse as a hipster’s facial hair in Williamsburg. The hilarious follicles of men’s idiosyncratic grooming habits are thoroughly combed over as men finally take a long hard look in the mirror.

According to the man behind the documentary, Morgan Spurlock (famous for his documentary Super Size Me) :

“Now I’m being told I’m not perfect, I’m being told by this magazine I’m fat, I’m being told that I’m not good enough, and that I need to change the way I live if I want to please my woman. These are things that used to be on the cover of Cosmopolitan and are now on the cover of Men’s Health, Esquire and Details. Now that there are all these things wrong with us, how do [men] find out what’s right for us? That’s part of what the film taps into.”

However, we’re now seeing a similar phenomenon emerging for men, particularly so as a result of the metrosexual movement of the 1990s:

Metrosexual is a neologism derived from metropolitan and heterosexual coined in 1994 describing a man (especially one living in an urban, post-industrial, capitalist culture) who spends a lot of time and money on shopping for his appearance.^[1] Debate surrounds the term’s use as a theoretical signifier of sex deconstruction and its associations with consumerism.

Another is Ricky Manchanda, a New York City-based clothing company executive. Growing up as a Sikh, Manchanda spent his already awkward years in a tightly wrapped turban. He has turned the trauma of childhood teasing into a never-ending quest to tweak his physical appearance with a regimen that includes tanning, facials, eyebrow threading and exploring the latest laser skin treatments.

And, perhaps the situation is not as dire as the frustrated bachelor Harry Singh believed. A review of the comments on Harry Singh’s blog shows how much support there is for Sikh men to maintain their full beards, even among Sikh women. In the video below, women who are western converts to Sikhism are adamant about their support for the open beard as well:

Further, even fully committed observant Sikh men have ‘mansome’ issues. A recent post on the blog The Langar Hall by blogger Brooklynwala discusses his experience with being “kuli dhari“ (open-bearded) rather than tying his uncut beard up under his chin:

At the age of 28, I was finally asking myself, why? It wasn’t easy to face, but when I was totally honest with myself, what I was really doing all those years was trying to make my beard look shorter, straighter, tamer, more polite. I felt a deep contradiction between my counterhegemonic aspirations inspired by the revolutionary spirit of Sikhi and my actions. I felt like I was trying to hide something, but what did I really have to hide? Since when has the Sikh identity been about hiding?

I too find myself asking these questions each day when I tie up my beard.

Shaheed Bhai Nrimal Singh Chola Sahib Wale...

2012-05-29T19:54:00Z

Please listen to Shaheed Bhaee Nirmal Singh Jee (Chola Sahib Wale) and their Jatha recite the original version of 'Jaago Aaeyaa.'

Shaheed Bhai Nirmal Singh Jee received many threats from the Panjab Police for speaking against the tyranny of the Panjab Police and singing in praise of the Sikh freedom struggle and Singhs. Despite this Bhai Sahib and his Jatha fearlessly sang Vaars (ballards) about tyranny committed against the Sikh nation and the valour of the Sikh defenders of faith throughout Panjab.

Eventually Bhai Sahib was harassed by the Panjab Police and beaten for reciting the following Vaar: 'Eh Khotee Sarkaar Hai Barnaale Dee....' ('This fake government is of Barnala...'). The evil tyrants cut off Bhai Sahib's tongue, gunned him down and then threw his body into a river in a jhoota mukaabalaa (fake encounter). Waheguru. As for their beautiful gift of recitation of Vaaraa(n) the video speaks for itself; they sang from the heart and sang fearlessly.

Links for Shaheed Bhai Nirmal Singh Jee and Jatha Kaveeshri:

Audio

Videos

-----

Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!

CA Sikhs to launch American Sikh Political Action Committee

2012-05-29T19:34:03Z

Sikhs in California are launching a political action committee (known as a “PAC”) under the name American Sikh Political Action Committee to support the political efforts of California’s Sikh community. According to OpenSecrets.org, at the federal level:

Political Action Committee (PAC) — A popular term for a political committee organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. Most PACs represent business, labor or ideological interests. PACs can give $5,000 to a candidate committee per election (primary, general or special). They can also give up to $15,000 annually to any national party committee, and $5,000 annually to any other PAC. PACs may receive up to $5,000 from any one individual, PAC or party committee per calendar year. A PAC must register with the FEC within 10 days of its formation, providing name and address for the PAC, its treasurer and any connected organizations. Affiliated PACs are treated as one donor for the purpose of contribution limits.

State-level PACs, such as the American Sikh Political Action Committee, would be regulated under state election laws. However, the basic premise is similar: an organization is being created to leverage the financial strength of the Sikh community to bring political attention to various Sikh-related issues. In that sense, this is a very worthy initiative to further engage the Sikh community in their political process.

The first fundraising meeting of the American Sikh Political Action Committee is taking place Wednesday, May 30, at 6 PM at the Holiday Inn Express located at 2224 Auburn Boulevard, Sacramento, California.

The full announcement of the meeting appears below.

Waheguru ji ka khalsa, Waheguru ji ki fateh,

I am pleased to announce the formation of a new political force, the American Sikh Political Action Committee (registered with the CA Secretary of State as a state committee). The purpose of this organization is to support the statewide efforts of the Sikh Community. Our immediate goal is to ensure Republican and Democratic support of AB1964, prohibiting employers from discriminating against sardars. Our long term goals are to ensure that elected officials listen to the collective Sikh voice in establishing policy. We will also take steps to support the appointment of Sikh officials, including judges, committee members and community liaisons. Of course, it will be our pleasure to also support Sikh political candidates.

Our first fundraising event will be this Wednesday, May 30^th, 6pm at the Holiday Inn Express, 2224 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento. Thank you to hotel owner, Amrik Singh, for continuing his generous tradition of donating facilities for political activism.

At the meeting, we will be making some early decisions as to (1) the Political Executive Board, (2) the Delegate Committees that will be meeting with politicians to present contribution checks and (3) the list of politicians/candidates to whom we expect to make contributions. The structure of the American Sikh PAC allows local communities to control local contributions while using the structure of a political action committee to maximize political power.

Thank you for your expected support. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting. If you cannot attend, please send a contribution check with a friend or contact me to make arrangements. This is the first step for the Sikh Community to take control of its own destiny in California.

Waheguru ji ka khalsa, Waheguru ji ki fateh,

Amar Shergill
Shergill Law Firm | Sacramento | San Francisco | Yuba City
2150 River Plaza Drive, Suite 295, Sacramento, CA, 95833 | 916 564 5781 | www.shergilllawfirm.com

Filed under: Events, Politics

Birds

2012-05-29T16:47:55Z

NEST, BIRDS AND SKY
WINGS, DESIRE AND FLY

Filed under: English, my poetry Tagged: BIrds, desire, Fly, Nest, Sky, Spirituality, Wings

Indian Americans and the Scripps Spelling Bee

2012-05-29T12:08:00Z

We wrote about the success of Indian-American kids in the Scripps National Spelling Bee quite often back at Sepia Mutiny. (Indian Americans have won seven out of ten times at Scripps in the past decade, and have had a remarkable recent run -- with Indian American children winning four years in a row.)

I talked to a reporter at NPR a couple of weeks ago about the phenomenon (thanks, Colleen

Insecurity and Worthy Instructions for children

2012-05-29T09:26:35Z

Being a social person, I am always open to the persons of all age group from the area I live in and also near my office. Being General Secretary of RWAs of both the areas, I am blessed to interact more with all inhabitants and the management committee where I live, too allows me to deal some issues; especially those of ladies and children from the area, single handily.

Children of all age group are my weakness and in the evening as I reach home, most will come near my car and interact. It happens sometimes, when I have reached home, noticing my car they will rang door bell. In spite of a mood to fully relax, I love to be with them, chatting near our main gate while having my Tea/Coffee. Seeing them at door as bell rings, my daughter will teasingly say “Chalo, ab aapke bacche aa gaye. Ab Baahar jaao. Khane te time pe bula lenge” .. Sometimes, when not in a mood to stand outside, I invite them in drawing room and we chat a lot. Fact is, they know that any financial assistance required by them from RWA to arrange Melas and fares is just a request away to me. I firmly believe that to make families from area or any other happy, keep their children happy.

Some time back back, they were all known 10-12 in numbers and one girl aged 5-6 among them, seen for the first time who came to my home. I was sure that the little unknown girl must be from a family who had recently migrated in area.They were planning for a fete so I called them inside as my evening tea was almost ready. As they came, I asked them for details of arrangements they require. As we were discussing, I noticed that the particular girl was not there. As I asked, one of girls present said “Uncle, she is standing outside. I told her to come but she said no. You people go and I will wait here” .. I immediately rushed to main gate and asked her to come inside. Then came a reply that was like as someone has ignited a nuclear bomb on my head. “Uncle, my Mom has said that don’t go into house of anybody and play in the lane only” … Shocked !! … I could convince her to come and though she was too young to give inputs, she started enjoying chit-chat of other children.

As they left, I was in a very deep thought that when we have made our area secure with gates and 24 hours security so that families and children playing in lane can feel safe, how come a child be unsafe when he/she is not in open lane or inside his/her home? .. Is it a threat within; at the house of somebody else though the are is secured?

Then I realised that there are reported incidents of child abuse that happen daily. The only people who suffer most in case of such incidents are unfortunate child and parents. Parents, feeling concerned for security of their child, are always right while giving instructions. We are living in different time or may be now incidents are reported more and this heinous act of child abuse was there since ages… Not sure …

Just felt like sharing, to have worthy inputs from friends.

May God bless and keep all our children safe.

Innocence

2012-05-29T09:23:34Z

Aura-Photography

2012-05-28T22:33:00Z

http://www.aura-photography.co/
Aura Photography provides a service for taking pictures on your special day or event.
E: info@aura-photography.co
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2012-05-28T20:35:29Z2012-05-28T20:35:29Z
gurunamtag:google.com,2005:reader/feed/http://gurunam.wordpress.com/feed/A Journey Through Truth</h1> 2012-05-28T20:35:29Z <a href="http://gurunam.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/630/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/gurunam.wordpress.com/630/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/gurunam.wordpress.com/630/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/gurunam.wordpress.com/630/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/gurunam.wordpress.com/630/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/gurunam.wordpress.com/630/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/gurunam.wordpress.com/630/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/gurunam.wordpress.com/630/"></a> </article> <article> <h1>Will the real China please stand up?</h1> 2012-05-28T18:40:37Z So I’m writing a paper outlining the current political conflict between China and Taiwan. The main body of the paper is about proposed solutions to the current conflict. It’s all very silly and complicated so to bring you up to speed there is this handy youtube video by these guys with lovely accents. Watch: <a href="http://gurunam.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/will-the-real-china-please-stand-up/"></a> Ok, get it now? Taiwan wants to be recognized for the independent sovereign nation it is, but China threatens to attack if it declares independence and has also threatened economic sanctions on anyone who has diplomatic relations with Taiwan. China still believes Taiwan is a rogue territory that will come back under its communist rule at some point. So basically I’m proposing a three part peace plan: #1 China and Taiwan continue to emphasize relations that have proven to work aka trade, investment in each others economies, trust-building measures such as cultural and educational exchanges, etc #2 A timeline for mutual political recognition. At this point, both governments of China and Taiwan identify themselves as the sole government of China. That makes no sense but at the same time neither are quite yet ready to come together and talk it out so hence, a timeline. Goal: mutual agreement that they are separate nations and that its going to stay that way. This talk is only going to happen though when China agrees to recognize the Taiwanese government and when the people of Taiwan stop fearing their politicians will cede Taiwan to China. #3 Mutual disarmament and decreased US involvement. The US is currently Taiwan’s #1 arms supplier which kinda pisses off China and the US has said that if China ever invades that it will be “of the gravest concern to the US”…whatever that means. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/gurunam.wordpress.com/626/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/gurunam.wordpress.com/626/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/gurunam.wordpress.com/626/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/gurunam.wordpress.com/626/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/gurunam.wordpress.com/626/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/gurunam.wordpress.com/626/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/gurunam.wordpress.com/626/"></a> </article> <article> <h1>Victim Ideology</h1> 2012-05-28T18:00:24Z At the age of 19, I had a huge realisation, which was that in certain situations I chose to act like a victim and some of my peers would pick up on this insecurity within me and try to belittle me, which made me extremely angry and only made my victimisation continue. Then I went on the Landmark Advanced Course. I had Alain Roth as the trainer on the course, a French man with a brilliant sense of humour and an incredible ability to coach and get to the heart of an issue. I was the leader of a team during the programme and on one occasion I messed up. We had finished late one evening and I had let my team go without encouraging them to complete the homework task. I let them go because I didn’t want to step on their toes, I didn’t want to challenge their ego, I didn’t want to make them uncomfortable. The next day when a few of my team members had not completed the task, Alain asked everyone what the problem was. Even though I was scared, I plucked up the courage to put up my hand. I stood up and explained honestly that my team had failed because I did not ask them to stay behind – I said all this with my head down in shame. Alain bluntly questioned me “Do you know how you’re being right now?”. The question shocked and confused me. I replied honestly “No, I don’t”. He pointed to the white board to the left of the room which contained all the terms about the world of survival. One of those words on that board stood out to me: victim. I was acting like a victim, like I had done something wrong, and I was turning Alain into a higher authority, into a judge, who I was admitting my fault to with a feeling of shame. I didn’t realise I was doing it, until I had a realisation of it. Until he caught me in the moment of doing it. At that time, I also used to think that my religion Sikhism was superior to all other religions. In some corner of my psyche there was some uneasiness towards other religions such as Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. I’m telling you this honestly because I don’t want you to fall into the same trap. Then God and Guru made me meet lots of living spiritual masters who, after much difficulty of my ego, I eventually bowed before at their feet (something most Sikhs would gasp at even the thought of). However, doing this act destroyed all my uneasiness and ego about other religions not being as good as mine, and all my uneasiness around people of other faiths. In time, through my various spiritual experiences I also was blessed to meet Jesus Christ and Lord Krishna in the subtle realms. Unfortunately, most Sikhs are not so lucky (and I emphasise most) – they retain this victim ideology and ego of superiority. They continue to feel that the Indian Government is oppressing them, that mysterious extremist Hindu groups and Muslim groups are oppressing them and that they are the powerless victims of some huge scam, that they have been denied their rights, whilst continuing to believe that they have the best religion in the world. I realised how ridiculous all this was when I was 19. It’s time for Sikhs to grow up and stop being so childish and so reactive to events and situations. I agree that history should be remembered, and justice should be served where it is due, but a Sikh should never live in the past and should replace their anger with forgiveness and focus on building a new and exciting future through pro-activeness and level-headed intelligent strategy. So when I see Sikhs all piped up with anger, hatred and protesting without any consciousness or intelligence, I honestly feel ashamed and sad to admit that these are my people. I’m not stereotyping my own people, and nor am I blaming them or putting them down, but just stating an objective fact of how the current group consciousness of most Sikhs is and how it makes me feel. Of course, we also have some real gems amongst us who are genuinely bright shining torches on Earth and who have long transcended these primitive behaviours – but they are sadly very few and far in-between. However I should make it clear that, this acting like a victim problem is not a Sikh problem at all, its a human problem which is rooted in the lack of development of a human being’s consciousness and self-awareness – it’s nothing to do with one’s religion at all. If anything, ironically, religion was meant to be a cure to overcome all automatic, sheep-like unconscious behaviour. Today though, I see people from all different backgrounds acting like victims and other people acting like oppressors and each one thinks they are superior than the other – these are ultimately just childish plays of the ego. I have met Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists all who act like victims either as individuals or as groups and I’ve also met individuals from each faith who have transcended the trappings of acting like a victim or oppressor. Even some very religious and spiritual individuals suffer from this conditioning by becoming a victim to God and turning God into an oppressor [This is a very advanced topic to be covered later on in greater depth]. Guru Nanak said it perfectly when he said “No one is high and no one is low”. So why then do we still choose to treat some people like heros in awe and lower ourselves before them, and at the same time, treat others like shit because we think we are better than them? Both are very primitive ways of being. The correct way of being is to see everyone as equals, all religions as equal, even God as an equal to you. This way of thinking is difficult for the ego which either wants to lower you or make you bigger. The consciousness of humanity is evolving ladies and gentlemen. A new dawn is coming. A dawn in which these petty plays and acts of the ego have long been forgotten and where each man and woman stands before one another with folded hands bowing gracefully and honouring the humanity in the other as an equal, irrespective of religion, colour, race, gender, sexual orientation or social status. Sat Naam. <div> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheDivineWithin?a=4vzby-kSOZc:DbiZT8FFYIc:yIl2AUoC8zA"></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/TheDivineWithin?a=4vzby-kSOZc:DbiZT8FFYIc:qj6IDK7rITs"></a> </div> </article> <article> <h1>The Weekly Beard! for May 28, 2012</h1> 2012-05-28T15:58:09Z Comedian <a href="http://demetrimartin.com/">Demetri Martin</a> tweets on the attachment qualities of the beard: <blockquote>Having a beard is a good way to make your face more susceptible to velcro.— Demetri Martin (@DemetriMartin) <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/DemetriMartin/status/194813744742797313">April 24, 2012</a></blockquote> Click <a href="http://americanturban.com/category/the-weekly-beard/">here</a> for previous editions of The Weekly Beard! Filed under: <a href="http://americanturban.com/category/the-weekly-beard/">The Weekly Beard</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/americanturban.wordpress.com/2641/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/americanturban.wordpress.com/2641/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/americanturban.wordpress.com/2641/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/americanturban.wordpress.com/2641/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/americanturban.wordpress.com/2641/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/americanturban.wordpress.com/2641/"></a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/americanturban.wordpress.com/2641/"></a> </article> <article> <h1>Sandhurst Sikhs</h1> 2012-05-28T11:48:00Z <div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left">We spent a WHOLE day filming at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for the upcoming short feature series "Slough to Sandhurst." What we thought would take a few hours ended up being a whole morning and afternoon - there is so much history and heritage at Sandhurst that it's not very easy to do it justice in a short film. Nor is it simple to combine the stories of so many role models from the BME communities currently serving. <div style="clear:both;text-align:center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--IWqaqTzMvI/T8JYTVkVmeI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/DeVDhSwADUQ/s1600/IMG_2992.JPG" style="margin-left:1em;margin-right:1em"></a></div> We were there filming with Sikh officers and soldiers (above cameraman Juggy with Capt Sartaj Singh Gogna and recruits) for a new short film series about the various stages people go through to join the British Army - from civvies inspired to serve, to walking through the doors at the recruitment office and signing up, to undertaking medicals, tests, being accepted as 'Soldiers under Training' and going through to Phase 1 training. At Sandhurst, we filmed two young aspiring officers discovering more about what Sandhurst has to offer - and telling us about what inspired them to want to serve. They had the opportunity to see the historic buildings - and the history contained in them relating to the British Raj in India. <div style="clear:both;text-align:center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hU3t4CdJs9E/T8JZt46QUBI/AAAAAAAAAIY/e2IstArppNw/s1600/IMG_2990.JPG" style="margin-left:1em;margin-right:1em"></a></div> We were all inspired in particular by Capt Sartaj Singh Gogna (above) an officer with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Capt Gogna joined the British Army 12 years ago, what's extraordinary is that he chose to start growing his hair and tie a Turban AFTER he joined. While most find joining the military difficult with these articles of Sikh faith intact, Capt Gogna described the process of learning that led him to chose to don this very important headdress - and compliment his Officers uniform with a Turban. We'll feature the interview in the "Slough2Soldier" series. Our thanks for allowing us to film at Sandhurst to the Protocol Officer L Col Parkinson and the National Army Museum for making use of the display items (about which I will post a separate entry.) </div><div></div> </article> </main></body></html>