Sikhnet – Gracefully Pushing the Limits of Punjabi Sikh Perspectives on Courtship
Posted by Singh in Canada, General, Organizations, Punjabi, Sikhi, UK, USA on 08 31st, 2008 | 47 Comments
This past week, I saw this advertisement about the “GurSikh Speed Meeting.” For those of you who have no idea the Sikhnet’s Gursikh Speed Meeting is obviously (and admittedly) the Sikh version of speed dating. According to the organizers of the program:
The concept is quite simple. An...
On Honor Killings
Posted by Publius in General on 08 30th, 2008 | 15 Comments
Honor killings — generally understood to constitute an intentional ending of the life of someone who has brought shame on a family or to one’s self due to perceived or actual infidelity, unfaithfulness, or betrayal — regrettably occur in the Sikh community.
Indeed, Sikhs have been charged...
Sikh Prisoner’s Hair Cut Against His Will – PETITION
Posted by Singh in General on 08 30th, 2008 | Comments Off on Sikh Prisoner’s Hair Cut Against His Will – PETITION
In July of this year Jagmohan Singh, who is being held in a Florida prison on misdemeanor charges, had his hair forcibly cut by prison authorities. Florida’s prison regulations require that hair and beard be cut while a prisoner is in prison and the regulations have been repeatedly upheld on grounds...
Dholfest: celebrating the 300th Anniversary of Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Posted by Reema in General on 08 29th, 2008 | 10 Comments
The 300th anniversary of Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is being celebrated in an interesting way by dholis in the UK. In 1999, 314 dhol players came together to set a record in the Guinness Book of World Records. This year, in honor of the 300th anniversary, dholfest is trying to set a new record. They’ve...
4 Sentenced to Life in Prison for 1984 Murders of Sikhs
Posted by Reema in Activism, General, Human Rights, India, News, Politics, Punjab on 08 28th, 2008 | 2 Comments
On Wednesday, August 27, the Delhi High Court sentenced 4 men (Lal Bahadur, Ram Lal, Virender and Surinder Pal Singh) to life in prison, eighteen years after a trial court acquitted them for lack of evidence. The men were charged with rioting, murder, and conspiracy, related to the deaths of Rajinder...
Sikh Woman In Malaysia: The Face Of HIV/AIDS Victims
Posted by Phulkari in General, Health, News, Punjabi, South East Asia on 08 27th, 2008 | 24 Comments
Langa(w)riters have posted on AIDS/HIV infection amongst Sikh women here and here. We have discussed issues around support groups and causes of infection. One of the number one risk factors for contracting HIV/AIDS for Punjabi Sikh women is marriage. Many women are infected by their husbands who are...
Here we go again….
Posted by Publius in Entertainment, General, India, News, Politics, Punjab, USA on 08 26th, 2008 | 38 Comments
Once again, Indian-Americans have been unwillingly thrust into the heart of a contentious American political battle. For those of you who don’t remember, in 2006, incumbent Senator George Allen singled out and subsequently called an Indian-American, S.R. Sidarth, “macaca” while on...
Gurmat Sangeet: The revival of traditional Sikh music
Unfortunately, and perhaps only for myself, I don’t remember the last time I visited one of my local gurdwaras and can say I was moved by the kirtan. Perhaps I feel that most (though not all) kirtan has become modernized to such an extent that it doesn’t really encompass the spiritual...
‘Thinking the Unthinkable’ in Kashmir – Freedom?
While those in the diaspora are less likely to follow, many in South Asia have had one eye on the Beijing Olympics and the other looking at the current situation in Kashmir.
This past Friday hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri protestors took to the street calling for ‘azadi’ (freedom) from the tyranny...
Dastarbandi/Turban Tying
A few days ago Sikhnet News posted a story about the Dastarbandi/Pagri di Rasam/Turban Tying Ceremony of Harmanas Singh, a 16 year old young man in California. While the story gave only a brief explanation for the ceremony it got me thinking about the significance of the ceremony in the Sikh community...
Sikh Man Recently Killed In Arizona: Occupational “Struggles” Faced By Panjabi Sikh Immigrants
From 7-Elevens to liquor and 99 cents stores, many Panjabi Sikh immigrants build a life for themselves as store workers. Working at these locations gives them a start in America, while engaging with its harsh realities. Regardless of educational background or the pind/shari divide, Panjabi Sikh immigrants...
A Sikh cowboy?
Posted by Reema in General on 08 20th, 2008 | 14 Comments
I don’t really know what to make of this, so I won’t even comment. I’ll just let you form your own opinions.
Paramvir Singh Chattwal, of central Hounslow, who claims to be the world’s only Sikh rodeo star after taking up the sport while living in Texas has hung up his spurs for...
Sikhs could learn from Icelandic on stigmas, taboos
Over a year ago, Ajmer Singh Hothi was found shot dead inside a semi-truck that he had just bought and was still making payments on. Only a day before, he had changed his phone number and gotten a restraining order against his ex-girlfriend and her father. [link]
More information surrounding the case...
A Sikh Stands for Democracy in Pakistan
Guest blogged by Mewa Singh
I did not think I was going to write this post, but after seeing a post on the most popular South Asian American blog – Sepia Mutiny – by Amardeep Singh, I had to make a comment about Musharraf’s resignation to avoid impeachment.
For a quick primer on the...
Sikhs and Web 2.0
Young Sikhs are extremely internet savvy. From the proliferation of videos on youtube to remixed dhadhi-jatha to an embrace of web 2.0, many young Sikhs are at the forefront of creating new avenues for education about their faith. While I personally believe that most Sikhs focus their attention on...
Gatka
I remember going to Nagar Kirtans and being awed by those doing Gatka (i.e. Sikh martial arts)! Their “performances” were eye-catching with action, discipline, determination, and spirituality. Watching Gatka helped me connect with Sikh history at a time when there were little resources around me...
Cheena-Punjabi Bhai Bhai
At one time Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana, Punjab was THE agricultural university in Asia. Largely due to this university’s role in promoting the Green Revolution (fellow Langa(w)r-iters have described the Green Revolution’s darker sides, another monograph is by Vandana...
Sikh Woman: First Turbaned Pilot In America
The Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI) reported today that Arpinder Kaur, 28, of San Antonio, Texas has become the first turbaned pilot hired by a commercial airline in the United States. As a Sikhni, she has helped pave the way for both Sikh men and women who wear a dastaar/turban to fulfill their passion...
Short Films to See
While the young Sikh filmmakers are probably preparing for the annual Sikhnet Youth Film Festival (have you seen their ad on satellite television, it is very impressive!), I recently came across some internet announcements for a list of fascinating Canadian-produced short films that I hope will galvanize...
Sikh Women: Sukhmani Sahib Clubs And Int’l Day Of Peace
Is your mom “chapter president” or a “member” of the local Sikh women’s Sukhmani Sahib club? Many Sikh women (generally those with Auntie status) are commendably coming together to form small groups who go to each other’s homes about once a month to do Sukhmani Sahib da paat to help bring/remember...
