Prayers for Libya
The massive pro-democracy uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East have gained tremendous momentum since the successful ouster of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak two weeks ago. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Libya this week, as their calls for the end of Moammar Gaddafi’s...
The Divisive Taboo of Halal for Sikhs
Like many Sikhs, I grew up eating meat. It was something I never really questioned until I was in college and started learning more about the treatment of animals on factory farms and the environmental impact of the meat industry.
But growing up I never thought about where my spicy deep-fried chicken...
Increasing Punjab’s Forest Cover, One Tree at a Time
I just came across a great article on the work of Baba Sewa Singh of Khadoor Sahib, Amritsar District, and his remarkable campaign to plant trees across rural Punjab. Well worth a read.
According to [Baba Sewa Singh], they will adopt another 100 villages this year in Bathinda, Jalandhar, Patiala, Amritsar,...
Mandeep Sethi’s Punjabi Gypsy Hip Hop Rebellion
Posted by Brooklynwala in Music on 02 18th, 2011 | 660 Comments
A Review of Mandeep Sethi’s Poor Peoples Planet, released January 2011.
With an unmistakably laid-back, West Coast hip hop sound, 22-year old Sikh rapper Mandeep Sethi brings us the dynamic and often incendiary (while maintaining the mellow Bay area vibes) Poor Peoples Planet. Inspired by the...
Call Out to ALL Gurudwaras: Celebrate March 14th as Sikh Environment Day
Since the Green Revolution was introduced in the mid-1960s, the Sikh spiritual homeland of Punjab has been faced with mounting soil erosion, water table decline, widespread chemical contamination, and continued loss of biodiversity in agriculture and forests. The Cold War era anti-revolutionary plan...
Raising Bilingual Children
I recently came across information about Speaking in Tongues, a documentary which follows four diverse children on a journey to become bilingual. As the website states, “At a time when 31 states have passed “English Only” laws, four pioneering families put their children in public schools...
Democratizing Academic Research
Guest blogged by Pataka
As a student interested in Sikhism, visiting the library can be a somewhat dismal affair. Searching for academic works on Sikhism leads to few results. Searching for specific topics within Sikhism – for example, gender and Sikhism, lead to even fewer results.
The elitist institutionalization...
Dreaming of Tahrir in the Land of Five Rivers
Posted by Jodha in World News on 02 11th, 2011 | 3 Comments
I will write more later. There are reasons to be excited; there are reasons to be cautious. Today I am inspired.
Sikholars 2011 Agenda Announced
Posted by Jodha in Activism, Events on 02 10th, 2011 | Comments Off on Sikholars 2011 Agenda Announced
Visit the Sikholars website and choose to register for the entire weekend or just for the conference. There are a number of exciting presentations by leading scholars in the community. Mark down your calendars from February 25-27, 2011 as Sikh professionals, academics, and activists come together...
Canada’s House Sikhs on the front lines defending colonization and promoting ethnic cleansing.
Malcom X once designated the term ‘house negro’ to describe the African American slaves that were unwilling to leave their marginally comfortable lives subjugated by their white slave owners and very likely to support the oppressive system of slavery. These ‘house negros’ continued to exist throughout...
Arab Sovereignty, Sikh Solidarity
Kicked off by Tunisia’s Jasmine Revolution last month, the massive uprisings against U.S.-backed authoritarian regimes throughout the Arab world have grown into an undeniable and unprecedented force for real democracy.
Since the dictators being targeted have close ties to Washington, the leaders...
Remembering Capt. Kanwar Harbhajan Singh
Rare are those sevadars that give their entire life to the Qaum. They are our jewels. Earlier this week, we lost one.
Captain Kanwar Harbhajan Singh, popularly known as Papa Ji, was the tour de force behind the International Institute of Gurmat Studies (IIGS). His family, friends, and network taught...
All Marriages Are Made In Heaven
So it is my mother use to tell me. This particular marriage, however, seems to have been made at Darbar Sahib (as close to heaven, as I’ll ever get!). UK’s tabloid press has reported on the wedding of Harvinder Kaur Khalsa (formerly Alexandra Aitken, daughter of disgraced Torty politician...
Sidak 2011 Dates Announced
Posted by Jodha in Events on 02 1st, 2011 | Comments Off on Sidak 2011 Dates Announced
While many have heard about SikhRI’s Sidak program, too few have enriched their lives through this unique opportunity to explore and engage with Sikhi. Make this the year you attend – head over to San Antonio from Jun 25 – Jul 9, 2011.
Here is a video promo from last year –...
