I received an email from a friend and wanted to share it with the rest of the Langar-ites. Congratulations to the whole team of Seva Food Bank from all of us at the Langar Hall.

Monumental events usually flash by at such a speed that those involved rarely have a chance to appreciate what has just taken place. Wednesday September 1st, 2010 was just such a day. The opening of the Seva Food Bank to clients was, of course, a big day in the lives of those who have worked to make it a reality and those families being served. What made yesterday even more significant is what it means to Sikh-Canadians across the country. We believe the Seva Food Bank provides us with a template on how we engage with the rest of Canada and how we develop our next generation of leaders.

To our knowledge, this is the first permanent physical Sikh institution designed solely to serve the greater non-Sikh Canadian community. Serving families in need provides us with an opportunity to demonstrate our Sikh values on a daily basis – not through a PR campaign, but through personal displays of charity, humility and service. Every interaction with client families allows volunteers to demonstrate the best of Sikhi, not just with kind words, but with loving meaningful actions. Canada has given us so much and we need to give back in a visible, impactful way. This is why the parent organization of the Seva Food Bank is simply named Sikhs Serving Canada.

While most of our existing organizations are still run by our ‘elders’, the Seva Food Bank is entirely run by Sikh youth. By youth, we mean second-generation Sikh- Canadian twenty or thirty-somethings that are often told that they are the future of the community, but rarely given a chance to step up as leaders. The Seva Food Bank’s Organizing Committee is made up of nine young professionals, including five females. We are also supported by hundreds of volunteers of all ages, Sikh and non-Sikh who have all contributed to the success of our launch. The food bank exemplifies the type of next-generation Sikh-Canadian institutions needed in our community to engage our youth and provide them with the development opportunities that will mould them into leaders.

The Seva Food Bank will continue to provide healthy, nutritious and culturally-appropriate food to hundreds of families every month, but we aim to do much more. As we expand the services we offer to clients, we also hope to engage and inspire fellow Sikh-Canadians to get involved in their local community and truly provide Sikh youth a chance to develop and demonstrate their leadership potential. Thank you for your continued support.

In Chardi Kala,

Seva Food Bank Organizing Committee
(Amarpreet Kaur Ahluwalia, Amritpal Singh Gosal, Birender Kaur Gill, Gosha Sekhon, Gurmeet Singh Ahluwalia, Inderpreet Kaur Mudhar, Kulvir Singh Gill, Manpreet Kaur Gosal and Manraj Singh Pannu)

Here on TLH, we’ve covered a variety of talented musicians including Sikh Knowledge, Mandeep Sethi and Humble the Poet.  We’ve been following these individuals, their music, new collaborations and of course new albums. I am a huge believer that youth (yes, we have a particular interest in Sikh youth here in TLH) should be encouraged to pursue their talents regardless of what may be expected of us. These musicians are doing just that – and they are creating incredible music that speaks to the masses.

This post is for Hoodini & KinG.  I have to say Hoodini is one my favourites.  Not only is he extremely talented (listen to track 6/Keep it Rollin’ and track 10/Til I’m Through of the mixtape) but he’s a nice guy (a really nice guy)… and the kid has serious style.  It’s like he knows he’s going to make a mark on the world, and is dressed for the occasion…

So i didn’t mean to just mention this mixtape in passing – you really have to download and listen to it yourself.  It is a really dynamic piece of work.  Hoodini & KinG! Present: A California Classic, is available here.   While Hoodini is the emcee, the album was produced by KinG! né Keith Rice – a 21 year old producer from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles (he’s really really talented).  Even though the two went to different high schools, their mutual love of hip-hop was destined to bring their forces together so that they could make music that would “make people fall in love again.”

I asked Hoodini what inspires him and what he told me was this,

inspiration comes from anywhere & everywhere.. sometimes there`s an issue that i want to address & i make a song about it.. sometimes i have a story that i want to tell and it comes out in rhymes.. sometimes i`m walking down the street and i overhear someone saying a phrase and i immediately start rhyming things with it in my head.. i guess there`s music in all aspects of the universe right?

Right – and some of us are blessed with the talent to do something with that inspiration. Speaking of inspiration, i’m still anxiously waiting to blog about young Sikh women rappers/musicians too. I know they’re out there  - Hoodini mentioned we should keep an eye out for Mystic Flava né Nimrta Saini – a young aspiring music producer from New York.

I can only imagine the amount of time and energy that went into making this California Classic but Hoodini & KinG! should be proud of this piece of work.  Go ahead TLH-ers, download it and give it a listen while you peruse through the rest of blog.  You won’t be disappointed.

Hoodini & KinG! will be performing at 9pm this Sunday August 15th at Club Aura.  See the image to the right for more details.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Last year, Maple Leaf Sikh highlighted a revolutionary event which occurred in Toronto and brought together young Sikhs to pay homage to 1984.  The event, hosted by the Sikh Activist Network, returns this year and brings together artists such as Hoodini, Mandeep Sethi, Selena Dhillon and Yudh Gatka Akhara and more.  For those of you who are dealing with post-Sikh-conference-blues – When Lions Roar II promises to be yet another excellent event bringing together Sikh youth in an impactful way.

A Night of Hip Hop, Poetry, Spoken Word, Gatka and More…

To Remember 1984

Friday June 25

Mirage Banquet Hall

Admission: Pay What You Can

All Ages – Doors Open at 6pm

As many Sikhs throughout the world are gearing up to celebrate Vaisakhi, we continuously get disheartening news as well.  In Toronto there was a shameful incident this weekend.

A former judge, now a prominent Brampton lawyer, is in hospital with serious stab wounds when a mob turned deadly at a Sikh temple on Friday evening.

Manjit Mangat, 53, is in hospital with multiple stab wounds to his abdomen, thighs and legs and cuts on his face after he was attacked inside the Sikh Lehar Centre, a temple at Bramsteele Rd. near Steeles Ave. and Hwy. 410.[link]

The worst exhibit I saw ..and I know BOTH sides are guilty of this, was the declaration that the other side are not Sikhs. Both sides need to mature and grow up. I hope the Sikh youth can provide a better example for our elders.[link]

Before people read this, everyone knows I am for Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s bani, but what happened in Toronto yesterday must be explained from an objective viewpoint and not the biased and extreme panthic.org viewpoint.

Some facts of what happened April 2, 2010 at Sikh Lehar Centre in Toronto, *based on eyewitness accounts, I was not there, but 3-4 people I have talked to were*

- Pro-Dasam-Granth Singhs were heard making “battle-tactics”, how to get into Sikh Lehar Centre, and remarking they will chop Darshan Singh and his supporters into peices

- Pro-Dasam-Granth Singhs were heard saying, “if you are not ready to give your head today, then leave” making it seem like it was a battle to the death.

- Pro-Dasam-Granth Singhs went into a “formation” to try to enter the Sikh Lehar Centre and were stopped at the door. After being refused to get in, weapons were drawn and Sikh Lehar Centre members were attacked with swords and sticks.

- Sikh Lehar Centre members were hit with swords and sticks.

This shows that clearly Singhs went there with an intention to inflict bodily harm towards members of Sikh Lehar Centre. Panthic.org’s report and Jasdev’s report that Singhs attacked in self-defense is total bullshit. Jasdev Singh, by the way, showed up after the altercation occurred, so him posting a picture (which he took after everything happened) and inferring that he was there while it happened is bullshit.

Many Singhs, who are Pro-Dasam Granth, left after seeing the extremism and total disregard for humanity.

So this brings us to the point, should we be actively trying to kill/harm people who do not support Dasam Granth? Do not get me wrong, protesting peacefully is one thing, but going directly and trying to bust into a gurdrawa and ‘chop into peices’ Anti-Dasam Granth supporters is another.

I do not support this view and anyone who does should seriously re-think their beliefs. A very big percent of the Panth right now does not even believe in Raagmala from Adi Guru Granth Sahib, are you going to massacre all of them? What about the part of the Panth that does not believe in Sarbloh Granth, which btw is a pretty common belief even amongst the traditional Sikh groups like the Nirmala Sampradya.

Education is the only solution to the Anti-Dasam Granth problem. Fighting only polarizes the situation, because it creates and places more faith in the minds of the Anti-Dasam Granth supporters.

The Problem we have is that we ourselves, the Pro-Dasam Granth supporters are not even educated, and are not getting out there to the public and doing as much prachaar as the anti-dasam granth lot. [link]

It’s sad, when someone such as myself who actually agrees that Sri Dasam Granth is Bani, cannot even have a civil conversation with those such as yourself who hold a similar stance without being subjected to insanely ridiculous accusations.

Just over a year ago we read about a Canadian health organization’s apology for accidently shaving off a Sikh patient’s beard.  In that case, a 70-year-old patient was admitted into the intensive care unit after a shooting and while under the care of the hospital, had his beard removed by a nurse.  At the time of the incident, Fraser Health Authority acknowledged their mistake in not understanding the importance of the beard for the Sikh faith and assured the community that awareness was raised across the organization.

Fraser Health Authority is now apologizing again for a similar incident which occurred at one of their nursing homes, where an elderly Sikh man’s beard was cut.

B.C.’s Fraser Health Authority is investigating why staff at a seniors care facility made the “terribly unfortunate human error” of cutting the beard off an elderly Sikh patient, the second time such an incident has occurred in the past two years. A nurse cut the man’s beard out of what she thought was medical necessity. [link]

The “medical necessity” has not been disclosed.  Fraser Health Authority’s CEO, Nigel Murray, appeared on a Punjabi radio station yesterday to apologize for the incident.

“We just wanted to reassure the wider Sikh community that we believe it was an unfortunate mistake,” Murray said.

The Sikh man died a few days ago – and while the cause of his death is currently unknown, it does make you wonder what emotional trauma this elderly man suffered due to the error.  Health organizations across North America are being pushed by accreditation agencies to focus on providing culturally sensitive care.  It is a shame that enforcing regulations is what health care providers need in order to provide quality care to their patients.

In some countries, those that perpetrate ‘crimes against humanity’ are punished.  In India, too often (depending on the political party), the perpetrators are awarded at the ballot boxes or are decorated with cabinet positions.  This is the story of Kamal Nath.

Kamal Nath is India’s current Union Cabinet Minister of Road Transport and Highways.  It was on many of those same roadways in Delhi that Kamal Nath in 1984 personally led thousands of paid goons in the government-sponsored pogroms against the Sikhs.  Thousands were bloodily massacred; thousands were raped; many lives destroyed and devastated.  Many eyewitnesses have testified that Kamal Nath lead groups to attack the Sikhs seeking shelter at Gurdwara Rakab Ganj (the historic site where the body of Guru Tegh Bahadur was cremated after his shaheedi), killing many Sikhs and destroying the grounds of the Gurdwara.

Ensaaf’s report provides detailed information on Kamal Nath’s leadership and involvement during those dark nights in Delhi.  The Sikh Activist Network in Canada (one of the spearhead groups in the coalition) has also prepared a short report, highlighting specific sections written by lead human rights attorney for the Delhi widows – HS Phoolka – in regards to the role of Kamal Nath.

Now, this month he has been invited to Toronto to lecture.  As Sikhs, as Canadians, as people of conscious, as humans – we must act now.

The following has been sent to me via activists that are involved in stopping Kamal Nath from arriving in Canada (pagh salute KA and Mewa).

Kamal Nath has been invited to Canada at the behest of the Canada-India Business Council, according to Rana Sarkar, president and executive director.  The event, titled “The Future of Indian Infrastructure and Trade” is being held Tuesday, Mar 23, from 6.30pm, at Le Meridien King Edward Hotel (371 King St East, Toronto.

The plan of action involves ALL.  The recommendations are as follows:

Step One:

• Email Event Sponsors:
• The sponsors consist of Macquarie, Bombardier, Bennett & Jones, BMO Capital Market and Government of Ontario. I have added their contact information in the attached Excel sheet, and attached a sample letter for sponsors.
• Keep in mind some of these companies have business interest with India and we are NOT opposed to that, rather we only oppose this specific speaker.
• For sample letter for sponsors, click here.

Step Two:

• Call your Local MP and MPPI have attached the Microsoft Excel Sheet with the contact information for every MP/MPP. Please look under the Blue and Red Tab or just Google them.

Step Three:

• Follow up with an email to your MP and MPP. I have attached a sample letter for your reference. Feel free to copy and paste this or change it around as you prefer.
• Your email should address the correct issue with each level of Government. We are upset with Federal MP’s for allowing him into the country and upset with Provincial MPP’s for sponsoring the event.
• See letter for MPPs here and letter for Federal MP here.

Step Four:

• Email two parliamentary committee’s

Justice and Human Rights

FastE@parl.gc.ca, MenarSe@parl.gc.ca, MurphB@parl.gc.ca,
comarJ@parl.gc.ca, LemayM@parl.gc.ca, PetitD@parl.gc.ca,
JenniM@parl.gc.ca, MooreR@parl.gc.ca, Rathgeber.B@parl.gc.ca,
LeblaD@parl.gc.ca,NorloR@parl.gc.ca, Woodworth.S@parl.gc.ca

Citizen and Immigration

TilsoD@parl.gc.ca, BevilM@parl.gc.ca, StcyrT@parl.gc.ca,
Calandra.P@parl.gc.ca, DykstR@parl.gc.ca, ThilaE@parl.gc.ca,
Chowo@parl.gc.ca, GrewaN@parl.gc.ca, Wong.A@parl.gc.ca,
CoderD@parl.gc.ca,KarygJ@parl.gc.ca, Young.T@parl.gc.ca

Use the same letter that you send to your Federal MP. All the contact information for committee members is in the excel sheet under the Green and Yellow Tab. Alternatively, to make life easier – copy paste the emails from the above table.

Step Five:

• This step will involve emailing journalist, news reporters and other mainstream media outlets. We are still in the process of gathering media emails and writing sample letters. I encourage you to complete these steps and I will send you the next steps latter in the week.
• Please forward this to people in your immediate circle who YOU can guarantee will help with this sewa

Conclusion:

• Some of our grandparents, parents, friends and relatives experienced the pain of 1984 first-hand and came to Canada to provide a better life for the generation of Sikhs to come like you and I.  As young Canadian Sikhs, we have the world of opportunity in our hands.  We are all intelligent, educated and powerful young Sikh community and this is the absolute lease we can do for our panth and for the respect of our history.  Fighting against injustice and human rights violations and standing up for what is right and the core fundamentals upon which Sikhism was established.  From Guru Nanak Dev Ji who spread the message of peace and brotherhood, to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, who sacrificed himself for the rights of other – Sikhism is deeply and heavily rooted with the ideals of doing what is right and just.
• We encourage all of everyone to stand up, be heard and make a difference. This is chance is yours, this choice is yours.

Just as I posted the previous picture, I came upon this interview of Am Johal on Democracy Now!

About Am Johal – Chair of the Impact on Communities Coalition, an Olympic watchdog group. He also initiated Canada’s 2010 Homelessness Hunger Strike, a rolling, nationwide hunger strike calling for a national housing program in Canada.  He has worked on inner-city issues and has completed a human rights internship in Israel in international advocacy with the Mossawa Center, the Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens of Israel. He is currently working on the book The Grand Dissonance about the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict.

A brief excerpt:

Social activists who have been critical of the Olympic Games have been visited at their homes by the Integrated Security Unit, which is the unit responsible for security around the Games. Chris Shaw, a prominent anti-Olympics activist, was visited at a coffee shop near where he works at UBC. People that he knows, friends, acquaintances of his, were also visited and asked to do background on him. So I think this kind of thing that you would never suspect would exist in Canada is happening under this exception around the Games.

The Olympics in Vancouver are in full swing.  This context of this particular picture was well-advertised via Facebook.  Still it is worth posting (pagh salute jag):  Click here to enjoy others

The caption reads:

Jarnail Sahota carries the torch across a bridge in Ashcroft, British Columbia on Day 100 of the relay, February 6th, 2010.

We often lament the state of our gurdwaras but we should just as often stop and think about how much we have accomplished.

Tonight I had a chance to visit the famous Ontario Khalsa Darbar (aka Dixie) Gurdwara in Mississauga/Brampton, Ontario. On a frigid Friday night in December, the place was packed with sangat and programs.

In one hall, a Hindu Panjabi family was having a bhog for a deceased elder. On the other side agurmat sangeet teacher was having a kirtan for her daughter with beautiful kirtan being sung in raag by her many young students. In the adjoining halls, the United Sikhs organization was having their 2nd Annual Global Sikh Civil Rights Conference with tonight’s opening session focusing exclusively women’s issues. Upstairs, Harmeet Singh was holding his usual Friday session with hundreds of youth and their families. And to top this off Bhai (no longer Sant) Niranjan Singh Jawadi Kalan was performing kirtan to a packed hall in the main hall. Almost every program was in English or being translated into English on the screens.

So while we can (and should) continue to critically analyze the hardware (physical structures) and software (programs/initiatives) of our Sikh institutions, we need to simultaneously recognize when progress is being made.

Growing up I would have killed to have been a part of each of those individual programs happening at Dixie Gurdwara tonight (well maybe not the bhog) and today all of those functions were happening on the same day under the same roof.

On many days, it seems like we’re moving two steps back, but tonight I saw at least one step forward.

12/19/09

A charity based in Southall, called the Drug and Alcohol Action Programme (DAAP) will be joining forces with local Gurdwaras to address high rates of alcohol abuse taking place at Asian, particularly Punjabi Sikh, weddings.  Perminder Dhillon, CEO of the charity states that “it is no longer acceptable to ignore the dangerous levels of alcohol drinking at these events.”

There is a mistaken view in Asian communities that religious and cultural backgrounds act as a barrier to the kind of drunken scenes so often seen in so many town centres all over the country. She said: “Many parents feel pressurized to provide a huge quantity of alcohol at weddings even if they themselves are non-drinkers”. [link]

She goes onto say that there are huge expectations on families to provide alcohol at weddings – often demanded by the groom’s side.  This problem has become so extensive now that it is likened to demanding dowry and by partaking, “we end up supporting users with alcohol-related health problems during the binge-drinking period”.

Research published in the British Medical Journal suggests that men of South Asian origin in Britain are four times more likely to die of alcohol-related liver problems than other ethnic groups.  Eighty percent of those South Asians who are vulnerable to alcohol-related mortality are Sikhs.

The charity has stated that the strategy they will use to combat this issue is simple – they will “name and shame” those involved and publicly condemn individuals on their website.

I’m not sure if this strategy has been used before (I think not, since as a community we like to hide our problems rather than publicize them).  However, disclosing this information is a way of holding one another accountable — something that has clearly been missing from our community.  We tend to turn a blind eye to alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence, fraud… the list can go on.  While all these issues are serious, alcohol abuse is one issue that our community deals with on a regular issue.  Whether in Punjab, the UK, Canada or the US – alcohol abuse is rampant and passes silently from one generation to the next.

“Ethnic minorities make up almost eight percent of the population in the United Kingdom, yet their contribution to the cost of alcohol related harm, estimated at $32bn a year, is not widely known. This has led to public health policies based on incorrect assumptions,” the BMJ said.

According to an editorial published in the British Medical Journal in October, alcohol-use among South Asians in Britain is “under-recognised, and alcohol related harm is disproportionately high.”[link]

We have a lot of work to do to even acknowledge that this is a problem but without this acknowledgement it’s very difficult to raise awareness and impact change.  When families choose not to serve alcohol at their wedding receptions, that is also a step in the right direction.  Yet – how many weddings have you been to where that is occurring?  Why has alcohol become synonymous with Punjabi weddings?  And should the burden of addressing this issue fall on the Gurdwaras?