The First Global Sikh Civil Rights Conference?
To my surprise, I came across a news article with the headline, “Sikhs Agree on a Global Civil Rights Agenda.” When did we do that??
It turns out that the United Sikhs — a non-profit organization that addresses various civil rights issues on behalf of Sikhs, especially and including the French ban on conspicuous articles of faith — issued a press release indicating that the group held the First Global Sikh Civil Rights Conference at which the First Global Sikh Civil Rights Report was presented and adopted.
At the outset, I should note that I respect the United Sikhs’ work, most notably its humanitarian efforts. I also appreciate its interest in developing a set of broad Sikh civil rights issues and recommendations on how to tackle those very issues. The Report itself contains a wealth of information on the Sikh experience in many different countries, most of which are often overlooked in discussions of the Sikh diaspora. The breadth of the report is impressive; a lot of effort seems to have been put into its publication.
That said, the United Sikhs’ characterizations of the conference and report are troublesome in at least several respects — its factually inaccurate, grossly misleading, and plainly self-serving.
The conference, which purportedly addressed Sikh civil rights issues in numerous countries, took place for all of six hours and was attended by 170 people. There is no indication from the press release or the report that any of the major Sikh civil rights organizations in North America, such as the Sikh Coalition and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, were in attendance or even invited. Any legitimate conference or attendant report purporting to represent the global Sikh civil rights community should, at a minimum, include these groups. Their absence negates any suggestion that the conference and the report speak for the global Sikhs civil rights community. It also indicates that the report was the product not of a broad consensus of relevant stakeholders, but rather of a very limited subset of Sikhs. It is therefore inaccurate to state that the “Sikhs” have agreed on an international civil rights platform.
For the same reasons, it is misleading to attempt to inform the general public through the press release (which was picked up by the non-Sikh news, see here for example) that the Sikhs as a whole have formulated an international civil rights agenda.
Not only were the conference’s declarations and recommendations the product of a limited and incomplete group of Sikhs, but it appears the declarations and recommendations themselves were not the result of pure collective decision-making. Instead, United Sikhs’ director presented the attendees with the declarations and recommendations that were then passed.
Coincidentally, a recommendation is to “[c]reate a global grassroots media, educational, legal and political forum for the upliftment and empowerment of the Sikh community and others.” Now, I wonder what organization that could be!
It is ironic, given that Sikhs espouse principles of humility and modesty, that an initiative purporting to represent Sikh interests has itself been tainted by characteristics at the opposite end of the moral spectrum — it seems that the United Sikhs has made misrepresentations and exaggerated claims for the purpose of having the conference and report look better, and has generated artificial credibility and legitimacy to a purely self-serving recommendation.
If anyone has clarifying information on the nature of this event, please feel free to share in the comments.
104 Responses to “The First Global Sikh Civil Rights Conference?”
These questions need to be asked. An excellent post Publius. These organisations are often riddled with jockeying for position and the 'right' to be considered the sole conduit of Sikh concerns. Consensus building, humility and co-ordinated activity seem to be non-existent. For those who are not aware of the dynamics of the Sikh community, the plurality of the Sikh community, reducing us to a single organisation, and reducing us to an undifferentiated set of bullet points is enticing and simple. Media savvy and selfish bodies understand this, and angle their rhetoric and positions and publicity accordingly.
These questions need to be asked. An excellent post Publius. These organisations are often riddled with jockeying for position and the ‘right’ to be considered the sole conduit of Sikh concerns. Consensus building, humility and co-ordinated activity seem to be non-existent. For those who are not aware of the dynamics of the Sikh community, the plurality of the Sikh community, reducing us to a single organisation, and reducing us to an undifferentiated set of bullet points is enticing and simple. Media savvy and selfish bodies understand this, and angle their rhetoric and positions and publicity accordingly.
A basic premise should be that no Sikh organisation should claim to speak for or on behalf of all Sikhs. At the most, they can say that they reflect the concerns of some or many Sikhs, and it should be done in a spirit of consultation and conscientious activism.
A basic premise should be that no Sikh organisation should claim to speak for or on behalf of all Sikhs. At the most, they can say that they reflect the concerns of some or many Sikhs, and it should be done in a spirit of consultation and conscientious activism.
I completely agree with everything you wrote Publius. Unfortunately while United Sikhs (in my experience) has been the "king of press releases" and self-praise, they are hardly alone.
I tire of all Sikh organizations, be it Sach Productions, Sikh Coalition, and SALDEF frequently beating their own drum. In no way am I questioning the wonderful and much-needed work that they do, only the endless emails bragging how they are the "first" and "leading" organization. While such phrases may impress their funders, they bore me.
I completely agree with everything you wrote Publius. Unfortunately while United Sikhs (in my experience) has been the “king of press releases” and self-praise, they are hardly alone.
I tire of all Sikh organizations, be it Sach Productions, Sikh Coalition, and SALDEF frequently beating their own drum. In no way am I questioning the wonderful and much-needed work that they do, only the endless emails bragging how they are the “first” and “leading” organization. While such phrases may impress their funders, they bore me.
Umm, for the guys complaining … what have you done for the Panth lately?
Umm, for the guys complaining … what have you done for the Panth lately?
Good one Jas, everyone has to submit to a 'what have you done for the panth lately' test before discussing the remit of organisations that claim to speak for all Sikhs. I guess we should just shut down this whole blog in that case.
Good one Jas, everyone has to submit to a ‘what have you done for the panth lately’ test before discussing the remit of organisations that claim to speak for all Sikhs. I guess we should just shut down this whole blog in that case.
This is a great post. I agree that no Panthic organization should pretend (if that is the right word) to speak on behalf of all Sikhs. All communities – whether religious or ethnic – will have dissent within them that should be listened to. United Sikh's Press Release title, while ill-worded and incorrect, is a good faith attempt to express the challenges of the community world-wide.
This is a great post. I agree that no Panthic organization should pretend (if that is the right word) to speak on behalf of all Sikhs. All communities – whether religious or ethnic – will have dissent within them that should be listened to. United Sikh’s Press Release title, while ill-worded and incorrect, is a good faith attempt to express the challenges of the community world-wide.
This is a wonderful analysis. In today's age, organizations that are "jack of all trades and master of none" are never successful. This is the problem with United Sikhs. It has single-handedly destroyed the Sikh turban case in France by providing the community with the most incompetant legal representation. Without a dedicated full-time staff, you can't be simultenously helping the victims of Tsunami, fighting kirpan cases in the U.S. and also fighting a legal battle with a major western power like France. This is pure foolishness. United Sikhs ought to focus on a narrow set of projects and create competencies in those projects. It is all over the place, all with a volunteer army that is not large enough to sustain all its efforts. Running an organization laregly through volunteers is actually admirable, but the fact that most of the volunteers lack the proper legal training is what has caused this organization to become a major liability for the Panth. You can see "copy and paste" of content in their press-releases from other Sikh organizations' briefs and websites.
As far as this "global" conference is concerned, sending an airline ticket to Avtar Singh Makkar and getting him to hand out a few awards does not make it global. If you want to set a civil rights agenda, then conduct surverys (as done by the Sikh Coalition for the Civil Rights Agenda for the Sikhs of New York) and make a concerted effort to account for opinions from all sections of the Panth. Much of the United Sikhs report is based on secondary sources that are already dated. It is an ambitious attempt and a great deal of resources must have gone into this misguided "global" report that misleads the world into thinking that it reflects the consensus of the Sikh community.
This is a wonderful analysis. In today’s age, organizations that are “jack of all trades and master of none” are never successful. This is the problem with United Sikhs. It has single-handedly destroyed the Sikh turban case in France by providing the community with the most incompetant legal representation. Without a dedicated full-time staff, you can’t be simultenously helping the victims of Tsunami, fighting kirpan cases in the U.S. and also fighting a legal battle with a major western power like France. This is pure foolishness. United Sikhs ought to focus on a narrow set of projects and create competencies in those projects. It is all over the place, all with a volunteer army that is not large enough to sustain all its efforts. Running an organization laregly through volunteers is actually admirable, but the fact that most of the volunteers lack the proper legal training is what has caused this organization to become a major liability for the Panth. You can see “copy and paste” of content in their press-releases from other Sikh organizations’ briefs and websites.
As far as this “global” conference is concerned, sending an airline ticket to Avtar Singh Makkar and getting him to hand out a few awards does not make it global. If you want to set a civil rights agenda, then conduct surverys (as done by the Sikh Coalition for the Civil Rights Agenda for the Sikhs of New York) and make a concerted effort to account for opinions from all sections of the Panth. Much of the United Sikhs report is based on secondary sources that are already dated. It is an ambitious attempt and a great deal of resources must have gone into this misguided “global” report that misleads the world into thinking that it reflects the consensus of the Sikh community.
This indeed is a major issue: Who speaks for the Sikhs? We know that in 1947 a select few spoke and a catastrophe followed. It seems not a great deal has been learnt based on the tragedy of the Partition. The internet ought to change things. Each Sikh institution should have a web site clearly stating what their goals are and the time frame for achieving these. Annually they should have a social audit by an external body and soon we will know what it means to speak for the Panth. As for United Sikhs they should have asked Mr Makkar that with all the funds at his disposal why they have not hired the best human rights lawyers in Europe. Accountability is what we need urgently, self-proclaimed leadership is the easy part.
This indeed is a major issue: Who speaks for the Sikhs? We know that in 1947 a select few spoke and a catastrophe followed. It seems not a great deal has been learnt based on the tragedy of the Partition. The internet ought to change things. Each Sikh institution should have a web site clearly stating what their goals are and the time frame for achieving these. Annually they should have a social audit by an external body and soon we will know what it means to speak for the Panth. As for United Sikhs they should have asked Mr Makkar that with all the funds at his disposal why they have not hired the best human rights lawyers in Europe. Accountability is what we need urgently, self-proclaimed leadership is the easy part.
Vaheguru Ji ka Khalsa Vaheguru ji ki Fateh.
Unlike Publius, whose identity I do not know (and who may well be a respected subscriber to Langgar Hall), I am a director of UNITED SIKHS and wish, due to the limited time i have , make a response in point form.
I will also respond to one Kuldip Singh’s comments on the Langgar Hall , who has made allegations against our legal team for the French turban cases.
I beg for forgiveness in advance if i fail to cover all points to Publius' and other bloggers’ satisfaction. UNITED SIKHS respects Publius' freedom of expression as his fundamental right and we exercise our right to reply, in humility, below. I would like to state at the outset that I thank the Sikh bloggers whom my Guru has sent to sharpen my resolve and strength to deal with issues of the panth. “Jabae baan laageo tabae ros jageo”.
UNITED SIKHS is confident that we had constituted a conference that is not only representative but also one that will make a meaningful contribution to tackling Sikh Civil Rights issues, as shown below.
1. This conference was a global Sikh civil rights conference which was attended by gurdwaras, organisations and individuals from interalia USA, UK, Canada, Ireland, France, Belgium, Malaysia, Singapore and India. Needless to say as per the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, Gurdwaras should be the avenues for raising all Sikh issues including civil rights issues. Hence the participation of gurdwaras from many countries at the Sikh Civil Rights Conference in New York, has to be seen as a representation of Sikhs. Indeed the representation of some 16 million Sikhs, who elect the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), was achieved by the attendance at the conference of the former's president and the latter's dharam parhcar committee chairman. For a complete listing of organisations that were represented at the three day conference see http://unitedsikhs.org/rtt/sikhconf/SupportingOrg…
Please note that all Sikh organisations in the USA that are involved in Civil Rights work (Saldef, World Sikh Council and the Sikh Coalition, included) were invited to the 3 day Civil Rights Conference.
2. The media conference and panel discussion on 15th December, to mark the filing of the first French Turban cases before the UN ( part of the 3 day civil rights conference), heard deliberations from panelists from leading mainstream civil rights groups, including ACLU, Bill of Rights Defence Committee and former chair of Amnesty International USA, United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), the Becket Fund for Religious Freedom and Human Rights Watch.
The Media Conference was also attended by the Sikh Coalition's Executive Director, Amardeep Singh who was invited as a panelist and who congratulated our staff attorney, Jaspreet Singh for UNITED SIKHS' efforts and commented that the work we're doing is necessary and that we are filling a niche that no one else is fulfilling.
3. Sikhs do not currently have a forum where ALL Sikhs are represented. The Sikh nation is not only collective but also indivisible. Whilst there is a need for the sarbatt khalsa to be constituted to resolve pressing Sikh issues, UNITED SIKHS could not wait for the Sikh leaders to do so as we have pressing civil rights issues as demonstrated by the difficult situations faced by French Sikhs and other Sikhs in the diaspora. These issues were flagged up in our Global Sikh Civil Rights report, which forms the basis for the Sikh Civil Rights Agenda. Publius tacitly admits the need for this when he says :
UNITED SIKHS, in organising this conference, has exercised its right and performed its duty to fulfill a pressing demand within the Sikh community.
4. The recommendations and declarations which constitute the Global Sikh Civil Rights Agenda were derived from the delegates who attended the conference. Publius may not have attended the conference on 13th December and may therefore not know that at the start of the conference all delegates were given 5 sheets of papers to write their recommendations and declarations on the 5 pressing civil rights topics that had been predetermined after consultation with our team of rapporteurs. The delegates did this over a period of 3 hours. The team of rapporteurs comprised Dr IJ Singh, Inni Kaur, Gurparkash Singh, Manjyot Kaur, Balwinder Kaur, Casey Armstrong, Gurbachan Singh and Harpreet Singh. These recommendations and declarations from the delegates were then considered by the team of rapporteurs who formulated the recommendations and declarations which were adopted by the delegates according to the Sikh tradition of Jakara. These recommendations and declarations constitute the Sikh Civil Rights Agenda. This Agenda will be carried out through a Global Sikh Forum. Any Sikh organization which wishes to carry out the objects of the agenda may join the forum by contacting UNITED SIKHS at law@unitedsikhs.org. The Forum is a platform for working together to fulfill the objects of the Sikh Civil Rights Agenda.
5. The Conference was organised in response to the adverse decision in the European Court of Human Rights late last month, which flagged up a pressing need. We thank all those who attended, who we believe represented a large section of the Global Sikh community.
6. In response to one Kuldip Singh, I would like to state that our legal team for the French turban cases comprises not only lawyers from eminent international law firms but also many pro bono Sikh legal lawyers who have worked tirelessly to ensure that not only the best legal arguments are submitted but that all Sikh issues that are raised in the briefs are properly put. To read more about the work that we have done on the French Right To Turban cases and the names of our legal team please see http://www.unitedsikhs.org/rtt/pdf/UNITED_SIKHS_R…
We have dedicated full time legal staff and volunteers who handle our international advocacy projects who include: yours truly who has worked fulltime on a probono basis for the last 6 years in the UK and globally and we also have Jaspreet Singh, our full time staff attorney in NY. The rest of our team comprises numerous pro bono Sikh and non-Sikh lawyers and legal interns all over the world. We consider it our forte that we have networked to employ the pro bono resources of the panth.
If you consider our output in all three areas of our work in 8 chapters globally – international advocacy, humanitarian relief and human development, you will find that we have used a small percentage of the panthic resources that have been used by sister Sikh organizations that do advocacy projects at a national level. We are akal purakh ki fauj and strive to serve whenever a task falls on us for ‘sarbat da bhala’. One has to be humble before akal purakh whenever we receive a call for help. At UNITED SIKHS we believe ‘We should never knowingly say ‘no’ to a cry for help’. We do not reject a plea for help because of resources. In fact we help those referred to us by sister Sikh organizations or those who had not received assistance they had sought from other Sikh organizations. Yes, our resources are stretched and we run a tight ship. We hope you will join all Sikhs to help us so ‘we never knowingly say no’. If by helping those who turn to us you think we are ‘jack of all trades’, we make no apologies to accept that label as long as our Guru is our Master.
Mejindarpal Kaur
Director
UNITED SIKHS
+1 646 3153909 (USA)/ + 44 7709830442 (UK)
Vaheguru Ji ka Khalsa Vaheguru ji ki Fateh.
Unlike Publius, whose identity I do not know (and who may well be a respected subscriber to Langgar Hall), I am a director of UNITED SIKHS and wish, due to the limited time i have , make a response in point form.
I will also respond to one Kuldip Singh’s comments on the Langgar Hall , who has made allegations against our legal team for the French turban cases.
I beg for forgiveness in advance if i fail to cover all points to Publius’ and other bloggers’ satisfaction. UNITED SIKHS respects Publius’ freedom of expression as his fundamental right and we exercise our right to reply, in humility, below. I would like to state at the outset that I thank the Sikh bloggers whom my Guru has sent to sharpen my resolve and strength to deal with issues of the panth. “Jabae baan laageo tabae ros jageo”.
UNITED SIKHS is confident that we had constituted a conference that is not only representative but also one that will make a meaningful contribution to tackling Sikh Civil Rights issues, as shown below.
1. This conference was a global Sikh civil rights conference which was attended by gurdwaras, organisations and individuals from interalia USA, UK, Canada, Ireland, France, Belgium, Malaysia, Singapore and India. Needless to say as per the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, Gurdwaras should be the avenues for raising all Sikh issues including civil rights issues. Hence the participation of gurdwaras from many countries at the Sikh Civil Rights Conference in New York, has to be seen as a representation of Sikhs. Indeed the representation of some 16 million Sikhs, who elect the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), was achieved by the attendance at the conference of the former’s president and the latter’s dharam parhcar committee chairman. For a complete listing of organisations that were represented at the three day conference see http://unitedsikhs.org/rtt/sikhconf/SupportingOrgs.php
Please note that all Sikh organisations in the USA that are involved in Civil Rights work (Saldef, World Sikh Council and the Sikh Coalition, included) were invited to the 3 day Civil Rights Conference.
2. The media conference and panel discussion on 15th December, to mark the filing of the first French Turban cases before the UN ( part of the 3 day civil rights conference), heard deliberations from panelists from leading mainstream civil rights groups, including ACLU, Bill of Rights Defence Committee and former chair of Amnesty International USA, United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), the Becket Fund for Religious Freedom and Human Rights Watch.
The Media Conference was also attended by the Sikh Coalition’s Executive Director, Amardeep Singh who was invited as a panelist and who congratulated our staff attorney, Jaspreet Singh for UNITED SIKHS’ efforts and commented that the work we’re doing is necessary and that we are filling a niche that no one else is fulfilling.
3. Sikhs do not currently have a forum where ALL Sikhs are represented. The Sikh nation is not only collective but also indivisible. Whilst there is a need for the sarbatt khalsa to be constituted to resolve pressing Sikh issues, UNITED SIKHS could not wait for the Sikh leaders to do so as we have pressing civil rights issues as demonstrated by the difficult situations faced by French Sikhs and other Sikhs in the diaspora. These issues were flagged up in our Global Sikh Civil Rights report, which forms the basis for the Sikh Civil Rights Agenda. Publius tacitly admits the need for this when he says :
UNITED SIKHS, in organising this conference, has exercised its right and performed its duty to fulfill a pressing demand within the Sikh community.
4. The recommendations and declarations which constitute the Global Sikh Civil Rights Agenda were derived from the delegates who attended the conference. Publius may not have attended the conference on 13th December and may therefore not know that at the start of the conference all delegates were given 5 sheets of papers to write their recommendations and declarations on the 5 pressing civil rights topics that had been predetermined after consultation with our team of rapporteurs. The delegates did this over a period of 3 hours. The team of rapporteurs comprised Dr IJ Singh, Inni Kaur, Gurparkash Singh, Manjyot Kaur, Balwinder Kaur, Casey Armstrong, Gurbachan Singh and Harpreet Singh. These recommendations and declarations from the delegates were then considered by the team of rapporteurs who formulated the recommendations and declarations which were adopted by the delegates according to the Sikh tradition of Jakara. These recommendations and declarations constitute the Sikh Civil Rights Agenda. This Agenda will be carried out through a Global Sikh Forum. Any Sikh organization which wishes to carry out the objects of the agenda may join the forum by contacting UNITED SIKHS at law@unitedsikhs.org. The Forum is a platform for working together to fulfill the objects of the Sikh Civil Rights Agenda.
5. The Conference was organised in response to the adverse decision in the European Court of Human Rights late last month, which flagged up a pressing need. We thank all those who attended, who we believe represented a large section of the Global Sikh community.
6. In response to one Kuldip Singh, I would like to state that our legal team for the French turban cases comprises not only lawyers from eminent international law firms but also many pro bono Sikh legal lawyers who have worked tirelessly to ensure that not only the best legal arguments are submitted but that all Sikh issues that are raised in the briefs are properly put. To read more about the work that we have done on the French Right To Turban cases and the names of our legal team please see http://www.unitedsikhs.org/rtt/pdf/UNITED_SIKHS_Right_To_Turban_Campaign_Timeline.pdf
We have dedicated full time legal staff and volunteers who handle our international advocacy projects who include: yours truly who has worked fulltime on a probono basis for the last 6 years in the UK and globally and we also have Jaspreet Singh, our full time staff attorney in NY. The rest of our team comprises numerous pro bono Sikh and non-Sikh lawyers and legal interns all over the world. We consider it our forte that we have networked to employ the pro bono resources of the panth.
If you consider our output in all three areas of our work in 8 chapters globally – international advocacy, humanitarian relief and human development, you will find that we have used a small percentage of the panthic resources that have been used by sister Sikh organizations that do advocacy projects at a national level. We are akal purakh ki fauj and strive to serve whenever a task falls on us for ‘sarbat da bhala’. One has to be humble before akal purakh whenever we receive a call for help. At UNITED SIKHS we believe ‘We should never knowingly say ‘no’ to a cry for help’. We do not reject a plea for help because of resources. In fact we help those referred to us by sister Sikh organizations or those who had not received assistance they had sought from other Sikh organizations. Yes, our resources are stretched and we run a tight ship. We hope you will join all Sikhs to help us so ‘we never knowingly say no’. If by helping those who turn to us you think we are ‘jack of all trades’, we make no apologies to accept that label as long as our Guru is our Master.
Mejindarpal Kaur
Director
UNITED SIKHS
+1 646 3153909 (USA)/ + 44 7709830442 (UK)
VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH
1) Did the author of this posting attend the meeting?
2) If Sarbat Khalsa was called tommorrow, and let's say that 3 Sikh organizations did not show up, does it fail to be called a Sarbat Khalsa?
3) Does anyone here have the qualifications to dismiss the credentials of those who are working on this case?
4) Was something in the conference (if anyone here attended) contrary to Sikh intrests?
5) Have those who are commenting against the efforts of this Glogal Sikh Civil Rights Conference taken any steps to become involved in the fight?
I apologize for making this remark, but when someone is doing something to benefit you, being thankful is not a sin. I think the Sikh community better wake up and realize that this is a global civil right initiative (though the right to turban is currently a global fight for Sikhs. You name it, America, Europe, even India, that right has been challenged).
The SGPC failed to take it up and spearhead it, Manmohan failed to make France pay for it and frankly, the Akalis are probably betraying it. Destoryed the case? Have you reviewed the legal proceedings? Are you an attorney that has made a professional observation?
I work and live in America, and a global concept of work is to (forgive the saying), put up or shut up. So the posters have laid down their dismay…tell me, are any of you going to do anything about it, or is this simply armchair commentary?
Typical Punjabi behavior…unable to accept actually complementing any good that is done and ever ready to bring any positive efforts down. No wonder our Panth has made so much progress!!!
Sad.
VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH
1) Did the author of this posting attend the meeting?
2) If Sarbat Khalsa was called tommorrow, and let’s say that 3 Sikh organizations did not show up, does it fail to be called a Sarbat Khalsa?
3) Does anyone here have the qualifications to dismiss the credentials of those who are working on this case?
4) Was something in the conference (if anyone here attended) contrary to Sikh intrests?
5) Have those who are commenting against the efforts of this Glogal Sikh Civil Rights Conference taken any steps to become involved in the fight?
I apologize for making this remark, but when someone is doing something to benefit you, being thankful is not a sin. I think the Sikh community better wake up and realize that this is a global civil right initiative (though the right to turban is currently a global fight for Sikhs. You name it, America, Europe, even India, that right has been challenged).
The SGPC failed to take it up and spearhead it, Manmohan failed to make France pay for it and frankly, the Akalis are probably betraying it. Destoryed the case? Have you reviewed the legal proceedings? Are you an attorney that has made a professional observation?
I work and live in America, and a global concept of work is to (forgive the saying), put up or shut up. So the posters have laid down their dismay…tell me, are any of you going to do anything about it, or is this simply armchair commentary?
Typical Punjabi behavior…unable to accept actually complementing any good that is done and ever ready to bring any positive efforts down. No wonder our Panth has made so much progress!!!
Sad.
Hey folks don't waste time on Langarhall.com. This site is owned by GB Singh's son from Texas who is brainwashed by Sikhri from Texas. Sikhri's extension is Sikh Coalition. Its very simple, if anything is not being done by Sikh Coalition in civil rights, then it means that its not going to be accepted. Langarhall and its cloonies forget that the panth is far bigger than these yester groups. It sounds like all organizations were invited to this event, hence its up to attendees of the conference who participated to decide. Hiding and writing under pseudo names is a commong thing for them. It just shows the reality and dictatorship of organisations like Sikh Coalition and Sikhri that are not ready to work with anyone, except those that are readily brainwashed by them.
Ahh and about Harinder (sikhri), I know all his background, so please don't let me open it on Langarhall or any other blog. Harinder's doings are well known in UK. So all Harinder's extensions stop fighting, otherwise I will personally expose Harinder's work during his stay in chandigarh and why Fateh the organisation did a crash landing and why he had to create sikhri to hide is discredited face under.
Amardeep Khaira
[Kulwant Singh = Jasmeet Kaur = Amardeep Khaira….You were warned about switching handles and trying to pretend that you represent more people. This is dishonest and against the rules of The Langar Hall. You have been banned…Admin Singh]
Hey folks don’t waste time on Langarhall.com. This site is owned by GB Singh’s son from Texas who is brainwashed by Sikhri from Texas. Sikhri’s extension is Sikh Coalition. Its very simple, if anything is not being done by Sikh Coalition in civil rights, then it means that its not going to be accepted. Langarhall and its cloonies forget that the panth is far bigger than these yester groups. It sounds like all organizations were invited to this event, hence its up to attendees of the conference who participated to decide. Hiding and writing under pseudo names is a commong thing for them. It just shows the reality and dictatorship of organisations like Sikh Coalition and Sikhri that are not ready to work with anyone, except those that are readily brainwashed by them.
Ahh and about Harinder (sikhri), I know all his background, so please don’t let me open it on Langarhall or any other blog. Harinder’s doings are well known in UK. So all Harinder’s extensions stop fighting, otherwise I will personally expose Harinder’s work during his stay in chandigarh and why Fateh the organisation did a crash landing and why he had to create sikhri to hide is discredited face under.
Amardeep Khaira
[Kulwant Singh = Jasmeet Kaur = Amardeep Khaira….You were warned about switching handles and trying to pretend that you represent more people. This is dishonest and against the rules of The Langar Hall. You have been banned…Admin Singh]
M Singh,
Spare us the 'moral outrage.' There has been plenty of allegations that United Sikhs has muddled the case in France, by credible sources. As far as having reviewed the case has United Sikhs made the documents public? I would love to look at them.
The critique by Kuldip Singh of being a 'jack of all trades' is still very valid.
First off this meeting was NOT a Sarbat Khalsa, so your attempt at comparison is void.
if you are going to 'claim' to represent 'global Sikhs' then expect 'global criticism.' Don't attempt a holier-than-thou attitude and try to shut off conversation.
While the attempts by Sikh NGOs is warranted and needed, un-democratic processes should be criticized as they are un-Sikh like. Yes the means makes a difference, for the ends.
M Singh,
Spare us the ‘moral outrage.’ There has been plenty of allegations that United Sikhs has muddled the case in France, by credible sources. As far as having reviewed the case has United Sikhs made the documents public? I would love to look at them.
The critique by Kuldip Singh of being a ‘jack of all trades’ is still very valid.
First off this meeting was NOT a Sarbat Khalsa, so your attempt at comparison is void.
if you are going to ‘claim’ to represent ‘global Sikhs’ then expect ‘global criticism.’ Don’t attempt a holier-than-thou attitude and try to shut off conversation.
While the attempts by Sikh NGOs is warranted and needed, un-democratic processes should be criticized as they are un-Sikh like. Yes the means makes a difference, for the ends.
Majinderpal Kaur, unfamiliar with consensus building and what it takes to come up with a collective agenda, is ridiculing fellow Sikhs for being discriminating about what has transpired. How do you release a 65-page report as the “First Global Sikh Civil Rights Report” after just a few hours of deliberation at a conference? Call it a preliminary discussion toward a Sikh civil rights agenda if you like, but don’t insult the intelligence of fellow Sikhs by sending out press releases—something that you are very good at—that Sikhs globally have made consensus about an agenda. Majinderpal Kaur has trouble working with a small number of organizations such as the Sikh Federation in her hometown (just talk to Dabinderjit Singh in London), and her coworkers in New York face similar issues with one or one or two organizations that are active in the United States. London and New York are not an aberration; United Sikhs' fanatical impulse for self-promotion and taking credit for other people's work using words with long abbreviations spans other counties as well! You partner with a Malaysian Sikh organization (Global Sikhs) and you run into issues because you can’t stop taking credit for their work. Khalsa Aid in the UK does all the fundraising and the work and you are the ones sending out press releases with a handful of volunteers on the ground; now Khalsa Aid refuses to work with you on other projects. If any of this is untrue, and if these organizations are really your partners, then try getting the Sikh Federation, Khalsa Aid, SALDEF, Sikh Coalition, Global Sikhs, et al to come to this blog and defend you–you won’t be able to because you have alienated them by taking credit for their work. Even Mr Brar, a contractor from California, who went and volunteered for Tsunami relief at his own expense, was shocked when he saw your organization taking credit for his work of building homes for the victims. You don’t get along with most local organizations, nor with most groups you actively work with because of your insatiable appetite to take credit for other people’s work, and yet you are out to set the First Global Civil Rights Agenda? How about stop sending out press releases and, instead engaging in real work that touches the common Sikh? This talk about humility needs to have substance and real work behind it; otherwise it is just empty rhetoric. To the point about this conference being representative of Sikhs, the Gurdwara representatives are rubber stamp representatives—-given them a stage to speak from and they will shout the jaikara—-Sat Sri Akal! Let’s put real people and real organization that are doing real work in a room and talk about issues in their local communities. Then formulate a project plan that is realistic and how it would be executed upon. This is how you come up with an agenda. Otherwise, you will continue to do more harm than good, as you have clearly demonstrated and continue to show from your incompetance in France.
Majinderpal Kaur, unfamiliar with consensus building and what it takes to come up with a collective agenda, is ridiculing fellow Sikhs for being discriminating about what has transpired. How do you release a 65-page report as the “First Global Sikh Civil Rights Report” after just a few hours of deliberation at a conference? Call it a preliminary discussion toward a Sikh civil rights agenda if you like, but don’t insult the intelligence of fellow Sikhs by sending out press releases—something that you are very good at—that Sikhs globally have made consensus about an agenda. Majinderpal Kaur has trouble working with a small number of organizations such as the Sikh Federation in her hometown (just talk to Dabinderjit Singh in London), and her coworkers in New York face similar issues with one or one or two organizations that are active in the United States. London and New York are not an aberration; United Sikhs’ fanatical impulse for self-promotion and taking credit for other people’s work using words with long abbreviations spans other counties as well! You partner with a Malaysian Sikh organization (Global Sikhs) and you run into issues because you can’t stop taking credit for their work. Khalsa Aid in the UK does all the fundraising and the work and you are the ones sending out press releases with a handful of volunteers on the ground; now Khalsa Aid refuses to work with you on other projects. If any of this is untrue, and if these organizations are really your partners, then try getting the Sikh Federation, Khalsa Aid, SALDEF, Sikh Coalition, Global Sikhs, et al to come to this blog and defend you–you won’t be able to because you have alienated them by taking credit for their work. Even Mr Brar, a contractor from California, who went and volunteered for Tsunami relief at his own expense, was shocked when he saw your organization taking credit for his work of building homes for the victims. You don’t get along with most local organizations, nor with most groups you actively work with because of your insatiable appetite to take credit for other people’s work, and yet you are out to set the First Global Civil Rights Agenda? How about stop sending out press releases and, instead engaging in real work that touches the common Sikh? This talk about humility needs to have substance and real work behind it; otherwise it is just empty rhetoric. To the point about this conference being representative of Sikhs, the Gurdwara representatives are rubber stamp representatives—-given them a stage to speak from and they will shout the jaikara—-Sat Sri Akal! Let’s put real people and real organization that are doing real work in a room and talk about issues in their local communities. Then formulate a project plan that is realistic and how it would be executed upon. This is how you come up with an agenda. Otherwise, you will continue to do more harm than good, as you have clearly demonstrated and continue to show from your incompetance in France.
VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH
Hey, tell you what. Why don't you do something for once? I am tired of these Brahm-Gyanis who can shower criticism and yet do NOTHING when the chips are down. Been seeing it on the internet for years…all talk and nothing to show for it.
You got so much to contribute? Court documents are a matter of public record. Why don't you fly yourself over to France and help in the effort and offer your legal opinions? I don't see thousands of Sikh lawyers twitching to help? Go ahead, take a trip and look over the documents. I am sure the legal team is more than willing to be enlightened by your input.
Credible sources? Please. Dr. Rai had been at the forefront of criticisms of UNITED SIKHS when the case was brought to light, and yet, I do not see him achieve any victories in the French turban case. Rather, had you paid any attention to the actual case in France, you would have realized that the French gave verbal agreement to everything that the Sikhs demanded, even when it was stated as a religious article of faith. But when it came time to write it on paper with ink, they turned the other way. they gave verbal assurances after verbal assurances, only to produce the opposite policies.
Spare me this "oh, it is not a religious symbol, but rather an ethnic one" crap. That is nonsense, as this is completely contrary to the Hukamnamae of Guru Gobind Singh from Nanded, that explicitly tell the Sikhs to never remain without a turban (go read the 52 hukamnamae from Nanded). By that very description, combined with the fact that the Rehat Maryada REQURES (for men – for now) a turban, makes it a religious article of faith. that arguement is a bunch of hogwash.
This is not a case of "oh, we'll just call it an ethnic symbol and we can keep it". That dumb arguement would remove the turbans of all the Americans if it had been accepted, as the American constitution guarantees religious freedoms, but makes no exceptions for ethnic freedoms. So, had that lame excuse even worked, it's impact on those areas which have a higher concentration of Sikhs would have been devestating. So while the Sikhs can remain protected in America due to religiour reasons, arguing the same from an ethnic standpoint is almost null per the Constitution.
Quoting Sikhtimes.com? That "newspaper" aka. government sponsored trash circulator is the biggest joke in the Sikh diaspora. Everyone knows that this Punit Lamba is a stooge of the Indian government and will do everything in his power to malign the real view of Sikhism. Go read the articles…the man supports KPS Gill!!!
As for "hiding something". The organization is a tax exempt charitable organization that is required to be independently and governmentally audited regularly. their financial reports are available online, and are a matter of public record. Why don't you join the organization and perform an "undercover investigation"? Maybe you might accidentally do something good for the Panth for once.
[NOTE, the following comments will be monitored. We are here to engage in discussion not slander. Whatever is deemed slanderous by the moderators will be deleted. Engage in substantive matters as it is important and we can continue…Admin Singh]
VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH
Hey, tell you what. Why don’t you do something for once? I am tired of these Brahm-Gyanis who can shower criticism and yet do NOTHING when the chips are down. Been seeing it on the internet for years…all talk and nothing to show for it.
You got so much to contribute? Court documents are a matter of public record. Why don’t you fly yourself over to France and help in the effort and offer your legal opinions? I don’t see thousands of Sikh lawyers twitching to help? Go ahead, take a trip and look over the documents. I am sure the legal team is more than willing to be enlightened by your input.
Credible sources? Please. Dr. Rai had been at the forefront of criticisms of UNITED SIKHS when the case was brought to light, and yet, I do not see him achieve any victories in the French turban case. Rather, had you paid any attention to the actual case in France, you would have realized that the French gave verbal agreement to everything that the Sikhs demanded, even when it was stated as a religious article of faith. But when it came time to write it on paper with ink, they turned the other way. they gave verbal assurances after verbal assurances, only to produce the opposite policies.
Spare me this “oh, it is not a religious symbol, but rather an ethnic one” crap. That is nonsense, as this is completely contrary to the Hukamnamae of Guru Gobind Singh from Nanded, that explicitly tell the Sikhs to never remain without a turban (go read the 52 hukamnamae from Nanded). By that very description, combined with the fact that the Rehat Maryada REQURES (for men – for now) a turban, makes it a religious article of faith. that arguement is a bunch of hogwash.
This is not a case of “oh, we’ll just call it an ethnic symbol and we can keep it”. That dumb arguement would remove the turbans of all the Americans if it had been accepted, as the American constitution guarantees religious freedoms, but makes no exceptions for ethnic freedoms. So, had that lame excuse even worked, it’s impact on those areas which have a higher concentration of Sikhs would have been devestating. So while the Sikhs can remain protected in America due to religiour reasons, arguing the same from an ethnic standpoint is almost null per the Constitution.
Quoting Sikhtimes.com? That “newspaper” aka. government sponsored trash circulator is the biggest joke in the Sikh diaspora. Everyone knows that this Punit Lamba is a stooge of the Indian government and will do everything in his power to malign the real view of Sikhism. Go read the articles…the man supports KPS Gill!!!
As for “hiding something”. The organization is a tax exempt charitable organization that is required to be independently and governmentally audited regularly. their financial reports are available online, and are a matter of public record. Why don’t you join the organization and perform an “undercover investigation”? Maybe you might accidentally do something good for the Panth for once.
[NOTE, the following comments will be monitored. We are here to engage in discussion not slander. Whatever is deemed slanderous by the moderators will be deleted. Engage in substantive matters as it is important and we can continue…Admin Singh]
This is getting really interesting. Great conversation, except for the personal snides and the usual rhetoric from the past. Easy to ignore though. Could some one please tell me how the SGPC and DGPC represent 16 million Sikhs. Is there 100 per cent turnover and all voters vote for the same slate. Second, where could I read the 50 Hukamnamas from Nanded.
The democracy of blogsphere is such a wonderful thing.
This is getting really interesting. Great conversation, except for the personal snides and the usual rhetoric from the past. Easy to ignore though. Could some one please tell me how the SGPC and DGPC represent 16 million Sikhs. Is there 100 per cent turnover and all voters vote for the same slate. Second, where could I read the 50 Hukamnamas from Nanded.
The democracy of blogsphere is such a wonderful thing.
M Singh: You really haven’t done your homework. Not Dr Rai, but United Sikhs screwed up the case through inconistent testimonies about the nature of the Sikh turban. United Sikhs has often argued publically that the Sikh turban is an “ethnic” and not a “religious” symbol of the Sikh faith:
This goes to show that United Sikhs is incompetent and has allowed the French ban of the turban to get out of hand through inconsistent stands on the nature of the Sikh turban. Unfortunatley, while United Sikhs’ volunteers sitting comfortable in their London homes milk out press releases for the great work the organization is doing in France, Sikhs of France will have to pay a heavy price for decades to come.
M Singh: You really haven’t done your homework. Not Dr Rai, but United Sikhs screwed up the case through inconistent testimonies about the nature of the Sikh turban. United Sikhs has often argued publically that the Sikh turban is an “ethnic” and not a “religious” symbol of the Sikh faith:
This goes to show that United Sikhs is incompetent and has allowed the French ban of the turban to get out of hand through inconsistent stands on the nature of the Sikh turban. Unfortunatley, while United Sikhs’ volunteers sitting comfortable in their London homes milk out press releases for the great work the organization is doing in France, Sikhs of France will have to pay a heavy price for decades to come.
Right…the media never misquotes. They are 100% completely correct all the time, like Sikhtimes.com. Got any United Sikhs's PRs to back this claim? Cause they are such experts at releasing PRs, surely they would have claimed this arguement in one right?
I repeat…how many of you have been there and done anything?
Tell me, if they are so incompetent, why are the French Sikhs still backing them? Why do they not form their own organization to fight the wrong being done to them? Why are they still with them after so many years?
[Most of this adds nothing M Singh…Say something substantial… Admin Singh]
Right…the media never misquotes. They are 100% completely correct all the time, like Sikhtimes.com. Got any United Sikhs’s PRs to back this claim? Cause they are such experts at releasing PRs, surely they would have claimed this arguement in one right?
I repeat…how many of you have been there and done anything?
Tell me, if they are so incompetent, why are the French Sikhs still backing them? Why do they not form their own organization to fight the wrong being done to them? Why are they still with them after so many years?
[Most of this adds nothing M Singh…Say something substantial… Admin Singh]
M Singh: You are asking me for United Sikhs’ work product? Well why don’t you ask them to post all of their legal briefs on the site and everyone can judge for themselves. Why are they so secret? This way the tens of thousands of Sikh lawyers globally can provide input and help with this case as well. But United Sikhs refuses to upload things that matter to its website.
Also, you are one consistently engaging in slander without providing any sources (and you have received a warning from the site’s admins); I gave you a source for my assertion. Labelling fellow Sikhs with whom you disagree GOI agents is irresponsible and you need to rise above such rhetoric. You may advocate on United Sikhs’ behalf but we are not going to stop holding the group accountable for its legal misrepresentation and misconduct when it comes to the Sikhs’ turban ban in France.
M Singh: You are asking me for United Sikhs' work product? Well why don't you ask them to post all of their legal briefs on the site and everyone can judge for themselves. Why are they so secret? This way the tens of thousands of Sikh lawyers globally can provide input and help with this case as well. But United Sikhs refuses to upload things that matter to its website.
Also, you are one consistently engaging in slander without providing any sources (and you have received a warning from the site's admins); I gave you a source for my assertion. Labelling fellow Sikhs with whom you disagree GOI agents is irresponsible and you need to rise above such rhetoric. You may advocate on United Sikhs' behalf but we are not going to stop holding the group accountable for its legal misrepresentation and misconduct when it comes to the Sikhs' turban ban in France.
vjkk vjkf
Guys and gals,
let's applaud. let's lend a helping hand. let's help improve. let's do. let's not throw mud. Let's unite.
1. The report doesn't look like it was developed during a 3 hr meeting. If you look at the breadth and content of what is covered it looks as if this is a significant work effort that is inclusive and well researched.
2. The list of organizations that attended seems quite lengthy. Just cause I didn't attend doesn't mean Sikhs weren't well represented.
3. Do you actually think, this could be done without SGPC, DSGMC? No matter what the criticism is for SGPC and DSGMC, there presence was tantamount at this conference.
4. Since when was doing more a bad thing? United Sikhs is involved in a lot of stuff. It's respectable how much they do. Is it better to turn down someone in need of a scholarship just because other orgs aren't into that kind of thing? Is it not cool to help during disasters? Especially when something like disaster relief can be done by simple volunteers and is always done by volunteers (exception being the federal government).
surely everyone makes mistakes, let's work on improving.
vjkk vjkf
Guys and gals,
let’s applaud. let’s lend a helping hand. let’s help improve. let’s do. let’s not throw mud. Let’s unite.
1. The report doesn’t look like it was developed during a 3 hr meeting. If you look at the breadth and content of what is covered it looks as if this is a significant work effort that is inclusive and well researched.
2. The list of organizations that attended seems quite lengthy. Just cause I didn’t attend doesn’t mean Sikhs weren’t well represented.
3. Do you actually think, this could be done without SGPC, DSGMC? No matter what the criticism is for SGPC and DSGMC, there presence was tantamount at this conference.
4. Since when was doing more a bad thing? United Sikhs is involved in a lot of stuff. It’s respectable how much they do. Is it better to turn down someone in need of a scholarship just because other orgs aren’t into that kind of thing? Is it not cool to help during disasters? Especially when something like disaster relief can be done by simple volunteers and is always done by volunteers (exception being the federal government).
surely everyone makes mistakes, let’s work on improving.
Dear All,
I am impressed by the quality of the minds that have been thinking and writing on this blog. As a newcomer I am not accustomed to writing this way, but will try to express my views on this discussion:
1. Whether the effort by United Sikhs truly represents the global Sikh community or not should not be an issue. It is an effort on behalf of the community, and is directed for the benefit of the community. Therefore, it should be commended.
2. Who takes credit for work done by others should not be an issue. The focus should be on whether the work was done well, and was it done for the betterment of the community, or did it show the community in a positive light.
3. Mistakes will always be made, especially by those who venture out and do something (not by the armchair critics). Let us resolve to overlook mistakes but help out in the tasks.
4. Our praise should be public, and any criticism done in private; knowing how insignificant each of us is in the whole scheme of things should be our guiding factor.
5. Let our discussion groups be helpful in generating ideas on how to do things better, and not on what was done wrong. Hindsight is perfect.
6. Let each of us resolve to do one small thing for the Sikh community (educate a neighbor about the Sikhs, perform volunteer service, whatever).
Perhaps then we as a community can progress in this world with our articles of faith intact.
Pritpal
Dear All,
I am impressed by the quality of the minds that have been thinking and writing on this blog. As a newcomer I am not accustomed to writing this way, but will try to express my views on this discussion:
1. Whether the effort by United Sikhs truly represents the global Sikh community or not should not be an issue. It is an effort on behalf of the community, and is directed for the benefit of the community. Therefore, it should be commended.
2. Who takes credit for work done by others should not be an issue. The focus should be on whether the work was done well, and was it done for the betterment of the community, or did it show the community in a positive light.
3. Mistakes will always be made, especially by those who venture out and do something (not by the armchair critics). Let us resolve to overlook mistakes but help out in the tasks.
4. Our praise should be public, and any criticism done in private; knowing how insignificant each of us is in the whole scheme of things should be our guiding factor.
5. Let our discussion groups be helpful in generating ideas on how to do things better, and not on what was done wrong. Hindsight is perfect.
6. Let each of us resolve to do one small thing for the Sikh community (educate a neighbor about the Sikhs, perform volunteer service, whatever).
Perhaps then we as a community can progress in this world with our articles of faith intact.
Pritpal
Everybody should read this article about Mejinderpal Kaur, who is a central part of United Sikhs. It is written by Ravinder Singh of Khalsa Aid, and was published in 2006. I reproduce it below.
I URGE EVERYBODY TO READ IT IN FULL
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Since Khalsa Aid was launched in 1999 a lot of similar Sikh organisations have suddenly mushroomed overnight. Most of them, purely for individual or monetary gain. Humanitarian disasters have become a massive money-making and political business. I have been involved in many relief operations since 1999 and have also seen many groups who have state-of-the-art photographic equipment but do very little actual relief work. Their well-presented Web sites give a very different picture.
Khalsa Aid has been approached many times by Majinderpal Kaur of United Sikhs to form some sort of partnership. We have always been against this idea as Khalsa Aid is purely a humanitarian organisation and United Sikhs is involved in politics. Further, Khalsa Aid is a U.K. registered charity and United Sikhs is not. I am aware that they were working with Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia.
It was during the Tsunami relief efforts that I really got to know how United Sikhs functions.
Majinderpal Kaur went visiting to all the gurdwaras [Sikh places of worship] in the U.K. who had been supporting Khalsa Aid since 1999 to ask for donations (Tsunami donations) collected from the sangat [Sikh community] to be given to United Sikhs by showing fancy PowerPoint presentations. I was getting a lot of calls from confused gurdwara committee members asking if Khalsa Aid was working with United Sikhs. The answer was always NO, despite the hints they were receiving about our 'collaboration' with Majinderpal Kaur.
I got to Chennai [Madras] to meet our India partners, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle (Mumbai branch) to launch our relief operation for the Tsunami effected areas. The great sewadars [volunteers] from the Study Circle were Kulwant Singh (general secretary), Ravinder Singh and Bhupinder Singh. The United Sikhs local representative was Ishar Singh from Hyderabad. After a couple of days of setting up relief operations in Tamil Nadu we all flew to Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
There were Sikh families (on Campbell Bay) who needed assistance in the southern-most islands, so Khalsa Aid decided to launch operations in several areas of the islands to help the Sikhs. After some discussions, I decided to send Kulwant Singh as a Khalsa Aid representative and Ishar Singh joined him while I remained behind to oganise the logistics for the relief materials. During the two days I spent on Port Blair with Ishar Singh he was hardly ever off the phone. He must have used thousands of Rupees daily on calls to America, Malaysia, etc. All of this from the sangat's donations. He almost got himself and us kicked off the islands for threatening the district collector with political vengeance if he didnt get a private helicopter for himself.
At the same time he was sending photos to be posted on the United Sikhs Web site. While Kulwant Singh and Ishar Singh were with the Sikh inhabitants of Campbell Bay, the United Sikh Web site was informing the sangat that Ishar Singh gave away Rupees 4.5 lakh [4,50,000] to the Sikhs of Campbell Bay. When they returned from their visit I asked Kulwant Singh about the Rupees 4.5 lakh donation. He was very surprised and told me that Ishar Singh gave about Rupees 15,000 in total. I challenged Ishar Singh on this issue. At first, he denied making the false report and then said it must have been an error on the Web site.
I got very busy with our operations on several fronts on different islands. We were building toilets, supplying food, sanitation equipment and building materials. Within two days of arriving I had set up a supply line through different ships and had 5 tons of food dispatched to the Sikhs. In the mean time Ishar Singh had disappeared from the islands. But the United Sikhs Web site was doing an excellent job of displaying the photos which he took and videos he made of the Sikhs on Campbell Bay. However, they still had not delivered a single piece of relief material to the islands. Their Web site kept asking for donations to continue their aid program on these islands. How could they continue when they never started any relief program!
Khalsa Aid had a request from Sikh families for women's and men's underwear as well as more sanitation equipment, which was hastily arranged and put on a ship with a sewadar from the Study Circle accompanying the materials. I flew back to Chennai to coordinate further relief efforts and to check on the Tamil Nadu project. I met several more young people who had travelled from Punjab, U.S., etc. on behalf of United Sikhs. They had no coordination and no leadership as Ishar Singh had simply disappeared. They were mostly staying in the gurdwara in Chennai.
The United Sikhs Web site was updated daily with more photographs and videos but during the four weeks I spent there they did not deliver any relief to the islands but were constantly and vigorously asking for donations through their Web site to 'continue' the relief program. They had a lot of volunteers (tickets most likely paid for by the sangat) but no direction. Khalsa Aid arranged for Jet Air to fly in two tons of food to the islands. They took photos of that batch of food to claim as their own. The tons of food and clothing the Study Circle sent from Mumbai became another opportunity for United Sikhs to take photos and claim as their relief goods.
I returned to the U.K. to find Majinderpal still going around gurdwaras claiming to be involved in very 'hectic' relief programs on the islands. I must say, they had all the top equipment for presentations.
I returned to the islands a few weeks later to be stopped by the C.I.D. at Port Blair airport asking all sorts of questions. I only got away lightly because a C.I.D. person with whom I had become friends and who admired the work of Khalsa Aid had intervened. I had never been stopped before during my several trips. I was stopped because United Sikhs had sent very naive and inexprienced people from the U.S. to restricted areas on the islands and who were instantly arrested and put in a local jail overnight and then deported back to Chennai. Funnily enough, this was never mentioned in the United Sikhs press releases. This was down to a total lack of leadership and proper planning and done in haste to be seen on the islands. There were at least six to eight of these youngsters, their air tickets to India must have cost a good few dollars and then the airfare to Port Blair as well as other expenses. I still did not see any member of United Sikhs actually providing relief on the islands.
I know many gurdwaras were repeatedly visited by Majinderpal in the U.K. United Sikhs did recieve large sums of money from the gurdwaras (?39000 from one gurdwara alone). I hate seeing the sangat's money going to waste or misdirected. The gurdwaras have a responsibility to the sangats. The sangats should demand to see the final destination of their donations and a regular report on the usage of the funds.
United Sikhs have no accountabilty in the U.K. So how does the sangat know where the money has gone and about their stucture of paid staff? How much actually went to the relief effort and how much toward salaries and political activities? I saw a lot of fancy photos and presentations but no work by them at all on the islands. They must have collected several $100,000 from the U.K. and the U.S./Canada. Where did it all go? I was shocked at the aggressive way in which United Sikhs approached the gurdwaras in the U.K. Majinderpal actually tried very hard to get Khalsa Aid and United Sikhs together and was even abusive to a senior member of Khalsa Aid (Bherminder Singh) when she was told to back off from stirring dissension within Khalsa Aid by phoning different memebers. She even denied to Bherminder Singh that Khalsa Aid was actually active on the islands.
Actual humanitarian work involves a lot of effort and coordination. The burden of the sangats' expectations is the most difficult burden of all. Like I have already mentioned previously, there are groups and individuals who see disasters as an opportunity to build a power base with the money donated by the well-meaning sangats.
United Sikhs' aggressiveness in collecting funds has made me feel very uneasy and I hope I or other Khalsa Aid members never chase money in that manner. Khalsa Aid works on trust and we leave the donations to the sangats who are our ultimate judges. I did not want to write this critique, but I feel a responsibility to the sangats, especially as I have been involved in relief work for several years through the sangats' trust.
The sangats' donations should not be unaccounted for or misdirected whether it be by a gurdwara committee, an individual, or an organisation.
http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_012106d.html
Everybody should read this article about Mejinderpal Kaur, who is a central part of United Sikhs. It is written by Ravinder Singh of Khalsa Aid, and was published in 2006. I reproduce it below.
I URGE EVERYBODY TO READ IT IN FULL
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Since Khalsa Aid was launched in 1999 a lot of similar Sikh organisations have suddenly mushroomed overnight. Most of them, purely for individual or monetary gain. Humanitarian disasters have become a massive money-making and political business. I have been involved in many relief operations since 1999 and have also seen many groups who have state-of-the-art photographic equipment but do very little actual relief work. Their well-presented Web sites give a very different picture.
Khalsa Aid has been approached many times by Majinderpal Kaur of United Sikhs to form some sort of partnership. We have always been against this idea as Khalsa Aid is purely a humanitarian organisation and United Sikhs is involved in politics. Further, Khalsa Aid is a U.K. registered charity and United Sikhs is not. I am aware that they were working with Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia.
It was during the Tsunami relief efforts that I really got to know how United Sikhs functions.
Majinderpal Kaur went visiting to all the gurdwaras [Sikh places of worship] in the U.K. who had been supporting Khalsa Aid since 1999 to ask for donations (Tsunami donations) collected from the sangat [Sikh community] to be given to United Sikhs by showing fancy PowerPoint presentations. I was getting a lot of calls from confused gurdwara committee members asking if Khalsa Aid was working with United Sikhs. The answer was always NO, despite the hints they were receiving about our ‘collaboration’ with Majinderpal Kaur.
I got to Chennai [Madras] to meet our India partners, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle (Mumbai branch) to launch our relief operation for the Tsunami effected areas. The great sewadars [volunteers] from the Study Circle were Kulwant Singh (general secretary), Ravinder Singh and Bhupinder Singh. The United Sikhs local representative was Ishar Singh from Hyderabad. After a couple of days of setting up relief operations in Tamil Nadu we all flew to Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
There were Sikh families (on Campbell Bay) who needed assistance in the southern-most islands, so Khalsa Aid decided to launch operations in several areas of the islands to help the Sikhs. After some discussions, I decided to send Kulwant Singh as a Khalsa Aid representative and Ishar Singh joined him while I remained behind to oganise the logistics for the relief materials. During the two days I spent on Port Blair with Ishar Singh he was hardly ever off the phone. He must have used thousands of Rupees daily on calls to America, Malaysia, etc. All of this from the sangat’s donations. He almost got himself and us kicked off the islands for threatening the district collector with political vengeance if he didnt get a private helicopter for himself.
At the same time he was sending photos to be posted on the United Sikhs Web site. While Kulwant Singh and Ishar Singh were with the Sikh inhabitants of Campbell Bay, the United Sikh Web site was informing the sangat that Ishar Singh gave away Rupees 4.5 lakh [4,50,000] to the Sikhs of Campbell Bay. When they returned from their visit I asked Kulwant Singh about the Rupees 4.5 lakh donation. He was very surprised and told me that Ishar Singh gave about Rupees 15,000 in total. I challenged Ishar Singh on this issue. At first, he denied making the false report and then said it must have been an error on the Web site.
I got very busy with our operations on several fronts on different islands. We were building toilets, supplying food, sanitation equipment and building materials. Within two days of arriving I had set up a supply line through different ships and had 5 tons of food dispatched to the Sikhs. In the mean time Ishar Singh had disappeared from the islands. But the United Sikhs Web site was doing an excellent job of displaying the photos which he took and videos he made of the Sikhs on Campbell Bay. However, they still had not delivered a single piece of relief material to the islands. Their Web site kept asking for donations to continue their aid program on these islands. How could they continue when they never started any relief program!
Khalsa Aid had a request from Sikh families for women’s and men’s underwear as well as more sanitation equipment, which was hastily arranged and put on a ship with a sewadar from the Study Circle accompanying the materials. I flew back to Chennai to coordinate further relief efforts and to check on the Tamil Nadu project. I met several more young people who had travelled from Punjab, U.S., etc. on behalf of United Sikhs. They had no coordination and no leadership as Ishar Singh had simply disappeared. They were mostly staying in the gurdwara in Chennai.
The United Sikhs Web site was updated daily with more photographs and videos but during the four weeks I spent there they did not deliver any relief to the islands but were constantly and vigorously asking for donations through their Web site to ‘continue’ the relief program. They had a lot of volunteers (tickets most likely paid for by the sangat) but no direction. Khalsa Aid arranged for Jet Air to fly in two tons of food to the islands. They took photos of that batch of food to claim as their own. The tons of food and clothing the Study Circle sent from Mumbai became another opportunity for United Sikhs to take photos and claim as their relief goods.
I returned to the U.K. to find Majinderpal still going around gurdwaras claiming to be involved in very ‘hectic’ relief programs on the islands. I must say, they had all the top equipment for presentations.
I returned to the islands a few weeks later to be stopped by the C.I.D. at Port Blair airport asking all sorts of questions. I only got away lightly because a C.I.D. person with whom I had become friends and who admired the work of Khalsa Aid had intervened. I had never been stopped before during my several trips. I was stopped because United Sikhs had sent very naive and inexprienced people from the U.S. to restricted areas on the islands and who were instantly arrested and put in a local jail overnight and then deported back to Chennai. Funnily enough, this was never mentioned in the United Sikhs press releases. This was down to a total lack of leadership and proper planning and done in haste to be seen on the islands. There were at least six to eight of these youngsters, their air tickets to India must have cost a good few dollars and then the airfare to Port Blair as well as other expenses. I still did not see any member of United Sikhs actually providing relief on the islands.
I know many gurdwaras were repeatedly visited by Majinderpal in the U.K. United Sikhs did recieve large sums of money from the gurdwaras (?39000 from one gurdwara alone). I hate seeing the sangat’s money going to waste or misdirected. The gurdwaras have a responsibility to the sangats. The sangats should demand to see the final destination of their donations and a regular report on the usage of the funds.
United Sikhs have no accountabilty in the U.K. So how does the sangat know where the money has gone and about their stucture of paid staff? How much actually went to the relief effort and how much toward salaries and political activities? I saw a lot of fancy photos and presentations but no work by them at all on the islands. They must have collected several $100,000 from the U.K. and the U.S./Canada. Where did it all go? I was shocked at the aggressive way in which United Sikhs approached the gurdwaras in the U.K. Majinderpal actually tried very hard to get Khalsa Aid and United Sikhs together and was even abusive to a senior member of Khalsa Aid (Bherminder Singh) when she was told to back off from stirring dissension within Khalsa Aid by phoning different memebers. She even denied to Bherminder Singh that Khalsa Aid was actually active on the islands.
Actual humanitarian work involves a lot of effort and coordination. The burden of the sangats’ expectations is the most difficult burden of all. Like I have already mentioned previously, there are groups and individuals who see disasters as an opportunity to build a power base with the money donated by the well-meaning sangats.
United Sikhs’ aggressiveness in collecting funds has made me feel very uneasy and I hope I or other Khalsa Aid members never chase money in that manner. Khalsa Aid works on trust and we leave the donations to the sangats who are our ultimate judges. I did not want to write this critique, but I feel a responsibility to the sangats, especially as I have been involved in relief work for several years through the sangats’ trust.
The sangats’ donations should not be unaccounted for or misdirected whether it be by a gurdwara committee, an individual, or an organisation.
http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_012106d.html
First of all, Publius, great job with tackling an "elephant on the table" issue; overreaching Sikh organizations. We have quite a paradox in the community. We have a complete dearth of Sikh institutions in the diaspora; our "institutions per capita" ratio must be an order of magnitude lower than other faith groups. But at the same time, many of few groups we have end up taking on a kitchen-sink approach in trying to be everything to everyone. Perhaps this is the result of the institutional vacuum.
The focus on press releases is also interesting. I want Sikh organizations to do two things: do good work and be seen to do go work. A major function of all Sikhs groups is PR, but it must be substantive and honest. We can all think of groups that kinda-sorta do stuff, but issue "changed the world" press-releases that would make Obama's team blush. The key for us must be not to paint all organizations with the same brush.
Part of TLH's mandate should be to provide a forum where the complexities of Sikh issues can be handled with nuance, respect and intelligence. We should be very vigilant of comments on the blog that make blanket statements colouring entire organizations as all-good or all-bad. Lastly, while labeling a group as "RSS-aligned" or "run by Indian agents" is an easy way to provoke emotions, its just plain academically lazy and unproductive.
First of all, Publius, great job with tackling an “elephant on the table” issue; overreaching Sikh organizations. We have quite a paradox in the community. We have a complete dearth of Sikh institutions in the diaspora; our “institutions per capita” ratio must be an order of magnitude lower than other faith groups. But at the same time, many of few groups we have end up taking on a kitchen-sink approach in trying to be everything to everyone. Perhaps this is the result of the institutional vacuum.
The focus on press releases is also interesting. I want Sikh organizations to do two things: do good work and be seen to do go work. A major function of all Sikhs groups is PR, but it must be substantive and honest. We can all think of groups that kinda-sorta do stuff, but issue “changed the world” press-releases that would make Obama’s team blush. The key for us must be not to paint all organizations with the same brush.
Part of TLH’s mandate should be to provide a forum where the complexities of Sikh issues can be handled with nuance, respect and intelligence. We should be very vigilant of comments on the blog that make blanket statements colouring entire organizations as all-good or all-bad. Lastly, while labeling a group as “RSS-aligned” or “run by Indian agents” is an easy way to provoke emotions, its just plain academically lazy and unproductive.
Dear all
Gurfateh
I entered the Langgar Hall this morning to see what langgar had been served overnight and found that it had been sweet, sour, bitter, plain and sometimes tasteless. However, there was mata khivi's kheer too. As someone serving with an organisation against/for whom the langgar was served, i take comfort that food either nourishes, harms or gets eliminated. I also take comfort that guru ka langgar nourishes.
I do want to put right a comment made by one Kuldip Singh who said that UNITED SIKHS' legal team had said the turban was not religious. His claim is harmful to the panth and needs to be eliminated. He quoted a press report at ://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14113520
I would like to refer to a UNITED SIKHS press release that was issued a day after Sify.com's report which refutes the sify report. Our French Director, who had issued a statement in French, had been misquoted by sify.com. The French press had reported it correctly. Read our press release on this at http://www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-0…
I have also reproduced it below:
Press Release: Thursday, 05 January 2006, (23rd Poh, Samvat 537 Nanakshahi)
UNITED SIKHS Defends the Turban as a Religious Requirement for Sikhs
Paris – An Agence France Press (AFP) report in the English Press on Monday misquoted a UNITED SIKHS statement in French by saying that the Turban is not ‘religious by nature’.
“I had issued a statement in French on behalf of UNITED SIKHS announcing the commencement of proceedings for a fourth French Sikh student, Gurvinder Singh, who was expelled from school for wearing a turban this academic year,” said Kudrat Singh, director of the UNITED SIKHS chapter in France.
“In the statement I had stated that French Sikh students were being discriminated against as an ethnic group under the French Anti Discrimination Act 2004, which prohibits discrimination on ethnic grounds.”
“I did not say that the Turban is not religious by nature. I have been misquoted in the English Press whereas the original version of my statement in French was accurately reported in the French press,”he added.
UNITED SIKHS is providing legal counsel and support for litigation where four French Sikhs students are suing the French government for expelling them on grounds that their rights to practise their religion under the European Convention of Human Rights and their ethnic rights under the Anti Discrimination Act 2004 have been violated. UNITED SIKHS is also supporting Shingara Singh’s legal case for his right to wear a Turban for his driver’s licence photograph. To read previous Press Releases on this issue see http://unitedsikhs.org/rtt/
Issued by:
Kudrat Singh
Director
UNITED SIKHS – France
Unitedsikhs-fr@unitedsikhs.org
Dear all
Gurfateh
I entered the Langgar Hall this morning to see what langgar had been served overnight and found that it had been sweet, sour, bitter, plain and sometimes tasteless. However, there was mata khivi’s kheer too. As someone serving with an organisation against/for whom the langgar was served, i take comfort that food either nourishes, harms or gets eliminated. I also take comfort that guru ka langgar nourishes.
I do want to put right a comment made by one Kuldip Singh who said that UNITED SIKHS’ legal team had said the turban was not religious. His claim is harmful to the panth and needs to be eliminated. He quoted a press report at ://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14113520
I would like to refer to a UNITED SIKHS press release that was issued a day after Sify.com’s report which refutes the sify report. Our French Director, who had issued a statement in French, had been misquoted by sify.com. The French press had reported it correctly. Read our press release on this at http://www.unitedsikhs.org/PressReleases/PRSRLS-05-01-2006-00.htm
I have also reproduced it below:
Press Release: Thursday, 05 January 2006, (23rd Poh, Samvat 537 Nanakshahi)
UNITED SIKHS Defends the Turban as a Religious Requirement for Sikhs
Paris – An Agence France Press (AFP) report in the English Press on Monday misquoted a UNITED SIKHS statement in French by saying that the Turban is not ‘religious by nature’.
“I had issued a statement in French on behalf of UNITED SIKHS announcing the commencement of proceedings for a fourth French Sikh student, Gurvinder Singh, who was expelled from school for wearing a turban this academic year,” said Kudrat Singh, director of the UNITED SIKHS chapter in France.
“In the statement I had stated that French Sikh students were being discriminated against as an ethnic group under the French Anti Discrimination Act 2004, which prohibits discrimination on ethnic grounds.”
“I did not say that the Turban is not religious by nature. I have been misquoted in the English Press whereas the original version of my statement in French was accurately reported in the French press,”he added.
UNITED SIKHS is providing legal counsel and support for litigation where four French Sikhs students are suing the French government for expelling them on grounds that their rights to practise their religion under the European Convention of Human Rights and their ethnic rights under the Anti Discrimination Act 2004 have been violated. UNITED SIKHS is also supporting Shingara Singh’s legal case for his right to wear a Turban for his driver’s licence photograph. To read previous Press Releases on this issue see http://unitedsikhs.org/rtt/
Issued by:
Kudrat Singh
Director
UNITED SIKHS – France
Unitedsikhs-fr@unitedsikhs.org
There are two major issues I see in the back and forth here that I wanted to comment on:
1. An organization doing "good work" does not give it carte blanche to attempt to pre-empt other voices, speak on behalf of the panth, or otherwise attempt to build authority when it has not done the work on the ground to develop that legitimacy. I've posted on this issue in the past and humbly submit the link, again. I say this broadly of all Sikh organizations, not just United Sikhs. Further, I think it is important for all of us to be critical. I don't think that the "goodness" of work precludes (or should preclude) public criticism. [there's, of course, a whole other conversation on whether we believe the work that organizations choose to do serves the most pressing needs/demands of the community as a whole]. Of course this is hard work — building a grassroots movement takes a lot of effort, outreach, and work, and it doesn't always align or overlap or coordinate perfectly. I hope that doesn't keep organizations from trying to build that grassroots capacity, anyway.
2. There's a lot of comments about "armchair" commentary, whether from bloggers on this site or from commenters within this thread forum. I think this is a huge assumption rooted in a feeling that one person's work is more important, or has greater priority, than the service of others (or when people feel they are doing work, without thanks, while others do not "step up").
Most of our bloggers are active in the Sikh community (although not in the conspiracy theory way posted above — we are not a propaganda forum owned by Sikhri/Sikh Coalition or any other Sikh organization for that matter). For the most part, we try to disclose our affiliations when we blog, also, because we know that this impacts how viewers read/process our posts. I think this is also true of a heavy percentage of our readership and our commentators.
The conversation has, for the most part, proceeded respectfully. Thanks to all, and I hope we can keep it going.
There are two major issues I see in the back and forth here that I wanted to comment on:
1. An organization doing “good work” does not give it carte blanche to attempt to pre-empt other voices, speak on behalf of the panth, or otherwise attempt to build authority when it has not done the work on the ground to develop that legitimacy. I’ve posted on this issue in the past and humbly submit the link, again. I say this broadly of all Sikh organizations, not just United Sikhs. Further, I think it is important for all of us to be critical. I don’t think that the “goodness” of work precludes (or should preclude) public criticism. [there’s, of course, a whole other conversation on whether we believe the work that organizations choose to do serves the most pressing needs/demands of the community as a whole]. Of course this is hard work — building a grassroots movement takes a lot of effort, outreach, and work, and it doesn’t always align or overlap or coordinate perfectly. I hope that doesn’t keep organizations from trying to build that grassroots capacity, anyway.
2. There’s a lot of comments about “armchair” commentary, whether from bloggers on this site or from commenters within this thread forum. I think this is a huge assumption rooted in a feeling that one person’s work is more important, or has greater priority, than the service of others (or when people feel they are doing work, without thanks, while others do not “step up”).
Most of our bloggers are active in the Sikh community (although not in the conspiracy theory way posted above — we are not a propaganda forum owned by Sikhri/Sikh Coalition or any other Sikh organization for that matter). For the most part, we try to disclose our affiliations when we blog, also, because we know that this impacts how viewers read/process our posts. I think this is also true of a heavy percentage of our readership and our commentators.
The conversation has, for the most part, proceeded respectfully. Thanks to all, and I hope we can keep it going.
Majinder Pal Kaur: I repeat my request and add new ones based on other comments above:
1. Please provide the sangat with the legal filing you have made in relation to the French ban of the Sikh turban. We, the sangat, pays for your work, so we must see your work product.
2. Is you own Director position paid or volunteer? Why doesn't you organization publish its financials, given that you raise money in the gurdwaras? Where is your money spent, who is paid what, what is your total revenue, are all fair questions.
3. Who is on your Board? Why does your website not publish this information?
4. According to United Sikhs' 2007 tax return to the IRS (available at guidestar.org) you raised a total of $77,081 in 2007. You raised a lot more money in 2007 if we combine what you raised at a Seattle gurdwara fundraiser and several other gurdwaras. If you funding is so low, how are you supporting all these programs? These are fair questions, aren't they?
I would like your organization to be more transparent and accountable to the sangat that funds your work.
Majinder Pal Kaur: I repeat my request and add new ones based on other comments above:
1. Please provide the sangat with the legal filing you have made in relation to the French ban of the Sikh turban. We, the sangat, pays for your work, so we must see your work product.
2. Is you own Director position paid or volunteer? Why doesn’t you organization publish its financials, given that you raise money in the gurdwaras? Where is your money spent, who is paid what, what is your total revenue, are all fair questions.
3. Who is on your Board? Why does your website not publish this information?
4. According to United Sikhs’ 2007 tax return to the IRS (available at guidestar.org) you raised a total of $77,081 in 2007. You raised a lot more money in 2007 if we combine what you raised at a Seattle gurdwara fundraiser and several other gurdwaras. If you funding is so low, how are you supporting all these programs? These are fair questions, aren’t they?
I would like your organization to be more transparent and accountable to the sangat that funds your work.
dear 'Kuldip Singh'
Gurfateh
I will answer all your questions as soon as you identify exactly who you are. I need to establish your bonafide and then i will invite you to meet me so you can go through all the documents that you wish to see. And i hope you will have some donations to give or contributions to make. I am sure you understand why its necesary that i dont talk to the 'enemy' who may have infiltrated the Hall. Equally i hope you understand that the legal papers pertain to clients and they would not like their personal details disclosed to unknown bloggers, hence the need to know who you are. For the moment i am happy to let you know that i am not paid and have never been paid wages/fees by UNITED SIKHS. Surely you must have gleaned that from the accounts we file with the Charity Commission in England and Wales. I work for UNITED SIKHS exclusively, almost all hours that i am awake. May akal purakh give me the strength to continue doing so. UNITED SIKHS is transparent to the sangat that funds us through the annual accounts and reports that are filed in the countries we are registered in. If you have the time, go through them and you wil also find the name of the Board of Directors. I dont have the time to repeat our efforts of filing them and then dealing with your personal requests. You have asked some rhetorical questions whose answers you must already have. good night in whichever time zone you rest your mind. Mejindarpal Kaur
dear ‘Kuldip Singh’
Gurfateh
I will answer all your questions as soon as you identify exactly who you are. I need to establish your bonafide and then i will invite you to meet me so you can go through all the documents that you wish to see. And i hope you will have some donations to give or contributions to make. I am sure you understand why its necesary that i dont talk to the ‘enemy’ who may have infiltrated the Hall. Equally i hope you understand that the legal papers pertain to clients and they would not like their personal details disclosed to unknown bloggers, hence the need to know who you are. For the moment i am happy to let you know that i am not paid and have never been paid wages/fees by UNITED SIKHS. Surely you must have gleaned that from the accounts we file with the Charity Commission in England and Wales. I work for UNITED SIKHS exclusively, almost all hours that i am awake. May akal purakh give me the strength to continue doing so. UNITED SIKHS is transparent to the sangat that funds us through the annual accounts and reports that are filed in the countries we are registered in. If you have the time, go through them and you wil also find the name of the Board of Directors. I dont have the time to repeat our efforts of filing them and then dealing with your personal requests. You have asked some rhetorical questions whose answers you must already have. good night in whichever time zone you rest your mind. Mejindarpal Kaur
Bibi Mejindarpal,
Out of curiosity, who is "the ‘enemy’ who may have infiltrated the [Langar] Hall"?
Thanks much,
Camille
Bibi Mejindarpal,
Out of curiosity, who is “the ‘enemy’ who may have infiltrated the [Langar] Hall”?
Thanks much,
Camille
Majinder Pal, Why don't you follow the Gurbani you quote: Na Ko bari nahi bigana (no one is my enemy nor a stranger)?
I am Kuldip Singh. You name the place and we can meet. But this is not about just me. It is about the sangat having transparent access to your organization's activities and finances. It's called accountability.
I am going to reiterate my first comment here to state the obvious concern: With $77,081 of the funds raised by United Sikhs in 2007, if you were trying to support 40 programs listed on your site in a dozen countries–AND at the same time fighting the turban case with a major western power like France, you are out to destroy the Sikh case. You cannot take on more than what your resources would allow. You are doing more harm than good because you cannot do anything well with such meager resources. If our GLOBAL organizations just have $77,081 budgets, then we are doomed. Don't attemt to market yourself what you are not.
Majinder Pal, Why don’t you follow the Gurbani you quote: Na Ko bari nahi bigana (no one is my enemy nor a stranger)?
I am Kuldip Singh. You name the place and we can meet. But this is not about just me. It is about the sangat having transparent access to your organization’s activities and finances. It’s called accountability.
I am going to reiterate my first comment here to state the obvious concern: With $77,081 of the funds raised by United Sikhs in 2007, if you were trying to support 40 programs listed on your site in a dozen countries–AND at the same time fighting the turban case with a major western power like France, you are out to destroy the Sikh case. You cannot take on more than what your resources would allow. You are doing more harm than good because you cannot do anything well with such meager resources. If our GLOBAL organizations just have $77,081 budgets, then we are doomed. Don’t attemt to market yourself what you are not.
Camille and Kuldip Singh
Gurfateh
I had entered the HAll to give facts to those who are keen to ensure that a panthic organisation is not destroyed by those whose agenda may not be benign. I neither have the time nor inclination to express opinions or enter into rhetorics about how we do things. Judge us by what we do and not by rhetorical questions of how we do it. Yes i agree with you that we achieve more than other Sikh orgs who have more money to spend on fewer projects. Surely that is to our credit for which we thank akal purakh. Re who is the 'enemy', notice i had 'enemy' in inverted commas. The same 'enemy' that we refer to in chaupayee sahib as 'dusht' in 'humrae dusht sabhae tum ghavao…' . Please rest assured that whilst i am a cautious person, i am not paranoid.
This is my last posting to the Hall. I thank the Hall for the opportunity to put the record straight. Kuldip Singh and anyone is welcome to meet me at our New York office to discuss the Right To Turban cases and for some simran and gusht. My tel nos is 646 3153909. I will also lay on some sandwiches and green tea, organic at that. And thats from my own pocket.
Finally,
Your sister,
Mejindarpal Kaur
Camille and Kuldip Singh
Gurfateh
I had entered the HAll to give facts to those who are keen to ensure that a panthic organisation is not destroyed by those whose agenda may not be benign. I neither have the time nor inclination to express opinions or enter into rhetorics about how we do things. Judge us by what we do and not by rhetorical questions of how we do it. Yes i agree with you that we achieve more than other Sikh orgs who have more money to spend on fewer projects. Surely that is to our credit for which we thank akal purakh. Re who is the ‘enemy’, notice i had ‘enemy’ in inverted commas. The same ‘enemy’ that we refer to in chaupayee sahib as ‘dusht’ in ‘humrae dusht sabhae tum ghavao…’ . Please rest assured that whilst i am a cautious person, i am not paranoid.
This is my last posting to the Hall. I thank the Hall for the opportunity to put the record straight. Kuldip Singh and anyone is welcome to meet me at our New York office to discuss the Right To Turban cases and for some simran and gusht. My tel nos is 646 3153909. I will also lay on some sandwiches and green tea, organic at that. And thats from my own pocket.
Finally,
Your sister,
Mejindarpal Kaur
Kuldip Singh ji,
1. If you think that $77,081 is NOT enough money to fight the many battles they do, I'm sure the organization would welcome your financial contribution with a tax-deductible receipt. If you are a concerned existing funder surely the org will take the time to share details on how your money was spent.
2. To achieve so much with so little is something to be commended. It shows money was not wasted.
3. Mejindarpal bhenji has worked tirelessly and completely pro-bono and that deserves a pat on the back and not disgusting image-tarnishing rhetoric.
4. Surely you understand the sensitive nature surrounding a legal case. The org has a responsiblity of privacy and client confidentiality. Unless you are a bonafide, accredited lawyer who is willing to perform pro-bono work it's irresponsible to share such details with a random John Singh from the anonymous Internet. I would be quite angry at the org if I was the client who's case deatiled were shared in this way.
Kuldip Singh ji,
1. If you think that $77,081 is NOT enough money to fight the many battles they do, I’m sure the organization would welcome your financial contribution with a tax-deductible receipt. If you are a concerned existing funder surely the org will take the time to share details on how your money was spent.
2. To achieve so much with so little is something to be commended. It shows money was not wasted.
3. Mejindarpal bhenji has worked tirelessly and completely pro-bono and that deserves a pat on the back and not disgusting image-tarnishing rhetoric.
4. Surely you understand the sensitive nature surrounding a legal case. The org has a responsiblity of privacy and client confidentiality. Unless you are a bonafide, accredited lawyer who is willing to perform pro-bono work it’s irresponsible to share such details with a random John Singh from the anonymous Internet. I would be quite angry at the org if I was the client who’s case deatiled were shared in this way.