There has been much in the news in Sikhdom with repercussions for years to come. The news of Professor Darshan Singh Ragi, former head of the Akal Takht, and even the Nanakshahi deserve time and commentary. I will leave those for another day.
In some ways with even greater repercussions has been the announcement by members of Dera Sach Khand Ballan of the removal of the Guru Granth Sahib from their places of worship. It is key to point out that NOT all people that identify themselves as Ravidasia are part of Dera Sach Khand Ballan and many vehemently oppose some of their policies and tenants. Still their following is significant and important. Talk of the removal of the Guru Granth Sahib had been in the works since the unfortunate events in Vienna last year. Even at that time, I had asked the question, “How large is the tent that is the Sikh Qaum”?
I commended the Singh Sabha for their achievements in their time and place:
Despite the various attacks on the Singh Sabha movement for only promoting Khalsa hegemony and other spurious slanders by neo-Sanatans, post-colonialists attempting to form neo-Brahman ‘intelligentsias’, those that believe they ‘own’ the Sikh identity, some Hindu chauvinist groups, and various beatniks, the movement was in fact very broad-minded and fought to enlarge the tent that is the Sikh Qaum.
They understood the difference between public and private aspects. In private, people may have their own practices, beliefs, etc. and while the Singh Sabha sought to bring these more in line with the practices and principles of Gurbani, they did allow some diversity in private. In public, we come together and stand by the Panthic rehat maryada.[link]
The Dera Sach Khand Ballan has now made the political move to ‘declare’ a new religion and call for the removal of the Guru Granth Sahib. It is important to NOTE that the move is being pushed by a section of the Ravidassia community and has found much opposition as well.
Two years ago, a group of friends started this blog to create a platform where we could discuss issues concerning the 
Sikh community, in a reflective, self-critical, and progressive way. We envisioned it as a way to continue the conversations that happen in many Sikh conferences around the U.S., between the sporadic and short times that we are able to meet face-to-face.
We wanted to create a safe space for conversations that we felt were critical, but didn’t see happening as much as they were needed.
Since that beginning, our readership has grown, our vision has grown, and now, so too must our capacity.
We are looking for passionate Sikhs who share our dedication to our community and faith, to join in contributing to the broad array of conversations that take place on The Langar Hall’s pages. Do you enjoy writing? Are you interested in engaging in conversation with other Sikhs from throughout the world? If so, send an email to admin@thelangarhall.com and let us know you’re interested.
We don’t always talk about Sikh issues, but instead, share the common thread of being Sikh. Our Sikh heritage shapes our worldview. Our interests and perspectives, however, are as varied as any group of individuals. Whether you’re interested in art, music, literature, politics, movies, or social activism, if you’re rooted in Sikhi, and have an inclination to write, we want to hear from you.
We’d love to have contributors that are as global as our diaspora. In the past, most of our bloggers have been from North America. However, we post about events that happen all over the world. We want to hear from you whether you’re in Australia, Kenya, India, the U.S., or anywhere else in the world. No matter where you are, if you’re interested in blogging for The Langar Hall, let us know! Email admin@thelangarhall.com.
Something remarkable has been happening over the past week. When an earthquake hit Haiti last week, individuals rallied together to raise awareness via facebook updates and email messages to raise funds and send aid to the devastated area.
In a similar way, the entire Sikh community came together this week to support two Sikh organizations who were competing in the $1 Million Chase Community Giving Campaign. Emails were sent out in support, facebook and twitter updates were constantly being posted, Sikhs were reaching out to each other and also to non-Sikhs to involve them in the process. The potential of building the first Sikh Museum in North America got the global Sikh community excited about the impact a group of committed people can have. Imagine a building dedicated to Sikh history, a place for future generations to pay homage to the deep and meaningful history of the Sikh Qaum. The point is, we no longer have to imagine these dreams. The possibility is real and if we, as a community, can mobilize – there isn’t anything we can’t do.
There is still time to VOTE. All it takes is one click on Facebook to support these initiatives and participate in one of the most notable mobilizations we’ve seen in our community. Voting ends in 24 hours – don’t delay, vote now!
VOTE for Jakara Movement: http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/674186
VOTE for Sikhcess: http://www.sikhcess.org/
The opportunity is now. We can make the first ever Sikh Women’s Domestic Violence Shelter.
Did you know a woman is battered in the US every 9 minutes. We cannot stand idle. We must take a stand!
HOW: you need to vote NOW: http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/674186
HOW DO I VOTE: You can only vote if you are a ‘fan’ of Chase Bank Community Giving. If you are not sure how to do this, follow this simple instructional video
WHAT DO I DO AFTER VOTING:
1) Donate your profile picture for 1 week, until January 22nd. Use the purple SILENCE HIDES VIOLENCE on the right.
2) Encourage ALL your friends and family – Sikh and non-Sikh to vote by inviting them to this group, messaging them on Facebook chat, and telling them you will not leave them alone until they vote.
We are currently behind in the numbers, but if everyone on this list takes 20 seconds out of their time to vote, we will be in first place. IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOU!
For more information, visit www.end-dv.com
We can do this together! Only together! Inspire and be inspired!
Gur Fateh!
Sikh history is about to be made in North America. In December, throughout the United States, 500,000 nonprofit charities competed on a competition on the popular internet website, Facebook, for the Chase Bank Community Giving contest. The top 100 groups advanced to the second round for a chance at 1 million dollars.
Out of the top 100 groups, a Sikh youth organization was amongst the top 20. That Sikh youth organization was the Jakara Movement. The Jakara Movement has hundreds of volunteers throughout California and has been organizing Sikh conferences, retreats, camps for the youth for the past 10 years. Now they have a unique opportunity for seva for their community. The Jakara Movement has publicly committed that funds won will go towards the building of a historic Sikh Museum in North America.
Guestblogged by Joo Kay Singh
I’ve just spent the past hour watching 1984: A Sikh Story on BBC1 in the UK, and came away mildly disappointed, but not altogether surprised.
The documentary was framed as a “personal journey” for the presenter, Sonia Deol, to “unravel the events of 1984, an iconic year for Sikhs”, and informs us that “the bloody aftermath that followed [of Indira Gandhi’s assassination] so shocks Sonia that she is forced to reappraise the depth of her commitment to her faith”
For the first part of the program, we were served up with interviews mainly with Mark Tully and K.S. Brar who sounded like they were both regurgitating paragraphs from their respective books on the subject on the background to the Invasion. Sant Jarnail Singh was given the usual ‘congress stooge turned bad’ treatment by both, and the Darbar Sahib invasion covered without a hint of investigative journalism. Sonia failed to enquire why 37 other gurdwaras were attacked on the same day, if as per Tully and Brar’s insistence, Indira Gandhi was merely interested in Sant Bhindrawale. She similarly fails to question either of the men on the timing of the attack, on why the entire state of Panjab was placed under curfew, the expulsion of all foreign media, or the killings of pilgrims by the Army.
For our TLH readers in the UK – this documentary is premiering tonight on BBC One at 10:55pm.
Just over 25 years ago, the storming of The Golden Temple, the most sacred of Sikh shrines, by the Indian Army led to protests around the world. Sonia Deol embarks on a personal journey to unravel the events of 1984, an iconic year for Sikhs. It culminated in thousands of deaths including the assassination of the Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi. The bloody aftermath that followed so shocks Sonia that she is forced to reappraise the depth of her commitment to her faith. [link]
As with every retelling of this part of history, the question is whether the documentary will be controversial. One article suggests the BBC may be stirring up a “hornet’s nest of controversy,”
[It] is likely to prove controversial with some Sikh groups because of its portrayal of the militant Sikh preacher Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. It is also likely to draw the ire of the Indian government for its story on how it reacted following the assassination of Indira Gandhi. [link]
Nevertheless, this is an event that has often been ignored in international media – so i’m sure many in the community will welcome the coverage. If any of TLH readers do happen to catch the show tonight, please share your thoughts!
Months ago we announced the first Sikh graduate student conference – SIKHOLARS, being hosted by the Jakara Movement and Sikh Spirit Foundation.
Today, the confirmed participants have been announced:
- Ajeet Singh Matharu, Columbia University, History, N/A
- Arvinder Singh Kang and Amanpreet Singh Brar, University of Mississippi, Computer Science, Extending Gurmukhi Script into Twenty-first Century & Beyond
- Bandana Kaur, Yale University, Environmental Management, Reclaiming Natural Histories: Biodiversity and Landscape in Pre-Green Revolution Punjab
- Erik Resly, Harvard Divinity School, Divinity, (Re)figuring the Sikh: Theodicy, Discipleship and Narrative in Ethical Perspective
- Harjant Gill, American University, Anthroplogy, From Putt Jattan De to Munde UK De: The Transformation of Masculinities in Punjabi Cinema
- Iqbal Kaur Gill, University of British Columbia, Counseling Psychology, First Generation Canadian Punjabi Sikh Parents Beliefs about Adolescent Suicide and Suicide Related Behaviours
- Kamal Arora, York University, Social Anthropology, The Politics of Pain: Gender, Mourning and the Punjab Crisis
- Mandeep Kaur, University of Texas (Austin), Nursing, The Sikh Patient: A Review of the Nursing Literature
- Mette Bach, University of British Columbia, Creative Writing, The Changing Faces of Suburbia
- Preet Kaur Virdi, York University, Socio-Legal Studies, Silence: Resistance or Acquiescence? Sikh women’s perspectives on Canadian law
A thorougly diverse and intriguing display of scholars. We eagerly await for the conference. We hope others can attend February 20, 2010 at Stanford University.
For more information and to read the abstracts, see here.
- Ajeet Singh Matharu, Columbia University, History, N/A
- Arvinder Singh Kang and Amanpreet Singh Brar, University of Mississippi, Computer Science, Extending Gurmukhi Script into Twenty-first Century & Beyond
- Bandana Kaur, Yale University, Environmental Management, Reclaiming Natural Histories: Biodiversity and Landscape in Pre-Green Revolution Punjab
- Erik Resly, Harvard Divinity School, Divinity, (Re)figuring the Sikh: Theodicy, Discipleship and Narrative in Ethical Perspective
- Harjant Gill, American University, Anthroplogy, From Putt Jattan De to Munde UK De: The Transformation of Masculinities in Punjabi Cinema
- Iqbal Kaur Gill, University of British Columbia, Counseling Psychology, First Generation Canadian Punjabi Sikh Parents Beliefs about Adolescent Suicide and Suicide Related Behaviours
- Kamal Arora, York University, Social Anthropology, The Politics of Pain: Gender, Mourning and the Punjab Crisis
- Mandeep Kaur, University of Texas (Austin), Nursing, The Sikh Patient: A Review of the Nursing Literature
- Mette Bach, University of British Columbia, Creative Writing, The Changing Faces of Suburbia
- Preet Kaur Virdi, York University, Socio-Legal Studies, Silence: Resistance or Acquiescence? Sikh women’s perspectives on Canadian law
A few weeks ago, Maple Leaf Sikh said that “We often lament the state of our gurdwaras but we should just as often stop and think about how much we have accomplished.” How very true! How often do we highlight communities where things are working well for the Sikh diaspora? 
A recent article tells us how a small town in Central California, Livingston, is helping to bridge a gap created by a cultural, linguistic and religious divide between generations. Recognizing that language is the link to religion for Sikhs, the sangat in Livingston has ensured that children in the area have the opportunity to attend Punjabi classes and learn the language.
There’s a lasting link between the 35-character alphabet used to write Punjabi and the Sikh religion. The Sikh scriptures and the Punjabi language of many Sikhs were written in a script known as Gurmukhi. So to be fully initiated into the religion, you must know how to read it… Tripat Grewal, who helps teach Punjabi language classes, said that for many Sikhs the fact that their children couldn’t understand what was being said in the temple was at the heart of the effort to create Punjabi-language classes. “The religious part was very important,” she said. [link]
When the space at the local Gurdwara became too cramped, the leaders secured classroom space at a local elementary school. While these efforts aren’t the first of its kind, it’s always great to hear a community coming together to address a need. For those of us who are familiar with the small towns scattered across central california — these punjabi classes are vital to bridging the divide between generations. With large immigrant populations and many living in joint families – being able to communicate effectively with one another is and will continue to be an important part of the diaspora.
Earlier I described the success of Sikh organizations in a competition being held by Chase Bank Community Giving on Facebook.
Now the second round manifesto for the 1 million dollar grand prize has been publically announced.
The Jakara Movement is publicly committed to use ALL money for the construction of 2 projects – the first North American Sikh Museum AND the Mata Gujri Women’s Center and Domestic Violence Shelter.
By voting for the Jakara Movement from January 15th-22nd, you will make this a reality.[link]
This time, Bollywood actually picked an interesting lens through which to depict life in a Punjabi-Sikh household. An 
upcoming movie, Patiala House, is a look at cross-generation cultural assimilation in Southall.
At heart, says Nikhil, Patiala House is a father-son story. “Like Billy Eliott where the father is a coal miner but the son wants to be a dancer. In my film, Rishi Kapoor feels his dreams as a Sikh immigrant in England are being destroyed by his son. But the son Akshay Kumar has his own dreams to pursue.” [TOI]
How we view our 2 pronged identity of Punjabi-Sikhism, and how each is depicted by outside communities such as Bollywood is often, understandably and rightfully, a controversial issue. But Patiala House seems only superficially concerned, if at all, with the Sikh identity.
The filmmakers met with Sikh elders at the Southhall Gurdwara, where cameras are ordinarily not allowed, to talk about the ideas behind the film. The film partly takes place during Southhall’s 1979 race riots, which many of the elders had lived through.
Update: The SWAT team provided an update on their progress. See end of post.
The Sikh Welfare Awareness Team is a new charitable organization in the UK focused on bringing awareness to drug and alcohol abuse in our community and reducing involvement in crime by providing youth with activities and organized events to participate in. The organization’s primary goal is “to establish relationships amongst the youth and… aim to bring together the local Sikh Community and focus on projects which benefit the youth of today.” I came across information about this organization after viewing a troubling YouTube video about homeless Sikhs (since the video below has been made private by the owner, log on and you can also watch the videos on Facebook). The Sikh Welfare Awareness Team (or S.W.A.T.) is currently working to bring awareness to the growing number of Sikhs, many who are recent immigrants from Punjab and are homeless living on the streets of Southall.
In predominantly Christian countries like the U.S., Christmas has become a cultural holiday that even non-Christians celebrate to some extent. Most of us enjoy, at least, taking advantage of days off, eating lots of cakes and pies, and spending time with family and friends.
The Times of India thinks Christmas can do even more than give us a day off work… like heal the wounds caused by police brutality in Ludhiana against Sikh protesters of Ashutosh and the Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan. Of course, TOI also mischaracterizes the conflict at issue as one between migrants who now feel left out of Ludhiana’s social fabric and Sikhs.
Christian organizations are planning to celebrate the festival by reaching out to the migrants, who have been feeling left out after the riots they were involved in and to Sikh protesters, who got hurt in police action.
“Christmas celebrations have the twin themes of peace and prosperity. We will be going to the areas like Dhandari, which have many migrants staying there and witnessed a lot of clashes during the riots,” said Albert Dua, president of Christian United Federation. [TOI]
TOI journalists may not have much of a grip on reality, and are probably overestimating what one holiday and a few days off can do. Still, I do hope you enjoy the holidays, however you spend them. Happy holidays!
On a remotely related note, if Santa were Punjabi….
Thank you to all TLH readers that voted and participated in the Chase Bank Community Giving competition. Over 500,000 organizations competed and 2 organizations from our community find themselves with $25,000 to further the community and a chance for advancement in the next round – the Jakara Movement and Sikhcess.
So here’s the deal. What would be your 1 million dollar dream for the community? Send some suggestions here. A plan is on the way, but we need community feedback first.
Vishavjit Singh’s work hardly needs any introduction in Sikhdom. Since 2003, his Sikhtoons have become ubiquitous on those webpages where Sikhs are found. It was the events of 9/11 that first pushed this Sikh activist and 1984 survivor to tell his story and the stories and thoughts of so many more to pick up his pen.
From politics to 1984, from sports to Hindutva, few topics are beyond Vishavjit’s interest. This past fall, as so many Sikhs sought to remember 1984 in their own ways, Vishavjit Singh had a gallery display his artwork.
The New Century Artists is a nonprofit gallery caters to underrepresented communities and is among 15 galleries housed in a building located in Chelsea. From November 17th to November 28th they played host to the exhibit – When A Big Tree Falls.
3 clicks could equal $25,000
Why would you not?
Vote for ALL Sikh organizations.
Stop putting it off, competition ends THIS THURSDAY!
Original post can be seen here.
News continues to filter in and the dust settles. While the violence of yesterday has passed the ramifications are still to be seen.
The death toll continues to climb and on Sunday the Punjab Police called curfew throughout Ludhiana.
Today (Monday) a bandh is being called on by various Sikh organizations.
Below is a newscast describing the incidents and the police charge without warning. Reminds one of General Dyer in Amritsar 1919.
Ludhiana remains tense. Currently it is under curfew.
The Punjab Police has never been a force for the people. It neither serves nor protects, unless you are part of the Indian establishment, government, or have been provided special sanction by the government. Today was no different. The henchman acted on the orders of the mobsters.
Today one Sikh was killed and at least a dozen others wounded when various Panthic organizations called for a protest against Ashutosh and his Noormahalias, sometimes labeled under the acronym DJJS for the organization’s full name – Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan.
Panthic groups have had clashes with the group in the past for the vitriol leveled against members of the Khalsa and Ashutosh’s own claim to be an incarnation of the Sikh Gurus.
Tweeters from Ludhiana can be followed here and tell of the latest violence, road closures, and situation. One of particular interest can be read here.
Parkash Badal seems to have ordered the police to open fire on the crowds as can be seen in the latest pictures. Again cult leaders are protected, while the people are fired upon.
Punjab watches and waits.
For pictures of the scene, see here. For news and updates, see here, here, and here.
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JUST UPLOADED FOOTAGE – Viewer Caution for Police Brutality and a Death
In the coming New Year spend January attending two Sikh events-one in Canada and the other in the United States. The Toronto Sikh Retreat and Surat Sikh Conference will be taking place during the first half of January 2010.
Toronto Sikh Retreat is a 4-day retreat in the outskirts of Toronto in a winter wonderland. It will take place from January 7-10, 2010. Sikhs of various ages from around the world come together to learn, discuss 
and reflect on various Sikh issues to better understand ourselves and the world around us from a Sikh perspective. With a limit of 65 spaces, the retreat provides an intimate environment for intellectual and spiritual growth through small group discussions, lectures, kirtan diwans, and creative projects (in-door and outdoor). Visit the retreat website and watch the video for more information. Registration is NOW open- take advantage of the early bird special!
The Surat Sikh Conference will bring together 180 Sikh professionals in New York City & New Jersey during Martin Luther King
Jr. long weekend (January 15-18, 2010) to share, learn, and reflect on the theme “A Journey Through Ardas”. Through guest speakers, workshops, and a nonprofit poster session, the goal of the conference is to provide a space of introspection for participants on how to view the world through a Sikh perspective. Participants attend kirtan diwans, have intellectual conversations and enjoy outdoor activities. Visit the conference website and watch the video under the “About” section for more information. Registration will open on December 5th!
