What Happens When Lions Roar?
Toronto is abuzz. This weekend the IIFA [International Indian Film Academy] awards are being held in Toronto to many a South Asian’s delight. We are, however, delighted about Toronto for another reason. This weekend, The Sikh Activist Network will be hosting When Lions Roar 3 – a night of...
Does this look like 6,000 people?
You can repeat your lies….This one comes from the Times of India:
The organisers claimed a figure of 25,000, but the Scotland Yard put the number at 6,000. The ‘Remembrance March’ began at Hyde Park and concluded at Trafalgar Square.[link]
But the truth will get out and you will look...
Moving Past “the Event” of 1984
Posted by Mehmaan (Guest) in General on 01 12th, 2011 | 14 Comments
Guest blogged by Navdeep Singh Dhillon
The reformist, humanitarian wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd President of the United States) – and “first lady of the world” – Eleanor Roosevelt once famously said, “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.”
Over...
1984: Between Bhopal and Delhi
Posted by Jodha in Human Rights on 06 7th, 2010 | 7 Comments
The year 1984 saw unimaginable calamities in India. This is the story of the two most well-known.
One was caused by a callous corporation and a complicit government. When thousands of people were exposed to horrendous toxins and poisonous gases in Bhopal, Union Carbide first denied it completely,...
Why 1984 Still Matters – the furore around Sonia Deol’s BBC documentary
Guest blogged by Harbakhsh Grewal
At the start of this year BBC 1, Britain’s premiere tv channel, highlighted the importance of 1984 to the Sikh psyche with a film documenting the personal journey of a British Sikh woman, journalist Sonia Deol. The reaction from many Sikhs has been hostile and vocal....
REVIEW – 1984: A Sikh Story on BBC
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...
Vishavjit Singh, Sikh Toons, and the Manhattan Gallery
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...
Punjab Bandh – A Nation Never Forgets – 1984
On Tuesday (November 3rd, 2009), various Panthic groups (‘radical’ Sikh organizations, if you follow Indian newspapers) called for a peaceful shutdown of stores, businesses, and state services to protest the continued impunity in which the perpetrators of the Indian Government-orchestrated...
An interview with Bhindranwale’s son
History often remembers transformative figures through the public images they become. Glimpses and insights into their private lives are rare. So an interview with Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s son is a rare treat.
Ishar was just five years old when Jarnail Singh Brar was anointed the 12th...
1984 Remembrance Marches in California
Through Sukhmani Sahibs, conferences, scholarships, film festivals, floats, and even ongoing camps, the Jakara Movement adds the next event to its on-going “Remember 1984″ campaign.
This November they begin their Remembrance Marches.
25 years ago there was a government-sponsored pogrom in Delhi...
Sikhs remember 1984 this November
In keeping with a spirit of Remembrance and quest for Justice as the 25th anniversary of the Nov. 3, 1984 pogrom in Delhi nears, don’t miss out on these East Coast events! Many events have been held nationwide this past year- educating and inspiring young generations of Sikhs. We are getting...
Night of the Demons – Sikhs Remembering the Delhi Pogroms of 1984
Posted by Jodha in Activism, California, Canada, Events, Organizations, UK, USA on 10 19th, 2009 | 48 Comments
20,000 Butchered in Delhi
25,000 Made “Disappeared” in Punjab
A Community Bruised
A Diaspora Tarnished
STILL WE RISE
A Nation Never Forgets
Remember 1984
On The Langar Hall, the fight for justice is rarely far from our minds. While justice remains elusive and mass-murderers promoted, the...
Sukha & Jinda
Guest blogged by: Amol Singh
Harinder Singh Jinda and Sukhdev Singh Sukha were hanged to death in Pune Jail for the assassination of General Arun Vaidya, the architect of Operation Blue Star. In the wake of their impending hangings, Sukha and Jinda sent an open letter to the President of India in which...
One Panth
Posted by Reema in Activism on 10 7th, 2009 | 30 Comments
Tragedies have a way of uniting people. As did 1984 for Sikhs. In the 25 years since, divisions have again formed in the panth. But a great new initiative in Toronto is asking people to put aside the differences that keep us apart and unite in remembering 1984. [Hat tip: Mapleleaf Sikh]
And Still We Will Fight
Despite tanks rolling into the Guru’s Court (Darbar Sahib)
When a Singh’s head, becomes hunted as a sport (Delhi 1984)
Despite Kaljug sitting on his throne supreme
When the world trembles from tyranny’s regime
And Still We Will Fight
Although hardly a newsflash, last week a Delhi Court acquitted...
Lahir 2009: The Movement Has Only Begun
This past Saturday night, twenty artists from all over the country took to the mic in front of a packed and energetic crowd at the University of Maryland for Lahir 2009. It was a powerful evening of remembrance and reflection to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 1984 Sikh Holocaust, organized...
Sikh Folk Hero Fired
In a previous blog, I wrote about Jarnail Singh Journalist – Sikh Folk Hero. I also mentioned about his action as an act of rebellion that needs the support and institutions to become a revolution. In this post, he, himself, needs support.
Unfortunately this week, as he flung his shoe demanding...
Why We Remember 1984
Posted by Reema in Sikhi on 06 9th, 2009 | 93 Comments
Joint post by Mapleleaf Sikh, Sundari, Jodha, Camille, Phulkari, RP Singh, Reema
It has been 25 years and we remember.
On this day we remember; in this week we remember; in this month we remember; in this year we remember. On June 6th we stopped to remember the recent chapter in the history of the Sikhs.
When...
When Lions Roar: The Kids Are Going To Be Alright
Posted by Maple Leaf Sikh in Activism, Art, Canada, Events, Human Rights, Law, Media, Music, Sikhi on 06 7th, 2009 | 15 Comments
It is often said that a revolution begins not with the sword but with the pen. However, last Friday night in a packed banquet hall in the Toronto suburb of Malton, I witnessed a revolution begin with the microphone.
At an event entitled “When Lions Roar”, fantastically organized by the Sikh...
How 1984 Has Since Affected Sikhs
This week I came across a couple of interesting stories out of the UK about how 1984 has since affected Sikhs. BBC Asian Network is currently previewing a radio documentary, hosted by Pops from Tigerstyle, discussing the impact Operation Bluestar has had on British Sikhs. The documentary discusses...
