As the World Celebrates Earth Day, Punjab to Implement Plastic Bag Ban
As the world celebrates the 41st Earth Day on April 22nd, to raise awareness about the state of the global environment (now recognized worldwide as International Mother Earth Day) the Punjab government this week announced that it would issue strong penalties on the use of polythene bags less than 30...
Vaisakhi {a poem}
Guest blogged by Preeti Kaur. Preeti wrote this poem for The Langar Hall in commemoration of the 312th anniversary of the birth of the Khalsa this week.
Vaisakhi
i’ve never seen a wheat harvest
never worried over winter punjab frost
monsanto seed or otherwise grown into grain
carried tender on the...
Saint Soldier on Farmer Suicides
Vancouver-based hip hop artist Saint Solider and singer Sukhraj recently released a moving single about farmer suicides in Punjab. I won’t editorialize, as the song (and video) speaks for itself. You can download the track on iTunes and by donation at bandcamp.
Punjab’s Growing Drug Problem
The following video, from the BBC, shows a sad reality of the growing drug problem in Punjab. High unemployment rates have inevitably contributed to this problem. While the video only highlights Punjabi men, it is well known that young Punjabi women are also suffering from this addiction. I can’t...
The musical uprising of Bant Singh
A friend recently sent me this short documentary on the Punjabi Dalit activist and singer, Bant Singh. Surprised that I had never heard of him, I was not only blown away by his singing, but by his revolutionary lyrics and fierce commitment to resisting caste and class oppression.
“If we’re...
Fighting drugs in Punjab through theatre
Amongst the male youth in Punjab, drugs are a serious problem today. With high unemployment rates, and a history of violence in the region, the environment is ripe for drug abuse. A Punjab government survey found that one out of three male students use at least a form of tobacco. And on a recent...
India changes agricultural subsidies to promote soil health
Posted by Reema in Environment, India, Preservation, Punjab, World News on 02 24th, 2010 | 49 Comments
This week, the Wall Street Journal highlighted India’s decision to change some of its agricultural policies, in response to its post-Green Revolution crisis. (Hat tip: Bandana)
In the 1970s, India dramatically increased food production, finally allowing this giant country to feed itself. But government...
Every Time We’ve Had Our Babies, People Have Almost… Commiserated
Toronto Star reporter Raveena Aulakh, posing as an expectant mother, is handed bags of pills in an industrial area in Mississauga by Kanwar Bains, news editor of a Punjabi-language newspaper.
Just in case the rest of the world didn’t know what a sorry state Punjab was in with respect to its gender...
Getting back to Sikhi’s treehugging roots
Environmental issues have taken a backseat for way too long. Even under this administration – which promised to create jobs through new and clean energy initiatives, and rejoin the international community to reduce worldwide carbon emissions – environmental issues have taken a backseat...
The Punjab Project
Posted by Mehmaan (Guest) in Punjab on 08 14th, 2009 | 8 Comments
Blogged by: Amol Singh
A new generation of Sikh youth is coming up to age in a diaspora still unable to decently reflect or respond to the tragedies that have befallen the Panth. Although, cognizant of the injustices done to Sikhs, we have categorically failed at identifying a half-way legitimate vision...
A neoliberal development pathway for Punjab?
Earlier this month TLH discussed how the unseasonably dry summer in Punjab is threatening its agriculture and economy. This week, the Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution authorizing the development of additional Special Economic Zones, or SEZs, while streamlining and supporting the existence of pre-existing...
Lack of Jobs In Punjab
Punjab’s historical economic dominance is well known. We hear about it when studying The Raj and the years following it. However, we also know that Punjab’s current economic position does not provide many new jobs for college graduates. Thus, these graduate are looking for jobs outside of Punjab-often...
A Dry, Hot Summer Hits Punjab
International news outlets are a flutter with the latest: in the wake of an unseasonably hot, dry summer, the Bhakra Beas Management Board has decided to cut irrigation water to Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The Punjab government has tried to alleviate the demand for water by curtailing...
What’s Better Than One Harmandar Sahib?
For some Sikhs in Punjab, apparently two Harmandar Sahibs. Or at least that’s the argument between the SGPC and a group of Sikhs. The SGPC argues that a group of Sikhs are building a replica of Harmandar Sahib, and that they stridently oppose any “imitation” gurdwaras (my phrase, not...
Wal-Mart debuts in Punjab
This past weekend Wal-Mart opened its first* Indian-based store in Amritsar, spreading its global brand to one of the fastest-growing markets in the world. As part of a larger strategy to develop a presence in India, this is the first of fifteen new stores that will open over the next few years. [source]
However,...
Feeling What We Remember
Posted by Phulkari in Activism, History, Human Rights, Media, Music, Politics, Punjab, Punjabi, Sikhi on 04 9th, 2009 | 4 Comments
As we remember 1984 through concerts and acts of rebellion, let’s not forget the visceral spirit displayed by Singhs IN that time period.
Watch below the original version of a Punjabi kavita sung by Bhai Gursharan Singh during those turbulent times in Manji Sahib Hall located in the Darbar Sahib...
Has Punjab’s Sex Ratio Improved?
Well, it seems like the sex ratio in Punjab is not improving despite the number of trees Mrs. Badal is planting and the SGPC’s desire to raise unwanted girl children.
The Tribune reports:
In 2001, the census of India recorded Punjab’s sex ratio at 876 females for 1,000 males, one of the worst in...
“Don’t Feel Sorry For Me, I Am The Daughter Of A Shaheed”
Posted by Phulkari in Activism, History, Politics, Preservation, Punjab, Sikhi on 02 19th, 2009 | 42 Comments
As the 25th anniversary of “1984” approaches us, TLH posts have covered some activities commemorating this devastating time in our history.
My most vivid memories of “1984” are watching Indira Gandhi’s funeral on television and the border of photos inside my local Gurdwara’s Langar...
India’s Shoot-Out Cops
Posted by Maple Leaf Sikh in Activism, General, Human Rights, India, Law, Punjab on 02 15th, 2009 | 30 Comments
We recently posted on Ensaaf’s new report that studies the all too common practice of extra-judicial killings (usually referred to as ‘encounters’) and the mass cremations that followed by the Punjab police forces during the 1980s and 1990s. Well it looks like these practices were...
The Power of Toy Planes
Posted by Maple Leaf Sikh in Humor, India, News, Picture of the Day, Punjab on 02 6th, 2009 | 13 Comments
Stuck in Punjab? Want to go abroad? Just buy an airplane.
Not a real one of course, that would be silly. A toy plane will do. Buy one, donate it to a gurdwara and wait. All your vilaiti dreams will soon come true. If you think I’m pulling your leg, just ask the people at Tihan gurdwara near Jalandhar....
