Tuesday 17 July 2007

Wake-up Video

British Panjabi Sikh Youth
Wake-up Call!

About time we woke up?



Material and Inspiration from Jakara Movement.

www.Jakara.org

Tuesday 10 July 2007

Anti-Panthic Activities at Gurdwara Sahib Leamington & Warwick

Disgraceful!

Anti-Panthic activities by Leamington Gurdwara Committee


10 July 2007


Over the last few years the Sikh youth have raised their concerns over the conduct of Sikh ethics by some Gurdwara Sahibs committees in the UK.
One issue that is particularly alarming is the increasing number of non-Sikhs participating the holy Anand Karaj ceremony.


SHIROMANI GURDWARA PARBANDHAK COMMITTEE

Sikh Reht Maryada

THE CODE OF SIKH CONDUCT AND CONVENTIONS
http://www.sgpc.net/sikhism/anand-sanskar.asp

Anand Sanskar : (Sikh Matrimonial Ceremony and Conventions)

b. A Sikh's daughter must be married to a Sikh.
k. Persons professing faiths other than the Sikh faith cannot be joined in wedlock by the Anand Karaj ceremony.



Wedding Blessings

Some feel that this is an extreme step and Sikhi should be accessible to all, regardless of faith.

The Gurdwara Sahib is open to all, regardless of race of religion; it is what makes Sikhi so universal. However one must abide by the regulations for the acceptable conduct of Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

The Anand Karaj Ceremony is made for devotees of the Panth. Those non-Sikhs who wish for Guru Ji’s blessing for marriage or anything else are always welcome to Gurdwara Sahib for Prayers, Paat and Ardas.


Gurdwara Sahib Leamington & Warwick

Gurdwara Sahib Leamington & Warwick will be hosting a Sri Anand Karaj ceremony on Sunday 29th July 2007.

S Kaur will wed Viresh Vaja, son of Mr Bhagwanji Vaja and Mrs Vilash Vaja.

Viresh Veja is of Gujarati Hindu background and has confirmed he has no knowledge of Sikhi and does not understand the significance of Dhan Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

He has also confirmed he is only participating in the Anand Karaj ceremony on request of the girl’s parents.


Committee’s Ignorance

The Committee booked this Anand Karaj ceremony with total disregard of Gurudwara Code of conduct, and Sikh ethics.

They failed to even register the name of the groom, and were completely ignorant his religious beliefs – a total lack of professionalism.

Once the Sikh youth had raised their concerns, the committee held a meeting with youth representatives on Sun 1st July and had acknowledged their wrongdoings –yet certain members are adamant to go ahead with the ceremony.

Make your views heard, Gurdwara contact details:
http://www.gurdwara-leamingtonandwarwick.org.uk/contact.asp


Sarabha Panjab News

Tuesday 3 July 2007

Panjabi-Sikh Youth Bodies Meeting

United We Stand!

Sarabha Panjab News
http://www.sarabhapanjab.blogspot.com/

03 July 2007



In a meeting between Panjabi-Sikh youth representatives from various Jathabandhis, Panjabi vigilantes and Religious respect movements, a message of solidarity was portrayed.

Over the last few weeks the Midlands Panjabi-Sikh community have seen evidence of grooming & brainwashing, protests against extremism and the disrespect of the ‘Gurdwara code of conduct’.

Youth groups recognised the need to unite against elements that affect the Chardikala of the Panjabi-Sikh community and the Khalsa Panth.





Police and Media Ignorance

Following the Anti-extremism rally on 9th June where 200 Panjabi-Sikh youth protested against extremism in the UK (please refer to
http://sarabhapanjab.blogspot.com/2007/06/panjabi-sikh-youth-anti-extremism-rally.html), and the follow-up meeting with Police chiefs (http://sarabhapanjab.blogspot.com/2007/06/press-release.html
), a statement from the Police stated, “there is no evidence of forced conversions”.

This statement is ridiculous because the term ‘forced conversion’ (gun to the head type of conversion) was never raised by any Sikh body (only mentioned by Hindu forum of Britain), nor was it mentioned during Rally. The placards during the rally stated “Sikhs will not tolerate extremist behaviour” and “Sikhs against FALSE conversions”. Cleary the police are clueless when it comes to the issues of:

Radicalisation
Grooming & Brainwashing
Racially motivated sexual exploitation
Extremist preaching in schools, colleges and Universities

Then they wonder why we have a growing problem with homegrown extremism in the UK.

The same goes for the culturally insensitive BBC-Asian network. Again, failing to recognise, or perhaps conveniently choosing not to recognise the concerns of the Sikh youth.
Ironically the idiots from BBC-Asian network were present at the Rally and had interviewed the protestors and had obtained a copy of the handout. Yet they reported it as a rally against ‘Gun-to-the-Head’ type forced conversions.


Return to Vigilantism?

Believing that the Police are choosing not to take action against extremist preaching and extremist gangs, Panjabi-Sikh youth are calling for a return to vigilantism of the past.

Kaka Gill from the Panjabi Youth movement, “If the police won’t monitor extremist preachers in schools, colleges and universities, then we will”

“If they think its ok for guys in the 30’s to stand outside schools and colleges trying to entice girls with drugs and fancy cars then its up to us to protect our community.”

“There are no laws against grooming, brainwashing, racially motivated sexual exploitation and deception (i.e. wearing a Kara for dishonest means). Does that mean the Panjabi-Sikh community should resign to suffering in silence?”



Non-Sikh Marriages in Gurdwara Sahibs

For the protection of Sikh ethics, the Respectful conduct of Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the preservation of the Khalsa Panth in the UK, the issue of Non-Sikh marriages in Gurdwara Sahibs was addressed.

The youth bodies and vigilante groups unanimously agreed that Non-Sikhs by birth should only be allowed to marry in a Gurdwara Sahib if they have accepted Sikhi through the conventional means (Amrit sanchar ceremony).
In a case where the Gurdwara committee feel the marriage has legitimate reasons to go ahead; then a press release should be released prior to the wedding explaining their reasons why, after which a meeting will be held.

Those Gurdwara committees who oppose this will face heavy protests and objections from Sikh youth groups, and the members responsible will be highlighted to the wider Sikh community.

P.Singh Youth representative; “In a court of Law a Bible is presented to a Christian, a Quran to a Muslim on which an oath is sworn, and not vice versa.
A marriage is also an oath, and in the presence of ‘Jaag di Jhot’ Dhan Guru Granth Sahib Ji only those who have accepted Guru Granth Sahib Ji as their Guru should be taking marriages vows - otherwise it’s a mockery of the system, and disrespect to Guru Sahib”

Referring to The Sikh Reht Maryada in accordance to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee “Persons professing faiths other than the Sikh faith cannot be joined in wedlock by the Anand Karaj ceremony.”
http://www.sgpc.net/sikhism/anand-sanskar.asp

“We do not oppose interfaith marriages, but we will not tolerate the abuse of the Sikh Gurdwara code of conduct”

Kaka Gill from Punjabi Youth Movement, “we will strongly oppose illegitimate Anand Karaj ceremonies and will commence peaceful protests. We condemn any act of violence and intimidation, but we must bare in mind…. today we see cars being burnt, our history shows Massands burnt!”

Sarabha Panjab News
http://www.sarabhapanjab.blogspot.com/

In loving memory of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha

Revolutionist Kartar Singh Sarabha, was just nineteen years old when he became a Shaheed in the name of freedom and justice. He appeared like a storm, ignited the flame of revolution and tried to wake up a sleeping Panjab. Such courage, self-confidence, and dedication is rarely found. Of the Panjabis who can be called revolutionaries in true sense of the word, Kartar Singh's name comes at the top.
Revolution lived in his veins. There was only one aim of his life, only one desire, and only one hope - all that held meaning in his life was revolution.
“REVOLUTION IS WRITTEN IN BLOOD”