punjab5

'What is 'egg white' and can we eat products that contain 'egg white ?

Balwant Singh cannot be executed until Jagtar Singhj Hawaras case has been completed, that is what the President said in his reply to the clemenct appeal (i.e. stay on execution). What is more dangerous is Professor Bhullars situation. His clemency appeal had been turned down, so my understanding is that he could be executed anytime

The problem we have in the UK, is that most people want to be at the forefront or come up with ideas and 'run' with them, rather than thinking them through strategically. There are people and organisations within the Sikh community that have a lot of experience in dealing with the UK political system, we should make use of their skills and networks as well as the 'fresh ideas' that those that have not been so involved bring. My understanding is that the Sikh Council Uk was supposed to be act as a co-ordinator in bringing all this together, however if no-one contacts them with their ideas or projects, how are they to know

I was watching the Sikh Channel programme on this, unfortunatley missed the Sikh Sangat one. Must say i was disappointed in the performance from so called panthic leaders of so called panthic jathebandis. If this is what we have as leading our so called newly formed jathebandis, IPD and Dharm Yudh Morcha, GOD SAVE US. Maybe SFUK and AKJ were the same on Sangat TV.

The above is spot on and is exactly what has happened. Hopefully the Sangat and especially the youth can also understand this and only support any positive work that is being carried out, irrespective of which organisations is leading on that piece of work.

Watched Sikh Channel last night, was suprised to see some of the people know working together, supporting the new Jatha, although they were all, the old federation Singhs. Was told that the split was due to some in the SFUK supporting Baba Dharm Singh, who was sent by Baba Harnam Singh to collect funds for the 84 memorial being bulit by the Akal Takht. The splinter group does not support Baba Harnam Singh and has no time for Singh Sahib Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode. So was suprised to see IPD senior members supporting this group. This is factionalism based on egos and plays into the 'hands of the Indian Intelligence agencies to discredit the Khalistan Movement. It is a shame that the Unity that Baba Taker Singh ji, inspired and created by his 'bachan' to all the Singhs supporting the Damdami Taksal to work together has been destoyed. Not sure who is to blame but differences could have been worked out, by creating seperate projects and project teams rather than create an new organisation. Hopefully all panthic organisations can still work together.

The mysteries around the 'Dasam Duar', gateway / channel to an another dimension, where the soul journeys ending up in 'Sach Kand'

Both Baba Harnam Singh ji and Bhai Amrik Singh have the interest of the Panth in their hearts, their approach to panthic work is different. Where both have strengths they also have weaknesess. What we must realise is that their is a power struggle within the Damdami Taksal for leadership, Baba Harnam Singh ji is the official mukhi of the Taksal, a decision that Bhai Amrik Singh ji does not agree with. Unfortunatley Baba Baljit Singh ji is seen as an opportunitist, by some, thus not taken seriously in Punjab panthic circles (not saying l agree with this). We should focus on the positive work they and all Gursikhs are doing and not on the negative, unless the negative has an adverse impact on the panth (i.e. total gadari with evidence, i.e. agreement with GOI on settlement of Sikh grievancies aganist the state, like Sant Longowal).

Hold protests and highlight the wearing of the Kirpan, so the media can have a field day. My understanding is that this issue is being resolved through dialouge with the Met police, by the family supported by the local Gurdwara and sikh organisations, like United Sikhs and Sikh Council UK.

Sikhs will be allowed to wear their Kirpans to the Olympics. It is up to LOCOG to respond. Lets not fall in the trap of engaging in conversation with the media on this, by defending ourselves and thus highlighting further. We have a right to wear the Kirpan at the Olympics, full stop.

The reality is that the Sikh Channel is legally owned by Bal. He found a niche market and went for it. He is providing a free service to those that are not supporting it, but others are supporting his channel by paying for it. It is up to any individual if they want to support or not. Unfortunatley, people have a tendency to not pay for a free service. If he had done his market research he would have known this and thus had in place, alternative ways of funding this business venture. Expecting the Sikh community to drop all other financial support to other causes and automatically support the SC, and thus gain sustainability was a bit naive and not what one would expect from an intelligent Business Plan. He is providing a service, that is of great benefit to the Sikh community, however he has no right in demanding support for this service or holding the community to ransom, in that if they do not support SC will close. If he is not getting the support he thought he should have got, he needs to ask himself why not. If the channel is for the community, i.e. the peoples channel and is owned by the community, then why not legal ownership to a board of trustees nominated by those that pay funds to SC, i.e. direct debit payers. Or the very least a say in the management of SC. In relation to dedication to the Sikhi, he actually owns Brit TV, nothing wrong with that, its audience is those intersted in Anglo/Punjabi culture. SC was an extension of his business to cater for a religious audience. But how can a person be dedicated to the values of Sikhi and still promote values that go against these principles. He is a business man and i say good luck to him, to hold him as a saviour of Sikhi, i would question that. One really needs to analyse both positive and negative aspects of the Media. Unfortunatley due to poor and mis-management, the Sikh community is more divided now than before, so rather than uniting Sikhs, it has created divisions. However if this is accepted by the Channels, then it could be turned around with proper governance.

Can we get it clear, Akali Dal Badal is not a 'panthic ' party. They have declared themselves as a party for all the people of Punjab and a Secular party. Being a secualr party is aganist the whole notion of 'miri and piri'. Secular means not aligned to any religion, thus cannot be panthic.

Its our own fault, we always promote the Religious aspect of Vaisakhi as well as the cultural, i.e. harvest time celebrations etc. What No 10 through its advisors has done is combine the 2 together, hence the guy from Alap (Channi) and his daughter singing and the dancing. The main advisor for this event would have been Paul Uppal MP (tory) from Wolverhampton.

It has been amazing to see how all Sikhs have been working on Bhai Balwant Singh ji's campaign and Lobbying from Panthic jathebandis, Sikh Council UK, Youths, Media and Individuals in the UK. What we have achieved from a European perspective is: Matter raised with the Foreign Office through MPs (letter writing and directly by SFUK) Matter raised in the European Parliament and EU Commmission (pressure on MEP;s and direct approaches) Letter from Amnesty International and Human Right Watch Matter raised with the United Nations Human Rights Commission, by delegation of Sikhs from Switzerland, France, Italy support from UK via briefing. Demos in UK and Europe Media coverage on mainstream regional TV and national press. The role of especially Youngsters, in terms of 'facebook, twitter, youtube' has been excellent and bought us up to date with modern communication methods. This has been great, but learning curves for this has been the need to co-ordinate all events so that the messages are similar. This has happened to a certain extent by the Federation of Sikh Organisations, SFUK and Sikh Council taking the lead or rather coordinating. With SOPW and Khalsa Aid supporting. The Media has played a great role in raising awarness but have failed in that they did not communicate what was happening and how it was being coordinated, simply because those that were coordinating happened to be from panthic jathebandis and the dis trust of them from Sikh Channel (fall out from Dastar day) and them being on Sangat. This all despite regular communication by them with Sikh Channel. However it was great to see Sikh Channel cover the Panthic meeting in Wolverhampton and this masks my earlier comments. What is also required is more mature and responsible people appearing on Chat and Discussion shows on both Channels. However there still seems a gap between the Youth and these organisations, in terms of communication and coordinating. It was great to hear that the Youth got together, what should have happened or needs to happen is that the youth need to get involved in decsion making and coordinating. The Sikh Council UK can play its role in ensuring that this happens as a bridge between all.

Nawab Kapoor Singh was selected a jathedar as in the term of a leader, not the Akal Takht Jathedar. What we must realise is that the Akal Takht Jathedar is not the leader of the Sikhs. See below for selection of Nawab Kapoor Singh. What is required is for all Sikh Organisations both in India, i.e. SAD Mann, Panch Pardani, Dal Khalsa, Sant Samaj etc and those abroad to recognise him as a Jathedar of the Quom/Panth not just Akal Takht. The title of Nawab In 1733, the Mughal government decided, at the instance of Zakarya Khan, to revoke all repressive measures issued against the Sikhs and made an offer of a grant to them. The title of Nawab was conferred upon their leader, with a jagir consisting of the three parganas of Dipalpur, Kanganval and Jhabal. After a Sarbat Khalsa, the Sikhs accepted the offer. Kapur Singh was unanimously elected as the leader and chosen for the title. He was reluctant, but could not deny the unanimous will of the community. As a mark of respect, he placed the robe of honour('Siropa') sent by the Mughals at the feet of the Panj Piare - amongst whom were Baba Deep Singh, Bhai Karam Singh and Bhai Buddh Singh (great-great-grandfather of Maharaja Ranjit Singh - before putting it on. The dress included a shawl, a turban, a jewelled plume, a pair of gold bangles, a necklace, a row of pearls, a brocade garme