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Sikhs should go into museums, galleries and other institutions of learning because that is what we are: learners, students, absorbers of knowledge. If we do, these institutions might begin to showcase more of our heritage that is in their possession. Sikhs should also take time to learn their history. And as you beautifully suggest gurdssingh, not just through google! Please do not take offence, but do take the advice: open a book or two and read. It's amazing!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I'm afraid you have made a factual mistake. The wearer of this dastar could not have been killed by the "gora tyrants" as he was fighting for them within the Rattray Batallion, hence the Rattray badge which is a part of the dastar. How the dastar got here in one piece is unknown, but we can make educated guesses. Quite contrary to some of the sentiments posted here, the fact that it has been preserved as it originally was shows a great amount of respect in my humble opinion, not disrespect. Many people across the World feel aggrieved that relics and artefacts from their history now sit within collections around the UK in particular, but those are the spoils that go to the victor... and the British Empire controlled a huge amount of the World, not just the Punjab, from which they took and importantly preserved numerous objects. I welcome such displays and exhibitions today that help to portray who we Sikhs are to the wider public. It is also important that these exhibitions go ahead so as to educate people about our history, including unfortunately so many Sikhs who do not know our own history. I am responding here from a personal perspective in my capacity of running Naujawani.com, but if anyone would like to express any concerns about this exhibition further, I would be happy to field your calls in my capacity as Press Officer (voluntary) for the Sikh Education Council which is ONE of the Sikh community partners in bringing this exhibition to the public. You can find my contact details at the SEC website.

Hi there, my name is Harwinder Singh Mander and I run Naujawani.com. Sorry Singhstah, but there will be minimal (if any!) feedback on the Sikh Studies course that we have offered this year to university Sikh socs as it is the first year we are offering such. However, as the weeks progress perhaps some of the students taking the course will find this thread and post a reply. When we launched the initiative of the Sikh Studies course, I had identified four tutors including myself from different regions around the UK who would take on the teaching of any study. At this time, universities from the London region were the only ones who replied to take on the course and accordingly as this is my home patch I will be tutoring all but one course. (There may be a course at Herts Uni which will be taught by a different tutor, whose region it falls into.) Naujawani.com is a privately owned business, broadcasting Sikh and Punjabi programmes on the internet. Since 2006 we have been running an online-only 24/7 radio station and some video broadcasts. Although we are trying to concentrate on the latter, time limitations have restricted us from achieving entirely what we hoped to be achieving right now. However, at this stage in our existence we endeavoured to plough some of our finance back into the community we serve: university Sikh socs was an obvious choice amongst others. I can't say more than we are genuinely trying to advance the Sikh and Punjabi people in a World that changes pace from day to day; I am more than happy to meet and speak with anyone as it is only through conversation and collaboration that we can advance. In response to Vsingh's comments below, Naujawani.com is only linked to TheSikhWay.com (Sikh Education Council) by me personally as I am the charity's voluntary press officer. We have offered the SEC some benefits in the past such as use of our online shop as a donation facility but this won't be the case going forward as they don't need it! The SEC does facilitate study-circles for the Ludhiana-based missionary course, however associated resources for those who have engaged in this includes a critique of the Missionary conclusions too. It was simply offered because it is still the only self-study module available on Sikh history to any person at an affordable cost. Although the Naujawani.com/SikhSocs.com Sikh Studies course will eventually adopt material that the SEC is working on, at this moment in time it is entirely Naujawani.com designed and produced. The Sikh studies course is offered to university students so that they are able to systematically study Sikh history, ideology and culture in a manner that befits higher education. Our syllabus is based on referenced material from writers as diverse as Ganda Singh, Macauliffe, Sangat Singh, Kapur Singh, Cunningham, Professor Puran Singh, Jaswant Singh Kanwal, JS Grewal, Arvind-Pal Singh Mandair to mention just a few. We are neither based on Missionary ideology, nor Singh Sabha, Sant-Samaaj, Nihang or any other tradition. Our material is always referenced and we hope to give a balanced viewpoint of the different schools of academic thought in Sikh studies. Personally, I have undertaken the Ludhiana Missionary course, santhiya and vidhiya from Dam Dami Taksal-Gyani Hardeep Singh Hazur Sahib, and self-study led by a personal mentor who is from the Sant Samaaj tradition. I understand from some concerned friends that a quite false picture of myself and Naujawani.com was painted by some nefarious individuals that led directly to some university Sikh socs ignoring our resources. Within Sikh circles this is nothing new and it is far from an injustice as we are not really anything special anyway. We just want to help make things better. My door is always open, feel free to contact us via the website.

The event in Bristol was very successful and well attended. We at Naujawani.com were most happy to help provide some of the services that helped the event to run according to plan. Although it was organised incredibly professionally, there are always things that people can learn from for the future and good things that can be fed back to organisers to be kept and enhanced in the future. Visit thesikhway.com website and let the Sikh Education Council know what you thought if you attended, or to enquire about future events.

Well that was the end of our broadcasting - we hope you enjoyed being part of the sangat for this event. Unfortunately we aren't here tomorrow for the Sunday darbar - we only learnt of this event a fortnight ago and have other recording plans that we do not want to break. Stay tuned to Naujawani.com where we are undergoing a re-design of our website. If you like what we do, let us know... and let others know! Sign up to our e-newsletter via the website Naujawani.com Thanks mods for allowing this to stay in the general section for the evening, much appreciated. Check out the Events section where there are details about a seminar in Bristol that we are supporting - get to it!! Rabb rakha...

Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Singh Sahib Gurbachan Singh The kirtani behind the event takes to the stage and is quite mesmerising! Backstage is still packed as is the hall. Not many sights quite as pleasing in the UK as a full Havelock Road! Sangat darshan

Those of you tuning in may have noticed that of the broadcasters named who are supporting this event, none are actually relaying a live audio feed. We are. And yet no name was mentioned - oh well. I guess we should be much more bothered about our marketing than we are our quality... like the other stations. Ouch! Well you can forgive me this one shot! Amazing scenes here as 5 different people tried to play with the mixing desk at the same time. Too many cooks...? Too many Indians...?

Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib, Singh Sahib Gurbachan Singh. Darshan of the sangat ... and it is heaving in here! ...And more kirtani jathe!

Our audio cut out just as Singh Sahib Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib took to the microphone. It wasn't on purpose - honest!! He is on now and is speaking tune in...

We do apologise for the broadcasting peaking on occasion - amazing isn't it? People in Gurdwaras can spend into the tens of thousands for their PA, mixer, speakers, microphones etc and then they let just about anybody fiddle with it. Maybe somebody should arrange some basic mixing training for Granthis around the World? A task for the SGPC me thinks. If another guy touches this mixer... I'm gonna walk out. Although that being said this kirtani has a phenomenally powerful voice - phew! Hey if you are listening and following the thread, say so!! Spread the word... we are doing our best to bring you a top-quality sound broadcasting (with the pics!)

A Packed Singh Sabha tonight at Havelock Road. The first kirtani jatha performed beautifully. Bhai Gursharan Singh and jatha. There are many kirtani down to be on tonight I reckon. There is hardly any room back stage! You can spot Bhai Anoop Singh to the left of the image.

We are terribly sorry about the break in broadcasting from time to time and the occasional peaks in the audio. Granthis never know when to leave a mixer alone!!! There are numerous jathas on stage today: Some beautiful kavishri kickebar. Sorry sevaji, our connection has been somewhat lossy... we endeavour to have an unbroken connection for the remainder of the evening. However, it only breaks occasionally now. If it does cut out click refresh to get a boosted signal. Stay tuned!

Jathedar Gurbachan Singh of Sri Akal Takht Sahib is here for this evening's programme. The whole event is about enhancing blood donation amongst our community.

As we are broadcasting live audio from todays events at Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Southall as well as publishing photographs and other commentary where necessary I hope the mods can see it in their infinite wisdom to keep this thread going in the General section for the next few hours at least. If you are sitting behind a computer screen for the next few hours, why not tune in to the proceedings on Naujawani:Radio via Naujawani.com. We will try to update this thread as we go to give you a better feeling of being part of the sangat.

1710 in The Punjab specifically, but generally over the period of 1710-1716. If you come to the seminar you'll hear more extensively which authorities and primary sources assert this view, a period that unfortunately some Sikhs misunderstand - not suggesting you are one! The event is going to be really good, we are fully supporting the event and helping to sell the tickets online so feel secure when you purchase online! Ganda Singh has written a fantastic account of Banda Singh Bahadur, but for the less scholarly reader, The Legend of Banda Singh Bahadur by Harish Dhillon is an unsurpassable work (as yet!) and can be bought from Naujawani.com. Go on, buy a ticket. You know you want to!