Am I overlooked because I am not an Amritdhari?

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Sangat Ji I apologise for such a long absence in my blog updating, I have been rather busy this last month and will continue to resume my work from today.

I was sitting here wondering about the wonders of Sikhi and thought to myself that there is a key issue in our society. Divide between Moneh (hair cutting Sikhs) and Amritdhari Sikhs. I understand that to be an Amritdhari means your whole life is dedicated to Sikhi and you would adapt the appearence and lifestyle of a true Sikh warrior. I am currently a Mona Sikh, I do cut my hair although it is something I know I shouldn't do, I feel personally that I am not ready to take the step of becoming an Amritdhari Sikh.

Amritdhari Sikhs have the highest respect from me because they are the ones who show what a child of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaaj should look like and how they should live. But maybe it's just some that I may have encountered but I seem to see some Amritdhari Sikhs who exploit the whole meaning of being an Amritdhari. Some would say that they have seen Amritdhari Sikhs belittle the moneh saying you are not a Sikh your fake etc. To an extent I do agree with their viewpoint about that but instead of slating shouldn't they help us to become just like them? It is a dream of mine to one day become an Amritdhari Sikh because they are the people I look up to when I look around in society. I always think I want to be like them, but I feel at this moment in time I am not prepared to take that step.

The way I see it is that we are all children of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaaj whether we are moneh or Amritdhari because at the end of the day we are Sikhs. We have Sikhi running through our veins! But us moneh should aspire to one day become Amritdhari and live the life of a Sikh! Until then we need unity and not divide between Amritdhari and Moneh Sikhs as we are all Sikhs at the end of the day, Sikhi is in our heart and that's what counts. One day I aspire to become an Amritdhari but I would need help from the family as well as the Sangat in order to achieve the prestigious status one day.

This is how it should be, no divide just unity!

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Short poem for 84!

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Sangat Ji I hope you are all well. I thought about writing a poem in memory of 84 which would be easy to understand for all so here it goes.

To get basic human rights was our priority
They attacked Sri Harimandir Sahib to surpress a minority
They killed thousands of Sikhs just like you n me
But they dont understand that they will never kill Sikhi
They did things that you never thought some1 would do
murder, rape and even the beadbi of our Guru
But it was not only bluestar more follows
Such as operation blackthunder and operation woodrose
But the day will return where we lead our fight for freedom once more
To get basic human rights for the people of punjab, rich or poor
A day will come where we will have another leader like Sant Ji
To free us from the Indian shackles of slavery
 Nothing has been done for us in the name of the law
28 years still no justice, never forget 84

I hope you enjoy my poem, I only had a short time to write this.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Never Forget 1984

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Sangat Jyo hope you are all well. I am sure you are all aware that these past few dates have marked the 28th anniversary of 1984 in which operation bluestar took place and the aftermath of the Dehli massacre, in simpler terms the attempted holocaust of the Sikhs in India.

Operation Bluestar was when the Indian Army by the orders of the tyranical leader Indira Gandhi were sent to Sri Harimandir Sahib in order to what they call 'flush out millitants' and to try and put a stop to the Khalistani freedom movement in which Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale had begun. I have written a more detailed blog about this so if you would like to learn more about operation bluestar please do read it. Furthermore I have written a detailed blog on the Dehli massacres of 84 as well so please do take the time to read both to gain a better understanding.

Now it is in my opinion, very important that we should never forget the injustices committed against us in 84 because we have not received justice for it. The desicration of Sri Akhal Takht Sahib by the Indian government still makes my blood boil to this day but I am not alone as I am sure you all feel the same. To burn the Sikh history library in the Sri Harimandir Sahib Complex again trying to wipe out our precious artifacts and history. The beadbi committed by the soldiers by shooting at Guru Granth Sahib Ji and desicrating Sri Akhal Takht, all gone without justice being served. Those innocent Sikhs killed in the Dehli massacre and in fake encounters. A generation of Sikhs were wiped off the face of the earth and still we have had no justice!

To ask a Sikh to forget about 1984 is like asking a Jew to forget about the holocaust during ww2. That fire still burns in each and every Sikh person's heart! 28 years and we still have no justice! You may be able kill a Sikh, but you cannot kill off Sikhi! Many of tried in the past and they have all failed!

Never Forget 84! Khalistan Zindabaad!

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Guru Ram Das Ji

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Sangat Jyo I first of all hope you are all well. I will now carry on with the 11 part series of the Gurus carrying on with talking about our beloved 4th Guru of Sikhi, Guru Ram Das Ji (Ram Das means servant of God).

Guru Ji was born on the 9th October 1534 in Chuna Mundi Lahore in Pakistan. Guru Ji became a Guru at the age of 40 and lived until he was 47. Guru Ji's main focal points when he became Guru were that he became the author of Laava (marraige rites which are used in weddings even now!), The design of Sri Harimandir Sahib (The Golden Temple). He also planned and constructed the township of Ramdaspur which is now known as Amritsar and was also the created the organisation structuer of the Sikh society.

In Guru Ji's early years before being appointed Guru his name was Jetha (meaning first born). He had come across a group of Sikhs who were heading to Goindwal to pay homage to Guru Amar Das Ji. Guru Amar Das Ji had noticed that Jetha was very devoted and while the group had returned to Lahore, Jetha stayed with Guru Amar Das Ji and had become a disciple of his. Bhai Jetha would do countless hours of Seva and Guru Amar Das Ji was very fond of him. Guru Ji would arrange the marraige between Bhai Jetha and Bibi Bhani who was Guru Amar Das Ji's daughter.

Guru Ram Das Ji had created the second sacred pool in Ramdaspur (now known as Amritsar) as instructed by Guru Amar Das Ji and Pilgrims from everywhere would come to listen to and help the Guru with the work of the water tank. The holy tank would be given the name of Amritsar (meaning pool of nectar) and it was from this day forth that Amritsar would be the holiest centre of Sikhi.

Guru Ram Das Ji composed a beautiful bani called Laavan about the meaning of marriage to a Sikh couple – Effectively, the Guru defines a Sikh marriage in these 2 lines: "They are not said to be husband and wife who merely sit together. Rather they alone are called husband and wife, who have one soul in two bodies." 

Guru Ji when it got near to the end of his human life, appointed his youngest son to become the next Guru. He would be known as Guru Arjan Dev Ji. Guru Ram Das Ji departed from his human form on the 16th of September 1581.

Our beloved 4th Guru of Sikhi, Guru Ram Das Ji!

I will talk about Guru Arjan Dev Ji, our beloved 5th Guru in the next part of the series.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Sangat Jyo hope you are all ok alive and well. I did say I would write about the 4th Guru today but I've put that on hold till tomorrow to talk about something that puzzles me in the present.

Dr Manmohan Singh is the current Prime Minister of India and yes he is a Sikh, I believe the first Sikh to be elected as president in it's history. We may think that is a good thing having one of our own as Prime Minister of a country which is meant to be our 'homeland' but I beg to differ.

Dr Manmohan Singh - Sikh by appearence
 but is he a Sikh by heart?

This same person runs in the same political party (Congress party) that Indira Gandhi once was apart of when she was at the top. He must of been a young lad at the time of 84 so I am 100% sure he was aware of what she had done and what happened in the aftermath of Gandhi's assassination when a mass genocide of Sikhs across India was carried out so how can someone that is a Sikh be apart of the same politcal party that launched an attack at the heart of every Sikh worldwide when she ordered the army to attack Sri Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple)?

At first I thought when he was elected to be Prime Minister 8 years ago I believe, I was full of optimism and I thought finally Sikhs will get their fair say in India but this joke of a pm turned out to be the same as the rest of them. I thought that justice would be served under this new regime for the attack on his own people back in 84. I would of thought that our everlasting dream of Khalistan (Sikh independent state) would be achieved and he would be the man to give us our homeland from birthright. Again I was wrong!

I believe he is a prime example of the corruption that India is well known for. He has done nothing for us in India! He hasn't even visited Shaheed Jaspal Singh's family or issue an apology to the family to them because it was HIS police that killed the young innocent man. Sikh by appearence but is he Sikh by heart?

Largest Democracy in the world? Please give it a rest, you have done nothing to change the corruption in India and you have successfully lost our trust in you.

India - killing off the minorities and bringing injustice to the millions of minorities who live there.

Please watch this interesting video by Veer Ji Sarbjit Singh who talks about the Prime Minister in depth, a great watch! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luI1U91s4MA&feature=g-all-s

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Guru Amar Das Ji

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Sangat Jyo hope you are all well. Today is the 3rd part of the 11 part series. I will talk about Guru Amar Das Ji, 3rd Guru of Sikhi!

Guru Amar Das Ji was born on the 5th May 1479 and was given the title of Guru on the 26th March 1552. Guru Ji was the eldest in his family and had a father who owned a shop in the village of Basarke near Amritsar. Guru Ji when he aged, eventually got married to Mata Mansa Devi and had four children 2 sons and 2 daughters. One of his daughters, when she got older, married Bhai Jetha who would become the fourth Guru, Guru Ram Das Ji.

Guru Ji did not become Guru till the age of 72 and would follow in the footsteps of Guru Angad Dev Ji. Guru Amar Das Ji took up cudgels of spirituality to fight against caste restrictions, caste prejudices and the curse of untouchability and also strengthened the system of Langar (free food) by ensuring that anybody whether they are rich or poor, sick or healthy all eat together in one place which eventually would be known to modern society as a Langar Hall.

Guru Amar Das Ji had also created the Anand Karaj marraige ceremony for Sikhs to follow when they get married instead of using the Hindu form which recently has now been passed in India as the Anand marraige act!

Guru Ji also abolished the acts which were done by Sikhs in those time. They were called Sati (burning to death of the wife at the husbands funeral) and Paradha (covering the face of a female with a veil) in order to show equality amongst Sikh men and women.

Our iconic third guru of Sikhi, Guru Amar Das Ji

Tomorrow I shall speak about our 4th Guru, Guru Ram Das Ji!

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Guru Angad Dev Ji

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Sangat Jyo first of all I hope you are all well. Secondly I would like to apologise for me not updating my blog, I went home for the weekend and so many last minute things had come up I had not found the time to carry on with my 11 part series. Today I am going to talk to you about Guru Angad Dev Ji - 2nd Guru of the Sikhs!

Guru Angad Dev Ji was born on the 31st March 1504 in the village of Sarae Naga, Muktsar, Punjab. In 1538, Guru Nanak Dev Ji had chosen Lehna (his name before being appointed Guru) to take over the Guruship rather than one of his own sons. He continued to work hard on the foundation of Sikhi that Guru Nanak Dev Ji had left, he had taken Sikhi into further depths just as Guru Nanak Dev Ji would of wanted him to.

Guru Ji was married and had four children (2 sons and 2 daughters). The whole family had left the village after attacks from the Babar army and found refuge which enabled them to settle down in a small village located 25km away from the holy city Amritsar.

Guru Angad Dev Ji was a disciple of Guru Nanak Dev Ji for many years after being wowed by Guru Nanak Dev Ji's kirtan which still rang in his mind. He therefore became devoted to Guru Ji which lasted 6 or 7 years. On 7 September 1539 Guru Nanak Dev Ji had renamed him to Angad and had ensured that he would be the next Guru of Sikhi.

Guru Angad Dev Ji had invented the Gurmukhi scriptures which are still read to this very day and shall remain to be read until the end of time! It gave the people who spoke this language an identity of their own, enabling them to express their thought directly and without any difficulty or transliteration. The institution of Langar which was first started by Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Sacha Sauda Gurdwara in Pakistan was still running and developed further under the guidance of Guru Angad Dev Ji. The Guru's wife personally worked in the kitchen. She also served food to the members of the community and the visitors. Her devotion to this institution finds mention in Guru Granth Sahib.

Our iconic 2nd Guru of Sikhi, Guru Angad Dev Ji

I will speak about the third Guru, Guru Amar Das Ji tomorrow.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh