11 December 2010

A GOAT MAKES A LION SHEEPISH

For the last few months, my creative endeavours have been mostly concerned with visual arts instead of writing. I’ve been working with Photoshop and gif and, most recently, with Windows Movie Maker. I have also been teaching myself to knit Estonian lace, an accomplishment for those with two usable hands. 




My writing has kind of fallen into the bin of things I just don’t make the time for. A couple of dear friends have really been pestering me to write something, anything. Today, there is a heavy rain and I feel like a change, so I will write about an incident on our lovely little farm many, many years ago when life was simple and generally a lot of fun.

I’m not sure I can write this. It’s about the funniest thing that ever happened to me and even thinking about it I can’t stop laughing. It concerns a grumpy, cantankerous nanny goat – they are all grumpy and cantankerous, but this one seemed to have some special chip on her goat shoulders – and a strong, dignified, self-possessed Khalsa lion who was always in control of himself and never let anything discombobulate him.


A lovely Saturday summer’s day on the farm. Mani had decided that I needed a break from my usual routine and that he would milk the goats. I admit I wasn’t too sure that that was a good idea. Mani was a great doctor and very good at doing almost everything, but he was a city boy right down to his cellular structure and the farm was an alien environment to him. I was, of course, raised in the city, but parts of our summers in India had been spent on the family farm, always a welcome relief from the filth of the city. I sort of caught the farming bug then and felt at home on our little farm.

Back to milking the goats. Mani, of course, looked perfect. He had decided to play nihang, I guess, and was wearing a blue chola and a perfectly tied turban. I knew the goats wouldn’t be impressed, but, to be honest, I was. He always – almost always – impressed me. So he took the milking bucket and all 6’ 3” (191 cm) of himself out to the barn.
 
I sat down in the kitchen to work on my knitting and enjoy a cup of tea and some homemade bread and jam.

For a time all was peaceful. I could hear the happy little birds chirping and the sound of Sandeep and Rosa’s kids playing happily in the back ground when—

Mani came running full speed into the kitchen, screaming as I had never heard him scream before, in a complete panic – (Sorry, I have to stop for a laugh time) – “Shut the door! Shut the door!”

[Freeze frame] Before I continue with the action, I must describe my thoroughly discombobulated husband. His chola had somehow come completely open, his turban was loose and disheveled and goat milk – my wonderful goat milk – was dribbling from his drenched beard. What milk had managed to make it into the bucket was slopping and spilling all over the floor.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t shut the door. All I could do was laugh helplessly. Normally I am a kind person who wouldn’t just laugh at someone in such panicked distress, but this was my imperturbable Mani, the always calm, always perfect Mani Singh with goat milk dribbling down his beard onto his naked hairy chest.

[Resume action] Immediately behind him ran one very determined nanny goat. Determined to catch him and do God-only-knows-what to him. Needless to say, I could not close the door. I was laughing too hard. I think ROFL had not yet been invented, but I was laughing so hard that I was bent over double, unable even to breathe, and actually fell out of the chair onto the floor. ROFL. So there I was, helplessly laughing on the floor – which by now was slippery with goat milk, my husband first glaring down at me and then at the goat and one nanny goat standing, smiling triumphantly at the whole scene.




Goats Don't Belong In the Kitchen!




“If you can stop laughing long enough, get that damned beast out of our kitchen!” Poor Mani just didn’t see the humour of the situation yet. (He would later, of course.) I struggled to my feet and slid over to the goat while Mani made his way to one of the chairs. He was almost there to safety when he slipped and that whole big body crashed to the floor. He grabbed at the table and managed just to catch the end of the tablecloth, pulling jam and bread and tea onto his prostrate body. I am sure that someday, in some remote corner of hell, I will pay for this, but I couldn’t resist saying, “Lo, how the mighty are fallen,” as I picked myself up. The goat meanwhile had started nibbling at a flower pot on the counter and had pooped on the floor. I managed to get her out of the kitchen and back to the barn. She liked me well enough and I suppose that she was content to return home, having had her triumph. 

Still barely in control of myself, I quickly ran back to our house, to the kitchen, hoping to get to a camera before Mani regained his senses. I was too late. He had already run off to the shower. Not before disposing of the goat poop, though.

I started to clean up the mess, leaving him to nurse his wounded pride. After a time, he returned, looking again like Mani, calm, self-possessed and all that, although he was very, very red from blushing embarrassment. Rather sheepishly, he insisted on finishing cleaning up the kitchen, which was very sweet of him. I made another pot of tea and ate my jam and bread and knitted and burst out laughing every time I even glanced at him.

Two things I learned from this:


  1. Bana is not appropriate attire for milking goats.
  2. Goats do not belong in my kitchen.

Mani never offered to milk the goats again. 


04 November 2010

THANK YOU, JACK LAYTON

Take a good look at this picture.  This is what a friend of the Sikh people looks like.  Mr. Jack Layton, Leader of the NDP.














In the midst of this time of remembrance, we have gotten a gift of sorts from Jack LayTon, Leader of Canada's New Democratic Party - NDP (my party, if anyone's interested).  I am reproducing his statement below, courtesy of SAN (Sikh Activist Network).


I ask all my Canadian readers to please call him at 416-405-8914 to thank him for taking this bold, courageous step on our behalf.  Even if you aren't Canadian, I think a Thank you would be most appropriate. 


I also suggest you consider joining the NDP.  That is a "Thank you that would be most appreciated.




CALL JACK LAYTON AND THANK HIM NOW!
Phone #: 

 

 

416-405-8914

 

Other contact information\

Email Address
LaytoJ@parl.gc.ca
 
Mailing Address - Parliament Hill Office
Jack Layton, M.P.
Leader of the NDP
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
Canada
K1A 0A6

Here ios a transcript of the statement which can be copy/pasted if anyone wishes to do so:
November 3, 2010

Statement by New Democrat Party Leader Jack Layton on the tragedy of November 1984
It is with great sorrow that I extend my sympathies on the 26th anniversary of the tragic pogroms of 1984 that targeted Sikh men, women and children.

The New Democratic Party of Canada stands in solidarity with the Sikh community, demands justice for the survivors and an explanation for why and how this community was targeted by organized mobs and government officials.

The victims and survivors of 1984 cannot sit idly by, waiting for the Indian government to recognize their plight and frustration.  Rehabilitation and support for the broken
families, especially the widows, must be prioritized.  The negligence of the police must be examined.  The truth and those guilty must be brought to justice.

These are not demands - these are obligations of a democratic government to its citizens.

Remembrance is the tie that binds us to our past as it guides us  for
the challenges of the future.

Lest we forget.

02 November 2010

DELHI POGROM TRIBUTE 2010

I made this video to acknowledge the events of early November 1984 and to commemorate our beloved shaheeds.



My dear friend (and little sister, Kamal Kaur (Badyal) gifts us with the soundtrack.

01 November 2010

One Dead Singh Reprise

I sat down a few days ago to write my November Pogrom piece for this year.  Rereading last year's, I realised that I couldn't write a better piece than this.  This is quite possibly the best thing I've ever written.

If you haven't read about what happened to us personally in Delhi during those first few days of November 1984, please go to the link in the sidebar.  I very much want to make this real to my readers by telling individual histories of this time.  This holocaust did not happen only to the Sikh people, it happened to individual Sikhs.  Like me.

ONE DEAD SINGH


Who is he? Who is this Singh? I have spent countless hours staring at this photograph asking myself questions. Whose son is he? Whose husband, whose dad, whose brother, whose uncle, cousin, friend? Is someone waiting anxiously at home for him, waiting for a footfall that will never come?

Where is he from? Does he live in Delhi or is he just visiting? Where was he born? What is his pind? When was he born? How old is he?

What is his occupation? Is he an engineer, a doctor, a professor? Or is he a taxi driver or a trucker?

What are his politics? Is he an Akali or a member of Congress? Is he a Khalistani or a Bharata Mata lover? Or is he political at all? Is he just trying to live his life and not really concerned about the niceties of the larger world.

Why is he keshdhari? Is it just habit, following family custom? Or is it deeply meaningful to him? Does he pray each day, do naam jap, love Vaheguru? Or are those just incidentals that have fallen by the wayside of his life? Where is his turban? How does he feel as it is ripped from his head and his kesh is exposed?

How does he feel as he realises the mob is coming for him, chasing him down the street or dragging him from his home or his car or from the bus? What goes on in his brain as the petrol is poured on him and set alight? What is he thinking as his body burns? Or is he beyond thought? Is he aware of the laughing jeering mob around him, enjoying watching his final agonising moments of life on this earth?

What is his last awareness as he dies alone, surrounded by merciless thugs?

Questions without answers. Whoever he is, he deserves to be remembered. I doubt he had even a death certificate, so I have made him one.

(Click to enlarge)

There is something so very final about the certificate. And, of course, I realise that all I have written is wrong and must be rewritten to reflect the truth of 25 26 years later...

Who was he? Who was this Singh? I have spent countless hours staring at this photograph asking myself questions. Whose son was he? Whose husband, whose dad, whose brother, whose uncle, cousin, friend? Was someone waiting anxiously at home for him, waiting for a footfall that never came?

Where was he from? Did he live in Delhi or was he just visiting? Where was he born? What was his pind? When was he born? How old was he?

What was his occupation? Was he an engineer, a doctor, a professor? Or was he a taxi driver or a trucker?

What were his politics? Was he an Akali or a member of Congress? Was he a Khalistani or a Bharata Mata lover? Or was he political at all? Was he just trying to live his life and not really concerned about the niceties of the larger world.

Why was he keshdhari? Was it just habit, following family custom? Or was it deeply meaningful to him? Did he pray each day, do naam jap, love Vaheguru? Or were those just incidentals that had fallen by the wayside of his life? Where was his turban? How did he feel as it was ripped from his head and his kesh was exposed?

How did he feel as he realised the mob was coming for him, chasing him down the street or dragging him from his home or his car or from the bus? What went on in his brain as the petrol was poured on him and set alight? What was he thinking as his body burned? Or was he beyond thought? Was he aware of the laughing jeering mob around him, enjoying watching his final agonising moments of life on this earth?

What was his last awareness as he died alone, surrounded by merciless thugs?

He was our brother and he was one single human being, one Sikh among the thousands murdered during the madness of those days in 1984.

He is our brother and he deserves justice.

One final, unanswered question: When?

31 October 2010

DING, DONG, THE WITCH IS DEAD!!

DING, DONG, THE WITCH IS DEAD,
Which old witch?  The wicked witch!
Ding, dong the wicked witch is dead!
She’s gone to where the goblins go,
Below, below, below!
Sing it high!  Sing it low!
Let them know the wicked witch is dead!
                                  From :  The Wizard of Oz 








Had Indira Gandhi not been killed on 31 October 1984,  you would probably not be reading this blog because your author would have been killed in Operation Shanti, beginning on 8 November 1984.  Read on, dear readers.


Twenty-six years ago today, Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, Architect of the Bluestar Massacre, enemy of the Sikh people, was executed by Shaheed Beant Singh and Shaheed Satwant Singh, inspired and encouraged by the uncle Shaheed Kehar Singh.  Let us drop any hypocrisy we may be harbouring about this person.  She knew that in attacking Darbar Sahib (Amritsar) she would earn the lasting enmity of the Sikh Quam and go down in Sikh history next to Aurangzeb.  She was evil, but she wasn't stupid.  She surely knew that it was suicidal to keep Sikh bodyguards after desecrating Harmandir Sahib.  Or was she so far gone in her megalomania that she thought she was invincible?  Or did she believe she could implement Operation Shanti before anyone would take action against her?  In any case, her nefarious plans were thwarted by her own action in not reassigning them. 

I was in Delhi at a family gathering when we got the news that she had been shot.  Dead silence followed by, “Well, I hope the bitch is dead!”  She was, of course.  When we later heard that her Sikh bodyguards had shot her, a cheer went up.  None of us was surprised.  The older members quickly sobered up.  “Glad she’s gotten rid of, but there’s going to be hell to pay.”  

Of course there was.  Rajiv Gandhi screamed for revenge.  Amitabh Bachhan came on TV screaming "KHOON KA BADLA KHOON!"   (Blood for blood!)”  Blood for blood there was, indeed.  The mobs were given the addresses of Sikh families, paid in liquor and kerosene and ran off to the joy of the slaughter.  By the time the bloodbath ended, thousands of Sikhs were dead, thousands widowed and tens of thousands orphaned.  The financial losses pale next to the toll of human life, but they were also devastating to the Sikh community.

Consider the situation from our Sikh point of view.  Not only was she responsible for invading and shooting up our holiest site, she also destroyed much of our history in the burning of the Akal Takht and the Sikh History Library.  This was followed by Operation Woodrose, a pretty name for a diabolical action rounding up and murdering Amritdhari males in Punjab.
It is widely believed that she had concocted a larger genocidal plan called Operation Shanti (Peace) to virtually wipe out the Sikhs of India.  This was to be carried out in the second week of November during the celebration of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji.

Indira drew a diabolical plan, named Operation Shanti, to carry out a general massacre of the Sikhs, of genocidal proportions, around November 8, when the Sikhs would assemble in various Gurdwaras for Guru Nanak's birthday celebrations. According to the plan, large-scale skirmishes virtually amounting to a war were to take place all along the India-Pakistan borders. And, it was to be given out that the Sikhs had risen in revolt in Punjab and joined hands with Pakistani armed forces which had made considerable advances into the Indian Territory. The Sikhs all over Punjab, especially in Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Kapurthala and Jalandhar districts were to be subjected to massive aerial bombardment, apart from being slaughtered by army and para military forces. The Sikhs all over India were to be subjected to mass scale massacre, loot, arson and incendiarism by lumpen elements organized by Youth Congress(I) activists. Elaborate preparations were made by Youth Congress (I) network all over India; they were to await a coded signal to start mayhem.  Operation Shanti, Sikhwiki.


 Large scale Sikh genocide was being planned by the top layers of government including Gandhi herself. The plan, known as Operation Shanti, was to take place around November 8, as was a surprise attack on Pakistan. Beant Singh, the man who assassinated Gandhi, heard of Operation Shanti from R. K. Dhawan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and decided to kill Gandhi. [source: The Sikhs in History by Sangat Singh]  from  SikhLionz .





I try to be nice, really I do.  I just can't find it in me to be nice about this monster.  Had she not died when she did, who knows what havoc would have been wreaked upon us by the Mad Dog of Delhi, the Wicked Witch of the East, Indira (Nehru) Gandhi?  









 By knarmahfox  the edge of death.wav 
(http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=59182)
 
By Matt_G   m240.wav 
(http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=30749)
 
 By acclivity  OutOfTime.wav 
(http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=32243)
 
 By Robinhood76 01277 witch cackle laughter 1.wav 
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   -
HAPPY HALLOWEEN, indeed.

26 October 2010

Taking Back Your Head

A poem for those who once gave Guru Jee their head by taking Amrit, but took it back...

Guru Gobind Singh Ji tried, to keep you on the right track
You gave Him your head, but then you took it back


Turning your back on Guru Ji, how did it feel?
Or were you too busy convincing yourself, that "It's really no big deal"


Remember that day when you took Amrit and made a vow?
What happened to those promises, who is your Guru now?


You sold out your Sikhi, and that's the plain truth
You ruined this precious life, saying "I want to enjoy my youth"


To make yourself feel better, you can say whatever you want to

But one dreadful day, your words will come to haunt you


And when that day comes, you will regret what you have
done
You lost your honour, in a battle you should have won


This world is just maya, it will take your Sikhi away
Tell me, did you forget that you are gonna die one day?


When this dream called life reaches its end
Then who will be your saviour, your helper, your True Friend?


There is still hope, you need to sharpen your mind
Go towards Guru Ji, and the Truth you will find

To merge with God, you were sent to earth
Trying to impress the world, you wasted the human birth

Did you think of those mothers,
who wore their babies around their necks?
Or did all you think about, was attracting the opposite sex?


The very same hair that Guru Ji put Amrit in
You grabbed the scissors, and committed the ultimate sin


Guru Ji's Sons gave their lives, so you can be a Sikh
Their Sikhi remained strong, with each and every brick

Now is the time, for you to wake up and take control
Guru Ji is the water, that will sooth your burning soul


Do you really want to come back to this hell on earth?
Wandering and suffering, birth after birth

You say you're not ready to take Amrit, thats always your reply
But think about this...are you ready to die?

You think you'll practice Sikhi, in the future when you are old
But tell me, do you know when your body will turn cold?


When it's all said and done, you will be full of sorrow and regret
You'll want to go to Sach Khand, but the requirements were not met


Guru Ji's arms are wide open, and He is waiting for you
It's time to take action, and do what you gotta do

Change your life RIGHT NOW!, don't wait another day
Tomorrow may never come, then what will be left to say?
That Guru Gobind Singh Ji tried to put me on the right track
I gave Him my head, but then I took it back.

Poem courtesy of Sikh Roots

13 October 2010

07 October 2010

VIDEOS OF KHALISTAN RALLY!!

SikhRevolution has given permission to embed these videos of the rally held at Jagreon on 28 October 2010.  Please watch and listen and be inspired.  Or appalled.  Or scared.  Or however you react to the idea of Khalistan.  As I wrote the other day, 2 Lakh (2,00,000 OR 200,000 in Western numbers) attended this.  Each person attending (except, of course, the RAW agents and other governmental infiltrators) puts him/herself in danger from the GOI and, worse, the notorious Punjab police.


Please, do not misuse these videos in any way!

PART ONE



PART TWO



PART THREE



PART FOUR



PART FIVE



INTERVIEW WITH SIMRANJIT SINGH MANN AT THE RALLY

06 October 2010

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2010

OK, I realise that it's not International Women's Day.  The reason for re-posting this today is that someone in Google Buzz has hinted that I am not writing about Female Foeticide, often now called gendercide, which also covers other sorts of murder of women and girls, including, "honour" killings, inferior medical care for girls and women and the like.

In any case, I think it is a good thing to remind us all of this on-going evil at odd times, so here is a reminder.
********************************
My post from International Women's Day, 2009 (very slightly revised):

I was so very sincerely hoping that this year, I would be able to write a nice cheerful post about how much progress we have made in the last year regarding the most important women's issue in the Punjabi Sikh community. Unfortunately, this practice has spread to the Sikh Diaspora communities, as well.  Will we ever learn, I wonder?!

I am referring, of course to the murdering of our daughters before they are born, what is called female foeticide. I have named this the Fourth Ghallugharah, and it is still in full swing. SHAME ON US!

No my dear brothers and sisters, I refuse to let up until this horror is ended!





Unfortunately, I can do nothing better than to reproduce my post from International Women's Day of last year, 2008.

Maybe next year...



There is a lovely little nursery rhyme that every child in the UK and Canada knows. I am not so sure about the children of India, so here is one version with lyrics:




 

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

 

As long as I have been expressing myself publicly (about 2 years - 4 years in 2010), I
have said that the most dangerous enemy we Sikhs have is not the
Indian government, the Deras or even the Hindus. It is no force from
outside our own community. It is ourselves. We are fast destroying
ourselves through one particular practice. I have here a little poem
I wrote about that. It unites IWD and our self-destructive
tendencies.



Tinkle, tinkle, little boy,
Bring your parents so much joy.
You're their diamond, you're their pearl,
They're so glad you aren't a girl.



Punjab practice straight from hell.
Very soon its evil tell.




You are looking for a wife,
Someone who will share your life.
Not a woman to be found,
Rotting foetus in the ground.


Guru's teaching has been taught,
But its meaning never sought.
Daughter is a gift from God,
Not a dead, decaying clod.


Without woman, there's no life,
No more children, no more wife.
Guru's teachings die off now,
Go and worship sacred cow.



Tinkle, tinkle, little boy,
Bring your parents so much joy.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, 2008 2009!!!!




WHY TRY TO FIT IN?
YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT! 






05 October 2010

TV Coverage of Khalistan Rally in Punjab




I wonder how many Khaliblog readers were aware of a huge Khalistan Rally in Jagraon, Punjab on 28 September of this year?  Approximately 2 lakh (2,00,000) attended and it was broadcast on ChardiKala TV.  

The ChardiKala TV coverage is available on Youtube through SikhRevolution.  The whole playlist can be found at Khalistan Rally at Jagraon-September 28, 2010.  

I strongly urge you to go to the link and watch the rally.  It's in Punjabi language, but even if you don't understand Punjabi very well (or at all), it's still uplifting and inspiring to watch.  Unfortunately, due to some people misusing some of SikhRevolutions videos, I cannot embed them here, so I would strongly urge you to go watch them in Youtube.  While you are there, you might also like to subscribe to SikhRevolution at their channel page.  Just click to go there.

An interesting note.  When originally the three of us started this blog, we were told that no one from India (OK) would want to read something with Khalistan in its title because no one in India (OK) is interested in Khalistan anymore.   I notice, looking at the sidebar, that we have had more readers in that country than in any other.  I realise that a few of these readers are GOI agents, but most are not.

I would like to personally thank those of you who have been loyal readers over these last almost four years.  Our first rather tentative post was on 26 January 2007 and now we are nearing 500 posts.  We were all newbies and didn't understand about search engines and search terms and the like.  We all reasoned that out of the millions of blogs in the blogosphere, no one would ever find our little personal effort.  We were astounded to discover that the word "Khalistan" seemed to draw readers.  Along the way, the other two writers left to pursue other projects and follow different dreams, so now I am here writing alone whatever I feel like sharing with you.

I am not sure what this blog has meant to anyone else; to me it is a child of my heart and mind and spirit.  At present, at least, it is my legacy.  I pray that the posts about what happened to us in 1984 will be read and encourage other survivors to record their experiences, as well.  It is difficult, but worth the effort.  This is our history and it can be told properly only by us, especially by those of us who lived it.

I am also endeavouring to encourage the Sikh Quam to regain and remain in chardi kala as we move toward the day when the establishment of our homeland will be the Hukam of Vaheguru.  Let us prepare ourselves and be ready for whatever happens, following in the footsteps of our physical and spiritual ancestors.

KHALISTAN ZINDABAD!

Most sincerely and with highest regards,

Harinder Kaur
Mai

01 October 2010

BIR KHALSA GATKA - India (OK) Really Does Have Talent!


By now, everybody is aware of the great performances by Bir Khalsa Gatka on India’s Got Talent.  The voting ends on 2 October, so please get your votes in immediately.  Here are some suggestions for getting out the vote:

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!!!

Every Sikh should vote from all mobiles in family.

Every Sikh informs others and tells them the procedure.

Every Sikh should put a printout in his office, Gurudwara sahib, shop or an other place of information.

Take your friends, relative, associates, juniours mobiles or anyone you know & vote.

Do the sewa of asking sangat at your nearby Gurdwara sahib and getting them vote for them

Buy new sim cards, put balance & vote,

Ask your local Akali leader to be in picture and spend some money on it also rather than posters etc.

DSGMC & SGPC should issue circular to make it mandatory for its employees/sewadars to vote.

We should use all the live stages and appeal sangat to vote for them.

All our kathakars, granthi singh, ragis should make a point to make sangat aware about voting.

Make a refreshment stall outside Gurdwara sahib/kirtan samgam to attract people and make sangat vote for them.

Akali leaders/committee should try to help them at this stage in any manner possible rather that getting images clicked with them after their victory.

End of the day mission is vote, vote,  vote…

Unfortunately, only those in India can vote.

WHAT!  You haven't seen them?  Take a look.  Here are all three performances.

The first(Sajjan Khan makes an arse of himself!):


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itkWd1JTUmw&feature=channel





THE QUARTER FINALS:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNA-kYIxGoM&feature=channel

THE SEMI FINALS:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLAsP-5tp60&feature=channel









25 September 2010

Outsourced

Usually I would not waste my readers' time writing about a TV "comedy" show, but since this we were told that this one has a "real Sikh" in it, I thought perhaps it might be worth at least checking out.  OK, there is a "real Sikh."  At least he looks like a Sikh.   Here is a little quiz.  I took a few screenshots of this "comedy."  In each of the pictures below, is The Sikh.  Find him, if you can!  Some are very easy; some are more difficult.  Answers below.  (Yes, I know the pictures extend into the sidebar, but there was no other way to get the pictures big enough to actually see him.  I promise, he's still visible in each picture.)


 



I rarely watch TV comedies because I find them a bit depressing.  My expectations of this show were very low; the show itself was worse.  Just to focus on the Sikh character.  He made a few minor appearances, spoke no lines and each time was glowering, glaring, angry, a bit scary, even to me.  Even the "Kiss me, I'm Irish"t-shirt didn't help.  Of course, he had some cause;  the lead character joshing about his turban isn't a very good start.  I recommend that all Khaliblog readers watch this show once just to see how drearily dismal this thing is..  I have read an on line review of this show, which I am in complete agreement with, although the author might have used less profane language.  The Eight Most Racist Jokes from the Outsourced  Pilot.  Pity me.  To get these screenshots I had to watch the whole dreary thing very closely.  Finding Mr. Singh wasn't always easy.


I would call this show a real dog, except I see no reason to insult our canine friends and companions.  It bears no resemblance to any animal.  It is simply gross, insulting and stupid.
If you'd like to waste a half hour while being insulted, the episode can be seen at   http://www.nbc.com/outsourced/video/pilot/1251026 at least in the USA.  On second thought, you'd be better off doing some naam-jap, though.

Here's the answer sheet.





Kiss me I'm Irish?

What on earth was SALDEF - a great organisation - thinking when they gave the OK to this drivel?

21 September 2010

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - together they walk the winding roads




Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
Franklin P. Jones



Photograph:  courtesy of Angad Singh
Copyright All rights reserved by Angad Singh

10 September 2010

BURNING THE QURAN - A Position Statement

I would love to ignore that hateful ignoramus the "Reverend" Terry Jones of Gainesville, FL, USA, but I need to issue a statement because to say nothing might be construed as either support or indifference to this. I do not know what Terry Jones may or may not do.  I do know that what he proposes to do is wrong, wrong, WRONG!!  As a Sikh, I respect all religions and am bound to treat others' holy books as do their adherents.  I treat the Holy Bible, the Holy Quran and all other sacred scriptures as sacred scriptures with respect and love.  I may not - I do not - follow their teachings, but I do accept that they are inspired writings, revered by their followers and worthy of respect.

It has been pointed out to me that part of the reason for Sikhi coming into existence was the persecution of the religious groups of India, primarily the Hindus, by the Muslims.  Excuuuuuuse me!  The persecutors, sure enough, were Muslims, but not the only Muslims.  The Mughal rulers were a small group of tyrants and, it must not be forgotten that those who hunted down and killed Sikhs for a bounty were almost entirely Hindus.  It seemas forgotten that Guru Nanak Dev Ji's dear friend and traveling companion was a Muslim, the cornerstone of Harmandir Sahib Ji was laid by a Muslim, and we mustn't forget Sheik Fareed and Bhagat Kabir whose writings are included in Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj, our eternal Guru were Muslims.

I remember seeing birs of Guru ji burnt in the Sikh Genocide of Delhi, 1984.  These pictures are very painful to look at.  Here, see what I mean.


 I cannot wish this on anyone.  Let all Sikhs everywhere condemn this idiot's plan to burn the Holy Quran.  Whether or not this happens, the very idea is so repulsive that it must be vociferously condemned.

06 September 2010

In Tribute - Shaheed Jaswant Singh Khalra

SHAHEED JASWANT SINGH KHALRA
 Fifteen years ago today, KP- Gill and his minions kidnapped, tortured and eventually killed on of the Panth's brightest star, the human rights activist Bhai Sardar Jaswant Singh Khalra.  He was, of course just one of thousands, tens of thousands, lakhs who disappeared in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s.

KP-  GILL
He dedicated his life to tracking down those who had disappeared, to find out what really happened to them.  He discovered the truth and for that he had to die.

Please watch this video, courtesy of the Sikh Activist Network (SAN).  It is in Punjabi with English subtitles.  Please take the 18 minutes necessary and watch it in memory of Shaheed Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra ji.



Jaswant Singh Khalra's Last International Speech from SikhActivistNetwork on Vimeo.

http://vimeo.com/14741568

He was not secretly cremated.  It is reported that after being held and tortured for over a month, pieces of his body were thrown into the Sutlej River on 24 October 1995.  The next time you look into the waters of this one of the Five Rivers remember our brother's body floating, in pieces, down its waters. 

Sutlej River in the 1980s and 1990s

There were 6 Punjab Policemen charged with his murder.  Five were convicted and awarded life sentences.  The sixth was acquitted.  The most guilty criminal of the gang, KP- Gill remains at large and securely protected by the government of India (OK).  To read more about Jaswant Singh  Khalra ji and the convictions, go to the ensaaf page



 If it is at all possible for you, please attend SAN's conference, Where Did They All Go:  Jaswant Singh Khalra Memorial Weekend, 11-12 September 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada  It will be hosted by Jaswant Singh Khalra ji's wife, Bibi Paramjit Kaur Khalra and it will be possible to meet and talk with her.

09 August 2010

FREE PAL SINGH

Bhai Pal Singh Ji


The illustrious Punjab police are at it again. Once again an innocent Sikh has been framed, arrested and tortured by the protectors of the law in East Punjab.  This time it was Bhai Pal Singh, 60, a French citizen, Sikh preacher and humantarian worker, especially among the poor farmers of Punjab.


Although the cops say that they dug up weapons, ammunition and explosives, the neighbours say that nothing was dug at all.  Is it possible that the Punjab police, not noted for their good intelligence (pun intended), have mistaken "Tat Khalsa," a religious movement with "Babbar Khalsa," a proKhalistan group, believed to be terroristic by some.  Here is one instance of what seems to be such confusion:   Tat Khalsa supporting activities of Sikh terrorists, claims Punjab police.

Don't be fooled by the turbans;  these are not friends of the Sikhs!
There is so much I would like to say, but words fail me.  We all know about the excesses of the Punjab Police.  They would not hesitate to torture even to death an innocent Sikh man who has done nothing but good.  France has done nothing, although he is a French citizen.   It falls on the shoulders of the worldwide Sangat to champion this dear brother and make his case known to the world.  Is this not one more argument that we need our own country to respond to such things? 

One of the men arrested with him has been severely tortured and is near death. Pal Singh's health is very frail and it is mostly likely he could not survive torture at the gentle hands of the Punjab police.  Harminder Kaur, in the Facebook page, Free Pal Singh, reports that "a familly friend has visited Pal Singh and said he was very weak."
 

So what can any of us do, other than sit and wring our hands?  The first thing to do is to be informed.  Here is some help to get you started.

Information is not easy to come by.  This in itself is suspicious to me.  I am relying primarily on two Facebook pages, Free Pal Singh and Voices For Freedom.   I ask you to go there and join these two pages.  Facebook is sometimes silly and frivolous, true;  it is also very powerful. 

First, the chronology, as Reported by Voices For Freedom:
Timeline of events:
Based on the reports received by Voices For Freedom

-17th July: Pal Singh was arrested at 7:00pm, as per an eye witness.
-17th July: Pal Singh was dropped at his house at 1pm.

-22nd July: Pal Singh was again arrested at at 1:30pm. No charges were levied against him.

-23rd July: The Panjab Police raids his home in Village Dandowal, Jalandhar district at 3 different times on the same day: 4:00 am, 1:00pm and 7:00pm while he was still in custody. No charges were levied on him.

-26th July: Pal Singh legal counsel, Rajwinder Singh Bains, files habeas corpus for Pal Singh

-27th July: Panjab Police presents Pal Singh in front of the magistrate late at night and gets his remand extended till 30th July.

- morning 28th July: the habeas corpus petition was taken up by Justice Arvind Kumar who had appointed a warrant officer to trace Pal Singh
- afternoon 28th July: The Panjab Police in a press conference says that Pal Singh was arrested from Jalandhar. As from eye witness’s and reports received by VFF, which are corroborated by the Times of India report, Pal Singh was arrested from his home village, a clear discrepancy.

- 30th July: Punjab police presented Pal Singh in front of the judge and requested another remand of 7 days, the judge allowed 1 day

- 31st July, Punjab police presented Pal singh in court and the out the outcome – not known yet

Based on information from a village fellow Gurmukh Singh who reported, said that the Panjab Police took Pal Singh to his fields alone, sat with him for almost an hour in the field and then took him to his residence and from their drove him back to the jail. No news or journalists were invited and nothing was seen being carried with them. Next morning zeenews reports that that “Pal Singh told the interrogators that he had kept a large quantity of explosives, arms and ammunitions near his residence at his village Dhandowal. He led a police team to the spot and handed over the consignment consisting of 15 Kilogram RDX, 3 detonators, 45 caliber sub-machine gun, 150 cartridges, 45 caliber, 1 Magazine AK 47, 100 cartridges of AK 47 and 3 packets fuse wire, the police added”

Gaping gaps appear in the story requiring a re-investigation and a CBI enquiry. Voices For Freedom has contacted the National Human Rights Commission in India, seeking the safety of Pal Singh and to initiate a CBI inquiry.

Panjab police has a nefarious record of violating human rights and making concocted stories.
*********************************************
Next, a few questions and links:

Who is Pal Singh?
 


What is the official story of his arrest?  This is a lot of nonsense, but it is useful to know the official story.

Click on picture to see larger, readable page.
A photo from Times of India of their story. 

What really happened at his arrest? (See the Timeline above)
What can I do?

Here is a list of human rights organisations that we would like to mobilise to help Bhai Pal Singh ji.  Please visit each of them asking for help for our brother.


Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org/

Avocats Sans Frontières
http://www.avocatssansfrontieres-france.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=173&Itemid=129&lang=en

The Advocates for Human Rights
http://www.mnadvocates.org/

Giste
http://www.gisti.org/

Human Rights Watch
http://www.hrw.org/


International Coalition against Enforced Disappearances
http://www.icaed.org/the-coalition/


UN Watch
http://www.unwatch.org/site/c.bdKKISNqEmG/b.1277549/k.D7FE/UN_Watch__Monitoring_the_UN_Promoting_Human_Rights.htm

World Organisation Against Torture
http://www.omct.org/


Asian Human Rights Commission (Asia)
http://www.ahrchk.net/

Asian Centre for Human Rights (Asia)
http://www.achrweb.org/countries/india.htm


All pictures are from the Free Pal Singh Facebook page except that of the Punjab Police, which is from in.com.

Khaliblog Busniess



I have nicknamed The Road To Khalistan as the Khaliblog.  I hope you don't mind.

This blog has been around for quite a while now.  The first post is dated 26 January 2007.  That's not a huge amount of time, but long enough to maybe need a bit of housecleaning.  I notice it is loading rather slowly.  I know this can be annoying.  In order to speed things up, I'd like to clean up the sidebar.  I'd like your opinions on what should be removed to speed things up.   If you'd rather tolerate the slower loading and have me leave it as it is, I'd like to know that, as well.

Today, I have added a new link I hope you will use.  It is listed as Why Khalistan - 1.

About the header.  I have been asked several times in e-mails, "What is that building that Sant ji (or sometimes not such a complimentary name) is pointing at?"  I'm sure those of you in Occupied Khalistan and/or India recognise it, but the rest of you might not.  That is the Indian House of Parliament.  I am sure it annoys the GoI (Government of India) agents who regularly read this blog.

There has been so much controversy going on in the Panth that I have not been commenting on.  This is because I cannot see any good I could do by addressing these and I do see that I could possibly do some harm.  In this case, I think silence is my best move.  One of my aims is to unite the Panth, especially among the Khalsa.  Remember, whatever our differences we are sisters and brothers and we really do need each other.





One thing has happened that has me sad and angry and hurt.  I believe it is also something that all Sikhs can agree on.  That is the arrest of Pal Singh.  That needs a separate post which will be up soon. 

Picture:  Obeisance by Koshyk
Used under a Creative Commons Licence