http://www.wichaar.com/videos/musicvideo.php?vid=196f02609
I hope all parties come together to solve this without a war.
About Me
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
brand new Airbus 340-600 crashed because of stupidity of Arab Air Crew
i had received an email about how a brand new Airbus 34-600 in it's hangar in Toulouse, France without a single hour of airtime because a bunch of a Arab Flight Crew of ABU DHABI AIRCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES (ADAT). I thought it was a hoax making rounds in the mailboxes.
It turns out this story is true. Here are the pictures and story.
I am glad nobody got killed and hope all recover well.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/airplane/etihad.asp
It turns out this story is true. Here are the pictures and story.
I am glad nobody got killed and hope all recover well.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/airplane/etihad.asp
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
from a song.... advice
advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it: is a way of fishing the past from a disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts, and recycling it for more than it's worth.
What does Divali mean for us as Sikhs?
The sixth Guru, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee was falsely imprisoned for spurious reasons by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. After some months it was declared that Guru Jee could walk free. Like Guru Jee there were other prisoners of conscience in Gwalior Fort (the prison),specifically 52 Hindu Kings who made a heartfelt plea to Guru Jee begging him to negotiate their release also. The ocean of mercy Guru Jee listened attentively to their plea and showered his grace upon them and told them not to worry and that he would negotiate their release.
Guru Jee told the Emperor he would only leave the prison on the condition that the 52 Hindu Kings are freed also. The Emperor being a man entangled in his own ego and pride of intelligence, replied that Guru Jee could walk free with as many Kings who could hold onto his clothing on the day of his release. Guru the fountain of knowledge easily got around the condition by getting a robe tailored with 52tassels on it. On the day of His release Guru Jee walked out of Gwalior Fort with all 52 Hindu Kings holding onto one tassel each,this auspicious occasion is referred to as "Bandi Shorr Divas – the day of emancipation. " Guru Jee did not only free the 52 Hindu Kings from prison, He also showered His grace upon them and freed them from the transmigration of the soul, freeing them from the cycle of births and deaths. Each and everyone of us also begs for this freedom:
For saking all other doors I have come to your door. Preserve my honour by offering the support of your arm, liberate me, I am your humble servant. (Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee)
I have come to the sanctuary of the formless and emancipating Lord,who destroys all sufferings. (Sri Guru Arjan Dev Jee, Limb 624 – Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee)
May Guru Jee bless us with spiritual and physical liberation also.
Bandhi Shorr Divas was months prior to Divali. Upon release from Gwalior Fort Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee made a tour of Delhi and other regions, then arrangements to go to Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar were made. When he reached Amritsar Sahib it was Divali and the Sikhs celebrated the release of Guru Jee with fireworks and festivities.
Relevance today
The world over there are countless prisoners of consciousness, held under false fabricated charges and/or those held for standing up for justice, freedom and righteousness. Please light a candle for these prisoners, non-Sikhs and Sikhs, don't forget Guru Jee's example offering Hindu Kings. He was benevolent, humane and had a profound love for one and all, may we develop such divine virtues. May we all endeavour to assist and support such prisoners and at the very least we can all make a heartfelt prayer that Guru Jee blesses all prisoners with Chardi Kala/High Spirits.
One cannot begin to imagine losing freedom of movement and action, we can only try to empathise with such prisoners. Regardless of the regime and it's tyranny, no man-made authority can imprison the Sikh Spirit and Sikhs still happily go to the gallows for standing up for justice, freedom and righteousness. The Sikh Spirit cannot be imprisoned. Prominent Sikhs currently imprisoned include Dr.Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, Bhai Deya Singh Lahoria, Bhai Balwant Singh, Bhai Paramjeet Singh Bheora, Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, Bhai Paramjeet Singh Dhadhi and the list goes on and on. Just imagine beingthe parent of a child who entered militancy or quite simply`disappeared' in the 80's and 90's in Punjab. Many of these parents light a candle at Divali, praying and wishing that the light of hope may still bless them with a vision of a fit and well son or daughter.Or they pray in despair that may God nurture their offspring wherever they may be.
So when you light a candle and eat a sweet at Divali, please spare a thought, that you are free and are not bound by the restraints of prison life. Lest we forget, lets light a lamp to ensure the rays of freedom shine through all of humanity.
Harjinder Singh
Student of Damdami Taksaa
lwww.akaalpublishers.com
Guru Jee told the Emperor he would only leave the prison on the condition that the 52 Hindu Kings are freed also. The Emperor being a man entangled in his own ego and pride of intelligence, replied that Guru Jee could walk free with as many Kings who could hold onto his clothing on the day of his release. Guru the fountain of knowledge easily got around the condition by getting a robe tailored with 52tassels on it. On the day of His release Guru Jee walked out of Gwalior Fort with all 52 Hindu Kings holding onto one tassel each,this auspicious occasion is referred to as "Bandi Shorr Divas – the day of emancipation. " Guru Jee did not only free the 52 Hindu Kings from prison, He also showered His grace upon them and freed them from the transmigration of the soul, freeing them from the cycle of births and deaths. Each and everyone of us also begs for this freedom:
For saking all other doors I have come to your door. Preserve my honour by offering the support of your arm, liberate me, I am your humble servant. (Sri Guru Gobind Singh Jee)
I have come to the sanctuary of the formless and emancipating Lord,who destroys all sufferings. (Sri Guru Arjan Dev Jee, Limb 624 – Sri Guru Granth Sahib Jee)
May Guru Jee bless us with spiritual and physical liberation also.
Bandhi Shorr Divas was months prior to Divali. Upon release from Gwalior Fort Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Jee made a tour of Delhi and other regions, then arrangements to go to Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar were made. When he reached Amritsar Sahib it was Divali and the Sikhs celebrated the release of Guru Jee with fireworks and festivities.
Relevance today
The world over there are countless prisoners of consciousness, held under false fabricated charges and/or those held for standing up for justice, freedom and righteousness. Please light a candle for these prisoners, non-Sikhs and Sikhs, don't forget Guru Jee's example offering Hindu Kings. He was benevolent, humane and had a profound love for one and all, may we develop such divine virtues. May we all endeavour to assist and support such prisoners and at the very least we can all make a heartfelt prayer that Guru Jee blesses all prisoners with Chardi Kala/High Spirits.
One cannot begin to imagine losing freedom of movement and action, we can only try to empathise with such prisoners. Regardless of the regime and it's tyranny, no man-made authority can imprison the Sikh Spirit and Sikhs still happily go to the gallows for standing up for justice, freedom and righteousness. The Sikh Spirit cannot be imprisoned. Prominent Sikhs currently imprisoned include Dr.Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, Bhai Deya Singh Lahoria, Bhai Balwant Singh, Bhai Paramjeet Singh Bheora, Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, Bhai Paramjeet Singh Dhadhi and the list goes on and on. Just imagine beingthe parent of a child who entered militancy or quite simply`disappeared' in the 80's and 90's in Punjab. Many of these parents light a candle at Divali, praying and wishing that the light of hope may still bless them with a vision of a fit and well son or daughter.Or they pray in despair that may God nurture their offspring wherever they may be.
So when you light a candle and eat a sweet at Divali, please spare a thought, that you are free and are not bound by the restraints of prison life. Lest we forget, lets light a lamp to ensure the rays of freedom shine through all of humanity.
Harjinder Singh
Student of Damdami Taksaa
lwww.akaalpublishers.com
Monday, October 27, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Internet, food for the brain?
Internet might also be good for the old noggin. University of California researchers believe surfing the Web improves brain function, particularly "complex reasoning" and decision-making.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7667610.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7667610.stm
Friday, September 12, 2008
Painting of me.
My buddy Einar Fjeldheim from Facebook made a wonderful painting of me :)
See at http://artofae.de/
See at http://artofae.de/
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Warren Buffett's 6 smart tips on investing
Not all businesses are created equal
Buffett is often heard saying that of the thousands of businesses around, there are only a handful of businesses that pass through his screen test. He calls these businesses 'franchises' and believes they should have the following attributes
Buffett says, "An economic franchise arises from a product or service that: (1) Is needed or desired, (2) Is thought by its customers to have no close substitute, and (3) Is not subject to price regulation."
If the company under evaluation has enjoyed a long track record of greater than average returns on capital as well as profit margins then there is a good chance that the company qualifies for the definition of a 'franchise.'
Price is what you pay, value is what you get
He says: "The value of any stock, bond or business today is determined by the cash inflows and outflows - discounted at an appropriate interest rate - that can be expected to occur during the remaining life of the asset. Note that the formula is the same for stocks as for bonds."
The technique Buffett has mentioned about is also popularly known as the discounted cash flow, or the DCF.
Ignorance is bliss
He says, "What counts for most people in investing is not how much they know, but rather how realistically they define what they don't know. An investor needs to do very few things right as long as he or she avoids big mistakes."
Tackling the 'forecaster' in you
Buffett thinks that he is not a forecaster and, hence, he relies on a concept called as 'Margin of Safety' (MOS). What is this MOS? Let us hear in his own words.
He says: "We insist on a margin of safety in our purchase price. If we calculate the value of a common stock to be only slightly higher than its price, we're not interested in buying. We believe this margin-of-safety principle, so strongly emphasized by Ben Graham, to be the cornerstone of investment success."
When you buy, please ensure that your DCF-based value per share is at least 50 per cent higher than the current share price so that even if your assumptions turn out to be little aggressive or something unexpected happens to the company, the loss of your initial invested amount is minimized.
The all-important 'SELL' decision
"If the work is done right while investing in a stock, the time to sell it is never." Furthermore, he adds, "Our holding period is forever."
In Buffett, we have someone who has walked the talk and has remained invested in business for years together. Indeed, the urge to sell is very high, but you would do your investment returns a world of good, if you continue to stick with good, solid 'franchises' for years together.
Resource: rediff new (http://www.rediff.com)
Buffett is often heard saying that of the thousands of businesses around, there are only a handful of businesses that pass through his screen test. He calls these businesses 'franchises' and believes they should have the following attributes
Buffett says, "An economic franchise arises from a product or service that: (1) Is needed or desired, (2) Is thought by its customers to have no close substitute, and (3) Is not subject to price regulation."
If the company under evaluation has enjoyed a long track record of greater than average returns on capital as well as profit margins then there is a good chance that the company qualifies for the definition of a 'franchise.'
Price is what you pay, value is what you get
He says: "The value of any stock, bond or business today is determined by the cash inflows and outflows - discounted at an appropriate interest rate - that can be expected to occur during the remaining life of the asset. Note that the formula is the same for stocks as for bonds."
The technique Buffett has mentioned about is also popularly known as the discounted cash flow, or the DCF.
Ignorance is bliss
He says, "What counts for most people in investing is not how much they know, but rather how realistically they define what they don't know. An investor needs to do very few things right as long as he or she avoids big mistakes."
Tackling the 'forecaster' in you
Buffett thinks that he is not a forecaster and, hence, he relies on a concept called as 'Margin of Safety' (MOS). What is this MOS? Let us hear in his own words.
He says: "We insist on a margin of safety in our purchase price. If we calculate the value of a common stock to be only slightly higher than its price, we're not interested in buying. We believe this margin-of-safety principle, so strongly emphasized by Ben Graham, to be the cornerstone of investment success."
When you buy, please ensure that your DCF-based value per share is at least 50 per cent higher than the current share price so that even if your assumptions turn out to be little aggressive or something unexpected happens to the company, the loss of your initial invested amount is minimized.
The all-important 'SELL' decision
"If the work is done right while investing in a stock, the time to sell it is never." Furthermore, he adds, "Our holding period is forever."
In Buffett, we have someone who has walked the talk and has remained invested in business for years together. Indeed, the urge to sell is very high, but you would do your investment returns a world of good, if you continue to stick with good, solid 'franchises' for years together.
The golden rules
Having taken you through the entire process of investing, which probably comes closest to the way Buffett does it, we would like to sign off with two of his rules that we believe can transform you into a much better investor.
They are:
- Rule #1: Do not lose money; and
- Rule #2: Always remember the rule #1.
Resource: rediff new (http://www.rediff.com)
'Best Airport Worldwide
According to Airports Council International' 'Best Airport Worldwide Quality Survey' for 2007 the top spots went to three Asian airports -- Seoul's Incheon (serving 25-49 million passengers annually), Kuala Lumpur International Airport (15-25 million) and Singapore's Changi Airport(25-49 million).
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sikhi
Sikhi is not a belief but a way of life and Gurbani gives us the tools to live and create the life of Miri-Piri by attaining sehaj- Gurmat fulcrum.
Beliefs are for the dogmatic religions based on subjective truths whereas Sikhi is all about relative/objective reality.
Beliefs are for the dogmatic religions based on subjective truths whereas Sikhi is all about relative/objective reality.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Baba Farid said
If you can enlight yourself, you can meet Me.
And meeting Me, will provide you eternal bliss.
If you can remain to be Mine, the World will be yours.
And meeting Me, will provide you eternal bliss.
If you can remain to be Mine, the World will be yours.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Presented about Sikhism at a public school.
At St. Gabriels Secondary School here in Singapore, i spoke for 20 minutes on the topic of Sikhs and Sikhism to the students during morning assembly. I covered general topics on the Sikh religion, Sikh culture and articles of the Sikh faith.
Thank you to Prof. Jaswant Singh Master Ji and Sikh Center for the opportunity.
Prof Jaswant Singh has been my guide to Sikhism for the past few months and we have become very close friends from the brotherhood of sangat that Prof Jaswant Singh leads here in Singapore.
It was the first time i did some community work directly for Sikhism to the general public.
I have spoke at many IT conferences about technology all over the world and i have been told many times i have the talent of public speaking. Often i did not have to prepare for presentations and could just start talking from nothing once on stage. Finally i have been given the opportunity to use this God given talent for propagating Sikhism.
I hope He blesses me with more opportunities such as this.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh
Saturday, July 19, 2008
we all humans after all oh yogis, sadhus and holy ones
A self-proclaimed master of yoga who performed miracles that the people of Ramnagar village in India seemed to believe in, the baba announced in front of thousands of his followers on July 11 that he would meditate underground for seven days for peace in the world and the good of all.
but.... clearly, Baba Shiv Dass made a mistake he would not be able to regret.
Read more about the story at http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080719/main6.htm
but.... clearly, Baba Shiv Dass made a mistake he would not be able to regret.
Read more about the story at http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080719/main6.htm
Friday, July 18, 2008
trying to find out how universe came into being?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7512586.stm
I copy a portion of the news report below:
At allotted points along the tunnel, the beams will cross paths, smashing into one another with cataclysmic force. Scientists hope to see new particles in the debris of these collisions, revealing fundamental new insights into the nature of the cosmos and how it came into being.
I copy a portion of the news report below:
At allotted points along the tunnel, the beams will cross paths, smashing into one another with cataclysmic force. Scientists hope to see new particles in the debris of these collisions, revealing fundamental new insights into the nature of the cosmos and how it came into being.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Re-incarnation revisited.
The topic about Sikhs believing in re-incarnation or not often shows up in Sikh religion based forums. Here is one written by Manmohan Singh (Baveja)Sydney - Australia, that i agree with. It is also how Prof Jaswant Singh from Sikh Center, Singapore desribed it.
As stated in Gurbani, the body is formed of elements and instilled with Jyot, which origniate from Ek-Onkar or Akal Purukh or Parmesar or Nirankar, as one may prefer to call. On end of any particular life of a human, the Jyot re-merges with the Source ( Akal Purukh or Ek-Onkar etc.) and the physical body made up of elements disintegrates to re-merge with the similar elements in environment. Whether on calls the Jyot, as stated in Gurmat, Soul or Atma, is another matter, but it MUST not be confused with commonly understood mythological form of Soul, which is believed to move from one life body to another and at times it is also believed to be without a body, when some believe it beomes a Ghost.
Thus, let us restrict this name to Jyot, as is stated in Gurbani and avoid use of Soul in relation to Sikh beliefs, as per Gurmat.
One has to first grasp the concept of Akal Purukh or Ek - Onkar or Nirankar or Parmatma or Parmesar. For this one has to stay focused on the defination of Ek - Onkar at the start of Gurbani in SGGS, which is Ominpresent and Formless. This clearly expresses Its existance in the immediate envronment of us all. Thus on end of one life form the Jyot merges back with the Ek -Onkar, present in its immediate vicinity and the body of course with the source elements in the earth and atmosphere.
As stated in Gurbani, the body is formed of elements and instilled with Jyot, which origniate from Ek-Onkar or Akal Purukh or Parmesar or Nirankar, as one may prefer to call. On end of any particular life of a human, the Jyot re-merges with the Source ( Akal Purukh or Ek-Onkar etc.) and the physical body made up of elements disintegrates to re-merge with the similar elements in environment. Whether on calls the Jyot, as stated in Gurmat, Soul or Atma, is another matter, but it MUST not be confused with commonly understood mythological form of Soul, which is believed to move from one life body to another and at times it is also believed to be without a body, when some believe it beomes a Ghost.
Thus, let us restrict this name to Jyot, as is stated in Gurbani and avoid use of Soul in relation to Sikh beliefs, as per Gurmat.
One has to first grasp the concept of Akal Purukh or Ek - Onkar or Nirankar or Parmatma or Parmesar. For this one has to stay focused on the defination of Ek - Onkar at the start of Gurbani in SGGS, which is Ominpresent and Formless. This clearly expresses Its existance in the immediate envronment of us all. Thus on end of one life form the Jyot merges back with the Ek -Onkar, present in its immediate vicinity and the body of course with the source elements in the earth and atmosphere.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Sikh soldiers in Africa
Undeterred by a warning cross where Hutu rebels recently attacked park rangers, UN forces advance up Nyiragongo volcano. The rebels cut trees and produce charcoal in the park, a lucrative trade that is destroying the forest. Their presence is also keeping out tourists. On this patrol, the blue-turbaned Sikh peacekeepers routed the rebels without firing a shot.
The Virunga National Park (formerly Albert National Park) lies from the Virunga Mountains, to the Rwenzori Mountains, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda. Covering 7,800 square kilometres (3,000 sq mi) it was established in 1925 as Africa's first national park. It was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1979. In later years it has become known for its mountain gorillas, although poaching and the Congo Civil War have seriously damaged its wildlife population.
More stories and photos here:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/07/virunga/stirton-photography
Audrey says
"We are, each of us, angels with only one wing,
and we can only fly embracing each other."
– Luciano Decrescenzo
and we can only fly embracing each other."
– Luciano Decrescenzo
Monday, June 30, 2008
Please watch this.
Firewall: In Defense of the Nation State
http://www.larouchepac.com/media/2008/02/23/firewall-defense-nation-state.html
or download the wmv or mp4 files.
You will learn a lot
http://www.larouchepac.com/media/2008/02/23/firewall-defense-nation-state.html
or download the wmv or mp4 files.
You will learn a lot
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Pupl Fiction's best quote
Ezekiel 25:17. The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you.
Pulp Fiction - DECODED
Pulp Fiction is a my favourite movie and enjoying watching it when i can. Recently saw it on a flight from Singapore to New York.
Here is a link to a write up of Pulp Fiction, a detailed analysis.
http://benjaminfleischer.com/docs/pulpfict.htm
Here is a link to a write up of Pulp Fiction, a detailed analysis.
http://benjaminfleischer.com/docs/pulpfict.htm
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
FIVE RULES TO KEEP YOURSELF HAPPY
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
from Virinder S. Grewal Ji.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
from Virinder S. Grewal Ji.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
What an idiot.
from the BBC:
Dior drops Sharon Stone in China *
Sharon Stone is dropped by Christian Dior in China after saying the recent earthquake was the result of bad "karma".
Full story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/entertainment/7425574.stm
With so many people suffering the loss of family members and friends and lost of limbs. Hey Sharon, did you see the little girl who got one her legs amputated and she had a big dream of being a dancer when she grew up? What bloody karma was she up against?
Think before you speak Sharon. Think.
Even the tibetan are not enjoying seeing the earthquake vistims.
Dior drops Sharon Stone in China *
Sharon Stone is dropped by Christian Dior in China after saying the recent earthquake was the result of bad "karma".
Full story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/entertainment/7425574.stm
With so many people suffering the loss of family members and friends and lost of limbs. Hey Sharon, did you see the little girl who got one her legs amputated and she had a big dream of being a dancer when she grew up? What bloody karma was she up against?
Think before you speak Sharon. Think.
Even the tibetan are not enjoying seeing the earthquake vistims.
‘The Rise of Khalsa’ makes it to NY Film Festival
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080528/punjab1.htm#12
The History Of Sikhs In China
It is on record that Sikhs soldiers were used to fight in some of the opium
wars with the Chinese by the British towards the end of the opium wars in
1848 circa.
Some of the present day Sikh heartlands of the Punjab were already under the
East India Company, east of the Satluj and further South East of Beas,
before the Sikh wars.These areas did not form prt of the Sikh empire.It leads me
to beleive there were already some Sikh units raised by the British from these
regioons.Their role during the Anglo Sikh wars is also very ambigous; both
the british and Sikh sources have played these down in history.These Sikh
units may have been the vanguard of the British units in the Opium wars.
But by 1851 another rebellion called the Taiping rebellion started against
the British and other Europeans, and to quell this the British brought in The
Ludhiana Regiment.There is a picture of the Sikhs from the Ludhiana taken
around1860 in China on record;where they are shown resting by some bombed out
buildings.
The Sikhs standing tall and being tough and burly had a good effect upon the
usually sly and naughty prankish gangsterish section of chinese population,
who created a nuisance generally. The British began to recruit more Sikhs to
police at the the international settlement at Shanghai . This was often
called The Shanghai International Police. The force, initially composed of
Europeans, mainly Britons, and after 1864 including Chinese, was over the next 90
years expanded to include a Sikh Branch (established 1884), from officers who
retired or left from Sikh military detachments in China. This force reached
about 800 men, almost all Sikhs. The Sikhs were very effective in keeping the
generally lawless elements of the population, under effective control. The
Chinese had no respect neither the etiquette to understand the rules and
regulations of the administration, and would spit and urinate anywhere. The
rickshaw riders would ride like wild mad riders and often cause unnecessary traffic
chaos. Often a Sikh policeman would catch hold of two of unruly riders and
lift them up to bang their heads together , that was enough to put fear into
the chinese. When gangs of unruly Chinese gathered to create a nuisance with
gambling or loud arguments , the appearance of a single majestic looking Sikh
in their red turbans, was enough to send the mobs fleeing. It was apparent the
British had given their Sikh police a free hand in dealing with Chinese, and
the Sikhs did not take this lightly. The police had no sympathy for the
unruly elements of the Chinese, who were seen as nothing more than opium smoking
lay abouts involved in mostly gambling or opium gang activities.
More Sikhs armed with heavy sticks were employed as riot police in the
rough-and-tumble streets of Shanghai.[1930] The British police instructor,
William Ewart Fairbairn, a pioneer in close-quarters battle and riot police
tactics, found the Sikhs to be very effective at quelling disturbances due to their
gatka-driven skills.
The Chinese referred to Sikhs as Hong Tou A-San — a reference to their red
turbans (Hong means red in Mandarin while Tou refers to the head),
An excerpt from Sin City, by Ralph Shaw, a British journalist in Shanghai
from 1937 to 1949, reflects full of racial slurs, as was typical of the
colonial racist administration which in these times are unacceptable;- "The Sikhs
had a vey large community in Shanghai. Most of them were in the police.
Others were watchmen. They were British subjects because India was part of the
Empire. The ex-soldiers amongst them had been recruited for police service, on
traffic duties, in the riot squad or the mounted section, and on retirement
from the force they found their services in demand as bank guards, security men
on the wharves, at the city's warehouses and the big business hongs or as
commissionaires at hotels, restaurants and night-clubs. The Sikhs loved money.
They lent it but at such exorbitant rates of interest that their debtors, who
were plentiful, were likely to remain insolvent for the remainder of their
natural lives. Every other Sikh had a sideline - money-lending. This produced
many appearances in court as plaintiffs against Empire citizens who had
defaulted on promissory notes.
Judge Grant-Jones administered the law in conformity with the strict
principles of British justice. Nevertheless he never missed an opportunity to
express astonishment - and stern condemnation - of some rates of interest levied
by the Sikhs or to question their veracity under oath.
On one occasion a big, bearded Sikh moneylender was addressed by the judge:
'The extent of your extortion has only been equaled by the amount of the
fabrications you have given in evidence. One day I will meet a member of your
community who will tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
truth, an occasion which I shall celebrate as the miraculous attainment of the
impossible.'
Then the judge would look over to me - he knew me as a shorthand writer -
just to make sure that I'd got down what he wanted to be printed. A slight nod
from me and he would continue the hearing.
By 1890s, there is no doubt there was a thriving community of a few
thousands of Sikhs in Shanghai . The first Gurdwara went up in the same year.
According to the records of a building in Shanghai, this was at at 326 Dong Bao
Xing Road . This is the Gurdwara referred to by Dhian Chand , an Indian Hockey
player who visited the gurdwara in 1932.He writes" ...The atmosphere in the
city was quite tense due to the Sino-Japnese clash over Manchuria . We were
told to keep within bounds and avoid any trouble spots. We visited a fairly
large Sikh Gurduara on the outskirts of the city. It was said to be the
oldest Gurdwara in Shanghai . The Gurdwara had suffered much damage in clashes
between the Chinese and Japanese soldiers. As we came out of the Gurduara ,
Japanese soldiers eyed us with suspicion. We had lunch on board our ship and
sailed for Kobe at about 4 pm "The records of the Gurdwara at this site are still
available on some Chinese sites.
On the outbreak of the Boxer Rising; in China in the summer of 1900, Sikh
troops were dispatched from India to China to join the international forces
engaged in relieving the legations besieged at Peking and suppressing the
rebellion.
The 14th Sikhs, under Colonel Hogge, left Nowshera by train on the 7th of
July for Bombay . However, Lieutenant Currie contracted cholera during a halt
at Khandwa and the Regiment had to be, segregated and their departure to China
was delayed. The Regiment embarked in the'S.S. Formosa' at Bombay on the
12th of August and sailed to Shanghai via Singapore and Hong Kong. The 14th
Sikhs disembarked on the 6th of September and went into camps just outside the
International Settlement. By this time the besieged legations at Peking had
been relieved and there was very little further fighting. Again Sikhs were the
leading units in this lifting of the seize.This is shoen in the Hollywood
film made in the late 60s, named Boxer Rebellion.
The 14th Sikh Regiment joined the 2nd Sikh/British Brigade, which was at
that time garrisoning Shanghai . Conditions there were entirely peaceful and
the Brigade remained there until April, 1901. For the British officers the
seven months spent in this city were a most pleasant period. There were
excellent facilities for sport and games, and hospitality abounded.
By the spring of 1901 it was decided to reduce the British forces in China
and the 2nd Brigade was broken up. However, the 14th Sikhs were amongst those
regiments selected to remain in China and were transferred farther north.
The Regiment left Shanghai by sea for Taku and then proceeded by train to
Yangtsun, where it was responsible for protecting the Peking-Tientsin railway,
which was at that time a British responsibility. The Sikhs were split up into
small detachments over a large section of the railway and were employed in
patrolling the railway line and occasional expeditions after bandits. There
are several pictures availble showing this heavy burly Sikhs in warm clothing
patrolling the Peking Tientsin railway line.
The 14th Sikhs finally left China on the 29th of July, 1902 , sailing from
Taku on the Royal Indian Marine ship Clive.
It must also be remembered many Sikhs headed for Shanghai on their way to
Vancouver and Fiji Islands. Many Sikhs from Shanghai joined the Koma Gata Maru
alias Guru Nanak Jahaz as it was renamed by Baba Gurdit Singh on their way to
the West coast of USA and Canada . There was permanently a very large Sikh
community in Shanghai, until the late 60s when the Mao Revolution made it
necessary for them to leave China altogther.
In these present time there is already an appearance of Sikhs being noticed
in China especially at major Hotels in Peking and Shanghai and Wenzhou ,
where they serve as door men, and concierge handlers and are asked to wear their
turbans to give the authentics of the 1930s era. One such Sikh working in
Peking says "Sometimes when really old, over 70-years-old, Chinese walk by, they
are very happy and tell me that they remember seeing Sikhs like me on the
streets in their youth"
The Sikh troops played a major role in lifting the seize of Shanghai and
Peking at the turn of the century. By 1930s there were said to be two more
Gurdwaras in Shanghai . More Gurdwaras sprang up-one in Canton and one in Taku.
Many of the Sikhs married local Chinese women and settled peacefully there.
With the communists arriving many families left China by way of Singapore and
Penang . Many of them would alight at Singapore and Penang to refresh. It is on
record that dozens of Guru Granth saroops were carried by these families
back from China . But a substantial number of Sikhs who were Chinese state
citizens stayed back and appeared to have lived peacefully until 1963.
May I also mention a Sikh from Taiping went to china and joined the
Kuomintang army to fight the communists and was promoted to the rank of a colonel by
Chaing kai Shek.He spoke Chinese very fluently and on return married a
Chinese lady.[I need to check his name, from somewhere in my notes]
By 1963, there were still about 1200 Sikh families living in China. However
in the decades that followed the founding of the People's Republic of China ,
the country's Sikh population virtually disappeared slowly . As Hindi-Chini
Bhai Bhai transmuted into Hindi-Chini Bye-Bye, the mutual animosity that
followed the Sino-Indian border war led to Indian faces in Chinese cities
becoming notable only for their absence.
But the Sino-Indian war and later the red revolution made it impossible for
Indians to stay on in China . The Gurdwaras in Canton and the other cities
were shut down, followed by the Shanghai Gurduara lastly. Another stream of
Sikhs was seen leaving to Hong Kong and Manila , and some on their way to India
via Malaysia and Singapore .
It was in late 1963, the Straits Times carried an article about the last
batch of Sikhs, about 260, many with Chinese wives left Shanghai back to India ,
via Hong Kong by air. It was reported they carried the last of Saroop of
Guru Granth sahib along with them shutting the last Sikh Gurdwara , in Shanghai
.
For many years I have been trying to trace the location of these Gurdwaras
in china with out success. I was offered a fully paid trip to go to China in
2003 by one Sikh to research this, but I could not do that on some one else's
expense .I refused I hope to be able to go in about two years time as I plan
to take early retirement.
It was only not too long ago, I came across a more definite address for one
of the Gurdwaras in Shanghai as at Dong Bao Xing Road.I also have a picture
of the Sikh Gurdwara that was set up in the International settlement. It is
quite majestic building with many Sikhs gathered outside. However, I am not
able to establish its address. I have also obtained another picture which I am
told is a Sikh Gurdwara in Shanghai , but I am not quite sure about that
claim. It is in color, I was told it no longer is a Gurdwara and appears to be in
the middle of a built up city center. I have forwarded a copy of that
Gurdwara in the international settlement to veer Jespal singh, california , who had
asked me to write some back ground history on Sikhs in China .
Indo China
There is also on record a Gurdwara sahib which existed in Hanoi in the
fifties. What happened to that is unknown. Although Sikh troops were stationed in
Vietnam , there are no records of any Gurdwaras apart from Hanoi , in Indo
china.
However having said the above, there have been some recent Sikhs and
families living in Siem Reap and Pnom Penh doing business in Cambodia , and
Vientiane . Many of them are from Thailand originally. I have met a few from India in
Vientiane . I have met these Sikhs during one of my four wheel drive
holidays from Malaysia through Thailand to Laos and Cambodia in 2001.I have not come
across any Gurdwaras in Laos and Cambodia or Vietnam as yet.
By 1936, the last year of near-normal peacetime policing, the force totaled
4,739 men with 3,466 in the Chinese Branch, 457 in the Foreign Branch (mostly
British), Sikh Branch: 558 men, Japanese Branch: 258 men.
The above was posted by Gurcharan Singh Kulim, London in a yahoo usergroup
wars with the Chinese by the British towards the end of the opium wars in
1848 circa.
Some of the present day Sikh heartlands of the Punjab were already under the
East India Company, east of the Satluj and further South East of Beas,
before the Sikh wars.These areas did not form prt of the Sikh empire.It leads me
to beleive there were already some Sikh units raised by the British from these
regioons.Their role during the Anglo Sikh wars is also very ambigous; both
the british and Sikh sources have played these down in history.These Sikh
units may have been the vanguard of the British units in the Opium wars.
But by 1851 another rebellion called the Taiping rebellion started against
the British and other Europeans, and to quell this the British brought in The
Ludhiana Regiment.There is a picture of the Sikhs from the Ludhiana taken
around1860 in China on record;where they are shown resting by some bombed out
buildings.
The Sikhs standing tall and being tough and burly had a good effect upon the
usually sly and naughty prankish gangsterish section of chinese population,
who created a nuisance generally. The British began to recruit more Sikhs to
police at the the international settlement at Shanghai . This was often
called The Shanghai International Police. The force, initially composed of
Europeans, mainly Britons, and after 1864 including Chinese, was over the next 90
years expanded to include a Sikh Branch (established 1884), from officers who
retired or left from Sikh military detachments in China. This force reached
about 800 men, almost all Sikhs. The Sikhs were very effective in keeping the
generally lawless elements of the population, under effective control. The
Chinese had no respect neither the etiquette to understand the rules and
regulations of the administration, and would spit and urinate anywhere. The
rickshaw riders would ride like wild mad riders and often cause unnecessary traffic
chaos. Often a Sikh policeman would catch hold of two of unruly riders and
lift them up to bang their heads together , that was enough to put fear into
the chinese. When gangs of unruly Chinese gathered to create a nuisance with
gambling or loud arguments , the appearance of a single majestic looking Sikh
in their red turbans, was enough to send the mobs fleeing. It was apparent the
British had given their Sikh police a free hand in dealing with Chinese, and
the Sikhs did not take this lightly. The police had no sympathy for the
unruly elements of the Chinese, who were seen as nothing more than opium smoking
lay abouts involved in mostly gambling or opium gang activities.
More Sikhs armed with heavy sticks were employed as riot police in the
rough-and-tumble streets of Shanghai.[1930] The British police instructor,
William Ewart Fairbairn, a pioneer in close-quarters battle and riot police
tactics, found the Sikhs to be very effective at quelling disturbances due to their
gatka-driven skills.
The Chinese referred to Sikhs as Hong Tou A-San — a reference to their red
turbans (Hong means red in Mandarin while Tou refers to the head),
An excerpt from Sin City, by Ralph Shaw, a British journalist in Shanghai
from 1937 to 1949, reflects full of racial slurs, as was typical of the
colonial racist administration which in these times are unacceptable;- "The Sikhs
had a vey large community in Shanghai. Most of them were in the police.
Others were watchmen. They were British subjects because India was part of the
Empire. The ex-soldiers amongst them had been recruited for police service, on
traffic duties, in the riot squad or the mounted section, and on retirement
from the force they found their services in demand as bank guards, security men
on the wharves, at the city's warehouses and the big business hongs or as
commissionaires at hotels, restaurants and night-clubs. The Sikhs loved money.
They lent it but at such exorbitant rates of interest that their debtors, who
were plentiful, were likely to remain insolvent for the remainder of their
natural lives. Every other Sikh had a sideline - money-lending. This produced
many appearances in court as plaintiffs against Empire citizens who had
defaulted on promissory notes.
Judge Grant-Jones administered the law in conformity with the strict
principles of British justice. Nevertheless he never missed an opportunity to
express astonishment - and stern condemnation - of some rates of interest levied
by the Sikhs or to question their veracity under oath.
On one occasion a big, bearded Sikh moneylender was addressed by the judge:
'The extent of your extortion has only been equaled by the amount of the
fabrications you have given in evidence. One day I will meet a member of your
community who will tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the
truth, an occasion which I shall celebrate as the miraculous attainment of the
impossible.'
Then the judge would look over to me - he knew me as a shorthand writer -
just to make sure that I'd got down what he wanted to be printed. A slight nod
from me and he would continue the hearing.
By 1890s, there is no doubt there was a thriving community of a few
thousands of Sikhs in Shanghai . The first Gurdwara went up in the same year.
According to the records of a building in Shanghai, this was at at 326 Dong Bao
Xing Road . This is the Gurdwara referred to by Dhian Chand , an Indian Hockey
player who visited the gurdwara in 1932.He writes" ...The atmosphere in the
city was quite tense due to the Sino-Japnese clash over Manchuria . We were
told to keep within bounds and avoid any trouble spots. We visited a fairly
large Sikh Gurduara on the outskirts of the city. It was said to be the
oldest Gurdwara in Shanghai . The Gurdwara had suffered much damage in clashes
between the Chinese and Japanese soldiers. As we came out of the Gurduara ,
Japanese soldiers eyed us with suspicion. We had lunch on board our ship and
sailed for Kobe at about 4 pm "The records of the Gurdwara at this site are still
available on some Chinese sites.
On the outbreak of the Boxer Rising; in China in the summer of 1900, Sikh
troops were dispatched from India to China to join the international forces
engaged in relieving the legations besieged at Peking and suppressing the
rebellion.
The 14th Sikhs, under Colonel Hogge, left Nowshera by train on the 7th of
July for Bombay . However, Lieutenant Currie contracted cholera during a halt
at Khandwa and the Regiment had to be, segregated and their departure to China
was delayed. The Regiment embarked in the'S.S. Formosa' at Bombay on the
12th of August and sailed to Shanghai via Singapore and Hong Kong. The 14th
Sikhs disembarked on the 6th of September and went into camps just outside the
International Settlement. By this time the besieged legations at Peking had
been relieved and there was very little further fighting. Again Sikhs were the
leading units in this lifting of the seize.This is shoen in the Hollywood
film made in the late 60s, named Boxer Rebellion.
The 14th Sikh Regiment joined the 2nd Sikh/British Brigade, which was at
that time garrisoning Shanghai . Conditions there were entirely peaceful and
the Brigade remained there until April, 1901. For the British officers the
seven months spent in this city were a most pleasant period. There were
excellent facilities for sport and games, and hospitality abounded.
By the spring of 1901 it was decided to reduce the British forces in China
and the 2nd Brigade was broken up. However, the 14th Sikhs were amongst those
regiments selected to remain in China and were transferred farther north.
The Regiment left Shanghai by sea for Taku and then proceeded by train to
Yangtsun, where it was responsible for protecting the Peking-Tientsin railway,
which was at that time a British responsibility. The Sikhs were split up into
small detachments over a large section of the railway and were employed in
patrolling the railway line and occasional expeditions after bandits. There
are several pictures availble showing this heavy burly Sikhs in warm clothing
patrolling the Peking Tientsin railway line.
The 14th Sikhs finally left China on the 29th of July, 1902 , sailing from
Taku on the Royal Indian Marine ship Clive.
It must also be remembered many Sikhs headed for Shanghai on their way to
Vancouver and Fiji Islands. Many Sikhs from Shanghai joined the Koma Gata Maru
alias Guru Nanak Jahaz as it was renamed by Baba Gurdit Singh on their way to
the West coast of USA and Canada . There was permanently a very large Sikh
community in Shanghai, until the late 60s when the Mao Revolution made it
necessary for them to leave China altogther.
In these present time there is already an appearance of Sikhs being noticed
in China especially at major Hotels in Peking and Shanghai and Wenzhou ,
where they serve as door men, and concierge handlers and are asked to wear their
turbans to give the authentics of the 1930s era. One such Sikh working in
Peking says "Sometimes when really old, over 70-years-old, Chinese walk by, they
are very happy and tell me that they remember seeing Sikhs like me on the
streets in their youth"
The Sikh troops played a major role in lifting the seize of Shanghai and
Peking at the turn of the century. By 1930s there were said to be two more
Gurdwaras in Shanghai . More Gurdwaras sprang up-one in Canton and one in Taku.
Many of the Sikhs married local Chinese women and settled peacefully there.
With the communists arriving many families left China by way of Singapore and
Penang . Many of them would alight at Singapore and Penang to refresh. It is on
record that dozens of Guru Granth saroops were carried by these families
back from China . But a substantial number of Sikhs who were Chinese state
citizens stayed back and appeared to have lived peacefully until 1963.
May I also mention a Sikh from Taiping went to china and joined the
Kuomintang army to fight the communists and was promoted to the rank of a colonel by
Chaing kai Shek.He spoke Chinese very fluently and on return married a
Chinese lady.[I need to check his name, from somewhere in my notes]
By 1963, there were still about 1200 Sikh families living in China. However
in the decades that followed the founding of the People's Republic of China ,
the country's Sikh population virtually disappeared slowly . As Hindi-Chini
Bhai Bhai transmuted into Hindi-Chini Bye-Bye, the mutual animosity that
followed the Sino-Indian border war led to Indian faces in Chinese cities
becoming notable only for their absence.
But the Sino-Indian war and later the red revolution made it impossible for
Indians to stay on in China . The Gurdwaras in Canton and the other cities
were shut down, followed by the Shanghai Gurduara lastly. Another stream of
Sikhs was seen leaving to Hong Kong and Manila , and some on their way to India
via Malaysia and Singapore .
It was in late 1963, the Straits Times carried an article about the last
batch of Sikhs, about 260, many with Chinese wives left Shanghai back to India ,
via Hong Kong by air. It was reported they carried the last of Saroop of
Guru Granth sahib along with them shutting the last Sikh Gurdwara , in Shanghai
.
For many years I have been trying to trace the location of these Gurdwaras
in china with out success. I was offered a fully paid trip to go to China in
2003 by one Sikh to research this, but I could not do that on some one else's
expense .I refused I hope to be able to go in about two years time as I plan
to take early retirement.
It was only not too long ago, I came across a more definite address for one
of the Gurdwaras in Shanghai as at Dong Bao Xing Road.I also have a picture
of the Sikh Gurdwara that was set up in the International settlement. It is
quite majestic building with many Sikhs gathered outside. However, I am not
able to establish its address. I have also obtained another picture which I am
told is a Sikh Gurdwara in Shanghai , but I am not quite sure about that
claim. It is in color, I was told it no longer is a Gurdwara and appears to be in
the middle of a built up city center. I have forwarded a copy of that
Gurdwara in the international settlement to veer Jespal singh, california , who had
asked me to write some back ground history on Sikhs in China .
Indo China
There is also on record a Gurdwara sahib which existed in Hanoi in the
fifties. What happened to that is unknown. Although Sikh troops were stationed in
Vietnam , there are no records of any Gurdwaras apart from Hanoi , in Indo
china.
However having said the above, there have been some recent Sikhs and
families living in Siem Reap and Pnom Penh doing business in Cambodia , and
Vientiane . Many of them are from Thailand originally. I have met a few from India in
Vientiane . I have met these Sikhs during one of my four wheel drive
holidays from Malaysia through Thailand to Laos and Cambodia in 2001.I have not come
across any Gurdwaras in Laos and Cambodia or Vietnam as yet.
By 1936, the last year of near-normal peacetime policing, the force totaled
4,739 men with 3,466 in the Chinese Branch, 457 in the Foreign Branch (mostly
British), Sikh Branch: 558 men, Japanese Branch: 258 men.
The above was posted by Gurcharan Singh Kulim, London in a yahoo usergroup
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Just in case you didn't know about Israel Kamakawiwoʻole.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Kamakawiwo'ole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A2Jt4WOxN8
and much more....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A2Jt4WOxN8
and much more....
Nobody has all the answers.
Knowing that you do not know everything is far wiser than thinking that you know a lot when you really don't. Phony expertise is neurotic. It is better not to indulge in pretending. It is better to say; I do not know, and accept this state.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Uganda's first Sikh High Court Judge sworn in
and also first non African in the Ugandan judiciary and the only turbaned Sikh judge in East Africa.
Read more...
Read more...
Britain searches for a national motto
By Mark Rice-Oxley, The Christian Science Monitor
The French have their "Liberté, égalité, fraternité." The Americans have "In God we trust." Even tiny nations like Antigua and Fiji have stirring calls to nationhood and faith.
Not so Britain. But the government has now launched a quest for a national maxim. The BBC and the Times newspaper jump-started the process by soliciting suggestions on their websites.
"Once Great: Britain," offered one contributor. "Americans who missed the boat," read a second. "At least we're not French," quipped a third.
Upon first taking office, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that he lived by his high school's hallowed maxim, "usque conabor" (I will try my utmost).
But one respondent to the Times' survey turned the joke back on the prime minister by offering a fake Latin motto—"Dipso, fatso, bingo, ASBO, Tesco"—which neatly addresses the country's contemporary problems with alcohol, obesity, gambling, antisocial youth, and materialism.
A Monitor mini-survey revealed a similarly jaundiced view. "Get blotto, play the lotto, that's our motto," was the only printable response.
The government says it has plenty of worthwhile suggestions. But clearly Brown will have to "try his utmost" to convince his nation that it's a worthwhile exercise. As one contributor put it, "We're British; we don't do mottos."
Readers of the Times newspaper (London) offered more than 1,000 suggestions for a new national motto.
Here is a sampling:
Best before nineteen-thirty-nine.
May contain nuts.
Wallowing in a postcolonial miasma.
We made other countries great.
One nation under the thumb.
Dentistry is not our forte.
Hanging on in quiet desperation.
I want my country back.
No problem left untaxed.
Overpriced, overweight, overcrowded … over.
The French have their "Liberté, égalité, fraternité." The Americans have "In God we trust." Even tiny nations like Antigua and Fiji have stirring calls to nationhood and faith.
Not so Britain. But the government has now launched a quest for a national maxim. The BBC and the Times newspaper jump-started the process by soliciting suggestions on their websites.
"Once Great: Britain," offered one contributor. "Americans who missed the boat," read a second. "At least we're not French," quipped a third.
Upon first taking office, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that he lived by his high school's hallowed maxim, "usque conabor" (I will try my utmost).
But one respondent to the Times' survey turned the joke back on the prime minister by offering a fake Latin motto—"Dipso, fatso, bingo, ASBO, Tesco"—which neatly addresses the country's contemporary problems with alcohol, obesity, gambling, antisocial youth, and materialism.
A Monitor mini-survey revealed a similarly jaundiced view. "Get blotto, play the lotto, that's our motto," was the only printable response.
The government says it has plenty of worthwhile suggestions. But clearly Brown will have to "try his utmost" to convince his nation that it's a worthwhile exercise. As one contributor put it, "We're British; we don't do mottos."
Readers of the Times newspaper (London) offered more than 1,000 suggestions for a new national motto.
Here is a sampling:
Best before nineteen-thirty-nine.
May contain nuts.
Wallowing in a postcolonial miasma.
We made other countries great.
One nation under the thumb.
Dentistry is not our forte.
Hanging on in quiet desperation.
I want my country back.
No problem left untaxed.
Overpriced, overweight, overcrowded … over.
The Sweetest Revenge
A Sikh takes care of a Moslem girl and raises her as a Moslem and returns her to the Moslem parent many years later.
Read more....
Read more....
Socialism for the rich
A tiny Wall Street cabal which gave itself bonuses worth billions of dollars just weeks before the crash gets a bailout of Rs.1,19,520 crore(million). Almost double the Rs.60,000 crore that millions of farmers in dire straits got
The bailout of Bear Stearns by the U.S. Federal Reserve was worth $30 billion. That is roughly twice the “loan waiver” given to millions of Indian farmers. The latter move was scorched by the ideologues of the free market and neo-liberalism as “fiscal insanity” or “irreversible damage.” The media — even those mildly critical — have been far more muted in their criticism of the ‘rescue’ of Bear Stearns. That is, one of the biggest global investment banks and securities trading and brokerage firms anywhere on the planet.
Think of it: a tiny Wall Street cabal which gave itself bonuses worth billions of dollars just weeks before the crash gets a bailout of Rs.1,19,520 crore. That’s almost double the Rs.60,000 crore given to tens of millions of farmers in dire straits in this country. A country where one farmer kills himself every 30 minutes in despair. The problems of farmers do not even begin to end with that waiver.
On the other hand, a bunch of thugs in tuxedos who did pretty much whatever they wanted, laying a minefield across the world, have got the waiver of a lifetime (or many lifetimes). The lifejacket for the bank does not require the return of their bonuses. So much so that Jim Rogers, CEO of Rogers Holdings and a staunch free marketer, calls it “Socialism for the rich.” In his words “the Federal Reserve is using taxpayer money to buy a bunch of Bear Stearns traders’ Maseratis.” He points out that hundreds of billions of dollars are being spent to bail out Wall Street as a whole. The theologians of the global market are between a rock and a hard place. Hypocrisy has rammed into reality.
Three of the basic principles the believers of corporate-led globalisation swear by have been so eloquently summed by Professor James Galbraith Jr of the University of Texas at Austin. One: all successes are global. Two: all failures are national. Three: the market is beyond reproach.
For over a decade, we were assured that everything good that ever happened was because we had embraced corporate-led globalisation. All the negative effects visible were the result of our own national inertia and corruption. And of course, the market would heal all wounds. The notion of state meddling in economic matters was blasphemy. Now the nations feeding us this rot — which we recite by rote — are nationalising banks, bailing out brigands and pouring in funds to stop factories from closing down.
Now having to blame ‘global factors’ for the price rise at home must seem a bit galling. Failures at home? Er, well, you see, let’s not go there now. This is election year. So we see Minister after Minister, the latest being Kapil Sibal, tell us that the price rise and food shortages in India are the “result of global factors.” Nothing to do with us. No less amusing to see the World Bank and the IMF warn of starvation and riots. It’s hard to think of anyone who has contributed more to those phenomena than they have.
India has also nurtured the commodities futures market despite its clear links to speculation and price rise. It’s odd how every other small trader will brief you at length on this — but you won’t see much of that story in the media. In fact, with markets tanking around the world, more speculators have seized on foodgrain as a good bet. Which it is.Through the reforms period, we have pushed millions of small farmers to shift from foodcrop to cash crops. The acreage under foodcrop has reduced across these years. And we also exported millions of tonnes of grain — as in 2002 and 2003. What’s more, we exported at prices cheaper than those we charged poor people in this country for the same grain. The idea was that we had a “huge surplus” of grain and could well afford to export. The truth was that the massive pileup of unsold stock arose from a surplus of hunger rather than of grain. The purchasing power of the poor had collapsed. But the fake “surplus” story came in handy. It allowed the export of grain — heavily subsidised by us — to be consumed by European cattle.
The present mess is no surprise. For years, economists such as Utsa Patnaik have warned strongly that we would arrive at where we are now. As she repeatedly pointed out, the effects of all our actions could be seen in the plummeting net per capita availability of foodgrain. From 510 grams per Indian in 1991 to 422 grams by 2005. With the top fifth of Indians doing better than ever before, this meant that those below were eating far less than they did just a few years ago.
Meanwhile, each budget takes further the process of “growth” driven by the consumption of the rich. Tax breaks at the top, cuts in state spending, all these too have a major role in making life unbearable below. Yet, even as the edifice crumbles, a few true believers hold out for the Second Coming. “Price rise reflects scarcity,” says one editorial, “and at no time is free trade more effective as a welfare enhancer than when it combats scarcity by quickly getting supplies where the demand is.” But governments are “denying free trade this role.” Well, get set for the global contagion.
Source: http://www.worldsikhnews.com, 21 May, 2008
The bailout of Bear Stearns by the U.S. Federal Reserve was worth $30 billion. That is roughly twice the “loan waiver” given to millions of Indian farmers. The latter move was scorched by the ideologues of the free market and neo-liberalism as “fiscal insanity” or “irreversible damage.” The media — even those mildly critical — have been far more muted in their criticism of the ‘rescue’ of Bear Stearns. That is, one of the biggest global investment banks and securities trading and brokerage firms anywhere on the planet.
Think of it: a tiny Wall Street cabal which gave itself bonuses worth billions of dollars just weeks before the crash gets a bailout of Rs.1,19,520 crore. That’s almost double the Rs.60,000 crore given to tens of millions of farmers in dire straits in this country. A country where one farmer kills himself every 30 minutes in despair. The problems of farmers do not even begin to end with that waiver.
On the other hand, a bunch of thugs in tuxedos who did pretty much whatever they wanted, laying a minefield across the world, have got the waiver of a lifetime (or many lifetimes). The lifejacket for the bank does not require the return of their bonuses. So much so that Jim Rogers, CEO of Rogers Holdings and a staunch free marketer, calls it “Socialism for the rich.” In his words “the Federal Reserve is using taxpayer money to buy a bunch of Bear Stearns traders’ Maseratis.” He points out that hundreds of billions of dollars are being spent to bail out Wall Street as a whole. The theologians of the global market are between a rock and a hard place. Hypocrisy has rammed into reality.
Three of the basic principles the believers of corporate-led globalisation swear by have been so eloquently summed by Professor James Galbraith Jr of the University of Texas at Austin. One: all successes are global. Two: all failures are national. Three: the market is beyond reproach.
For over a decade, we were assured that everything good that ever happened was because we had embraced corporate-led globalisation. All the negative effects visible were the result of our own national inertia and corruption. And of course, the market would heal all wounds. The notion of state meddling in economic matters was blasphemy. Now the nations feeding us this rot — which we recite by rote — are nationalising banks, bailing out brigands and pouring in funds to stop factories from closing down.
Now having to blame ‘global factors’ for the price rise at home must seem a bit galling. Failures at home? Er, well, you see, let’s not go there now. This is election year. So we see Minister after Minister, the latest being Kapil Sibal, tell us that the price rise and food shortages in India are the “result of global factors.” Nothing to do with us. No less amusing to see the World Bank and the IMF warn of starvation and riots. It’s hard to think of anyone who has contributed more to those phenomena than they have.
India has also nurtured the commodities futures market despite its clear links to speculation and price rise. It’s odd how every other small trader will brief you at length on this — but you won’t see much of that story in the media. In fact, with markets tanking around the world, more speculators have seized on foodgrain as a good bet. Which it is.Through the reforms period, we have pushed millions of small farmers to shift from foodcrop to cash crops. The acreage under foodcrop has reduced across these years. And we also exported millions of tonnes of grain — as in 2002 and 2003. What’s more, we exported at prices cheaper than those we charged poor people in this country for the same grain. The idea was that we had a “huge surplus” of grain and could well afford to export. The truth was that the massive pileup of unsold stock arose from a surplus of hunger rather than of grain. The purchasing power of the poor had collapsed. But the fake “surplus” story came in handy. It allowed the export of grain — heavily subsidised by us — to be consumed by European cattle.
The present mess is no surprise. For years, economists such as Utsa Patnaik have warned strongly that we would arrive at where we are now. As she repeatedly pointed out, the effects of all our actions could be seen in the plummeting net per capita availability of foodgrain. From 510 grams per Indian in 1991 to 422 grams by 2005. With the top fifth of Indians doing better than ever before, this meant that those below were eating far less than they did just a few years ago.
Meanwhile, each budget takes further the process of “growth” driven by the consumption of the rich. Tax breaks at the top, cuts in state spending, all these too have a major role in making life unbearable below. Yet, even as the edifice crumbles, a few true believers hold out for the Second Coming. “Price rise reflects scarcity,” says one editorial, “and at no time is free trade more effective as a welfare enhancer than when it combats scarcity by quickly getting supplies where the demand is.” But governments are “denying free trade this role.” Well, get set for the global contagion.
Source: http://www.worldsikhnews.com, 21 May, 2008
Emmy Goes to ‘Sikhs in America’ documentary
Media Factory's Marissa Aroy and Niall McKay garnered an Emmy award for their documentary, "Sikhs in America," at the Northern California region of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Read more...
Read more...
Saturday, May 17, 2008
The Duck & the Devil
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.
He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.
He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target.
Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.
As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.
Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!
In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.
After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes'
But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.'
Then she whispered to him, 'Remember the duck?'
So Johnny did the dishes.
Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.'
Sally just smiled and said, 'Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help'
She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.
After several day of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer.
He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.
Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.'
Thought for the day and every day thereafter?
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) ..whatever it is...You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.
He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.
The great thing ab out God is that when you ask for forgiveness;
He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.
Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today.
Always remember:
God is at the window!
He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.
He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target.
Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.
As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.
Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!
In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.
After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes'
But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.'
Then she whispered to him, 'Remember the duck?'
So Johnny did the dishes.
Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.'
Sally just smiled and said, 'Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help'
She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.
After several day of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer.
He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.
Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.'
Thought for the day and every day thereafter?
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) ..whatever it is...You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.
He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.
The great thing ab out God is that when you ask for forgiveness;
He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.
Go ahead and make the difference in someone's life today.
Always remember:
God is at the window!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Got this from a buddy.
A Short Love Story
A man and a woman who had never met before, but were both married to other people found themselves assigned to the same sleeping room on a Trans-Continental train.
Though initially embarrassed and uneasy over sharing a room, they were both very tired and fell asleep quickly.....
He in the upper bunk and she in the lower, and at 1:00 AM, the man leaned down and gently woke the woman saying, "Ma'am, I'm sorry to bother you, but would you be willing to reach into the closet to get me a second blanket? I'm awfully cold."
"I have a better idea," she replied. "Just for tonight, let's pretend that we're married."
"Wow! That's a great idea!" he exclaimed.
"Good," she replied. "Get your own fucking blanket."
After a moment of silence, he farted.
Friday, May 2, 2008
ON THIS DAY : 1st May 1994
Race ace Senna was killed in a F1 car crash. Ayrton Senna was killed in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, near Bologna in Italy. He was just 34-years-old.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Prince praises Sikhs for war effort
The Prince of Wales has praised the courage of Sikh soldiers who fought in the Second World War.
Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall met a group of surviving veterans of the Sikh Brigade of the British Army at St James's Palace.
The Prince said the country owed an "immense debt of gratitude" to the Sikhs who fought in both the First and Second World Wars.
The veterans were among prominent members of the Anglo-Sikh community invited to the palace to celebrate Sikh New Year, or Vaisakhi.
Charles and Camilla listened to Sikh drummers and watched a traditional Bhangra dance in the Queen Anne room.
The Prince praised the charitable work of the Sikh community in the UK and the "courage and heroism" of Sikh soldiers during the Second World War.
He said: "The Sikh community raises money and does so many good works all over this country. The UK owes an immense debt of gratitude to the courage and sacrifice of the Sikh soldiers.
Around 1.5 million Sikhs fought in the old Sikh regiment of the British Army in the Second World War and some 90,000 lost their lives.
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iekv_Tr8nNLp3rmM0VAhVRpnZkhw
Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall met a group of surviving veterans of the Sikh Brigade of the British Army at St James's Palace.
The Prince said the country owed an "immense debt of gratitude" to the Sikhs who fought in both the First and Second World Wars.
The veterans were among prominent members of the Anglo-Sikh community invited to the palace to celebrate Sikh New Year, or Vaisakhi.
Charles and Camilla listened to Sikh drummers and watched a traditional Bhangra dance in the Queen Anne room.
The Prince praised the charitable work of the Sikh community in the UK and the "courage and heroism" of Sikh soldiers during the Second World War.
He said: "The Sikh community raises money and does so many good works all over this country. The UK owes an immense debt of gratitude to the courage and sacrifice of the Sikh soldiers.
Around 1.5 million Sikhs fought in the old Sikh regiment of the British Army in the Second World War and some 90,000 lost their lives.
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iekv_Tr8nNLp3rmM0VAhVRpnZkhw
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Bank of Islam's CFO is a Sikh
Malkit Singh Maan, Chief Financial Officer, is the only Non Malay-Muslim senior office in Bank of Islam Malaysia.
http://www.bankislam.com.my/Management_Team.aspx
http://www.bankislam.com.my/Management_Team.aspx
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Religion and God
Atheism
Atheism: As an explicit position, either affirms the nonexistence of gods or rejects theism.When defined more broadly, atheism is the absence of belief in deities, alternatively called nontheism.
Although atheism is often equated with irreligion, some religious philosophies, such as secular theology and some varieties of Buddhism such as Theravada, either do not include belief in a personal god as a tenet of the religion, or actively teach nontheism.
Theism
Theism: The belief that gods or deities exist and interact with the universe.
Some theistic religions are: Bahá'à Faith, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism.
Monotheism
Monotheism: The belief in and worship of a single god.
Misotheism: the belief that God exists, but is actually evil
Polytheism
Polytheism: The belief in and worship of multiple gods or deities.
Henotheism: The belief that there may be more than one deity, but one is supreme.
Monolatry: The belief that there may be more than one deity, but only one should be worshiped.
Kathenotheism: The belief that there is more than one deity, but only one deity at a time should be worshiped. Each is supreme in turn.
Deism
Deism: The belief that a god or gods exists, but does not intervene within the universe.
Pandeism: The belief that God preceded the universe and created it, but is now equivalent with it.
Polydeism: The belief that multiple gods existed, but do not intervene with the universe.
Deities present in everything
Pantheism: The belief that the physical universe is equivalent to God, and that there is no 'division'.
Panentheism: Like Pantheism, the belief that the physical universe is joined to God. However, it also believes that God is greater than the universe.
Cosmotheism: The belief that man is The Creator. Man and the cosmos are one, thus the will of man is the will of the cosmos and the will of the cosmos is the will of man.
Animism: The belief that everything has a soul.
An example of a semi-theistic religion is Shintoism.
Nontheism
Atheism: An absence of belief that gods exist;a rejection of theism
Agnosticism: The belief the nature and existence of gods is unknown and cannot be known or proven.
Agnostic theists make the claim that knowledge of God or gods is not possible, but have a personal faith in God or gods, thus making it a theistic system of belief.
Atheism: As an explicit position, either affirms the nonexistence of gods or rejects theism.When defined more broadly, atheism is the absence of belief in deities, alternatively called nontheism.
Although atheism is often equated with irreligion, some religious philosophies, such as secular theology and some varieties of Buddhism such as Theravada, either do not include belief in a personal god as a tenet of the religion, or actively teach nontheism.
Theism
Theism: The belief that gods or deities exist and interact with the universe.
Some theistic religions are: Bahá'à Faith, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism.
Monotheism
Monotheism: The belief in and worship of a single god.
Misotheism: the belief that God exists, but is actually evil
Polytheism
Polytheism: The belief in and worship of multiple gods or deities.
Henotheism: The belief that there may be more than one deity, but one is supreme.
Monolatry: The belief that there may be more than one deity, but only one should be worshiped.
Kathenotheism: The belief that there is more than one deity, but only one deity at a time should be worshiped. Each is supreme in turn.
Deism
Deism: The belief that a god or gods exists, but does not intervene within the universe.
Pandeism: The belief that God preceded the universe and created it, but is now equivalent with it.
Polydeism: The belief that multiple gods existed, but do not intervene with the universe.
Deities present in everything
Pantheism: The belief that the physical universe is equivalent to God, and that there is no 'division'.
Panentheism: Like Pantheism, the belief that the physical universe is joined to God. However, it also believes that God is greater than the universe.
Cosmotheism: The belief that man is The Creator. Man and the cosmos are one, thus the will of man is the will of the cosmos and the will of the cosmos is the will of man.
Animism: The belief that everything has a soul.
An example of a semi-theistic religion is Shintoism.
Nontheism
Atheism: An absence of belief that gods exist;a rejection of theism
Agnosticism: The belief the nature and existence of gods is unknown and cannot be known or proven.
Agnostic theists make the claim that knowledge of God or gods is not possible, but have a personal faith in God or gods, thus making it a theistic system of belief.
Friday, February 15, 2008
'Only 50 years left' for sea fish ?
By Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News website
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6108414.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6108414.stm
World Sikh Population
ASIA (Punjab, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, etc) = 24,938,000
NORTHERN AMERICA (Canada, USA) = 614,000
EUROPE (UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, etc) = * 241,000
AFRICA (Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, etc) = 61,700
OCEANIA (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, PNG, etc.) = * 25,400
[* Figures for Europe and Oceania not properly shown]
SIKHS IN AUSTRALIA: On the basis of the CENSUS held on 8th August 2006,
there are “26,429” Sikhs in Australia.
ADHERENTS OF THE SEVEN MAJOR RELIGIONS ARE:
1. CHRISTIANS 2,173,183,400
2. MUSLIMS 1,335,964,000
3. HINDUS 871,982,000
4. CHINESE Universists 386,666,900
5. BUDDHISTS 382,542,000
6. SIKHS 25,880,000
7. JEWS 15,118,000
Let us take care of Sikhs’ unique Identity by keeping up the “unshorn long
hair, beard, moustaches and eyebrows, with Turban on head for males and
scarf for females whether in homes or at work places”. We should also follow
“Gurbaani and Qurbaani” as ordained by our Guru Sahibaan through “the Divine
Word enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib” as well as to practice the “Sikh
Reht Maryada” published and propagated by the SGPC.
Apart from English & any other local language, we should also Learn Punjabi, Speak Punjabi and Write Punjabi in Gurmukhi script. It will help us to understand Sikhs’ Sacred Scripture.
{87 million persons speak Punjabi Language globally. But within Australia, Punjabi speaking persons are: 23,164}
May Almighty God bless all irrespective of region or religion.
Compiled for free distribution by: Sikh Khalsa Mission Incorporated (NSW)
NORTHERN AMERICA (Canada, USA) = 614,000
EUROPE (UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, etc) = * 241,000
AFRICA (Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, etc) = 61,700
OCEANIA (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, PNG, etc.) = * 25,400
[* Figures for Europe and Oceania not properly shown]
SIKHS IN AUSTRALIA: On the basis of the CENSUS held on 8th August 2006,
there are “26,429” Sikhs in Australia.
ADHERENTS OF THE SEVEN MAJOR RELIGIONS ARE:
1. CHRISTIANS 2,173,183,400
2. MUSLIMS 1,335,964,000
3. HINDUS 871,982,000
4. CHINESE Universists 386,666,900
5. BUDDHISTS 382,542,000
6. SIKHS 25,880,000
7. JEWS 15,118,000
Let us take care of Sikhs’ unique Identity by keeping up the “unshorn long
hair, beard, moustaches and eyebrows, with Turban on head for males and
scarf for females whether in homes or at work places”. We should also follow
“Gurbaani and Qurbaani” as ordained by our Guru Sahibaan through “the Divine
Word enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib” as well as to practice the “Sikh
Reht Maryada” published and propagated by the SGPC.
Apart from English & any other local language, we should also Learn Punjabi, Speak Punjabi and Write Punjabi in Gurmukhi script. It will help us to understand Sikhs’ Sacred Scripture.
{87 million persons speak Punjabi Language globally. But within Australia, Punjabi speaking persons are: 23,164}
May Almighty God bless all irrespective of region or religion.
Compiled for free distribution by: Sikh Khalsa Mission Incorporated (NSW)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
This is sooo cool. Try it
ABSOLUTELY MIND BLOWING...The wonder of IT !!!
1. GO TO THE FOLLOWING SITE :
http://www.tatuagemdaboa.com.br/
Wait for the lady to appear, then ...
2. WRITE YOUR FIRST NAME IN THE 1st LINE.
3. WRITE YOUR FAMILY NAME in the 2nd LINE
4. Press the VISUALIZAR bar.
Unbelievable.
1. GO TO THE FOLLOWING SITE :
http://www.tatuagemdaboa.com.br/
Wait for the lady to appear, then ...
2. WRITE YOUR FIRST NAME IN THE 1st LINE.
3. WRITE YOUR FAMILY NAME in the 2nd LINE
4. Press the VISUALIZAR bar.
Unbelievable.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Hate Crimes against Sikhs
Hoboken, NJ (January 30, 2008) - A Sikh man was assaulted by a restaurantpatron who tried to remove his turban in public on Tuesday evening. Before her arrest, Hansdip Singh's attacker told him that she had a problem with his turban and wanted him to remove it immediately.
Hansdip Singh had been dining at the Madison Grill in Hoboken, New Jersey on January 29, 2008. While standing in the restaurant, a woman behind him grabbed a hold of his turban and attempted to pry it from his head. She had almost succeeded by the time Hansdip turned around to confront her.
When he did so, the woman remarked that she had a problem with "that stuff" on his head, and told him to "take it off." When Hansdip refused, the woman became more difficult, and the Hoboken Police Department was called in. Police officers arrested the woman on the spot, and have charged her with harassment and bias intimidation.
The Coalition commends the Hoboken Police Department for its quick response to the attack. We will work with the local country prosecutor to ensure the attack is prosecuted as a hate crime.
This is not the first hate attack against a Sikh in New Jersey. The Sikh Coalition's online database has logged 47 incidents of bias against Sikhs since September 11, 2001.
We urge all Sikhs to practice their faith fearlessly. If you or someone youknow is a victim of bias harassment, please report it to legal@sikhcoalition.org.
Hansdip Singh had been dining at the Madison Grill in Hoboken, New Jersey on January 29, 2008. While standing in the restaurant, a woman behind him grabbed a hold of his turban and attempted to pry it from his head. She had almost succeeded by the time Hansdip turned around to confront her.
When he did so, the woman remarked that she had a problem with "that stuff" on his head, and told him to "take it off." When Hansdip refused, the woman became more difficult, and the Hoboken Police Department was called in. Police officers arrested the woman on the spot, and have charged her with harassment and bias intimidation.
The Coalition commends the Hoboken Police Department for its quick response to the attack. We will work with the local country prosecutor to ensure the attack is prosecuted as a hate crime.
This is not the first hate attack against a Sikh in New Jersey. The Sikh Coalition's online database has logged 47 incidents of bias against Sikhs since September 11, 2001.
We urge all Sikhs to practice their faith fearlessly. If you or someone youknow is a victim of bias harassment, please report it to legal@sikhcoalition.org.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Naked flight: Take off and strip off
You only need to take bare essentials.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7223733.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7223733.stm
'Last wave' for wild golden frog
from the BBC News: Science and Nature
A BBC film crew has captured footage of a rare frog waving, wrestling and courting for the first time.
Watch the video as well.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7219803.stm
A BBC film crew has captured footage of a rare frog waving, wrestling and courting for the first time.
Watch the video as well.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7219803.stm
Friday, February 1, 2008
Microsoft wants to buy Yahoo.
Technology giant Microsoft offers to buy search engine company Yahoo for $44.6bn (£22.4bn) in cash and shares, the company announces.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Serendipity
Somebody told me about the word "serendipity"
Serendipity means an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident ; good fortune; luck.
History:
We are indebted to the English author Horace Walpole for the word serendipity, which he coined in one of the 3,000 or more letters on which his literary reputation primarily rests. In a letter of January 28, 1754, Walpole says that "this discovery, indeed, is almost of that kind which I call Serendipity, a very expressive word." Walpole formed the word on an old name for Sri Lanka, Serendip. He explained that this name was part of the title of "a silly fairy tale, called The Three Princes of Serendip: as their highnesses traveled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of...."
Serendipity means an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident ; good fortune; luck.
History:
We are indebted to the English author Horace Walpole for the word serendipity, which he coined in one of the 3,000 or more letters on which his literary reputation primarily rests. In a letter of January 28, 1754, Walpole says that "this discovery, indeed, is almost of that kind which I call Serendipity, a very expressive word." Walpole formed the word on an old name for Sri Lanka, Serendip. He explained that this name was part of the title of "a silly fairy tale, called The Three Princes of Serendip: as their highnesses traveled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of...."
hindu baba talks about Sikhi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJy1R9PZpLk&feature=related
Listen to his misleading explanation of Sikhi.
Listen to his misleading explanation of Sikhi.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Time for public talks :)
The events
- MSDN TechTalk – Wed Feb 20
- MSDN Launch Event – sometime March (to be confirmed)
- A series of 5-15 min “Lunch for Launch” pre-recorded videos
The Topics and themes
- Web dev with Visual Studio 2008 / .NET 3.5
- Web UI dev enhancements with Visual Studio 2008
- Web app deployments and enhancements on Windows Server 2008
- App instrumentation with Operations Manager (web app focused on Windows Server 2008) -----> I will be presenting this.
- SQL 2008 Enhancements for Developers
- .NET 3.5 Enhancements
- MSDN TechTalk – Wed Feb 20
- MSDN Launch Event – sometime March (to be confirmed)
- A series of 5-15 min “Lunch for Launch” pre-recorded videos
The Topics and themes
- Web dev with Visual Studio 2008 / .NET 3.5
- Web UI dev enhancements with Visual Studio 2008
- Web app deployments and enhancements on Windows Server 2008
- App instrumentation with Operations Manager (web app focused on Windows Server 2008) -----> I will be presenting this.
- SQL 2008 Enhancements for Developers
- .NET 3.5 Enhancements
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak wrote :
If you want to play the game of love you have to carry your head on the palm of your hand. The game of love is our love for God and God’s love for us.
In order to play this game you have to be willing to give your head, or in other words : to give all.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Sir Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay
Sir Edmund Hillary, ONE OF the first men to climb Mount Everest, has died at the age of 88. Let's not forget Tensing Norgay was with Sir Edmund Hillary reached the peak and came down alive.
Just for the records (from about.com):
Hillary and Norgay Climb Mount Everest (1953): After years of dreaming about it and seven weeks of climbing, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Tenzing Norgay reached the top of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world, at 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953.
Mt. Everest had long been considered unclimbable by some and the ultimate climbing challenge by others. Soaring in height to 29,035 feet (8,850 m), the famous mountain lays in the Himalayas, along the border of Nepal and Tibet, China.
Before Hillary and Tenzing successfully reached the summit, two other expeditions got close. Most famous of these was the 1924 climb of George Leigh Mallory and Andrew "Sandy" Irvine. They climbed Mt. Everest at a time when the aid of compressed air was still new and controversial. The pair of climbers was last seen still going strong at the Second Step (about 28,140 - 28,300 ft). Many people still wonder if Mallory and Irvine might have been the first to make it to the top of Mt. Everest. However, since the two men did not make it back down the mountain alive, perhaps we'll never know for sure.
Mallory and Irvine certainly were not the last to die upon the mountain. Climbing Mt. Everest is extremely dangerous. Besides the freezing weather (which puts climbers at risk for extreme frostbite) and the obvious potential for long falls from cliffs and into deep crevasses, climbers of Mt. Everest suffer from the effects of the extreme high altitude, often called "mountain sickness." The high altitude prevents the human body from getting enough oxygen to the brain, causing hypoxia. Any climber who climbs above 8,000 feet could get mountain sickness and the higher they climb, the more severe the symptoms may become. Most climbers of Mt. Everest at least suffer from headaches, cloudiness of thought, lack of sleep, loss of appetite, and fatigue. And some, if not acclimated correctly, could show the more acute signs of altitude sickness which include dementia, trouble walking, lack of physical coordination, delusions, and coma.
To prevent the acute symptoms of altitude sickness, climbers of Mt. Everest spend a lot of their time slowly acclimating their bodies to the increasingly high altitudes. This is why it can take climbers many weeks to climb Mt. Everest.
In addition to humans, not many creatures or plants can live in high altitudes either. For this reason, food sources for climbers of Mt. Everest are relatively nonexistent. So in preparation for their climb, climbers and their teams must plan, purchase, and then carry all of their food and supplies with them up the mountain. Most teams hire Sherpas to help carry their supplies up the mountain. (The Sherpa are a previously nomadic people who live near Mt. Everest and who have the unusual ability of being able to quickly physically adapt to higher altitudes.)
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Hillary were part of the British Everest Expedition, 1953, led by Colonel John Hunt. Hunt had selected a team of people who were experienced climbers from all around the British Empire. Among the eleven chosen climbers, Edmund Hillary was selected as a climber from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, though born a Sherpa, was recruited from his home in India. Also along for the trip was a filmmaker to document their progress and a writer for The Times, both were there in the hopes of documenting a successful climb to the summit. Very importantly, a physiologist rounded out the team.
After months of planning and organizing, the expedition began to climb. On their way up, the team established nine camps, some of which are still used by climbers today.
Out of all the climbers on the expedition, only four would get a chance to make an attempt to reach the summit. Hunt, the team leader, selected two teams of climbers. The first team consisted of Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans and the second team consisted of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
The first team left on May 26, 1953 to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Although the two men made it up to about 300 feet shy of the summit, the highest any human had yet reached, they were forced to turn back after bad weather set in as well as a fall and problems with their oxygen tanks.
At 4 a.m. on May 29, 1953, Hillary and Norgay awoke in camp nine and readied themselves for their climb. Hillary discovered that his boots had frozen and thus spent two hours defrosting them. The two men left camp at 6:30 a.m. Upon their climb, they came upon one particularly difficult rock face, but Hillary found a way to climb it. (The rock face is now called "Hillary's Step.)
At 11:30 a.m., Hillary and Norgay reached the summit of Mt. Everest. Hillary reached out to shake Norgay's hand, but Norgay gave him a hug in return. The two men enjoyed only 15 minutes at the top of the world because of their low air supply, but they spent their time taking photographs, taking in the view, placing a food offering (Norgay), and looking for any sign that the missing climbers from 1924 had been there before them (they didn't find any).
When their 15 minutes was up, Hillary and Norgay began making their way back down the mountain. It is reported that when Hillary saw is friend and co-New Zealand climber George Lowe (also part of the expedition), Hillary said, "Well, George, we've knocked the bastard off!"
News of the successful climb quickly made it around the world. Both Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became heroes.
Just for the records (from about.com):
Hillary and Norgay Climb Mount Everest (1953): After years of dreaming about it and seven weeks of climbing, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Tenzing Norgay reached the top of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world, at 11:30 a.m. on May 29, 1953.
Mt. Everest had long been considered unclimbable by some and the ultimate climbing challenge by others. Soaring in height to 29,035 feet (8,850 m), the famous mountain lays in the Himalayas, along the border of Nepal and Tibet, China.
Before Hillary and Tenzing successfully reached the summit, two other expeditions got close. Most famous of these was the 1924 climb of George Leigh Mallory and Andrew "Sandy" Irvine. They climbed Mt. Everest at a time when the aid of compressed air was still new and controversial. The pair of climbers was last seen still going strong at the Second Step (about 28,140 - 28,300 ft). Many people still wonder if Mallory and Irvine might have been the first to make it to the top of Mt. Everest. However, since the two men did not make it back down the mountain alive, perhaps we'll never know for sure.
Mallory and Irvine certainly were not the last to die upon the mountain. Climbing Mt. Everest is extremely dangerous. Besides the freezing weather (which puts climbers at risk for extreme frostbite) and the obvious potential for long falls from cliffs and into deep crevasses, climbers of Mt. Everest suffer from the effects of the extreme high altitude, often called "mountain sickness." The high altitude prevents the human body from getting enough oxygen to the brain, causing hypoxia. Any climber who climbs above 8,000 feet could get mountain sickness and the higher they climb, the more severe the symptoms may become. Most climbers of Mt. Everest at least suffer from headaches, cloudiness of thought, lack of sleep, loss of appetite, and fatigue. And some, if not acclimated correctly, could show the more acute signs of altitude sickness which include dementia, trouble walking, lack of physical coordination, delusions, and coma.
To prevent the acute symptoms of altitude sickness, climbers of Mt. Everest spend a lot of their time slowly acclimating their bodies to the increasingly high altitudes. This is why it can take climbers many weeks to climb Mt. Everest.
In addition to humans, not many creatures or plants can live in high altitudes either. For this reason, food sources for climbers of Mt. Everest are relatively nonexistent. So in preparation for their climb, climbers and their teams must plan, purchase, and then carry all of their food and supplies with them up the mountain. Most teams hire Sherpas to help carry their supplies up the mountain. (The Sherpa are a previously nomadic people who live near Mt. Everest and who have the unusual ability of being able to quickly physically adapt to higher altitudes.)
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Hillary were part of the British Everest Expedition, 1953, led by Colonel John Hunt. Hunt had selected a team of people who were experienced climbers from all around the British Empire. Among the eleven chosen climbers, Edmund Hillary was selected as a climber from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, though born a Sherpa, was recruited from his home in India. Also along for the trip was a filmmaker to document their progress and a writer for The Times, both were there in the hopes of documenting a successful climb to the summit. Very importantly, a physiologist rounded out the team.
After months of planning and organizing, the expedition began to climb. On their way up, the team established nine camps, some of which are still used by climbers today.
Out of all the climbers on the expedition, only four would get a chance to make an attempt to reach the summit. Hunt, the team leader, selected two teams of climbers. The first team consisted of Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans and the second team consisted of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
The first team left on May 26, 1953 to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Although the two men made it up to about 300 feet shy of the summit, the highest any human had yet reached, they were forced to turn back after bad weather set in as well as a fall and problems with their oxygen tanks.
At 4 a.m. on May 29, 1953, Hillary and Norgay awoke in camp nine and readied themselves for their climb. Hillary discovered that his boots had frozen and thus spent two hours defrosting them. The two men left camp at 6:30 a.m. Upon their climb, they came upon one particularly difficult rock face, but Hillary found a way to climb it. (The rock face is now called "Hillary's Step.)
At 11:30 a.m., Hillary and Norgay reached the summit of Mt. Everest. Hillary reached out to shake Norgay's hand, but Norgay gave him a hug in return. The two men enjoyed only 15 minutes at the top of the world because of their low air supply, but they spent their time taking photographs, taking in the view, placing a food offering (Norgay), and looking for any sign that the missing climbers from 1924 had been there before them (they didn't find any).
When their 15 minutes was up, Hillary and Norgay began making their way back down the mountain. It is reported that when Hillary saw is friend and co-New Zealand climber George Lowe (also part of the expedition), Hillary said, "Well, George, we've knocked the bastard off!"
News of the successful climb quickly made it around the world. Both Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became heroes.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Awarded Microsoft MVP for another year.
I have been awarded the Microsoft MVP again for another year. Waheguru.
Here is the email i received this morning.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sarbjit Singh Gill, Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2008 Microsoft® MVP Award! The MVP Award is our way of saying thank you for promoting the spirit of community and enhancing people’s lives and the industry’s success every day. Your extraordinary efforts in Windows Server System - MOM technical communities during the past year are greatly appreciated.
Begin taking advantage of your award benefits by signing into the MVP Award Web site using the credentials listed below. Both new and renewing MVPs must specify MSDN or TechNet technical subscription preferences for the next 12 months via the MVP Award Web site. ***********************************************************************
Your MVP Identification (ID) is: xxxxxx
Your one-time passcode for www.mvpaward.com is: xxxxxxx
***********************************************************************
On behalf of everyone at Microsoft, thank you for your ongoing contributions to technical communities.
Sincerely,
Lilian Quek
your MVP Lead
Here is the email i received this morning.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Sarbjit Singh Gill, Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2008 Microsoft® MVP Award! The MVP Award is our way of saying thank you for promoting the spirit of community and enhancing people’s lives and the industry’s success every day. Your extraordinary efforts in Windows Server System - MOM technical communities during the past year are greatly appreciated.
Begin taking advantage of your award benefits by signing into the MVP Award Web site using the credentials listed below. Both new and renewing MVPs must specify MSDN or TechNet technical subscription preferences for the next 12 months via the MVP Award Web site. ***********************************************************************
Your MVP Identification (ID) is: xxxxxx
Your one-time passcode for www.mvpaward.com is: xxxxxxx
***********************************************************************
On behalf of everyone at Microsoft, thank you for your ongoing contributions to technical communities.
Sincerely,
Lilian Quek
your MVP Lead
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