Rupinder Mohan Singh |

Harleen Kaur shares about volunteering for nonprofit newspaper

February 28, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Harleen Kaur, a university student and activist, describes the challenges and learnings about volunteering in the office of the nonprofit newspaper Groundcover News: I have realized what a great effort and passion it takes to maintain such dedication. Even when the work is this difficult, I have never seen a hint of despair or a sense of wanting to give up. According to their website, Groundcover News, located in Michigan, is one of many publications that “exist in cities all […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Profiles, Reflections • Tags: Ann Arbor, Groundcover News, Harleen Kaur, Michigan, Street newspaper

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"Chef Partap Singh adds cooked and pureed mustard greens to a sauteed base of garlic, ginger, onion, salt, pepper and chili as he prepares saag, a vegetarian curry, in the kitchen of the Tierra Buena Sikh Temple." (photo: Laura van der Meer/Appeal-Democrat)

Cook at Yuba City, CA, Gurdwara explains recipe for saag

February 28, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In the Appeal-Democrat, Pratap Singh of the Tierra Buena Gurdwara in Yuba City, California, shares tips for making his popular sarson ka saag, a Punjabi dish made of mustard greens: [Pratap Singh] said that part of the cooking process – adding spices at the end – is the secret to making the saag taste good. Read more at the Appeal-Democrat.

Categories: Profiles • Tags: California, Gurdwara, saag, sarson da, sarson ka, Yuba City

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Guru Singh appears during a skit on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on February 26, 2013.

Sikh American actor Guru Singh appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

February 27, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

After his role in a GoDaddy Super Bowl commercial earlier this month, Sikh American actor Guru Singh appears in a skit (above) during last night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Categories: Humor, TV/Movies • Tags: Guru Singh, Honey Boo Boo, Jimmy Kimmel Live

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"Wheatfield with Crows" by Vincent Van Gogh, 1890. (source: Wikipedia)

The Aerogram interviews writer Preeti Kaur

February 27, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

On The Aerogram, Pavani Yalamanchili interviews poet and writer Preeti Kaur. In Part I of the interview, she talks about her early influences, including her grandmother: It felt like magic every time I would receive a dohra written just for me. My most memorable is one dohra she wrote in her last few years of life, where she talks about standing on the terrace drying her hair. A flock of crows flies by and she asks them to deliver a […]

Categories: Art, Literature, Profiles • Tags: Preeti Kaur, The Aerogram

Jatinder P. Singh, United Sikhs Associate Director

Sikh American provides opening prayer to UN General Assembly

February 27, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

According to an e-mail newsletter circulated by United Sikhs (a United Nations-affiliated non-governmental organization), a Sikh American has, for the first time, offered a prayer at the United Nations General Assembly Opening Session. On February 14th, United Sikhs Associate Director Jatinder P. Singh participated in the interfaith service to open the session: “In the company of Saints, all enemies become friends. In the company of saints, man becomes very pure…” He closed the prayer by adding, “ I truly hope […]

Categories: Interfaith, News Bits • Tags: Jatinder P. Singh, United Nations, United Nations General Assembly, United Sikhs

Screen shot of Patka Spotting, a website designed to poke fun of Sikh men who wear patkas.

For I have seen the patka on your soul

February 26, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Making its way through social media today is a website called Patka Spotting. According to the website: Patka Spotting was created for the sole purpose to shout out all the guys in our community who are just too old to be wearing children’s patka’s around and about. A patka is the head-covering commonly worn by Sikh children — mainly boys — before they adopt the full turban as adults. Much like a bandana, a patka is a small piece of […]

Categories: Reflections • Tags: bullying, patka, Patka Spotting, Turban

"The Upstate Sikh Society is dedicating the first Sikh temple (called a Gurdwara) in the area. After nearly two years of construction, they have a community center and temple in which to worship and share their faith." (credit: Alex C. Hicks Jr./Alex.Hicks@shj.com/GoUpstate.com)

Sikhs in South Carolina open new home

February 26, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In Duncan, South Carolina, the Upstate Sikh Society opened the area’s first Sikh house of worship on Sunday: “We are very excited about having a home,” said treasurer Daljit Kalsi, who moved from India to Greenville in the 80s. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Gurdwara took place in November, 2011: After a year and a half of construction, the Gurdwara is expected to serve 40 to 50 Sikh families in Duncan and surrounding counties in the northern area of South […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Duncan, Nanak Darbar Gurdwara, South Carolina, Upstate Sikh Society

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Sikholars 2013 Presenters (source: Jakara Movement)

Reflecting on the 2013 Sikholars Graduate Student Conference

February 26, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Ten days ago, I attended the fourth annual Sikholars Graduate Student Conference that took place at picturesque Stanford University in Stanford, California. I would like to formally thank Jakara Movement for this year’s event, and extend my appreciation to all of the presenters, panelists, moderators, volunteers and attendees who made this year’s conference so enriching. In the realm of Sikh academia, I consider myself a lay person. However, I have been a fan of this conference since I attended the […]

Categories: Events, Reflections • Tags: California, Jakara Movement, Sikholars, Stanford University

Fauja Singh finishes his last race in Hong Kong on Saturday. (source: CNN)

Mini-documentary on Fauja Singh’s last marathon

February 25, 2013 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Shared by Chaz Singh, CNN aired the mini-documentary above showing the United Kingdom’s 101-year-old Fauja Singh — the world’s oldest marathon runner — in his last race on Saturday in Hong Kong. In the video, Fauja Singh reveals the secret behind his improved pace in his final run: “I had lots of power today because I was very happy. The strength I had comes from happiness within.”

Categories: Profiles • Tags: CNN, Fauja Singh, Hong Kong Marathon

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Author Archives: Rupinder Mohan Singh

Harleen Kaur shares about volunteering for nonprofit newspaper

Cook at Yuba City, CA, Gurdwara explains recipe for saag

Sikh American actor Guru Singh appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The Aerogram interviews writer Preeti Kaur

Sikh American provides opening prayer to UN General Assembly

For I have seen the patka on your soul

Sikhs in South Carolina open new home

Reflecting on the 2013 Sikholars Graduate Student Conference

Mini-documentary on Fauja Singh’s last marathon