Rupinder Mohan Singh |

Picture (Painting) of the Day: Manu Kaur Saluja’s “Prasad”

October 3, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Based in New York, Manu Kaur Saluja is an award-winning artist who is gaining attention in Sikh circles for her oil paintings and portraits. Her work entitled “Prasad” (an offering given to all visitors to a Gurdwara) will be up for auction at the forthcoming Sikh Arts & Film Festival in New York later this month: This latest still-life by Saluja entitled Prasad will be auctioned at the 2011 Sikh Art & Film Foundation’s Gala on October 15, 2011 at Cipriani’s Wall Street. […]

Categories: Art, Picture of the Day, Profiles • Tags: Kara Parshad, Kara Prasad, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Manu Kaur Saluja, oil, painting, Prasad, Sikh Art & Film Festival

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Picture of the Day: Sikh Immigrants to California c.1910

September 29, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Categories: Picture of the Day • Tags: California, Immigration

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Plainview, NY Gurdwara shut due to code violations

September 27, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

After complaints from neighbors, the Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Center in Plainview, New York, has been closed by its municipality due to multiple code violations: Among the issues cited by the town is the lack of a certificate of occupancy for the gurdwara itself and the lack of a public assembly permit for the outdoor activities that are common features of the Sikh community… The gurdwara was closed recently after town zoning enforcement officials acted on noise and other complaints […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Gurdwara, Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Center, New York, NY, Plainview

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The day I racially profiled myself

September 26, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Upon booking my flight for a recent vacation, it was a routine consideration that I would need to make sure I gave myself enough time to check in at the airport, because I knew I would be subject to extra screening. As a turban-wearing man of Indian descent, I have heeded the notifications and have become used to added scrutiny and inspection when I travel through the country’s airports, which usually consists of additional pat-downs, turban inspections, and a review of my travel […]

Categories: Reflections • Tags: Airport security, Post-9/11, Racial profiling, Transportation Security Administration, TSA

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Ruling pending on diplomatic immunity for Kamal Nath from US trial

September 22, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Yesterday, a preliminary hearing was held to determine whether Kamal Nath, an accused organizer of the anti-Sikh pogroms in November 1984 in India, would be granted diplomatic immunity from the civil trial proceeding in the United States. The case is being pursued by Sikhs for Justice on behalf of surviving victims of the mass murder of thousands of Sikhs more than 25 years ago in India. The US Judge who is overseeing the case is now considering the issue of […]

Categories: 1984, News Bits • Tags: 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, India, Judge Robert Sweet, Kamal Nath, New York, Pannun, Sikh, Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991, U.S. Federal Court, United States

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One year later, Austin, Texas Gurdwara still fights to survive

August 30, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Anne Elizabeth Wynn, a writer for the Statesman (the local newspaper for Austin, Texas), describes her visit with her daughters to the Gurdwara Sahib Austin, and shares their learnings of Sikhism: We all had spontaneously laughed at how impressively un-religiony this religion was. It espouses enough with that old human desire for priests and rituals and religious exclusivity! We’ve provided more than 1,400 pages of ecumenical guidance already! God calls to everyone! Go seek him yourself! Wynn also provides a […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Anne Elizabeth Wynn, Austin, Gurdwara, Statesman, Texas

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Saanjh supports Sikh students with scholarships

August 26, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

I was happy to be contacted by Saanjh, a Sikh organization in California’s Bay Area that aims to support Sikh students and professionals: Saanjh – meaning ‘partnering, sharing, connecting’ in Punjabi, is the annual Bay Area Sikh retreat. This year, Saanjh will be held from Sept 8th – Sept 11th at the magnificent Monte Toyon campsite near Santa Cruz, CA. We seek to provide a platform where Sikhs can gather to connect with the Guru and the sangat to inspire […]

Categories: News Bits, Resources • Tags: California, Saanjh, scholarship, Texas

Comparison of Amritsar and Bakersfield (sources: wikipedia.org, amritsarcorp.com)

Bakersfield, CA and Amritsar, Punjab to become sister cities

August 25, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

The California city of Bakersfield, 100 miles north of Los Angeles, has announced that it will associate with Amritsar, Punjab, India as sister cities: Mayor Harvey Hall will welcome a new city to Bakersfield’s sisterhood at noon [next] Monday in the City Council chamber. Hall will sign an agreement with Mayor Swaith Malik of Amritsar, India, a city news release said. The relationship has been in the making since early 2007. The Sister City program provides opportunities for cultural, educational, […]

Categories: News Bits • Tags: Amritsar, Bakersfield, California, Golden Temple, Harmandir Sahib, Punjab, sister cities, Sister City Project

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Sikhs for Justice files for Kamal Nath subpoena to US court

August 24, 2011 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

A preliminary hearing for the civil lawsuit in the United States seeking compensation for the victims of the 1984 pogroms against Sikhs in India is scheduled on September 21. The group Sikhs for Justice intends to show that these pogroms were organized by government officials within the Congress Party of India. This civil suit is based on two federal laws: the Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) of 1789 and the Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA) of 1991. A defendant in the case is Kamal […]

Categories: 1984, News Bits • Tags: 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Alien Tort Statute, Kamal Nath, Sikhs for Justice, Torture Victim Protection Act of 1991

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Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Author Archives: Rupinder Mohan Singh

Picture (Painting) of the Day: Manu Kaur Saluja’s “Prasad”

Picture of the Day: Sikh Immigrants to California c.1910

Plainview, NY Gurdwara shut due to code violations

The day I racially profiled myself

Ruling pending on diplomatic immunity for Kamal Nath from US trial

One year later, Austin, Texas Gurdwara still fights to survive

Saanjh supports Sikh students with scholarships

Bakersfield, CA and Amritsar, Punjab to become sister cities

Sikhs for Justice files for Kamal Nath subpoena to US court