Sikhism | | Page 5

People gather outside the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin for the raising of the Nishan Sahib flag a week after the mass murder that occurred there. A group of about 50 men and boys unwrapped the orange cloth covering the pole, washed the pole with water and milk and then re-wrapped it with a fresh cloth. (source: USA Today)

Victimhood in the context of chardi kala

December 26, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In the shadow of the mass murder of Sikhs in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Simran Jeet Singh discusses the growing narrative of Sikhs as victims in American society in the context of Sikh history and tradition: A few of the prominent themes have included buzzwords such as “unprecedented,” “victimization,” and “suffering” endured by Sikhs in America. Although these buzzwords rightfully point to the challenges faced by Sikh Americans, they fail to aptly capture the spirit and attitude with which Sikhs have […]

Categories: Hate Crimes, Reflections, Sikhism • Tags: chardi kala, hate crimes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oak Creek, Sikh Temple of Wisconsin, Simran Jeet Singh, Wisconsin

Leave a comment

Mandeep Sethi film SIKLIGAR now available online

December 15, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Mandeep Sethi, a filmmaker and hip hop artist from California, has made available his recently-released documentary SIKLIGAR, an inside look into the history of the original weapons makers of the Khalsa Army. The Sikligar community traces their origin to Guru Gobind Singh in the 18th century, but now have been long forgotten and marginalized in India. More information about the film — and the charitable foundation taking up their cause — is below, and a recent interview with Mandeep Sethi […]

Categories: Sikhism, TV/Movies • Tags: A Little Happiness Foundation, Guru Gobind Singh, Mandeep Sethi, SIKLIGAR

Leave a comment

Cover of "Guru Nanak Vol. 1" from Gyan Khand Media.

Sikh Comics releases Guru Nanak graphic novels

December 10, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Back in February, I had the opportunity to review two graphic novels published by Gyan Khand Media (http://www.sikhcomics.com), a publishing house that creates comics based on Sikh history. The two I reviewed were stories of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Baba Deep Singh. The author behind Sikh Comics, Daljeet Singh, was also good enough to share the story behind the project as well. Recently, I was contacted by Daljeet Singh who indicated that two new novels have been released. I was […]

Categories: Art, Literature, Resources, Sikhism • Tags: Daljeet Singh Sidhu, Guru Nanak, Gyan Khand Media, Sikh Comics, sikhcomics.com

A man reads from the Guru Granth Sahib (source: sikh-history.com)

What makes a sacred text

December 7, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In the Huffington Post, Joshua Stanton, of the Center for Global Judaism, explores what makes a text sacred: Humans sanctify themselves not in the passive resonance they feel with stories that transcend time, but in the active engagement and re-crafting of these stories through the questioning of premises, derivation of overarching truths, and a willingness to unweave and reweave these initial narratives in forms that more closely resemble that which we understand to be ultimate meaning. The Sikh faith is […]

Categories: Reflections, Sikhism • Tags: Guru Granth Sahib, Huffington Post, Joshua Stanton, sacred text

Painting of Guru Nanak with his parents, c. 1733

Celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak

November 28, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

Recently, I have been reading an early account of Britain’s annexation of the Sikh empire during the 19th century called The Sikhs and the Sikh Wars: The Rise, Conquest, and Annexation of the Punjab State. Published in 1897, British authors Sir Charles Gough and Arthur D. Innes document the history of the Sikh faith, and describe Guru Nanak, the first Guru and founder of the Sikh faith, as thus (pages 16-17): A seeker after truth from his earliest years, he […]

Categories: Events, Sikhism • Tags: "The Sikhs and the Sikh Wars: The Rise Conquest and Annexation of the Punjab State", Arthur D. Innes, gurpurab, Guru Nanak, Sir Charles Gough

"Jurupa school board members on Monday, Nov. 19, discussed safety issues on campus, including a request by some Sikh students to bring ceremonial kirpans to school." (source: Press-Enterprise)

California school board allows Sikh students to wear kirpan, with restriction

November 27, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In southern California, the Board of the Jurupa Unified School District recently enacted a provision allowing Sikh students to carry a kirpan — a sword or blade that is an article of the Sikh faith — on its school campuses: Under the new policy, parents agree to sign a statement that requires the kirpan — a daggerlike object that is a sacred article of faith — to be worn under clothing, to have the blade dulled, to be soldered or […]

Categories: Civil Rights, Sikhism • Tags: California, Jurupa Unified School District, Jurupa Valley, Khalsa, Kirpan, SALDEF, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

Painting of Guru Tegh Bahadur (source: SriGuruGranthSahib.org)

In honor of Guru Tegh Bahadur

November 26, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

This week, Sikhs around the world commemorate the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, who was executed in Delhi, India in 1675 by order of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The Guru had presented himself to the emperor in order to challenge the state’s oppression and forced conversion of Kashmiri Hindus. When he became Guru at the age of 43, Guru Tegh Bahadur was already a celebrated soldier and spiritual mystic. The Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh […]

Categories: Sikhism • Tags: Aurangzeb, Guru Tegh Bahadur

Leave a comment

Reflecting on Sikhism as a “peaceful” religion

October 2, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

In a thought-provoking article, Jodha, at the blog The Langar Hall, discusses the recent framing of Sikhism as a “peaceful” religion: My point isn’t whether Sikhs are peaceful or not, individuals come in all shapes and colors. The level of violence against women, against female fetuses, and often against one another, doesn’t seem to me that we are a particularly ‘peaceful’ people and should be so glib with our descriptions. Moving from Sikhs to Sikhi – I hope we never […]

Categories: Reflections, Sikhism • Tags: Guru Gobind Singh, Guru Hargobind, Khalsa, Kirpan, Sikhism

City Spoonful highlights the religious significance of langar

September 7, 2012 by Rupinder Mohan Singh

City Spoonful, a New York-focused food culture website, visits the Gurdwara in Staten Island, New York, looking beyond the menu to talk about the religious significance of langar – the community meal served at every Sikh house of worship: The meal itself exemplifies two of the most important tenets of Sikhism: equality and community service. That egalitarian philosophy is emphasized by the custom of eating langar on the floor, where everyone literally sits at the same level. Often, langar is […]

Categories: News Bits, Sikhism • Tags: City Spoonful, Langar, New York, Staten Island

Leave a comment

Considering the experience of Sikhs in America.

Category Archives: Sikhism

Victimhood in the context of chardi kala

Mandeep Sethi film SIKLIGAR now available online

Sikh Comics releases Guru Nanak graphic novels

What makes a sacred text

Celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak

California school board allows Sikh students to wear kirpan, with restriction

In honor of Guru Tegh Bahadur

Reflecting on Sikhism as a “peaceful” religion

City Spoonful highlights the religious significance of langar