Germany Frankfurt Camp 2007

The week of the Glasgow Camp, there was a camp held in Frankfurt in Germany organised by Bhaji Ranjit Singh jee and the Sikh Sangat of Frankfurt. Bhaji Robin Singh jee from Germany has kindly emailed the photos from the camp to share with the Sangat. It is inspiring to see the glory of Guru Nanak Sahib jee's Sikhi across the world. The pride of Baana and Baani is amazing.

I sometimes think of the Saakhi (story) of when Guru Nanak Sahib jee went to a village. The villagers were rude and nasty. Guru Sahib said, "Vasde Raho!" meaning "Stay residing here". When he went to a village where there were God loving people and welcoming Guru Sahib said, "Ujjar Jaao" meaning "Scatter Away". Baba Mardana jee said, "Why do you say this Maharaaj? You tell the good people to scatter and bad people to remain happily residing in their village?" Guru jee replied: "Bhai Mardana! I have not cursed the good people. I wish these good people to scatter and flourish in other parts of the world. Wherever they go, they will spread goodness. If there are more good people, the world will be happier. The bad people of the other village are good-for-nothing. They will make other people rude and unkind wherever they go. So I have asked for them to live comfortably in their village".

I think and wonder how amazing it is that all over the world there are Nishaan Sahibs flying in the air, there is Guru Ka Langar and the Shabad da Langar served indiscriminately and Sikhs are living in their cities or small villages. Dhan Guru Nanak!

Here are some of the photos from the Frankfurt Gurmat Camp 2007:


Bhaji Ranjeet Singh jee doing Vichaar with the children

Dastaar (turban) tying class:



Young children's group playing some games outside (looks fun!):




Older children learning Gatka from Bhai Maha Singh jee (Paris) and Bhai Jasveer Singh Khalsa (Paris):






Keertan in the local nearby park (looks relaxing!):



Dastaar tying competition (looks like serious competition!):





Diwaan:



Morning Diwaan:



Bhaji Ramandeep Singh jee posing. Bhaji Chamkaur Singh jee in the background and to the right is Veer Jagraj Singh from Paris (looks like he is asking for something!)

Langar Paanee and Keertan in the Park (very lucky to have such nice weather!):




Last day diwaan:

India Partition Story

This week has marked 60 years of the partition of India. It was a horrific time what can be described as witnessing a living hell for Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims living in Panjab. Below is one of the many inspirational partition stories amongst the backdrop of genocide, rape and merciless killings. The news article dates back to 1953 from an American magazine.

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The Sweetest Revenge
TIME Magazine, Posted Monday, Apr. 27, 1953

Sardar Tara Singh had no cause to love the Moslems. For two bloody centuries his Sikh people had fought them for mastery of the Punjab in northern India, and in those wars, many of his ancestors died martyrs' deaths. One of them, Bhai Mani Singh, fell into the hands of the Great Mogul Aurangzeb, who first chopped off Bhai Mani Singh's fingers, joint by joint, then lopped off his limbs, one by one. Another, Baba Sukha Singh, died under Moslem knives after assassinating a Moslem chieftain who had turned the Sikhs' holy Golden Temple at Amritsar into a brothel.

Under British rule, Sardar Tara Singh and his Sikh compatriots lived in uneasy peace with their Moslem neighbors. But when the British left and India was partitioned, religious violence broke out once more. Five million Sikhs abandoned their ancestral homes in west Pakistan and fled to the East Punjab, and an equal number of Moslems fled westward. Fanatics on both sides organized themselves into bands and killed as many of the fleeing civilians as they could. White-bearded Sardar Tara Singh shook his head over this massacre of the innocent.




"Kill Her!" From one such slaughter Sikh warriors returned to Tara Singh's village of Sunam, now in India, with a seven-year-old Moslem girl. Her name was Hasan Bibi, and she stood tense and terrified among them while they debated what to do with her. "Kill her," advised a Sikh refugee from Pakistan, "just as they slaughtered my children in Lahore." A man of piety disagreed: "Convert her to our holy religion and let her marry a brave Sikh boy when she comes of age."

But Sardar Tara Singh put a protective arm around the girl. "I will treat her in a way which will bring the sweetest revenge upon the wicked Moslems." he said. "I will bring her up as a Moslem, and restore her to her relatives when she grows up. And she will be as pure as the white snows of the Himalayas. That will teach the Moslems that a Sikh is pious in peacetime, just as he is invincible in war."

For six years little Bibi lived in the brick and clay house of Tara Singh, playing with his grandchildren, helping his ailing wife with the chores. Tara Singh himself taught her to read and write and to worship according to the faith of her ancestors. Bibi was the only Moslem among the 5,000 Sikhs of Sunam.

Meanwhile, the unrest in India subsided, and Sardar Tara Singh began his search for Bibi's family. Her father, Fateh Ali, seemed to have disappeared, and Tara Singh, despairing of finding him, requested the Indian government to ask the government of Pakistan to find a suitable Moslem boy to marry her when she reached the legal age of 15. Sardar Tara Singh was prepared to bear the expenses of the wedding and give Bibi a dowry, just as he had done for his own three daughters. Then the word came that Bibi's father was found at last, at work as a shopkeeper in Pakistan.

A Cup of Tea. Last week Tara Singh and Bibi journeyed to a town near the Pakistan border to meet him. Bibi was afraid, for despite her careful Moslem upbringing, she had absorbed some Sikh prejudices. "If I go to a Moslem household," she cried, "I shall have to bear the offensive smell of tobacco and eat beef!" But Tara Singh loaded her with presents and new clothes and reminded her of her duty.

When Fateh Ali arrived, he embraced Tara Singh with tears in his eyes. Then they went to a restaurant to celebrate the occasion with a cup of tea. At the sight of a Sikh and a Moslem sitting down together, a murmuring crowd began to gather outside, and the story of Bibi and her foster father spread quickly among the Hindu villagers.Later, when Bibi and her father had bounced safely off to Pakistan in a jeep and Tara Singh had boarded a train to return home to Sunam, everyone was still talking and arguing over this amazing happening. On the train, one man, who did not recognize Tara Singh, vented his feelings. "A Sikh who repays the wickedness of the Moslems by a generous action like that," he exclaimed, "deserves to be shot." But Sardar Tara Singh only smiled quietly.


Half a world away, aroused Frenchmen still argued the case of Robert and Gerald Finaly. Both boys, sons of Jewish parents, had been baptized as Roman Catholics after their parents died in wartime concentration camps. Earlier this year they were spirited across the Spanish border by zealous Catholics to prevent their being returned, by a court order, to Jewish relatives (TIME, March 16). Moderate-minded Frenchmen hoped that the children could be put in the care of a theologically neutral group until a higher court rules on the appeal of their Catholic foster mother. Meanwhile, the Finaly family addressed a public appeal to the older boy, Robert: "Listen, Robert. Listen with your mind and your heart. Today, April 14, 1953, is your birthday. Now you are twelve years old, already a man, or almost a man . . . Do not listen to those who would make us out an enemy . . . Wherever you are, write us . . .". From across the Pyrenees came not a word.

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ਜੀਵਨ ਮੁਕਤ ਜਗਦੀਸ ਜਪਿ ਮਨ ਧਾਰਿ ਰਿਦ ਪਰਤੀਤਿ ॥
Jīvan mukaṯ jagḏīs jap man ḏẖār riḏ parṯīṯ.
Become Jeevan-Mukat, liberated while yet alive, by meditating on the Lord of the Universe, O mind, and maintaining faith in Him in your heart.

ਜੀਅ ਦਇਆ ਮਇਆ ਸਰਬਤ੍ਰ ਰਮਣੰ ਪਰਮ ਹੰਸਹ ਰੀਤਿ ॥੭॥
Jī­a ḏa­i­ā ma­i­ā sarbaṯar ramṇaʼn param hansah rīṯ. ||7||
Show kindness and mercy to all beings, and realize that the Lord is pervading everywhere; this is the way of life of the enlightened soul, the supreme swan. ||7||
(Ang 508)

Edinburgh Trip

Last week Bhaji Dharamveer Singh from Edinburgh invited Daas to Edinburgh Gurdwara. On Saturday evening there was a Diwaan aimed at the young English speaking Sangat, and on Sunday afternoon there was a programme aimed at non-Sikh visitors who had come to the Gurdwara Sahib as part of the Edinburgh "Festival of Spirituality & Peace".

It was very inspiring to meet the Singhs from Edinburgh. A lot of people have taking steps towards Guru jee and made big changes in their Jeevans. It's amazing to see how Guru Sahib's Kirpaa manifests. In place where you wouldn't think there would be little or no Sikhs you find Chardi Kalaa Guru ke Pyaare.

Here are some photos:

This is Bhaji Dharmveer Singh with his nephew Sooraj Singh. Both of them always wear Baana (the Khalsa attire) to the Gurdwara Sahib and both very Chardi Kalaa.

Young Sooraj Singh only turned 10 years old in August. His parents asked him what present or gift he would like for his birthday. He could've asked for a computer console, games, trip to a theme park or something else. But, instead he asked, "For my birthday I would like to have a Rainsbayee Keertan." I was taken aback by the pyaar this child has for Sikhi. May Waheguru continue to keep him in Chardi Kalaa and bless him with Gursikhi Jeevan.

This is Bhaji Siddharat Singh who is from Delhi but studies in Aberdeen University. It took him 3 hours to come to the Edinburgh Gurdwara. He has no Sangat where he lives. It's makes one appreciate the Sangat and nearby Keertan programmes and events that Guru Sahib has blessed us with.

Saturday afternoon trip to the Edinburgh sea-side:



Saturday evening Keertan and a talk in English:



Sunday Edinburgh Peace Festival Sikh talk:

I thought I was bad when travelling and do everything last minute. However, I found somewhere who is even more "LastMinute.com" than me - Bhaji Siddharat Singh! Poor Bhaji missed his bus firstly. He thought it was 6.30pm when it was 5.30pm. Then he couldn't find his ticket. He needed to print off an e-ticket, so he used the Internet at the bus station. But he forgot his email password so he couldn't access his emails! Waheguru. (It was like something in a film! lol). To top it off there were no more free buses going to Aberdeen at that time. Waheguru. Irrespective of all the drama of the day Bhaji was still in Chardi Kalaa and smiling :)

Southall & Slough

The past two weeks there have been camps in Southall and Slough. At both camps the topic for the workshop was "Why am I proud to be Sikh?" which followed by a general talk on general Sikhi, Rehat, making the right choices and awakening the mind.

Below are some photos from class held at the Southall Singh Sabha Gurdwara camp that took place at the Norwood Green school.

Group work discussions

Presentations:





Younger group having discussions:




This uncle jee was at the camp. He was so Chardi Kalaa. He had the Nishaan Sahib always in his hand. Bhai Sahib said that he was old now and the one seva he was capable of doing is holding the Guru's Nishaan wherever he goes. Very inspiring and Chardi Kalaa attitude to life.


On Tuesday I went to the Khalsa Sikh Primary School in Slough camp. There were over 300 children there. The school is amazing! The design of the building is great. I wish I was a child again so that I could go to that school! Waheguru. The classes ranged from the topics of Seva, basic Rehat, Bajjar Kurehats and a summary and history of the Sikh Rehat Maryada. It was nice to see some friendly faces from Bradford at camp :)

On the way back home I had to take the train. The train stopped at Oxford where I had to change. It was long journey but I was given loads of Gurmat books from Slough by a Bhaaji which kept my me busy. At Oxford I had to wait at the station for the Birmingham train. There weren't many people around. On the bench there was an Arab or East European looking man sitting on the bench. He looked astonished when he looked at me. He was looking at the Dastaar (turban) and Kurta Pyjama. I decided to sit on the bench. I thought perhaps he has got scared looking at me and feels uncomfortable that late at night there is not many people around and that I am standing near him.

I sat on the bench and carried on reading the books I had with me. The man then asked me "When is next train to Birmingham." So I told him. After a waiting some time I decided to ask the man, "Which country are you from?" He said that he was Kurdish from (Southern) Iraq. We started talking. It was kind of strange considering that he initially looked bit disturbed but now he felt okay. I asked him if he was sight-seeing in Oxford. He didn't know much English but enough to have a basic conversation. He said that he came to visit his cousin.

I asked him about his family and he said that they were all back in Iraq. The train arrived and I said bye to him thinking that he would want to sit somewhere else on the train but he decided to sit on the seat near me. So I decided to talk to him. He was happy that I was talking to him and asking about his family. He got excited and said, "Sir, I show you photos of my family." I smiled and said okay. He opened his bag and got an envelope full of photos. He showed photos of his mother, father, sisters, brothers. Waheguru. If you think Panjabi families are big, think again. He showed all his relatives.

I asked, "Do you go to Mosque and pray." He looked bit embarrassed and said that he didn't go to the Mosque but he should. I said "Do you remember & thank God?" He said, "Yes I thank God." I was shocked to hear that he was 19 years old. He explained how got to the UK and it didn't sound too glamorous! Very tough and dangerous. He said that he has no one here and he feels lost so he smokes and drinks alcohol. We discussed how God helps us and that God is the biggest friend you can want and that we are never alone. He agreed that alcohol and smoking wasn't the solution to his problems. By that time my stop had come and we said good-bye.

It's strange how Waheguru causes us to meet people. Afterwards I thought to myself that we are very lucky with the lives we have in this country. We have the support of Guru Sahib, the Saadh Sangat and family. There are others in the world who don't have that and instead feel the need to turn to alcohol, drugs and other things to fill in the void in the heart. Guru Sahib has done so much Kirpaa on us yet we so easily forget this. Meeting this man at the train station reminded me that I was lucky that my Guru is always with me and gives hope.

Children doing Simran

Here are some videos from the France Gurmat Camp that took place in July.

This is the 10-12 years old class. At the beginning and end of class we would do Simran. It would help to calm the children and keep them focused:




Video from evening diwaan:

In the evening diwaan, after Rehraas Sahib, Uncle Gurdial Singh jee would lead Simran. After doing Simran, Uncle jee would ask the children (in Panjabi): "Why do we do Simran?" and "Is doing Simran important?" The children were Chardi Kalaa! They would reply with great enthusiasm. Every day Uncle jee would say put your hand up if you do Simran in the morning. Day by day the numbers of hands went up and even parents. Children enjoyed the Simran.

Dhan Hai Guru, Dhan Hai Teri Sikhi.