Prejudices. Sikhs are not muslims

Interesting video!Just for your attention! No comments!

Sonny Caberwal - first Sikh super model in Germany's GQ photo shoot

Remember my previous article about Sonny Caberwal being featured in Kenneth Cole's adverts. That time he made many people proud. He did it again!

American Sikh Sonny Caberwal has become the international face of the prestigious German men's magazine GQ in spring-summer collection 2009. Finally the stereotypes are broken. I suppose there is a big road ahead of Mr Singh but he did it again.

"It's not about me, but about Sikh identity and about our culture and traditions being shown in a positive light to people around the world," the Mail Today quoted Caberwal as saying in Mumbai.

Don't miss. Free sheeping for your favourite t-shirts from Cafepress.

Do you need new t-shirt for this summer? Great collection from DESILEGEND for you. Enjoy Free Economy or Standard shipping for purchases of $65 or more from CAFEPRESS.
Enter FREESUMMER code for discount.

Modern Punjabi Robin Hoods

Few days ago I got a link from my friend about modern day Robin Hoods. Have a look!

"Song of the road: Trafficking drugs to build villages.

Meet the modern day Robin Hoods – three young men from a village in Punjab – who robbed Uncle Sam to pay Peters of two villages near Jagraon lead a better life. A large part of their profits came from cocaine trafficking in Canada and the US, running into some crores of rupees, which were used to construct roads, improve civic amenities and marrying off the poor.
Drug busters in USA may describe them as “close to the top ranks” of a drug running organisation in US and Canada, but for the beneficiaries of their largesse, the villagers, they are nothing less than ‘faristey’ (angels).

Officials from the Bakersfiled Drug Enforcement Wing arrested them yesterday for drug running. Harjeet Mann (39) of Gureh village, Jasdev Singh (33), and Sukhraj Dhaliwal (38) of Cheemna village near Jagraon, were in possession of 180 kg of cocaine and US $845,000 in cash when undercover agents of Kern County Sherrif’s department nabbed them.

Shock and disbelief was the reaction of the villagers who only remember their large donations for religious causes, building roads and civic amenities. “Ever since the trio settled in the US, they have been donating generously and selflessly and always chose to be secret donors,” said Amrjit Singh, former sarpanch of village Cheema.

Son of religious singer (granthi) in village Gurdwara, Sukhraj migrated to USA some 12 years ago, while his friend Harjit Singh left Punjab in the early nineties and became an owner of a fleet of 24-7 Truck Wash. Later, the trio joined hands to operate their transport business and started transporting drugs from US and Canada by “concealing” them in various parts of vehicles, said police officials.

The locals said whenever Sukhraj visited his village he preferred to keep a low profile and restrained from attending public functions except the sports tournaments for which he used to donate money. Surinder Singh Darshi, another villager, said that Sukhraj and Harjeet refused to even sit on stage and watched the tournament from public gallery only. Recalling several instances wherein the duo had arranged money for marriages of poor couples and paid school fee of needy children, the locals said most of the philanthropy they practiced was as ‘anonymous” donors.

Meanwhile, the Jagraon police said the trio had a “clean” record with no criminal background. “Though they belong to respectable families and have no links with criminals or drug traffickers, we have formed a team to probe such links, if any, here in Punjab”, Deputy Superintendent of Police (detective) Satnam Singh told HT."

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=351b2dec-e75f-4207-a97f-59e231396601

Article from 2007 Hindustan Times

About Sikh movie Dream in Doubt. 9/11 Hate crime movie

Dream in Doubt movie by Tami Yeager (Director/Producer) and Preetmohan Singh.

One of America’s first post-9/11 hate crime murders punctuates a growing wave of violence in retaliation for the terror attacks.

When his brother is murdered, Rana Singh Sodhi finds himself coping with national tragedy and murder, finding support in community and attempting to reclaim the American dream.

A DREAM IN DOUBT follows Rana Singh Sodhi, Balbir’s brother, as he attempts to fight the hate threatening his family and community. The Sodhis had fled ethnic violence in India to pursue their version of the American dream. But less than a year after Balbir’s murder, Sukhpal Sodhi, Rana’s next-eldest brother, is killed in mysterious circumstances while driving a cab in San Francisco. Nine months later, Rana’s friend Avtar Chiera is shot by three men who yell, “Go back to where you came from!” Three weeks after Avtar’s shooting, another friend, Inderjit Singh, is physically assaulted and threatened with death while working at a convenience store. These incidents receive little to no coverage in the U.S. media, and a national dialogue concerning post-9/11 hate crimes and ethnic profiling is sorely missing.
Wanting justice for his brothers’ murders, Rana is motivated towards social action. He demands that America live up to its ideals of freedom, equality and justice for all. Or is it justice for some? To guard his own school-aged children from bullying and harassment, Rana and his wife visit their children’s school to answer questions about Sikhs. Rana educates Phoenix-area residents and meets with local Sikh Americans to discuss the increase in hate crimes. But with each new case of violence that targets his community, he is forced to question just how much he should suffer.
While the attackers in these crimes view themselves as proud defenders of America, Rana insists that their actions contradict the core values of his adopted homeland. In A DREAM IN DOUBT, he challenges his fellow citizens to think deeply about individual responsibility in the face of bigotry and what it means to be a true patriot.




All information taken from Independent Lens website.

First Sikh

Did you know that 1st Sikh.............was?

1. The First Sikh Settler in UK was Maharaj Duleep Singh
   
2. The First Anglo Sikh War started in 1845 and ended in 1846.
   
3. Sikh-Canadian Kashmir Singh Heed has become the Canada's first Sikh to become police chief of West Vancouver, British Columbia ("B.C.") with effect from August 2, 2007.
   
4. Baba Banda Singh Bahadur is revered as one of Sikhism's greatest warriors as well as one of its most hallowed martyrs and was the first Sikh king.
   
5. To the late Brigadier Dalip Singh goes the credit of being the first Sikh to represent India in the Olympics in 1924.
   
6. Baldev Singh was the first Sikh Defence Minister of India.
   
7. Giani Zail Singh (May 5 1916 - December 25 1994) was the President of India (1982-1987), and the first Sikh to hold India's highest public office and honour.
   
8. The first Sikh Indian prime minister, Singh was sworn in on May 22, 2004. He is a native Punjabi speaker. Manmohan Singh is the 14th and current Prime Minister of India, considered to be the "architect of modern India."

Picture is a courtesy from Wikipedia

For more information on first Sikh clich here.

PROUD TO BE A SIKH!

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh... Amazing and so truthful words about the Sikh identity. These words are taken from Project Naad website.

PROUD TO BE A SIKH!

Who is a Sikh u ask...

well I am a Sikh!

I am born and brought up in this county.

The turban and unshorn hair are part of the Sikh uniform.

No one believes me.

They think I am part of the Taliban.

They think I am an Arab.

They think I am supporting terrorism.

I keep telling everybody:"No! I am a Sikh!

Sikhs are not part of the Taliban.

Sikhs are not Muslims.

Sikhs are not Arabs."
"Are you part of Islam"people ask?"

Are you an offshoot of Hinduism"others say.

"I have never heard of Sikhs"says another.

I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim.

My body and breath of life belong to Allah to Raam the God of both.

Sikhs are a distinct people.Sikhs are a distinct nation.

Sikhi is a distinct religion of peace, love and equality for whole humanity.

Sikhs worship the One Supreme Truth, the One Ocean ofMercy, the One Creator Lord.

Sikhs do not keep fasts, go to pilgrimages or pray to idols.

Sikhs follow three principles of constantly remembering the Lord,

living and working honestly, and sharing with others.

Racists say"Get the rag off your head!"

Ignorant people say: "Why do wear that hat?"

Misguided Sikhs say,"Turban or no Turban what does it matter.

Sikhs should move with the times and learn to integrate with society."

"I think you are mistaken", I say."My turban is not a hat.

My turban is not a mere piece of cloth.

My turban is a gift which I cannot discard.

"The Khalsa is my distinct image.

Within the Khalsa I reside.

(Guru Gobind Singh Ji)I explain,

"My turban is a crown blessed upon my head by my Father, Guru Gobind Singh Ji."

"My turban is a crown of grace, dignity and honour."

"My turban is a crown which protects my head,

keeps my hair tidy and is the image of my Father."

"Its backward to keep your hair!"says one person.

"What is the point of cutting your nails and keeping your hair"says the cunning person.

"There is no significance in today's world of unshorn hair,"says the Sikh who has been led astray.

The Naam, the Power of the Lord's Name, is the Innern knower of my heart.

The Naam is so useful to me.

The Lord's Name permeates each and every hair of mine.

The Perfect True Guru has given me this gift.

Defending my identity and religion I say:"You are mistaken dear friend".

"My hair is not useless.

My hair is a gift, a tool, and a technology bestowed upon by body by the Creator Lord.

Each and every hair on my body has a practical and spiritual function.

Each and every hair on my body is like electric wires, which vibrate and pick up spiritual energy. Each and every hair on my body vibrates the energy, the power and spiritual force of meditating on the Lord.

The hair on top of my head protects my skull and brain.

The hair above my eyes prevents sweat and water going into my eyes.

The hair on my body insulates my body, keeping me warm in the cold, and cool in the heat.

The hair under my armpits prevents friction and irritation when moving my arms.

My nails are dead material, which are cut to be hygienic, or they would snap off by themselves gradually.

My nails are cut to be clean and tidy, and my hair is combed twice daily to remove deadhair to be tidy.

My nails are not part of the Sikh uniform."I see!

That is amazing" says one person.

"Fair enough, I am sorry"says the cunning person.

"We have beautiful religion, a great gift given to us and we are so lucky to be blessed with such a technology and honour"says the Sikh who was led astray.

Don't hide your faith and identity.

Share it with the world.

Don't be ashamed of who you truly are, walk with your head held high.

Remember brothers and sisters your image is the manifestation of Guru Gobind Singh

Singh Ji & Mata Sahib Kaur.

I’M PROUD TO BE A SIKH!!!

Hope you enjoyed reading it. Please forward it to your friends, family and non-Sikh friends. CLICK HERE if you wish to buy sikh religious / patriotic t-shirts like 'Deg teg Fateh' , 'Khalsa t-shirt', 'Khanda', 'Singh Power' tees from DESI LEGEND.

Khanda as a sikh symbol

In my Desi Legend t-shirt shop, I have a new design with khanda. It's selection of Khandas with country's flag inserted inside.

Let's say it's American Khanda for sikhs living in America and feeling strongly about their identity as well you will find British Khanda, Canadian Khanda and many more coming.

For every Sikh Khanda is very important symbols of Sikhi. Khanda - it is a collection of four weapons commonly used by Sikhs at the time of Guru Gobinf Ji.

Khanda, Chakkar and 2 kirpans. The Khanda is an important emblem in Sikhism . The Chakar is the circle that indicates that God and eternal life is without end and perfect.

If you have a relative or friend living in one of those countries it might be a great gift.

Truth about myself

Dear Readers,

I have decided to tell a little bit more about myself... some people prefer not to be very personal in their "personal" blogs but for me it's quite hard. People who read this blog might think that i'm Sikh from the birth but I'm not...I'm a simple girl from Latvia (how is your geography?). I have discovered Sikhi with the help of my gorgeous Punjabi husband and his family.

I feel that this blog can't metamorphose into good blog without being honest and truthful to itself.

I want to believe that my dear readers will support me and will give me a chance.
I have created this blog to express myself, explore new things in Sikhi and Sikh culture.I feel that I'm a Sikh and I need to know more....

I hope you will enjoy this blog...

Yours truly,

Danka Singh

P.S.
You are always welcome to DESI LEGEND T-SHIRT shop which was created by my husband and me.

/Your country/ bred confident desi a.k.a. ABCD

Desi Legend presents 5 new designs in ABCD style:

American bred confident desi

British bred confident desi

Canadian bred confident desi

Australian bred confident desi

Irish bred confident desi

If you can't find your country please leave comment or e-mail to 1st.desilegend@gmail.com

T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts and other desi apparel available.

www.cafepress.com/desilegend

Check out for more great gifts on http://www.cafepress.com/desilegend

Kenneth Cole - Sikh model

"We all Walk in Different Shoes"
A few days ago, Kenneth Cole unveiled one of his new ads on a wall of Rockefeller Center in New York City. The model is, surprisingly, a sardar.
The campaign features Sandeep (aka: Sonny) Caberwal as a Sikh and in the below video he explains about being a Sikh and standing out.

Sonny Caberwal grew up in a small town in North Carolina.
He’s a practicing Sikh and an entrepreneur.
Still in his 20s, Sonny is the joint owner of Tavlon Tea Bar in New York City – a lounge that sells gourmet loose-leaf tea and tea accessories.
He graduated Duke University in 2001 and went on to graduate from Georgetown University Law Center in 2004.
He currently resides in New York.

You can see full video with Sonny at: http://www.kennethcole.com/thinkers/bio6.asp

Gora Sikh

Very inspirational video! What a punjabi!
Although Sikhism does not have missionaries around world,more and more white people convert to sikhism. More people are discovering sikhism in the 21 st century. I have seen white sikhs in Amritsar (may be from Miri Piri Academy).

http://www.miripiriacademy.org/

Respect.

Findingawife.blogspot.com by Harry Singh

http://www.findingawife.blogspot.com/ by Harry Singh

I recently stumbled upon Harry's Singh blogspot. I would say it's really exciting and very spiritual blog. Harry blogs about arranged marriage, about changing values of young sikhs...

"She wanted her hubby to trim his beard and better still, cut his hair, if he could. "Tussi dekhoge, tussi change disso ge" (You will see, you will look better). "

For full story please visit:

http://findingawife.blogspot.com/