New Sikh school in France.
As you know, France banned Sikhs to wear turban in public places (offices or schools). Congratulations to creators of this school. They opened first new Sikh school in France, Paris. The foundation of “Guru Tegh Bahadur Public School” was laid on February 19. This school will be opened to all communities.
Emma Jane Kirby BBC News writes "A Sikh school is opening its doors in a Paris suburb for the first time on Saturday in the wake of tougher French laws on religious dress. The special school in Bobigny was set up after secularisation laws in 2004 prevented Sikh boys from wearing their traditional turbans in class. Several boys dropped out of mainstream education in protest.
The Sikh school was built by a local entrepreneur whose son was excluded from a public school three years ago. The boy had refused to remove his turban in class. The French laws ban the wearing of prominent religious symbols such as Muslim headscarves or Sikh turbans in public places like offices or schools. The Sikh school will start with fewer than 15 pupils but it is hoped that a Sikh college will open later in the year to allow older boys to take business qualifications.
Although the school will celebrate its inauguration over the weekend, it is unlikely to begin classes on Monday because it is still waiting for a final approval from the local education authority. " News from BBC
Again good job to school! Hopefully it will give a better chance to Sikh kids to be who they are without loosing identity and getting proper education.
Read another article about France and Sikhs.
Monday, April 28, 2008
New Sikh school in France
Monday, January 28, 2008
France sikhs and turbans
Chandigarh, January 24 - The turban controversy in France has virtually triggered a wave of awakening about its importance in this part of the country.
Schools are being set up to train Sikh youths in turban tying. Competitions are being held by various Sikh organisations to honour the youths who have perfected the art of tying turban.After 1990 Sikh youths, in big numbers, had started becoming clean-shaven and these were mainly from colleges and universities.
But, now, it appears, the turban is staging a comeback in a big way in this region.The most interesting development is turban has become theme of Punjabi folklore, especially Punjabi folk songs in recent past. A large number of folk songs have been dedicated to turban by Punjabi singers in recent months. Ravinder Grewal’s folk song “pag banani na bhul jayo, o Punjabio” has been a hit for several weeks. Babbu Mann’s recently released song “pehlan main sardar han” is topping the popularity charts in the region. It is the first time Babbu has worn the turban while singing the song in the video. A few weeks ago Hardip Gill came out with Punjabi hit on turban theme “pagan cho pag sardaran di.Earlier, Shamsher Sandhu’s song “geet hove Punjabian di pag varga” had become a hit. Pammi Bhai’s latest song “pagan cho pag Patiala shahi e” has become a hot song. Another song by Bitta from Batala topping the popularity charts is “tohar sadi jag to niari mitro, sadi pag sanu jan ton piari mitro”. A duet “har pase teri pagri the gal ve” sung by Nikku and Jaspinder Narula has also become immensely popular.Earlier, also turban used to be part of the Punjabi songs but in a different contest. “Pagri sambhal jatta” had become a theme song of the freedom movement in the farmer community all over the country.
All Punjabi folk singers such as Yamla Jat, Karamjit Dhuri, Chandi Ram, Harcharan Grewal, Didar Sandhu used to tie turban in a peculiar style while singing on stage. Gurdas Mann was perhaps the first artiste who did not wear turban but became a famed Punjabi folk singer. Abroad it was Malkiat Singh of “tutak tutak tutian” fame, who made the turban popular. Daler Mehndi also played vital role in making turban popular. “Whenever any minority community faces adverse situation with regard to its identity, it obviously reacts strongly. Apart from resorting to agitations and other modes of protest, it uses its folklore to inspire its constituents to defend the identity,” says a social scientist.
-By Sarbjit DhaliwalTribune News Service
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Turbans are no threat. THE Times of India news
Turbans are no threat to secularism.
From THE TIMES OF INDIA.
"There is absolutely nothing wrong in Sikh organisations and individuals in India urging Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the issue of the ban on wearing turbans in France. The turban is merely one among many outward religious symbols that the French republic has outlawed in public institutions and photo identity. To be seen to be secular, the French government has gone to the extent of specifying even the size of religious symbols like the cross that could be displayed on a person. Secularism, however, is not about denial of individual rights; it is about keeping religion out of the state’s hair and vice versa. Understandably, Sikhs across the world are upset and anguished over the French ban on turbans in public institutions. Wearing a turban does not in any manner compromise the safety, security or health of either the wearer or those around him. Nor does it undermine the secular nature of the French republic. So is there really a case for the ban? It befits a democracy to maintain a clear separation between religion and state. However, making the distinction into a divide only leads to a secularism that is militant, even aggressive to the point of preventing people from expressing their beliefs peacefully. By making secularism a state religion, France has only given liberalism a bad name."
You can read more at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2732746.cms
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