Issue 26 - November 2006
Investigating Anti-Sikh Discrimination in a Post 9/11 World
As a Sutter County Probation Officer, I care about justice not only for probationers under my supervision but I also care about social justice in the Yuba City community. Recently, I became concerned about what I perceived to be unfair, discriminatory treatment of Sikhs in Yuba City.
The American Scene Profiled With Pride
I am a person very proud of his Western heritage and Mediterranean ancestry. I served in the United States Marine Corps in a combat role in Vietnam. I came back from Vietnam a quite, demoralized veteran with moderate post-traumatic stress and rejoined a society in great flux: the anti-war movement; civil rights movement; the student movement; hippies and flower children.
Malnutrition in Children: Indian Perspective
The epidemiological and scientific consideration of nutrition is of interest not only to physiologists and physicians but also to sociologists, economists and political leaders of the state.
Celebrating Diwali
As the Indian community has grown in Indiana and throughout the country, many unique regional elements, expressions, and traditional inspirations, and personal experiences and memories of events back home in India, and needed adaptations reflective of the time and place have made Diwali a multi-faceted, multi-textured, and multi-cultural affair.
Muslim Marginalisation and the Need For State Action: Findings of a Report
rt, The overall living conditions of India’s Muslims are significantly worse than that of Hindus, particularly ‘upper’ caste Hindus, and, indeed, are not considerably different from that of the Dalits and Adivasis, the poorest of the Indian poor. This is what a recently-released repoa joint effort of Action Aid, the Indian Social Institute and the Jahangirabad Media Institute, makes clear. Muslim Marginalisation and the Need For State Action: Findings of a Report
Mayhem in Mangalore
Early this month, a series of violent incidents rocked Mangalore and several nearby towns and villages in coastal Karnataka. Two people were killed, dozens injured and property worth several lakhs was destroyed. Although a semblance of peace has now been restored, tension remains, as I discovered after a recent trip to the area along with some social activists from Bangalore.
Bhagat Singh Thind: The Legacy of an Indian Pioneer
Thind valiantly fought his case in the US Supreme Court, but the judge revoked his citizenship simply due to the color of his skin. The Court verdict in Thind’s case, United States v. Thind confirmed that the rights and privileges of naturalization were reserved for “Whites” only.
Book – Religion, Caste and State
We may not agree with Churchill whom we condemned as racist and imperialist when he said that independence would plunge India into chaos and ruin because Indians were unfit to rule themselves. All the same, it is necessary to separate the person from his ideas, inasmuch as at least four of the issues Churchill raised are still relevant to the political situation in India.
Malacanang Withdraws Appointment of Controversial General
The Philippine government rescinded the appointment of a recently retired general to a position on the National Security Council. Various organizations accused Gen. Jovito Palparan of human-rights violations, prompting Malacanang to withdraw his nomination to the post of special deputy in charge of counter-insurgency.
Imelda Strives for Closure Over Husband’s Remains
In an attempt to end years of controversy over her late husband’s final resting place, former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos has arranged for her husband’s burial on the family’s property. Her decision is the latest move in the ongoing debate surrounding Ferdinand Marcos’s burial since his death in exile in 1989.
A Song, a Blast and the Indian Media’s ‘Secular’ Pretensions
Even more curious in this regard is the fact, which the ‘mainstream’ media probably has deliberately sought to conceal, that Bankim Chandra Chatterji was hardly the ardent ‘nationalist’ that he is made out to be. In 1858 he was appointed to the post of Deputy Magistrate by the British, the first Indian to enjoy that dubious distinction in the immediate aftermath of the failed Indian Revolt of 1857.
Japji Captures the Heart of God: Doris Jakobsh
I came to learn that Dr. Doris Jakobsh, with her family, was vacationing in our area. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I arranged to interview her. When contacted she said she would love to meet me, but she would not talk about her book, Relocating Gender in Sikh History.
Relocating Gender in Sikh History: Transformation, Meaning and Identity (Author: Doris Jakobsh) A Critical Analysis
McLeod’s “Western methodology of historical research” on Sikhism is simply a process utilized to distort Sikhism under the cover of “academic research,” and I find that Oberoi has ushered this process a step further to diffuse the “Sikh identity” through a campaign of misinformation. Therefore, it is no surprise that Jakobsh’s “gender research” on Sikhs under Oberoi is beyond the boundary of academic norms, standards and ethics.
Book: Stones On The Road
My experiences won’t hurt anyone. Many may shake their heads, feeling that this is too “far out”; that is their right. Some, however, may be inspired to open up to their own truth and share what they learn. I came to understand that my experiences were never meant to be just for my sake, my pleasure, alone.
Grounds of Inter Religious Spirituality in Indian Culture
In the present context of Postmodernism, the Pluralistic philosophies in the history can offer us a persuasive platform to discuss and substantiate the theme of multiplicity of religions. I recall the philosophies of atomism of Democritus in ancient Greece, of monads of Leibniz in modern Europe and of Critical Realists in more recent West. Scholars indicate that there existed a distinct tradition of pluralism in ancient Greece.
Sikhism : A Religion for the Third Millennium A Postmodernist Perspective
Arnold Toynbee had observed that Sikh religion had the potential of ushering in a new higher civilization qualitatively different from the earlier Indic and Hindu civilizations. The potential of Sikh religion, its élan vital, can play a dominant role in shaping the 21st century society and the third millennium civilization that would be in its fundamental postulates different from the modern Western civilization.
My Perspective on the Sikh Camps in the United States
Growing up in Denver, Colorado I was never exposed to many Sikh families, especially not many that had children that were my age. My parents and my paternal grandmother were instrumental in teaching me to become a Sikh girl. The summer before my junior year in high school, my brother and I were given the opportunity to attend a Sikh camp in Maryland.
Daughters- Let’s Give Them a Chance
I’am proud say that I am a mother. I am even prouder to say that I am a mother of two girls. To all the people of our society who sympathize at my plight at not having a son, who will one day carry on my lineage and take care of me in my old age, I say “ Wake up and look around you. The world around is changing.”
Drug Addiction Totally Alien to Sikh Way of Life
Despite the concerted efforts of World Health Organization (W.H.O.) and governments of several countries to keep effective check on it, the use of intoxicants is showing a steep rise year by year. Sikhs (particularly the youth) have not been able to stay immune to the ambient situation.
The Savior
Tom Lochner of Contra Costa Times, reported a warning to Sikhs in pamphlets distributed by a local church in El Sobrante, California. Sikhs are told that “Without believing in Jesus Christ, you, my Sikh friend, will die in your sins, and in so doing, will be condemned to Hell forever. Receive Jesus Christ alone as your Lord and Savior today, turning from your sin and your religion.”
Book Review: “Love Thy Neighbor” Reaching Out to Your Sikh Neighbor: A Handbook
In this booklet the neighbor referred to is a Sikh who ought to be visited upon, shared the promises of Jesus, and talked into converting to Christianity. And this targeted Sikh neighbor lives in Kenya.
Re-Visiting the Biblical God
Jass Singh responded to my inquiry through my “dialogue” with another reverend. I respect Jass, and beyond us addressing each other as brother, I know hardly anything about him. Oddly, his reply left me staggered. I have come across many American Christian apologists and understand their vocabulary.
A Comparison Between Two Credos: Christian and Sikh Rejoinder to Reverend Tony Zekveld’s
Last year a paper by Reverend Zekveld was posted on the Sikhspectrum.com. It has come to my notice now and my response to it is given below from the Sikh viewpoint. Reverend has made it clear that his purpose is to “dismantle the Sikh view of God and their entire world view in accordance with the directive of the scripture (2 Corinthians)”.
Representation of Commencing Verse (Mool Mantra)
The Commencing Verse (commonly called as ‘Mool Mantra’) of the Aad Guru Granth Sahib (AGGS) [1] has been represented by Guru Arjan many times throughout the AGGS before the beginning of the every Raga, every section, and subsection of the AGGS as such, without abridgement or in an abridged form. This verse is tentatively divided into three sections to make the explanation easy.
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