Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Birthday!

Hey hey hey! how's my favourite crowd? Good good good... well happy Gurpurab to the lot of ya! I was in Wolves last night, birthplace of my sisters for a Kirtan Darbar. And to tell you the absolute truth... it was mind blowing. I dunno why, but it felt different, it was until late, at Nanaksar Thath Isher Darbar. It was really cool, honestly, first I kept falling asleep, naughty I know. But once the Aarti started it was mental! Really cool. Got a few cool pictures too and a short video.

(To View Photos Click Here)
(Click here to view the video of the Hukhamnama)

London Candlelit Vigil

Short post this time, as its already 11:13 Pm and I really need kip for the full day of school looming tommorrow! Today was the London Candlelit Vigil, which was preceded after a lobby with local MPs, off the top of my head, Mark Todd MP, Bob Laxton MP, Rob Marris MP and a few more.

We were there to raise a few issues regarding the census 2011, about how Sikhs should be monitored as a seperate ethnic group and so on. The Candlelit Vigil was similar to the one in Derby yesterday. The turnout was very well, and plenty of candles were lit opposite Westminster Palace. If you would like to see these pictures click here.

(As boys will be boys there are those of the journey! Click Here)

Derby Candlelit Vigil

Ahh... The Derby Candlelit Vigil! The art of organisation to it's finest from the DJ who doesn't know whether the volumes on to the missing microphone... The beauty of craftmanship from the foil wrapped cardboard to the yellow ducktape. Yes folks, that is Derby for you on a silver platter!

Nah, I'm just being a b*****d, and as I was part of the organising party I can hardly say much! It went moderately well, the sounds provided by our very own Sandeep Singh, who actually trusted his system to a group of Uncles! Big thumbs up to him. The very well thought out speeches who Daas and a few others had the pleasure of reading to the sangat, written by Mr Harpreet Singh Khalsa. Mr Harpreet Singh Khalsa also tried to muscle his way out of reading any of his speeches and so in true host-style, Gurmel Singh, forced him to present a speech off the top of his head, which was in-fact brilliant. Ahhh yes! Don't forget Gurmel Singh, our host, who performed this seva beyond expectations (as he always does).

The whole vigil began by a speech from the Mayor of Derby, who touched many hearts with his words of brotherhood and oneness. And he was followed by Mr Hardial Singh Dhinsa, who similarly spoke his mind, but truth and kindness came out. They both alongwith Gurmel Singh and our very own Jagir Singh (Gyro!) lit the first candles and after the sangat were asked to continue.

The turnout was pretty damn good, with which looked like about a hundred people (no official count was made). Yes, it wasn't as big as the one we had earlier this year in January, but to my suprise, more candles were lit. Young, old and I guess us, came to pay our respects to the victims of November 1984.
(For Pictures Click Here)

November 1984 saw the death of thousands upon thousands of innocent Sikhs beat up, burned alive and raped. Sisters, Mothers and Daughters saw their end. Brothers, Fathers and Sons saw their end. Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren saw their end. And what for? The revenge of Indira Gandhi's Murder?

Yes, she was murdered by Sikhs, yes if she were alive today I would dream of murdering her. But Why? This is a deep thought... In June 1984, she ordered the attack on Siri Harmandir Sahib Complex alongwith other Gurdwaras around Panjab. But Why? She said to remove potential terrorists from Harmandir Sahib. But Why were all the other Gurdwaras attacked? No answer. But Why were so many Sikhs sat down, had their turbans unravelled, now binding their hands, and shot at point blank range? No answer. But Why... But Why... But Why... The list continues, but still no answer.

"I do not support the idea of Khalistan, nor am I against it. We do not wish to split the land we spilt our blood over, however, we will not refuse it if the Indian Government offers."

-Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhinderanwale

Worldwide Candlelit Vigils

All over the world, candlelit vigils will be held to call for justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-sikh pogroms. The cities involved in this are, Birmingham, Derby, Leicester, London, Bristol, Leeds/Bradford, New York, Toronto, Dehli, Chandigarh, Brussels and The Hague.

As can be read in the poster; Birmingham's will be held in Chamberlain Square from 4:00 Pm until 7:00 Pm. Leicester's at the Clock Tower from 5:00 Pm until 7:30 Pm. London's will be outside of the Houses of Parliament from 4:00 Pm until 7:00 Pm. Bristol's will be held at the Bristol City Centre Promenade. And Derby, my hometown's, will be outside the Derby Assembly Rooms near the Cornmarket from 4:30 Pm until 7:00 Pm.

All the vigils are to remember those slaughtered during the 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms, and those widows and orphans who were and still victimised for being Sikhs. It has been 22 years and no justice has been served. If a guilty person were too be set free here in the UK, their would be an uproar, people crying "that person is guilty, he's committed crimes" in no time at all. However, over the last 22 years no ones been crying out for those people to be punished for their crimes against the Sikhs. And those who have been have either been silenced or murdered.

It would be a great inspiration to see you at one of these events, even if you do not stay the whole time, just to show your support and light a candle. Please show up, it was your brothers, uncles, fathers who had tyres put around their necks, drenched in oil and set alight. It was your sisters, aunties, mothers who were pushed onto the ground, clothes ripped off them and raped. Don't sit in silence.

The person who sits in silence witnessing a crime and does not do anything is worse than the person actually committing the crime.