WOMENS EMPOWERMENT PROJECT INDIA

PLEASE READ AND HELP OUT/DONATE GUYS, IT'S A WORTHY CAUSE!!

Dear All,
Hi guys .. we are just about to embark on our second trip to india to do further voluntary work, we will be aiming most of our funds to the Unique Home (Bhai Ghannaya Trust) and helping the young girls who were abandoned at birth, and are now being looked after under the care of Bibi Parkash Kaur (a devout sikh lady) who has dedicated her life to these girls. Please read more in the report below and forward it on to others who would be interested to support or girls who would like to volunteer in the future ...http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B_a4WOAjdhVTZGVhNTFmYTAtOGNhYS00MzEyLWI0ZDQtNzZjMmQ0M2FmZDUw&hl=en Please donate any amount small or large £1 to £1000 and within a few weeks see your money really helping disadvantaged women and children in India. To donate towards any of the projects described in the blog. We are in the process of setting up a charity account.
At the moment we have the following account set up for donations ...
ABBEY
Sort Code: 09 01 26
Account Number: 87132172
Everyone internet banks these days, so get in touch, talk to us if there are any specific things you would like to see your money go towards .. you will receive photos and a report on where your money has been spent :) Thank you :)

I tried a massive post earlier, but technology hates me and it all got deleted. SO here's a very inspirational video I just watched featuring Guru Kaur, Sikh from the UK in an interview w/. Jay Singh.

http://www.jaysinghsohal.com/turbantemp/video-guru-kaur.php

Essays, essays and essays. MAN I'm glad to get all of them out of the way. I've begun my sikh comic once again, starting from where I left off, it's starting to look good, but I'm doing it all myself so there's still a long way to go. I feel really inspired all of a sudden after the recent events in Punjab (see link at end of post) to get it finished in all the Shaheeds' (martyrs) honour.

I've begun the storyboard for Tom's movie now. It's going well. I began with the second act where one of the main characters gets hit by a car, which drives off and the female lead has to decide on whether to abandon him (since he mugged her earlier) or help him. It's really interesting and a lot of fun. The problem is, I don't feel motivated to do any law revision for my exam on the 17th, so I've done a timetable to try and organise my time and stuff....we'll see how that goes eh...

My grandmother has just come out of hospital after surgery and I've been back n forth home since she went in. I'm very relieved to have her back home and grateful that she is recovering well with the Grace of God. She's been more of a mother to me than my own mother...so it's been hard and I can't wait to see her on Thursday, when I go home next.

I have a 'spur of the moment' wedding to go to on Saturday, which will be great. All my cousins are coming back (like me) from Uni for it. I can't wait, it's going to be the biggest reunion since the summer, and a much needed one at that.

Christmas is coming ever nearer and I have yet to do my shopping for gifts. I have a secret santa gift to buy, birthday presents for my bro's (the three of us were all born in December) and xmas gifts for my Dad and Grandma...and mother depending on her behaviour up until then toward me (for the record things have been going well between us lately, so fingers crossed eh..)

I really am upset about what's going on in Punjab right now, and want to offer my prayers and condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in the recent struggles. The fake saints won't last long, we will triumph eventually...

koorr kapatt hathhiaar jio sach rakhavaalaa sileh sa(n)joaa

Falsehood is a fake weapon where as the Truth is protector like an iron-armour.

for more info on punjab events : http://manvirsingh.blogspot.com

to watch up to date coverage : http://www.sikhchannel.tv

Bliss

Do you ever have those days where absolutely everything just goes brilliantly? Well, I had one of 'em yesterday. Everything was just perfect - with the "dude upstairs'" good-grace. I pulled an all-nighter with my friends, watching real old cartoons and shows like 'Top Cat' and 'Wacky Racers', we stayed up 'til breakfast at 7am - a full english fry up (so that meant hash browns for me with weetabix and hot chocolate..blissssss) Then we came back to our rooms to chill or, in my case - to fall asleep whilst reading 'Goodfellas'. I woke up at 12, only to realise I had a meeting with a Student Film-Maker at 2! So I texted him to let him know I'd meet him at 3 instead and he was great about it. We met at Cafe Nero (way better than Starbucks and Costa by the way) and he bought me a hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate chip (I know, 2 hot chocolates in one day, could it get any better?) He took a look at some of my art-work, whilst I took a look at his script. I think this movie definately has some promise so I'm quite eager to do the storyboard work for him. He's a really great guy, who went to America in the summer to work with Jack Black on a new movie. He was surprised I'm not doing an art degree or anything... let's not get started on that eh.... He liked my art-work and it turned out we have a similar taste in comic books, i.e. the silver surfer (all time favourite of mine and his)... So he wants me to work for him once I take a proper look at his script, but I've already decided to take the job as I'd love to add this to my portfolio - who knows where it could lead?

After we went our seperate ways I walked around on the high street and the indoor marketplace in Oxford. It was a tad chilly, but otherwise gorgoeus. I went to a few second-hand bookstores and to my surprise found some amasing finds for next to no money! Julius Caesar (my all-time favourite Shakespearian work) published in 1910 for £1.50! I'm working on my autobiography as well, so I picked up Angelas Ashes for a quid (good book) to give me a hand. I also got Pickwick Papers by Dickens (terrific writer and story) , Nelson by Carola Oman (awesome character) and Hemingway's The Old Man and The Sea (gotta love Hemingway). All for less than a tenner - which was amasing! I love second-hand books. You can smell their age and the paper is so precious. They also look so good on the bookshelf hahaha...

I later found myself at the Oxfam charity store on Broad Street. It weren't so good books wise, but they have quite a good collection of LP's. Now, when I was a kid (before the Lord of The Rings was a motion-picture) my father used to speak of an old record he once owned which matched the story in music. He lent it to someone and never got it back. To my surprise at the Oxfam store, I FOUND THE RECORD! I can't wait to see my Papa's face when I show it to him. I know it will mean a lot to him.

So, after meandering the streets of Oxford Town for 3 hours, it was time for a lecture at Oxford Sikh Society about the Last Maharajah of the Sikhs - Duleep Singh - who was a very awesome and tragic character not just in sikh history but in history in general... I really recommend you do some research on him! We went to Pizza Hut afterwards and I ate tonnes of food followed by a cheesecake, over some really stimulating conversation and a good laugh...like I said, Blisssss....

I came home around 11.30 to find all my housemates shout 'congratulations' in the hallway - for getting the storyboard job, they made me tell them everything that happened. I love my housemates, they're such an amasing group of people. So loving. I could tell that they were genuinely happy for me. I was so overwhelmed, I'm STILL overwhelmed.

Such an amasing day.

To top it all off, I GOT MY STUDENT LOOOOAN!! So that burden's been alleviated somewhat :)

"A dish fit for the gods".

~Shakespeare's Julius Caesar~

Time

I've been so busy lately, it's not even funny. Drawing, writing, law work and more. It's hectic. On top of it is 'student life', trying to stay in touch with family AND be able to get up at Amrit Vela (early in the morning). *SIGH* I can't wait til Christmas...It'll be a nice break.

I've started writing my autobiography (unofficially)...I was talking to a friend lately and she was pretty astounded at my life-story so far (how do you write that without sounding conceited?)...she told me to write a book. So, yeah, I am. It's so difficult though. I've drawn up a timetable to try and fit everything into my day. Ontop of revision as well...maybe I'm doing too much at one time?

Someone asked me if I'm looking to get married recently. That was rather random to be honest. I haven't spoken to her in a while , and I got an SMS asking me the 'dreaded' question. But I was surprised at my own answer... Since I was a kid my parents pretty much scared the daylights out of me when it came to the issue of marriage (amongst other family members). When I went to answer, I actually found myself hesitating... Don't get me wrong - I said 'no'. But not because I feel I'm too young or I want a career or whatever... It was just timing and, I want to find my own husband - that's where this SMS was heading (it was to hook some Singh up) . I'm not afraid of the prospect of marriage, nor kids. I love kids. I brought my sister up, so there's nothing to fear there.

The text got me thinking though. I never REALLY thought stragetically about my future. (it gets kinda difficult if you live my life to be able to to predict what's gonna happen TOMORROW) hahaha. The past few days I've been kinda formulating a plan. I know, you never know what's gonna happen. But, at least now, I have a kinda goal in life...A light at the end of the tunnel to head toward.

For now though, I'm trying to live in the moment. I'm reading more, writing more, listening more, talking less, etc. (I'm sure you can imagine)....

The future is NOW.

Indeed

I haven't posted in the last few days. Simply because I was worried I'd write something I'd regret in anger and wouldn't be able to take it back. Anger can get the best of us, what can I say? I know the past 5 days have been pretty crucial writing times for sikhs but I gotta admit. I've been busy. It's reading week for the law students here. I got a lot of work to do my Monday (great...)
I've also been busying myself with writing to Indian Newspapers on their shocking bias and clear apathy in articles regarding 1984.
I'm not going to go into a history about 1984. There are countless websites on the issue (and no, I don't mean the novel - I'm talking about the anti-sikh pogroms of Delhi, d'uh!!!) I won't retell the tragic stories, which can also be read elsewhere. However, I will voice my disatisfaction with the Indian State and it's clear disregard for Human Rights - forget Sikhs, but christians, muslims, dalits, women and tribal people - anyone who's a minority basically is at risk in India of having to deal with; prejudice, attack, racism, segregation and much more. It gets me angry just thinking about it...........worlds' largest democracy my ass...
**DEEP BREATH**
Don't get me wrong, I still love India....I just don't like the State. I went to a lecture on Monday on the issues, the sequence of events etc. with sources and facts backed up by non-sikhs - which made the facts seem more 'real' in a sense (not that sikh sources are any lower - just sometimes you need to hear things from 'other' people). It was really good.

ANYWAY.....

My brother is coming to stay with me tomorrow!! It's gonna be epic. We've really missed eachother since I moved out - since we're so close in age (less than a year) and spend so much time together. I can't wait!
I have SO much work to do - but simultaniously I'm working for a script for a film for next years sikhnet film festival ( I was inspired by Atlanta's Angad Singh). I can't wait to start shooting in January, if all goes well! Wish me luck.
I'm also trying to fit in painting AND work on my graphic novel on sikhism - which was put on hold a LONG time ago cos of college work n the whole family dilemma. SO at the moment all seems to be going well.... we shall see eh??

This doesn't really go with what I wrote about just now, but I like it - stood out to me :

galee bhisath n jaaeeai shhuttai sach kamaae

By mere talk, people do not earn passage to Heaven. Salvation comes only from the practice of Truth.

Get off your ass!

The British National Party (known for nazi/fascist views and policies) has come into the spotlight recently in the UK, since they featured on BBC's Question Time. Now, I don't disagree with the principle that these views should be listened to - else how else can we counter them? Voltaire said something like 'I dissaprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it...' We live in a democracy and as such we have to respect other peoples rights to freedom of speech. However, it is widely known that the BNP's views insight hatred much like the many 'islamic militant fundamentalists' they oppose, the only difference is the BNP is a political party! Therefore their right to say things on a public platform is quite controversial (as I'm sure you can imagine)...

Then again if we don't let these views come to the platform; they''ll end up being forced underground; will create more anonymous support; and hatred will spread; with violence increasing.

If we expose their policies and show them up for the sham that they are, we can do a lot more.

Also, it is the responsibility of every BNP-hating person out there to stand up and take some responsibility. Throwing eggs will not make a difference, but work against us in the sense that we create sympathy for these...fiends. We can talk about this in our own little communities and all of us can repeat the same message - 'screw the BNP' , 'sod the BNP' blah blah blah, but we won't get anywhere.

The only way to counter the BNP is to fight back with brains and not brawn. Go to a primary school and/or a high school and do a talk about tolerance! Talk about the many different people, religions, ethinicities we have in this beautiful world. Talk about humanity. We are ONE. We have to educate people from a 'grass root level' or the next generation will follow in the BNP/NF footsteps. We need to spread a message of peace and love and tolerance. All British people, no matter what colour or creed should stand up united against these people.

Most of the people who voted for them tend to be ignorant and poorly educated. They are prejudiced from the beginning.

And don't just go to schools where the population is already pretty diverse - kids are smart, they already tend to be pretty accepting here - go to schools in the middle of nowhere , where they haven't seen a coloured person 'cept on TV. Go to places like Bristol - where racism with youths is rampant.

We can fight this! We just have to get off our asses and make the change ourselves. There's no use in moaning when the storm has already passed and we're picking up the pieces. Think ahead!

It is not mine but YOUR responsibility. YOU are going to do something about it. I will tell you exactly what to do, I will give you the tools but YOU can't wait for someone else to solve this problem. That is why we have a situation we have toda...y. The world does not know about us because we as individuals wait for our community or leaders to do our job. But who is the community, who are the leaders ? It is YOU and I. (Angad Singh Atlanta, Georgia - 16 year old peace activist)

BE THE CHANGE YOU WANNA SEE IN THE WORLD!!!

eehaa khaatt chalahu har laahaa aagai basan suhaelaa 1

In this world, earn the profit of the Lord's Name, and hereafter, you shall dwell in peace. 1

EARN THAT PEACE!