Now's the time I suppose

Since the Mumbai attacks, I haven't REALLY commented on the sequence of events, so I thought it was about time to do so. (following requests from a few readers).



I know you all know I'm pretty much against the idea of Khalistan and India being 'seperate entities'. A few of you are inexplicably concerned that I may be favouring those attacked in Mumbai over those attacked back in 1984. So, I'll make it clear now - BOTH events were atrocities, BOTH were acts of evil therefore; I'm against both acts. Don't belittle me by saying that I'm a 'desh-premi' and I care more about 'Bharat' than sikhi.

What happened in 1984 (and the following decade or so) was inexcusable - and the instigators and perpetrators MUST be brought to Justice. Finally, after so long, the people of India have awoken and have begun to stand up and be counted - to hold the Government accountable.

It is about time! I know what most of you are thinking...more than 20 years after one of the biggest and cruellist massacres in Indian history - these people wake up to the useless government forces NOW? Why now?

To tell you the truth, I don't know why...it could be because it hit home this time...the rich and wealthy (those who ignored the events of 84) were attacked this time...police and anti-terrorist forces members were killed and injured (yet they stood and allowed thousands to die in 84)...or it could be that the Indian people have just had enough. I honestly don't know...ask someone and they'll give you one reason, ask another and you get a different reason...

But from where I see it, it doesn't matter why or when or how...what matters is that they are finally demanding change. Better late then never? (I know some of you would probably say never?!)

What I worry about is that people will forget in a few weeks or months and move on and politics will continue to be a cesspool of indian mehl...(dirt)...nothing will change...

So we come to me saying yet again...
WE can be the change....India has millions of youths who are fed up, who have the zeal, eduacation and ability to make a difference....all it takes is one...


NB- another thing...I think NOW is the time to really PUSH for justice in India (regarding 84) - Workers of the world Unite!...i mean :P SIKHS of the world UNITE!

No Religion

http://publication.samachar.com/pub_articl...amp;nextIndex=4


A grieving Mumbai mourns the dead. At least 179 Indians and foreign nationals were gunned down in cold blood in a terrorist attack that has raised controversy and several questions. And now questions are being raised over the fate of those nine men who unleashed the carnage and were gunned by the security forces.





Muslim organisations in Mumbai have decided that Muslim cemeteries in Mumbai, where unclaimed bodies are usually buried, will not open its doors for the last rites of these urban jehadis."The killing of innocents is against Islam. They are bringing shame to 25crore Muslims of India. These men are not Muslims. Why should we give them place anywhere? There is no place for them in our hearts and in our cemeteries," said Hamid Abdul Razzak, president, Dawat-e-islami.





Unprecedented events demand an unprecedented response. And this time the community has gone beyond merely condemning terrorism. It's shutting its doors on those who claim to act in their name. Determined to deny the terrorists the martyrdom they seek, Muslim organisations have written to senior Mumbai police officials as well.





"The cemetery should not allow the police to bury the nine dead terrorists in their premises," said Ibrahim Tai, president, Muslim Council Trust.





As Mumbai reels from last week's attack, there's anger, outrage and a lot of soul searching. Among this is a community determined to keep out the prodigals.

Mumbai burns

The past week I have been following startling reports from Mumbai, India - during and in the follow up to what can only be described as chaos....My heart seriously goes out to all those who were affected by these catastrophic events.

‘aye mere watan ke logon, zara aankh may bhar lo paani,
jo shaeed huwei hain unki zara yaad karo kurbani….

Take a moment

I know the 5th of November has come and gone but somethings can't be simply restricted to a date....there is much more to life...

This is taken from the movie 'V for Vendetta'...it is genius and it's on my top movies of all times list...This is a quotation from one of the most stirring scenes in the movie. It is still so relevent, I felt the urge to post it...please read it through, if it does not seem directly relevent to you...read harder:

V:".... Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?

Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame?

Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense.

.....Last night I sought to end that silence. Last night I destroyed the Old Bailey, to remind this country of what it has forgotten. More than four hundred years ago a great citizen wished to embed the fifth of November forever in our memory. His hope was to remind the world that fairness, justice, and freedom are more than words, they are perspectives. So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you then I would suggest you allow the fifth of November to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me one year from tonight, outside the gates of Parliament, and together we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever be forgot!"

another mindblowing quote:

V:..."People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people"

Remember, remember the 5th of November. The gunpowder, treason, and plot. I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.

Nit Nem

Haha it's been more than a month since my last post! I think I've just been a little lazy...it's so easy to get weighleighed with useless rituals nowadays...Get up, take a bath, do my nitnem, catch the bus, go college, catch the bus back home, eat a snack, bath my sister, do her homework, do my homework, put my sister to bed, cook dinner, eat dinner, revise and go to sleep. And in the morning it starts all over again....Even my Nit Nem is slipping nowadays...sometimes I don't feel the motivation to get up and go...my dad always says one should get up with a jump "shaala maar ke" I try to bare that in mind.

But I am glad that one part of my routine is Nit Nem... if I didn't have bani I don't know what I would do...it gives me peace of mind, refreshes me and prepares me for the rest of the day.

Powers and Effect of Daily Banis
Nit Nem in Gurbani gives you a very powerful meditative mind. It gives you the balance required. Energy comes to a person from the head, and the head is the distributing center through the spine. When one reads Gurbani; it must be done in the correct harmony and rhythm.
It is compulsory for Khalsa to read all the five Banis daily. They were given so that a person’s incarnated personality may elevate itself to defend through any negativity or misfortune.
Guru Har Rai was once asked whether there was any benefit gained by reading the Guru’s Bani without understanding it. "Yes," he replied, "as grease sticks to the pot even when it is emptied, so does the Guru’s Word stick to the heart. Whether you understand it or not, the Word bears the Seed of Salvation. Perfume persists in the broken pieces even after the vase that contained it has been shattered." - Excerpt from Victory and Virtue

Lakh Lakh Vadhaaeeia

Honor the 300th Anniversary of Guru Gaddi
Published
by
Gurumustuk Singh

Taken from www.mrsikhnet.com

on October 17, 2008

Honor the 300th Anniversary of Guru Gaddi by making a Pledgeto deepen your own personal relationship with the Guru
For so many people, the Siri Guru Granth Sahib is deeply revered, but not always understood or meditated upon. This month, as our global Sikh Sangat remembers and celebrates the 300th anniversary of Guru Gaddi, we can each make a Personal Pledge to deepen our own relationship with our Guru.
"Walking one step towards the Guru’s feet, the True Guru walks millions of steps to welcome you…" - Vaars of Bhai Gur Das Ji
We have selected a simple list of things you can choose from and pledge to do.

We invite you to participate, along with us here at SikhNet, in taking one of these pledges – or perhaps to create another personal commitment of your own. As we commemorate our gifts from Guru Gobind Singh, and the significance of his last instructions to his Sikhs, let us remember that the presence of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib in our lives was purchased through the sacrifices of many generations. Let us honor those sacrifices by each making a personal commitment to more deeply understand and experience the power of the Shabad Guru in our own lives
Click Here to Choose a Pledge!
The cool thing about the pledges are that you are not alone! These are group commitments that you would make along with lots of other people. You can actually see how many others made the same pledge.

Waheguru Bani hain Guru Guru Hain Bani!

image taken from http://www.artofpunjab.com/

Dhan Dhan Karo

I was on Gurumustuk Ji of http://www.sikhnet.com blog and to commemorate Sri Guru Raam Dass Ji's Birthday, he has written a few posts. I asked a question regarding the reverance of Guru Ji (not in a derogatory way). It got me thinking about the link or relationship I feel with my Guru. I have a closer sonnection I would say with Guru Gobind Singh Ji...I think it's the martial spirit within me. My 'Spiritual Father' inspired me to keep my kes and wear a dastaar. I used to be an Army Cadet so, the whole idea of being a member of the Khalsa has always hit close to home...Vaheguroo I love this Dharam.

Everyday I sing the praises of Guru Raam Dass Ji through kirtan (thanks to Chardi Kalaa Jatha) and I feel more of a connection than I ever have before...well Guru Ji is more in my thoughts now than before I listened to this Kirtan.

I think the typical thing for us to do is think ...Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji but what about the 8 Nanak's in between?

I read the sakhian and sure, they come back to mind but I have no real CONNECTION (I'm sorry to say) with them...

Funny how humans have a habit of fixating ourselves on a form/entity/w.e.

We all know that Sri Guru Nanak's Jot was within the susequent Guru Ji's and that They were a part of Vaherugoo themself....but still...hehehe