Sikhism | Sips of Life

Radio and print media coverage of the presentation on Sikhism that my daughter, Jasmine Kaur Minhas, recently did

https://charanjeetsinghminhas.com/2017/06/radio-and-print-media-coverage-of-the-presentation-on-sikhism-that-my-daughter-jasmine-kaur-minhas-recently-did/

Sikh Awareness Month 2017

by blogadmin | Apr 17, 2017 | Delaware, DSAC, SAM, Sikhism, Year 2017

Delaware state proclaimed April 2017 as “Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month” in a joint resolution. Both the chambers passed SCR-3 unanimously. First the Senate and then the House.

It became necessary to educate our fellow citizens that 99% of those you see with turbans are Sikhs, the followers of Sikhism, an independent, monotheistic faith. It is not a branch or blend of any other religion or religions. A path toward universal upliftment.

The highlight of the event, “Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month,” April 2017, proclamation by both chambers of Delaware legislature yesterday was when Jasmine Kaur Minhas got a standing ovation from Delaware’s Senate.

Major Minhas and Charanjeet Singh Minhas are holding the proclamation signed by New Castle county executive, Matt Meyer, for April 2017 to be “Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month” in the county. Matt is on the left of Major and Charanjeet.

Delaware’s Governor John Carney and state representative Paul Baumbach in meeting with Delaware Sikh Awareness Coalition in Dover.

Governor Carney is learning and appreciating the contribution the Sikh community and members of the coalition are making in the state’s progress. Seen in the picture are (clockwise): Gov. Carney, his two members of staff, Major Minhas, N eeraj Sharma, Brinder Singh Shergill, Charanjeet Singh Minhas, Anjali Gupta, Jasmine Kaur Minhas, Sunmeet Singh Sethi, state Representative Deborah Hudson, Harmeet Kaur Sethi, Lalit Jha, Vipin Kapoor, Harvinder Riar, Charanjit Singh, Riar Jr, state Representative Paul Baumbach.

Jasmine Kaur Minhas, standing in the middle, is happily showing the resolution. She is flanked by Governor John Carney and Representative Deborah Hudson. On the right end of the picture is also Representative Paul Baumbach, resolution’s sponsor in the House.

Charanjeet Singh Minhas proudly displaying the passed concurrent resolution. Present are(L-R): Row1 Kirit Singh Minhas, Harpreet Kaur Minhas, Harjit Kaur Minhas, Harmeet Kaur Sethi, Vipin Kapoor, Charanjit Singh, Suresh Choudhary; Row 2 Neeraj Sharma, state Senator Bryan Townsend (resolution architect), Harvinder Riar, Ajay Raman; Row 3 Riar Jr., Charanjeet Singh Minhas, state Representative Paul Baumbach, Sunmeet Singh Sethi; Row 4 Major Minhas, Surinderpal Sharma, Brinder Singh Shergill

Unity in Diversity: Different people, different colors, come together to make United States of Diversity.

The three of them make our Flag… We ALL together make the nation.

Harpreet Kaur Minhas during an interaction with New Castle county TV Channel in April 2017

Jasmine Kaur Minhas and Charanjeet Singh Minhas during an interview with WHYY TV.

April 15, 2017. Walking for peace. Together. Age, color, gender, race or religion can’t divide peace lovers.

God bless those who not only came to participate but came prepared with beautiful messages to make the Peace Walk even more effective and meaningful.

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MEDIA COVERAGE’S –

This event was covered online by the www.tribuneindia.com on March 17, 2017.

NPRadio coverage of the SAM – www.delawarepublic.org

Short film illustrating misplaced fear associated with Sikh turban.

by blogadmin | Mar 26, 2017 | DSAC, Sikhism, Year 2017

Here is a short film illustrating misplaced fear associated with Sikh turban

Interfaith Peace Prayer

by blogadmin | Aug 20, 2015 | Delaware, DSAC, Sikhism, Year 2015

A Peace Prayer to ONE From Many

Faiths across the world concur in the belief that even when religions are many, God is one.

Still, a razor thin minority dedicate themselves to destroying the peace of the majority in the disguise of religion. I agree with Napoleon (not a particularly peaceful person himself) when he said: “The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people.”

Why do these “good people” stay silent and later whimper in pain, suffering and disgust?

On Saturday, August 15, local leaders and members of various faiths came together at the recently opened Sikh temple (Gurdwara) near Middletown to demonstrate that good people can collectively serve the community and pray in peace and solidarity. The event also reflected the belief that service and prayer together in such a way can frustrate hatemongers more powerfully than any other individual effort.

This was the second year that a group of Sikhs sponsored and organized such a gathering. Last year the venue was close to the Wilmington train station where an interfaith peace prayer was said before food was served to the homeless in the spirit of community service.

This year we gathered at our new Gurdwara in Middletown. Members of many faiths joined together to help clean Route 896, where the Gurdwara is located. This was done as a community service project under the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Adopt-A-Highway program. Families living in the neighborhood of the Gurdwara also generously joined the effort. Following the cleanup, we gathered at the Gurdwara for fellowship and remarks by government leaders and representatives of several religions.

This year’s event coincided with the third anniversary of the tragedy in Oak Creek, Wisconsin in which a gunman attacked a Sikh temple, killing six members and wounding several others including a police officer. The incident was remembered by watching “Waking in Oak Creek,” a half-hour movie that recounts how on August 5, 2012, an individual driven by hatred and neo-Nazi leanings shattered the lives of Sikhs in this small suburban town. But the finest achievement of this film, produced by Not In Our Town and distributed by Department of Justice, is in showing the resilience of the Sikhs. The film illustrates how in the true spirit of their faith Sikhs remained invested in peace, love and forgiveness.

This shining spirit was certainly enabled by enormous love and support of Americans at large in the true spirit of the creators of our country. The documentary convincingly depicts how governments at all levels and people from all walks of life embraced and comforted the Sikh community.

However, this year’s interfaith initiative was not just focused on Oak Creek. It was an act of remembrance and tribute by people of all faiths for all those who have been wounded or died from hate crimes and violence. It was for the nine victims of Charleston Church shooting, three victims of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, four victims of Chattanooga, Tennessee, for Michael Brown, in Ferguson, and others in Madison, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore and elsewhere.

As a Sikh, I was taught since childhood that there is nothing larger than seva (selfless community service) and simran (prayer). A seva that is intended and performed for the universal betterment (sarbat da bhala in Sikh parlance) can only invoke the Supreme Being’s blessing of glory.
Simran can progress towards acme only when it promotes harmony, equality and togetherness.

I can’t imagine a peaceful world unless there is peace among various faiths, which can only start once there is peace amid faith leaders of the world. Will it ever happen?

Rather than sitting and debating about it, I believe in doing what we can, regardless of how meager it may be.

Through interfaith activities in Delaware over the years, I have met and interacted with many people of different backgrounds and beliefs who share a common vision of community and peace. They have helped sustain my hope in times when it was faltering. We extend a warm thanks to all those ladies and gentlemen, and our sincere gratitude to all who participated in today’s community service and interfaith peace prayer.