Oneness.
Truth is the essence.
Creator of all.
Without fear.
Without enmity.
Beyond time.
Self created.
Self revealing.
Meditate:
Truth before time.
Truth throughout time.
Truth now.
O'Nanak, truth will always be.
Speak for yourself. My family has been in Canada for 100 plus years on one side and 50 plus years on the other. We have not bought into a colonial mindset, and thus don’t hate current immigrants who are going through the same struggles our forefathers and foremothers did. (1/2)
My parents and entire family HATE the Indians migrants filling up Canada. Probably more than the migrants themselves because of how thoroughly they’ve damaged our reputation. Indian immigrants who were educated came largely from nice families, from the city, with manners, English
May we Sikhs of the Guru’s Panth never lose the capacity to deeply feel the suffering of others. May we always strive to end the shedding of innocent blood, to destroy tyranny, and work tirelessly to create a better world for all.
I always reflect on the divine strength of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. After losing his sons, his mother, and hundreds of his beloved Khalsa, he didn’t lament; instead, he wrote one of the most beautiful hymns to the divine, Mittar Pyare Nu. When most would crumble, Guru Ji stood.
Happy Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas. From Guru Hargobind’s selfless service to save the 52 rajas to the story of Lord Rama defeating the evil Ravana, may this date serve as a reminder of our commitments to humanity and fighting righteously against evil.
Navjeath Sohata, pictured below, recently made history by becoming the first keshdhari Sikh in independent Fiji’s police force. This event has sparked a minor renaissance of Sikh men keeping kesh on the islands.
My family has been out of Punjab for 50 years on my Mum's side and over 100 years on my Dad's side.
If you think this precludes me from being able to speak on the situation in Punjab, I reply with this quote by MLK:
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
There are around 1300 verses in Shastar Naam Mala by Guru Gobind Singh Ji dedicated to the gun. Thus, I think it’s quite hard to be anti-gun and Sikh. One can and should advocate for more responsible gun laws, but full opposition doesn’t have a basis in Bani or Ithas, in my view.
I don’t even support Khalistan, but this brother should be free. I have yet to hear once convincing argument for why he should’ve been detained and sent to Assam.
#FreeAmritpalSingh
A gori girl at my work came up to me and told me that when she was growing up in Australia her parents told her to go up to any Sikh person if she ever got lost to get help. A testament to the Khalsa’s legacy and potential future, in my view.
Puna Singh and his wife Nand Kaur were some of the first Sikh immigrants to California—with Puna Singh first travelling to Sacramento in 1906. Puna Singh and Nand Kaur would eventually settle in Yuba City, and would be the first documented Sikhs in the area. 1/3
Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Jassa Singh Ramgharia both highlight the radical social mobility found in Sikhi. Both men were born into what were considered lowly ethnic groups—the Kalal and the Tarkhan—yet through the Khalsa, reached the peaks of power in 18th century India.
I have never gotten the infighting over who “Pajeet” refers to. It’s extremely juvenile, and once again, a racist won’t care if you’re a Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, etc…, as anyone from the subcontinent is fair game. Instead of uniting, we succumb to infighting once more.
Just learnt today that Guru Amardas Ji appointed 3 women as leaders in his Manji system with one of the most important stationed in Kabul—an affront to the more restrictive Islamic rulers in the region at the time.
Bhai Mati Das Ji was arrested alongside Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in 1675. In an attempt to sway the Ninth Master, Bhai Mati Das Ji was sawed completely in half from head to toe after he refused to convert to Islam. His shaheedi should be remembered and revered by the Sikh Panth.
The Zafarnama by Guru Gobind Singh Ji is probably one of the greatest pieces of war literature of all-time. What an absolutely courageous letter, steeped in motifs and poetic excellence.
A Sikh family in Delhi stands next to their charred belongings after anti-Sikh, government orchestrated pogroms swept across the city from 31 October to 5 November 1984. A total of anywhere from 3000 to 17000 Sikhs would be murdered across India during these pogroms.
Judy Singh was a prominent singer in Canada's jazz scene. Born in 1945 to Sohan Singh Bhullar—one of Alberta's earliest Sikh immigrants—and Effie Jones—a black woman originally from Alabama—she is best known for her song "A Time for Love" with Tommy Banks. (1/4)
Currently visiting my family in Vancouver. A middle aged White lady biked past me as I was also biking and said, “so many handsome Sikh men out here these days, and they run the city.” The cultural clout Sikhs have in Canada, and particularly Vancouver, is astonishing.
Hindu-Punjabi uncle at the burrito shop I go to asked me, “when are you going to take Amrit and let your beard grow? You’ll make a good warrior, Singh—big man.”
Sikhi>Jattwaad
Sikhi took us Jatts to the heights of power from humble beginnings as a primarily pastoralist and agrarian ethnic group. While there were Jatt chieftains with substantial power prior to embracing Sikhi, none compared to the Sikh Empire or Misls.
Jassa Singh Ramgharia was born into the traditionally low caste of Tarkhan in 1723.
However, the Khalsa fold allowed him to become one of the most powerful Misaldars and influential Sikh leaders of the 18th century.
This is true Sikhi.
Sikhi will never cease to exist. Our ancestors went through indescribable tragedies, the Panth nearly extinguished, and yet the faith still remains.
ਧੰਨ ਧੰਨ ਹੈ ਸਿੱਖੀ
Blessed blessed is Sikhi
@ArjanSMangat
Never expected that Sikh panth will cease to exist in years to come.. 😢 one factor is sheer arrogance and ego. Not accepting the truth .. I hope things revive
Guru Angad Dev Ji was a strong proponent of wrestling and martial arts for his Sikhs, believing that one can only find spiritual clarity with a strong and healthy body. Here is a depiction of Guru Angad Dev Ji watching two Sikhs partake in wrestling.
First time ringing in the New Year’s as a Singh. Many thanks to all the sangat who I’ve connected with online this year. You have taught me so much, and went out of your way to help me learn new skills such as how to tie a parna, etc… Hoping to learn more as the years progress!
Never forget the Shaheeds of the past who gave their heads so you could live today. They rather stay true to the Naam in death than convert and live. Their dedication to the Panth inspires all of us who humbly walk in their shadows today.
Could you imagine if DoorDash or Instacart made a meme in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd? This is exactly what SwiggyInstamart is doing in India. The people of Punjab have every right to fear the police given their involvement in the murder and torture of dissidents.
If I see one more post pitting Sikh Jatts against Sikh Khatris…
As Sikhs, all our previous clan identities should be shed. The one and true identity is being a Sikh of the Guru, and bowing down to the Khalsa.
As we Sikhs commemorate the assassination and subsequent physical passing of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, I’d like to share this interesting depiction I came across of the Tenth King, Mata Sahib Devan, and the Panj Pyaree.
Some prominent Sikh intellectuals who are sources of inspiration for me.
Khem Singh Gill—Geneticist.
Narinder Singh Kapany—Physicist and the the father of fibre optics.
Bhai Ram Singh—Architect.
Professor Puran Singh—Chemist, pharmacist, poet, philosopher, and theologian.
Iconic photograph of Akaal Takht Jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke with a katana. Gurdev Singh was most likely murdered extrajudicially after a period of brutal torture by members of Punjab Police. He had no active military involvement in the Punjab Insurgency.
At 7:30pm on the 21st of January 1992, Amandeep Kaur, then only twenty, was murdered by individuals affiliated with Punjab Police. In October of 1991, she was the victim of torture and sexual abuse by members of Punjab Police, leading her to go underground afterwards. (1/3)
Shaheed General Shabeg Singh is a figure who has fascinated me since my late teen years. A man once willing to trim his kesh in service to nation became so disillusioned in the face of discrimination that he joined the efforts of the Dharam Yudh Morcha.
A Wisconsin born man, Alexander Gardner was graced with an adventurers spirit. After being rejected by the Russian Army in 1817, he set off to explore Central Asia. Here he was captured by a noble of the Afghan Durrani Empire before fleeing to the Punjab in 1831. (1/3)
You don’t have to support the modern Khalistan movement to decry the killing of Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Freedom of speech is an essential right for all Canadians, and we should never allow it to be stamped out violently by foreign actors.
My great-grandfather, Nahar Singh Mangat, was one of the first Sikh students to graduate from a Canadian university, attending UBC from 1921 to 1924 after a brief stint at Kolkata University. A survivor of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, he vowed not to study in England.
PSA: A racist will not care to and will not be able to differentiate between a Punjabi, and other Indians or people of the subcontinent. To them, all Indians are subhuman, smelly, scammers, etc…, and they’re not going to care if you’re Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, etc…
ਧੰਨ ਧੰਨ ਦਸਵੇਂ ਪਾਤਸ਼ਾਹ
Today, Sikhs around the world celebrate the Gurpurab of the Tenth King, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. A saint, a warrior, a poet, a philosopher, a lover of all, a being deeply committed to dharam, and so much more, we strive to be one ounce of our sovereign.
Megha once again serves as the epitome of Frantz Fanon’s analysis in Black Skin, White Masks. While she fashions herself an avant-garde, free thinker, she simply regurgitates and vomits out century old colonial talking points. (2/2)
One of the many ways the Sikh religion is unique is in its ardent feminist stances.
Rooted in the principle of ੴ or oneness, all humans are deemed as equals. This has allowed Sikh women in the past to become a part of the Khalsa fold, and fight valiantly for the rights of all.
A photograph of Sant Jarnail Singh’s family, from left to right, Ishar Singh, Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Inderjeet Singh, and Bibi Pritam Kaur Ji
Recounsturcted Sikh Empire battle standard depicting Mata Durga flanked by Rudra and Hanuman, and the original which resides in the Kapany collection today.
My one and only shastar gifted to me by my Nani Ma on my 16th birthday. This was also the year I began considering growing my kesh, and my Nani planned for me to have my first pagh tied at a Gurdawara. This was supposedly a tradition for boys once they reached the end of youth.
A girl I used to talk to saw a new picture of me, and said I look much more handsome as a sardar than when I had cut hair. I’ve noticed this sentiment to be quite common with a great deal of girls in my generation, which is an interesting inverse of trends seen in previous ones.
Whenever I lose hope in humanity, a random uncle will restore it. Today, it was a Pakistani Uber uncle, who exclaimed, "sat sri akaal, sardar ji!" when I got in his car. After talking for a bit he said, "it's good you began keeping your hair. A Singh is not a Singh without hair."
Guru Gobind Singh Ji with his sons, the Char Sahibzaade—Ajit Singh, Jujghar Singh, Zorowar Singh, and Fateh Singh—from a late 19th century mural at Takht Hazur Sahib.
My great-grandparents, Bhagwan Singh Toor and Sant Kaur, with five of their seven children and one nephew. My great-grandfather was principal of a public school and Khalsa school in Jagroan. My grandfather is the baby in the photo. Photo was taken circa 1940 in Punjab.