Friday, 30 July 2010

Scottish-Sikh connections

SCOTTISH SIKH RUNNERS:
 









Sikhs and Scots for William Wallace, Lanark 2005:

http://anglo-sikh.blogspot.com/2009/04/william-wallace-sikh-joins-scottish-700.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157616882779188/detail/

http://kamallarosekaur.wordpress.com/2007/12/09/khalsa-joins-the-scots-to-celebrate-willam-wallace/

http://www.tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=50292&t=50292



BRAVEHEARTS OF SCOTLAND & PANJAAB, September 2010:


http://www.destinationstirling.com/event.asp?event_id=46


SIKHS LIVING IN SCOTLAND:

http://www.singhtwins.co.uk/mr_singhs_india.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism_in_Scotland

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article4681954.ece



ALEXANDER HAUTHTON CAMPBELL GARDNER (1785-1877) : The Scottish-Sikh General in tartan turban and beard!

http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/british/gardner-alexander-haughton-campbell.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Gardner_(soldier)

http://www.maggs.com/title/MI24998.asp

http://efk.ukpha.org/content/view/4/3/



JOSEPH DAVEY CUNNINGHAM (1812-1851):
Daring historian who dared to tell the truth about British imperial wars against Panjaab was dismissed and his book banned by the British state!

http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/british/cunningham-joseph-davey.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Cunningham

http://www.flipkart.com/history-sikhs-joseph-davey-cunningham-book-1146331738

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Cunningham_(author)

http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Allan_Cunningham

http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/allan-cunningham/

http://www.flipkart.com/history-sikhs-j-d-cunningham-book-8175360836
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Friday, 9 July 2010

Saint Soldiers

“You are the kings of righteousness, the Khaalsa”. Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708)



KHAALSA : A nation of Saintly Warriors

“The Sikh is a warrior, a soldier, for a just world”










This is HARJINDER SINGH, choosing his weapons for the stunning gatka performance that his 'Akhaara' delivered to a 1,000 plus crowd at the September 2005, 700-year HOMECOMING celebration of WILLIAM WALLACE. They mesmorised the Scottish crowds with an array of Sikh sword combat and weaponry skills.

The same Birmingham based Sikh sword combat group, is delivering an equally stunning display of this 17th century Sikh battefield practise at the forthcoming SCOTTISH-SIKH BRAVEHEARTS event on 4th September 2010 in Stirling.  The group is headed by Harjinder Singh - 07813488168. The name of the group is BABA DEEP SINGH GATKA AKHARRA, named in memory of the sikh braveheart BABA DEEP SINGH. 'GATKA' is the name normally given to the practise of Sikh sword combat, though it is, also, known more specifically and strictly as 'shashtar vidiya' - 'sacred learning of weapons'.


The GATKA AKHARRA is modelled on historic traditions of armed combat units (akharra), is essentially provides a spiritual school in the techniques and ethics of sword and weapons combat as taught and practised by the spiritual founders of the Sikh community - the TEN GURUS (1469-1708).




'Gatka' or 'shashatar vidiya' is rooted in the Sikh saint-soldier tradition, forged over the 17th and 18th century in the battles of Panjaab, north India. The Sikh weapons tradition is based on spiritual ethics, about the moral use of weapons to combat injustice, fight oppression and resist unfair governance. The weapons tradition and saint-soldier spirit is bound up in a powerful ethical code, expressed through a history of bravehearts and sacrifices over the 16th to 18th century, and continuing today in the current day Sikh national struggle for independence in panjaab. The whole practise and tradition is equivalent to that of the Japanese Samurai warrior.


See a selection of photos of the BABA DEEP SINGH GATKA AKHAARA in action in Lanark, September 2005:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157616882779188/detail/


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William Wallace and Banda Singh Bahadur

“It is the privilege of the brave to die for a good cause.” Guru Nanak (1469-1539)

The story of WILLIAM WALLACE (1270-1305) and BANDA SINGH BAHADUR (1670-1716),  the bravehearts of Scotland and Panjaab, is remarkably similar!

“I will tell you, whenever men become so corrupt and wicked as to relinquish the path of equity and to abandon themselves to all kinds of excesses, then the Providence never fails to raise up a scourge like me to chastise a race so depraved; When the tyrants oppress their subjects to the limit, then God sends men like me on this earth to mete out his punishment to them." - Banda Singh Bahadur



Both led armed uprisings against the powers which ruled over their peoples. Both provided courageous and inspiring leadership. Both fought ardently and uncompromising for their nations independence, and achieved short-term independent self-government. Both demonstrated that, with courage and sacrifice a people can push off the misery of oppressive governments and form their own governments.

Both took on mighty powers and shook those powers severely. Both were captured and subject to torturous public executions by the oppressive government, who sought to punish and avenge their daring and resistance. 

Both figures shine out like glaring lights in the trail of history, as figures whose example and story is immortal. Their courage, principle and self-sacrifice is something that we all can apply now in the modern world of continuing corruption, manipulation, exploitation and subjugation. Yes, we need William Wallaces and Banda Singh Bahadurs today. Do we have it within our inner strength to be like these rare beings, rather than just be part of mass mainstream which seeks to fit in and conform with the general power-structures and general trends of life. According to Sikhi, these individuals are the 'virli kehi kehi', the few amongst the few, the rarest of rare.

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle...Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will....Without a struggle, there can be no progress."

"In a composite nation like ours, as before the law, there should be no rich, no poor, no high, no low, no white, no black, but common country, common citizenship, equal rights and a common destiny."
"I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong."

"What to the Slave is the 4th of July?"

"The life of a nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous."

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)

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The Spirit of the Brave

"Glory to the noble souls, who on their earthly way undertake the courageous struggle. With the broom of sacred wisdom, they sweep away the passivity of apathy and ignorance." GURU GOBIND SINGH (1666-1708), Tenth Spiritual Guardian, Father of the Khaalsa Panth

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favour freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning.”
FREDERICK DOUGLAS (1817-1895)

“Courage is the best gift of all. Courage stands before everything. It is what preserves our liberty, safety, life and our homes and parents, our country and children. Courage comprises all things: a man with courage has every blessing.” TITUS MACCIUS PLAUTUS (254-184 BC)


"O Great Shiva, please be so beneficient as to enable me to pursue righteousness without hesitation or fear;
May I fight and struggle with moral goodness and conviction, and be victorious in my objective. May my mind be constantly infused and spurred by your positive thoughts and driven to spread your good. And, when it comes for this life to come to an end, may it be a death in the thick of mighty action."
SIKH NATIONAL ANTHEM,
written by GURU GOBIND SINGH (1666-1708), Father of the Sikh Nation, Tenth Spiritual Guardian - profound poet, warrior, saint and inspirational nation-builder
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Scots and Sikhs at 700 year Celebration of William Wallace

" My respect for the Sikh culture comes from legends within my own family, who had fought with Sikhs in many campaigns in history, some not as we would have liked, but the common angst, at seeing the courage of the Sikh warrior soldiers and the culture they fought to protect, was a reflection of our own culture. I feel for ClanWallace it is a privilige for us, that the Sikh community would share this day with us."
Seoras Wallace, Chief of the Clan Wallace

This is the joyous and embracing welcome received by Sikhs participants at the historic 700 year anniversary HOMECOMING gathering in Lanark in September 2005, to celebrate Scotlands BRAVEHEART - William Wallace (1270-1305). A group of 40 Sikhs united with the Clan Wallace and fellow Scots, in sharing in this monumental celebration of bravery, resistance and independence! See: http://www.flickr.com/photos/12445197@N05/sets/72157616882779188/detail/




This represented the first such Scottish-Sikh unity gathering, in history! A further Scottish-Sikh gathering follows, to celebrate the 300 year anniversary of BANDA SINGH BAHADUR (1670-1716), the Sikh equivalent of William Wallace. All our warmly invited to this next free public event, on Saturday 4th September 2010, 12 noon - 4pm, in Stirling. The venue: Smith Art Gallery & Museum, Dumbarton Road, Stirling, Scotland,  FK8 2RQ, Tel: 01786 471917. http://www.smithartgallery.demon.co.uk/

This will an equally exciting and inspiring sharing of Scottish-Sikh history and culture; through bagpipes, turban tieing, Sikh sword combat, displays and literature, Sikh food and Scottish and Sikh speakers. Please join us. Email Jagdeesh Singh at scan.slough@gmail.com for more details.
See: http://www.destinationstirling.com/event.asp?event_id=46



"The significance of this connection to Braveheart is that past the film story, the passions and humanity of the real Bravehearts, is shared by communities around the world, and this Sikh/Celtic alliance to be standing beside each other is an honourable gesture and as we march past the sargophacus of Wallace together, children of Lanark on that day, will see an example of friendship and camradre, and feel the strength of friendship between our communities as a vocation they would wish to aspire to."
Seoras Wallace


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Sikhs and Scots - United by history, struggle and aspirations!

"The Sikhs and Scots are two rustic natural nations, composed of grassroot people. They have fought and sustained an undieing sense of life, liberty and connection to their land. They have made their history and culture; through  ages of persecution, genocide, invasion, subjugation and immense bloodshed. Though separated by 5,000 miles of geography, they share profound similarities - historic events, spirit, ruggedness, bravehearts (e.g. William Wallace and Banda Singh Bahadur), clans and misals, swords and battles. They share  an unsuppressible resistance and courage against oppression, and an unbending desire for self-determination and self-governance." PANJAAB NATIONAL HISTORY SOCIETY

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Wednesday, 7 July 2010

Scotland Celebrates Sikh BRAVEHEART

PUBLIC EVENT: 4th September 2010, Stirling

The Smith Art Gallery & Museum in the famous Scottish town of Stirling, home of the William Wallace Monument and the venue of the famous Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297), will the host a major forthcoming Scottish-Sikh Braveheart event.

The event will celebrate the life of BANDA SINGH BAHADUR (1670-1716), the Sikh William Wallace.

The inspiring and gripping story of Banda Singh Bahadur, in 18th century Panjaab, matches the story of William Wallace (1270-1305). Both figures represent vivid examples of leading BRAVEHEARTS in two nations rising up against the violent domination and oppression of hostile power structures who seek to control, impose and subdue the people of Panjaab and Scotland.

This major PUBLIC EVENT, open to participants from all backgrounds - Sikh, Scottish and more - will provide a vivid insight into the similarities between Scottish and Sikh history, with a focus on the lives of Banda Singh Bahadur (1670-1305) and William Wallace (1270-1305). Like all BRAVEHEARTS throughout history, the stories of these two rare heros is centuries apart, but is nevertheless identical in its daring and committed pursuit of justice, freedom and independence. The PUBLIC EVENT will equally pay tribute to BRAVEHEARTS across history and across the globe, past and present - celebrated and uncelebrated!

Both nations, share a similar historical and continuing experience of struggle and persecution by big powers, who seek to invade, subdue, subjugate and swallow them up (politically, economically, culturally and linguistically). Today, both nations are seeking self-determination and home rule, to shape and govern their own conditions of life and determine their own development as a collective society and people.

The event on Saturday 4th September 2010, from 12 noon to 4pm, promises to be a thrilling and engaging event, with Scottish and Sikh speakers, turban tieing, bagpipes, weapon combat performances, displays and Sikh food. The BABA DEEP SINGH GATKA AKHAARA (Birmingham)will be providing a powerful performance of Sikh sword combat, similar to their previous stunning performance at the mega William Wallace anniversary event in Lanark in September 2005. See: http://anglo-sikh.blogspot.com/2009/04/william-wallace-sikh-joins-scottish-700.html

This is the second Scottish-Sikh joint initiative, following a previous historic gathering of Scots and Sikhs in September 2005 at the 700 anniversary of William Wallace held in Lanark, Scotland.

We welcome all to participate in this inspiring and sharing event!

For further information, please contact: Jagdeesh Singh, principal organiser, on 07827-321036 or scan.slough@gmail.com

If you are interested in attending, the following supporting contacts can be contacted for help and assistance with local transport (e.g. mini-bus) to this second historic Sikh-Scottish unity event:

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