The Tribune – Bathinda reports four dowry cases in three days

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 14. Dowry cases are on rise in the city. During the last three days, four such cases have been registered at the Women Cell of the Bathinda police.

Experts say rise in awareness among women about their rights has led to the women raising their voice against the social ill of dowry.

The Ludhiana-based in-laws of a city resident, Dr Tanu Setia, have been booked for demanding dowry. The victim was being harassed and beaten up for dowry.

The police has booked her husband Dr Harpreet Kuckreja, whose family owns the Ajit Cycle Industry located in the industrial area of Ludhiana. “The malady of dowry is prevalent in the lower and upper strata of society. People are aware that demanding dowry is a crime, but still they indulge in this illegal act,” said a social worker Raj Gupta, who is a regular member of the District Lok Adalats.

She added that if the couple has children, the latter are at the receiving end. She advised that girls should be more tolerant and run their household on their own without allowing their parents to intervene.

In the three cases registered today, residents of Talwandi Sabo, Kotkapura and Bathinda city have been booked for demanding dowry.

The police booked Pawan Kumar, a resident of area near the GGS College, Talwandi Sabo, for demand dowry from his wife Seema Rani, a resident of the Model Town, Bathinda.

Hemant Kumar, a resident of Nirmanpura area in Kotkapura, has been booked for demanding dowry from his wife Parminder Kaur, a resident of the Police Colony, Lal Singh Basti in Bathinda.

In yet another such incident, the police has booked Amarjit Singh, a resident of Mohalla Kikkar Dass, Kartar Basti, Bathinda city, on the complaint of his wife Parminder Kaur, a resident of Amarpura Basti.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121015/punjab.htm#20

Published in: on October 15, 2012 at 6:51 am  Leave a Comment  
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The Tribune – Ghazal singer Jagjit Singh still critical

Mumbai, September 24. The condition of popular ghazal singer Jagjit Singh, who was operated upon at Lilavati Hospital here after suffering brain haemorrhage, continues to be “critical”, said hospital sources. “This is to confirm that Jagjit Singh’s condition remains critical,” Niket V Mehta, managing trustee of Lilavati Hospital, said today.

“We have to respect the patient’s privacy and therefore cannot comment further,” he said. The 70-year-old legend is currently in the ICU after undergoing emergency surgery for brain haemorrhage last evening. Brain hemorrhage is a known complication of uncontrolled hypertension or high blood pressure. (PTI)

Principles of Sikhism

A short definition of a Sikh is somebody who follows the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, as found in the Guru Granth Sahib. Underneath I will try and sum up the most important aspects of these teachings. 

One God & One Humanity

There is only One God, there is no Sikh God, Christian God or Muslim God, there is only One God. God is the Creator, the Nurturer, the Destroyer, all the qualities of the various Hindu gods are united in the One God.

All humans, regardless of their gender, caste, ethnicity, faith, nationality are members of the same human race. Guru says that all can find the way to God, Guru only recognises the high caste of being near God and the low caste of being away from God.

Simran & Seva

Simran = Meditation, which means think about God, keep God in your mind. You can do simran by repeating a special word (Vahiguru), or by reading, singing the hymns from Guru Granth Sahib. All this should lead to a state where God is always with you (whether you are sitting or standing, awake or sleeping), a state where you see Her/His presence in all and everything.

Seva = Selfless Service. A lot of Sikhs do voluntary service in the Gurdwara, like cooking or serving the free food supplied there, or keeping the Gurdwara clean. In big Gurdwaras the reading and singing from Guru Granth Sahib is mostly done by ‘professionals’ but in smaller ones the sangat (congregation) performs part of or all of this seva.

We should also do seva outside the Gurdwara, help your elderly neighbour or the single parent family, the homeless, or people outside the UK who are victims of famines, natural disasters, wars etc. I came across a good example of Sikh seva at a Gurdwara in Himachal Pradesh, where a local Hindu man who had lost his arm in an accident was employed as watchman. Instead of giving him a handout, they enabled him to make an honest living.

Honest Work

Guru Granth Sahib does teach us that we should not be so-called ‘holy beggars’. We are to live in society and make a living by doing honest work. A Sikh in business is fine, but it should be honest business, giving the customers a good deal, and the Sikh businessman should share any surplus monies with those that are in need, which brings us back to seva.

What is our aim in life

We believe that the soul originates from God, and after travelling through various existences, wants to return to God. It is only as a human that you can achieve this ‘liberation’ from the cycle of birth and death.

It is by God’s grace only that this liberation will be achieved.

Love

We should open ourselves to the love that God showers upon us, always, without limit and without conditions. We should develop our love for God, so that the ‘soul-bride’ will be able to merge in the ‘God-Groom’  

Caste Hereditary social group within Indian society
Gurdwara Guru’s Door = Sikh place of worship
Guru ‘Bringer of Light into Darkness’ = Teacher
Guru Granth Sahib Teacher Book Respected = Sikh holy book
Nám Name = Key concept for Sikhs : Godly Essence, present in all and everything
Sádh Sangat True Congregation
Sangat Congregation 
Seva Selfless service
Sikh Pupil, student = follower of Sikh way of life / religion
Vahiguru Wonderful Teacher = God
Published in: on January 23, 2011 at 8:10 am  Leave a Comment  
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Amsterdam Songs – Amsterdam liedjes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkI26R61Doo

Geef mij maar Amsterdam – Johnny Jordaan

Geef mij maar Amsterdam, dat is mooier dan Parijs
Geef mj maar Amsterdam, mijn Mokum’s paradijs
Geef mij maar Amsterdam met zijn Amstel en het IJ
Want in Mokum ben ik rijk en gelukking tegelijk, geef mij maar Amsterdam

Beter in Mokum zonder poen dan in Parijs met een miljoen, geef mij maar Amsterdam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsVFOpnZSWo

Amsterdam huilt waar het eens heeft gelachen – Rika Jansen

Amsterdam huilt waar het eens heeft gelachen
Amsterdam huilt nog voelt het de pijn
Amsterdam huilt waar het eens heeft gelachen
Amsterdam huilt want weg is de gein

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhdQ59LHorQ&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLEBA625EA1179E43D

Aan de Amsterdam Grachten – Wim Sonneveld

Aan de Amsterdamse grachten heb ik heel mij hart voor altijd verpand
Amsterdam vult mijn gedachten als de mooiste stad in ons land
Al die Amstedamse mensen, al die lichtjes ‘s avonds laat op het plein
Niemand kan zich beter wensen dan een Amsterdammer te zijn

Published in: on August 31, 2008 at 10:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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N’Kosi Sikelel’iAfrica

The best national anthem I have ever heard ! Click on link to listen.

I do not know in which South African language the first two verses are,
the third verse is in Afrikaans (I understand most of it),
the last one in a language spoken on a foggy European island. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow40LQs0ue4

N’Kosi Sikelel’iAfrica

National Anthem of South Africa

Miriam Makeba & Others  

This is the official version of the national anthem, combining
Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika and Die Stem / The Call of South Africa

Nkosi sikelel’ iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo lwayo,
Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo.

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa la matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,
Setjhaba sa South Afrika – South Afrika.

Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes,
Waar die kranse antwoord gee,

Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom,
In South Africa our land.

Published in: on August 16, 2008 at 7:25 am  Leave a Comment  
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Malaika – Miriam Makeba & Harry Belafonte

Click on the link to listen to this beautiful song 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlDNvUebe7Y

Nakupenda Malaika was written by Kenyan composer and musician Fadhili Williams. 

Malaika

Angel

 

Malaika, nakupenda Malaika.

Angel, I love you Angel.

Malaika, nakupenda Malaika.

Angel, I love you Angel.

Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio,

And I, your young lover, what can I do.

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,

Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,

Ningekuoa Malaika.

I would marry you Angel.

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,

Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,

Ningekuoa Malaika.

I would marry you Angel.

 

Pesa zasumbua roho yangu

Money is troubling my soul

Pesa zasumbua roho yangu

Money is troubling my soul

Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio,

And I, your young lover, what can I do,

Ningekuoa Malaika.

I would marry you angel.

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,

Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,

Ningekuoa Malaika.

I would marry you Angel.

 

Kidege, hukuwaza kidege.

Little bird, I dream of you little bird.

Kidege, hukuwaza kidege.

Little bird, I dream of you little bird.

Nami nifanyeje, kijana mwenzio,

And I, your young lover, what can I do,

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,

Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,

Ningekuoa Malaika.

I would marry you Angel.

Nashindwa na mali sina, we,

Was I not defeated by the lack of fortune,

Ningekuoa Malaika.

I would marry you Angel.

 

Published in: on August 16, 2008 at 7:16 am  Leave a Comment  
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Chardi Kala Jatha – Merciful, the Master is Merciful

I loved the kirtan by these young Americans, born into Sikh families and living in the Miri Piri Academy in Amritsar District. See the also the picture below (or in ‘pictures’) and in my web diary ‘Chardi Kala’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQwV6Ss2vvE&feature=related

Published in: on August 10, 2008 at 5:24 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Bhai Nirmal Singh Khalsa sings He Gobinde, He Gopale

I love music, I love music of many different traditions.

I also love Gurbani, the ‘hymns’, the ‘Shabad-Guru’, the ‘Word that teaches’.

Tomorrow I will find the text and translation for this shabad for you.

Gurfateh/God Bless !

Harjinder Singh

Please click on the connection !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN36RWmbwhk&feature=related

Malaar, Fifth Mehla:

O World-Preserver, World-Sustainer, Merciful Beloved. ||1||Pause||

You are the Master of the life-breath, the Companion of the masterless,
the Destroyer of the pains of the poor. ||1||

O All-Powerful, Unfathomable, Perfect One, shower me with mercy. ||2||

Take Nanak across the great terrible blind well ||3||8||30|| 

 

 

Published in: on August 2, 2008 at 8:37 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Paul Brady sings Arthur McBride

Listen to the song and listen to the story of Arthur McBride who did not want to join the British Army. 

Paul Brady sings (tells the story) and playes the guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBGkhPx529g&feature=related

 

I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride
He and I took a stroll down by the seaside;
Seeking good fortune and what might betide
It was just as the day was a’dawnin’

After restin’ we both took a tramp
We met Sergeant Harper and Corporal Cramp
Besides the wee drummer who beat up the camp
With his row-dee-dow-dow in the morning

He says my young fellows if you will enlist
A guinea you quickly will have in your fist
Besides a crown for to kick up the dust
And drink the King’s health in the morning

For a soldier he leads a very fine life
He always is blessed with a charming young wife
And he pays all his debts without sorrow or strife
And always lives happy and charming

And a soldier he always is decent and clean
In the finest of garments he’s constantly seen
While other poor fellows go dirty and mean
And sup on thin gruel in the morning

Says Arthur, I wouldn’t be proud of your clothes
You’ve only the lend of them as I suppose
And you dare not change them one night or you know
If you do you’ll be flogged in the morning

And although we are single and free
We take great delight in our own company
And we have no desire strange countries to see
Although your offer is charming

And we have no desire to take your advance
All hazards and danger we barter on chance
and you’d have no scruples to send us to France
Where we would be shot without warning

And now says the sergeant, if I hear but one word
I’ll instantly now will out with my sword
And into your bodies as strength will afford
So now my gay devils take warning

But Arthur and I we took the odds
We gave them no chance to launch out their swords
Whacking shillelaghs came over their heads
And paid them right smart in the morning

As for the wee drummer, we rifled his pow
And made a football of his row-do-dow-dow
Into the ocean to rock and to roll
And bade it a tedious returnin’

As for the old rapier that hung by his side
We flung it as far as we could in the tide
To the Devil I pitch you, says Arthur McBride
To temper your steel in the morning

Published in: on August 2, 2008 at 7:29 am  Comments (5)  
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