...Nadhra told me that this robe has Japuji Bani written over the sleeves of the robe while the remaining part has Quran verses (ayats) written all over. Mostly, Sikh scholars are not aware of this fact and their information is based on speculation...
"The fundamental belief in Sikhism is that God exists not merely as an idea or concept, but as a real entity. God is indescribable, yet knowable and perceivable to anyone who is prepared to dedicate the time and energy to become perceptive to His persona. The Gurus never spoke about proofs of the existence of God. For them, He is too real, and something obvious does not require any logical proof."
The first Chair created for a Professor who is living and in active service of Santa Clara University
There is a tug of war between those who want to maintain the status quo and those who want to bring in drastic changes in its structure, theology and institutions. What is a paradigm shift?... proposed to carry out surgical strikes to reform the functioning of Gurdwaras. I believe it will cause more harm than good and cause schisms in Sikhi. A representative body of Sikhi, “Global Sikh Network Organisation” for coordinating activities of Gurdwaras all over the globe, is the need of the hour. The beginning can be made by reinterpretation of GGS using modern techniques of hermeneutics.
All religions provide a ray of hope for their followers. Hope has been a blessing in disguise. It is an inbuilt characteristic of human nature. Humanity evolved to the present stage based on hope despite the dictum: “survival of the fittest”. Hope is linked to desire and expectation. If desires are not fulfilled, one becomes pessimist. The difference between hope and desire is palpable.
The contents of the opening Chapter of Book One: “Ponderings that Make up My Credo” can prove to be eye-catching and mesmerizing for any reader who dares to ponder over it. It has many quotes worth its weight of gold: “Nature is God’s manifest might”. “Five senses (visual, audial, olfactory, gustatory, and tactile), which provide the necessary material to Mind, have been given to Man to enjoy Beauty”. “Man is a pain-avoiding, pleasure-seeking, myth-making animal who wanders life after life in the illimitable Desert of Existence”. “Beauty supplies the raw material for aesthetic experience without which the contemplation on the nature of Reality cannot come about”. “The four faculties of Reason, Emotion, Imagination, and Intuition are Man’s chief gifts bestowed on him by God”.
Towards the end of this volume, there are six analytical essays contributed by Harinder Singh, Inni Kaur, Ishmeet Kaur. Jasleen Kaur, and Surender Pal Singh in critical appreciation of the Guru’s life and legacy. Harinder Singh has critically examined the historical sources to establish Guru Tegbahadar as Sultan-ul Duniya Wal-Akhirat (The Sovereign of the World and Hereafter). Inni Kaur tries to render three Rag Devgandhari Sabads by using transcreation to bring out the hidden meanings to establish the Guru’s way to freedom. Ishmeet Kaur delineates the Guru’s ideology...
With the introduction of formal schooling by the colonial administration in the Punjab, the medium of instruction issue arose as a new question and it immediately acquired the status of a major socio-linguistic controversy leading to much heated debate.
It was a sentimental journey connecting to my roots and my faith. In Lahore, my visit was hosted by two friends, Jean Marie Lafont, a French historian of French Generals in the Khalsa Raj army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and Engineer Dr. Asgar Ali who was my contemporary in the International Hall of Paris University in 1971.
Guru Nanak’s teaching was addressed to all men irrespective of caste, race or religion. He attacked empty rituals and ceremonies but never any religious faith. He condemned those Pundits and Mullahs who abused their faith for personal power and pelf. He called upon Hindus to become better Hindus and Muslims to become better Muslims.