...The period of time including and following Operation Blue star is considered a dark time in India and black spot in Indian history. It is a time Indian would rather forget, yet still to this day debate about. Was Indihar Gandhi correct in instating operation Blue Star, inflicting damage to the Golden temple, and being responsible for the killing of anywhere from 492 (official reports) to 1500 (estimates run as high as) civilians, which lead to an additional 5,000 Sikh deaths following, due to anti-Sikh riots? Was Indihar Gandhi’s actions justified, and could her problems with the Sikhs have been solved in any other way? These are all question India still debates to this day. We will look at who exactly Indihar Gandhi is, what is operation blue star, why she invoked Operation Blue Star, how did her actions eventually lead to her assassination, India’s Sikh population afterwards, and how Indihar’s actions affected the Gandhi dynasty? On June 3, 1984 Indihar Gandhi gave the executive decision to invoke Operation Blue Star, a military attack on the golden temple in Amritsar, Punjab. The Golden Tempe is considered one of the most sacred and religious places in the world, in what Indihar Gandhi taught was a necessity following a chain of events. Sikhs, involved in the Khalistan movement wanted Punjab to be an independent state, and felt they were being oppressed. The Khalistan movement led under Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale used tactics to express their views and desires in a very...
Words: 934 - Pages: 4
...1. What is the literal meaning of the word sikh? Why is it appropriate? Please explain your answer. The literal meaning of Sikh is disciple. When Nanak left behind his family and home, then was joined by Mardana who was from a social class of musicians. He decided to leave home due to the fact that he believe that he had an experience with God after being in the forest for three days. As he continued to spread the work he looked for more disciples or also known as Sikh. 2. When did Nanak live and what was the key moment in his life story? Nanak was born in today’s world Pakistan in the year 1469, and is regarded as the founder of Sikhism. The key moment or turning point in Nanak’s life was when he had an experience so powerful that he saw it as a revelation. He was in the river performing religious acts and then went into the forest next to the river and stayed there for three days. Upon returning from the forest, he claimed that he directly came into contact with God, and that there only is one single God. 3. Describe the basic Sikh understanding of God. The basic Sikh understanding of God is that there is a single god and the possibility of reincarnation as well as Karma. The understanding of God is also that even though God is beyond personhood, God does have person qualities which include love, knowledge, love, a sense of justice, as well as compassion. And because God has these certain qualities, the individual is able to connect to God on a personal level. In addition...
Words: 516 - Pages: 3
...Granth Sahib scared text and teachings is read by each follower of Sikhism. Divided into three sections: The unity of all men and women under one deity, Kartar the Creator. - Guru Nanak liturgical prayers the main body in which hymns are split up according to the rag sys tem of Indian music a concluding section of miscellaneous compositions. Origin of Sikhism India and Pakistan , founded by Guru Nanak and nine other Gurus. Guru Nanak’s Authority is given by his experiences with the Shabad ( divine word). The Union of Two Souls Anand Karaj is the prescribed form of Sikh marriage, the words literally translate as 'Blissful Union". The Sikh marriage is a very special ceremony in which two individuals are joined in a equal partnership. It is joyous and festive event which is very family orientated and informal in it's atmosphere. Sikh marriages are usually arranged with families acting as little more than introduction services. The ultimate choice is always left to the girl and boy. In some cases the boy and girl choose each other first and then seek their parents consent and blessing. Wedding Ceremony Rite of Bliss The Sikh wedding ceremony, or Anand Karaj ("rites of bliss"), is similarly centered around the Guru Granth Sahib. Bride and groom meet at the Gurdwara with their wedding parties, and respected members of the community conduct the ceremony. The bride, groom, and their parents stand in supplication in front of the Guru Granth Sahib and ask...
Words: 550 - Pages: 3
... * During the Guruship ceremony Guru Hargobind respectfully declined to wear the seli (woollen cord worn on the head) which had been passed down on each successive Guru since Guru Nanak. Instead the Guru asked for a sword. * Baba Buddha, never having handled a sword before, placed it on the wrong side of the Guru. * Guru Hargobind noticing this asked for another sword saying “I’ll wear two swords, a sword of Shakti (power) and a sword of bhakti (meditation).” This is why the guru would always carry two swords to symbolize his dual role of holding secular power (Miri) and spiritual authority. (Piri) * Guru Hargobind laid the foundation of a new temple at Amritsar; the Akal Takht. * The Akal Takht was built facing Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple.) * Guru Hargobind had a throne built and would administer Sikh affairs from here. * For 100 years Shikis had developed a deep meditative tradition founded in peace and tolerance. However, Guru Hargobind recognized the need for the community to be able to defend itself. This started the martial practice of the Sikhs. Guru Hargobind became a powerful warrior and trained the Sikhs to fight. * The Sikh martial tradition, however, stayed rooted in the principles of peace and tolerance taught by the first Sikh Gurus. The Sikh warrior...
Words: 1879 - Pages: 8
...Sikhism Guide http://www.sikhismguide.org/default.aspx Basic beliefs of Sikhism * Sikhs believe in one God. He is the same for all people of all religions. * Sikhism teaches equality of all people. Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God. Sikhism teaches the full equality of men and women. * Sikhism emphasizes daily devotion to the remembrance of God. One should remember God at all times. * Sikhism teaches religious freedom. All people have the right to follow their own path to God without condemnation or coercion from others. * Sikhism emphasizes a moral and ethical life. A Sikh should represent moral responsibility and righteousness. * Sikhism rejects all forms of rituals such as idol worship, pilgrimages, fasting, and superstitions. * Sikhism teaches service to others. The primary task in life should be to help the poor, needy, and oppressed. The Sikhs have a long heritage of speaking out against injustice and for standing up for the defenseless. * Sikhs are supposed to be saints, scholars, and soldiers. * The word Sikh means disciple or student. Sikhs are the disciples of God who follow the writings and teachings of the ten Sikh Gurus. Three Principles of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru, taught three fundamental principles: * Kirat Karo - Work hard and honestly * Wand Ke Chhako - Share what you have with the needy * Naam Jappo - Always remember God...
Words: 2860 - Pages: 12
...Top Most World Heritage Sites Given below are the top most world heritage sites out of all the world's heritage sites according to the Global Heritage's "Saving Our Vanishing Heritage" report: 1. The Great Wall of China •Length: 5500.3 mile •Total site visitors of 24,200,000 •Total revenues of $2,888,000,000 •Major portion of the Great Wall of China was built by the Ming Dynasty •Begins at Shanhaiguan in the East and stretches till Lop Nur in the West and consists of many walls •Construction of these numerous walls started from the 5th century BC and many were re-built between the 5th and 16th century AD 2. Forbidden City in Beijing •World's largest surviving palace complex. •It is the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor •Total site visitors of 18,000,000 •Total revenues of $1,920,000,000 •During the period 1420 to 1912, the sprawling palace complex changed hands from the Ming dynasty that ruled from 1368 to 1644 to the Qing dynasty that ruled from 1644 to 1911 3. Great Pyramids of Giza •On the outskirts of Cairo. •Historic Cairo has total site visitors of 4,000,000 •Total revenues of $576,000,000 •Of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis, the Pyramid of Khufu (also known as the Pyramid of Cheops) is the oldest and also the largest. It held the record as the tallest building in the world for 3800 years. 4. Celsus Library •Built in AD 135 in the ruins of ancient Ephesus near Selcuk, 70 km (43 miles) from the western Turkish coastal city of Izmir...
Words: 926 - Pages: 4
...Question Bank (8th) 1. India's first international biosphere reserve is called what? Nilgiri biosphere reserve 2. Which general won the Battle of Imphal in 1944? General Slim 3. The party was formed by former state water resources minister T.M Jacob. Name the party. Kerala Congress (Jacob) 4. Mansar Lake is at a distance of 60 km from which Indian city? Jammu 5. The idol of which Goddess has replaced the king in the famous Mysore Dasara procession (402nd edition took place in 2012)? Chamundeshwari 6. Two clues: 1: Sets Sail for India on December 16, 1896 on the Prince Regent Lutipold; 2: Had a close association with Ajit Singh-Raja of Khetri? Ans: Swami Vivekananda 7. Where in Andaman and Nicobar is India's only live volcano? Barren Island 8. Chalukyas had their capital at Vatapi now called Badami. Which district will it be in Karnataka? Ans: Bijapur 9. Who wrote the Panchatantra? Ans: Vishnusharma 10. The three wings of village panchayat are: Gram Sabha, Gram Panchayat and what? Ans: Nyaya Panchayat 11. In which city Gautama Buddha died at the age of 80? Ans: Kushinagar 12. The first municipal corporation was set up in 1688, in which Indian city? Ans: Madras 13. What is the literal meaning of 'Nataraj' in Sanskrit? Ans: Lord of Dance 14. Which is the oldest mountain range in India ? Ans: Aravallis. 15. INS Arihant is India's first what? Ans: Nuclear Submarine 16. Which monument...
Words: 503 - Pages: 3
...Marriage: Prep-Course for Sikh Faith Sikh marriage is not merely a physical and legal relationship but is a holy union between two souls where physically they appear as two individual bodies but in fact are united as one. However, with each new generation more South Asian children adopt modernized beliefs and choose a different style of getting married, as opposed to common marriage at the temple. The course would be a valuable resource to prepare couples for marriage and orient them toward a shared, Sikh-centered life. Because Sikh values, Sikh rituals, and commitment is central to Sikh marriage, therefore a marriage preparation course is required for all intending to marry into the Sikh faith. The course will not demolish Sikh marriage, but rather, keep it active. Firstly, learning the values of Sikhism is important before marrying a true Sikh. The Guru’s (ten spiritual teachers) have created values that a Sikh man or women must follow. The important values are for everyday use. All humans are equal before god-couples should know no discrimination is allowed on the basis of caste, race, sex, creed, etc. As for gender equality, Guru Amar Das ji (3rd teacher) gave woman equal status and equal rights in the society. The man in the relationship needs to know that his wife to-be is and has equal amounts of right. As of then the Sikh women is allowed to lead religious congregations, to take part in continuous recitation of the Holy Scriptures, to perform hymns, to work...
Words: 1120 - Pages: 5
...Summary of the Case: Pandori, a Khalsa Sikh and teacher with the Peel Board of Education is now not permitted to wear his religiously significant kirpan due to a new no-weapons policy in his school district. The Peel Board made this policy in a response to the uncomfortably increasing number of knife incidents and violence in its schools. Pandori took this case to the Ontario Human Rights Commission which set up an inquiry under the Human Rights Code to investigate. The Board in Inquiry ruled that the school boards policy discriminated against Khalsa Sikhs and allowed Pandori to continue to wear his kirpan if the kirpan could not be easily removed from it sheath. They also found that there were little no incidents of a kirpan being used as a weapon let alone in any Peel school and that other Toronto-area schools allowed students and faculty to wear them. With this the Board of Inquiry ruled that this policy amounted to religious discrimination. The Peel school board argued that the kirpan could be seen as a dangerous weapon by other non-Sikhs and are prohibited in some courtrooms and airplanes. The Peel school board then claims that it is reasonable to impose kirpans to ensure the safety of the school in an entirety and they would not accommodate to the requirements of the Khalsa Sikhs. The Crowns position: The Board in Inquiry ruled that the school boards policy discriminated against Khalsa Sikhs and allowed Pandori to continue to wear his kirpan if the kirpan could not be...
Words: 538 - Pages: 3
...HISTORY PROJECT Islam came to India with Turks. The interaction that took place between Turks and Indians resulted in the development of a syncretic culture. Mutual understanding and assimilation of each other’s culture took place in all fields. This process of assimilation saw lots of ups and downs. The new rulers built palaces and places of worship. Arabs borrowed the principles of arch and dome from Rome through the Byzantine Empire and adopted them. The use of arch and dome was seen in the new structures as they helped in the construction of lofty and impressive buildings. Now large halls could be constructed with a clear view. A fine quality mortar was another technique put to use in these structures. Decoration of buildings was done with geometrical and floral designs, combining them with panels of inscriptions of verses from the Quran. The combination of floral and geometrical designs with verses from Quran was called Arabesque. Earlier motifs like the bell motif, swastika, lotus etc. were also a part of the decoration. Animal and human figures were not used because it was considered unIslamic. Red sandstone, yellow sandstone or marble was used in constructing these buildings. Qutab minar was an amalgam of local features and new techniques, was constructed by Iltutmish. It is said that he dedicated this mosque to the Sufi saint, Qutab-ud-din Bhaktiyar kaki. Guru Nanak was born in a Khatri household at Talwandi on the bank of river Ravi. He was an accountant. He composed...
Words: 3153 - Pages: 13
...The 5 K’s Most Sikh people have 5 important items such as kesh(hair), kara(metal wrist band), kachera(white shorts), kangah(hair comb) and kirpan(sword). These items are called the 5 K’s or the 5 articles of faith for Sikhs. The 5 K’s are important for Sikhs because they symbolize many things. Sikhs who have taken amrit or a pledge have to keep these items with them. The 5 K’s are like a uniform and discipline you stay under if you have taken amrit or pledge. Kesh(Hair): uncut hair which signifies that a Sikh should live in the will of the 10 gurus(gods) Kanga(Hair comb): wooden comb; The 10th god Guru Gobind Singh Ji had once stated that your hair should be neat and tidy so you should keep a comb with you Kara (Metal Wrist Band): it is a ring of iron worn around wrist; Guru Gobind Singh Ji said that we should be reminded of our vows in case we do something wrong Kachera(White Shorts): special white shorts that symbolize modesty Kirpan(sword): sword; symbolize that Sikhs should stand for the defense of poor and needy no matter who they are Last Names: Have you ever wondered why most Sikhs have a last name of Singh and Kaur? Singh is a last name for males and Kaur is a last name for females. Most males have Singh as last names because Singh means lions which indicate that they are strong warriors. Kaur means princess which means equality and peace for all. The 10th guru Guru Gobind Singh Ji stated that it is mandatory...
Words: 329 - Pages: 2
...c.x.c religious education school based assessment Name of Candidate: Broderick wright Name of Teacher: Mrs. Benneth School: Calabar High School Topic: Indigenous Religions Introduction Sikhism a indigenous religion which emerged during the 15th century in the Punjab region of India. It was founded by Guru Nanak, it was passed down and continued to progress through ten successive Sikh gurus. The eleventh and last guru being the holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru Granth Sahib is a collection of the sikh Gurus’ writings that was compiled by the 5th sikh Guru). It is seen as the fifth largest organized religion in the world with approximately 30 million adherents. This religion is seened largest in Pujab India Adherents of Sikhism are known as Sikhs (students or disciples). According to Devinder Singh Chahal, "The word 'Sikhi' (also known as Gurmat) gave rise to the modern anglicized word 'Sikhism' for the modern world. Gurmat means literally 'wisdom of the Guru' in contrast to Manmat, or self-willed impulses. According to Sewa Singh Kalsi, "The central teaching in Sikhism is the belief in ?” : have equality between all people. Sikhs also believe that "all religious traditions are equally valid and capable of enlightening their followers". In addition to sharing with others Guru Nanak inspired people to earn an honest living without exploitation and also the need for remembrance of...
Words: 1005 - Pages: 5
...Sikhs is that they wear turbans; they do this because it is an old tradition since the beginning of their religion. Shi Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded the Sikhism religion when he had a vision he wrote down his teachings. His wrote praises to God that were more like hymns. Nine Gurus thought to be reincarnations of Shi Guru Nanak Dev Ji, continued the movement one by one also writing down their teachings. All the teachings were compiled into the Holy Scripture known as Shi Guru Granth Sahib. Thes Sikhism scriptures like the Bible are thought to be from God and given to the Sikh Guru’s. The Shi Guru Granth Sahib like the Bible contains both hymns and scripture. It starts with a simple statement of belief called the Moon Mantra. However the Sikhi regards the Shi Guru Granth Sahib with uttermost respect and views it as a living Guru. Unlike Christians few Sikh’s possess a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, in order to do so they would have a room designated just for it. In order to hear the Shi Guru Granth Sahib Scriptures, most Sikh’s gather together in a place called a gurdwara where they are read by a granthi. Sikhism is a religion that adheres to the monotheism the doctrine that there is only one God, whom they refer to as Sat Guru, which means true God. It does not believe...
Words: 845 - Pages: 4
...MKT, which lexically translates into the hillock of Majnu (majnu means crazy), is best described as a Tibetan (refugee) colony established around 1962. It recently completed its golden jubilee, which was marked and celebrated by the presence of the Dalai lama, the spiritual and political advisor of the Tibetans. Presently it is officially known as new aruna nagar colony, samyeling and chungtown Etymology and legend Every place has a tale behind its conception, origin and inhabitation.sic. A legend which harbours stories about its past, lays bare its present and insinuates about its future. Suchstories are often carried on by word of mouth, until they are accepted at large. Mkt is one such place which has heart-rending tales of love, separation, agony, anguish, fractured identities, languished dreams and aspirations, all residing in this relatively obscure place of the capital city of india. Going by the knowledge of the Sikhs at the gurudwara, The place is believed to have been named after Majnu, a local, sufi mystic named Abdullah. When he was not…….. , he used to ferry people across the Yamuna river and launch into a eulogy for the divine. Finally, guru nanak dev ji, the first sikh guru met him on july 20, 1505. It is said that so impressed was guru by his devotion that he blessed him, naming the place after him. Hence the mound/tilla became mkt. The reason why this story/tale is pertinent to our discourse is because it is symptomatic of the strong presence...
Words: 279 - Pages: 2
...Hinduism believes in many deities, and accepts that there is no correct way of practice as long as an individual’s ambition is dharma. The Bhagavad Gita, Hinduism’s holy book, quotes, “You are what you believe in. You become that which you believe you can become.” Sikhism is the youngest world religion. It was founded nearly 500 years ago in the Punjab region of India. Currently, there are about thirty million Sikhs in the world today, making it the fifth largest world religion. The key idea of Sikhism is to live life as a gursikh, one who eliminates darkness ('gu'), and demonstrates enlightenment (‘ru’). The concepts of Sikhism were developed over many years from ten different gurus, and placed into Sikhism’s holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib. They believe in one God alone, as shown in the opening line, “Ik...
Words: 2307 - Pages: 10
