BOOK RELEASE SMAGAM IN MEMORY OF GADHAR MOVEMENT,SURREY CANADA Hardarshan Memorial International Trust (Canada) in association with the Punjabi Adbi Literary Society of Canada are holding a grand Smagam in memory of the 100th year anniversary of the Gadhar movement and the 136th birth anniversary of Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh Ji, the pioneer ofthis movement from Punjab. The Smagam will take place on Saturday 5th July 2014 from 12pm to 3pm at the Grand Taj Banquet Hall, 128th Street, 84th Avenue. At the Smagam, well known writer Jaiteg Singh Anant will release 3 books; Gadhar Lehar di Kahani, Gadhari Yodhe, Gadhar di Goonj te Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh. Families of the Gadharis from England, USA and Canada will be attending this notable Smagam, where awards in the names of the leading ghadaris to reignite the memories of those involved will also be presented. Notable and well-known local leaders will also be attending this Smagam. We humbly request your attendance at this historic event. For further information, please contact Jaiteg Singh Anant (778-385-8141), Daljit Singh Sandhu (604-779-8298) or Jagjit Singh Takhar (778-385-1636) Posted www.ambedkartimes.com on June 30, 2014

*PLEASE CLICK HERE # "AMBEDKAR TIMES" NEWS PAPER IN ENGLISH (FEBRUARY 7, 2013) & "DESH DOABA" IN PUNJABI (FEBRUARY 7, 2013)*

DIGNITARIES RUSH TO GRAND FINALE OF 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF STOCKTON GURUDWARA Dr. Amrik Singh

The 100th anniversary of Pacific Coast Khalsa (Free Divine Communion) Society Stockton, California incorporated on 27th May, 1912, concluded on October 14, 2012 with a Sikh Parade in the city of Stockton. The society established the First Sikh Temple of the United States within five months of its incorporation. South Grant Street on which, the religious flag unfurled amid objections from some of the neighboring residents in 1912, has now been changed to Sikh Temple Street. The Stockton City Mayor Anne Johnston dedicated it to 100 years of eventful history of the Stockton Sikh Temple. The San Joaquin valley’s prominent newspaper, The Record, covered stories related with the Stockton Gurudwara from time to time. On November 22, 1915, when the new Gurudwara was inaugurated, Stockton Record gave an honorable space in its popular pages. “The new Sikh Temple of the Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan (free divine communion) Society was dedicated yesterday with impressive ceremonies. The day selected for the formal opening of the new temple, which is located at 1936 South Grant Street, was the 426th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, founder of the faith.”
Stockton Gurudwara became a hallowed site as it provided roots to the Sikh community, and inspired them to even lay down their lives for freedom of India from the British rule. Though individually, Sikhs could not buy land in their names, but as a community they held the title to the property of Gurudwara and started functioning as an institution immediately thereafter. Founders instituted Guru Gobind Singh Scholarship to fund education of talented young Indians who were selected without any consideration to their ethnic background, caste or creed.

Stockton Gurudwara also funded a delegation to Washington, D.C. in 1914, to testify at a Congressional hearing, on the issue of granting citizenship rights to all Asians.

Grand Finale of Stockton Gurudwara Centennial events concluded in two phases on October 13, & 14, 2012. The event was marked with great fanfare of dignitaries expressing their feelings about the centennial events marking the hundredth year of Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan (Free Divine Communion) Society as the first settlement of Sikhs in the US.

White House Office of Public Engagement Associate Director, Mr. Paul Monteiro came all the way from Washington, D.C. to read President Obama’s message. “Stockton Gurudwara Sahib stands as a testament to the trials and triumphs Sikh Americans have experienced; serves as a center for civic, political, and social life; and displays the principles of equality, service, interfaith cooperation, and respect that Sikh Americans share with people across our nation.” Mr. Montiero, on behalf of the President, congratulated the Sikh community on 100th year of America’s First Sikh settlement.

The Mayor of the City of Stockton, Ms. Ann Johnston, besides announcing the change of S.Grant St. to Sikh Temple St., recounted how Sikhs remained integral part of the landscape of the city. City Police Chief Mr. Eric Jones and San Joaquin Sherrif’s Captain Tom Desmarais assured their support to Sikh community and also invited them to apply for positions in the police department. Stockton City Council Member Dale Fritchen, Stockton Planning Commission member Samuel E. Fant and Council Woman Susan T. Eggman thanked the Sikh community for inviting them on a historical day. Congressman Tom McClintock said Sikhs have a great history of peaceful coexistance in the United States of America. Ricky Gill, a Sikh American candidate for the US Congress spoke about the historical importance of Stockton Gurdwara and the role of pioneers in supporting American economy for the last 100 years. Congressman Jerry McNerney congratulated the community over their wonderful achievements during their more than 100 year presence in the United States of America.

The author of AB 1964, Assembly member Mariko Yamada expressed her feelings about Sikh community’s 100 year trials and tribulations in facing extensive rejection and still contributing positively to the American social life. West Sacramento Gurdwara’s media chief Darshan Singh Mundy thanked the assembly member for being a great friend of the community.

2012 California Senate Resolution: Relative to the 100 Year Anniversary of the Sikh American Community introduced by Senator Lois Wolk, coauthored by Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani and approved by Governor Jerry Brown figured in talks of many speakers. Assemblymember Galgiani dedicated it to the memory of Sikh pioneers who left a wonderful legacy for all Americans.

Mr. Sarbjit Singh, Store Manager of Well Fargo Bank presented a check of $5000.00 on occasion of the Grand Finale of centennial events. Dr. Jasbir Singh Kang of Punjabi American Heritage Society gave a presentation about Sikh Pioneers’ lives and their views about India’s independence. Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education stressed the need of a turbaned congressman in Washington, D.C. to clear the confusion of Americans about Sikhs. Amandeep Singh, Commissioner on President’s Advisory, elaborated on President Obama’s concerns about Sikhs becoming target of hatred after 9/11.

Kuljit Singh Nijjar, Secretary of Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society; Sonny Dhaliwal, Lathrope City Councilman; and Bhajan Singh Bhinder, coordinator of the centennial committee, conducted the three hour long program of honoring the dignitaries. Manjit Singh Uppal, Chairman of Centennial Committee thanked all the guests for supporting Stockton Gurdwara and the community on a historical day. Dr. Harbhajan S Shergill and Mr. Baldev Singh were appreciated for their special efforts to prepare the museum in record time. Mr. Uppal thanked all members of Gurdwara management committee for making all events a great success. He said it would not have been possible without the overwhelming financial support of the community members.

Hardial Singh of United Sikhs, Hardeep Grewal of Sikh Coaliton, Dr. Pritpal Singh of American Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee, Dr. Amarjit Singh of Khalistan Affairs, Dr. Gurmeet Singh Aulakh of Council of Khalistan, Jagdeep Singh Dhillon of Stockton Record, Gurinder Singh Manna of Sikh Youth of America, Harjot S Khalsa of Punjabi Radio USA, Jaspreet Singh Lavla of California Gatka Dal, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu of Sikhs for Justice, Prof. Gurvinder S. Dhaliwal from Canada and representatives of various organizations were in attendance. The media was represented by Prem K. Chumber of "Ambedkar Times" & "Desh Doaba", Satnam Singh Khalsa of Sade Lok, Jasjeet Singh of Amritsar Times, Kuldeep S. Dhaliwal of Indo-US Dialogue, Husan Laroya of Ajit Jalandhar and Gurjit Singh Stockton Record. JUS TV covered all three events in detail. Three-hour program entitled “Saturday Special” was telecast on October 20, 2012 from 9 AM -12 Noon. Three-hour second instalment will be telecast on October 27, 2012.
Posted on www.ambedkartimes.com , October 25, 2012

EASTERN SCHOLARS CONFERENCE ON 100 YEARS OF THE GADAR REVISITS INDIA’S FREEDOM Dr. Amrik Singh

In a series of events related with the Centennial Celebrations of the First Gurdwara of the United States of America, the second conference, The Voyage of the Gadar, (Eastern Perspective) took place on September 30, 2012 in De Rosa Center of the University of the Pacific Stockton. A large gathering of about 700 attendees showcased a keen interest in knowing the legendary history of the Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan (Free Divine Communion) Society that was established by Professor Teja Singh, Baba Jawala Singh, and Baba Wasakha Singh in 1912 and that became a precursor to the famous Gadar movement. Three panels of scholars from India, Canada, and the United Kingdom covered the various aspects of Gadar history and its absence from curriculums of schools, colleges and universities in India.

Punjabi University Vice Chancellor Dr. Jaspal Singh while attending the post conference Dinner in University Plaza Hotel in Stockton declared that Punjabi University will adopt the history of Gadar in its university curriculum from the next academic session. In his presidential address earlier, Vice Chancellor expressed that the history of Indian freedom movement needs to be restructured so as to give rightful place to the Gadar movement. He pointed out that an exaggerated stress on M.K. Gandhi’s role was mainly responsible for overshadowing the real contribution made by Gadari patriots who were ardently committed to the cause of freedom. The martyrdom tradition and Gurbani were the major background influences to impact their patriotic activities.

In the beginning, Manjit Singh Uppal, chairman of the Centennial Committee welcomed the scholars to the conference and stressed that their research was necessary to correct the history of the Gadar movement. The moderator for the first session was Amrit Singh Kandola, a student of California State University. He invited the first panel consisting of Dr. Jaspal Singh, Dr. Jasbir S. Mann, and Dr. Amrik Singh.

In his paper, Dr. Jaspal Singh reevaluated circumstances surrounding 1849’s British annexation of Punjab to the formation of Gadar movement in the west, and interpreted the Indian independence on August 15, 1947 merely a transfer of powers from the British to their collaborators. The vision of freedom for Gadris was more nationalistic, pluralistic, and democratic than what former collaborators of the British introduced after independence. Dr Jasbir Singh Mann dwelt on San Francisco Hindu German conspiracy case and the role of Lala Har Dayal, Vinay Savarkar, and Ram Chandra in sabotaging the highly nationalistic mission of Gadar enthusiasts. Ram Chandar’s dubious role in financially cheating members of the Gadar party had enraged Ram Singh who shot him during San Francisco trial in 1918.

In second session, Bachittar Singh of University of Davis acted as a moderator. Introducing the second panel of scholars, he invited Professor Sohan Singh Pooni from Canada, Dr. Iqtidar Cheema from Pakistan, Dr. Balkar Singh and S. Ajmer Singh from India. First, Professor Pooni elaborated on sacrifices of Canada’s Gadri heroes. Their struggle was both to secure some rights in Canada and as well as freeing India from the British occupation. He criticized the British campaign of portraying Gadris as extremists and anti-social before killing them indiscriminately. Throwing light on the life of Shaheed Mewa Singh, Pooni said that the British spy, William C Hopkinson, had made it impossible for Mewa Singh to live his life peacefully. When Hopkinson’s hired assassins killed two of the most respected members of the Sikh community in the Gurdwara, Mewa Singh took upon himself to teach him a lesson even though it cost him his life. Dr. Cheema’s paper focused on ‘pan Islamist’ influence on Gadar movement. Lala Har Dayal and Prof. Maulana Barkatullah, according to Dr. Cheema, gave more setbacks to the Gadar movement than what is known so far. Dr. Balkar Singh analyzed the dynamics of Gadaris’ consciousness in the Sikh perspective and found that the Gadar mission had incorporated all characteristics of Sikh psyche. Therefore, they had no problem in moving ahead with their struggle for throwing the British out of India. He disapproved the western perspective of secular nationalism which, according to him, is no more than a mere façade for dividing ethnic communities.

The third session was compered by Jasjot Kaur, a student from UC San Francisco. Dr. Prithipal Singh Kapoor dwelt more on history of the Sikhs than on the Gadar movement. Kapoor stressed that Gadris were fully aware of their Sikh heritage, and that factor was precisely responsible for the genesis of Gadar movement. Dr. Gurnam Kaur’s paper centered on becoming fearless and upbeat while living life as a true Sikh. Gadris’ exemplary sacrifices had shaken the British foundation. Dr. Sarbjinder raised more questions than he answered. He said that if Sikhism was one of the influences on Gadris’ rebellious spirit, then why some Sikhs became collaborators of the British? Media being in control of British hands, it was easier for them to portray Gadris’ anti socialism and criminal behavior.

The last session was moderated by Kulbir Kaur Beniwal, a student from Delta College Stockton. Dr. Tarlochan S Nahal tried to reinterpret the incident of Jallianwala Bagh in the light of the Gadar movement whereas Dr. Dhillon compared it with the mutiny of 1857. Gadar movement, according to him, was the only organized nationalistic movement that included all sections of society in the emerging mosaic of Indian nationhood. Jatinder Singh Hundal, an engineer by profession, presented his paper on life and times of Lala Hardayal. He shared that he couldn’t find Dayal’s name in the ‘Gadar Directory’ published by the British. He stated that Dayal’s recanting of his ideology and abjectly surrendering to the British was shameful. His later writings and research were all focused on promoting the British Empire not only in India, but in the whole world. Rajinder S Rahi, a scholar on Gadar movement, could not come to present his paper, but a video of his lecture was played.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Amrik Singh thanked scholars and the audience for taking keen interest in the proceedings of the conference. He appreciated the role of the Stockton Gurdwara Management committee, and the centennial committee for putting their concerted efforts in making all programs a great success. Bhai Sukhjivan Singh, head Garanthi of Stockton Gurdwara, offered prayers in remembrance of Gadri patriots. Harnek Singh Atwal, president, Amarjit S. Panesar, vice president, Kuljit S Nijjar, Gen. Secretary, Ranjit Singh Chandowalia, treasurer, Gurmail S Khela, joint secretary, and Chhinderpal Singh, Kishan Singh, Sukhwinder Singh Dhaliwal, Jaswant Singh Shad, Iqbal S Gill, Daljit Singh, Gurnam Singh, Joginder Singh, Gulwinder Singh Bhinda, Karmjit Singh Gill, and Harpal Singh, all executive members worked together diligently. Chairman of the Centennial Committee Manjit Singh Uppal and coordinator Bhajan Singh Bhinder thanked Dr. Jasbir Singh Mann, Dr. Amrik Singh for acting as conveners of the Western Conference, and Tarlochan Singh Nahal of the Eastern conference for their coordination and hard work. Gurdeep Singh Kooner arranged to telecast the conference live through PTN media group. South Asia Post’s Chief Editor Gobind Thukral, JUS TV host Harvinder S Riar, Ajit Jalandhar correspondent, Husan Laroya, Indo-American Dialogue’s Kuldip Dhaliwal, Punjab Times’s Tarlochan S. Dupalpur were present to cover the event.

On September 29th, Dr. Sohan Singh Mahal hosted pre-conference dinner to all invited guests. Among the speakers on Pre- Conference dinner, Editor in Chief of South Asia Post Mr. Gobind Thukral spoke on glorious legacy of the Gadar movement and stressed the need to preserve it for future generations. Dr. Gurinder S. Grewal was kind enough to arrange post-conference brunch at his palatial farm house on October 1, 2012.
Posted on www.ambedkartimes.com , October 25, 2012

THE IGNORED REVOLUTIONARIES HOW THEY CONTRIBUTED TO INDIA’S FREEDOM by Kuldip Nayar

Dr. Kuldip Nayar is well known syndicated columnist. Nayar came to Sacramento to preside over a Conference on Gadar in 2010. In his presidential address, he bemoaned how the role of Gadar revolutionaries was totally eclipsed from modern history of India. Dr. Nayar exhorts the Government of India to give due place to Gadar patriots and also impresses upon to expose those who sabotaged the movement at the behest of the British government. He does not hesitate to point out the shameful role of Lala Har Dayal in abjectly surrendering to the British and exhorting Indians to accept their rule for unlimited time. When Dr. Nayar was in Sacramento, "Ambedkar Times" specially interviewed him about the history of freedom movement. Dr. Nayar was kind enough to give more than four hours to answer many significant questions about independence & Dalits of India. The interview was published in many journals of repute. Readers can access the interview at the following link AN INTERVIEW WITH KULDIP NAYAR Editor

It was a long haul, from New Delhi to Sacramento, near San Francisco in the US. Yet, the journey was worth undertaking despite the hazards at my age. It was a pilgrimage. This is the place where half a dozen Sikhs, staunch Marxists, led a contingent of people to India to light the flame of revolution in 1913. The purpose was to free India from bondage. They made two attempts through sea routes, roping in even a few Sikh regiments under the British.

Both times the revolutionaries, known as the Gadhari babas (the elderly revolutionaries), were betrayed by the agents planted within their ranks. The well-known intellectual, Hardyal, who was part of the Gadhar movement, also betrayed the babas and went over to the British side when World War I commenced. Communist leader Sohan Singh Josh, living in India, said that by changing sides, Hardyal brought shame on himself and his past. Barkatullah, also a revolutionary, stood firm on the side of the Ghadarites. His grave is visited by scores of people every day.

The British set up a tribunal to try those who had defied the Empire. Many were hanged with barely a ripple in India. Even today the country hardly knows their sacrifice. Only a few of the revolutionaries like Kartar Singh Sarabha and Sohan Singh Bakan are known in certain areas of Punjab. There is no mention of them in any textbook throughout India.

The labour settled in Canada too charted the Komagata Maru, a Japanese merchant ship, and sailed to India. The ship found no port on the way to Calcutta to berth. They too were butchered by the British. However, the difference between the effort from Canada and that from San Francisco was the difference of ideology.

From Canada a rich Sikh, Gurdip Singh, hired the ship to carry cargo but the Komagata Maru became the focus of revolution because the labour on the ship defied the owner and raised the standard of revolt. Mewa Singh, an unknown local priest, shot William Hopkinson dead in the Vancouver court where he was waiting to denounce the philosophy which the Gadhar Party was trying to expound.

The Komagata Maru incident provided the spark that lit the fire of defiance among the Indians abroad. The Ghadar, the party’s organ, wrote relentlessly to exhort people to revolt. Several thousand men living abroad caught the earliest boat to reach India.

Some five years ago, migrants from India settled in California —Sacramento is its capital — constituted the Gadhar Memorial Committee to organise functions in memory of the Gadhari babas. The committee holds a meeting every year on the second Saturday of July.

I was the main speaker this year. People from different parts of America thronged a big hall and sat through the four-hour-long meeting when half a dozen speakers dilated on the sacrifice and selflessness of the Ghadari babas and wished if India could let its countrymen know how a handful of ordinary men embarked on the task of ousting the British. Among the speakers was the Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
The Gadhari babas started the struggle from a small building which is there even today in the midst of living quarters of San Francisco. The Government of India has taken over the building and looks after its maintenance. New Delhi needs to spend more on setting up a museum to display things that are associated with the babas. One of their documents, already framed, says that a free India they envisaged would have a federal structure and would be called the United States of India.

The Ghadari babas were among the labourers who went to America and Canada in 1906 from Punjab, largely from the Doaba region. They constituted the Ghadar Party. They brought out a weekly in Urdu, Ghadar, to spread their message. Subsequently, they brought out its Gurmukhi edition. This reminded me of Harijan, launched by Mahatma Gandhi, to guide the national movement for independence.

The Sikhs were the backbone of the Gadhar Party. Gurmukhi was its language and the gurdwara its meeting venue. The party brought Sikhs back into the political mainstream and washed away the stigma on the community for having supported the British in the first national uprising in 1857. The party was secular. In one of the booklets which the Gadhar Party issued had one poem:

No Pundits or Mullahs do we need/ No prayers or litanies we need recite/ These will only scuttle our boat/ Draw the sword; this time to fight/ Though Hindus, Mussalmans and Sikhs we be,/ Sons of Bharat are we still/ Put aside your arguments for another day/ Call of the hour is to kill…
The difference was that the Gadhar Party had no compunction in propagating the use of force while Gandhiji’s faith in non-violence was unshakable. No doubt, he is responsible for winning us Independence, yet the sacrifice of the revolutionaries — Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukh Dev came to the scene later — was not small in importance. They made the British falter in their confidence to rule India.

The Ghadarite committee is preparing to celebrate in 2013 the centenary of the babas’ movement. I wish the Government of India could participate in the celebrations to recall their role. Gandhiji paid a tribute to the bravery of the revolutionaries in his reply to Sukh Dev’s letter. “The writer is not ‘one of many.’ Many do not seek the gallows for political freedom. However condemnable political murder may be, it is not possible to withhold recognition of the love of the country and the courage which inspires such awful deeds. And let us hope that the cult of political assassination is not growing if the Indian experiment succeeds, as it is bound to, the occupation of the political assassin will be gone forever. At any rate, I am working in that faith.”

Revolution has such a cleansing effect that people give up their selfish way of living and adopt a policy that involves all in a battle for egalitarianism. Today’s India has to remember this the most
Published in “The Tribune” Chandigarh on August 09, 2010
Posted on www.ambedkartimes.com , October 25, 2012

CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL AND PRAYER AT SHRI GURU RAVIDASS TEMPLE PITTSBURG Candle light vigil and prayers to pay tribute to the victims of violence in Wisconsin will be held on on August 15, 2012, Wednesday, Time: 7:00 PM at Shri Guru Ravidass Temple 2150 Crestview Drive, Pittsburg, CA 94565

Ramesh Suman Director - Delta Association of Realtors Email: Ramesh@RameshSuman.com

GRUESOME TRAGEDY AT SIKH TEMPLE IN WISCONSIN O. P. Balley: General Secretary, Supreme Council Shri Guru Ravidass Sabhas USA

The Supreme Council Shri Guru Ravidass Sabhas, USAis deeply saddened to learn about the senseless act of violence where in six innocent lives were lost while worshipping with the recitation of Akhand Path (Uninterrupted Recitation) at the temple. This gruesome tragedy is beyond words to describe. On behalf the council and its affiliated sabhas we express our heart- felt condolences to the members of the bereaved families in particular for loss of their loved ones and the entire Sikh community in general at this difficult time. We also support and join hands with the entire Sikh fraternity and brotherhood while holding candle- light vigils throughout the nation to ventilate their silent and peaceful protests at this unprovoked and senseless killing of human lives. We also strongly support their efforts to ensure that such horrific tragedy does not repeat itself in future at the hands of some misguided elements of society. This council is a staunch believer in the teachings of Guru Granth Sahib as enshrined in its holy pages.

The Sikh religion founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji more than 500 years ago is a spiritual home to those who desire and attain peace with respect. Guru Nanak dev Ji’s philosophy brought about a social awakening in the entire spectrum of Indian society where centuries of social and religious discrimination had caused people to go into a “delusionary sleep”. We, living in America and other foreign countries, must maintain our constant mtouch and communication with the mainstream society about our culture and religion to foster an environment of mutual respect, goodwill and harmony which will definitely help in avoiding any possible sectarian and racial violence.
(Posted on www.ambedkartimes.com August 11, 2012 )

MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO SIKH COMMUNITY

Durriya Syed

TRAGEDY AT SIKH TEMPLE IN WISCONSIN

Karam Bangar Sewadar Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Fresno (Central Valley) California

Dear Editor,
The shooting in Wisconsin at Sikh Temple is the killing of humanity. We all the Sangat of Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Fresno (Central Valley) California and all Sikh community condemns this tragic and heartless attack on Sikh Temple and killing the innocent people. This shooting at the Sikh Temple is not attack only on one religion or class but attack on humanity. To kill the innocent people only a heartless person can do it .We express our deep sorrow sympathy for the families who lost their loved ones. We pray that Waheguru gave His Sharn to deceased and gave strength to the families and the Sangat of Wisconsin to accept Waheguru Hookam. As we believe Hookma under Sab Ko Bahr Hookm Na Koa.

We the Sangat of Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Fresno (Central Valley) California will do our prayer with the Arambh of Sadharn Path from Aug.12, 2012 through Aug19. We request every one to join us at the Shri Guru Ravidass Temple Fresno (Central Valley) California to pay their respect the departed souls....

With fully rgards,
Contact: 559-486-3091
Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Fresno (Central Valley) California , 5025 S.Cherry Ave., Fresno C.A. 93706
Posted on www.ambedkartimes.com August 9, 2012