DARPAN - VAISAKHI Special 2021

Vaisakhi Special 2021

Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

Vaisakhi

2021 SPECIAL EDITION

2021 VAISAKHI

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Vaisakhi Special 2021

Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle

Vaisakhi

2021 SPECIAL EDITION

2021 VAISAKHI

VAISAKHI-2021.indd 1

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2021 VAISAKHI SPECIAL

2021-04-09 2:11 PM

Publishers: Gurvinder Singh Hundal Ramneek Singh Dhillon

8

Dr Swaiman Singh: Doctor on a Mission

Edited by: Petrina D’Souza

19 Serving Humanity At No Cost

Contributing Writers:

26 The Dhahan Prize: Saving & Promoting Punjabi Literature

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Published By: Darpan Publication Ltd. Copyright © 2021 Darpan Publications Ltd. All rights reserved.

Darpan Magazine is published once every two months.

This magazine, its editorial content, images or advertisement cannot be reproduced or reprinted in any form, without prior written permission of the publishers. The views expressed by the writers in this publication are not necessarily the views of the publishers. The publishers assume no responsibility for errors or omissions.

2021 VAISAKHI Publications sales agreement no. 4116014.

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34 Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany: A Remembrance 48 The Sikh Foundation 54 Dr. Inderjit Kaur 67 Ravi Singh: Doing Seva Around the World 73 Chef Gautam Mehrishi Recipes 82 Jasmine Daya Recipes 92 Sanjeev Kapoor Recipes 104 What is in a name?

107 Nishaan Sahib 109 Vaisakhi Activities for Kids 120. Order of the Sikh Gurus 126. The Three Golden Rules of Sikh Panth

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

In an exclusive conversation with Darpan, Indian-American cardiologist Dr. Swaiman Singh talks about the joy of selfless service and being part of the ongoing farmers’ protest in India.

DR SWAIMAN SINGH

Doctor On A

Mission

By Shweta Kulkarni

8

2021 VAISAKHI

N

othing captures the true essence of the festival of Vaishaki better than ‘Sewa’ — a willingness to serve others without the thought for your own wellbeing. Selfless service is one of the key ideologies of Sikhism, and Dr Swaiman Singh has undoubtedly been living by this principle every single day. Even his Instagram bio reads — ‘Field doctor. Ultimate goal is to serve. Not charity but solidarity.’

The USA-based cardiologist, who has currently anchored himself at the Delhi border in India as a solid support system for the protesting farmers, knows no other way to live than serving mankind. “Humanity above anything else,” Dr. Swaiman’s

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VAISAKHI FEATURE “I have seen my dad and grandmother suffer due to poor healthcare, now that I am a doctor and have the power to provide healthcare, how could I not come back and serve when I was seeing my elders in India suffer?” voice booms over the call as he talks about Vaishaki and the joy of selfless service.

Dr. Swaiman was born in Amritsar and moved to America with his family at the age of 10.

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2021 VAISAKHI

He saw his father and grand-mother suffer because of lack of healthcare. While it was heartbreaking to see them suffer, it motivated him to opt for a profession in healthcare and dedicate his life to serving others.

“I was born in Amritsar, and we moved to America when I was ten years old. We really didn’t take any money with us. I have seen my dad’s health suffer from not having insurance. We were scared to even go to a doctor there. My grandmother passed away in America because she didn’t get access to healthcare,” recalls Dr. Swaiman. He further adds, “Life was hard. In my second year, I was working at a gas station. I would go to school, come back and go to work. I lived a tough life -- got robbed at a gunpoint many times, was beaten up several times … but that part of my life has kept me grounded, and everything I am doing today is probably because of that. I have seen a lot of suffering, and I think that is what has made me take a stand whenever I see anything wrong happening around me.”

The hardship faced during his growing up years motivated Dr. Swaiman to become a doctor and do his bit for society. For more than a decade now, Dr. Swaiman has been persistently giving back to society not only by way of his profession but also through his organization – 5 Rivers Heart Association, which dedicatedly works towards healthcare and education.

Speaking about the organization and the work it does, the doctor explains, “Our goal was to work in a

2021 VAISAKHI

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2021 VAISAKHI

VAISAKHI FEATURE

“I was called at Tikri because there was a big need for doctors here.

I thought I will come here and see what I can do. I was all alone, I bought a small table, few chairs, bought some medications and started a small camp.

The second day, I was joined by another person and slowly slowly we grew into a full-sized hospital, library, houses… so nothing was planned.”

future of the 5 Rivers Heart Association, currently, he has been camping at the Tikri border in New Delhi for the past few months to serve the farmers protesting against the new farm laws that threaten their livelihood.

Ask him what made him leave his cosy life in the USA and go to India? And he simply says, “As I said, I have seen my dad and grandmother suffer due to poor healthcare, couple of places like Africa, now that I am a doctor and have the power to provide America and India. We healthcare, how could I not have been holding medical camps for the past ten years, come back and serve when I was seeing my elders in India but our mission is not just suffer?” medical camps, we plan to Like most families, Dr. have full-fledged clinics, where patients are followed Swaiman’s family too was a bit apprehensive about up, have medical services, have doctors on the ground his decision to go to India, especially when the tension etc. Medical camps are just between protesters and the a start, where we go to see police were flaring up, but he the needs of the people. was determined.

Now we know what the “While my dad was happy needs are, and now we are making plans to solve those with my decision, my mom problems – we want to take was initially scared. However, healthcare on a global level. my sister told her that she was the one who taught me We want to do the same with education. So, these are to live selflessly. She taught two big things that we want me about people like Bhagat Singh and what they did for to deal with in the future.” our country. She told me While Dr. Swaiman stories about my grandfather, has big plans for the 2021 VAISAKHI

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

who severed in the army for 24 years. My great grandfather also gave everything he had for India’s independence… So, she convinced my mom to let me come here… this was my calling,” recalls Dr. Swaiman, who also found support in his wife. He adds, “My wife wasn’t hesitant at all. She was like — ‘it is a scary time but I can understand that there is a need, so I can’t really stop you.

Good luck and do your best.’ I have a two-year-old daughter, who still wonders what her dad is doing. She asks my wife

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2021 VAISAKHI

all the time — ‘why dad isn’t here?’ But now she tells people that her dad is with the farmers in Delhi. I don’t think she understands the context of it, but at least she understands that her dad is in Delhi, and he is taking care of farmers.”

Taking care of the farmers and how! Dr. Swaiman and his team of volunteers are putting commendable efforts to ensure that thousands of farmers and even policemen at the protest site are provided with the muchneeded medical assistance.

With ‘Protect our farmers’ as the new motto of his 5 Rivers Heart Association, Dr. Swaiman has also set up a night shelter — Pind California for over 10,000 protesters. He has also set up a library and is providing free food to the farmers.

That is not all, Dr. Swaiman is relentlessly working

day in and day out – from morning 5 am to often 2 am to help the farmers and even chronicling the situation on the ground to a growing audience on Instagram. And he has managed all this in a matter of few months.

Interestingly, Dr. Swaiman had never planned all this when he decided to go to India. “I didn’t come here with a plan to do anything big. I had thought I would set up a clinic, bring on board some doctors, arrange for medication and go back in five days. I had no plan to stay,” informs the doctor.

He adds, “All my people from Punjab were at Singhu border, but I was called at Tikri because there was a big need for doctors here.

I thought I will come here and see what I can do. I was all alone, I bought a small table, few chairs, bought some medications and started a small camp. The second day, I was joined by another person and slowly slowly we grew into a full-sized hospital, library, houses… so nothing was planned.”

However, the journey hasn’t been easy at all, there

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Photos: Courtesy of Dr. Swaiman/ Facebook

VAISAKHI FEATURE he has pledged to serve the farmers till this revolution ends, he only wants everyone else to be better informed about the laws before taking any sides.

He says, “Keep united and read about the laws before you make up your mind. Try to see where these laws will lead the people and the nation. So many adds, “It is a blessing from God that I was able to come people from around the here and serve. I don’t think world have said that this is going to lead to something I would have been able to bad. So, try to read it for do this much service in my whole life if I wasn’t here. I yourself and see which way we are headed.” think probably I have done He further adds, my life time’s service by being “Anyone in India or here. So, I am just grateful. anywhere in the world, You know there are days who want to get involved when we are extremely hurt, with the farmers’ moment, we are saddened looking at are plenty of challenges that our elders but on average we I request you to please fast Swaiman and the team face save about 3 lives a day here. on Monday mornings, every day on the ground.

So, when you do that when don’t drink your tea on Dr. Swaiman says, “Getting Saturday evenings and bring you save a life the feeling medication here is always a you get can’t be explained in that milk, flour, tea to the challenge, getting water, food borders because people words. I don’t think in my even for our staff sometimes here are suffering, they are whole life I will be able to become a challenge but thank hungry. That’s it.” He sums forget this time.” god, so far it is working well.”

Every day is a new battle up and gets back to what It’s been over three he loves doing the most — on the protest site, but the months since Dr. Swaiman selflessly serving mankind. immense love showered on Singh has been relentlessly More power to him. him by the farmers keeps working for the farmers.

If anyone wishes to join Swaiman going and helps He and his team of doctors the movement or donate to him achieve new goals for the were even brutally beaten the cause — ‘Protect our on-going cause. Currently, up by the police on January farmers’, they can contact the doctor has appealed to 26, 2021, while they were Dr. Swaiman Singh through the Indian government to actually treating the injured provide his organization with his website: policemen. But ask him about www.5riversheart.org the Covid vaccine so that he his experience so far, and or drop a mail at can administer them to the with complete humility, Dr. join5heart@gmail.com. protesting farmers. While Swaiman says, “Gifted!” He

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2021 VAISAKHI

2021 VAISAKHI

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

Serving

Humanity At No Cost

India’s biggest kidney dialysis hospital, Guru Harkishan Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Kidney Dialysis Hospital, offers free treatment for all.

By Shweta Kulkarni

I

t is said that service to humanity is the best work of life and no one knows this better than the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC), which since its inception is committed to ‘Manav Sewa.’

Right from managing various educational institutions, to hospitals, to old age homes, to libraries

and other charitable institutions in Delhi for years, the DSGMC, which is headquartered in Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, has assiduously contributed to society through various channels.

Now the committee has added yet another feather to its glorious cap of social service by starting a freeof-charge kidney dialysis centre in Delhi.

With 101 beds, the Guru Harkishan Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Kidney Dialysis Hospital is touted as India’s biggest kidney dialysis hospital and aims to soon become even the world’s largest kidney dialysis hospital.

Established at Gurdwara Bala Sahib, what makes this centre unique is the fact that there is no cash or billing counter anywhere on the premises.

Commenting about the idea behind setting up the free kidney dialysis hospital, DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa said in an interview to a web portal, “There are more than 30 per cent kidney patients in India, who don’t have access 2021 VAISAKHI

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

The purpose of this hospital is to serve humanity; Sikhs are known for this, we are doing this for years. Soon you will see, this will not be just India’s but the world’s largest kidney dialysis hospital. We won’t take any money from the patients. Not only will the patients get free treatment but also free food.”

-DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa

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2021 VAISAKHI

only will the patients get free treatment but also free food.”

Chronic kidney disease is becoming a major healthcare concern in India.

As per India’s Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme, there are about 2.2 Lakh new patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) every year in India. This has resulted in to proper medical facilities. additional demand for 3.4 Either they are very poor or Crore dialysis every year. they have sold all their assets While the rich can easily to cover health bills but are bear the medical cost for still struggling to cope up. their treatment, the ones So, we decided that we will belonging to the lower strata set up India’s biggest kidney of the society are financially dialysis hospital and that crippled with the longtoo free of cost. You will term expenditure of their be surprised to see there is treatment. In a scenario no billing counter here. So, like this, this remarkable whosoever comes here for healthcare project by treatment, he wouldn’t be DSGMC has indeed come charged a single penny.” as a boon for poor patients Sirsa further added, suffering from kidney “The purpose of this diseases. hospital is to serve What’s more humanity; Sikhs are known praiseworthy is the fact for this, we are doing this that despite providing a for years. Soon you will see, completely free-of-cost this will not be just India’s service, the DSGMC has but the world’s largest ensured not to compromise kidney dialysis hospital. on the quality of treatment This will be a thousandpatients will receive at the bed hospital very soon. hospital. The machines and We won’t take any money all the equipment installed from the patients. Not in the hospital are sourced

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from Germany and all the machines are modern as well as equipped with the latest technology.

At present, this hi-tech kidney dialysis hospital with 90 paramedics and 24 in-house doctors is equipped to take up to a minimum of 500 patients in a day for dialysis. Keeping all the admission formalities simple, patients of any caste and creed, and from any corner of the country can avail of the free-dialysis facility at the hospital. All they need to do is get their medical reports.

“It is a very unique concept,” said Dr. Venkatesh, Medical Director, Guru Harkrishan

Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Kidney Dialysis Hospital.

He added, “We don’t ask the patients for their documents for registration or their identity – how people walk into langar and take food, similarly, they can just come here and take dialysis. The patients only have to give all their medical records.

The records are then scanned in a computer and it goes to our consulting nephrologists, who are associated with us. The consultant sees the reports and advises us on how to go about it. There is no question asked about giving the aadhar card and all for registering. The entire expenditure for the treatment of the patients will be borne by DSGCM.”

2021 VAISAKHI

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

After every dialysis, a patient requires medicines worth INR 2000, we have a pharmacy here and the patients will be given these medicines free of cost after every dialysis.”

Photos: Manjinder Singh Sirsa/Facebook, Hindustan Times/ Twitter

- Dr. Venkatesh, Medical Director of Guru Harkrishan Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Kidney Dialysis Hospital

Not only the expenses for the treatment are borne

by DSGCM, but the facility also provides free medicine to the patients.

Dr Venkatesh informed,

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2021 VAISAKHI

“After every dialysis, a patient requires medicines worth INR 2000, we have a pharmacy here and the patients will be given these medicines free of cost after every dialysis.”

DSGCM aims to cover all its running cost through corporate social responsibility funds, individual donations and government schemes.

Speaking about it, Sirsa said, “The concept of the hospital is that we will not charge any money from the patients. Many people are coming out with the contributions, there are people who feel that

humans should be served, there are corporate houses who are coming forward … funding it from CSR, so yes we will take all that and won’t charge from patients.”

The committee is dedicated to human service and has been running various medical facilities at different Gurdwaras across the Indian national capital. It has recently also opened a diagnostic centre at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, where service such as MRI, CT Scan, ultrasound, and other tests are available at the ‘cheapest’ rates.

Talking about the committee’s mission, Sirsa said, “Our motive is to provide expensive medical services to the needy free or at cheapest rates.”

May the force be with them. For more information about DSGCM initiatives and to make donations to their noble causes, visit the website: www.dsgmc.in

happ y vaisakhi!

2021 VAISAKHI

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

By Mrinalini Sundar

Saving & Promoting

Punjabi Literature THE DHAHAN PRIZE

P

unjabi names include Jaswinder, Rupinder, Sharnjeet, Harpinder, and Gurparveen, among others. Sometimes the vowels in these names make Caucasian teachers roll their eyes. So we wring out our flavours and become Jas, Rup, Sharn, Harp, and Gurp because it’s easy.

Making them simple for mouths that have never heard syllables from the land of five rivers.

26

2021 VAISAKHI

There are several prestigious awards and prizes for literature across the globe mostly in European languages. But in India and Pakistan, national languages take the forefront and one would wonder why there aren’t enough literary awards in regional languages? Well, that was one of the reasons why Vancouver-based Barj S. Dhahan started the Dhahan Prize.

The idea is to celebrate the rich culture and transnational heritage of Punjabi literature and language. The prize aims to promote the growth of the Punjabi language globally, as well as encourage new, emerging, and established writers working in the two Punjabi scripts, Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi.

Talking to us about how the Dhahan Prize came into existence, founder Barj says, “While I was in high school no Indian languages were offered as ‘second language courses’ in Canada.

2021 VAISAKHI

27

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We speak English, Hindi, Punjabi & Urdu

VAISAKHI FEATURE

However, German, Latin, and Greek were offered.

I had a keen interest in literature and I have read many English classics as well as European works of fiction translated into English. No Punjabi classics were available in English translation then and even now there are few. I also wondered why there were no ‘big’ literary prizes in South Asia’s indigenous literature.

Over time I was inspired to create a global Punjabi literary prize to draw attention to the rich one thousand year-long literary tradition and the production of new works of fiction in Punjabi in Pakistan, India and within the Punjabi diaspora.”

Barj also the co-founder of Canada India Education Society, had another motive behind launching the award.

He wanted to honour the

I was inspired to create a global Punjabi literary prize to draw attention to the rich one thousand yearlong literary tradition and the production of new works of fiction in Punjabi in Pakistan, India and within the Punjabi diaspora,” says Barj S. Dhahan, Founder of Dhahan Prize.

girls. With the support of his wife, Rita, many of their close family and friends, and the University of British Columbia, the Dhahan Prize for Punjabi Literature was founded in 2013.

If one was to dive deeper into how The Dhahan Prize promotes the Punjabi culture and literature, Barj has a fitting answer. He says, “the Dhahan Prize promotes Punjabi language, culture, arts, and literature. After all, culture is transmitted through the telling of stories. And in most cultures, it’s mothers and grandmothers that tell stories to their children. So story writing – short stories and

Dhahan family’s history of activism in India and Canada, where they have supported education and health care initiatives, Punjabi language teaching, and learning opportunities for

2021 VAISAKHI

29

VAISAKHI FEATURE

Punjabis are diverse in religious beliefs and practices. They can be Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, etc… Punjabis have strong class and caste consciousness. We are tribal to a large extent and the social structures are paternalistic. It is sad though that while the culture is rich and diverse, women and their voices are muted in literature.” novels - is an important way through which culture, history, beliefs, and values are shared.

Punjabi is the language of Punjab and Punjabis. Punjabis are diverse in religious beliefs and practices. They can be Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, etc…Punjabis have strong class and caste consciousness. We are tribal to a large extent and the social structures are paternalistic. It is sad though that while the culture is rich and diverse,

30

women and their voices are muted in literature.”

Till 2020, about 21 writers have benefitted because of the Dhahan Prize. “The Dhahan Prize awards a main prize and two finalist prizes. The winning book receives $25,000 and the two finalists receive $10,000 each. The annual Prize ceremony is held in Vancouver. The winners also receive a trophy,” says Barj, adding, “Punjabi is the 10th largest language in the world. But it is at risk due to the sheer pressure of English globally and the national languages of Hindi and Urdu in India and Pakistan respectively.

So the Dhahan Prize is promoting Punjabi language and culture through fiction and increasing readership around the world. The Prize is adjudicated in both

2021 VAISAKHI

Punjabi scripts of Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi. In British Columbia, we also have an annual youth Punjabi short story contest for grade 11 and 12 students taking Punjabi courses in high schools. Coast Capital Savings is a corporate sponsor for the Youth Award.

Annually we publish the eight winning stories in Gurmukhi, Shahmukhi, English, and French. Youth are learning to write and read in Punjabi.

They are gaining pride and

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

Photos: Dhahan Prize, DARPAN Archives

Punjabi is the 10th largest language in the world. But it is at risk due to the sheer pressure of English globally and the national languages of Hindi and Urdu in India and Pakistan respectively.

So the Dhahan Prize is promoting Punjabi language and culture through fiction and increasing readership around the world,” adds Barj S. Dhahan. confidence in their heritage language and culture.”

The Dhahan Prize has gone through a sea change in the past years. From the time they started in 2013, they knew that modern Punjabi literature is dominated by male writers.

Most Punjabi literary associations are also maledominated and that there is

a dearth of women writers.

In order to fill the gap, Barj had a goal - which was to bring diversity, equity, and inclusion into Punjabi literature but it took a long time. “So I am proud to say that for the 2020 Dhahan Prize one-third of the submissions were from women authors. Four out of the ten finalists were crafted by women writers.

And one of the two finalists was Chilliwack based Harkirat Chahal’s novel Aadam Grehan. It’s a heartwrenching story set within the ‘third gender’ or Khusra community in Punjab,” Barj says. Adding to that, he shares that at each years’ Prize ceremony a keynote speaker gives an inspiring talk. To date, there have been four men and three women keynotes – among them Shauna Singh Baldwin (US), Parveen

Malik (Pakistan), and Balli Kaur Jaswal (Singapore). “This year four of the nine Dhahan Prize advisors are women scholars in Punjabi from India, Pakistan, and Britain. So we have come a long way in creating space for the feminine voices in Punjabi literature and community,” he says.

The Dhahan Prize is always looking for original stories and Barj insists that one must write one’s own stories. “Write your own stories. Otherwise, someone else will.” Two of the Dhahan Prize-winning books have been translated into English. And one of these “Prism” will be published this summer by Ekstasis Editions, a Victoria-based publisher for the Canadian market. This is very exciting. The author, Harpreet Sekha is from Surrey, BC, and his Punjabi stories will now be made available to a large English reading audience,” he expresses.

2021 VAISAKHI

33

DARPAN FEATURE Seeing him face many of his health challenges gave me a clearer understanding of how he succeeded in overcoming the many other trials of his life both professional and personal.

A REMEMBRANCE

Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany

By Sonia Dhami

His contribution to making Amritsar’s Golden Temple one of the greatest religious pilgrimage sites in the world ensures that his legacy still inspires Sikhs all over the world.

34

T

ruth be told, I had begun to write about Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany, almost three years earlier. On December 12, 2020, I returned from his Bhog and Antim Ardas (gurudwara service) and started to reminiscence about the years between 2017 and now.

I now believe that what Dr. Kapany demonstrated in these three odd years was the epitome of his strong character. Seeing

2021 VAISAKHI

him face many of his health challenges gave me a clearer understanding of how he succeeded in overcoming the many other trials of his life - both professional and personal. This is why I felt it is important to include this insight in my original draft.

The Sikh Foundation 50th anniversary celebrations were planned for 2017. A year before in June 2016, his beloved wife of 62 years, Satinder Kaur,

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DARPAN FEATURE passed away. I sensed that this left a morass of grief, which he seemed to carry in his heart ever since. I believe that it was through his strong willpower that he kept himself going so that the Sikh Foundation anniversary could happen as planned. And it did in a splendid celebration at the Asian Art Museum and the Stanford University campus. It was a hugely successful event, attended by dignitaries from 36

2021 VAISAKHI

around the world and remembered fondly to this day. At this time, we also released my book Sikh Art from the Kapany Collection co-edited by Dr. Paul Michael Taylor, which documented his iconic art collection.

After all the guests had left, we felt we could now take a well-deserved break. Perhaps he too felt that the major goals he had set out for himself had been achieved.

Shockingly, soon after the event he fell ill and was hospitalized. I remember

clearly how I panicked in that moment, thinking that this would be the end. He now appeared with a certain human frailty in that moment, and so I began to draft my remembrance. But I underestimated the man I had closely worked with for the past 15 years.

After many ups and downs in his health, he strived on and repeatedly bounced back to his cheery self. How did he do it? Was it the force of his astute and agile mind? Was it his strict discipline and passion for his regimen?

Or perhaps just his plain God-bestowed genius-ness, that enabled him to stay in Chardi Kala (a state of positivity), welcoming me with his cheerful, booming voice every time I met

2021 VAISAKHI

37

DARPAN FEATURE His faith and pride in his Sikh heritage was deep-rooted and motivated his entire life. He spent the last years of his life writing his memoirs The Man Who Bent Light which should be available in Spring 2021. him, usually every Friday at his home in Woodside.

He adapted to a new lifestyle of working from home now instead of attending office daily from 10am-3pm at the Sikh Foundation in Palo 38

2021 VAISAKHI

Alto. Despite the daily challenges of managing his health, he continued to work for the Sikh Foundation giving interviews, meeting people and working on the numerous projects we have going. Using a wheelchair did not deter him from personally attending the opening of the Triton Museum of Art exhibit, which showcased works of nine contemporary Sikh artists including Arpana Caur and Devender Singh.

Adhering to his doctor’s orders he gave up his regular two glasses of red wine before dinner and switched to a shot of tequila. He never complained about his food, which had no salt. Instead, he added his own flair of a few drops of Tabasco hot sauce to keep it flavourful.

He also attentively managed his personal assets and was even now, on the lookout for good business opportunities, reminding me that here was a man who had started a new solar energy company at age 84. I had seen him work on new ideas and patents well into his 80s.

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DARPAN FEATURE While he did establish enduring legacies at universities and museums, he was also mindful about the impact of smaller acts of charity, which he happily shared with those in need.

He repeatedly joked that “eh sara kuch ethey hi reh jana hai” (all this wealth will be left behind).

In my moments of doubt, he cleverly motivated me by turning the concept of entrepreneurship around and interpreting it as “Intrapreneurship” by which an employee can 40

2021 VAISAKHI

grow an organization by using similar principles.

He continued to aggressively negotiate and initiate new projects. He signed the deal with the Montreal Museum of Fine Art for the establishment of a permanent Sikh art gallery gifting them 150 artworks from the Kapany Collection.

Just last month we were discussing a loan agreement for artworks to the Indian Heritage Center in Singapore for their upcoming exhibit “Sikhs in Singapore – A Story Untold”.

He regularly listened to kirtan and paath (sikh devotional music and readings from the scriptures) on his small electronic Gurbani

player. He continued to be steadfast in his faith. For him “Work was worship” and not the other way around, as most people settle for in the sunset years.

While he did establish enduring legacies at universities and museums, he was also mindful about the impact of smaller acts of charity, which he happily shared with those in need.

He repeatedly joked that “eh sara kuch ethey hi reh jana hai” (all this wealth will be left behind). He personally helped me and my family find our footing in this new world, when we migrated here in 2005. Every minute of his 94 years of life were precious to him and he did not want to waste them. He even completed his memoirs during these three years and we were just getting ready to send it to the printers.

Many times over, he amazed me with his sharp insights and advice. He was always about the future and hardly ever dwelled on past glories. The prospect of the Nobel Prize would have excited men but not him when he was nominated for it last year. To me, he was larger than life then, and so he is now.

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DARPAN FEATURE collectors in the world, his contributions span the fields of lasers, optics, medicine, academics, entrepreneurship, arts and philanthropy.

“Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up.

It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter if you are a lion or gazelle. When the sun comes up you’d better be running…”

This framed quote on his office bookshelf sums up his hard working mindset and gives a good insight into the mind of Dr. Kapany, widely known as the “father of fiber optics”.

Born on October 31, 1926, in the town of Moga, PunjabIndia, he grew up in the Himalayan foothill city of Dehradun and graduated in 1948 from Agra University. As early as 1947, he challenged the concept that light only travels in straight lines.

He moved to London for his advanced studies in optics at the Imperial College of

Science and Technology, where in 1952, he successfully demonstrated that light can be bent.

This discovery changed the world forever.

Coining the term Fiber-optics, he laid the foundations for the Internet age, which was to follow.

Soon after his marriage to Satinder Kaur, the couple migrated to the USA in 1955. He thrived as a research scientist first at Rochester University, NY, and then at the Illinois Institute of Technology at Chicago. His research in fiber optics, lasers, solar energy and its applications in defense, bio-medical instruments, communications and pollution control monitoring earned him more than a 100 important patents.

In 1961, his next big move was to San Francisco where he founded Optics Technology Inc. and successfully took it public in 1967. The San Francisco Examiner described him as “…the most dashing corporate officer in the area” (San Francisco Examiner February 9, 1961). He also founded Kaptron Inc. in 1973 and Solarpath in 2010.

He and his wife Satinder were both artists and also avid art collectors. They scoured the globe for all things Sikh, making their home in Woodside California a virtual museum. Dr. Kapany defined Sikh Art as – Art by, for and about Sikhs. Their expansive and magnificent Sikh Art collection is representative of Sikh 2021 VAISAKHI

43

DARPAN FEATURE

artistic expression in all its forms – paintings, manuscripts, textiles, stamps, coins, arms and armor, and sculptures.

They not only put together a collection unparalleled in its range and quality but also were happy to share it with the world. Artworks were loaned out to numerous museums including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Smithsonian in Washington DC, and the Rubin Museum of Art in New York for exhibits.

The seal ring of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the delicate Sikh sketches by Emily Eden, the vibrant phulkaris embroidered by deft hands, the Nanak Shahi coins - symbols of Sikh sovereignty and so much more was shared readily with the world. I wonder how else would we, as a community, be 44

2021 VAISAKHI

Dr. Kapany defined Sikh art as – Art by, for and about Sikhs.

Their expansive and magnificent Sikh Art collection is representative of Sikh artistic expression in all its forms – paintings, manuscripts, textiles, stamps, coins, arms and armor, and sculptures. able to experience the totality of our rich Sikh artistic heritage if it was not for this magnificent collection.

This collection inspired others to build on this foundation.

In 2003, he gifted 100 magnificent Sikh artworks to the Asian Art Museum in San

Francisco, establishing for perpetuity the Satinder Kaur Kapany Gallery of Sikh Art the first permanent Sikh art gallery in the West. Recently, the Montreal Museum of Fine Art was the beneficiary of another significant gift of 150 artworks, leading the way for Canada’s first permanent Sikh art gallery.

Throughout his life he took immense pride in his Sikh identity and heritage even headlining a newspaper article in 1957 as “Scientist wears turban and tie” (Chicago Daily News Wednesday. July 31, 1957) Philanthropy is not something he set out to do in his later years. He set up the Sikh Foundation as early as in 1967, with the promise to create an understanding of the history, art and culture of Sikhs. Speaking at the 50th Anniversary Gala of the Sikh Foundation at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, on May 5, 2017, he addressed the audience and said, “We should ensure that our friends of other faiths, races and cultures understand who and what we are. We must present the beauty of our heritage without chauvinism.

The wisdom, philosophy and arts of the Sikh faith belong to the world.”

He fully lived the Sikh concept of “Dasvandh” which is sharing one tenth

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DARPAN FEATURE

of your earnings with others. His commitment to education inspired him to establish the first of its kind Kundan Kaur Kapany Chair of Sikh and Punjabi Language Studies in 1991 at UC Santa Barbara, which is named in honor of his mother. He also endowed a Chair of Opto-Electronics and a Professorship in Entrepreneurship at UC Santa Cruz. Honoring his father, Sundar Singh Kapany, he gifted his extensive collection of Sikh books to the McHenry Library at UC Santa Cruz along with the dedication of a reading room.

He led community efforts to establish three other Chairs of Sikh Studies at university campuses in California, generously contributing both time and 46

2021 VAISAKHI

Rotary Club of Palo Alto.

Dr. Kapany received numerous awards including The Excellence 2000 Award from the US Pan-Asian American Chamber of Commerce in 1998, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by the Indian Government in 2008, an Honorary Doctorate by the Guru Nanak Dev University, the Fiat Lux Award by University of California in 2008 and the Asia Game Changer West Award in s n ia B y l l e K a t s e vA a z e R 2019. His faith and pride in resources. He also regularly his Sikh heritage was deepcontributed to support Sikh rooted and motivated his youth in the Punjab. entire life.

As an author and He spent the last researcher, he published years of his life writing his over 100 scientific memoirs The Man Who yen t rLight uo C which no t lshould oB mahabe rG papers and four books nedroBBent on Opto-Electronics and available in Spring 2021. entrepreneurship. He was In his office at the Regents Professor at the Sikh Foundation in Palo Alto UC Berkeley and UC Santa California hung a huge oil Cruz and a visiting scholar painting of the Kar Sewa at to Stanford University in the Golden Temple by artist the Physics department udiaNSukhpreet Singh. e n i l ua P gnoIn K dfront la r eG and a Consulting Professor of his desk stood a majestic in the department of bronze sculpture of Maharaja Electrical Engineering.

Ranjit Singh. I fondly recall In 1979 he started the him saying, “I am a lucky Center for Innovation man. I have my Guru behind and Entrepreneurial me and my Maharaja in Development (CIED) at front.” r e h d na P r e e v nah C j y z cda s O e na i D UC Santa Cruz. He was Dr. Narinder Kapany an active member of the passed peacefully in US National Inventors Woodside, California on Council, Young Presidents December 3, 2020.

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

The Sikh Foundation On A Mission To Promote and Preserve Sikh Culture

of the Sikh faith belong to the world and it is time t has been over 50 years now to bring them into the since The Sikh Foundation light.” was established and the Taking the conversation work they have done in the forward is Sonia Dhami, field of education and culture the executive director at is exceptional. As the founder, The Sikh Foundation. late Narinder Singh Kapany, While we know that once said, “On the threshold of the Foundation takes the twenty-first century, it is the special interest in the destiny of the Sikh people to field of art and education, be a thriving and contributing Sonia expands on what international community. The the ultimate goal of the teachings and exemplary lives of foundation is, “The Sikh the ten Sikh Gurus from Nanak Foundation ultimately to Gobind Singh are our beacons. looks to promote, preserve The wisdom, philosophy, and arts and support the Sikh

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The Sikh Foundation ultimately looks to promote, preserve and support the Sikh culture, art, artists, and support universities with a special focus on the study of Sikhism,” shares Sonia, adding, “We closely work with museums, universities, culture, art, artists, and support universities with a special focus on the study of Sikhism,” shares Sonia, adding, “We closely work with museums, universities, artists, and other organizations.”

Go through their online store and one cannot but fall in love with the unique paintings, literature, kid’s books, religious texts, and culture-related books, etc. From greeting

cards, painting of the Third Empire of Punjab, to The Boy With Long Hair - a book about culture identificationthere is a lot to choose from. “Several times we have Sikh artists contact us about displaying their work. We happily agree and will always promote it, too,” shares Sonia.

artists, and other organizations.”

- Sonia Dhami Executive Director at The Sikh Foundation The Sikh Foundation has been very vocal about supporting the farmer’s protest that made headlines all over the world. Talking about the issue, Sonia declares, “I believe the farmer’s protest has touched the lives of Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike. It has become more of a human rights situation and escalated to new levels.

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VAISAKHI FEATURE the Government,” she shares.

As far as art exhibitions are concerned, most of the shows are on hold courtesy of Covid-19. However, The Sikh Foundation is proud to announce Sikhs in Singapore – A Story Untold, an art show that supports and showcases the long and rich history of Singapore’s Sikh community.

The exhibition is divided into three parts - “Roots, which explores the origins of Singapore’s Sikh community; Settlement, which presents the I can only hope narratives of Sikh migrants that this Vaisakhi in Singapore, revealing the changes things for our story of the nascent original farmers. Having said community and some of its prominent members; and that, I believe a lot Contemporary Perspectives, of art has come out of which offers glimpses into the these protests. From experiences of contemporary Unless the Government steps Sikhs, highlighting the everpaintings, poems, in and takes action it is going evolving Singaporean Sikh and street theatre to be very difficult for the identity and the community’s there has been a lot of common man.” contributions to the nation, powerful engagement With this grim mood, said an official statement Sonia says that the coming regarding the show. with the Government,” Vaisakhi brings with it a ray Sonia also tells us exciting shares Sonia Dhami. of hope. “I think with Covid news about a permanent Sikh and the farmer’s protest, this Art Gallery as part of the Coming from a village in Vaisakhi is going to be very Montreal Museum of Art. Punjab, I know how difficult different. I can only hope “We have about 150 pieces it must be for everyone who that this Vaisakhi changes that will be on display. While has left farming and is on things for our farmers. the show was to go live last the streets protesting for Having said that, I believe year, things have been on hold their rights. It is hard for a lot of art has come out and there is no updates on these farmers to fight against of these protests. From a definite date. We hope to corporations and what is paintings, poems, and street finalize things and announce a ultimately going to happen theatre - there has been a lot date soon,” she concludes. is they will be left landless. of powerful engagement with

Photos: Sikh Foundartion, DARPAN Archives

Sardarni Sada Kaur, Devender Singh, 2011 Oil on canvas, Kapany Collection

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2021 VAISAKHI

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

Inderjit Kaur

Dr.

By Shweta Kulkarni

By Shweta Kulkarni

In an exclusive interview with DARPAN, Dr. Inderjit Kaur, president of All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society, talks about the inspiring life of Bhagat Puran Singhji, the significance of Khalsa, and the several humanitarian works done by Pingalwara Society.

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2021 VAISAKHI

“The greatest virtue of Sikhism is Sewa and Simran.”

‘The

best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’ This Mahatma Gandhi quote resonates well with the warm, affectionate, and ever-smiling – Dr. Inderjit Kaur. A doctor by profession and human by conduct, Dr Inderjit Kaur has spent her lifetime working diligently towards the betterment of society. Fondly known as Bibi, the septuagenarian

is the ‘Mukh Sewadar’ (president) of the All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society, Amritsar, and recipient of numerous honours, awards and distinctions in India and abroad, including the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award, the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India.

Talk about her incredible philanthropic journey, and with complete humility, she credits it all to her mentor — Bhagat Puran Singhji

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

— the founder of All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society.

“I am here because of him.

Bhagat Puran Singhji was such a remarkable soul. I am so fortunate to have been blessed by such a noble soul.

He believed God resides in everything, he was showed great compassion towards everyone. He would even pick up stones, thorns from the path so that no pedestrian should get hurt. He had great worry about the environment and used to be concerned about even a single blade of grass. So, compassion, love, humbleness – he had all the qualities of a great human being. He was pious and religious. I was greatly influenced by him and used to visit Pingalwara often in those days, but at that time I never thought that one day he would make me his successor and make me the Mukh Sewadar of Pingalwara,” says Bibi Inderjit Kaur, who has

Talk about her incredible philanthropic journey, and with complete humility, Dr. Inderjit Kaur credits it all to her mentor — Bhagat Puran Singhji — the founder of All-India Pingalwara Charitable Society. “I am here because of him. Bhagat Puran Singhji was such a remarkable soul.” been greatly influenced by the work and life of Bhagat Puran Singhji.

She recalls, “My father, Dr. Harbans Singh, used to have the donation box of Pingalwara Society. And we also used to get Bhagat Puran Singhji’s leaflets and newsletters regularly.

Bhagatji cared deeply about

the environment, people and education so, he started a printing press and used to print a lot of literature to spread awareness. I started reading his literature and papers, and I was very much impressed by him.

There was this one thing he had written, which made a huge impression on me, he had written — ‘It is not the profession that makes the dignity of man, it is the man who makes the dignity of the profession.’ I was completely in awe of him and had a strong desire to meet him.

So that is how I came across him and his works.”

One wonders, if that was the moment when she decided to dedicate her life to social service? After a thoughtful pause, Bibi says, “I was born in a Sikh family, and the greatest virtue of Sikhism is Sewa and Simran, which are practised by all Sikhs. So that was already inculcated in me since I was a child. My father also used to practice that, he used to feed the poor people, give medicines to them… so that intention was already there. But I never thought I would come to Pingalwara and do this work. I was attached to Pingalwara, and like anybody else, I thought I would do monetary help at Pingalwara.”

But destiny definitely had other plans for Bibi. She adds, “After my father passed

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Photos: Pingalwara Society

VAISAKHI FEATURE

away in 1975, I needed spiritual and emotional guidance from Bhagatji, and he not only adopted me but my whole family and became a part of our family. Thereafter, I started visiting Bhagatji occasionally, and when he fell ill, as his adopted daughter, it was my duty to come and look after him. I stayed with him in the hospital for nine days. I was doing my professional work at that time in a clinic in Sangrur.

I was the only working member of my family at that time, so Bhagatji told me not to come, he didn’t expect anything from anybody. But I was adamant, and I wanted to take care of him. So that is how my association with him began. In 1986, he made me a member of the

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Pingalwara Society, later in 1987, he made me the vice president and then, he must have seen something in me, that he wrote my name as his successor in his will. In 1992 when he left for his heavenly abode, the responsibility of Pingalwara came on my shoulder.”

Pingalwara literally means – a home for the crippled, and was founded in 1947, by Bhagat Puran Singhji. The word ‘Pingal

means ‘cripple’ and ‘wara’ means ‘home.’ Today, this institute which is run by Dr Inderjit Kaur has enlarged its sphere of activities, and is not only providing shelter to the destitute but also provides medical facilities, runs free schools, shelter homes for children, and is involved in several other humanitarian activities.

Highlighting some of Pingalwara’s welfare activities, Dr. Inderjit Kaur says, “Originally Pingalwara was home for destitute in Amritsar. Today we have over ten centres that are dedicated to human service. We have a dispensary where we provide free medicine and treatment to the ill. We have nurses and doctors who work round the clock to look after the patients.

Many of these are suffering from chronic or incurable diseases and are going to spend their entire life in Pingalwara.

We have a shelter for mentally challenged kids and old

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The word ‘Pingal means ‘cripple’ and ‘wara’ means ‘home.’ Today, it has enlarged its sphere of activities, and is not only providing shelter to the destitute but also provides medical facilities, runs free schools, shelter homes for children, and is involved in several other humanitarian activities. people. We have a drug rehabilitation centre. We have a prosthetic centre, we look after HIV patients, we have children who are physically handicap, mentally handicap.

Earlier, there was no school for such children, so we started special education schools for them. Bhagatji always believed that until the poor don’t get proper education, their state won’t improve, so at Pingalwara we run five schools that provide free education.”

Apart from healthcare and education, Pingalwara Society has also taken forward Bhagatji’s concern for the environment by starting nursery and unique projects like natural farming.

Bibi explains, “Bhagatji was very much worried about the environment, pollution and depletion of natural resources. He planted many trees. To continue that work, Pingalwara

plants saplings every year.

The society has its own nursery where over 60,000 saplings are distributed free of cost every year. During the last 15 years over 9 lakh trees have been planted all over Punjab.” She further adds, “Once we attended a seminar, where we learnt that the chemical fertilizers and pesticides used during farming causes cancer, female fetal loss, adverse effects on children’s mental health – so we started with this low budget natural farming. These farms are demonstration farms where cultivation is done without the use of any pesticide.

Even Barack Obama was supposed to visit our farms during his visit to India in 2010, but due to some reasons, he couldn’t.

However, preliminarily teams from White House and a team from US Embassy had 2021 VAISAKHI

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

“I am very much worried about my country.

Poor people shouldn’t die with hunger. We should think about the poor people we should think about our country, we should love our country… but loving our country doesn’t mean we should go for war and all that… loving, means even one blade of grass should not be destroyed,” says Dr. Inderjit Kaur. carried out familiarization and security survey of our Dheerekot Farm and Manawala Complex.”

The list of Pingalwara’s humanitarian works doesn’t end here. The printing press, started by Bhagat Puran Singhji, continues to spread awareness through free books and publications.

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Recently, the society has also set up a rehabilitation centre for spinal cord injury and continues to regularly conduct free health camps.

Pingalwara Society is also actively supporting the ongoing farmers’ agitation in Delhi against the three agriculture laws.

A team of doctors sent by the Pingalwara Charitable Society is continuously providing medical services to the protesting farmers in Delhi.

Dr Inderjit Kaur says, “They are right our government is planning to do everything for the capitalist. The government is not bothered about the poor people. Labour laws have been abolished, a lot of people are unemployed… there are so many problems in India at this time, which is worrying me. I am very much worried about my country. Poor people

shouldn’t die with hunger.

We should think about the poor people we should think about our country, we should love our country… but loving our country doesn’t mean we should go for war and all that… loving, means even one blade of grass should not be destroyed.”

Ask her how can we transform this lack of compassion and sensitivity in society today, and she replies instantly, “People who are compassionate, who have love for the poor, they must stand up for the right thing and should not be afraid of anything.”

With Vaisakhi around the corner, we ask Bibi if she has any special message to share and pat comes the reply, “Vaisakhi is a beautiful festival and also holds a lot of significance. During the Vaisakhi festival, Guru Gobind Singhji initiated the Khalsa Panth. The main essence of the Khalsa is Sant and Sipahi, and we all should be saint and soldiers of our country.”

On that beautiful message, we sum up the interview.

The Pingalwara Society is tirelessly working towards the betterment of society and has a running cost of INR 6.5 lakh per day. The Pingalwara Society is entirely dependent on donations for its seamless functioning. Those wanting to contribute to their causes can visit - www.pingalwara.org .

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HAPPY VAISAKHI ਿਵਸਾਖੀ ਦੀ ਲੱਖ ਲੱਖ ਵਧਾਈ

JAGMEET SINGH, MP Burnaby South 4940 Kingsway Burnaby, BC V5H 2E2 604-291-8863 Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

Ravi

Singh Doing Seva Around the World

By Petrina D’Souza

Ravi Singh’s organization, Khalsa Aid, has now become an international global organization with chapters in Australia, Canada, America, India, UK and Africa.

F

ounder Ravi Singh’s small initiative to be of service to those in need has turned into a global organisation. Khalsa Aid is now recognized as an international NGO with the aim to provide humanitarian aid in disaster areas and civil conflict zones around the world.

The organisation is based upon the Sikh principle of

“Recognise the whole human race as one”.

The idea of taking the concept of langar aka Sikh community kitchen to people or regions that needed it the most gave birth to Khalsa Aid organization in 1999 in London, United Kingdom.

Singh recalls the moment vividly as it was the during that time that a vicious civil war was taking place in Kosovo, a disputed territory and partially recognized state in Southeast Europe. He saw the footage of the Kosovan refugees on the news and was inspired

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Ravi Singh was inspired by one Sikhi ideology in particular – “Sarbat da Bhalla” meaning by one Sikhi ideology in particular – “Sarbat da Bhalla” meaning “well-being for all” – recognising the humanity in us all and reaching out to those in need, regardless of race, religion, borders. “I read in the newspaper about a small group who were organising an aid convoy to Albania. I phoned the group from the newspaper and asked to join them to help deliver aid donated by the Sikh community who had been extremely generous in giving food and money – within two weeks we were on our way with two trucks and a van load of aid to Albania,” he recalls. This led to the formation of Khalsa Aid. “The vision of Khalsa Aid has always been to show the world that Sikhs are humanitarians, that we are driven by humanity, and we are what the Khalsa

means. Since the beginning of 1999 to now, Khalsa Aid has become an international global organization with chapters in Australia, Canada, America, India, UK and Africa. The vision is coming alive,” shares Singh.

Singh and his team have provided humanitarian aid in Syria, Yemen, Nepal, Kenya, Greece, Lebanon and Congo, among other regions. Currently, Khalsa Aid

“well-being for all” – recognising the humanity in us all and reaching out to those in need, regardless of race, religion, borders. is supporting Syrian refugees and the Yazidi IDPs in the Middle East, especially in Iraq; building a clinic in a refugee camp in Iraq particularly for women refugees who are struggling with health care; installing water pumps in Kenya, Zambia,

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VAISAKHI FEATURE Photos: Courtesy of Ravi Singh/ Khalsa Aid

The beauty of Khalsa Aid is that you don’t have to be a Sikh to be part of the organization or be of service. “Doesn’t matter what background you are from, you just need a big heart,” Singh states clearly. You can also help through donations and other forms of support.

Malawi and the Gambia; relaunching their Pad The Path which provides reusable sanitary pads to young girls and women in Africa who are struggling through period poverty; and organising huge langar aid projects in England and providing hot meals and other support for the vulnerable and the homeless. “Khalsa Aid is

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During the pandemic, the team couldn’t travel at all but the local voluntary groups and volunteers in many countries managed and carried on with Khalsa Aid projects. During Covid-19, Khalsa Aid in the UK, Canada, America and Australia started supporting the international students stranded in Russian, Ukraine and Cypress. “We also supporting the farmer’s protest supported day labourers in India by providing food, with food packs in Kenya water and other essentials. In and Peru. We had minimal Punjab, we opened a school staff but we relied on our for children not long ago and international partners, we also have five education networks and contacts to centers and many more deliver aid on our behalf,” planned across the state. We says the founder. are funding across India and The beauty of Khalsa Punjab medicine and medical Aid is that you don’t have operations for those who can’t to be a Sikh to be part of afford it. We are also running the organization or be of a hospital in Jammu called service. “Doesn’t matter what the Guru Nanak Mission background you are from, Hospital. There is a lot going you just need a big heart,” on and we have more projects Singh states clearly. You can lined up across the world,” also help through donations adds Singh. and other forms of support.

His message to those wanting to do seva is: “Once you really want to move into the seva field, you have to see everyone as an equal. You can’t judge people by their religion, race or colour.

Everyone to us is a human being first. You need to respect every human being as you would respect someone close to you.

More helping, less judging.”

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Vaisakhi Recipes various cooking shows on the

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techniques and brings out new

Chef Gautam

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Chef Mehrishi is the celebrity chef judge of the popular cookery reality show called Kitchen Champion aired on Colors. Among his awards, he received the prestigious Iconic Chef Of The Year Award in 2017.

72

C

hef Gautam Mehrishi,

a well-known celebrity

chef, is a proponent of Indian food. He established the first

flavours in traditional Indian

recipes. Bake Do Teen features

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methods using normal cookware found in every kitchen. Other

shows include Chef on Wheels, How Se Wow Tak and Jain

Jalsa is the first ever all-Jain food show. Chef Mehrishi is

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chocolateria chain, San Churros, called Kitchen Champion aired in India – an Australian chain

on Colors. Among his awards,

He is the culinary curator of

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having a pan Indian presence.

Vortex The Fusion Restaurant

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2021 VAISAKHI

he received the prestigious in 2017.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Gautam Mehrishi, Amol Omy, Chinoy Mishra

2021 VAISAKHI

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Vaisakhi Recipes

Paneer Kasuri

Makhana

By Chef Gautam Mehrishi

Chef Gautam Mehrishi, a wellknown celebrity chef, is a proponent of Indian food.

• 10 gms red chilli powder (Kashmiri)

Ingredients

• 75 gms makhana (lotus seeds)

• 4 gms whole black pepper • 2 bay leaves • 8 cloves • Salt

• 5 gms kasuri methi

• 500 gms paneer • 400 gms tomatoes • 30 gms ginger and garlic paste • 90 gms white butter • 90 gms desi ghee • 100 ml cream

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2021 VAISAKHI

Preparation • Roast the tomatoes on the flame like you would do for brinjal for bharta; remove the skin and puree.

• In a kadhai, add ghee. When the ghee is slightly hot, add the whole spices. When the pepper splutters, add the ginger and garlic and sauté till brown.

Then add the chilli powder.

Once the colour is achieved, reduce the flame.

• Now add the tomato puree and cook on medium flame till smooth and no bits are visible.

At this point, add the white butter, fresh cream and kasuri methi.

• Cook until an aroma is achieved, then add the paneer diamonds and cook for three to four minutes on low flame and finish to serve.

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• 50 gms pista • 50 gms almond slivers • 2 gms dried rose petals • 2 ml rose water • 200 ml almond milk

Preparation

Kesari Gulab

Badami Kheer

By Chef Gautam Mehrishi

Ingredients • 2000 gms milk • 200 gms rice • 300 gms sugar • 1 gm elachi powder

• Soak rice in water and grind it coarsely. Boil milk, add the ground rice and cook for 15-20 minutes.

• Add sugar, rose water, dried rose petals tied in a muslin, and elachi powder with saffron.

When it becomes slightly thick, reduce the flame completely and add the almond milk for richness.

• Set in a clay pot and garnish with nuts.

• 1 gm saffron

Happy

Vaisakhi

From National Home Warranty Group and Aviva Insurance Company of Canada, we thank our members for building communities in the Lower Mainland.

We look forward to partnering with you in your future endeavours.

Langley 76

2021 VAISAKHI

Vancouver

Vaisakhi Recipes • Almond-pistachio slivers to garnish • A few saffron strands to garnish

Preparation • To prepare rabdi, take a thick bottom kadhai and pour the milk in it and bring it to a boil.

• Once it boils, turn the flame to low and keep stirring until the milk reduces to about 300 ml. Remember to scrape the sides and bring the scrapes back in the boiling milk to get the lachhas.

• Once ready, cool the rabri and then layer it with the crushed laddoo, nuts, saffron, and cinnamon powder. Top it with saffron and nuts.

RRSP SEASON Ingredients Deadline is Friday, March 1, 2019 Motichoor RRSP Term Deposit

By Chef Gautam Mehrishi

1 Year Term 2.85% Rabri Jar 18 Months 3.00% Pudding 2 Year Term 3.05% 3 Year Term 3.10% 4 Year Term 3.25% 5 Year Term 3.50%

• 150 gm kesari laddoo • 1000 ml full fat milk

• 200 gms brown sugar • A pinch of cinnamon powder

3 Year Escalating RRSP Fixed Rate 1st Year Term 2.00% Proudly Serving the Community since 1986 2nd Year Term 3.00% 3rd Year Term 4.00% RRSP Loan Rates Food Drive 1 Year Prime + 0.50% In the Month of April Prime + 1.00% 2 YearHappy

“In the spirit of Vaisakhi, Khalsa Credit Union is holding a food

TFSAVaisakhi Savings Special drive.Rate All donations will be proFrom January 1, 2019 to March vided31, to 2019 local food banks and all 3.00%* Branch locations are accepting donations”

ਰੱਬ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਵੈਸਾਖੀ ਦਾ ਿਤਉਹਾਰ ਤ ਹਾਡੇ ਅਤੇ ਤ ਹਾਡੇ ਪਿਰਵਾਰ ਲਈ ਬਹ ਤ ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਖ ਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਆਵੇ। Call 604.507.6400 or 1.800.324.6747 | www.KhalsaCredit.ca SURREY 120

SURREY 128th

NEWTON

VANCOUVER

ABBOTSFORD

VICTORIA

8788 120th Street Surrey, BC V3W 3N6

Unit 110 - 8028 128th Street Surrey, BC V3W 4E9

Unit 2 - 7288 137th Street Surrey, BC V3W 1A3

5963 Fraser Street Vancouver, BC V5W 2Z6

32112 South Fraser Way Abbotsford, BC V2T 1W4

1- 3318 Oak Street Victoria, BC V8X 1R1

th

Phone: 604-507-6400 or 1-800-324-6747

2021 VAISAKHI 77 www.khalsacreditunion.ca

Vaisakhi Recipes

Besan Laddoo - Beetle Extract Chocolate Tart

By Chef Gautam Mehrishi

Ingredients • 200 gms white chocolate • 50 ml milk

For the besan laddoo: • 150 gms besan • 50 gms sugar • 40 gms desi ghee • ¼ tsp green gardamom (ground) • 10 gms roasted almonds, slivered

For the chocolate tart For the crust:

• 200 gms almond flour • 50 gms unsweetened cocoa powder • 60 gms melted butter • 20 ml maple syrup

For the chocolate filling: • 20 ml milk • 150 gms dark chocolate, roughly-chopped • 5 ml vanilla syrup

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For the beetle extract: • 8-10 beetle leaves • 50 ml coconut milk

Preparation For the besan laddoo:

• Heat ghee in a pan or kadhai; once melted, add the beasn, initially it will clump but stirring continuously at medium flame for seven to eight minutes will make it into a smooth paste. Cool and add the cardamom powder and sugar; mix in and make a smooth dough. Now carve a small-sized laddoo, garnish with nuts and keep separately.

For the chocolate tart:

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Mix in almond flour, cocoa, butter and maple syrup to make a mix. Press in a tart mould and bake till firm.

• For the filling, melt the

broken chocolate adding the milk gradually and mixing on a double boiler till a velvet finish is achieved. Pour the chocolate mix in the shell when slightly cool and refrigerate.

For the beetle extract:

• Dip the beetle leaves in ice water for five minutes, and then blend with some coconut milk.

Mix thoroughly and microwave twice for 10 seconds each with a gap and mixing in between.

• Melt the white chocolate adding milk on a double boiler till velvet consistency; add the beetle extract to achieve a nice green colour. Pour in a flat tray and let it set. Then cut in round discs of the same size of the tart tops. Make ¾ small holes with a nozzle top and keep aside.

• To finish, take the tarts and top with the beetle extract disc.

In the round cut-outs, lace the besan laddoo and garnish with chopped nuts and gold leaf.

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Vaisakhi Recipes

Fig and Walnut

Halwa

By Chef Gautam Mehrishi Chef Mehrisihi has become a household name with his various cooking shows on the television. In his most trending show, Kitchen Magic, he brings professional and innovative global cooking techniques to the home kitchen.

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Ingredients • 1000 gms crushed walnuts • 300 gms cashew powder • 300 gms anjeer (figs), chopped • 400 gms white mawa • 1000 gms ghee • 25 gms elachi powder • 400 gms sugar • Pista slivers for garnish • Almond slivers for garnish

Preparation • Heat ghee, add cashewnut powder and crushed walnut and cook until light brown.

Then add chopped anjeer.

Once all three nuts are incorporated, add the grated mawa and cook for 10 minutes.

• Add sugar syrup gradually to the nuts mixture. Finish with cardamom powder. Garnish with pista and almond slivers.

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Vaisakhi Recipes

J

About Jasmine Daya

Bhajia

By Jasmine Daya

These bhajias are a crowd pleaser.

The spice level can be amped up for a flavour kick, which is further intensified by a side of tamarind chutney.

Preparation

Ingredients

• In a mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients except the oil to create a smooth batter.

• 1 cup gram flour

• In a pot, heat oil over medium heat. Drop one tablespoonful of batter into the oil at a time and cook until it floats, which will take about a minute. Flip to cook the other side for about another minute.

• ½ cup water • ¼ cup chopped coriander • 1 tsp green chili puree • 1 tsp salt • ½ tsp baking powder • ½ tsp garlic puree • ½ tsp ajwain (optional) • ¼ tsp turmeric • Canola oil for deep-frying

82

asmine Daya is a lawyer and mother of three children residing in Toronto. She derives great pleasure learning new culinary techniques, experimenting in the kitchen and hosting friends and family at her home with lots of delicious food. She has published three Indian cookbooks that have East African influences. Although Jasmine was born in Canada, her parents immigrated form East Africa in the 1970’s and with them came these wonderful recipes that she hopes that generations to come will enjoy.

2021 VAISAKHI

• Once cooked, the batter will have solidified throughout the bhajia. Remove the cooked bhajia from the oil using a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined tray to absorb the excess oil and then serve.

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Vaisakhi Recipes

Channa

Masala

By Jasmine Daya

Flavourful and fast, this is a fantastic vegetarian option. I usually cook this recipe with a cup of basmati rice and/or paratha.

I also serve channa masala with a side salad to cool the intense flavour from this recipe and complete the meal.

Ingredients • 2 tbsps canola oil • ½ cup chopped onion • ¼ cup canned crushed tomato

• 1 tsp garlic puree • 1 tsp ginger puree • 1½ tsp ground coriander • ¾ tsp ground cumin • ½ tsp turmeric • ½ tsp garam masala • ½-¾ tsp salt • ½ cup water • ¼ tsp red chili powder (optional) • ¼ cup freshly chopped cilantro • 1 can (19 oz or 540 ml) chickpeas, rinsed and drained

Preparation

• In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until golden brown.

• Reduce heat slightly while adding ingredients to ensure the onions don’t burn. Add the canned crushed tomato, garlic puree, ginger puree, ground coriander, ground cumin, turmeric, garam masala and salt.

Increase heat back to medium and then stir to combine.

Continue to cook, stirring periodically for about half a minute to enable the mixture to thicken into a masala.

• Add water and stir to combine.

Let cook for about one to two minutes to thicken and enable the flavours to come together.

• Add the chickpeas and stir to combine. Add the chili powder at this stage if using. Cover and let cook for about five minutes and then uncover and continue to cook for another two minutes.

• Add the freshly chopped cilantro, leaving a little out to sprinkle on top before serving.

Stir to combine. Serve warm with rice, paratha, naan or chapati.

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Vaisakhi Recipes

Badam

Paak

By Jasmine Daya

For the mixture: • ½ tsp ground cardamom

This almond packed sweet treat is definitely a family favourite.

Ingredients For the mixture: • ½ cup unsalted butter • ½ cup semolina • 1½ cups ground almonds • 1 tsp ground cardamom • 1/8 tsp saffron • 1 cup condensed milk

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• 1 tbsp chopped pistachios • 1 tbsp chopped almonds

Preparation • In a large pot over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter.

Add the semolina, stir to combine and continue to cook until the mixture is bubbling and the colour has deepened.

• Add the ground almonds, ground cardamom and saffron to the pot and stir to combine. Add the condensed milk and stir to combine.

• Continue to cook on low heat, stirring periodically for about three to five minutes, the mixture will thicken.

• Grease an eight-inch square cake pan and then pour in the mixture and spread evenly. Sprinkle all the ingredients for the topping evenly and press in with the back of a spoon.

• Once the mixture has completely cooled and set, cut into squares. Remove from the cake pan and place on a serving dish.

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Vaisakhi Recipes

Cabbage

Curry

By Jasmine Daya

A recipe that I have grown to love more as an adult when I’m looking for a vegetarian meal. Flavourful and best served with paratha or chapati.

Ingredients • 2 tbsps oil • 1 tsp fenugreek seeds • 1 tsp mustard seeds • 1 tbsp canned crushed tomato • ½ tsp ground coriander • ¼ tsp ground cumin

• ½ tsp pureed garlic • ¼ tsp red chili powder (optional) • 1 tsp salt • ¼ tsp turmeric • ½ cup water • 5 cups thinly sliced cabbage

Preparation • Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the fenugreek seeds and mustard seeds.

• Once the mustard seeds pop, add all the remaining ingredients except the water, cabbage and cilantro. Stir together to create a paste and then add the water and stir to combine.

• Add the cabbage and stir to combine. Cover and let cook for about five to seven minutes.

Add freshly chopped cilantro and serve.

• ¼ cup freshly chopped cilantro

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Vaisakhi Recipes

Pera

By Jasmine Daya

Similar to burfi but with the addition of saffron that creates a deeper color and flavor.

Ingredients • ½ cup unsalted butter • ¾ cup sugar • 1 ¼ cups evaporated milk • 1 tsp ground cardamom • 1/8 tsp saffron • 2 ½ cups milk powder

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Preparation • In a large pot over low to medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add the sugar and stir to combine.

• Add the evaporated milk and stir to combine. Add the ground cardamom and saffron and stir to combine.

• Once the mixture is boiling, add the milk powder and stir continuously. After about 10-15 minutes, the mixture will have thickened and deepened in color.

Remove the pot from heat and let cool.

• Once cooled, take one tablespoon of the mixture

and roll into a ball using the palms of your hands and then flatten to half inch thickness. Place on a tray.

Repeat until all the mixture is used.

• If desired, press sliced almonds in the center or imprint a pattern of choice on top. Let set and then place on a serving dish.

~Wishing you a very Happy Vaisakhi~

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Vaisakhi Recipes

By Chef Sanjeev Kapoor

Maa Choleyan di

Daal

Ingredients

Preparation

• 2/3 cup split black gram with skin (chilkewali urad dal), soaked for 4 hours

• Heat a pressure cooker.

Drain and add split black gram, split Bengal gram, salt, turmeric powder and four cups water and mix. Close the cooker with the lid and cook under pressure on low heat till four histles are given out.

• ¼ cup split Bengal gram (chana dal), soaked for 4 hours • Salt to taste • ¼ tsp turmeric powder • 1 large onion • 1 large tomato • 1½ inch ginger piece • 5-6 garlic cloves • 2 tbsps pure ghee • ¼ tsp asafoetida (hing) • 1 tsp red chilli powder • ½ tsp garam masala powder

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• Finely chop onion, tomato and ginger. Roughly chop garlic.

• Heat ghee in a non-stick pan, add onion, garlic and ginger and sauté for two minutes. Add asafoetida and tomatoes and continue to sauté till fragrant.

• When the pressure is completely reduced, open the lid of the cooker and lightly mash the grams.

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor Sanjeev Kapoor is the go-to chef for everything. Not surprising then that he figured in the Reader’s Digest list of 100 of India’s Most Trusted people. His easy demeanour, cheerful commentary and simple instructions make the most seemingly difficult dishes look easy to prepare. His popularity and contribution to Indian cuisine is such that the Government of India conferred on him the National award of “Best Chef of India.”

• Add red chilli powder and garam masala powder to the pan and mix well.

• Add a little cooked grams to the pan and mix well. Add this mixture to the grams remaining in the pressure cooker and cook till the grams are completely soft and creamy.

• Transfer into a serving bowl and serve hot with paranthe.

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Vaisakhi Recipes

Brown Rice

Ingredients • ¼ cup brown rice, soaked for 2-3 hours and drained • 1 tbsp oil • 1 cup finely chopped walnuts • 4 ½ cups milk • A pinch of green cardamom powder • 1 cup grated jaggery

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Phirni

By Chef Sanjeev Kapoor

Preparation • Grind brown rice with three to four tablespoons of water to a coarse mixture.

• Add jaggery and mix well and cook, stirring continuously, till the jaggery melts.

• Heat oil in a non-stick pan, add walnuts and sauté till lightly browned. Add three and half cups of milk, green cardamom powder and mix well. Add ground rice and mix well. Cook, stirring continuously, till the mixture thickens.

• Add remaining milk, mix well and cook, stirring continuously, till the mixture thickens. Transfer the phirni into a serving bowl and serve warm.

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Web: www.canwesthomes.com 2021 VAISAKHI

Vaisakhi Recipes

Dry Fruit

Ingredients • 1½ cups thick yogurt • 1 tbsp chopped pistachios + as required • 6-8 raisins + for garnishing • 1 tbsp chopped almonds + for garnishing • Honey as required • 3 tbsps powdered sugar • 1 tsp saffron water • ¼ tsp green cardamom powder • 2 tbsps milk • 1 tbsp fresh cream

Lassi

By Chef Sanjeev Kapoor

Preparation • Spread two tablespoons of pistachios on a plate.

mixture using an electric hand blender.

• Apply some honey on the rim of a tall serving glass.

Place each glass inverted in the plate to coat the rim.

• Pour the lassi in the prepared glass, put cream and serve chilled garnished with some almonds, raisins, pistachios and saffron strands.

• Combine yogurt, powdered sugar, one tablespoon of pistachios, six to eight raisins, one tablespoon of almonds, saffron water, cardamom powder, milk in a blender jar and blend into smooth

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Vaisakhi Recipes

Hariyali Paneer Tikka

By Chef Sanjeev Kapoor

Ingredients

• ½ tsp dried fenugreek powder

• 400 gms cottage cheese (paneer)

• 1 tbsp fresh cream

• ½ medium bunch fresh mint leaves • ½ medium bunch fresh coriander leaves • 1 tbsp oil + for greasing • 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) • 1 tsp caraway seeds (shahi jeera) • 2 green chillies • 8-10 cashew nuts • 1 tbsp gram flour (besan) • 2 tbsps yogurt • 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste • ¼ tsp turmeric powder • ½ tsp garam masala powder • 1 tsp chaat masala

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• 2 tsps sesame oil

• Mix together ground paste, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, dried fenugreek powder, chaat masala, sesame oil and cream in a bowl. Add salt and mix well.

• Apply some marinade to the cottage cheese cubes. Add mixed • 1½ cups mixed capsicum cubes capsicum cubes to the remaining marinade and mix till well (red, green and yellow) coated.

• Salt to taste

Preparation

• To prepare marinade, heat oil in a non-stick pan. Add cumin seeds and sauté till it changes colour. Add caraway seeds, broken green chillies and cashewnuts and sauté for one minute.

• Add gram flour and sauté for one minute. Add chopped mint leaves and chopped coriander leaves and mix well.

• Grind the mint leaves mixture along with two tablespoons of yogurt into a smooth paste.

• Insert one marinated green capsicum cube, one cottage cheese cube, one red capsicum cube, one yellow capsicum cube, one more cottage cheese cube and one green capsicum cube in each skewer.

• Heat a non-stick grill pan and grease with some oil. Place the prepared skewers and fry from all sides till golden brown. Serve hot.

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Vaisakhi Recipes

Sarson da

Saag

Ingredients

• 1 kg fresh mustard leaves (sarson ke patte) • 200 gms fresh spinach leaves (palak) • 100 gms bathua • Salt to taste • 2 medium onions • 2 inch ginger • 8-10 garlic cloves • 3-4 green chillies • 4 tbsps ghee • 2 tbsps cornmeal (makai ka atta)

By Chef Sanjeev Kapoor

Preparation • Roughly chop mustard leaves, spinach leaves and bathua together.

• Add onions, garlic and ginger to the ghee in the second pan and sauté till light brown and fragrant.

Add green chillies and the greens. Mix well and cook.

• Heat ¼ cup water in a non-stick pan, add the chopped leaves and a little salt and let them cook.

• Add cornmeal and mix and cook till the mixture blends well and thickens. Add the remaining ghee and mix.

• Finely chop onions, ginger, garlic and green chillies.

• Transfer into a serving bowl, place a dollop of white butter on top and serve hot.

• Heat three tablespoons of ghee in another non-stick pan. Add ¼ cup water to the leaves cooking in the other pan and blend with a hand blender.

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Ser ving Yo

u Since

1981

H arin der S. Toor

“ Wishing you and your family a very Happy Vaisakhi” 6635 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5X 3H3 Tel: 604.322.5502 Cell: 604.649.6265 Fax: 604.322.5802 email: info@punjabfoodcenter.com www.punjabfoodcenter.com 2021 VAISAKHI 103

REFLECTIONS

The names Singh & Kaur were first formally given to the Sikhs when the tenth Guru created the Khalsa order in 1699, during the annual festival of Vaisakhi.

What is in a

Name?

B

eing a Sikh, names distinguish us as a community: the name Singh identifies Sikh men, and Kaur identifies Sikh women. Both are used either as a middle name or surname and originate from words associated with royalty, which denote a princely status. These names were first formally given to Sikhs when the tenth Guru created the Khalsa order in 1699, during the annual festival of

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Vaisakhi. They are seen as a gift from him and carry an almost epic quality.

When you understand that time was one of severe oppression and denial of basic rights, Sikh names affirmed that human life is precious and worthy of dignity.

For Sikhs, sovereignty also means that true rule must be founded on compassion for people, and the courage to uphold just values. This was also a reason for Sikhs to wear a princely

turban and carry a small sword or kirpan, a reminder that humanity must be cherished.

Singh and Kaur are also a way to distinguish gender because Sikh first names are unisex; and are taken from scripture and reflect an aspect of the Divine: Jagdeep is ‘light of the world’; Amrit is ‘sacred nectar’, Balvir is ‘Brave Hero’, Dayal is ‘Compassionate One’ and Satnam is ‘True Name’. Therefore, names we give and use are subconscious tools for us to deepen and broaden the mind, and to live in an inspired way.

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AMBIENCE

LIGHTING

Happy Vaisakhi We carry the best and latest styles of lighting fixtures & mirrors for all your interior needs.

Quality Products at Best Prices!

#23-13260 78 Ave. Surrey, BC V3W 0H6

T: 604.503.3350

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INTERIOR DESIGN STAGING RENOVATION LANDSCAPING

INTERIOR DESIGN & LICENSED BUILDER CONTACT PAUL OR PENNY: 106

604-418-8651 604-716-9658 2021 VAISAKHI

E: lpdesigners@gmail.com

Nishan Sahib

N

ishan is the Sikh word for flag. The nishan is raised and flown at every Sikh Gurdwara in a prominent spot at the highest point of the property when possible. The flag is made from two colours.

Colours used range from yellow to deep orange and royal to grayish blue. Most popular is the Sikh coat of arms in deep blue set onto a bright orange background. The colour scheme is sometimes seen reversed. The flag pole is often covered by a cloth of the same colour as the flag background.

The emblem symbolizes a khanda . Atop the flag pole is either the representation of a double-edged sword or a spear head.

Symbolism of the flag Two seven-feet high flags from the temple are taken down and washed in milk. This symbolises the value and importance the flags and the temple have within the community. The flags reflect the temple’s aim to provide food, shelter and spiritual energy. The

flags are then wrapped in new cloth before being re-hoisted.

Colour analysis

As subtle beings we are affected by many things, one of these is colour. The colours of the clothes we wear, the food we eat, and those we see in our environment all have an affect on our emotions and well-being. Below are some meanings of the Khalsa colours from a colour therapy perspective, exploring the many ways in which they influence us as Sikhs in our personal and spiritual development.

The colour yellow has to do with our sense of self, our identity who we are. It brings forth the emotions of happiness and joy.

Yellow is most strongly associated

with the brain and mental faculties, giving rise to focus and clarity of thought, it is helpful to learning and the gathering of knowledge.

In general terms, knowing your direction and what you are doing in life.

Blue is a beautiful colour, seen in the healing water of Sarovars (pools) of Sikh Gurdwaras. It nurtures faith and trust. Blue is the colour of peace. It supports the development of verbal communication skills. Royal Blue is the colour of sensitivity. The deep blue of the night sky during Amrit Vela enhances intuition, resulting in deeper thoughts and insights.

It is the colour of honesty and of being reliable. Presence and authority are other qualities inspired by this colour.

Orange appears in the form of our Nishan Sahibs, the cholas worn

by Panj Pyare and Sikh turbans.

This is the colour of deep joy and bliss. It absorbs shocks, nasty experiences, and trauma. It is about letting go of what holds us back or what is not helpful. Orange is the colour of connection, a sense of community, belonging and social aspects of being.

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

Vaisakhi Activities for

By Maneet Bhamra

Any festival is an opportunity for the parents to connect their kids to their native culture.

KiDS

F

estivals are all about celebrations, cultural bonding, and togetherness.

And when it comes to a colourful festival like Vaisakhi, the list of recreational activities is neverending. Children usually are most excited when it comes to festive celebrations as it is the time they can freely play, eat, and have loads of fun.

Any Indian festival is an opportunity for the parents to

connect their kids to their native culture. Majority of the immigrants feel that their kids growing on a foreign land are bereft of the culture that was passed to them by their parents and grandparents. Here are a few activities for kids that not only provide enjoyment but are also great for cultural bonding among families.

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

Photo: Gurumustuk Singh

Visiting Gurudwara As Vaisakhi is a Thanksgiving Day, it is pertinent to make the little ones visit Gurudwara and have langar and do seva as it will implant a humble attitude within them right from a very tender age.

Understanding Gurbani It makes kids familiarize with the principles of life, inculcating a strong foundation of moral values.

Talking about Vaisakhi It is very important to keep the kids educated and informed about the festival. Explaining the significance and reason for celebrating Vaisakhi triggers the logical and emotional bonding with one’s culture.

Learn kirtan A contemporary research says that music is a magic potion for calmness and works like a natural anxiety antidote. Kirtan is one of the traditional methods that if practiced right from childhood can bring the same results and create a wonderful balanced being.

Reading books on Vaisakhi It is always good to instill good reading habits among kids.

Gaining knowledge by reading festival-oriented books is a constructive way to keep the child busy and at the same time informed about the festival.

Dress up in traditional attire Indians, and especially Punjabis, love dressing up in bright clothes and ornaments.

This love for dressing can be shared with the children too by dressing them in traditional attire.

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

Get creative Festivals are the best time to let the kids get creative. Teaching them traditional handmade art like making phulkaris and crochet can be a lot of fun. Kids love drawing and painting as it acts as a window to their imagination. Making Vaisakhi greetings is another way to indulge the kids in the celebration.

Katha (literary composition) Planting a tree Vaisakhi is symbolic of good harvest and prosperity. Thus, a habit of planting trees around can be another fun and social activity for kids.

Kite Flying A fun, entertaining activity that can involve the family and relatives.

An Indian-style religious story telling that is an excellent opportunity for grandparents to share their knowledge of the religion and festival among their grandkids and strengthen the bond between them.

Helping out in traditional cooking It is always nice to help parents in household chores, especially on festivals when special and favourite dishes are being prepared.

Vaisakhi is one of the best times to teach children about the historic and cultural significance of their indigenous culture and strengthen the cultural bonding. The activities bring them closer to their roots. It gives shape to their identity, builds a connection to their cultural background, and gives happiness to the parents and grandparents.

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L a k h L a k h Va d h a i ya n !

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Vaisakhi Word Search

Try to find the words hidden in the puzzle below!

Sikhism Festival Gurdwara Khalsa Amrit Baisakhi Punjab Bhangra Worship

Clues

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sp c ng h w zq sb c Keski h gKara l i eSikh b r t n s Kaur py kx s Find Identical Kirpaans Join the dots Singh g g j k Nitnem s r sBaana s m e Kanga n t i nKirtan v i h Kanga's g Khanda l i and e b r Find Identical Kirpaans How many Kirpaan Kachera Singh Kara Sikh Keski Kaur A Clead R SSimran S his way D Kara's O W N can find? sWord ryou s Search sKirtan m e n ppath Sehajwill Singh toOfind to Kaur Nitnem Baana Kanga 1.Special undergarment, drawers or briefs resembling boxer Baani together Simran 5.A short swordwith or knife carried

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15.This means eternal Nectar 16.Place of origin of Sikhism

Find Identical Kirpaans

Find Kids Activities & More:

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14.A formal Sikh prayer recited at the conclusion of a service or ceremony.

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12.The term is also used as a collective description of the Sikh community

11.Popular folk dance of Punjab

8.A devotee of God.

7. All female members of the Sikh community Adopted ''this' as their last name to abolish the caste system and establish human equality.

2.The word of God.

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Kara's can you find?

Nitnem Baana Kanga Kirt Kirpaan Kachera Khanda 4.To serve your community

6.The name for God meaning 'Wonderful Lord'.

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VAISAKHI FEATURE

T

he word ‘Guru’ in Sanskrit means teacher, religious person or saint. However, in Sikhism, ‘Guru’ refers to the descent of divine guidance to humankind provided by the ten enlightened masters. These ten Sikh Gurus founded the religion, starting in 1469 with Guru Nanak and ending with Guru Gobind Singh in 1708. After that, it refers to the Sikh Holy Scriptures as Guru Granth Sahib. The Gurus are widely regarded as the embodiment of one guiding light which passed from one Guru to the next, and which now resides in the Holy Scriptures. The order of the ten enlightened Gurus is as follows:

Order of the

Sikh Gurus

Guru Nanak Dev (1469 to 1539)

Founder of Sikh faith; apostle of peace, unity and true infinite; possessed divinity and religious authority; first Guru of modern thinkers in India; created Langar, free kitchen, for all people; teachings are in the Guru Granth Sahib; his philosophies and teachings were enlightened for his time, he criticized the social, political and religious injustices; advocated for equality between men and women; instructed disciples to face and tackle oppression, he knew this couldn’t be accomplished in his lifetime, so he appointed the practice of successors to lead Sikhs in their spiritual mission

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Guru Angad Dev (1504 to 1582) Compiled the biography of Guru Nanak Dev; introduced Gurmukhi script, medium of writing the Punjabi language; opened schools to educate children; started Mall Akhara, physical and spiritual exercises

Guru Amar Das (1479 to 1574) Social reformer; removed caste, colour distinction and stigma of untouchables; strengthened Langar on basis of equality; introduced Anand Karaj marriage ceremony; abolished Sati and custom of Paradah

Guru Ram Das (1534 to 1581) Organized the structure of Sikh society; contributed 688 shabads to Granth; planner/creator of Ramdaspur (Amritsar) and designed the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple); founder of sacred Sarovar; author of Lavaa, the hymns of marriage rites

Guru Arjan Dev (1563 to 1606) Completed construction of Amritsar, founded Taran Taran and Kartarpur; collected works of first four Gurus, dictated works into verses for Adi Granth compilation, the only script that still exists in the form first published, a hand-written manuscript; organized Masand ‘missionary’ system

Guru Har Gobind (1595 to 1644) Wore two swords of Miri-Piri – one represented spiritual authority, while the other temporal; built the Akal Takht (Throne of the Almighty); excelled in matters of the state; built an army with trained horsemen; martial artist and hunter; built fortress at Amritsar called Lohgarh (Fortress of Steel)

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Guru Har Rai (1630 to 1661) Known for his compassion of life and living things – instead of killing animals, placed them in his zoo; continued military traditions started by grandfather Guru Har Gobind, maintained cavalry of 2,200 soldiers; established ayurvedic hospital and research center at Kiratpur Sahib

Guru Har Krishan (1656 to 1664) Guru Har Rai named five-year-old Har Krishan to succeed him as the next Guru, rather than his elder son Ram Rai, who was in favour with Aurangzeb and the Mughal Empire; helped heal the sick and in doing so, contracted smallpox and passed away at the age of seven

Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621 to 1675) Youngest son of Guru Har Gobind; created city of Chakk Nanaki, which later became Anandpur Sahib; contributed hymns to Guru Granth Sahib, including Saloks (Mahal 9); responsible for saving Kashmiri Pandits from Mughal persecution; Aurangzeb issued order for Guru’s arrest, was held for three months and tortured until he would accept Islam; he refused and was martyred at Chandni Chowk

Guru Gobind Singh (1666 to 1708) Succeeded father Guru Tegh Bahadur at age nine; was a warrior, poet and philosopher; created the Khalsa Panth in 1699 – the Panj Pyare were the first baptised Sikhs; declared the Guru Granth Sahib as his successor, and living Guru for Sikhs; his writings and poems were compiled in volume called Dasam Granth; recited the line “Waheguru ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji Ki Fateh,” which is an important religious verse included in the daily prayer of Sikhs

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Sikhism is the universal world religion with the message of ‘One God’ for all men. It is a relatively new religion with practical approach founded by Guru Nanak Dev ji in the 15th century. All Sikh Gurus gave one fundamental teaching that God is one and he is the supreme truth. He is the creator, preserver and destroyer of the universe.

The 10 Gurus promoted universal brotherhood and taught mankind the importance of living in the world while attaining liberation. In their sacred scriptures, they set three golden rules for their followers – Kirt Karni, Naam Japna and Vand Shakna.

Kirt Karni Refers to working hard and earning an honest and truthful living. The Gurus wanted their Sikhs to be loyal and avoid cheating and lying.

Naam Japna Means meditation on God’s name. Meditations keeps one truthful, humble and in high spirits. Be absorbed in the beauty of the creator. Naam japna is a stateof-mind, in which an individual aligns with the creator’s energy and becomes in touch with the infinite.

Vand Shakna Means to share, and Sikhs should share their earnings with those in need, thus they are expected to donate their surplus into a separate treasury so it can be used to help the needy. According to the Sikh religion, every individual should contribute 1/10th (also called daswandh) of his income for such projects.

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