July/August Issue 2018

CANADA’S SOUTH ASIAN & MULTICULTURAL LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Cover

Convenient Comfort Foods with a Global Taste

yournanaskitchen.com We can now be found at all the major Grocery Stores in BC!

Nana’s Kitchen likes to excite and delight their customers with their Gourmet Samosas.

In every bit of Nana’s Gourmet Samosa, you are going to get a hardy helping of filling that will be bursting with different vegetables and meat, not just potatoes and pastry.

We dare you to Taste the Difference!

FROM THE PUBLISHER I would like to acknowledge and commend staff and Volunteers for their hard work and dedication to both the AAJ Media group and the community. It is with their efforts that AAJ has been established as a Media group. We are entering a new phase of expansion that will prove to be crucial step for the Media group and the public. My partners Jatinder Jay Minhas, Jassi Saggi Bhinda and Channi Minhas has worked tirelessly over the year to establish the AAJ Media group.

Their forth coming, innovated ideas and contributions has assist in the direction and focus of the Media group. The AAJ Media Group encompasses different platforms such as television, radio, Magazine, YouTube, Social Media and Community events.

I am pleased to announce our new African and AAJ on location programing on Shaw Multicultural programing starting in September 2018. Our on-going program, “The Raga Experience� will be moving into the 1-hour slot starting September as well. Our 24/7 IPTV network has been recognized across the globe and we have received very positive feedback on our programing. I am forever grateful to Nina Buddhdev for all her efforts and hard work. I would like to acknowledge and thank Sharanjit Singh Mand and Gaitry Kaul for doing such a wonderful job as Hosts on the Raga Experience Program.I am very pleased with the direction and success of our Media group and thank everyone who has supported AAJ since 1997.

Suki Pangalia CEO

REGIONAL TEAM P: 604.590.0007 E: info@aajmag.ca AAJ Media Group Surrey, BC

ISSN 2371-2481

AAJ Magazine is published by AAJ Media Group, doing business as AAJ Magazine Inc. AAJ is a magazine that is published every two months. Any reproduction of the magazine, editorial content, images or advertisements cannot be reproduced or reprinted in any form, without written permission of the Publishers. The views expressed by the writers in this publication are not the views of the Publishers or AAJ Media Group. The Publishers assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Copyright 2018 AAJ Magazine Incorporated. All rights reserved.

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Publishers Suki Pangalia Jim Kalsi Executive Assistant Reshma Mohammed General Manager Yosof Hakimi Editorial Narges N. Dr.Suman Alex Sangha Rupa Gopinath Patrick Walsh Almas Meherally Nina Buddhdev Imtiaz Popat

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Thank you Jim Kalsi Kshitija Kekal Jay Minhas Sarah Zafar Cover Credit Jay Nair Paarull Communica- Aziz Ladha tions Ltd. Nasimah Nastoh Sanya Dhingra Advertising and Geeta Dhingra Sales Sarah Uppal Suki Pangalia Jas Kooner Navkiran Brar Kelly Uppal Nina Buddhdev Photography Gaitry Kaul Aziz Ladha Patrick Walsh Qamrul M. Images Credits Aman Boparai Gill Aziz Ladha Rosy Mann Unsplash Pexels AAJ Television Executive Producers: Channi Singh Jasminder B. Suki Pangalia

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CINI 2018

32 Cover Story Perminder Chohan - Making a Difference One Step at a Time

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The Raga Experience

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The Purpose of Life

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Bridging Two Nations & a Billion Hearts Together - CINI 2018

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Ricky Kej

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It[s Time for the World’s Faiths to Embrase and Accept Gays & Lesbians

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Policing in Surrey A Key Election Issue

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Pandit Jasraj School

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Indian Summer Festival 2018

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Body Language Techniques

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India Gate Restaurant

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Shen Yun

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40 RICKY KEJ PROFILE

8 PERMINDER CHOHAN

46 POLICING A KEY ELECTION ISSUE

THE RAGA EXPERIENCE

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COVER STORY

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“If I can change my life and come this far, it is possible for everyone to do it .”

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ARTS

TODAY FEATURE

THE

RAGA

EXPERIENCE

MOTIVATED BY FRIENDSHIPS, CARE & COURAGE OF CONVICTION.

EVENT REVIEW AND SHARED PERSPECTIVES BY, NINA BUDDHDEV

Greetings! In this feature article, I share with you some reflections, reviews and forward updates from the ‘The Raga Experience’…. I am confident Aaj readers shall seek to establish a worthwhile blueprint for continued dialogues being vital contributors to our sectorial revolution.

First, let us hook your read of this Aaj Arts feature article with an introduction to Sitarist, Sharanjeet Singh Mand. If you don’t already know Sharanjeet Singh Mand, where on Earth have you been!

Well, let’s offer you an earthling intro…..

BC-based Sharanjeet is a sitarist, surbahar artiste, pianist, poet, Indian Classical music teacher, composer, and performer from northern India. He has trained under the guidance of his Guru, Pandit Harvinder Sharma Ji who is due to visit Vancouver in August this year.

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PANDIT HARVINDER SHARMA GURU OF SHARANJEET SINGH MAND Harvinder ji will be here for a series of events with Sharanjeet bhai, and for a special concert hosted by our community pillar, Mr Kamal Sharma. Kamal ji is glad to announce a ‘revival’ for arts with KVP Heritage.

Guru of Sharanjeet. Pandit Harvinder Sharma is one of the most respected and proficient Sitar maestros today and a disciple of Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan of Imadadkhani Gharana.

We see such sentiments translated in his teaching, ethics, virtues for younger creators.

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SHARANJEET SINGH MAND For those of you who do not know, may I please brag just a little about the humble charm we have in town…..

Sharanjeet is a profiled musician for the CBC Raga series, and he is an Aaj Media host for ‘The Raga Experience’. A profile series is coming to Shaw Multicultural Channel produced by Aaj Media Group.

Peek a boo: The Raga Experience goes live on July 10th. The weekly program goes live on July 10th, 2018. Airtimes: Tuesdays at 9pm PST & Fridays at 8:30am PST. Shaw Multicultural channel location: channel 4 in Metro Vancouver and channel 10 in Calgary on Shaw Cable TV. **(read on for more info)

Sharanjeet is a graduate in Western Classical music from Douglas College, and he has formally studied the fine authenticity of Indian Classical music with his Guru, Pt. Harvinder Sharma of the Etawah Gharana.

Can you believe it, he is among the youngest generation of the Vilayatkhani discipline of sitar playing? Yes, he is! And I understand, he is the youngest Surbahar player on this side of the pond…..Sharanjeet holds many accolades and is recognized as the first-ever sitarist to render the opera “Ave Maria”. He is known fondly for offering his first performance at the age of sixteen at the Mother Teresa Homage Concert in India where he evinced his passion.

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Straight from our hearts: We thank Sharanjeet bhai for trusting me to orchestrate ‘The Raga Experience’ around his precious creative practice and reciprocating his honest appreciations. We thank him for having the resolve to accept and attend to feedback, meet tasks & make an investment of self with no agenda or duplicity. We all find great fulfilment in his successes, and we feel privileged to contribute towards an artiste advancement.

As an educationalist, he has given talks, recitals, and lecture demos at many cultural events and institutions including the noteworthy, University of the Fraser Valley, Culture Days ‘Traditional India Series’ in 2015, and recently at the Jalsaghar Gallery in Portland. With his elevated spirit, Sharanjeet has raised the curtain for a collective approach to Indian classical music with an engagement at provincial and national festivals who seek his lead. Sharanjeet is currently working on a curricula project for Douglas College, and he has been recruited as the first Indian classical musician for a professional artist in residency commencing in 2019 with a reputed French Canadian cultural arts centre. As an artist in residence, he will present a week of Indian classical music classes for the arts centre’s official music program. If you have not already done so, I bring your attention to read and hear his CBC interview: http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1182518851842/ AAJ MAGAZINE

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The concept for ‘The Raga Experience’ was awarded by the 2018 Juno Host committee, Music BC and Creative BC earlier this year Sharanjeet presented a recital of Sitar with Tabla accompaniment by student, Hriday, for a provincial Indian classical music presented as a part of the 2018 Junos Campaign.

The objectives of this project were to give importance to our community inspirators, spotlight excellence, inspire self-driven participation, advocate for education, and accurately represent the diversity of Asian heritage arts as an integral part of our creative economy. The project proposal was welcomed and commissioned by Let’s Hear It BC, 2018 Juno Host Committee with support from Music BC and Creative BC. ‘The Raga Experience’ recital was staged at Surrey Centre Stage in March earlier this year…. It certainly proved worthy of our burning of midnight oil and riding the broomstick at all hours! The community attendance made for it to be a laudable success. Our hearty appreciations……

As subtle as the recital was, it owned its’ efficacy because of the warmth, hospitality and celebration of relationships. It acted as a launchpad for continuing ideas, with an intentional leadership plan. This strategy has served critical impact and is marking entry onto meaningful media platforms, residency programs and thought processes which ignite and assure new risks to be taken by those are ready to invest and be, invested in.

‘This project was yet another obstinate push achieved with new approaches, persistence & resilience to adversities. This is primarily why it holds its merit as a positively influential springboard recognised by industry leaders.

The concept, as proposed many months back, was to encapsulate the cross-generational value for heritage disciplines to profiling established Indian Classical musicians with student accompanists as the redefinition of identities. Thus, complimenting the students’ growth, preservation of cultural pride and praising their love of learning to learn as future carriers of the baton.

As parents before anything else, we were honoured to have our son, Hriday invited by Sharanjeet bhai to participate as the student accompanist for ‘The Raga Experience’. Hriday has presented the opportunity to bring the exceptional Talim gifted to his inquisitive nature, by his Tabla teacher, Shri Sunny Matharu. The pure sentiments which escorted his participation brought forward the inspirations, collected guide, mentorship, musicianship, variables and insights from the entire cultural community as a whole….so be it, in attendance or spirit, YOU, the community carried the event…. And we applaud that.

Sharanjeet and Hriday looked rather adorable together, with their true brotherly, affection & mischief coming to play!

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HRIDAY BUDDHDEV

Hriday has learned Tabla for nine years, principally with Shri Sunny Bhai Matharu & earlier years, with Shri Parthasarathy Mukherjee & Shri Jaspal Randhawa. He has also been learning Sarode for the past four years, and he feels the Tabla Talim helps him to understand rhythmic interplays and layakari that are prominent in Indian Classical Music. He began the study of Sarode with UBC’s Dr Thomas Hunter, who lovingly initiated his interest and steered Hridays learning of Senia Maihar Gharana style of Sarode. Hriday learns from Shri Alam Khan of the Ali Akhbar College of Music and recently he has been awarded a scholarship from the college to pursue deeper Talim of Sarode with Guru, Alam Khan. This summer, Hriday is also invited to take part in a student presentation at the Festival of Tabla. Here, he will present pieces of his musical learning from his teachers in the presence of Gurujans and dedicated music attendees.

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At the Raga experience, we welcomed the committed attendance of key industry members from our arts & culture sector, kindred colleagues from the musical genre community and media representatives, who all graced the occasion as a celebration for shared pride, faith and gratitude.

We were all delighted to have Brenda Leadley, Executive Director of the BC Alliance for Arts and Culture who opened the event and shared with us some important news for our sector. She had also learnt some intro lines from her husband! A very big thank you to Nanak Foods for spoiling us with the happily presented reception, which was offered with smiles & the affectionate spirit of giving. Surrey’s Shahnaz Rahimtulla played a key and selfless role in generating South Asian media interest and reaching out to surrey audiences, simply for her belief in the law of the harvest & her love for artistes, music and community.

All in all, we shared value for relationships to be warm, genuine, hospitable, accepting and nurturing, what could be more essential and fulfill-

About Aaj Media productions for Shaw TV: ‘The Raga Experience’ is the first series featuring Indian Classical Profiles on Shaw Multicultural Channel, with hosts, Gaitry Kaul & Sharanjeet Singh Mand. This ongoing series of 30-minute shows is a weekly Indian Classical Arts show with sketch profiles, performances, on location interviews & candid conversations. The weekly program goes live on July 10th, 2018. Airtimes are Tuesdays at 9 pm PST & Fridays at 8:30 am PST. The location is channel 4 in Metro Vancouver and channel 10 in Calgary on Shaw Cable TV. https://www.shaw.ca/ ShawTV/Multicultural/

As we strive to further the cause, ‘The Raga Experience’ has already paved a meritorious path for progressive outcomes. I am pleased to share that we have charted our genre with industry initiatives to advance the excellence we have in Canada and inspire reciprocity from artistes to join the movement and help everyone get ahead as they vision for themselves in association with the world.

We are warmed to see the interest, cooperation and passion for such projects, thank you! Our hearty congrats to everyone…..you all make such projects worth its merit which in turn unleashes the power of our sectorial presence across Canada. The contagion effect of ‘The Raga Experience’ has precipitated much curiosity from industry funders and media channels like CBC, South Asian Media, Music Canada Initiatives and the National heritage arts sector. And so, we have a series running on CBC with Sheryl MacKay, and a series on Shaw TV produced by the Aaj Media group. Let us cheer you on…..connect with Gaitry & Sharanjeet for an interview.

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THE AIM of the Aaj media series is to provide continuity to reinforce a system which may redefine identities, speak to the representatives of heritage arts to endure and evolve. As we shine the spotlight on YOU & this growing creative sector, we shall bring a focus to the vital role of our living traditions which speak for Canada’s diversity.

Our learned hosts, Gaitry & Sharanjeet, seek to discover your unique essence for social, cultural and economic impact on our collective divergent experiences with attuned and sensitive relationships of the affective domain.

The aim of the AAJ MEDIA series is to provide continuity to reinforce a system which may redefine identities, speak to the representatives of heritage arts to endure and evolve. As we shine the spotlight on YOU & this growing creative sector, we shall bring a focus to the vital role of our living traditions which speak for Canada’s diversity. Our learned hosts, Gaitry & Sharanjeet, seek to discover your unique essence for social, cultural and economic impact on our collective divergent experiences with attuned and sensitive relationships of the affective domain.

Gaitry Kaul, Aaj Media Host Gaitry is a Swar Yogi and she has trained in Indian Classicla music with expansive research, knowledge & experience in Indin & in Canada.

We are expecting to have all artists to enjoy this journey; we invite musicians, dancers, visual artists, writers and literary creatives of traditional arts with upcoming events/performances to be our artiste in focus for SMC. Connect with your desired hosts, Gaitry ji and Sharanjeet to schedule your studio interview and on location coverage.

Our collective approach thus far has certainly spurred on the proactivity among our culture-specific creative sector with an assortment of events popping up around us by groups and individuals.

As we move forward‌. our advocacy is set to continue with forthcoming artiste focused projects; a media series of more productions, recording projects & live national pilots with international exchange. ‌..

With a rise in interest for Indian Classical arts collaborative and partnering dialogues are indeed taking shape, mindsets shifting to more accepting paradigms. Established festivals and projects are reaching out to embrace the community leaders, and the wider cultural sector is acknowledging the quiet beauty which thrives embedded in our living traditions.

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As a community, we are certainly committed to pushing toward a yet unimagined future that connects our music with our wellbeing, social responsibilities, our institutions, our communities, our audiences, and to each other. As we nurture the development of risk-takers and change-makers, thought leaders, and critical thinkers, we all in our capacities are advocating for shifts. We expect accurate representation, interpretation of our heritage art forms with accountability, evaluation & honest engagement. Hence, we are all doing the same job! I see a rise of proactivity, articulation of creativity and copy-activity!!

Many artists & leaders ask me about grants, well, most grants are awarded only to claw back as venue rental fees, this system has never made sense to me. The grants system often becomes a lengthy laborious, demoralising affair with paperwork and committees, which is often tiresome for the already under-resourced groups, and individuals running on dehydrated passion alone. Mosker at the Studio Bell, NMC got this, and he was gracious in his follow through to my interpretative plans, which brought the NMC programming & presentation investment for Calgary’s representation of ICM.

So, as proven, venue and collective partnerships is the key to REALLY working in collaboration, making our artists feel Let us be bold enough to be told, ‘there is only TRULY special while validating years of selfless service givdifferent, not better than!’ Its time to get creative en by community groups who make their Cities & Provincbig time! ‘Its time to come out from behind the es culturally richer for the whole society. clouds.’

On an international scale, The World Culture Summit Behind the scenes: Before and parallel to the advocacy have accepted and awarded an in-depth proposal for the for The Raga Experience, lengthy bridge proposals were focus initiative on ICM to continue and participate in the submitted in 2016 to several organisations across Canada summit as an integral part of the program. The Nimbus including the Studio Bell, National Music Centre in Calgary. School of Recording recently invited Sharanjeet Bhai and With the advocacy support of my fellow board members ICM students to participate in a professional studio audio at the BC Alliance of Arts & Culture, we reached out to the recording experience. The sound engineers loved the opboard chairs of funded organisations In Calgary and Ontar- portunity to learn how to best serve the unique needs of io. In 2016, we proposed a vision for these organisations to instruments like Dilruba, Sitar, Tabla & Sarode. Satpreet, offer their leadership precedence as a backing to their lo- Hriday and Akaljyot attended to the opportunity with excal Indian Classical Music & cultural groups, gaining a win- citement and appreciation. win partnership for discerning programming, qualified diversity and relationships with the heritage arts patrons of their City. Studio Bell, NMC showed their interest to the idea with our regular discussions and revisited dialogues with the CEO and President, Andrew Mosker.

The NMC was keen to landmark their venue for ICM and provide support systems for the Calgary cultural groups to maximise their output and advance their years of admirable work while establishing key community relationships, pride and trust.

We are pleased to have seen these efforts come to fruition for Calgary community groups this year. In my opinion, for community groups to feel supported by funded cultural organisations in their community is key to serve as an honest call to action for inclusion, cultural engagement and diversity policies.

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I congratulate each, and everyone in this community who has in their way touched the very heart of our arts in moving towards our shared reverence to heritage as a homecoming to our sense of rootedness, voicing our profound sensibilities. This is a key time to participate, gather and show solidarity for fellow artists as a collective of BC’s living cultural traditions, that which has been diligently advocated for and has chiselled away for the opportunity.

I truly believe, as conscious and responsible stakeholders of societal assembly, we bear equal value, wherever we may reside, or come from, we must all hold up the advocacy flag to safeguard our traditional natures and strive to rise from compromised service to the cherished virtues of tender heartedness. With the fulfilment of gratitude, protection, faith and pride as our primary measures, we as a community are defining the movement we see before us as the realness of evolving minds, output and creative energy as is carved, upon our own volition.

As we move forward, we hope to inspire our offspring to develop their worldview and creative potential, to live richer, fuller lives, and develop supporting friendships, be true to themselves, become authentic contributors, responsible citizens & uphold our historic arts while respecting that of others. We hope for our young to flower with their intellectual sincerities for the traditions as are lived, exampled, embraced and deservingly questioned in the world today. Culture elevates the quality of life and the well-being of our communities, our many drops in the ocean are THE catalyst for a unified approach to a collective progression.

As I conclude, I must say, if we truly believe in the power of culture & the integrity of our arts, surely, we ought to strive to shelter culture as a dynamic force.

Let us enrich our communities, grow the economy, increase connectivity, and realise potential. Culture is intrinsically valuable and unique in its ability to lift the human spirit, we all know such, so lets breath it, live it and enjoy what is stirring up in the very right direction!! How can we not celebrate and acknowledge the Guru within, the Guru of Foresight and our respective Gurus. Hope everyone had a wonderful Guru Purnima.

I thank you for taking the time to read this review and forward, join us in our continued celebration of our artistes.

Nina Buddhdev Honorary Title, (OCP) Obsessively compulsively passionate.

Recipient of the ‘SAHM’ award.

(Stay at Home Mom) Artist Management by Vois Créatives. “Nurturing beautiful careers & building upon the success of established artists with the expertise in vital areas, intrinsic to the classical arts & our shared values

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HEALTH

L

The Purpose of Life

ife is a spiritual union with Man that encompasses all his activities throughout the cycle of life. If life’s purpose is to survive all attempts for that to happen must be pursued. One would need to have some idea as to why life is surviving and how, if Man is to make any future progress towards his future ideal Goal, Ultimate Survival, defined not just in material terms.

We know that we create the why we are surviving from our own perspective. But in the broader scheme do we really know.

The mystery of how we came to exist and why we are here has always been a sought after goal.

What is for certain Man progresses to the degree he applies sci-

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ence to the universe of self, others, the physical universe and all of life. Man has evolved to be a “cognitive-being,> “The ability to become aware of being aware of knowing how to know answers as a basis of the science of one’s own being and at a cell level”<.

The higher mind of Man has given him the opportunity to reach into the unknown subjective reality of his own existence. The science within has been suppressed from without and Man’s pursuit of knowledge has been thwarted with the ever increasing sinister ideology that Man has no need or potential to study his own mind or spiritual destiny.

The materialistic concept of man however has been adopted as re-

ality and truth. The psychology of the day is that man has only an animal consciousness that resides in the brain and that is the limit of his ability to study or apply himself through his intelligence of the pursuit of knowledge of himself.

With this narrow view of Man he no longer can reach a higher level of survival spiritually with the assistance of the cell.

The evolution of the spiritual essence of life requires a person’s participation to move through each experience as it presents itself to progress to the next level of existence that brings him a step forward and upward toward the ultimate Goal of Life.

Failure to will prevent a person from achieving necessary

knowledge for a person’s benefit in their quest for the answers they are pursuing and to have an increase in survival potential.

Suicide is the act of ending ones progress towards the ultimate goal. One must view the immortality of oneself and living as an opportunity to achieve freedom through the life one is living. Freedom from unawareness of the spirit and Freedom from not knowing that one can know in this life time no matter the conditions we find ourselves in. As long as we can live to be aware and become more aware of who we and others are as a spirit we should seek to survive.

The Middle class of existence has become the standard by which this society ascends to. A middle class society is catered to while others are neglected spiritually ,emotionally ,materially and in many other ways. The political will mainly in nature addresses the issues around Middle class economic resources and toward the center of keeping a government functioning and essentially this group class to manage the status quo.

We need to fully look at the reasons why man is driven into apathy and want to end his life and it’s personal. Everyone has a different story and individual needs to be meant, but the time and efforts are not being put into them to determine what is needed by those that find themselves in a desperate situation. Grouped in classes of illnesses and labelled like sheep they are provided a means to die not survive.

Those that are vulnerable in a society cannot continue to be victimised by an uncaring population indoctrinated into believing all that matters is material gain. The resources of earth can support new life and supply what is needed for those passing through if those resources were not exploited and reserved for a select class of people.

We need new science to evolve and better strategies to managed human life for the highest quality of living available for every human being on earth.

A person from the time life begins to grow and to the end our lives has a purpose. That needs to be We do not get movement away the focus. When we look at the from their primary agenda. If we desperation on the faces of those are truly to look at why the popula- suffering in their last days living tions of the earth are subject to be- with no purpose, it is not because ing wasted we only need to see the it does not exist. It’s because it’s failure to invest in the creation of not just material in nature. We life and its longevity. The resourc- hear of the many years of neglect es of earth including people are that they have gone through used from a capitalistic view not left to lay or sit wasting away befrom a spiritual context where cause it is not economically feaeach being should have a right to sible to invest in their wellbeing. life and prosperity that brings. We must realize that that is our own future if we don’t challenge We have isolated Man into this inhumanity of our humanity. classes that become our value system of how we should The reason one wants to die live together and how long. should not be because they are

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HEALTH isolated alone without love from family friends and in general rejected for being who they are as they are. Millions of children are aborted. Millionsâ&#x20AC;Żmore are subject to drug addicting medications and die on street drugs. Children as young as babies are prescribed psychiatric drugs and left on them only to lose their potential to grow naturally and are subject to abuse as they hit the streets as addicts.

All of these youth and the growing populations of the elderly will prematurely become sick with incurable deceases unable to recover because of a failure to intervene before it is too late.

The answer, taking the life of another before a natural death can occur. The practice of Eugenics is also another growing activity within the medical profession.

Eugenics is the concept to remove those from society no longer useful or capable to produce quality life. It has been studied and practiced in the US and other countries. Today we have a broad sweep

of the human race to suppress populations of all classes considered to be a detriment to others or simply because sharing capital is considered a waist and takes from those who greed for more for themselves and less for others.

Assisted Suicide is awarding death the life of another. That life ceases to be over time and finally neglected and consumed by pain and without purpose a being retreats into an apathy of no return.

But it does not have to be this way and we should do all we can to see that is not. We need to support all efforts by groups who can assist others to live and die with dignity and respect naturally. Pain can be managed with medicine. Medicine however cannot provide love, family, purpose, friendship, support and some might say salvation. We need to do better as a society on these issues and help give life to those that can no longer live up to a materialistic standard.

Patrick Walsh Vancrooner Patrick Walsh is a talented writer using his ability to reach others through poetry, Philosophy and in general articles on any subject in an educational and informative way. His objective is to bring truth as his primary objective in representing others and his own Ideas.

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TODAY

Bridging Two Nations & A Billion Hearts into One CINI 2018

R

arely do we get to see 2 nations coming together with a common goal and virtually working towards a shared vision emphatically for the welfare of not just the states, but creating a Healthy Civil Society. This mammoth task was achieved by one man who conceived the idea of building links between Canada and India through Patient en-

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gagement, Innovation and Technology.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been about an year I had met Dr.Arun Garg, the man behind this magnificent movement called Canada Indian Network Society (CINS), a Non Profit created with a one pointed vision of Wellness for humanity. His noble intentions lead to the one of a kind confer-

ence, Canada India Network Initiative â&#x20AC;&#x201C; CINI which is held every 4 years bringing the best of the both worlds together, not just in in the Health Care, but the policy makers, politicians, administrators, research scientists, Technology experts as we all experts in ancient wisdom practices like Yoga, Meditation and TCM.

CINS has conducted 2 conferences so far, one in 2010, second one in 2014 and now the 3rd conference in 2018.

The location of conference was none other than the Simon Fraser University in the City of Surrey, which is a melting pot of cultures, languages and mindsets.

The conference was spread across 4 days from June 8th till June 11th with different mediums of sharing and disseminating knowledge and wisdom from across the globe.

The opening ceremonies saw the cream of the world come together under one umbrella in the Surrey City Hall Chambers which was cohosted in partnership with the City of Surrey.

The evening was filled with a unique fragrance of elegant personalities from within the Lower mainland and across the globe.

The highlight of the evening is the presentation of Life Time Achievement Awards to the Achievers, Builders, Connectors, Dreamers, Healers and the Leaders in the field of Health Care.

The awards were presented to some of the most eminent personalities who have contributed immensely and selflessly to the Human wellness in many dimensions.

The Nine noble change makers who were honored are Dr.Pratap Reddy, Dr.Arvnind Lal, Dr.Gurdev Gill, Dr.Devendra Goel, Dr.Asha Seth, Dr.Simon Sutcliffe, Dr.Gulzar Cheema, Dr.Mike Allard and Dr.Arun Chockalingam.

The evening has also seen some esteemed dignitaries like President and CEO of Fraser Health Michael Marchbank, Counsel General of India Her Excellency Abhilasha Joshi, City of Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner.

Michael had showered accolades on Dr.Arun Gargâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment and dedication to the wellness of the community and how his perseverance and selfless attitude has inspired me to come forward to support CINI in a big way from the time of its inception in 2010.

Counsel General Abhilashaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s message was clear in the need to integrate ancient approaches and modern medicine in helping and curing many of the challenges faced by the health community.

She emphasized the need for and willingness to support for bridging the health care between India and Canada through initiatives of Government of India like Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) setup exclusively for optimal development and propagation of systems of health care that stood the test of time. Mayor Hepner had no doubt in exclaiming with joy the importance of South Asian community in building Surrey and the many of the initiatives by the City, local Non Profits, Business and Government agencies have come together in creating a truly multicultural city of Surrey. She reiterated her full support for CINI conference and initiatives taken up by various agencies to make Surrey a Healthy City.

The conference was officially opened on June 9th with welcome remarks from Hon. Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, Government

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TODAY of British Columbia and Dr.Arun Garg, the Conference Chair.

The message was clear and loud from the beginning; War on Diabetes is the need of the hour.

There were some outstanding presentations in this segment from our very own Deljit Bains, who is the Leader at the South Asian Health Institute advocating deep transformation in the community through engagement with Gurdwaras, Temples and other Social/ Religious gatherings to educate and encourage importance of dietary changes in the food served in these places. There are many Gurdwaras who have adopted healthier, wholesome diet by reducing the amount of Sugar/Carbohydrates in their diet and paving the path for preventing and curing Diabetes especially in the South Asian Community where its prevalence is extremely high.

Dr.Gulzar Cheema, former Minister in BC Government also shared his work on ICON - Intercultural Online health Network (iCON), a community-driven health promotion initiative that supports multicultural communities, patients and caregivers across BC to optimize chronic disease prevention and self-management. The focus of the sessions in this segment was also on the other NCDs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Non Communicable Diseases and different preventative strategies that are taking place in India as well as Canada.

The mood of the conference started to shift from waging a war on the Diabetes on one side of the spectrum to making peace with the Mind on the other side of the spectrum.

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Mental Illness, the silent killer of modern times has definitely emerged as the hottest topic of the conference. It definitely broke the silence of the participants, audience and the officials in the Fraser Health and Government as the presentation on Substance abuse and related disorders by Dr.Nitasha Puri rolled in about the need for immediate action in prevention and cure of the crisis. Her work with Roshni clinic, a new clinic to support people in the South Asian community who are struggling with substance use is highly commendable. Presentation by Dr.Suman Kollipara focused on alternative and integrated approaches like Meditation and Self-Empowerment tools in the prevention of Mental Illness through the work of their Non-Profit Peace Tree Innovations Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision of Educate, Experience, Enlighten drew a lot of attention as a way to not only prevent Mental Illness but as therapeutic intervention in healing many of the illness. The discussions followed have stirred many aspects of mental illness which was summarized and collaborated by Dr.Anson Koo, Program Medical Director and Regional Department Head, Fraser Health MHSU and Dr.Victoria Lee, Chief Medical Health Officer and Vice-President, Population Health in the Fraser Health Region of British Columbia.

The session about the Public Health approaches to Palliative Care in India and BC with regards to the work done by Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration was presented by Dr.Doris Barwich, Dr.Gillian Fyes and the discussions were facilitated by Dr.Simon Sutcliffe and Dr.Bob Defaye. The importance of

palliative care cannot be ignored with the world which is on a rise with the cases of cancer impacting every single family in one way or the other. Kudos to the advocates like them who selflessly have been steering the palliative care at the grassroots across the globe, especially to the needy who cannot afford terminal care in the complex treatment of Cancer.

The sessions on Leadership in Health triggered stimulating discussions from both sides of the planet with eminent speakers like Dr.Arvind Lal, Dr.Anupam Sibal, Dr.Robert Woolard who brought decades of their experience in shedding light in the need for better practices in the Health care from top down.

The need for empowering the Physicians was presented through a very scientific LEADS framework with simple principles of Lead Self, Engage Others, Achieve Results, Develop Coalition, and Systems Transformation. It is interesting and important to note that Dr.Arun Garg and CINI embodies these 5 principle foundations of leadership in their work in building Healthy Civil Society. They have become the founding principles in the success of the vision and mission of CINI’s work with the community across the multicultural and multidimensional landscape.

The evening of the second day of the conference ended with a grand Banquet dinner at the Royal King Palace and Convention Center in Surrey. This is a one of a kind Banquet with people from all segments of life have assembled to celebrate

two nations, two cultures, two voices, to become ‘One’ under the Leadership of Dr.Arun Garg and the roof of CINI. The evening saw all sections of the society come together under one umbrella to celebrate life at its best and to create Health in its many dimensions. There were Stalwarts from all walks of life including Business, Innovations, Technology, Education, Universities, Health Care, Politics, Administration, NGOs and Change Agents from all sectors. It was a celebration of Health, Happiness, Food, Music and Culture at its best. The entire Convention Center resonated with National Anthems of Canada and India, presentations from the eminent leaders on the both sides of the world which gave a glimpse of richness of Canada and glory of India as well as the similarities in the democratic power of people of both nations. The convention was like a festive cruise ship carrying thousands across the sea of humanity to new horizons of friendship, partnership and collaboration. The voices of individuals on the stage, with the thumping standing ovation for the noble work of Dr.Arun Garg echoed in the air that evening. The colors of both cultures blending to become One was clearly evident with the Light that emanated from the sense of Oneness. It was a celebration that Heavens would have envied without doubt. The MCs of the evening, Davin Garg and Angelina from Spice Radio have enthralled and entertained the audience with great sense of humor while ensuring everyone was focused on the essence of the program. The performances of classical music and Tabla from the world renowned artist duo of Vancouver, Cassius Khan and Amika Kushwaha mesmerized

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and transcended the audience to ancient times of India with rhythms galvanizing the hearts and beats moving the souls to ecstasy.

The third day of the conference brought immense variety to the table with 2 major sessions on the Integrative Medicine and Health as well as Technology and Innovation in Health industry.

With the advent of Modernization and Innovation, human lifestyle has taken many twists and turns in the past century.

Even though the Modern medicine has been able to help humanity in dealing with many infectious diseases as well as with Critical care, its role has been limited in terms of prevention and care of Non Communicable diseases.

In the last 2 decades there is an eruption of Life style diseases, in a way has gone out of control.

The damage can be contained and very well be prevented and cured with wisdom from ancient times.

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, Yoga and Aboriginal Medicine can play a huge role in not only bridging the gap in treatment and prevention of these illness, but also bring into light some of these ancient forms of healing that have stood the test of time. The Integrative Medicine and Health had an amazing line up of speakers from Medical professionals, Research Scientist as well as TCM and Yoga practitioners who have reflected on

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their personal journeys as well as those of patients that they work with on a day to day basis. There is already a strong footprint of these ancient healing practices in Canada and no dearth of opportunity to import more from India especially with world embracing these forms to boost health and wellness. The presentations included importance of Integrative Medicine in the prevention of Dementia, Supportive Cancer care, Food as medicine, TCM, Aboriginal medicine and Integrated Yoga Therapy by experts in these areas. The message is clear that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to integrate these practices with the critical care provided in the hospitals and clinics to help people make the choices when it comes to taking charge of their wellness.

bles that happened around the Technology and Integrative Medicine. Both the roundtables were focused on identifying research opportunities between India and Canada in building bridges for incorporation of modern innovation on one side and ancient technology on the other side.

The session on Technology and Innovation definitely gave a kick to the end of the conference where there were presentations about Artificial Intelligence in Health Care, Taking action against Tuberculosis, Role of Technology in access to Health Information, Mobile technologies as well as using Neurotechnology in Youth Depression and Addiction. The discussions around these topics brought into limelight the need for integrating innovation and technology into Health care for efficient and elegant health systems that can deliver quality care. It was evident that there is no escape from technology, but identifying ways to marry them together so that there is seamless integration for faster and better health care, end to end.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where knowledge is free. Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls. Where words come out from the depth of truth, where tireless striving stretches its arms toward perfection. Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit. Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever widening thought and action. In to that heaven of freedom, my father, let my Country Awake.â&#x20AC;? This applies both to Canada and India and infact the whole world. If we can all work together with pure minds and hearts filled with love we can achieve and attain greatest heights. I see Dr.Arun Garg as an epitome of such courage, confidence, conviction and clarity

There were also two round ta-

At the end, It was clear that there is no one single path to success, but an amalgamation of various practices, technologies, mindsets will create a collaborative platform for people with different perspectives to come together and work in unison for building a robust future. This approach will benefit generations to come.

It reminds the words of the Nobel Laurate and Poet, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore from India:

with which sky is not the limit. We can all create Heaven on Earth, here and now.

Heartfelt gratitude to Harpreet Singh who has brought his famous TV show to the location of the conference and recorded live discussions with some of the eminent Doctors, Scientists and Change makers to help the entire Canada witness the glory of the CINI conference. It goes without saying that the immense support of AAJ Media group and the CEO

Suki Pangalia was indispensable in making the conference a huge success with their presence before, during and after the conference in carrying the flag of CINI, Canada and India together.

Also a note about the food that has been served during the conference which has been consciously chosen with a blend of aroma and taste from various parts of the world by boosting the energy for the body, satisfying the senses & Mind while soothing the soul.

CINI 2018 is reflection of strength in Unity in spite of diversity in beliefs, cultures, and ideas. The biggest take away from the conference is clear hope that when the minds are clear, hearts are open, miracles can happen, and there is no other miracle than the conviction of creating a Healthy Civil Society. Heartfelt Kudos to the board of CINS as well as every single individual, volunteer, sponsor who have worked tirelessly to make this conference a mega success bridging the two nations and a billion hearts into One.

Dr.Suman Kollipara Dr. Suman Kollipara is co-founder of a Non-Profit, Peace Tree Innovations Society (www.peacetree.ca), Center for Wellness and Oneness, that works on grassroots transformation of wellness for conscious transformation of individuals, families and organizations He comes with a

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TODAY

Ricky Kej Grammy® Winner & ‘United Nations, Humanitarian, Artist’ ‘Ricky Kej - LIVE at Holland Park, Surrey, is going to be the first-ofits-kind Global Symphonic Experience in Canada. International musicians from Canada, India, USA, Ghana and Vietnam, among them Grammy® Award winners and nominees, will come together to bring the stage alive!

Known for his signature - ‘Music for the Planet’, Ricky and this large star-studded ensemble will play compositions from his latest album ‘Shanti Samsara –

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World Music for Environmental Consciousness’. This album was launched in the presence of world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Paris COP21, and has since gained a following with numbers running into millions.

Oh yes, he’s played the field, with fifteen studio albums released in international markets and over 3,500 commercials for radio and television. He even scored music for the opening ceremony of the

Cricket World Cup 2011, which was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Grammy® Award Winner aside, Ricky is a US Billboard #1 artist, an internationally renowned Indian Music Composer, Conservationist and Professor, who has had the honor of performing twice at the United Nations General Assembly, NY, among other famed venues around the world.

Ricky is a recipient of the United Nations ‘Global Humanitarian Artist’ award. Among other awards under his belt are ‘Producer of

the Year’ at the South African Music Awards (South Africa), ‘Album of the Year’ at the Zone Music Awards (New Orleans), ‘Global Indian Music Award’ and ‘Mirchi Music Awards’ (India), and Centre for Conscious Creativity’s ‘FutureVision’ Award (Los Angeles).

Ricky has also been conferred with the title ‘Youth Icon of India’.

In the last year, ‘Real Leaders’, a signatory to the United Nations, named him one of the ‘100 Real Leaders’ who ‘inspire the future’, alongside legends like Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Angelina Jolie. This was a moment of pride as he was the sole Indian on that list. The House of Commons, Parliament of Canada, also awarded Ricky for his ‘Outstanding Musical and Humanitarian Achievement’ recently.

As Ricky is gearing up for the concerts he says, “I’m absolutely honored and thrilled to perform in Canada, which is one of the most Environmentally Conscious nations of the world. My music, my work and my life is dedicated to the cause of environment, so reaching out to thousands of

people who are already connected with nature at both, Holland Park and Simon Fraser University, is very special to me. The amazing Surrey City Orchestra will be in attendance as well, with two of Canada’s finest musicians, Grammy® Winner Jennifer Gasoi and Grammy® Nominee Ron Korb, and that makes it all the more special!”

Here’s where you can be a part of the experience:

July 22, 2018 (Sunday): 7pm at Surrey Fusion Festival, Holland Park (Free entry for public)

As we eagerly await the Global Symphonic Experience, Ricky Kej lets us in on something, “I have a very special musical dedication to this beautiful country,Canada, and I can’t wait to reveal it! I am grateful to our organizer Vivek Savkur and our generous sponsor Sharn Bhinder and Gold Key Life Insurance”

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TODAY

It’s time for the world’s faiths to embrace and accept gays and lesbians Life experience has taught me that being gay is a part of nature and God’s plan. It is not an illness that needs to be treated or changed.

Why would God create gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people if he did not like them and wanted to make their life miserable?

I am writing this because I feel it is time for the major faiths of the world to embrace and accept gays and lesbians and this includes welcoming them in their place of worship.

A heterosexist society can make life challenging for many gay and lesbian people, especially for youth who are at high risk of suicide and bullying by their peers.

My reasons for coming to this conclusion are detailed below.

Homosexuality exists in hundreds of species in nature. The human species is a part of nature and we are all a part of God’s creation.

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Homosexuality is no longer considered a mental illness by psychiatrists and psychologists, and there is no need for treatment— especially “reparative therapy”, which can do a lot of damage to a person’s spirit and self-identity.

Everything in life is diverse. It is

not surprising therefore that sexulity is diverse.

Diversity is a part of the miracle of creation. We should embrace this diversity as it has been with us since the beginning of time.

Homosexuality flourished during ancient Greek and Roman times and the aboriginal people of Canada still today accept gay and lesbian people as two-spirited.

Two-spirited means a gay and lesbian person has a male and female spirit within them. They have special roles in the community such as healers, setting up arranged marriages, counsellors,

and creating costumes.

Furthermore, gay and lesbian people have contributed a huge amount to society despite the marginalization, discrimination, and alienation they experience.

Alexander the Great, James Dean, Ellen DeGeneres, Lady Gaga, John Maynard Keynes, Yves Saint Laurent, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Tchaikovsky are or were all either gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

It is unfortunate that the major western and eastern faiths are generally not supportive of sexual and gender minorities. This does not mean that these religious views have any more authority in the eyes of God. These are just the times we live in.

In fact, the God that I have come to know loves everyone especially the marginalized and oppressed equally.

Those in positions of power should recognize how fortunate they are and try to make a difference for those struggling for equal rights and acceptance in our society.

It is important to remember that the only person who has the right to judge anyone is the Creator.

Perhaps, one day we will all be held accountable for our actions at a divine level. We can choose to try to break people’s spirits with discrimination, hatred, and ignorance or promote universal love, acceptance, and equality.

It’s time for the leaders of the major world faiths to find a place for their gay and lesbian adherents

in their place of worship. This includes the major religions of the Middle East and South Asia whether Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

No place of worship should be exclusionary and no place of worship should judge one group of people over another. A place of worship should welcome everyone who wishes to be embraced

by God’s universal message of love.

The fact that gays and lesbians can still be put to death in many countries around the world demonstrates how critical it is for people to act. This is a reminder that some cultures, civilizations, and people will exploit their dominance and power to oppress a vulnerable minority. This is an example of “tyranny of the majority”.

Gays and lesbians need special protections enshrined in law and international treaties.

The political leaders need to send a strong message that homophobia, heterosexism, transphobia, and human rights abuses against sexual and gender minorities will not be tolerated. Those responsible for such crimes must be held accountable at the highest levels.

A society and civilization will be judged by history by how it treats its most marginalized and vulnerable members.

We need to treat everyone including our gay and lesbian citizens equally and as a part of God’s family!

Alex Sangha Alex Sangha is an award-winning social worker based in Surrey, B.C. He was recently awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) from the Governor General of Canada for founding Sher Vancouver which is a social, cultural, and support non-profit organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender South Asians and their friends and families.

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TODAY

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POLICING IN SURREY A key Election issue

I am running for City Council with the Surrey Community Alliance (SCA). The key issue in the election has become Policing in Surrey because of the increase in the death of three young lives lost to gang violence.

SCA was the first party in Surrey to call for a city police force which was in response of what the community is asking for. Councilor Tom Gill who is running for Mayor with Surrey First has called for a referendum on having a Surrey police force following a third-party review of policing options.

Surrey First approved a 20year RCMP contract in 2012 and Gill supported it then.

He didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need a referendum then.

Bruce Hayne and Doug McCullum, who are also running for Mayor have also come out in support of a Surrey Police Force. But they were both on Surrey Council before and

they have not supported a city police force until now. Gang violence is not a new issue to Surrey. It has been with us for many years and many young lives have been lost as a result.

Surrey First waited until last October to call task force on gang violence. Bruce Hayne was a part of that Surrey First Council and Doug MacCallum did nothing about it when he was Mayor. MacCallum and other candidates for city council are asking to increase police officers. But more police officers will not solve the problem. The RCMP has a history of hiring more rookie police officers who lack training and understanding of the community.

ter to the needs of the community.

We also need more community workers that work with the youth as well as families to understand what is going on with the youth how they can foster better understanding in the community and also to provide more choices and exit strategies. We are also supporting a community call for a stakeholders committee to look at a comprehensive approach to the issues.

SCA is calling for a police force with better trained police officers that are sensitive to the community and its diversity.

It is not the size of the police force that matters, but how the they are managed to ca-

Imtiaz Popat Imtiaz Popat is running for Surrey city council with the Surrey Community Alliance (SCA) along with Doug Elford, Saria Aujla, Bernie Sheppard, and Asad Syed for city council and Niovi Patsicakis, Nasima Nastoh and Aronjit Lageri for Surrey school board.

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TODAY

Pandit Jasraj School

T

he amazing voice of Pta (Panditain) Gargee Siddhanta Dutta enthralled the audience at the Burnaby Hall on the 24th of June 2018 , during the performance organised by Pandit Jasraj School of Music Foundation (PJSOMF). Dressed in a beautiful silk saree, Pta Gargee was a picture of calm, serene and sophistication on the stage. She started off with Raag Yaman in Vilambit Ektaal with a short and sweet alaap and proceeded to elaborate the raag in a very intricate way. Later she presented a Hanuman Bhajan in Raag Jog which was greatly appre-

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ciated by one and all. Many times, classical musicians are so involved in technique that the emotional aspect of the raag is lost but Pta Gargee, with her skillful technique, was par excellence when it came to the expression of the devotional aspect of the composition. Her presentation was soul stirring and she was completely involved with the spirit of the song. Her second devotional song Shree Krishna Chandra Ne was heavenly and filled with a lot of “Bhav” (emotion) and was a wonderful tribute to her Guruji Pandit Jasraj ji. Mrs. Nina Budhhadev of Vois Crèatives,

The Bandish Network, India Currents Magazine, and a well-known music and art personality in Vancouver had this to say about the concert “I was touched by the Hanuman Ji Ki Rachna in Raag Jog, one of my most adored raags. In the second half the bhajan, ‘Shri Krishna Chandra Ne’ reached me. As always, the PJSOMF evening was warm, welcoming and hospitable.” The compositions that followed were brilliant and rendered beautifully by Pta Gargee.

Ms. Anjali Joshi, a multitalented musician from Seattle who plays

a number of musical instruments like the harmonium, santoor, violin and numerous others, provided exemplary melodious support to Pta Gargee while our own Vancouver based tabla exponent Mr. Amarjeet Singh accompanied and provided outstanding support throughout the entire concert. Amarjeet imparts knowledge of this percussion instrument to students of classical Indian music through The Naad Foundation.

I have watched and heard Amarjeet Singh a number of times in Vancouver, but this was among his best performances. Pta Gargeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young daughter was very comfortable providing vocal support to her mother. Mr. Krishna Teja of Pandit Jasraj School of Music, with his deep voice, was an excellent addition as a vocal support to Pta Gargee. The artists were introduced by Mr. Rohan Khadilkar and

the entire evening was filled with an excellent selection of rhythms and raags. The last composition in Bhairavi was a perfect finale to the entire musical evening. Pandit Jasraj school of Music Foundation has an excellent group of musicians and music lovers who work relentlessly to promote Indian classical music in Vancouver.

.

Photos

by

Shishir

Gopinath

Rupa Gopinath Mrs. Rupa Gopinath is a classical Indian dancer, teacher, choreographer and CEO and Artistic Director of Mihika Arts.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Attending The

Indian Summer Festival

A

spectacular evening engulfed the Round House Community Arts and Recreation Center during the opening of the Indian Summer Festival, it felt like been transported to one of the princely states in India. The entrance was beautifully decorated with artistic canopies and brass ornamental candle holders. As you entered, the fes-

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tival opened into a huge courtyard with a beautiful seating arrangement of intricately carved wooden seats with soft cushions.

The main hall was lined with a breathtaking arrangement of food and drinks from different parts of the world, including India, Syria, Lebanon, and Latin America, all put together exquisitely under the guidance of Vancouver’s own

Dr. Vikram Vij, who had tirelessly worked to organize the presentation of these delicious cuisines.

There was a special presentation from Syria referred to as “the burnt finger dish”, associated with an interesting anecdote about how a hungry husband came home and saw that his wife had cooked some delicious food, so before checking he dipped his finger into

the hot dish and burnt it. Then there was the crunchy and delicious “Daal Kachori”, a deep fried, round pastry filled with lentils, along with an amazing lemonade tea complete with floating blueberries. The seafood, salads, cakes, and other delicacies just stole everyone’s hearts. Then of course, there was Vij’s delicious spicy curry with a touch of the south Indian Sambar taste, a favourite.

As the evening progressed, drum beats echoed, and a beautiful dancer started moving gracefully to the rhythmic beats. Both young and old joined her and it was wonderful to watch. Mr. Ashok Katey, a long-time supporter of the Indian Summer Festival, said that he has always enjoyed being a part of the festival and that he would like to see more intellectual discussions to be included. Mrs. Lynn Katey said that she particularly likes the way the festival has evolved over

the years and it is always exciting to see what surprise the next festival would hold. Mr. Hari Varshney and Mrs. Madhu Varshney commented that “It is a wonderful festival which promotes cultural, educational, and artistic values of the Indian heritage“. They particularly liked that it gives an opportunity for both the young and old to meet and exchange ideas. Mrs. Madhu Varshney was impressed with the fact that this is one of the few Indian events

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ENTERTAINMENT

which includes the literary aspect of India by bringing in wonderful, poets, playwrights, and others.

Dr. Vij, having been with the festival for many years, said that the Indian Summer Festival provides a platform for meeting people, having a dialogue, sharing ideas about music, art, cuisine and literature with people of different cultures and beliefs, and brings everyone together. Mr. Rup Sidhu, the young musician and singer, specially known for his voice

percussion (Beat Boxing) presentation, said that he has been with the Indian Summer Festival for six years and is fascinated that he can collaborate with well known musicians such as Chugge Khan of Rajasthan Josh. Adham Shaikh, another musician, has been with the festival for the last 3 years and has collaborated as a DJ and technical music expert, saying that it helps him to connect with his Indian roots which he finds amazing. Chugge Khan

enthralled the audience with his powerful voice as the festival moved into the late evening hours.

All in all, it was a superb opening to another year of the Indian Summer Festival, filled with colors, music, culinary delights and an amazing crowd.

Rupa Gopinath Mrs. Rupa Gopinath is a classical Indian dancer, teacher, choreographer and CEO and Artistic Director of Mihika Arts.

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Thoughtful Regard by Patrick Walsh May we bring our hearts divine, to all who come with trouble minds.

May we seek to find in each other, that we truly are, a sister and a brother of mankind.

May we lift up in how we instruct, and not to offend with our conduct.

May we give and not take and fail to relate, to a needy soul before it is too late.

May we look for good in all what we do, not to find fault to suit me and you.

May we bless those in need that suffer alone, with no place they can call home.

May we move together to bring peace, not to steal and through others cheat.

May we calm a storm of a troubled soul, in the young and the old.

May we gather in trust, so that we are all doing what we know we must.

May we never neglect to try to understand, that we are one with our fellow man.

May we journey through a path of light, to forgive and forget what was not right.

May we say what we mean in love and truth, so those who hear us are blessed by what we say and do.

May we come to understand that all truths may not be the same, but we must learn them at times just the same.

May we not hide behind lies and fear, but hold to our hearts that to God all are dear.

May we sit in quiet times, listening to the call of angels to free mans minds.

My blessing to you and all Mankind

VANCOUVER PRIDE PARADE 2018

SUNDAY AUG 5TH 12:30-2PM

NELSON PARK VANCOUVER

LIFESTYLE

Body Language Techniques To Command Respect in Any Situation

Y

ou walk into a room and all eyes fall on you. Do you command respect and make an indelible first impression or do they look at you and then forget you? Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re giving a sales presentation, going for an interview or giving a speech, the first thing people notice is your body language and non verbal

communication. Depending on which study you read, non verbal communication accounts for between 70% - 90% or more of what people think of you, so it is essential that you command respect when you enter any room.

The problem is that your body language is often instinct and not intentional. This month I thought

I would share some simple techniques that will help you elevate your body language and make be strong and powerful first impression.strive to make the most of it.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you live a positive and peaceful life - the most fulfilling kind of life.

1

Dress to Impress I remember one day going to a friend’s BBQ years ago. I spent forever deciding what to wear and finally thought that I wanted to look good, but not be overdressed, because I wanted so much to fit in. While we were there a woman walked in and just took over the room. She was dressed impeccably and not afraid to shine. I will never forget that moment, because I have to admit I was disappointed in myself for wanting to fit in rather than stand out.

When you dress you want to be the one that takes everyone’s breath away, not blends into the background

2 Good Posture I talk about posture to clients endlessly because it really is so important. A strong, powerful stance when sitting, standing or walking makes such a difference to how you come across. Poor posture can make you look weak and tired, so you won’t be taken seriously.

3

wimpy, limp handshakes. Another one of pet peeves is sweaty palms.

They are often the result of anxiety and stress which is something I do understand. So if you get sweaty palms then you need to learn how to overcome your anxiety and keep your cool in stressful, high pressure situations. A good handshake is firm and in control.

You also need to hold it for long enough to create a connection with the other person; about one or two seconds.

Poor body language makes you look weak and robs you of any credibility and respect you had. You must

4

Strong Eye Contact So this technique obviously requires some cultural awareness.

There is something about strong, direct eye contact that communicates strength and confidence.

People often avoid eye contact when they feel anxious or lacking in confidence. Like the handshake you want to hold it for long enough to make a connection, but not so long that you come across as creepy or inappropriate.

Remember it is eye contact not a staring contest!

Firm Hand Shake One of the first things people notice about you is your handshake, especially during a meeting or interview. I’m always put off by soft,

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5

Big Smile This technique is the hallmark of people who have natural and abundant charisma. A smile means you are friendly, confident and approachable.

Even if you are feeling nervous and smiling is the last thing on your mind, force yourself to smile or even laugh. Two things will happen, first it will make a much more positive first impression and from my experience it will actually make you feel better. the room. She was dressed impeccably and not afraid to shine. I will never forget that moment, because I have to admit I was disappointed in myself for wanting to fit in rather than stand out.

Poor body language makes you look weak and robs you of any credibility and respect you had. You must work to develop the executive presence of a champion.

I know it sounds shallow to say that people pass judgment on you just by looking at you, before you have even said a single word, but that is exactly what they do. And by â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; I mean all of us. We do it every day and in every situation. Not to mention the unconscious bias and hidden barriers (such as gender, race, accent, education level, age and many others) that we all have to overcome when people first encounter us.

In a world of ever shrinking attention spans, my goal is to help you walk into any room and let your inner strength and power shine through, so you get the respect you deserve. work to develop the executive presence of a champion.

Narges Nirumvala Narges Nirumvala, is a leading executive speech coach, speechwriter, an award winning entrepreneur, international keynote speaker, bestselling author and humanitarian. \

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TODAY

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AAJ MAGAZINE

Vancouver’s India Gate Restaurant A Vancouver British Columbia Canadian Immigrant Success Story It’s November 1977; a young, deeply religious, Sikh man with God in his heart and obedience in his soul, moves in spirit from Bombay, India, to conquer the world with a purpose to fulfill a dream of succeeding in a foreign country.

That country - Canada!

With a courageous outlook in life and a willingness to confront change, Mr. Rachhpal Gupta, after deep thought and prayer, makes a decision that will prove to be one of the most important ones in his life. To move from his homeland to face the unknown, leaving his security at home, not knowing what he may face ahead in the future.

In the month of November, in the cold beginning of a Canadian winter, Rachhpal Gupta arrives in Canada with only about $5.00 in his pocket.

Trusting in his Creator to guide him, he felt secure in his faith that he would be supported as needed to get a start in a new country, Canada.

The brotherhood of his Sikh comrades came to his rescue, and the Temple of support offered was all that was needed to help him along.

Rachhpal acquired a job in Lynn Valley, BC as a machinist and worked there for five years. What a great way to make a step up from where he was. But a step forward was always on his mind, and after working at another job in restaurant management he decided to take the ultimate plunge.

Another courageous action

would be taken - to open a restaurant. On Feb 1, 1978, India Gate Restaurant would open to caress the taste buds of the Vancouver Down-Town Community.

Vancouver residents would be treated to a surprise of Cultural Cuisine that they had never experienced before. The adventure of two cultures meeting proved to be a marriage of gourmet enjoyment and a friendship grew and grew and over time a dream would be realized.

The young man who left his parents farm in India was now a success story, blessing his parents with a story of achievement that would leave them feeling fulfilled in spirit.

A new day would dawn when he was introduced to his love of his life and he married in 1974 to Satinder Gupta. Satinder, a well-educated lady studied to be a teacher but decided she would join her husband in achieving the restaurant dream of success together.

Word of mouth was spreading and an article by James Barber gave an additional boost to the restaurant’s popularity.

Life was good; the restaurant

AAJ MAGAZINE

67

TODAY business delivered. After hard work late nights and early morning rising with the sun shining bright to each new day, blessings were bestowed upon this deeply religious Sikh Canadians.

Mr. and Mrs. Gupta would later have two beautiful children, Jagdeep, a doctor and the other, Gurmeet, dedicated to the family restaurant business. To this day, after sixteen years and working eight to twelve hours a day seven days a week, Gurmeet is still working hard to keep the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gate to India Foodâ&#x20AC;? open. It is one of the most successful Indian restaurants in Vancouver and one of the first.

Gurmeet Gupta has found many challenges in keeping the restaurant flourishing with the change in economic currents highs and lows. Real estate prices are soaring. Businesses in Vancouver are coming and going and established clientele having to move away from the downtown core left Gurmeet with the constant need to promote and he had to find ways to bring in new cus-

tomers and is always working extra hard to deliver in quality of food, service, and pricing.

His synergistic approach seems to be paying off. Having found that right balance is always a smart and productive way to go forward.

With the cost of living going up and the fluctuation of the dollar being a concern, it is difficult to afford high wages and keep productive, quality staff that enjoy working in the restaurant industry. Despite the challenges India Gate has a bright future ahead and will remain, The Gate Way to an India Cuisine to be lived, loved and remembered.

From all the staff at AAJ and from all the Canadian and international public you have served over the years, May the sun never set on your success.

Patrick Walsh Vancrooner Patrick Walsh is a talented writer using his ability to reach others through poetry, Philosophy and in general articles on any subject in an educational and informative way. His objective is to bring truth as his primary objective in representing others and his own Ideas.

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AAJ MAGAZINE

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ENTERTAINMENT

SHEN YUN REVIVES MIDDLE KINGDOM’S RICH CULTURE

Dance and music extravaganza portrays the essence of Chinese traditional culture Shen Yun Performing Arts came into being in 2006 when a group of leading classical Chinese artists living overseas came together in New York with one wish: to revive the authentic culture of China and share it with the world.

These artists knew that ancient Chinese culture was rich in qualities and wisdom that would benefit humankind. But it needed a renaissance as it had been all but wiped out by various communist campaigns like the Cultural Revolution, which uprooted traditional beliefs and destroyed ancient treasures, bringing the Middle Kingdom’s traditional 5,000 years of civilization to the brink of extinction.

In ancient times, China was known as “The Land of the Divine.” It refers to the belief that the divine, through the various dynasties over the ages, transmitted a rich and abundant culture to the Chinese people. Chinese culture is thus considered to be “divinely inspired.”

For thousands of years, China was profoundly spiritual; Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism were at the heart of society.

In those times, people believed that by following the teachings of these three disciplines they could elevate their mind and

gradually bring their internal realm to a divine state. In Chinese, this process is called cultivation. At its core, Chinese culture is a culture of cultivation, a tradition of spiritual self-discipline and veneration for the divine.

In fact, Chinese medicine, astronomy, dance, music, painting, literature, poetry, food, and architecture are, at their highest realms, based on the teachings of these three disciplines.

While Shen Yun showcases this profound culture through music and dance, its performances seek to portray the essence of the culture and the beauty, goodness, and truth inherent in it. Every story-dance embodies and celebrates the virtues that were at the heart of Chinese civilization for thousands of years, such as loyalty, courage, truthfulness, compassion, and piety.

Audiences pick up on this, and are often left feeling uplifted and inspired by the show.

India Connection During the Tang Dynasty, a young monk named Xuan Zang (also known as Tang Monk and Tripitaka) set out on foot on a journey to what is now India to bring the Buddhist scriptures back to China. Tang Monk’s long and perilous pilgrimage was told in the classic Chinese novel “Journey to the West,” published in the 16th century.

The Tang Dynasty is often considered China’s cultural golden age. It was a time of great prosperity, military prowess, religious pluralism, and a flourishing of the arts and sciences.

The great emperor Tang Taizong personally asked Tang Monk to travel to India across the mountains, collect the sacred texts, and bring them back to China. It took the monk 17 years to complete the journey, and he brought back with him 657 scriptures written in Sanskrit. He then spent the rest of his life translating them.

In the novel, as in history, the Tang Monk is a symbol of pious devotion. He overcomes 81 tribulations, which are metaphors for the trials a person encounters on a spiritual path.

Over the years, Shen Yun has portrayed various aspects of Tang Monk’s arduous journey to India with his special

Chinese history. They may be about the Yellow Emperor of antiquity, a modern-day tale, heroes, deities, or colourful characters that have appeared throughout the millennia of dynasties.

Shen Yun also presents dances from some of China’s more than 50 ethnic groups—such as Mongolian, Tibetan, and Manchurian—as well as Chinese folk dance.

A Show Like No Other Classical Chinese dance, an ancient art form refined over the ages, is what enables Shen Yun to tell these stories so well. It consists of gravity-defying leaps, spins, high-flying jumps, and tumbles, and is one of the most comprehensive dance systems in the world, according to Shen Yun’s website.

“Both emotive and energetic, it transcends the barriers of nationality and language. It is the perfect medium for sharing the wisdom and values of five millennia of Chinese civilization,” the website says.

Shen Yun’s digitally animated backdrops serve to extend the stage and enhance the story-telling, even portraying underwater kingdoms and heavenly realms. Its success depends largely on the performers’ split-second timing—and they get it right every time.

The music is provided by the Shen Yun Orchestra, which is unique in that it combines classical Western and Chinese instruments.

Alongside Western symphonic mainstays like brass, woodwinds, strings, and percussion, Shen Yun incorporates ancient Chinese instruments such as the pipa (Chinese lute), the dizi (bamboo flute) the pengling (handbells), and the erhu, a twostringed instrument played with a bow.

The costumes, which often draw gasps of admiration from audience members for their vivid colours and graceful, flowing styles, are all handmade. Shen Yun’s costume artists collect countless designs of traditional attire, ranging from those of emperors, ministers, and generals to the everyday clothing of the common people. Celestial fairies, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Daos, and other deities are also portrayed in their respective regalia.

Shen Yun’s vocal soloists use the bel canto technique to sing Chinese text—something unparalleled in the modern world, according to the website. The original lyrics, which are translated on the backdrop, brim with philosophical reflection about human life and contain deep layers of meaning, often moving audience members to tears.

Each show also has a solo erhu performance—a huge crowd-pleaser. The erhu is one of the most important Chinese instruments, with a history of over 4,000 years. Though it has only two strings, it can convey a wide range of emotions.

She also managed the start-up process and later project-managed the design and construction of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, where Shen Yun will be playing four shows from Feb. 28 to March 2.

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has five touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world.

For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.

Reporting by Chen Si & Cindy Chan

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