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ACHA is an non-profit, non-political organization, which is dedicated to promote peace and harmony among South Asians regardless of where they live. Current Board Members are Pritam Rohila (President), Jagdish Grewal (Secretary), Dr. Abdul Qayum (Treasurer), Dr. Kanak R. Ravel, Gulzar Ahmed, Ishvar Patel and Susheela Hoefer. Dharam Yadav is the Honorary Financial Advisor. For more information about ACHA and comments about ACHA Bulletin, please contact us at by telephone at 503-362- 4635, or 503-658-4715, or by email at pritamr@open.org, or visit our Web Page at http://ecumene.org/ACHA/ACHA.htm . The Web Page is maintained by Dr. Ingrid H. Shafer in Ecumene.Org, an Internet Domain she has dedicated to interreligious dialogue and global peace.
This Bulletin is being relayed as a part of ACHA's South Asian community service program. Starting in April 1999, it will be sent out on the first Wednesday of each month. It is sent to about 400 individuals in Africa, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, U.K., and USA. Please let us know (pritamr@open.org), if you want to have your name removed from our email distribution list. Also, please let us know if someone should be added to the list. Comments, letters to editor, and short articles are also welcome and can be sent to the same address. ACHA BULLETIN 4/27/99 Special Issue: Third Centennial of Khalsa Panth (Next issue due on 5/7/99) CONTENTS
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Opinion Did You Know Holidays Arts & Entertainment Other Events Announcements * Khalsa Panth tercentenary celebrations at Anandpur Sahib The week-long tercentenary celebrations of the founding of the Khalsa Panth were formally launched April 18 at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, with the arrival of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from Chandigarh. The prime minister paid obeisance at the Takht Kesgarh Sahib, where the Tenth Guru Govind Singh had founded the Khalsa Panth three hundred years ago. According to a report by Onkar Singh published in Rediff on the NeT on April 13, over 500,000 Sikh devotees had already descended on Anandpur Sahib and over 10,000 vehicles parked at various points in the city. At that time by Baisakhi on April 13, the number of devotees was likely to cross the one million mark and the number of vehicles, 25,000. Over 150 community kitchens (langars) had been set up to prepare food for pilgrims pouring into the city since the first week of April. At a given time, these community kitchens could cater to over 25,000 devotees. The Punjab Energy Development Agency, the state's nodal agency for promotion and development of non-conventional energy resources in the state, was developing the holy town of Sri Anandpur Sahib as the 1st solar city of India. According to Jagjit Puri, the state director of information, over 1,350 streetlights in 14 villages were running on solar energy. Even the needs of the media center were being fulfilled by solar energy, according to a Punjab Government official. The Punjab government and the Union ministry of non-conventional energy sources jointly funded the project, worth Rs 20 million. As part of its effort to set up various solar photovoltaic systems at Sri Anandpur Sahib, PEDA had commissioned three 5KV photovoltaic power plants for solar lighting and to power Gurbani sign boards at the three important historic gurdwaras, Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib and Sri Patalpuri Sahib. These gurdwaras were provided with over 20,000 liters of hot water every day for the cleaning of utensils for the community kitchen. Three-tier security rings had been planned to keep miscreants away. As a matter of abundant precaution all the vehicles were being screened and the pilgrims were being asked to deposit even their licensed arms with the local police and obtain a slip. Over 60 water tankers were deployed at various points in the city to ensure that no pilgrim suffered from heat exhaustion. To take care of any eventuality 25 fire engines had been stationed at key points. In view of the heavy rush of pilgrims over 5,000 temporary toilets, 1,200 temporary urinals and 360 temporary baths had been made available. * March 11, Andhra Pradesh, India: A MOBILE BOAT CLINIC, which has been launched in Andhra Pradesh, is a 'Floating Messiah' for the people living in Krishna district's islands of Diviseema which is often battered by cyclones. Flagging ff this boat clinic, which is equipped with an operation theater and which was specially designed by Kolli Fibres, Kakinada Bishop Marampudi Joji, said that the people could now avail of primary health care, vaccination, health education, pre-natal care, mother and child care. *March 12, India: The NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION of India in March launched 'human rights cells' in police headquarters of the states as an effective in-house system to deal with the rising number of cases of custodial violence in the country. Inaugurating the project, NHRC chairperson Justice M N Venkatachelliah said,"The unashamed use of authority and power without restraint in many cases of custodial violence could be checked by this in-house credible system''. The cells which will be run by the ''policemen with their own genius, own resources and own consciousness would go a long way in strengthening the foundation of democracy in the country.'' * March 13, Bombay, India: S M Inam, a leading Pakistani entrepreneur has proposed a COMMON AIRLINE, BANK AND OPEN UNIVERSITY FOR THE SOUTH ASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION REGION. In an exclusive interview to UNI, Inam, who is in Bombay as head of the Pakistani delegation to attend the IX International Conference on Small and Medium Enterprises, disclosed that for the airline, called the SAARC Airline Transport Services, he said, an agreement has been signed with a foreign partner to provide technical knowhow. The SAARC open university would be headquartered at the SAARC secretariat in Kathmandu. Also, a common banking institution called the South Asia Development Bank has been planned with an equity base of $ 1 billion and to remove poverty, eradicate illiteracy and eliminate disease from the region. He feels that the animosity between India and Pakistan has been created by certain groups, who would not like people in the two countries to live as friends. But at the ground-level a sense of goodwill exists between the two countries, he says. "By 2002 AD, the two countries would shed the nuclear arms race and cooperate jointly in the field of atomic research for peaceful purposes,'' he predicted. * March 16, Wagah, India-Pakistan Border: Exactly 23 days after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's historic bus trip to Pakistan, the first commercial BUS FROM LAHORE TO NEW DELHI rolled into the Indian territory today through the Wagah joint check-post with 20 passengers and three crew members on board. The bus would halt at Punjab tourism resorts at Kartarpur and Sirhind and at Pipli in Haryana before reaching Delhi. The passengers, including 14 women besides a liaison officer and two drivers, were all praise for Vajpayee for his bus 'yatra' across the border, were overjoyed to be on board the first commercial bus to enter India since Partition in 1947. Izhar Amrohvi, parliamentary secretary to former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who was on board the bus along with his wife and two daughters, said though he had been to India a number of times, today's trip was special. ''I just cannot express my sentiments in words,'' he added while advocating that travel through the land route should be liberalized by both the countries. He said, such steps would definitely help in improving relations between the two countries and lessening tension. Benazir had even advocated that the two countries should have a joint currency, he claimed. * March 20, Colombo, Sri Lanka: Foreign ministers of the member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation ended their two-day meeting today after accepting a reference to include a reference to the LAHORE DECLARATION adopted by the prime ministers of India and Pakistan as a gesture of goodwill since the declaration itself had hailed SAARC's efforts for regional peace. In fact, the Lahore Declaration was the highlight of the standing committee meetings held at the secretary level. Talking to the reporters said the foreign ministers also accepted a recommendation of the standing committee regarding the South Asian Free Trade Agreement that will be finalized by 2001. Another important decision is the setting up of a social chapter for SAARC and the institution of a South Asian Cultural Institute in Kandy. March 21, New Delhi, India: Probably more popular in India than they are in Pakistan, the Pakistani band Junoon (literally: a passion bordering on obsession) did not know that among their fans is the Prime Minister of India. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee took the bus to Lahore, he was the protagonist of a moment in history. But, among other important things like signing the Lahore Declaration, the prime minister took time out to meet sensational and invite them to India to participate in the first anniversary celebrations of his government. What overwhelmed the group, though, was the generous hospitality extended by the prime minister. A specially chartered 12-seater private plane was sent to Lahore to pick up the pop band on March 18. In New Delhi, Junoon found a fleet of cars ("flashing lights and all") waiting for them on the airport tarmac, with the Delhi police at hand to ensure both privacy and security. "Representatives of the I&B ministry were there to welcome us. It was a great feeling. We have always been popular in India, but to get official recognition like this was something else." While the bigwigs involved with Satyameva Jayate, I&B Pramod Mahajan's celebratory cultural extravaganza to commemorate the BJP-led coalition's year in power, were put up at the government-run Hotel Ashoka, Junoon were booked at the Hyatt Regency. They flew back to Lahore this evening in a private plane, again courtesy of the Indian government. In fact, Junoon were so thrilled with the arrangements that they did not charge their normal performance rates. "We have charged much less," says Ahmad. "After all, this was a rather momentous occasion for us -- being invited to participate in a government function in India." . * March 23, New Delhi, India: The diplomatic route chartered in Lahore by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharief had its pioneer travelers on Monday -- 57 CIVILIAN PRISONERS, WHO WERE RELEASED AT THE WAGAH BORDER.India handed over 43 Pakistani nationals. Pakistan reciprocated by releasing 14 Indian prisoners, including three minors. It is for the first time since 1991 that such an exchange is taking place between India and Pakistan. The exchange of civilian prisoners proves that both the countries are eager to pursue the humanitarian grounds to solve disputes like Kashmir," the official added. * March 26, New Delhi, India: In its efforts to promote people to people contacts, India today announced major steps to ease visa and travel restrictions for several categories of Pakistani nationals including judges, newspaper editors and members of the national cricket and hockey teams. The relaxation, which comes into effect from April 2, would exempt these Pakistani visitors from police reporting and would allow them to travel anywhere in India, the external affairs ministry said. The Pakistani visa holders will be entitled to multiple entry visas for one year and they will be exempt from the restrictions of city-specific visas. * March 30, Lucknow, U.P., India: Speaking at a civic reception for him here at the historic Begum Hazrat Mahal Park, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee emphasized the need for a NO-WAR PACT WITH PAKISTAN, and CLOSER TIES WITH ALL NEIGHBORS. Referring to Indo-Pak relations, Vajpayee made it clear that war was not in the interest of either nation. "War can only bring destruction and devastation, which we do not want for anyone," he said. Recalling Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief's recitation of his (Vajpayee's) poem Ab jung na hone denge (Now we will not go to war) at a civic reception in Lahore, he said, "Since we have already witnessed three wars, it is time to take a pledge that we will not go at war again." * April 7, Bangalore, Karnataka, India: An India-Pakistan task-force on trade has set a target of Rs 100 billion for BILATERAL TRADE to be achieved by the year 2003, Pakistan High Commissioner in India Ashraf Jehangir Qazi said in Bangalore today. Addressing members of the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry, he said the current direct trade between the two countries was only $ 250 million though the actual volume, including diversion through a third country, stood at $ 1 billion. * April 13 , New Delhi, India: Addressing an industry of the Punjab, Haryana Delhi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi, Fazal-ul-Rahman Dittu, president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry said that India's import policy with regard to consumer goods should be liberalized and linked to liberalization of trade between Pakistan and India. He said his chamber believes that trade between the two countries should be liberalized in phases. According to him this, will give some breathing time to the domestic industries which are likely to be affected. During 1997-98, exports from Pakistan stood at $ 90.58 million whereas exports from India were to the tune of $ 154.55 million. The FPCCI chief invited a chamber delegation to visit Pakistan to study the market and encourage exports from Pakistan. * Sikhism by Pritam Kumar Rohila, Ph.D. (From the India Cultural Association's Newsletter Chakra's March-April 1995 issue) Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh brotherhood was born in 1469 in the village of Talwandi, near Lahore, now in Pakistan. Starting in early childhood, he displayed an independent bent of mind and refused to follow traditions blindly. Son of orthodox Hindus, at the age of nine, he would not submit to the sacred thread ceremony. He argued the real purity was an inner thing, and not defined by a mere cotton thread. Once, when his father, Mehta Kalu, sent him to market to shop, he gave away all the shopping money to sadhus. Upon his return home, he told his father, that charity was more profitable than his business, because charity would bring him profit not only in this world but also in the next. In 1484, Guru Nanak left Talwandi. Soon he was married and had two sons. But, he had no interest in family matters either. Around the age of 19, he had a vision, which lasted three days. In 1497, he renounced the world, and with his life-long friend and companion, the Muslim musician Mardana, he departed on a spiritual voyage. He spent the rest of his life traveling, singing his compositions and teaching all over India. Also, he traveled in Sri Lanka, Iraq, and to Mecca and Medina, the Muslim holy places. In Baghdad, stands a shrine, that was built to him around 1520. The inscription on the shrine reads, "In the memory of the Guru, that is, the Divine Master Baba Nanak Faagir Aulia, this building has been raised anew with the help of seven saints". During his travels he performed miracles, denounced superstitions, idolatry, caste inequality, and preached religious tolerance, and universal brotherhood. He taught God is one and accessible to all. Many Hindus as well as Muslims flocked to him. His followers became known as Sikhs. Finally, he settled in Kartarpur, where his wife Sulakhani joined him. When he died in 1539, both his Hindu and Muslim followers built for their Guru their own Mausoleums, that were separated by a common wall. Guru Nanak, was followed by nine other Gurus, who collectively made Sikhism what it is today. Guru Nanak chose Guru Angad (1404-1442) as his successor. He devised the Punjabi script, called Gurmukhi, and recorded Guru Nanak's sayings in this language. These writings became the nucleus of Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scriptures. The third guru, Guru Amar Das (1479-1574) organized Sikhs into 22 sangat centers, and established the institution of langar, a public meal where all sit together to eat the same food regardless of caste, creed or rank. Guru Ram Das (1534-1581), the fourth Guru, appointed regular missionaries, and linked them with a central place of pilgrimage, Amritsar. Also, he substituted the Hindu marriage ceremony with Anand-Karaj. The fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606) completed the building of the Golden Temple at Amritsar, compiled Adi Guru Granth Sahib, and installed it in the Temple in 1606. Guru Gobind (Rai) Singh, (1675-1708), on Baisakhi day, April 13, 1699, at a Diwan, started formal baptism of Sikhs by drinking Amrit (sweetened water stirred with a double edged sword), of calling them Singhs, or lions. He baptized the first five followers, and instructed Sikhs to lead clean lives, avoid tobacco and strong drinks, and wear five signs that would distinguish them from others. These signs, called kakkars for each starts with letter k, are kesh, long hair; kangha, a comb; kachha, shorts; kara, an iron bracelet; and kirpan, a sword. This became the foundation of the khalsa, or the pure faith. He established Guru Granth Sahib, as the Guru of the Sikhs for ever. Guru Granth Sahib is comprised of the hymns composed by the first five Gurus and the ninth Guru, and writings of 15 Muslim and Hindu devotees of all castes, like Sheikh Farid, Sheikh Bhikham, Kabir, Namdev and Ravi Das. All Gurus whose hymns appear in Guru Granth Sahib called themselves Nanak, since their creations were considered as expressions of Guru Nanak through them. It contains the complete philosophy of Sikhism, and teaches universal brotherhood. Sukhmani, "The Psalm of Peace", a composition by Guru Arjan Dev in Guru
Granth Sahib, can be considered the essence of Sikhism. Sikhs and many
non-Sikh Punjabis and Sindhis recite it early in the morning before they
begin their day's work. Even, Vizier Khan, a minister of the Mughal emperor
Akbar, did not have his breakfast until it had been recited to him in the
morning. A part of it reads as follows:
Sikhism has survived persecution by some Mughal emperors, and wars with the British. They took an active part in India's struggle for Independence, and form an important part of Indian society. There are over 17 million Sikhs (400,000 in North America). Chants of Wahegururji ka khalsa, Waheguruji ki fateh can be heard from all corners of the world especially on Sundays and on festivals like Baisakhi, when they congregate in their places of worship called, Gurudwaras to pray and celebrate together. The Golden Temple of Amritsar, the Gurmukhi script, and the popular dance style, Bhangra, are among some of their contributions to Indian culture. * Sikh splendor by Anjali Sircar from The Hindu Online Edition 4/25/99 The first international exhibition of Sikh art, opened at the Victoria and Albert museum, London, on March 25 and will continue till July 25. It is being held to coincide with the 300th anniversary of a pivotal event in Sikh history when Guru Gobind Singh, the last of the ten Gurus, initiated five of his followers to create the Khalsa. In its centenary year, the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, which has a collection of Indian art unrivaled outside the Indian sub-continent, is holding a landmark exhibition of the artistic heritage of the Sikhs entitled ``The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms''. In April 1801, Ranjit Singh was proclaimed the first Sikh Maharaja of the Punjab - the land of the five rivers - at Lahore. This first international exhibition of Sikh art, which describes the exciting and eventful cultural history of the maharaja and his successors, features paintings, vibrantly-colored silks and shawls, gold-decorated weapons and some of the most spectacular jewels of the Sikh treasury. They were made by and for Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims and even Europeans, reflecting the cosmopolitan and egalitarian atmosphere of the time. "The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms'', which opened at the V & A on March 25, 1999, and will continue till July 25, is being held to coincide with the 300th anniversary of a pivotal event in Sikh history when Guru Gobind Singh, the last of the ten Gurus, initiated five of his followers to create the Khalsa, or ``Order of the Pure'', completing the work begun by Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhsm, two centuries earlier. Before his death in 1708, Guru Gobind also ended the line of personal Gurus by passing the succession not to another person but to the Guru Granth, the holy book of the Sikhs. He declared that the Word as embodied in the Granth would be the Guru after him. The message and mission begun by Guru Nanak culminated in the Guru Granth. Within half a century of Guru Gobind's death, Sikhs became a major political force and established a state of their own. In 1799, Ranjit Singh, the 19-year old leader of a Khalsa band, seized power peacefully in the city of Lahore and was proclaimed Maharaja two years later. The artistic life of the court of Ranjit Singh had its own dynamism. Centers such as Lahore, Amritsar, Srinagar and others in the Sikh Kingdoms produced artefacts for the maharaja and leading members of the court, indigenous as well as European. Well-established traditional industries flourished and grew because of his patronage. Lahore was an important center for luxury carpet weaving and was also a major metalworking center. Lahori armorers supplied the court with weapons made of finely watered steel which were chiseled with intricate design and often decorated with gold and silver plates. Sialkot produced paper of high quality and a range of embroidered clothes: Gujarat sold weapons and Multan was known for its silk. The wealth of the Lahore court was clearly apparent on festive occasions when Musamman Burj, the octagonal marble pavilion, would be decorated for an evening gathering. Golden candles lit the scene and gold chairs and stools were set out for Ranjit Singh's British visitors on brocades and embroidered floor coverings. The screens were supported on gold-or-silver covered poles and rose water and wine were laid ready with gold utensils. None of these has survived barring the Golden Throne of Ranjit Singh which was made for the maharaja by Hafez Mohammad Multani. After the annexation of the Punjab by the British, the throne was shipped to London in 1853 for the East India Company's Museum and was eventually transferred to the South Kensington Museum, later renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum, where it has remained ever since. Ranjit Singh also acquired the legendary Koh-i-noor diamond from the Mughal prince Shah Shuja but after his death in 1839, and the massive upheavals that subsequently took place, the most spectacular gems of his treasury were sent to London for the 1851 Great Exhibition. Through the course of history, the Koh-i- noor found its place in the crown made for her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in 1937, and is worn on state occasions. Far too much has been written about Ranjit Singh's alleged personal in-difference to painting or holding the arts in poor esteem. When he repeatedly put off the request of British visitor G. T. Vigne that he be allowed to draw the Maharaja's portrait, it has been seen as proof of Ranjit Singh's ``strong aversion to being painted'' apparently because of his awareness of his own unprepossessing pock-marked appearance. But he comes through in extremely favorable light when we know that he took personal interest in the marble ordered from Jaipur for use in the parikrama of the Golden Temple, commissioned silver doors with repousse-work to be made for the shrine of the Goddess at Kangra, chose the pashmina shawls to be sent for the pandits of Benares and Gaya or retired in the night to listen quietly to Attar Khan playing upon the flute. The court of Ranjit Singh at Lahore left an impression of unrivaled splendor on all those who visited it, and it was particularly the lavish use of magnificent, brightly-colored silks, shawls and gold brocade textiles that fascinated those who have left written records. Emily Eden, sister of Governor- General, Lord Auckland, wrote of the court: ``It reduces European magnificence to a very low pitch.'' In contrast to the splendor of his surroundings, Ranjit Singh himself habitually dressed relatively simply, usually in a plain robe with only some choice pearls and diamonds for decoration. Great crashes drown out most other sounds. The fall of the powerful kingdom of Lahore, six years after Ranjit Singh's death, was sudden and complete. The swift efficiency with which British power was established after the annexation in 1849 tended to overshadow what was happening around this time elsewhere in the Punjab, especially in respect of arts. The emergence of the Phulkian States - all members of the Sikh Kingdom - such as Patiala, Nabha, Jind, Kapurthala and Faridkot - was slow but by early 19th Century, they had entered into a relationship with the British, and once peace ensued, they garnered resources, built, absorbed, created systems of governance and eventually developed their own style. It is worthwhile following the development of the arts in these areas. After the dissolution of the great center of power and artistic patronage at Lahore, Patiala became the most important Sikh Kingdom of the Punjab. A true, intense burst of artistic activity came during the rule of Maharaja Narinder Singh (1845-1862) - the most enlightened ruler that Patiala ever possessed. Soon after he acceded the throne at the age of 23, great new building enterprises were undertaken, gurdwaras were built besides forts and palaces, as also significant Hindu temples, among them Badrinath, Kedarnath, Tung Nath and Raj Rajeshwari. There was much literary activity, and poets from many centres in northern India settled in Patiala. Distinguished classical singers were invited to the court, the Patiala gharana of Hindustani music acquiring great fame. Murals were commissioned on a very considerable scale for palaces, religious establishments and forts. Miniature paintings flourished and an impressive number of illustrated manuscripts of classical texts - including the Janam Sakhi of Guru Nanak, the Sur Sagar, the Sudama Charit, the Rukmini Mangal, the Mahabharata and Rasikapriya - were produced. Patiala also emerged as a major center of crafts for some of which the city is still famous. Whole bazaars sprang up with row after row of specialist craftsmen plying the same trade, catering partly to princely needs; jewelers, embroiderers, dyers, makers of gold-worked footwear, tailors and drawstring makers. Suddenly one was breathing the air of a court aimed at casting itself in the classical Indian mold: not merely a center of power but a hub of cultural activity, of patronage extended to distant quarters. Many of the developments in the arts that took place during the reigns of Maharaja Narinder Singh served as a model for his successors at Patiala and also influenced the rulers of other Sikh Kingdoms - Kapurthala, Nabha, Jing and Faridkot. What is striking in many of these later Sikh Kingdoms is the fact that nearly all cultural activity was marked by a catholocity of approach, a decidely liberality of outlook. During most of the period of growth, there was a breadth of vision, there were no fissures along religious lines, whether in matters of state or those of the arts. The sense one has is that all this is rooted in conviction, not policy. The parallels of Ranjit Singh's kingdom come sharply to mind. For this major show on Sikh Art, the V & A, has drawn from its own extensive collections and collaborated with museums and private collectors in India, Pakistan, the U.S., Switzerland and France as well as the U.K. ``The Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms'' is intended to travel subsequently to North America. Susan Stronge, Curator in the Indian and South-East Asian Department of the V & A, has edited the magnificently illusrated book accompanying the exhibition. Written by leading experts in Sikh history, religion and the arts of the period, the publication is a lavish tribute to the rich cultural splendours of the Sikhs. Among the many objects that feature in the first international exhibition of Sikh Art, is a rare and important collection of albumen prints by the 19th century photographer, Felice Beato. Felice Beato was born in Venice and later became a naturalised British citizen. On his travels through India between 1857 and 1860 Beato took a series of stunning photographs of the Golden Temple. Beato focused on the architectural beauty of the Golden Temple with close-up images that to this day remain unparalleled. The subject, a striking construction of gold and marble dating from the 19th century, is one of the most sacred monuments of Sikh faith. The serene beauty of Beato's photographs translate to the viewer the sacredness and importance of the Temple and its environment. A celebrated artist of his time, many of Beat's studies of the Golden Temple have never been shown before. Some were last shown at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1867. * Avoiding the clash of civilizations by T V R Shenoy from Rediff on the NeT 4/10/99 "I bow with love and devotion to the Holy Sword, Assist me that I may complete this work, Thou art the subduer of countries, The destroyer of the armies of the wicked!" Those words were spoken on the first day of Vaisakh, Vikrama Samvata 1756 (March 30, 1699 by the Gregorian calendar) at Anandpur, on the foundation of the Khalsa Panth. A movement beginning with just five men -- Dayaram, Dharamdas, Sahibchand, Himmatchand Kahar, and Mohkaamchand Chhimba -- is now numbered in the millions. It was, as Guru Govind Singh intended, a syncretic movement from the very start. Of the Panj Pyaaraas, one was a barber and another a water-carrier; raising such men to high posts was something quite unheard of those days. The Sikh faith has changed in 300 years, yet I think a man from earlier days would still find himself on familiar territory if he were to visit a modern gurdwara. He might not recognize the electric lights and microphones, but the prayers, the manners, and the rituals are still recognizably the same. Our hypothetical time-traveler might, perhaps, be slightly bemused at the way some interested parties tried to drive a wedge between Sikhs and the larger society in which they dwell. He might remember how Guru Govind Singh himself had flashed his naked sword to the assembly, crying out, "This is Durga!" Or how later still, Maharaja Ranjit Singh bequeathed the famous Kohinoor to the temple of Jagannath at Puri. Or how the last Sikh kings used to have their ashes immersed in the Ganga at Haridwar. While Guru Govind Singh conceived the Khalsa to be the "sword-arm of Hinduism", he was by no means anti-Islamic. Muslim soldiers such as Said Beg and Maimu Khan fought in his army, and he won the support of the Muslim seer Pir Budhu Shah of Sadhaura. Finally, unlike many of his contemporaries who were tied down to their own piece of land, the Guru consciously thought of India as a whole -- not surprising in someone who was born in Bihar, fought in Punjab, and died in Maharashtra. If 1999 marks the 300th anniversary of the foundation of the Khalsa, it also marks the 610th anniversary of another event -- the Battle of the Field of Blackbirds. This happens to be one of those rare events, better known even to the English-speaking out for their Orthodox brethren in Serbia. I was in Europe as the Easter weekend began. It was a weird experience. Here in India we are told how Christ was the "Prince of Peace". But in Christian Europe, Christian nations were spending what should have been a time of prayer and reconciliation in killing each other. Pope John Paul II appealed for an armistice, at least over Easter itself, but he went unheeded. (Perhaps everyone is waiting for the Orthodox Easter that falls on April 11 this year!) Watching all this, I couldn't help remembering Samuel Huntington's famous prediction about a 'Clash of Civilizations'. His thesis was that the ideological conflict of the Cold War years would be replaced by another battle for supremacy. But this war, Professor Huntington predicted, would be between culture systems, not capitalism and communism. And these 'civilizations' would be broadly defined on the basis of religion. Watching events unfold in the former Yugoslavia, I wonder if Huntington's forecasts are coming true. So there you have them -- two different views of where we are going. Huntington, drawing upon the history of the West, predicted a future of constant conflict. Guru Govind Singh went out of his way to prove that men of different castes and creeds could live together amicably. (Though watching Parliament in Jayalalitha-induced convulsions may lead one to think otherwise!) Perhaps both the guru and the professor were correct -- Europe and America may be condemned to conflict, but India doesn't have to follow suit. At least, I hope not. *Working from a garage that has been converted into a design studio, the mother Jamila Malhotra and her daughter Seema Sheriff designed the costumes for some award-winning films including the hand embroidery for the 15th century British costumes worn by Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth in their relative Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth and costumes for Judy Dench, who also plays Queen Elizabeth in Shakespeare in Love. Doing embroidery for Elizabeth, they never traveled to London. They just sent over huge courier packets of embroidered silks there every fortnight. Jamila runs the financial aspect of the design business. She meets exporters, picks up the fabric from Dubai, the largest market of textiles from around the world, and comes up with ideas. Seema focuses on the business at home. She interacts with the workers from Lucknow, Bombay and Tamil Nadu, and her clients, and supervises the creation of the garment, one of which could take up to seven days to complete. They may be mother and daughter but behave more like friends. An embellished salwar kameez produced by them could cost between Rs 7,500 and Rs 25,000. And sometimes the figure crosses that, depending on the intricacy of the embroidery. HOLIDAYS: April 27 Muharram, 30 Budha Purnima May 9 Mother's Day, 31 Memorial Day * Till July 25, London, U.K.: THE ARTS OF THE SIKH KINGDOMS, the first international exhibition of the artistic heritage of the Sikhs at the Victoria and Albert museum. * Till September 26, Washington, D.C., USA: BEHIND THE HIMALAYAS, an exhibition of water- colors by the Australian artist Robert Powell of the architecture in the remote Mustang region of Nepal at the Smithsonian's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. More info from <www.si.edu/asia>. * April 29, Seattle, WA, USA: TIBET: PEOPLES AND LANDS a no-host dinner and slide presentation featuring Russell Johnson, Professional Photographer, 6:30-9:00 p.m., at Maharaja Restaurant, 8518 Greenwood Avenue North. In 1984, Johnson traveled to Western China, Tibet and the Indian Sub-continent. Out of that experience grew many stories with pictures which he developed into his first book, The Sacred Mountain. He has exhibited the pictures and photographs at various exhibitions.To register, and for more info contact World Affairs Council in Seattle at nbacon@world-affairs.org. * May 1, Portland, OR, USA: BENGALI NEW YEAR, a celebration hosted by Anand Dhani, including birth centenary of Kazi Nazrul Islam, and tributes to the Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen from 3:00 -5:00 p.m. at PCC Rock Creek Auditorium (Bldg 3). More info from ashrafa@ichips.intel.com * May 1, Palo Alto, CA, USA: AN EVENING OF DANCES choreographed by Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra and performed by Nrityagram Dance Ensemble from India, a presentation of Indo American Community Service Center, at 7:30 p.m., at Cubberley Theater, 4000 Middlefield Road. Tickets at $20 & $25. More info from 408-748-1771. * May 1, San Diego, CA, USA: 10TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP FESTIVAL featuring international music, dance, arts, crafts and food 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at United States International University, 10455 Pomerado Rd. More info from 619-635-4674. * May 2, Seattle, OR, USA: HARI PRASAD CHAURASIA ON BANSURI (FLUTE), a presentation of Ragamala at 7:30 p.m. at 30 Kane Hall, University of Washington. Tickets $10.00 members; $20.00 non-members. More info from (206) 522-0084, (206) 525-7728. * May 2, San Francisco & San Rafael, CA, USA: FILM FESTIVAL to include "Battu Bioscope" the Polish director Andrzej Fidyk's documentary about Bollywood musicals at 1:30 p.m., "Haathi" at 3:30 p.m. at Kabuki Theater, 1881 Post Street, San Francisco, and "Terrorist" at 3:30 p.m. at Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth Street, San Rafael. More info from 415-931-FILM. * May 8, Austin, TX, USA: INDIAN FAIR including food, music, dance, shops, Mehndi, Jyotis, and games at Barsana Dham, 400 Barsana Rd. More info from 512-288-7180. * May 15, Portland, OR, USA: VEENA CONCERT by Kalaimamani Smt. Ranganayaki Rajgopalan, a presentation of India Cultural Association and Natya Academy for the Dances of India, at 7:00 p.m. at Evans Auditorium, Lewis & Clark College. Advance tickets at $ for ICA members and $ 9 for non members from FASTIXX. More info from portland_ica@hotmail.com. * August 5-15, New York, NY, USA: NURALDEEN'S LIFETIME, a post-colonial play by the celebrated Bangladeshi playwright, Syed Shamsul Haq, directed by Sudipto Chatterjee and produced by Epic Actors' Workshop & Choir, a South Asian performance group, in an off-Broadway production. For financial support and for more info contact gantsen@email.msn.com. * April 29, Washington, D.C., USA: A BREAKFAST BRIEFING BY HONORABLE JOHN HOLZMAN, UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO BANGLADESH, discusses recent political developments in this moderate Islamic nation, economic trends in its emerging market, and U.S.-Bangladesh relations. Co-hosted with the U.S.-Bangladesh Business Council. Tickets at Council members $15; non-members $20; students with ID $12. More info from (202) 833-2742. * May 2, Hayward, CA, USA: BUDDHA JAYANTI at 1:00 p.m., at Fremont Hindu Temple, 3676 Delaware Dr. More info from 510-659-0655. * June 28-29, Seattle, WA, USA: GLOBALIZATION AND LOCAL RESPONSES: TEACHING ABOUT THE WORLD OF THE 21ST CENTURY, a Seminar for Educators Grades 6-16 at Husky Union Building (HUB) 200 ABC, Seattle Campus, University of Washington. The event, sponsored by the UW's Jackson School Outreach Centers, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, and the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), School of Business Administration, focuses on human rights, tourism and the environment, trans-nationalism and communications, media and popular culture, and economic relations and development. More info from kengel@u.washington.edu. * The Annual Meeting of the Western Conference of The Association For Asian Studies will be held in September, at Boise, Idaho, USA. They are looking for interesting and provocative panels or papers on matters south Asian. More info from www.lcsc.edu/mlevine jkirk@micron.net * South Asian Public Health Forum Discussion Group maintains a list meant for the exchange of ideas and information among Public Health Professionals Worldwide, but especially who have interest in South Asia ( Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives). They welcome your postings about research, health issues and social and economic changes in the region.To subscribe please visit the website at http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Sauna/7723 or send an email to saphf@geocities.com.
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