dinsdag 15 november 2022

Indian-origin Sikh wins NSW Australian of the Year award

Indian-origin Sikh wins NSW Australian of the Year award


Melbourne, November 14, 2022

Indian-origin Sikh Amar Singh has been honoured with the New South Wales Australian of the Year award for supporting the community impacted by floods, bushfires, drought and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Singh, 41, is the founder and President of 'Turbans 4 Australia' -- a charity organisation that assists people facing financial hardship, food insecurity, homelessness and those impacted by natural calamities.

"Our President and Founder was named NSW Local Hero this week! We are beyond proud of you Amar," Turbans 4 Australia tweeted last week.

Singh, who was awarded in the Local Hero category, founded the charity in 2015 after experiencing racial slurs and insults because of his Sikh turban and beard, a New South Wales (NSW) government release stated.

"A co-worker once told me I looked like a terrorist. While simply going about my daily life, strangers on the street have asked me if I'm carrying a bomb, or what I'm hiding under my turban," Singh, a strong advocate of multiculturalism and interfailth dialogue, said.

"I wanted Australians to see Sikhs as people they could trust and turn to in times of need," he added.

Singh, who moved to Australia as a teenager, said that he has been very passionate about community service from a younger age.

Every week, Singh and his organisation package and distribute up to 450 food and grocery hampers to people experiencing food insecurity in Western Sydney.

They have also delivered hay to farmers experiencing drought; supplies to flood victims in Lismore and bushfire-impacted people on the South Coast; and food hampers to the isolated and vulnerable during Covid-19 lockdowns.

Singh and his group are also teaching people in cities across Australia about the Sikh community via their Turban Fest events.

"By tying turbans on people's heads, we create an opportunity to chat without our fellow Australians and show them that our turbans and beards are nothing to fear," Singh said in his community website.

He was awarded Member of the Order of Liverpool (Honorary) in 2021.

In the past, Singh has volunteered during the Sydney 2000 Olympic games, Invictus games, and Gold Coast commonwealth games.

Since its inception in 1960, the Australian of the Year awards honour an exceptional group of highly-respected Australians who ignite discussion and change on issues of national importance.

Apart from Singh, there are four other recipients of the award from NSW, who will come together with awardees from other states for the national awards ceremony in Canberra on January 25, 2023. IANS

woensdag 9 november 2022

Waarom sikhs altijd lange haren en baarden hebben: ‘Durf te vragen’

Waarom sikhs altijd lange haren en baarden hebben: 'Durf te vragen' trekt naar grootste gemeenschap in Sint-Truiden


Een behoorlijk Limburgse aflevering van Durf te vragen want vanavond worden de vragen gesteld aan sikhs.

Tom Vets
Vandaag om 02:00

In Belgiƫ leven naar schatting 20.000 sikhs. De grootste sikh gemeenschap woont in Sint-Truiden. Daar gaat Siska Schoeters samen met Pritty naar de gurdwara (gebedshuis) om een viering bij te wonen.

In de studio worden de vragen beantwoord door o.a. Kamaljit. Hij is geboren in India en in 1996 naar Belgiƫ verhuisd. Toen hij in 2003 met Jaspreet trouwde, is zij hem gevolgd. Samen heeft het koppel verschillende zaken: een nacht- en dagwinkel, een carwash en een frituur.

Ze vertellen zonder taboes wat het sikhisme voor hen betekent in hun dagelijks leven, wat een sikh eigenlijk is, en waarom ze altijd lange haren en baarden hebben.

Durf te vragen, Een, wo om 20.40u  ( 9th Nov 2022)


dinsdag 1 november 2022

Vikramjit Singh's family escaped 1984 riots

Vikramjit Singh's family escaped 1984 riots: Netherlands sikh batter's story, know it all here - IN PICS

https://zeenews.india.com/photos/sports/vikramjit-singhs-escaped-1984-riots-netherlands-sikh-batters-story-know-it-all-here-in-pics-2527411

Netherlands opening batter Vikramjit Singh could not trouble the scorers in IND vs NED clash in Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup 2022. He however has achieved many things in his life already. At 19, he is Netherlands' best bet at the top. He is just 19 and has miles to go in his career. But do you know that his roots are in India. Vikramjit belongs to a village in Punjab and his grandfather continues to live here. However, there is more to this story than what meets the eye. Look below for more. 

Vikramjit Singh's family fled Punjab during 1984 riots

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Vikramjit Singh's family fled Punjab during 1984 riots

Vikramjit Singh's grandfather Khushi Cheema fled their village called Cheema Khurd to protect his family. He boarded the train to Delhi from Jalandhar as the riots spread all across Punjab. 

 

Vikramjit's family moved to Netherlands

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Vikramjit's family moved to Netherlands

Khushi Cheema moved with his family to Netherlands soon with his son five-year old son Harpeeet. There he started driving taxi but in 2000, came back after setting up a taxi business and handing over business to his son Harpreet. 

Vikramjit's family faced racism in Netherlands early on

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Vikramjit's family faced racism in Netherlands early on

Vikramjit's father Harpreet says that his family faced racism during the early days in the new country. "Back then, there was racism. I faced a lot because of my skin colour, turban and beard," says Harpreet

Vikramjit was born in Punjab

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Vikramjit was born in Punjab

Vikramjit was born in Punjab. In the same village as his father and grandfather  which is Cheema Khurd. He was sent to Netherlands only when he turned seven years old.

Vikramjit Singh's family fled Punjab during 1984 riots

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Vikramjit Singh's family fled Punjab during 1984 riots

Vikram took a liking to cricket instantly. He was just 12 when former Netherlands captain Peter Borren spotted him and began to groom the young talent. At 15, he made his debut for Netherlands A side. He took a liking to cricket when he spent those early seven years of his life in Cheema Khurd.