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NEWS March 31, 2003 Khalsa Day Seminar A Seminar will be held on the topics of human rights and
the Sikh Identity on Thursday, April 3. Baljeet Kaur will be speaking
on human rights issues in Punjab. Baljeet Kaur is associated with the
Punjab Human Rights Organization and has played a leading role in bringing
hundreds of cases of human rights violations of the Sikhs in Punjab to
the notice of Amnesty International and Asia Watch. Gurdarshan Singh, Professor of History at the Punjab University,
Chandigarh, will be speaking on the current assault on the Sikh Identity.
Gurdarshan Singh is a close observer of the socio-political scene in Punjab
and has been quoted in newspapers and journals. He is the author of India
Commits Suicide on the attack on Darbar Sahib. The seminar will be held at the Potomac Community Center,
5pm to 9pm. National Khalsa Day Parade This will be the third parade held at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C. The mission of the organizers will continue the on the theme of Sikh Sovereignty and Khalistan. The event has been criticized as being "too political"
and labeled as a "Khalistani March" instead of a Vaisakhi celebration.
To this, the lead organizer, Paramjit Singh, explains that the Sikh Nation
feels it is at a critical period when our identity and sovereignty are
under attack. This event attempts to "bring Sikhs together under
one Nishaan Sahib in Washington D.C. to deliberate these issues. By virtue
of its location, the event hopes to promote a proactive consideration
of the issue, reflecting on our glorious past, with the welfare of humankind
in mind." In the past, these issues had been raised on stage with
fiery speeches. Although, this year, the speakers will present mainly
in English, the speeches may still be emotional. Paramjit Singh says that
the speakers "express their own sentiment [and that] spontaneity
of expression should be permitted so long as the content is factual." The day will start with kirtan divaan, speeches, and gatka.
After langar, the parade will proceed from the Lincoln Memorial to the
Capitol lawn. The parade will again be led by a band of bagpiper representing
the historic camaraderie Sikhs and Scotts have built, fighting together
during various wars. Several floats will follow. The day's event will cost between $20,000 and $25,000.
The organizers have only raised $6,000 thus far. Last year, the event
ended with a budged deficit of $10,000. Between 75 and 100 individuals
from DC, MD, VA, NY, NJ, PA, and CT are involved in producing this event.
Bag-lunch langar for 3,000 people will be donated. The divaan will start at 10:30a, langar at 2pm, and parade
from 2pm to 4pm. Kaur Foundation Reaches Out to Schools In its outreach program, the Kaur Foundation will be chatting
with school teachers and administrators about Sikhi at informal after-school
gatherings. Sikh parents in area schools in Montgomery County, Howard
County and Columbia have volunteered to make arrangements with the schools
and to provide snacks. Members of the Kaur Foundation will assist the
parents in a lively discussion. Six schools will be visited during the
month of April. |