Most the time we see Sikhi related paintings or pictures, most of them are pretty cliche. Many of which are just knock offs from older generation paintings by Sobha Singh and others. Rare is it that you come across some new original / creative work that captures a moment, and makes it feel real.

Fortunately while finding things to do other then work I came across this flikr page which featured such original pieces. Below are a few of my personal favourites, the rest you can find on your own by checking Jatedar’s flickr page @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/kake/272657766/.

COSS was started little less then 4 years ago, as the omega SSA. The SSA that watches over all the other SSA’s, the SGPC if you will of the SSA world. I’ve always been a big proponent that history repeats itself and to make real change we need to escape from the loop as soon we as get a glimpse of a familiar path that we have already traveled. Seeing as how we now see the after effects of SGPC, I find it safe to say that to spare COSS  a similar fate it should be disbanded right now and here. As much as we may feel that we need an organization such as COSS - a central body to help govern continuity and consistency amongst SSA’s, we should look at the drawbacks visible to us from what is right in front of our eyes in the faults of the SGPC.

Be that as it may, that equating COSS to SGPC is stretching it just a bit, and not ignoring the obvious differences such as the fact that COSS only seeks to utterly control and dominate individual SSA’s whereas the SGPC wanted to simply control the Gurdwara’s. We need to take into account that the SGPC ’s quick and utter rise to power came and continues to flourish greatly due to the fact that the Gurdwara Sahibs provide a consistent income stream to its leaders. Unfortunately for COSS most the money generated by SSA’s is quickly divulged on Langar Day’s and making corny t-shirts, leaving little to be put into COSS’s kajanaa, even at times leaving execs to foot the bill for various events on there student visa’s.

None the less the threat of COSS becoming as powerful and narcissistic as the SGPC is very real. The real threat that dominates and looms over COSS is it being brought to its knees by a third party.

SGPC went on its knees and became the slave child of Akali Dal (Badal). After this happened the SGPC has become nothing less then a subservient puppet regime, that can not be disbanded, since doing so would make all blood spilt by those Martyrs of those various Morcha’s and dharnaa’s to have been in vain. For an institution such as the SGPC to disband after all the blood having been spilt would not only be a slap to their memories but also contribute to the ever brightening light of embarrassment and shame that we have seemingly become quite comfortable with.

In terms of COSS this third party can come in various forms. Be it Jathebandhi’s or even more gruesome Gurdwara committee’s, for whom COSS would be nothing more then another venue to help project their own agenda on the innocent and ignorant sangtaan. Keeping COSS leashed and obedient via funding, they would expect nothing less off COSS then to toe the committee line, especially when it came time for elections. This could later deluge into a single member of this group controlling and influencing COSS to do his or her bidding and that my friends would not be pretty.

So lend me your ears, and pay heed to this message for tomorrow. Do not let absolute power corrupt or even the chance to turn its ugly head and lick it lips at the opportunity. Do not let COSS become the prostitute whore of a pimp organization or committee. Disband it now, and forever let it exist as the hope that one day, we may all unite under a single banner, that the comrades who pray at the grave of Teja Bhasoria one day melt away. That those who support Deh Dhari Guru’s go mast into the night, never to be seen again, and that those pehovay wale babe who bring you close into Sikhi only to ask you to help loosen their Kasheray themselves choke on the very naalas with which they entice. Save your souls by turning your backs this November (or is it December) and collectively support the real victims in all of this, the little guys, the SSA’s, and have an all out boycott of COSS.

And if you’re left to ask why?? Why this post? Why the boycott? WHY??? Simple..Just BeCOSS

Or you could get involved, stay involved and contribute as much as you possibly can to make sure COSS works by participating in the upcoming COSS elections, and letting YOUR voice be heard. After all bad things happen when good people fail to act. Also for those of you offended by this post then please pay head to the advice given by none other then my boy [Dwayne Douglas Johnson]. All right now that you’re only ten times more offended I’ll continue to annoy you by making you read what you would have hoped for would have been an apology but really it’s not, its just my way of telling you to take a deep breath and get yourself a kit-kat since, since you’re clearly  in need of a break.

So yesterday, was the protest at the banquet hall where the seminar was supposed to have been held. However having received the Sandesh from Sri Akaal Takhat the night before, the owner quickly canceled the program. So as Scott Hall would say, “Looks like another one for the good guys.”

Due to the cancellation of the program all busses were also canceled, none the less a group of about 200 Singhs still gathered at the hall to protest. Ghagga’s crew also showed with roughly 20, 30 supporters, who either didn’t hear about the cancellation or wanted to try and spur a confrontation, none the less the visible police presence kept things from getting rowdy, and with Ghagga himself being a no show tempers were kept under control.

Expectedly, Ghagga and supporters later that night (Sahota on Sur Sagar), took pot shots at the Sandesh given by Akaal Takhat Sahib, and lobbied there disgust with the protest, clearly showing there frustration with this month long ordeal.

I think what hurt them more then the Sandesh was the quick diss-association by the Missionary colleges that Ghagga himself claimed to be representative of.

Having been run out of Europe, UK, and even parts of the States, Toronto Sangat comprised of various Sangat from  the various jathebandhi’s, gurdwara committee’s, councils and organizations all seemingly worked well together in tackling this foe, reminiscent of the saying: “My Brother and I against My Cousin; My Cousin and I against the Stranger.”

Source: Panthic Weekly

Amritsar Sahib (KP) - Panthic Weekly has received information that Sri Akal Takht Sahib has summoned anti-Panthic writer Inder S. Ghagga and his associates for their mis-parchar against the Sikh Nation.

Copy of Summons from Akal Takht Sahib calling for a boycott against Ghagga and his associates:

Keeping upto date with what seems to be everyone’s favourite topic and one that is starting to get old really fast, is that it seem’s like Ghagga is back in the news and this time it’s over a conference that is taking place this weekend.

The video released on panthic weekly helped those unfamiliar with Ghagga get an idea of who he is, and what he stands for. Although in those videos Ghagga does come to make some concessions, he has on other fronts apparently remained defiant and rumored to have asked for a re-match of sorts.

All that aside a well known and respected Sikh scholar from India, Professor Harpal Singh Pannu, professor of world religions specializing in religious philosophy and comparative religions and someone who seems to be familiar with Ghagga and the Kalaa Afghanaa Missionary Camp, has also weighed into the on going discussion by offering his own veechars on a local Radio program the other day.

Click here To download

As far the interview went I was left pretty impressed by the Prof’s veechars and general soch on Sikhi and his take on Ghagga’s writings. I guess it was refreshing at the very least.

Anyway’s getting back to the topic of the seminar at which Ghagga will be speaking. I received an email about a PEACEFUL protest that will be taking place.

What: PEACEFUL protest
When: Sunday, October 22nd, 2006.
Where: Premier Banquet Hall, 2360 Lucknow Drive, Brampton, On
Why: Read Below
Who: YOU and the organizations below.

Busses will be leaving from Malton, Dixie and Rexdale Gurdwara Sahibs and also from Springdale Area

(Read more…)

Seeing as how youtube took the video off here’s one with audio a bit out of sync