Kaur Power

Sikh-Aussie Ravneet Kaur: Simply Equal

by KAREN POH





A Heidelberg (Victoria, Australia) resident has beaten hundreds of hopefuls from Victoria to be selected to compete in the Mrs. Australia national finals in July.

Ravneet Kaur, 30, said she was "over the moon" when she found out she had received the nod.

Ravneet, who runs her own charity, Simply Equal, to support disadvantaged young Sikh and Indian women in India and Australia, said she joined because of the competition's charity focus.

As part of the Mrs. Australia pageant, participants raise money for Women in Need, a charity organisation dedicated to the personal empowerment of women and assisting in the recovery of women who have been the victims of domestic abuse.

"Growing up in an Sikh/ Indian culture in Australia and having to balance values from both cultures created a lot of hardship, and those experiences made me think of helping other women," Ravneet Kaur said. "It's important for women to have that support network, and I'd like to reach out to the women in the Heidelberg community."
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/business-and-lifestyle/22488-kaur-power.html

The winner will go on to compete in the Mrs. Globe pageant in Greece.

Ravneet is preparing to hold her third fundraising event for Women in Need through a pub trivia night in Richmond, and she is seeking sponsorships, donations and helping hands to make it a success.

More information: http://www.simplyequal.org
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488

April 22, 2010

 
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__________________

Therapeutic art arrives in Dufferin
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488
Adam Martin-Robbins


Helping through art:. Registered art therapist Rapinder Kaur opened a practice, Art as Therapy, at the Harmony Health Clinic on Highway 9 last fall. Kaur specializes in working with children and teens with a myriad of challenges including ADHD, anxiety, autism, depression and low self-esteem.

Those walking into Rapinder Kaur's office in the Harmony Health Clinic for the first time might think they've accidentally stepped into an artist's studio. After all it's stocked with paintbrushes, paint, markers and playdough. That's because, while she's not an artist, those tools are central to Kaur's work as a registered art therapist.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488

“It’s essentially psychotherapy but instead of just relying on vocal means, you’re using art as a medium,” she said. “What it doesn’t require is you to be an artist in the traditional sense.”

Kaur opened her local practice — Art as Therapy — at the clinic inside the ACTS fitness centre last September. Her clients use basic art materials such as clay, collage, paint and markers “in a freer, spontaneous way to express inner thoughts and feelings.”

“It works really well with children because it’s non-threatening,” Kaur said. “It’s a much more friendly way of working with children. … (Because) difficult feelings are often hard to express through words.”

In addition to young children, Kaur also works with teens and their families in a broad range of areas including anger issues, low self-esteem, ADHD, autism or Asperger’s.

She also works with families who are going through a divorce, as well as adults looking for a mental tune-up.

“We all have mental health (issues),” Kaur said. “In the way we think of looking at physical health — exercise, eating better foods — this can be seen as health for your mind.”

Kaur studied psychology in England and worked in a few facilities there before moving to Canada with her parents several years ago. When Kaur arrived in Ontario, she decided to specialize in art therapy.

That’s because when she worked with troubled teens in a psychiatric hospital in England, the kids hated almost all of their doctors, except the art therapist.

“It was a much more friendly way of working with them,” the 31-year-old said.

Kaur enrolled in the Toronto Art Therapy Institute, which was established in 1968 by Dr. Martin Fischer, who is one of the founding fathers of the field in Canada.

“It’s still a fairly new profession (in Canada),” she said. “It’s more established in the United Kingdom and the United States.”

Kaur, who also has a practice in Mississauga, set up shop locally — two days a week — after working with different organizations in Dufferin for about five years.

“I heard there was a real need to have a therapist that has a specialty in working with children and teens,” she said. “I’ve been working with youth and children for 10 years in a number of facilities.”

One of the issues Kaur sees cropping up among local youth is anxiety, which affects about 12 per cent of the younger population.

“People often think it’s ADHD or autism but it’s anxiety,” she said.

Among teens, Kaur said she also notices kids are struggling with a sense of identity.

“They’re thinking about the future and that can be really frightening for them,” she said. Sometimes the solution is to open up the lines of communication between parents and children, she added.

“Often there’s not that dialogue between parents and teens ... because of that there’s lots of behaviour, anger, anxiety,” Kaur said. “For teens, their brains are still developing and they need just as much guidance as when they are three, or four or five.”

A typical session begins with a warm-up activity to set the tone and then, depending on what the client is feeling, Kaur will provide some kind of art-based directive.

“After about 20 odd minutes, we will look at the art together and discuss it,” she explained. “What we’re really doing is trying to help the individual come to understand what it means for them. … There’s no judgment here. This isn’t an art class in the traditional sense.”

In addition to working with clients at her office, Kaur also conducts sessions at a number of local agencies including Family Transition Place (FTP) and Dufferin Child and Family Services.

Stephanie Robinson, a community counsellor at FTP, has been working with Kaur for about three years in the shelter’s Peaceful Families program. She says Kaur has been able to connect with some of the children in the program because of her methods and her approach.

“A lot of what she does is with kids who’ve experienced a lot of conflict in their homes,” Robinson said. “(Art therapy) gives them another way of letting out what’s going on and helps to open up some of the barriers.

“It’s Rapinder’s personality. … She’s got a very level-headed approach and she’s very direct. She has a way of asking questions non-judgmentally that opens up so much more. She works really well with kids with difficult issues.”

Edmonton Police Officer Overcomes Abuse

Maple Leaf Sikh: Edmonton Police Officer Overcomes Abuse


Before Namrata “Mona” Gill became a city police officer she endured beatings and belittling from her husband, eventually seeking refuge in a women’s shelter with her young daughter.

But as a Sikh woman from India, where divorce is frowned upon, it was far from easy to escape her arranged marriage.

“It takes a lot of courage,” said Gill, 39, Thursday.

Language barriers, a lack of family support and cultural differences make it especially difficult for immigrant females to leave abusive relationships, Gill said.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488

The first shelter for immigrant women in Canada opened its doors in Edmonton Monday. The five-bedroom shelter – WIN House III - is staffed with multi-lingual workers 24 hours a day.

Gill said she is amazed to see the centre open but says more are needed. Already the shelter’s 10 beds are full, said Sandra Danco, executive director of Edmonton Women’s Shelters.

The $500,000 project was funded through Alberta Children and Youth Services, Ministry of Culture and Community Spirit and private donations.

As a police officer, Gill said she speaks with women experiencing abuse daily just as she did.

Gill spent six years in a marriage where she worked unpaid up to 15 hours a day in her husband’s convenience store. He beat her, leaving bruises everywhere on her body – except her face, and was nearly raped.

Her dream of a career in law enforcement was squashed by her partner. But Gill says she was one of the lucky ones - as she had parental support.

With the help of her parents, Gill left and took refuge in a women’s shelter. For more than a month, a WIN House shelter was home with her four-year-old daughter Anmol Gill Sandhu.

Gill speaks openly about her abuse with the hope she can help others in similar situations.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488

Last month, Namrata - a National Film Board of Canada documentary about Mona’s struggle - was released.

“I know it will help a lot of women, but even if I can help one,” said Gill, a 911 dispatcher.

One of the first things Gill did after leaving her husband was apply to become a police officer. Nearly 10 years ago her dream came true.

“It’s your life. You can do what you want instead of someone controlling it. If I can do it anybody can do it.”

Here is a short clip from the documentary mentioned above. The story of Namrata Gill was the inspiration for the film by Deepa Mehta, Heaven on Earth.


http://www.nfb.ca/film/namrata_clip_2/

I think you can find other clips of the film at this web site too.

Domestic violence from any gender in marriage is wrong, cruel and criminal, not only in the eyes of the law in most of the western world but also from the humanity point of view. We, as humans evolve and that evolution from the within is to " feel no enmity, to see no one as stranger".

No one has the right to beat the spouse or the kids to teach/prove the point. It is inhumane.

Even the Bible, the religion adopted by the majority, condones child abuse and ill treatment of women and women always took back stage in the world's religions including Islam till the vision that Guru Nanak shared with us.

Domestic violence which also goes along with child abuse is not uncommon in India or any other patriarchal society where men have the upper hand literally and metaphorically speaking in this case. Female infanticide is the ends to the means of domestic abuse when women are abused by their husbands and their in-laws.

This tribal mentality is abhorrent to say the least no matter how many nitnems, sehaj paaths, akhand paaths we do.

There are many Namratas in India and outside India hiding in the closets too afraid and ashamed to share this daily torture along with their children when the spouse/father shows up, most of the time drunk. Many who do not drink also practice this same barbarity.

Local Gurdwaras in the diaspora rather than spending money on golden domes and other futile stuff should open shelters for this kind of abuse.

After all isn't this the meaning of the tall Nishan Sahib at every Gurdwara to invite those in who are in need?

This need is more urgent now than ever.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488

Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488
Narayanjot ji, thanks for bringing this in light by posting the news. We at SPN should open a section which should be only accessed by the mentors, leaders and the administrators where the abused can share their stories without the fear of repercussions and we can help them in some way or form with the help of SALDEF, Sikh Coalition and United Sikhs.

I am sure it can be done. Let's spread the world out and take this step to stop this domestic abuse because Sikhi demands this from us.

Tejwant Singh

India's First Lady's Autobiography

ECONOMIC TIMES





Behind every successful man, there is a woman, goes the cliché.

At the first press conference on the first anniversary of his second term as PM, Dr Manmohan Singh was asked about the role played by not one but two women in his life: his wife Gursharan Kaur and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. "I have the benefit of being advised by the Congress president and my wife. Both of them deal with different subjects," he added, much to the amusement of the journalists present.

The advice being offered by Sonia Gandhi is, of course, constantly being written about by the media.

The advice offered by Gursharan Kaur - India's First Lady and the first spouse to hold such a position who has fulfilled her role with competence, grace and aplomb - could be revealed in the autobiography she is reportedly working on. Journalists could even glean insights from the book that she is reportedly writing in consultation with editor-turned-columnist-cum-historian-cum-novelist, Khushwant Singh.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488

The PM's daughter, Upinder Kaur, a scholar in her own right, has authored books titled Ancient Delhi and A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India. Another daughter, Daman Kaur, has written a book titled The Last Frontier: People and Forests in Mizoram and a novel titled Nine by Nine.

When Tony Blair was the prime minister of the UK, his wife Cherie - a leading lawyer in her own right - came out with a book that was fairly critical of not just his political opponents but his eventual successor. When both the Bushes (father and son) were presidents of the U.S., their wives (Barbara and Laura) wrotebooks about how cute their pet dogs were! When Bill Clinton was the president of the U.S., his wife Hillary wrote a rather profound book titled It Takes a Village, which, some said, was meant to advance her own political career.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488

While Gursharan Kaur can be counted on to not spill the beans a la Cherie or to further any independent political agenda a la Hillary, any book with which Khushwant is reportedly involved should hopefully be more than just cute!



May 28, 2010

Aman ji

After the White House dinner and state visit, covered extensively by US press, Gursharan Kaur started to become a person of fascination to many Americans. We have another story about her here in the forum. She is apparently known for her personal humility and modesty, always shying from the limelight.

The story I recall is of her attendance at a state reception in India. She helped herself to some appetizer and tea and sat off away from the noisy crowd by herself. She was approached by a very sophisticated and talkative lady who introduced herself and began bragging about her husband, his achievements and exploits. Gursharan Kaur listened with apparent interest. Finally when the "society matron" was finished, she asked Gursharan ji about her husband. "What does he do?" was the question. Gursharan said, "He works for the government." Not satisfied, the elegant woman asked more. "But where does he work?" Answer from Gursharan, "He has an office in the federal facilities." (I can't remember exactly the location, apologies from me.) The woman persisted. "But what is his position?" Only then did Gursharan ji reply, "He is the prime minister." Obviously this story left an impression on me. So much for status seekers. LOL

Kiran Bedi

Kiran Bedi is truly an icon of heroism. She was the first Indian woman to join the Indian Police Services. She was born on June 9, 1949 at Amritsar in Punjab. She is one of the most renowned police officers, who have put in their whole hearted effort in serving the society. Well, in this article, we will present you with the biography of Kiran Bedi, who is the pride of our Indian police force.

In the recent times, she has been appointed as the Director General of India's Bureau of Police Research and Development. Earlier, she served as the Police Advisor in the United Nations peacekeeping department. For her noteworthy performance, she was awarded with the UN medal. In the year 2005, she received the honorary degree of Doctor of Law. To know the complete life history of Kiran Bedi, read on…

Education
She did her schooling from the Sacred Heart Convent School in Amritsar. She completed her graduation in the English language from the Government College for Women in Amritsar. She received her Masters degree in Political Science from Punjab University, Chandigarh. She continued her studies, even when she joined the Indian Police force. In the year 1988, she obtained a degree in Law (LLB) from Delhi University.

In the year 1993, the Department of Social Sciences, the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi awarded her with a Ph.D. degree. Her topic of research was Drug Abuse and Domestic Violence. Kiran Bedi has won the championship of all-India and all-Asian tennis competition. When she was 22 years old, she won the Asian Ladies Title.

Career
Her career started in the year 1970, when she took the job of a lecturer at Khalsa College for Women in Amritsar. Two years later, she joined the Indian Police Services. All the way through her career, she has taken up a number of challenging assignments. She has served as the Traffic Commissioner of New Delhi, Deputy Inspector General of Police in the insurgency prone area of Mizoram.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488

She has also been the Lieutenant Governor of Chandigarh and Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau. An interesting thing about Kiran Bedi is that, sometimes, she is referred to as Crane Bedi. The reason behind calling her by this name is that, she dragged the car of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi due to violation of parking rules.

Kiran Bedi made the Indian Police Service change its decision in matters related to traffic management, control over narcotics and VIP security. During her tenure as the Inspector General of Tihar Jail, she brought about several reforms in the way the prisons are managed. She brought forth a number of measures like yoga, meditation, redressal of complaints made by the prisoners etc.

Kiran Bedi laid the foundation for the establishment of two voluntary organizations, namely, Navajyoti (1988) & India Vision Foundation (1994). These organizations were primarily set up with the aim of improving the living conditions of the drug addicts and the underprivileged people. The effort of Kiran Bedi has paid and brought her worldwide recognition. Her works have always earned appreciation. For drug abuse prevention, her organization was presented with the Serge Soitiroff Memorial Award by the United Nations.

Awards
For her outstanding work, Kiran Bedi has received a number of accolades like:

• President's Gallantry Award (1979)
• Women of the Year Award (1980)
• Asia Region Award for Drug Prevention and Control (1991)
• Magsaysay Award for Government Service (1994)
• Mahila Shiromani Award (1995)
• Father Machismo Humanitarian Award (1995)
• Lion of the Year (1995)
• Joseph Beuys Award (1997)
• Pride of India (1999)
• Mother Teresa Memorial National Award for Social Justice (2005

Note: Kiran Bedi is from a mixed Hindu-Sikh family. Biography at this link http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biog...phyBediKir.htm




http://www.iloveindia.com/indian-heroes/kiran-bedi.html

Dr. Anarkali Kaur Honaryar: Afghanistan's Sikh Heroine


"It is difficult for a woman to be a pilot in Afghanistan. My father said it does not fit in with this country's culture," Dr Anarkali Kaur Honaryar tells me, sitting in her office at the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission.

In some ways the high flyer has taken on a challenge much tougher than piloting planes.

She fights for women's rights in a society that remains staunchly patriarchal, and where many of her gender still breathe beneath their veils.

In May 2009, the 25-year-old was chosen by Radio Free Europe's Afghan chapter as their "Person of the Year". The award has made her a household name in Kabul.

Anarkali Kaur - a trained dentist - is one of about 3,000 Sikhs and Hindus who remain in Afghanistan.

Their number - and their prosperity - has significantly dwindled since 1991 when civil war broke out.

Before then, there were an estimated 50,000 Sikhs and Hindus in this ethnically diverse country and many ran successful businesses in Kabul, Kandahar and other cities.

But the outbreak of hostilities meant that most - including Anarkali's relatives - moved to safer places in India, Europe and Canada.

She has led campaigns for the civil rights of the embattled communities who stayed on, including one to get crematoriums built for their dead.

"Some people still think we are foreigners. They think we are Indians who are working and living here for a while. But we are Afghans too, and we should have all the rights and opportunities that other Afghans have," says the demure yet outspoken doctor.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488

She has grown up in turbulent times.

In the early 1990s, Afghanistan was a country at war, with no stable central government.

The provinces - including Anarkali's native Baghlan in the north - were ruled by warlords.

To make matters worse, swathes of the country were falling into Taliban hands.

Girls' schools were banned in Taliban strongholds and religious minorities felt threatened by their extremist Sunni Muslim ideology - Anarkali Kaur fell into both categories: a female and a non-Muslim.

Fortunately for her, Baghlan did not come under Taliban rule. She carried on her education in relative freedom and graduated from high school four years ahead of her peers.

"I am grateful to my parents for supporting my education. Not all Afghan girls have been so lucky," she says.

Once the Taliban were overthrown in 2001, Anarkali went to Kabul University to study medicine. She was part of the Loya Jirga (grand council) that selected the interim government to replace the Taliban.

"The situation for women has improved since the Taliban days. Now if the Karzai government does not listen to us, at least we can appeal to human rights groups," she says.

And so she joined the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in 2006.

"They know I am a Sikh but they still trust me with their most personal problems," she says of the hundreds of mostly Muslim women she meets.

"The culture here is loaded against women. We try to solve their problems, but we also need to change the laws."

Awareness of existing laws is also at a premium here - the female literacy rate is less than 20%.

Anarkali recounts how an illiterate woman had travelled a long way to Kabul to meet her. The woman's husband wanted to divorce her when she was expecting their child.

"She didn't know that Afghan laws state a husband cannot divorce his pregnant wife. He has to wait till the child is at least two months old. We helped her secure her rights," she says, with a hint of pride.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488

While conferences have taken her to different parts of the globe, Dr Anarkali Kaur Honaryar regrets not travelling enough in the land of her ancestors - Punjab and India.

A visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar - Sikhism's holiest shrine - is top of her to-do list. And of course, the Taj Mahal.

http://www.unp.co.in/f16/afghanistan...eroine-100796/

Harsimrat Kaur Badal is current member of the for the electorate of Bathinda. Kaur Badal is the wife of , President of and daughter-in-law of Punjab Chief Minister . She currently represents Bathinda lok sabha constituency in 15th . In 2009 Lok Sabha elections, she defeated , son of former Chief Minister of Punjab in a high profile election contest.[

citation needed

Wikipedia:Citation_needed

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Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488
[edit] Campaign against female infanticide
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22488

Kaur Badal worked vigorously for gender sensitivity and her campaign against female feticide has highlighted the issue to such great length that almost all NGOs & Govt. authorities have woken of from slumber and trying to enlighten the people to shun female feticide which would go long way in checking the ever decreasing female sex ratio in Punjab & she earned lot of respect for her efforts in her successful campaign known as (NANHI CHAAN). She emphasised on planting trees by equating motherhood with mother nature , she is very assertive in parliament, she has successfully raised the issue of 1984 genocide of sikhs in parliament of India which has culminated in resignation of a Cabinet Minister and prosecution of Sajjan Kumar accused of killing Sikhs in riots of Delhi in the year 1984 after more than 25 years providing some hope of justice to victims and for restoring the faith of posterity in the indian legal system which has been made perfunctory by law enforcing agencies. on 3.12.2009, she addressed the house & she was heard with rapt attention, it was one of the rare occasion when M.P of any regional party spoke from heart and the entire house was at ad idem with her concern about the victims & survivors of genocide of Sikhs in 1984. she highlighted how after 25 years, these victims are still waitnig for any substantial justice , her heartfelt speech evoked response from the opposition members and in unison they said " SHAME SHAME" . She further highlighted the contribution of Sikhs in Freedom Struggle, by indicating out of 70% of the total execution by the Colonial Government.& 80 % of indians sent to exile in Kalapani in Andeman were Sikhs. She invited the attention of the house , how the same Nationalist Sikhs were killed for merely being Sikhs in 1984 Sikh Genocide , her heartrending speech brought the entire House into a gloomy quiet, the leader of House Parnab Mukhreji was forced to acknowledge , it was tragic and he said it should not happen again , but it was too little and too late to mitigate the misery of victims , his subtle response was deafened by the entire opposition exclaiming "IT IS HORRENDOUS" some thing which the leader of the House could not congregate himself.The vicitms still waiting for justice for 26 long years to have yet any single person prosecuted for the gory massacare of Sikhs in 1984, felt some liberation that someone forcefully & considrately took up their cause at the floor of the house.