Sudden growth

My mother passed away on 4-7-94. After this my thinking has undergone a mutation. It seems that I have grown  by several decades in a matter of a few days. The world appears transitory place similar to a night stay at some lodge.

How childish I was

On third of July my Mother was alive though seriously sick. How childish I was with mother still around  can be known from the following message sent to a whatsapp group of schoolmates.
' Friends I joined the school in 8th. Ours was a new section especially created for us. The students of the sections were shuffled in the 9 th class. You know why? Perhaps the Principal's son wanted his flame to be in his class. I was indeed a v bright guy till 10th. One day the Maths teacher of 8th class came to our nineth class. She was casually enquiring about the marks that we had got in a Maths test paper which was given to us in the previous period. Closing her eyes she said "And Kamaljit you must have got full marks?". "Yes madam", I said.
Vikas Malhotra,Vijay Karamchetti, Vinayak etc were in my class. In 10th my self and Vijay Karamchetti were the only ones who got distinction in English. And yes my first flame joined 10th in the middle of the session. She went somewhere else after 10th. I missed her badly. In 11th I was in science stream. I had a lot of problem in adjusting with the teenage hormones and jeering and joking pertaining to me being a Sardar. Sensitive that I was, it hurt. Do not want to hold grudges and do not want to name the guys who in particular jeered and mocked. But then another flame was there in eleventh and silent ashquee, much of which could be one sided, took place. In twelveth there were two flames as one more had joined. But these flames, teenage hormones and so many other things made me only barely pass in 12th. Quite like a rolling stone I did elect engg. Diploma and served in a few Multinational companies like BPL, Modi Xerox, Bharti telecom, Salora etc. Then in 1999 we shifted to Jagraon. I started providing private coaching to the students and my wife got employed as a govt. teacher. Moreover we made a fortune by buying land in my village by selling urban property of Noida. Luckily we are among the rich guys here. My elder son is pursuing MBBS and younger one is in tenth.
Now forgive me for relating some funny but true and not very decent incidents of the school life-
1- In nineth boys and girls played a game gallery together for a few days. So while dodging and running a chick made me out by lightly touching me by her fingers but on the pvt organ. "Out Out Kamaljit out." Now I was thinking that other boys would jeer at me saying something like"12 to nahi bajj gaye. Out kara diya". Sensing the risk I instantly said " Achha batao kahan lagga?". The chick said "Acha not out not out', and the game started again.
2- We were being taught reproductive system in eleventh class. The teacher taught and taught and taught. Finally the topic of sperms came. She explained and explained and explained. Finally when the lecture was over she said by lifting her nose, "And children, it has got a peculiar smell". Heavens heavens heavens that information was not there in the book also.'
My mother passed away on 4th July and my thinking has undergone a sea change.

Samsung tab P1000 booting issue

I was one of the first persons in my town to by a galaxy tab P1000. I was a great admirer of the Samsung products. But a recent incidence has left a very bad taste in me. My tablet developed some problem of booting and the Samsung care centre wants to return it without repairing. Where should I go now? Address of the Samsung care centre is Phuwara Cowk Ludhiana Punjab India. The set was given to them on 20-12-13.

Group photograph of class eleventh

Received a group photograph of our class when we were in eleventh grade science stream .This photograph was sent by a classfellow called Subodh Bhalla .I could not own it at that time as we were not given any extra money by the parents .I shared the picture with my family .All were thrilled to see it. A flood of memories crossed my mind .Subodh Bhalla's picture is on the right side of Mrs Dua our class teacher who taught us biology .The girls students Neeta Seroi , vijaylaxmi ,Indu Gupta,etc are looking so ---------(do not know what to say) .Praveen Kulshreshta ,Vijay Karamchetti etc are looking so innocent

Classfellows of childhood

We meet so many people in our life .But the ones that are class fellows of childhood hold a very special place .I have been able to locate Vinay Soni and Praveen Kulshreshtha among my classmates through facebook.

A new challenge

I would probably be doing farming from the next paddy season .Since I have been in the teaching line and never did farming earlier ,it would definitely be a challenge for me.

Would probably be doing farming

Since my father passed away in Oct this year I would probably be doing farming from the next year in my ancestral village which is about 25 kms from Jagraon the town were we live.

An electronic mail to a friend

A letter to a friend
The following mail was sent to a person who had become friend on the Sikhnet website
SSA.Sorry that due to a newly set up Sports club I could not reply your message in time.The family tree of yours that you described is interesting indeed.My story is somewhat like this.My great great grand father(grand father's grand father) was a Subedar in the British army that defeated the erstwhile Kingdom of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.My great grand father was thoroughly spoilt as he was the only son of his father.His money squandering landed my grand father S Bhagat Singh Gill into a state of poverty.He became a driver in Calcutta.During partition he was somewhere in Bangladesh.His master a Hindu Bengali asked him to take his car to India safely.My grandfather did Ardas and drove towards Calcutta.On the way a mob tried to stop them.My grandfather did not stop the car.In the process it is said that a few people could have been mowed down.Later my Tayaji and Chachaji started a transport business in Calcutta along with farming in the village in Punjab.My father joined Indian Navy.In due course my Uncles winded up their bussiness and devoted full time to farming in the village.We belong to village Ramunwala in dist.Moga.However we are living in Jagraon away from the uncles.It is about 25 kms from our fields.
I was born in Mumbai in 1966 . In around 1978 we came to Delhi. After pursuing my intercollege in science stream I did Diploma in Elect Eng.I served in several multinational companies for 12 years.We shifted to Jagraon when my wife got employed as a teacher in the government school.I train the studemts for IELTS in a private institute apart from providing coaching to the school students at my home in the evening.Recently I conceived an idea of a forty plus sports club.It is running fine for the last 17 or 18 days.We go to the Government senior school Jagraon at about 6.10.We play and do exercise.It leaves me so tired that I am unable to participate much on the Sikhnet site .We have two houses in Jagraon.One is extra big while the other is extra extra small.Due to difference in opinion I live in extra extra small house where as my parents live in extra big house.I would like to say that you are most welcome in my humble house(It has sufficient space for the guests never the less).You are most welcome.You may bring your wife and children as well .Due to ideological differences I am a sort of a poor son of a rich father.My father has about 25 acres of fertile land besides other property. My elder brother is well qualified and well settlled in the USA.My sister is Phd chemistry and well settled in Surat.One weakness that I have is of a lot of allergy towards travelling.I seldom go to my in laws house that is 60 kms away from Jagraon.I have not gone to my village which is 25 kms away for about eight years.Therefore forgive me for not being able to promise a visit at your place in Himachal pardesh.Your views at Sikhnet are very enlightening .May God bless you and your family ! Say my greetings to your wife and children.
Regards

Are you nostalgic about your village?

If you live away from Punjab and if you miss the Gurudwara of your Pind (village) or its streets ,here is a solution.I would make a paid visit to your village ,take the required photographs of the village (Gurudwara,special festivity,sports events,village streets etc), make short videos( high definition) and deliver to you via, a detailed blogpost, email or a you tube video.The charges would be very nominal.A visit on Sundays would be at a further discount of 50%.Kindly post a comment for further enquiries.

Sewapreet playing after the tuition class.

Sent from Samsung tablet

Helpless girl having Visa problems in the US

A girl who is having visa problems in US posted at Sikhnet.My reply was as follows---
For water, in the US they say 'wwaaddder',
for matter, they say 'mmaadder', just as an overfed person tries to speak while birping.But ironically they are unable to do anything for a helpless girl like you.Guru Amardasji has been blessed by Waheguruji and has been called Nithavaean ke thaan(place for the placeless)May Waheguruji resolve your problem, give you place to live and also give some common sense to the most powerful country of the world(US).

His emotions(A short poem)

Down and down sinks like a stone
Sinks the heart Like a stone
The heart drowns and the spirit sags
As the age passes the spirit sags
The age passes never to return
Passes the time never to return
The time is passing and the tears rolling
Invisible are the tears that are rolling
Invisible they ought to be as he is a man
Unlike a woman ought not expose a man
Ought not expose a man,his emotions.

Gurudwara store

The place where I am sitting at present is a Gurudwara store.For doing the Sewa of the store I have fixed this evening time.It is the Month of Magh as per the Nanak Shahi calender.Traditionally Punjabis(including Sikhs)do charity during this month.There are many Langars and Akhand Paths in the town during this month.People take Cooking and serving utensils from the Gurudwara.I have rung up the family who is about to return the utensils back.I called them about twenty minutes earlier.Hope they turn up soon as I have to go and meet someone at Kothe Khajooran.

Story of health 25-1-11 8PM

25-1-11 7-45pm
Daddy and Mummy had gone to Ludhiana yesterday as well as today.Satvinder and Sewapreet are in the other house preparing dinner for them
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25-1-11 8-00pm
The tests profermed on Daddy were ACG and Eco test.They found problem in the holder.Anagraphy or pumping was done to rectify some bockade.Now things are reported to be OK.
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'Waheguru' word is spoken in this inspiring Bollywood song

'Waheguru'comes just once in this bollywood song.Nevertheless it is very very inspiring.Those who can understand Hindi can download it from
http://indianwap.mobi/downloads/Hindi/load/Alphabetically_Movie_Songs/Alphabet_S/Shor_(1972)/Jeevan_Chalne_Ka_Naam_-_(IndianWap.Mobi).mp3
It is from film shor(1972).
Jeevan Chalne Ka Naam Chalte Raho Subaho Shaam 2
(Life means keep moving on.Tread your path from morning to evening)
Ke Rasta Kat Jaayega Mitra Ke Baadal Chhat Jaayega Mitra Ke Dukh Se Rukna Na Mitra Ke Ek Pal Rukna Na Mitra
(O friend stop not due to hurdles.Clouds of trouble would vanish away soon)
Jeevan Chalne Ka Naam Chalte Raho Subaho Shaam 2) 2
(Life means keep moving on.Tread your path from morning to evening)
Jo Jeevan Se Haar Maanta Uski Ho Gayi Chhuti Naak Chadhakar Kahe Zindagi Teri Meri Ho Gayi Kutti) 2
(One who accepts defeat in life is gone.Life rejects him)
Ke Rootha Yaar Mana Mitra Ke Yaar Ko Yaar Bana Mitra Na Khud Se Raho Khafa Mitra Khud Hi Se Khuda Bana Mitra
(Befriend life O friend The self confidence would lead you to God)
Jeevan Chalne Ka Naam Chalte Raho Subaho Shaam 2
(Life means keep moving on.Tread your path from morning to evening)
Ujali Ujali Bhor Sunaati Tuutle Tuutle Bol 2 Andhakaar Mein Suraj Baitha Apani Gathadi Khol Ke Usse Aankh Lada Mitra Samay Se Haath Mila Mitra Ke Ho Jaa Kiran Kiran Mitra Ke Chalta Rahe Chalan Mitra
(Face life in the morning,afternoon and night and experience it to the fullest and shake hand with the present times)
Jeevan Chalne Ka Naam Chalte Raho Subaho Shaam 2
(Life means keep moving on.Tread your path from morning to evening)

Ke Chali Shaam Ke Rang Mahal Mein Tapati Hui Dopahari Mili Gagan Se Saanjh Ki Laali 2 Lekar Roop Sunahari Ke Raat Bikhar Jaayegi Mitra Ke Baat Nikhar Jaayegi Mitra Ke Suraj Chhadh Jaayega Mitra Kaafila Badh Jaayega Mitra
(O friend the caravan of life moves from morning to noon and then from evening to night so swiftly)
Jeevan Chalne Ka Naam Chalte Raho Subaho Shaam 2
(Life means keep moving on.Tread your path from morning to evening)

(Himmat Apana Deen Dharam Hai Himmat Hai Imaan Himmat Allah Himmat Waahguru Himmat Hai Bhagwaan) 2
Honest zeal is our Allah,Waheguru and Bhagwan)
Ke Ispe Marta Jaa Mitra Ke Sajda Karta Jaa Mitra Ke Sheesh Jhukata Chal Mitra Ke Jag Par Chhata Jaa Mitra
That you should not give up is your religion and bow towards it
Jeevan Chalne Ka Naam Chalte Raho Subaho Shaam 2
(Life means keep moving on.Tread your path from morning to evening)
Ke Rasta Kat Jaayega Mitra Ke Baadal Chhat Jaayega Mitra Ke Dukh Se Rukna Na Mitra Ke Ek Pal Rukna Na Mitra Jeevan Chalne Ka Naam Chalte Raho Subaho Shaam 4
(O friend stop not due to hurdles.Clouds of trouble would vanish away soon)

Story of health 22-1-11 7:30PM

22-1-11 6::15 PM
At about 4:15 Sewapreet got a call from his grand mother that his grand father wasn't feeling well.Simran has taken him to the neurologist of Jagraon.They have not come yet.Satvinder and Sewapreet have gone to the other house to know other details.
--------------------------------------------------------
22-1-11 7-30PM
A few minutes ago Satvinder kaur,Simran and Sewapreet came from the other house.Simran said that daddy is complaining about weakness.The doctor gave him the following medicines
1-Omerpradol
Domperidol
2-Clonazepam
3-Vitamins and minerals
Daddy's school had sent him back to take rest at home.Mummy is advising him to take a mimimum leave of one week.
Satvinder has cooked the dinner at the other house and helped mummy in washing the cothes.

Story of health 21-1-11 4:53AM

21-1-11 4:53AM
Yesterday at about 7:15 AM Sewapreet got a call from his grandfathaer to come along with his mother to prepare the dinner.Both of them went and did the required work.On their returned I enquired about the test reports.I was told that all reports are showing things perfectly normal.

Story of health 20-1-11 3:25 PM

While sitting at the coaching centre on Saturday I got a call from my Mummy that father had fallen unconcious at school.She told me to take him to Ludhiana on car in the evening.I called Satvinder at her school and told her to take a half day leave.It was a windy dark winter day.I rode on my motorcycle to Dholan village at 12 Noon to pick her up.We reached at the house at around 1PM.Daddy was sleeping and we came to our dwelling across the street.I told my mother on phone that I would arrange for a taxi as I am not very confident at driving in Ludhiana.However I was later informed that father had decided to visit a doctor in Jagraon with Simran and that he would go to Ludhiana on Monday.
Simran took his grandfather to a neurologist in Jagraon.She checked him,gave some medicines and recommended some tests related to heart.
On Monday they came back from Ludhiana after getting some tests performed on them and again went on tuesday.
Both Mummy and Daddy are in the Appolo hospital Ludhiana getting various scans performed on them.Mummy is getting herself checked for some uric acid problem.Presently it appears the batteries of their mobile phones are drained.They are in Ludhiana since yesterday.They are expected to come back today evening.

Queue (pangat)in day to day life

I wish to relate something more about a pangat(queue).I was standing in a queue at Chanakya cinema in Delhi during my college days.An upto date oversmart,stylishly dressed gursikh young man came and went straight to the first place at the ticket window.The less smart guys in the queue raised an objection.He silenced them by his smart dialogue ''Ticket nahi leh raha hoon''(I am not buying the ticket).And the next second he walked away buying two tickets with a style rarely seen.Before the fools standing in the queue could grasp,he was in the theatre.
A few years ago outside a government office in Jagraon I asked a Gursikh in his seventies if he had got his job done by standing in a queue.He said in style 'je line vich kharge tan sardari kahdi hoi'(of what use is being a sardar if one has to just stand in a queue)
Moral of the story is that despite being Gursikhs we may fail in the practical exam of Pangat(queue) lesson that we ought to learn at our Gurudwara langar hall.
A frog in a well knows not much about the outside world.However I perceive that the sangat in the outer world (Holland,Uk,Canada,Us etc) adhere to having langar in a pangat(queue).Farther from church nearer to God seems to be an adage in the making.

The vanishing queue(Pangat)

Just for paying the electricity bill ,I had taken a leave.I reached the electricity office at 7 AM in the morning.More than 2 hours before the office hours.Outside the window under the shady trees I was in the queue sitting on a brick.Other people from all villages all castes,all occupations were in the same queue just as in the Gurudwara ,discussing every thing under the sun.When the line moved forward I shifed my royal chair(brick)a little forward.At noon I reached home had lunch and took rest.A big task had been done.What an enriching experience it was though!That was 10 years ago.Paying the bill became a 2 hour business after a few years from then.The sharing of the thoughts reduced.Today I clicked a few buttons from my house and the job was done.The queue that I hated as well as loved has vanished. We were sitting in a Gurudwara Langar in Mumbai when I was a child.A gentleman shared his views on religion in totality before the Langar could be served.To this day I remember what he said.When I was iin NOIDA and was newly married a beautiful girl had made it a point to sit beside me whilst partaking langar every Saturday evening.Wife on one side and the girl on the other became a bit of a weekly routine.Not that I ever talked to that girl or my wife objected to it or there were any lusty feelings,but the pangat(queue)experience was special.On most of the occasions sitting with Sangat of various types in a pangat(queue) is a lesson in itself.Now in Jagraon at most Akhand paats there is a buffet system(Picking the plate,self serving and eating while standing).The queue (pangat)=classroom is vanishing.Not sure whether it is for good or for bad.

Sewapreet reluctant to get up early in the morning

Children find it difficult to get up early in the morning in the winter season.

Fatalist in me

When a person rides a bicycle,he gets exercise.Exercise is good for heart.Nowadays I am making the rounds of The bank of India (a public sector undertaking).The people out there want me to have a healthy heart.Why else did they not activate the mobile banking feature on my account in 3 months?I had opened an account in their bank on 7th Oct 2010 for the sole purpose of getting Mchek(mobile banking)activated.They want a person like me to learn values like patience, shun laziness and do some cycling.The desination is nowhere in sight.Still miles to go before the job is done.Meanwhile I would be cycling to their office regularly and improving the health of my heart.
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I applied for the renewal of the passport on 11th June.Since the begining of september the message displayed on their site is ''It is to regret that due to unavoidable circumstances the despatch of Passport has been delayed and will now be despatched in a week's time''Now the passport office wants that I should not take any Panga(buy/any andesired trouble)out in some foreign country when Iam already going to be 45 year old in a few months.If I go out of the country I would have to eat the junk food.The junk food is bad for the heart.Passport is nowhere in sight. Miles to go before the job is done and meanwhile I need not bother about any foreign trip and risk my heart.
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A telecommunication giant in our area activates some scheme on our mobile phones on its own and starts deducting money @ Rs1 per day.By the time we come to know and deactivate the plan a considerable amount is already cut.It would be ungrateful on my part if I call it a corporate crime.These friendly people want that my heart should get immune to monetry losses and hence prolong my life.

Concept of sharing at family level

Sharing is an important concept in Sikhism.But how does that work at the joint family level.
Method 1----I came across a Gursikh family where there were 3 brothers and all are married and have children.They said when the business is common all the basic expenditure of food,clothing,education can be done from the common fund.Each family can be given Rs 1500(that was 4 years ago)extra money to be spent in what ever way he wishes.He may take his out wife for dinner,movie or whatever.In that family the the wife of the eldest brother and the wife of the middle brother cooked lunch and dinner on alternate days.That means they got rest from the kitchen every second day.The wife of the youngest brother cooked breakfast on daily basis.
Method 2--Having got inspired from the above method I have invented another method.In this method a family ought to have a box where each earning member would put equal amount on weekly,fortnightly,monthly (or when the need arises)basis.All the common house hold expenditure could be done from this box. It ought to be replenished when required.If any member having hard time is finding it difficult he can drop a slip mentioning the amount he owes to the box.A few days later he can replace the slip with the money.The rest of the money that an individual earns ought to be saved or spent according to his or her sweet will.This method can be better applied in families where people do jobs instead of business.
There might be other methods of sharing in joint families as well which the readers can suggest.
Satnam Waheguru

Made the store incharge of the local Gurudwara

The Gurudwara mentioned here is Gurudwara Kalgidhar opposite Mandi road.A member of the committee was telling me ''People around this area are quite well off.They have less time.Ours is not a big Gurudwara but the trend of getting the langar prepared by the proffessional cooks has already picked up in the bigger Gurudwaras.See we have all the equipment to prepare the food.But then the Bibian(Women Sangat)do not get any time to listen to the Gurbani.They say they havn't got relief from the kitchen work on even a Gurpurab.Ideally the langar should be made by the Sangat.But--------''It needs to be mentioned that the proffessional cooks usually makes a point not to be visible even while smoking somewhere outside.They try to be as respectful as they can(according to their standards).However the feeling of a being a member of a large family and lovingly taking part in the preparation of the langar is a very speacial experience.This being the local Gurudwara, a part of the blame could boomrang towards me aswell.The above mentioned committe member and another senior member cajoled me to take charge of the Gurudwara store.In the evening they handed over the charge to me and thereby in a way including me as well in the committee.A part of the talk of above mentioned member was something like this ''Our Gurudwara thalees(steel plates integrated with space for placing various dishes used at langar)are taken by the people for their family functions.They often get replaced by substandard plates.Many of the Daegga,praants( huuuge cooking vessels)are already missing.Nobody comes forward to take the duty.People around are well off.They say---time heeee hai nee ji(there is not an time at all).It is just like having forgotten God.''The point here is that we cannot shun the sangat if the things are not going about the best way.We can always strive to improve.In the evening I along with my wife,younger son and a student took the charge of the store.The desi ghee (refined butter ,sugar etc are also in lock and key now.My wife and the younger son have taken the duty of visiting the Gurudwara daily and providing the daily quota of the material for Kraha Parshad to the Bhaee ji.Let us hope to bring about positive changes by the grace of Guruji.

An advice to the children

Today one of my students told that in the reality show 'Kaun Banega crorppati'a person had won one crore(ten million) rupees.He was given an option either to play for 5 crores or be reduced to two lakh something.He opted for playing further and lost.During dinner time my younger son was also telling the same story.I gave my student and my sons the following advice----------''No body ever wins in a gamble.If atall he wins he keeps playing untill he loses back everything.Look even if had won the money he would have been a loser.Not only he but also his future generations also could have got addicted to this vice.They would not have stopped before losing everything.The Pandvas in the famous legend of Mahabharat lost even their common wife while gambling.The elder brother must have got the urge that by putting at stake their wife he might win back the brothers that he had already lost.Therefore be cautious !!!''

Just click at the heart and vote

The other day I asked a friend or two to watch and rate the movies at http://www.sikhnet.com/filmfestival/ They said they did not know how to do that.
I wish to tell my friends that they only need to click the heart icon given under the frame if they liked a movie.
The movies submitted by me and my family members are as follows
1-'ooper sach achar'submitted by me
2-'should I blame my mother'submitted by my wife
3-'The internal battle of Dr. Lego Singh'submitted by my elder son
4-'The little gambler'submitted by my younger son

Sikhnet film festival

As you all know I along with my wife and children had taken part in the Sikhnet youth festival,the movies have been released.There is an error in the name of the director of the movie 'ooper Sach Achar, has been written wrongly.I have requested them to rectify the error.
You are requested to see the movies.Kindly click on 'I like this video'in case you like it.Kindly do not forget to leave a comment also.The prizes can be influenced by the popularity of the video.
http://www.sikhnet.com/filmfestival/2010/oopar-sach-achar/
http://www.sikhnet.com/filmfestival/2010/the-internal-battle-of-dr-lego-singh/
http://www.sikhnet.com/filmfestival/2010/should-i-blame-my-mother/
http://www.sikhnet.com/filmfestival/2010/the-little-gambler/

Plot of the movie planned on 26th September

Dear participants,
The movie that we are planning to make would be titled 'Karmi aapo aapni'.The story would be based on murder and suspense.Some comedy would automatically creep in while we make the movie.I have planned that the story would begin 500 years ago.A Sadhu would beg for some food from a farmer who would be eating lunch at the noon time in his farms.The farmer would refuse saying a lie that he has to give share to his brother.The Sadhu would curse him that 21 of his next generations would commit a grave sin in their life and would themself die as a fruit of their 'Karam'.The farmer realises his mistake and begs pardon.Taking pity on him the saint suggests a way out.He tells that his and his descendents death would not occur if they would not open a box which would be gifted to them on their thirtieth birthday.
All of his 21 descendents commit murder and all are gifted such a box and none is able to escape the frui of 'karma'as all open open that box and die.The twentyfirst descendent commits a murder and tries his level best not to open that box but is taken over by curiosity and opens the box.What is there in the box would remain a mystery till the end.
Kindly suggest me any changes.My email address is kamal310i@gmail.com
Thanks

The gambling instinct

The Pandavas had it(gambling instinct).They had put even their wife at stake and lost her.We too have it in one form or the other.For example selling every thing in the ancestral village and searching a fortune abroad is also a sort of gamble.I personally feel that nobody ever wins through lottery or gamble.Even if a person wins he is a loser as he and his future generations would keep on wasting their money in the pursuit of wining again till they lose what they had won and even more.I was a student of primary school.Once I bought a ticket of instant lottery for 10 Paisae from a grocery kiosk.I won Rs.1.After that I kept on buying the tickets that afternoon till I lost all the money and also the 10 Paisae that I had originally.I learnt a lesson.There are lottery addicts in Punjab.I don't know the scene in the west where they have casinos as well.Gurbani says'Sakat baaji haari jeeo'(A selfwilled Manmukh loses his life in a gamble.

A natural indicator

A Sikh has a natural indicator in his beard.Our body has currents similar to the electric currents.Sexual current is one of them.It is very important to sustain life.It is an important driving force in our life.Once my students(college boys)asked me why the beard turns grey.I replied that it is an indication to tell how much battery one has exhausted.I often tell friends that if they exhaust their battery here and there with temporory lose connections there would be arcing leading to more wear and tear and more grey beard.In that case they themselves are the losers.Once the whole beard is grey or say the whole battery is gone the driving force would be missing and would lead to lack of will to live.This can reduce the life span.College boys often boast of having scored by counting the number of partners they had but they ought to realise that they are wasting their valuable energy in a wrong way.By being responsible the health and the character of the society can improve.Life span may increase.Having permanent and secure connection with ones life partner causes less wear and tear and the energy spent is productive as one happens to raise a family.Therefore a sound character means chances of living a longer and healthier life.Let us not ignore this natural indicator.

The forgotton singer

Jaspal Singh was a gifted singer of Bollywood.This Sikh playback
singer sang a very famous rain song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxziCYx1iqM&feature=youtube_gdata
Another memorable song sung by him with the theme 'keep singing in your life'was
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0z73WDPb20&feature=youtube_gdata
He sang a bhajan(devotional song) in a film which had almost became a
national bhajan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLNUCg2M0LA&feature=youtube_gdata

Unfortunately he did not get his due from the Bollywood.I searched for
him in google and wikipedia but without any success.

Only if a person thinks

1-The owners of the institute where I teach are Sikhs but they burn a holy flame before the pictures of Gods and Gurus.The girls who work there fill the katori with Desi ghee(refined butter) early morning.The amount of ghee they burn in half an hour is almost equal to our consumption in 2 days.What a wastage of food resources?
2-While traveling to Shivpuri in Madhaya Pradesh(year around 1990), I met a Sikh who had farm in that area.I discussed with him the tradition of burning a holy flame in the Sisganj Gurudwara and else where.I asked him how cruel it would be if some superior species could snatch away the milk of the female humans and burn it to please Gods.Is that non vegiterian flame not at the cost of depriving the calf of the milk.The Sikh said that the matter was not at all a serious one.
3-Why do the Sikhs not worship the graves of the dead?It is because they are taught the Hukam(Gods will).This is what makes them dynamic.Following Hukam(Gurbani) is Sikhi but putting it in a glass frame and burning a holy flame before it is something different.According to Gurbani Naam is the deeva(lamp for burning the holy flame).The desi ghee burnt in a single day can satisfy many hungry stomachs.Burning a holy flame in a Gurudwara is not the best use of the funds to say the least.

Environment concerns

Beauty of nature and the environment always occupied my mind.I wish to share the following episodes of my life.
1-While watching paddy transplantation in grade 2 at the age of eight I asked my father if the water would not finish from under the Earth one day.
2-After seeing huge piles of cut trees in the Tarai region of Uttar Pradesh,I got the feeling as if those were dead bodies.This happened when I was travelling from Delhi to Haldwani on an official assignment in the year 1988.
3-I asked the Sewadars of DGPC why a flame of Desi ghee is being burnt at Gurudwara Sisganj when it is not in accordance with the principles of Sikhi and not an environment friendly activity.It was in 1989.
4-I asked a fellow Sikh not to offer flowers at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib as there is God in the plants and it is a cruelty towards plants.I was inspired by a shabad of SGGSji.This was in the year 1990.
5-A number of times a thought crossed my mind forcing me to think about the loss of fuel at Amar Jawan Jyoti flame at India Gate and the flame at Jallianwalla bagh in the memory of the martyrs.If often think about how much it would be causing the environment.Can these flames not be symbolic and made by some electronic device or a small lamp etc.
6-A few months ago I went to a Gurudwara Gurusar near Jagraon.My wife asked for a polythene from the Sewadars to carry the Karha Parshad home.I objected as it was not an environmental friendly activity.She did not listen to me though.
7-I love to use a bicycle because it is environment friendly.
8-I often feel for the nature when crackers are burnt during Diwali.My children do not burn crackers.My wife lights a few candles at the doorsteps.Can't Diwali at Gurudwaras be environment friendly?
9-I often think about the damage caused to the environment by the wooden furniture. Can't we sit on the mats as we sit in the Gurudwaras?
10-Several times I went with my wife and children to a Gurudwar five kilometers away as a visit to a Gurudwara on motor vehicles is not an environment friendly darshan.
11-In 1995 I wrote to the Golf club Delhi to sponsor my trip from NOIDA to Chandigarh on a pedal car that could be designed especially for that purpose in order to create awareness regarding environment.

A lesson in Kirat(honest living)

About fifteen years ago I was travelling by train from Delhi to Dhuri.I met an old lady.She told me that she believed kirat(honest work)preached by Guru Nanak Devji.She believed in doing work and remaining financially independent till her body allowed.For that she provided private tuitions.I was not much impressed as I thought it to be quite a normal thing.But she was quite old.She said that around 15 children from the neighbourhood came to her to learn and play.I was impressed but only slightly as she was owning a small bussiness set up involving education.I asked her how much fees she charged.The old lady in her seventies said Rs 2 cash down to be paid daily.The children came runninng to play and to do homework and pay the grand ant her fees!Now I was left smiling and thoroughly impressed.
Guru Nanak said Naam japo,kirat karo and wand chako(share food).An honest earning has a lot of benifits.A few among them are-
1-It makes a person forget sorrows.
2-provides good exercise and sound sleep.
3-makes a person earn good reputation and make him self dependent.

Unique among the unique

I am an intellectual(earning by using the mental skills).I teach in an institute that provides training to the IELTS students.I am paid according to the batches I teach.I go to the houses of students in villages and provide private tuitions if they are in a group.I teach mathmatics(and almost all subjects)upto 10th grade.To the higher class students I teach only English as Mathematics consume more mental power.
Though everyone around this world is unique,I am unique among unique.May be God wants it that way.People ask me many questions which I find difficult to answer.Eg.
1-''What are you(talented person)doing in Punjab?
2-''Why could you not get any government Job?''
Ha Ha!

When an unworthy man finds himself in the middle of the Sadh Sangat

1--It was 13th April 1984 when I was blessed with Amrit.It was 26
years ago.My elder sister told me that I was just wearing a mask to
shield my self from my annoyed parents as I was not doing well in my
studies.She said that my true colours would appear soon.She must have
been 75% correct.But what actually happened---At page 1117 there is a
Shabad 'Nirgun raakh liya santan ka Sadka......'which says' I am
unworthy, but God has rescued me in order to keep the honour of the
Saints.
The True Guru has applied a curtain over my sins;Our lord hides our
shortcomings give us soul, life and
peace'.I did not score well in +2.Nevertheless I got admission in a
good Polytechnic as the rules changed that very year which gave more
weightage to the 10th grade score and worked in my favour(my honour
was saved)
2----About 2 years later I heard the above Shabad when I was rescued
in my final year of Electrical Eng. Course.A new rule came just then
that a person can join the next class although he might not have
cleared his previous papers.I joined my class fellows happily in the
final year(although I hadnot cleared 2 papers of second year) thus
barely escaping from dishonour.
3--In the past 26 years I have lost count how many times and in how
many ways my honour was saved and a curtain put over my shame,
Thank you Waheguruji and thank you SadhSangatji.
Satnam Waheguru.

--
Sent from my mobile device

A movie with a social message that was made in 5 dollars..

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=chhevaan&aq=f
We collected Rs 50 each.We were six people.Myself and five students.Rs
300 is about 5 or 6 dollars.I purchased the tape of the handicam for
Rs 90.The rest of the amount was spent in the refreshment.I have a
handicam.I narrated the theme.One of my students directed the movie by
consulting others.Lunch came from the house of two students.All the
shooting was done at a farm that belonged to one of my students.My
elder son held the camera.The younger son also took part by playing
Tabla in the opening scene.
Title-Chhevan Driaa(the sixth river of Punjab that is of drugs and a
craze to reach the foreign shores)
Theme-A farmer is not happy with his two sons as they are idlers.He
tells all this to a young player.The boys never listen to the father
and want to go abroad for playing Kabbadi and hence settling
there.They are taken in by the sweet talks of the village Numberdar
and a travel agent.The boys flatter their father and cajole him to
sell all his meagre land holding which is only two and a half
acres.The travel agent gives some injections to the boys to boost
their performance.The player who is father's friend warns that drugs
are harmful.The boys do not listen to him.Later they realise their
mistake.With the help of the well wisher they are some how able to get
their money back.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=chhevaan&aq=f

 

A little bit of truth on 1st April

I got up at 4.05 am.After bathing,combing hair etc I did the Parth of
Japji Sahib but without a still mind.I had some soup which is curd +
any cooked vegetable available in the fridge.I add some water to it in
a bowl,stir and keep in the microwave oven for a minute or two.I had a
darshan of the Hukamnama on my mobile from where I operate the
internet.I read the English translaton of the Hukamnama through my
email account which is posted by Sikhnet on daily basis.After
finishing the soup I sat on the bed chanting Satnam Waheguru.I was not
required to go to Sherpura village for providing private tuition
classes as the final examinations are over for most of the
classes.Unable to still my mind I went to the bedroom and started
reading the shorter version of Shakepeare's Comedy of errors which my
elder son won in his school for standing first in some competition.I
got up and had beakfast.I served breakfast to my son in his room and
that we have decided that one of us would do for the next two or three
years as he is in a senior class from today onwards and would be
competing for seeking addmission in some medical college to become a
doctor.Once again I lay on the bed half asleep.I sent an email to my
son who was in his room.I wrote in the email that he shouid remain
aware of April fool pranks as it is first of April.I lay on the bed
half asleep for two hours.I was disturbed twice by my wife and younger
son for some small things.I finished reading the small book in the bed
it self.I checked through internet from my mobile that a Bollywood
movie Angoor was made based on this story.While on bed itself I
followed the tweets.In the bed I resolved that If I could not
concentrate on Gurbani I shouldnot allow any vulgar thoughts to cross
my mind either.But I feel that is almost a challenge for any man lying
half asleep on the bed.I got up from the bed ending the shallow sleep
at around 8.10 am.My wife and the two boys had left for their
respective schools.My wife went to her school for teaching.For the the
younger son it was first day in grade six and the elder son went to
his new school for taking admission in grade 11 in the science
stream.I ate another chappati with Karhi pakora.To wash it down I
drank some hot water with some milk mixed in it.That gives a feeling
of fulfillment.I read a few pages of another small book that my son
got as a prize from his school.I got ready and went to the private
institute where I teach on contractual basis.I came home at 1.30 pm.I
chatted with my elder son who had come home after paying fees in the
new school where he would be going from seventh onwards.He served me
lunch.I went to the bed for the afternoon nap with the small book that
I had started reading in the morning.It was written by a captain of a
ship who encountered mutiny on board in the late eighteenth century.I
got up from bed combed my hair,said Satnam Wahheguru.I am sitting on
the Varandha at the first floor and waiting for the two odd
students.Perhaps they would not come as they are having some easy exam
ahead.In the coming days the teaching ours at tuition would be very
less as the session is over.The working hours at the private institute
where I get paid on hourly basis would increase.It is the peak season
for the students who learn English for clearing IELTS examination.
It is 6 pm now and I would follow the tweets at Twitter. At around
6.30 pm I would be chanting Satnam Waheguru.At 7pm we would be serving
dinner to the senior boy.By 7.30 I would finish the dinner and go to
bed after saying Satnam Waheguru.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Something about my self

I studied in the Kendriya Vidyala Navy Nagar Bombay upto seventh
grade.After that we shifted to Delhi.After doing +2 in science stream
I did three year diploma course from Govt.polytechnic in the electric
engineering.I did Jobs in office automation division(repairing
photocopiers and Fax machines)in the companies like BPL SANYO,Modi
xerox,Bharti Telecom and Salora International etc.After doing Job for
12 years in the private sector we shifted to Jagraon(Punjab) as my
wife got a government job of a teacher.Here I am teaching students who
prepare for Ielts in a private institute.Other than that I provide
private tutions to students from class 8th to BA.I think I enjoy my
work.I shoot movies with my students,have fun,parties and picnics.Many
students share their views with me considering me to be their friend.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Discovery of a recipe

While I failed to make a Pizza,I Discovered a very good dish that can
be made in a microwave oven.I would like to call it Dal Warry .Procedure is as
follows.
Dal Warry-
Wash the Dal with water.
Keep it soaked in water for one night.
Add wheat floor and water.Stir to form a paste.Mix salt and spices
according to taste.
Bake in the microwave for 20 minutes in a covered container.
Make round balls of the baked material.Bake the Warrys again for 5
minutes without covering to dry them.
Store these Dal Warrys in the fridge.
Expected life is ten days.
Put one or two Dal Warrys in Raita(curd based soup)
One can also put them in the potato vegetable or Karrhi(made by
cooking the paste of curd +flour of black gram).

Nature's call at a crucial time

The eldest son of Shahjahan and his
third son Aurangzeb were at war.I read in some history book that in
the middle of the battle Dara got down from the elephant back to
answer nature's call.This turned the tide against him as the moral of
his soldiers went down on not seeing their leader.It needs to be
mentioned here that Dara was a scholar and a friend of Guruji.A small
thing made a tremendous difference in the history(The call of nature
at a crucial time).But again nothing can happen without Waheguru's
hukam.He is the cause of causes.Waheguruji ka khalsa wahwguruji ki
fateh.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Jungle training

The other day I was outing somewhere in the open.My younger son who
would be in sixth grade now was feeling shy urinating in the fields.I
told him about the times when the Sikhs lived in the Jungles.I
pursuaded him to carry out the work without feeling shy as it is a
part of Jungle life training and he ought to learn to be a Jungle
man.Who knows what the need of time could be?He only laughed when I
told him that he ought to practise clearing his bowls in the
fields.Who knows when the boys would need to take up farming.However
the elder son did the task of clearing his bowls in the fields
cheerfully, once when we were cycling in the countryside.He used the
leaves of a tree as a tissue paper.Small things but important
nevertheless.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Small things that matter in a war

During Anglo Sikh war apart from the big things like the lack of
leadership etc that decided the outcome of war,there were some small
things that mattered.I read somewhere that there were Sikh soldiers
among others on both sides.The soldiers who were on the British side
had warm socks and good quality shoes.It is because the British had a
better experience of fighting in the winter season.
It is important to learn from the past as life is, perhaps, no less
than a battle.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Baking experience

Indians are,perhaps,quite poor at the art of baking.Today morning I
tried to make Pizza but ended up making something that cannot be
described.
A cake is something which can be quite controversial in India.It is
because of the egg and wine that are put in as ingredients.Egg is
often replaced by bananas and wine is replaced by baking powder or a
gas relieving powder called ENO.I wish to learn the art of baking.It
is important for us because there is often a short supply of LPG
cylinders in the winter season.What if we are required to pull on
without any gas for a few days?
Art of cooking can decide the outcome of a war.It is said that during
Kargil war the soldiers were given chapatis packed in such a way that
they could remain fresh for months.
While I do not know why Indian women are far too ahead of the world in
roasting fluffy chapatis and far behind the west in baking anything,I
seek the thumbrules of baking.I have got a feeling that it is a call
for survival as LPG gas supply may deceive me in the future.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Sewapreet learns scooter

Children are fast learners
Sewapreet Singh has learnt riding scooter.It isn't much difficult as
it has no gears and hence no clutch.

The people whom I wish to befriend

Of what use is sharing the feelings with a person who for sure speaks
lies?There are quite less who strive to speak the truth.I wish to
befriend such people.
It is Perhaps the element of truth that make us love and rever the Gurus and
the Gurmukhs.

The blameworthy roads

The roads are indeed blmeworthy.Moreso the Malerkotla -Dhuri road
where my brother in law died.Who knows how many lives have these roads
yet to claim?

My brother in law died

6.50am- Today I and Satvinder would be going to Dhuri.Yesterday we
were informed about the death of my brother in law.I got the news at
about 7pm yesterday.We have been told that it was an accident.But the
exact details are not known.
*********
It is cold and we are planning to go to Dhuri on a motorcycle.It must
be around seventy kilometers from Jagraon.It is 28th Nov.
*********
We reached there.It was a tragic scene.
*********
Cremation was done on 28th Nov and the mortal remains put into a canal
near Patiala on 29 th Nov.

An English teacher with a flowing beard

It is a rare that a person with a flowing beard is an English
teacher.I teach English to the students who prepare for the
IELTS(International English Language testing system)at the Legends.

Life is a gift

Parents give us birth.But how many times do we narrowly escape death?So,is not life a gift of God?Guru is our spiritual father.We owe our life to the Guru and the God no less though biologically born to our parents.