(EXPLAINER) Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegation last year that agents — acting on behalf of the Indian government — were connected to the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader near Vancouver sent relations between the nations spiraling. A year later, the rift has grown worse.
Read MorePakistani Hindu refugees have once again garnered attention following the notification of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act. The law aims to grant Indian citizenship to immigrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who belong to the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist or Christian faiths and had entered India before 2014 due to religious persecution.
Read MoreRanjit Singh, known as the “Lion of Punjab,” was responsible for the creation of the Sikh Empire in 19th century north India. A skilled warrior and revered king, as well as the first maharajah of the Sikh people, Singh is one of the most important figures in Sikh history. Now, his life and reign as a ruler are the subject of the exhibition “Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King” at London’s The Wallace Collection.
Read MoreA new monument will recognize the hundreds of thousands of Muslims who fought for Britain under the Commonwealth banner. The British government announced that $1.2 million would be allocated to erecting the monument. Of course, the plan has come under fire politically from both the left and the right.
Read MoreThe group 3HO is currently made up mostly of white Americans converted to Sikhism, a 500-year-old religion with origins in Punjab, India. Members also regularly practice Kundalini yoga. They wear white and typically live in ashrams and abide by a lacto-vegetarian diet. Alcohol, drugs and sexual relations among the non-married is forbidden in the ashram.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the latest news from the Southern Baptist Convention. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(EXPLAINER) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused “agents of the government of India” of carrying out the assassination of a Sikh leader in British Columbia. Trudeau’s comments, which took place before the House of Commons on Monday, pointed the finger for the shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar at India’s government “in no uncertain terms” based on intelligence reports.
Read MoreIn the serene landscapes of Punjab’s Barnala district in the northern part of India, the melodious Muslim call to prayer resounds throughout the day. While communal tensions and clashes occasionally make headlines, a different narrative unfolds in the villages of Kutba Bamaniya and beyond. Amid this backdrop, a pre-partition mosque stands tall as a symbol of history, resilience and a shared commitment to coexistence.
Read MoreIn the devastating Himalayan floods in India’s Himachal Pradesh, Sikh temples have emerged as bastions of support and assistance for those affected by the calamity. As nature unleashes its fury, gurdwaras — places of assembly and worship for Sikhs — across regions hit by flooding have opened their doors, hearts and kitchens to provide essential services.
Read MoreThe issue is one that not only impacts Sikhs but Jews, Muslims and some members of neo-Nordic faiths that prescribe facial hair for men. The U.S. Army in 2017 and the Air Force in 2020 enacted new uniform policies respectively to allow beards, hijabs, turbans and other articles of faith to be worn while in military uniform. The U.S. Navy and Marines still only provide limited religious accommodations for sailors or marines who would like to practice their faith.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in highlights the role of faith in the coronation of King Charles III. Plus, as always, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read MoreIn Sikhism, a religion which originated in India about 500 years ago, unhealthy attachment is considered one of the five biggest sins. Therefore, alcoholism and drug addiction are discouraged. Despite this, the northern Indian state of Punjab, home to 16 million Sikhs, has struggled with substance abuse for decades.
Read MoreElection results in India show a crushing defeat for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in the northern farming state of Punjab, the heart of Sikhism, after a surge of anti-Sikhism among the right-wing. The Hindu-first BJP needed support from Sikhs in the state but only bagged two seats out of 117 in the state’s legislative assembly.
Read More(ANALYSIS) The deadly second wave of COVID-19 currently sweeping India is causing a cultural change in the way the country handles the treatment of the dead.
Read MoreThis week’s Weekend Plug-in covers the key faith angles after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin’s murder conviction in the death of George Floyd. Plus, catch up on all the best reads and top headlines in the world of faith.
Read More(ANALYSIS) Four members of Indianapolis’ Sikh community were killed at the FedEx facility shooting. The community mourns, and some are calling for an investigation of bias as the shooter’s motive.
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