On a beautiful day in Punjab, India, around the year of 1606, the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Arjan Dev, happily sat on a burning hot plate, at the command of the Muslim king in power. The saintly man refused to forcefully convert to Islam. The kings told him, “Oh holy man, if you convert, we will give you many beautiful women, a beautiful mansion, and the world’s riches…” Laughing and not tempted by these transitory, superficial pleasures, Guru Arjan Dev proudly proclaimed that he will willingly become the first martyr of the Sikhs and not convert. He sat in meditation pose on the burning plate, as citizens surrounded the scene in shock, eyes welling up with tears, amazed by this great sacrifice given by such a detached and humble man.

Approximately 308 years later in the month of June, 1984, thousands of Sikhs gathered at the Sikh Golden Temple, in Amritsar, India, to remember Guru Arjan Dev’s sacrifice and to pray for equality, humility and detachment from worldly pleasures. Little did they know that within a few hours of that morning, the holy river that surrounded the temple would be the dark, deep, crimson colour of blood. Prime Minister Indhira Gandhi had ordered thousands of troops to raid the complex of the Golden Temple and kill any Sikh man or woman regardless of who they are. At the order of India’s Hitler, Indhira Gandhi, shameless policemen stormed into the temple, shooting innocent children with bullets, raping young women turn by turn, and urinating on the Sikh holy scriptures – a heartbreaking memory for Sikhs of yesterday, today, and tomorrow to recall.

Why did Indhira do this? Her excuse was that she wanted to capture a terrorist who was in the temple, yet this woman, adorned in her white sari, had failed to justify her evil-mindedness. Thousands of casualties were announced and there was a media-blackout, which is most likely why nobody in the western world knew or knows what happened. A temple that had been standing since the time of Guru Arjan Dev had been completely destroyed by the Hindu-dominated government of India (informally known as “Hindustan”). Every year in June, Sikhs come together in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery for a candle light vigil to remember the disastrous, heartbreaking riots and attack of 1984.

Indhira Gandhi had two bodyguards, and both of them were Sikh men. After devastating thousands of children, alienating Sikhs from society, and creating a “Widow Colony” (a dark alley where alienated Sikh widows of 1984 stay and suffer in poverty), Indhira Gandhi decided to take a walk in her beautiful garden. As she entered her garden, her two bodyguards shot her. The media, covering the truth as usual, weeped and wailed in memories of their Prime Minister, or goddess-like figure’s death. The government has attempted to do their best to keep the controversy of 1984 on the down low. One can approach any Sikh teenager today and ask his or her grandparents how they had to escape from police-men in the 1980s-1990s. They would recall the police banging on their doors asking if they were Sikh, and if so, threatening them with torture, rape, and very frequently, murder. So many innocent Sikhs were raped, tortured, and killed. Too many.

This November 2009, the Sikh youth of Vancouver, BC decided to have an “Amritvela Week.” Amritvela is the time before the sunrise, when devout Sikhs pray, as it is the most peaceful time of the day, when the consciousness is most pure. Sikh youth chose to wake up at 3:00 am, shower, and go to a small Sikh temple in Surrey. Here we would meditate in memory of the 1984 massacre, and we would pray to God to give us the strength and courage that the Sikhs had in order to suffer this injustice. As a young Indo-Canadian Sikh woman, I have decided that it is my job to make the cries for justice of the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots heard to the ears of our western society. This pre-planned, government-sponsored massacre still haunts the hearts of the Sikh youth today in Vancouver, BC.

On the same land of India, Muslim saints, Sikh gurus, and Hindu deities walked, yet people seem to completely ignore the sacrifices of each other’s religions and preach that theirs is the “best”. Where the Sikh Gurus walked and preached universal brotherhood, selfless service, humility, and love – on that land, the government of India said without words, “We are the dominant culture, and once again we will violently, silently and secretively teach your minority society of Sikhs that they are absolutely useless human beings.” Whether this was their intention or not, this is what their actions screamed into the ears of my Sikh nation.

You are the mender, the mender of hearts.
You are the sustainer of all.
You are the mender of the wounds of life.
You are the sustainer of all.
In your heart You care for everyone.
Within all hearts, in everyone.
In Your heart You care for everyone.
Within all hearts, within all hearts, You’re there.
O my mind, meditate forever on the One.

You are the mender of the wounds of life.
You are the sustainer of all.
So remember Him who alone will carry you,
Who alone will carry you to your destination.
Meditate forever on the One.
O my mind, meditate forever on the One.

By: Singh Kaur

There have also been several new poems added to the Kaurs United library. Please stay tuned to the website, as many new photographs along with literature will be added onto the site in the coming days and weeks.

There is a really common saying along the lines of, “I do not do anything. Everything is done by Waheguru”. Here is how works and how its misuse is stopped:

Thief : Sir, May I ask you a question?

Judge : Yes, go on.

Thief : Do you believe in Waheguru, Almighty Judge, and that he does everything?

Judge : Yes, I do.

Thief : Then it is wrong for you to send me to jail when everything, you know, is done by Waheguru. He made me commit theft according to His will.

Judge : You are sentenced for two years. Do not blame me for increasing your sentence. This is the will of Waheguru. You know I cannot do anything, everything is done by Waheguru.

Waheguru has given different people, different intellect, different environment, and different physical, mental, moral, and social capabilities. But we cannot ignore the knowledge of good or bad when living this life. An ignorant person can be saved from doing wrong acts. But can that person be saved who knowingly commits sins?

I hadn’t expected it:
I didn’t know you would be there.
A hand,
Reaching through the translucent gray screen,
You stretch towards me.
It’s then when I see:
Your eyes, your eyes, I can see them.
They glow, oh, how they glow,
Lone fireflies, dancing in the late summer breeze.
You close your eyes,
And yet they still glow.

That warmth surrounds me now,
A vibrating hum,
Rhythmic, silent comfort.
The clouds dissipate like cold vapor;
I listen to the grass whisper,
Held in your luminescent gaze.
Light, it liberates me.
Light…

Your glowing eyes, they are my liberation.

Submitted by: Manleen Kaur

Dazed and confused, I sat outside,
Knowing something was wrong

I was sitting outside of the pool, never
Aware that it was there.

Then I saw it, and I jumped in; without a
Thought – without a care.

Suddenly I began to drown, and upon my
Wrist I felt a hand.

It was the Guru guiding me, and from
Then on I swam.

At this point I was just learning, not nearly
Able to swim

But as the Guru swam alongside, I found
Support within

Suddenly Maya came along, and took over
My mind

As Maya pulled, I began to cry, and somehow got left behind

At once, the Grace of Waheguru
Came, and shined within my soul

Finally Maya let me go, and finally I felt whole.

O Sikhs of the Guru, Now is the
Time, to cross the world ocean’s tide

Use sat-Naam as your vessel and
Sat-Guru as your guide.

Submitted by: Anonymous Author

They said, “It’s time to leave, it’s getting worse.
Our wives and children are awaiting our return.”
So they mounted and rode away from the Sun,
Forty souls lost in the dawn,
But the Guru’s mission still carried on.

Before the Guru, the forty came.
He said, “For your destiny, I’m not to blame.
Renounce me now and sign your name,”
And, in their hearts, they knew this chance might never come again.”

You who fear to die today, will you be any more willing tomorrow?
Put your life in the hands of Him who can free you from this world of sorrow.

So they reached their destination sadly.
Their minds troubled, their hearts pounding madly.
And their wives said, “This makes you lower than a worm.
We’ll go and fight ourselves if you don’t return.”
So they prayed, “Lord, give us another turn.”

You who turned your back on the Lord,
Forsaking His holy sword,
The time will come for your sacrifice,
Stand for truth, and give your life, and free your soul.

You who fear to die today, will you be any more willing tomorrow?
Put your life in the hands of Him who can free you from this world of sorrow.

Mai Bhago led them towards the Sun,
Their hearts filled with God’s song.
But the Lord placed a challenge in their journey,
To try their steel, and test their bravery;
And they fought until the last one was overcome.

By: Gurudass Singh Khalsa, Gurudass Kaur Khalsa, and Livtar Singh Khalsa

My skin crawls in anticipation
My head pounds
to the beat of the thousands of feet
and all I want to be is at yours

I engulf myself in my fake skin
trying to disappear from this sea
all who i know, all who know me
but I need to know you

My eyes wander, my heart races
I can’t calm myself
and I know what I need
so my search begins

I close my eyes
and the colours go away
I sing the wonderful words
and I can’t hear the cackles and gossip

So I breathe
and I am calm to the bone
So I sway
and I am free in this dance

And when my eyes open
My world is pulled into
one being and her aura
and I know it’s you

A vision of mercy
knowledge, power
and above all – grace
Glowing sharp in the foggy smudge

Distinct with your black crown
Eyes shut – head bowed
Looking inwards to your soul
The abode of my Beloved

You dedicate every breathing second
Your presence – an inspiration
Your living to serve and obey
You are my Beloved’s lover

Submitted by: D. Kaur

My mom…my queen

Submitted by: Manpreet Kaur

Starting from Bibi Nanki, my Guru Nanak Dev Jee’s sister
All the way to the Khalsa mothers who suffered every blister
Sacrificed their husbands, brothers and sons
Some to cruel swords, others to fanatic guns
Not a single cry was ever heard from their mouth
Their glory is sung today from the north to the south
Not a wrinkle on their foreheads, not a drop in their eyes
Bowing before their feet one sees the seven skies

But today when I look around it pains my soul
Seeing Gurujee’s daughters forget their goal
Disowning their history, faith and culture
Running after lust, that wretched dark vulture
Disrespecting their body in many disgusting ways
Shying away from all of the Eternal Lord’s plays
Losing their purity and then peace of mind
Falling prey to worldly pleasures that later get unkind

I am no one who has any license to teach
Can’t be a preacher as I am myself a leech
But this much prayer I shall offer at your feet
Wishing that someday the Lord we all can meet
This much prayer I offer with folded hands
That your fame stretches across all possible lands
And the last few words that I have got to express
Are from my inner being and not just to impress

Blessed are you, oh Kaur! For you have prepared
Lions for the battle from whom tyrants are scared
Blessed are you, oh Kaur! For yours is the glory
Which strikes terror within the merciless and the gory
Blessed are you, oh Kaur! Unaware of what is pain
Earning for martyrdom, not once but again and again
Blessed are you, oh Kaur! With you is my Guru Gobind Singh
Your True Father, True Mother, and True Eternal King

Feel proud! You are Gurujee’s princesses!

Submitted by: Mehtab Singh