The relatively unknown Bhagat Puran Singh was born in Punjab in 1904. Motivated by his love of humanity, he established Pingalwara, an institution dedicated to the care and healing of the disabled and the infirm.  The uplifting documentary is told from the atypical point of view of the observations of Pyara, Bhagat Puran Singh’s severely disabled ward, whom he transported on his back for 14 years.

Western audiences understand and recognize the contributions of towering figures such as Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Albert Schweitzer. Likewise, Bhagat Puran Singh of Pingalwara, Amritsar was also among the few shining stars in recent history who devoted their entire lives to serving the sick, the weak and the destitute.

When he died in 1992, there were no headlines, no huge processions, and no massive garlands of flowers. But he left something vastly more enduring, a legacy of care and concern for the entire world to see. Captured in this documentary is a legacy that animates every atom of his beloved institution, Pingalwara.

This is the sixth documentary film produced and directed by Joginder Kalsi; he has also produced Two Hearts (Hindu & Sikh weddings Ceremonies), The Khalsa (The Saint Soldiers), Guru Granth Sahib (The Sikh Scriptures), A Punjabi Village and The City of Amritsar. The documentary was written, produced and edited in Canada.

The production, which has gone direct to DVD, has English and Punjabi audio tracks. It is being distributed via the internet and to schools and libraries world wide.
For more information, contact:
Kalcine Enterprises Inc.
kalcine@rogers.com
416-445-5497

Event: 15Th Punjabi American Festival organized by Punjabi American Heritage Society
Place: Yuba Sutter Fairgrounds, 442 Franklin Avenue. Yuba City, CA 95991
Date: May 24th, 2009, Sunday
Show Time: 1 PM and 2PM and 330PM

He developed a keen interest in spreading the message of the Guru–the universal truth of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji. To achieve this he first obtained a thorough knowledge over a period of many years.

He travels throughout the world to conduct Gurbani seminars and discourses. Through these seminars he clears confusion among the masses, especially younger generations.  A common and genuine complaint of the youth is that Gurdwaras don’t cater to their needs.  In seminar settings they are given the chance to openly to ask questions. Veer Ji uses examples from Gurbani to give answers to questions that arise in our daily life.

Veer Bhupinder Singh Ji addressed Yuba City Sadh Sangat on the evening of Dec 5th and the morning of Dec 7th at Gurdwara Sahib on Tierra Buena Road in Yuba City.  Both of these events were well attended. For the first time a pin drop silence was heard at the Gurdwara Sahib.  The sangat had never listened to such a wonderful discourse on Gurbani.
On Saturday Dec 6th a Seminar was held at River Bend School in Yuba City.  Veer Ji talked about social and marital issues which can lead to depression and suicidal tendencies.  Solutions through Gurbani were discussed in detail.  He stressed that if we stay attached to the truth, we can avoid all disappointments of life.  Those who stay involved in helping others always lead happy lives.  He highlighted the importance of families and love and affection among family members.  He emphasized that mothers can make all the difference in how a child will be as an adult.

Veer Ji talked about introspection.  He helped the sangat to understand that we all need to look at where we stand, and that it is important to acquire Godly qualities and get rid of vices.  By doing this we can always stay connected to God.  He also stressed that those who feel the presence of God do not discriminate, they treat everyone equally.  On the evening of Dec 6th, the California Sikh Foundation sponsored a Gurbani discourse which was held at Gurdwara Sri Sach Khand Sahib in Roseville. This was also well attended and again Sadh sangat listened to Veer Ji with full attention. 

Veer Bhupinder Singh has founded a charitable organization, “The Living Treasure”.  This organization operates ambulances, provides health care to the needy, and education to the poor in India, all at no cost.  In addition to this, Veer Ji provides free counseling and conducts seminars.

To get more information and to listen to the Gurbani discourses please visit their website: www.thelivingtreasure.com

This event was sponsored by Punjabi American Heritage Society, Yuba City: www.PunjabiHeritage.org
 

This year’s festival will highlight performances by internationally acclaimed artists such as  K.S. Makhan, Comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi, Balvir Boparai, Surinder Shinda, & more.

For high resolution flier click here

Website: Punjabiamericanheritagesociety.org

The Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds will host more than 12 000 people this Sunday, May 27th during the 13th Annual International Punjabi American Festival. Sponsored by the Punjabi American Heritage Society of Yuba City, the festival is a way for those with Punjabi roots to celebrate and share their culture with fellow Americans.

Date: Sunday, May 27th, 2006 Time: 11:00 am to Sun Set Location: Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, Yuba City

The Punjabi American Heritage Society was founded in 1993 with the purpose of creating a better understanding amongst different people living in this area and to educate children about their ancestral roots. In the past thirteen years, many events have been organized to improve awareness and to educate fellow Americans.

At this year’s festival, hundreds of local performing artists, including students from California schools, colleges and universities, will perform traditional Punjabi dances such as Bhangra, Giddha, Jhumar, Malwai Giddha and other ethnic dances. In addition, vendors will be on hand providing many Punjabi and South Asian delicacies. This year’s festival will highlight performances by internationally acclaimed artists such as Sukhshinder Shinda from UK (first performance in USA with live band of ten musicians) http://www.sukshindershinda.com and Pammi Bai from Punjab, India with 14 dancers: http://www.pammibai.com

Festival will also feature a documentary: Divided We Fall: http://www.dwf-film.com
A man who calls himself a patriot murders a turbaned American on Sept. 15, 2001. In the aftermath of 9/11, as grief turns into rage on American city streets, temples are burned, homes vandalized, people assaulted. Barely broadcast on airwaves, these stories travel by word-of-mouth to the far reaches of a small California farming town, compelling a college student to step beyond the familiar threshold of her life. Armed with only a camera, an American college student journeys across the country to find out who counts as one of us in a world divided into them and us. Valarie Kaur captures hundreds of stories never before told – stories of fear and unspeakable loss, but also of resilience and hope – until she finally finds the heart of America, halfway around the world.

What: Photography/Video Exhibit, "Sikh History and Life in California"

Where: Sutter County Library, 750 Forbes Avenue, Yuba City

When: April 25-May 27, Monday – Thursday 10-8pm, Friday – Saturday, 10-5pm
Opening Reception April 28th, 6-8pm. Photo display, film screening, discussion. Free food and drink. All welcome.

The exhibit features black and white photography of Sikh communities throughout California, with a special emphasis on Yuba City. Over twenty-five prints on display provide insight into the public and private life of a community that is often misunderstood. The photographer, Stacey J. Miller, has captured images of men and women in prayer, at work, in the home, and at festivals. Her work challenges viewers to re-imagine what "community" means, particularly in regards to inclusion of diverse religious and cultural traditions.

The exhibit also features video footage from interviews conducted with longtime members of California’s Sikh communities. The interview footage, drawn primarily from men and women living in Yuba City between 1948-1965, focuses on narrators’ experiences traveling to the United States, the challenges they (and those who came before them) encountered, and how they built a familial and social life over the decades. The video clips are intended to inspire viewers to rethink who is a California "pioneer" and how to rewrite history to include stories that are often ignored. Two television-listening stations will run continuously, featuring approximately thirty-two minutes of footage.

The Punjabi American Heritage Society (PAHS) of Yuba City is the exhibit sponsor. Funding for the exhibit was made possible by a grant from The California Council for the Humanities and matching funds from PAHS. The Sikh Temple of Sacramento made an additional contribution

The Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds will host more than 15, 000 people Sunday, May 29th during the 11th Annual International Punjabi American Festival. Sponsored by the Punjabi American Heritage Society of Yuba City, the festival is a way for those with Punjabi roots to celebrate and share their culture with fellow Americans.

Date: Sunday, May 29th, 2005
Time: 11:00 am to 8 pm
Location: Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, Yuba City

The Punjabi American Heritage Society was founded in 1993 with the purpose of creating a better understanding amongst different people living in this area and to educate children about their ancestral roots. In the past twelve years, many events have been organized to improve awareness and to educate fellow Americans.

At this year’s festival, hundreds of local performing artists, including students from California schools, colleges and universities, will perform traditional Punjabi dances such as Bhangra, Giddha, Jhumar, Malwai Giddha, Gujarati and Mexican dances. In addition, vendors will be on hand providing many Punjabi and South Asian delicacies.

This year’s festival will also highlight performances by internationally acclaimed artists, Jassi Sidhu from UK, Lehmbhar Singh Hussianpuri and Balvir Boparai from Punjab, India.

Festival will also feature award winning documentary “Continuous Journey” by Ali Kazimi from Canada. On May 23rd, 1914, the Japanese shipping vessel Komagata Maru, chartered by Sikh businessman Gurdit Singh, arrived in Canada’s Vancouver Harbor. Aboard were 376 migrants of Indian origin, citizens of the British Empire who believed it their right to move and settle freely within its domain. Upon anchoring, however, the passengers were prevented from disembarking by local Canadian officials, whose decision reflected a growing nationwide resistance to non-white immigration. This refusal to allow the Indian passengers ashore galvanized the nascent Vancouver Indian community, fueling an outbreak of support for their countrymen and trapped without provisions for over two months, aboard a ship anchored only a heartbreaking half-mile from shore.

For more information please call Siri Pritam Kaur Khalsa @ 530-632-5315 for sponsorships, Satnam Tatla @ 530-315-1248 for booths and exhibits, Hardeep S Dhadli @ 530-682-2102 for tickets and for participation may send email to Punjabifestival2005@yahoo.com

To handle this situation many other Amritdhari Sikhs, carry a letter from the Stockton City council. This letter explains the concept of the 5 K’s. Gill showed the police officer the letter which Bennett dismissed saying it had no relevance in Oregon. Gill said that Bennett then ordered him to lie on the ground face down. "He then pushed his knee into my back, handcuffed me pressing my face into the ground," said Gill.  Gill’s injuries on his face and shoulder are a testimony to the brute force inflicted upon him. Gill also complains of back pain.

Gill was then made to sit in the police car while Bennett searched his truck. Meanwhile two other officers showed up. Gill was told he had been pulled over for a missing registration plate and pouring a liquid out of his truck. The two officers reviewed the video recording and subsequently released Gill. They took his mini-kirpan and gave him a citation.
 
Mr. Gill contacted Punjabi American Heritage Society on September 3rd, 2004. Dr. Jasbir Singh Kang immediately contacted Sikh Coalition which has handled similar cases nation wide. He also contacted local and national media to highlight this case. The local American news paper Appeal Democrat carried a front page story highlighting this case.  This story was carried by many national and ethnic news paper and web sites.  Many Sikh organizations came to rescue of Mr. Gill. The Sikhs Coalition contacted DA office in Roseburg. Dr. J.P. Singh of Sikh Center of Bay Area pleaded this case to US
Department of Justice (Diane Schneider) and United Sikhs contacted the ACLU in Roseburg. The case of a concealed weapon was dropped but Mr. Gill continues to suffer from both physical and emotional trauma.
 
The Sikh community needs to look for permanent solution to this type of problem. We need to seek for legislative solution to honor articles of the Sikh faith including the Kirpan so we do not waste our recourses on similar situations in future. We need to send copy of the documentary Mistaken Identity to all police departments in USA and make efforts to train different state and federal law enforcement agencies about Sikh identity and articles of Sikh faith. Also efforts need to be made to have Sikhism added to curriculum of schools districts, colleges, and universities as part of world religions and history courses.
 
Mr. Gurpal Singh Gill would like to thank every one who helped him, including Sikh Coalition, Punjabi American Heritage Society, United Sikhs, Sikh Center of Bay Area, US Department of Justice, ACLU Roseburg, and the American and South Asian Media.
Mr. Gill would also like to thank Sikh leaders, local community members, Sikh Gurdwaras and local Christian Church members for their emotional support.
 
Here is a link for story from local paper 
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/2004/10/02/news/local_news/news2.txt

Released by
Kulwant Singh Johl
Punjabi American Heritage Society

Date: Sunday, May 25th
Time: 11:00 am to 8 pm (best time is mid-day, approx 3 – 4 pm)
Location: Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, Yuba City

Punjabi Americans have their roots in the Punjab region between India and Pakistan. While a majority of Punjabis in the USA adhere to the Sikh religion, many wearing a Sikh turban and beard, other Punjabis are of Muslim, Hindu, or Christian faiths.

Punjabis were the first group of people from South Asia to start migrating to the United States more than a century ago. Between 1903-1908, Punjabis primarily worked on the Western Pacific Railways in Northern California. And two thousand Punjabis worked on a 700-mile road between Oakland and Salt Lake City, which today is modern interstate 80.

The growing network of railroad lines brought increased agricultural activity to large areas of the Sacramento Valley. Because of their agricultural experience from the Punjab Indus Valley, which historians acknowledge was one of the first civilizations to invent agriculture,
Punjabis started moving into farming jobs. Today Punjabis play a vital role in the agricultural industry of the entire Central and Sacramento Valley’s, and make up a majority of the South Asian population.

The Punjabi American Heritage Society was founded in 1993 with the purpose of creating a better understanding amongst different people living in this area and to educate children about their ancestral roots. In the past ten years, many events have been organized to improve awareness and to educate fellow Americans.

At this year’s festival, hundreds of local performing artists, including students from California schools, colleges and universities, will perform traditional Punjabi dances such as Bhangra, Giddha, Jhumar, Malwai Giddha, Bengali and Gujarati. Traditional and modern styles of dance will also be presented. There will also be guest performances by Scottish and Hispanic
performers. In addition, vendors will be on hand providing many Punjabi and South Asian delicacies.

This year’s festival will also highlight performances by internationally acclaimed artist, Harbhajan Singh Mann while Manmohan Singh, Bollywood movie director, will honored for his work on the latest Punjabi movie: Jee Ayaan Nu.

This year’s festival will also feature: a photo exhibit by Professor Janmeja Singh Johl; a painting exhibition by Jarnail Singh; and three educational documentaries in English: Mistaken Identity, Punjabi Village and Roots in the Sand.

WLWD 2000 Inc. announced the US and worldwide release of  the TV program: "MISTAKEN IDENTITY: Sikhs in America" which took nine months to complete, involving extensive travel and  filming on locations across the country from NY/NJ/CT to Washington, DC, Chicago, IL, Cleveland, OH, to California (San Francisco, Yuba City, Palo Alto to Los Angeles, etc). Negotiations are underway with PBS, BBC, STAR-TV and SONY, etc. to broadcast the program during the month of November, when Sikhs celebrate the birthday of Guru Nanak – founder of Sikhism over 500 years ago.

The objective is to inform and educate mainstream Americans and non-Sikhs in the USA and worldwide — Who are Sikhs, What is Sikhism and the economic contribution of Sikh Americans since 1889, when the first immigrants arrived in California – over 100 years ago.

The documentary TV program goes beyond the shock and common wrath that consumed us all in the immediate aftermath of September 11. In the face of such adversity, the cherished ideals (liberty and freedom of speech, etc.) that guard the cornerstones of American society became wounded by victimization of fellow Americans – demonizing those who simply looked like the terrorists who had perpetrated the heinous crimes.

It tells the visual story of Sikhs in America in a post September 11 America, through the eyes of 23-year old Amanda Gesine, host and investigative journalist, who coincidentally, discovers her Sikh American neighbors, for the first time.  A college student at George Washington University in DC, she conceived the idea at a candlelight vigilance, as WLWD 2000′s R & D pitched for a Asian American WTC story.

Talking with young Sikhs her own age, she learns about the sudden racial profiling, verbal abuse and physical assaults, simply because they wore turbans and beards. Together, they discussed that this was due to sheer ignorance and fear of fellow Americans. She concluded that it was the demonization of the turban and the beard that created the huge backlash against Sikh Americans.  She learned that it was young America – men who rushed around waving baseball bats and throwing beer cans at Sikh taxi drivers and old turbaned Sikh men.  Her role was crucial in reaching out for more understanding among her own younger generation.

With Amanda’s initiation, the TV program spotlights and discusses the experiences of Sikhs in America – one ethnic group that makes up a small fragment of the American population. "MISTAKEN IDENTITY" charts her personal journey – demystifying the enigma of Sikh Americans and shares the hopes and desires of Americans from all ethnic backgrounds who seek to close ranks against bigotry and hatred and make a united stand against terrorism.

The important ethos of this TV program does not pertain to an exclusive American audience. In fact, it speaks to global TV viewers who appreciate the impact of East and West cultures (both in socio-economic terms and in life style/material terms) – the key demographic that TV advertisers and corporate sponsors seek to target.

Produced and directed by Vinanti Sarkar, President of WLWD 2000 Inc. (a boutique digital TV production company) headquartered in midtown New York. Philip Marshall, 4-time Emmy Award winning editor was hired to take over 36-40 hours of content footage with a strong script, targeting mainstream America and non-Sikhs.

WLWD 2000 Inc. received support from the Sikhs of Yuba City who understood the importance of the TV program, President, Dr. Narinder Singh Bajwa and members of the Punjabi American Heritage Society and the Yuba City Gurdwara. Executive Producer, Dr. Jasbir Singh Kang, M.D. believed the program as a "wake up call", with support from Teji "Tony" Singh, Parry Singh and K.P. Singh, Sikh Educational & Cultural Society of Indianapolis/Avtar Singh, Sikh Satsang of Indianapolis. The final edit was made possible by Vikram Chatwal, Producer and Executive Producers: Shining Sung (Taiwanese American), Shahid Hussain (Pakistani), with Ava Chien (Chinese American) sending the TV program for review to CCTV in mainland China.

Photographs and phone intereviews can be made available on request

Westcoast: Dr. Jasbir Singh Kang, Tel: 530-300-3735 /  sikhsangat@yahoo.com

Eastcoast:  Dir/Prod V Sarkar,  Tel 212-859-4568  / vsarkar@aol.com