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Historical Delhi - The Sikh Connection

Historic Old Delhi Delhi , the capital of India and Sikhs have a love-hate story that goes back about 500 years. Sikh Gurus have blessed the old city with their visit. But this ancient city is also soaked with the sacred blood of many thousands of Sikh souls ; the ninth Guru, and thousands of brave and fearless martyrs who died purely and simply to maintain, defend and fight for the most noble of human causes - the protection of ones liberty, the right to practice ones own religion and the freedom to live with the assurance of justice. Nanak Piao Gurdwara Nanak Piao is built at the site, where Guru Nanak Dev camped when he visited Delhi in 1505 during the reign of Sultan Sikandar Lodhi. Here Guru Nanak offered water to the thirsty travelers, hence the name of the shrine. The word "Piao" mean to "offer water to drink" and refers to the offering of water to all the thirsty who visited this shrine. Even today, the Well used by the Guru is preserved from whic

Madan Lal Dhingra

While he is being celebrated as a martyr of the Indian freedom struggle, the blood relatives of Madan Lal Dhingra — hanged in Britain for killing Indian Army officer William Hutt Curzon Wyllie , who is said to have been his father’s close friend — continue to refuse to acknowledge his legacy. Commemorative Stamp on Dhingra No descendants of Dhingra participated in any of the two separate state-level functions, organised in the city to mark his death anniversary on Monday. Madan Lal Dhingra had been disowned by his father Dr. Gitta Mall , who had even published his decision as advertisements in newspapers, before he killed William Wyllie. Dhingra was hanged in a British prison on August 17, 1909. Who was Madan Lal Dhingra? Madan Lal Dhingra (Punjabi: ਮਦਨਲਾਲ ਧੀਂਗੜਾ) (1883–1909) was an Indian revolutionary independence activist. Madan Lal Dhingra was born on 18 September 1883 in Amritsar, India. He was the sixth of seven children of a civil surgeon. All six sons studied abroad.

Kalaals - The Winemakers of Punjab

Desi Daru from Northern India History of Alcohol in India Alcoholic beverages in the Indus Valley Civilization appeared in the Chalcolithic Era around 3000 BC. The people living in the region that comprises modern India and Pakistan, practiced both fermentation and distillation of beverages using sweet and starchy items. Here are some facts that may surprise you but these are historically TRUE. Did you know that: Ancient Indo-Aryans consumed a wine called " Sura " produced from grapes Indo-Aryans also drank an alcoholic beverage called " Madira " or " Madhu " made from fermented honey (Mead) Drinking bars called " Madhushala " or " Mayakhana " existed in medieval India  Barmaids in medieval Mughal India were called " Saqi " The concept of distilling "Rum" from sugarcane originated in Northern India (Punjabi Desi or Lahan or  Tharra )? Kalaals are a specific caste of winemakers in Punjab (Ahluwalia

Congrestani Con(g)piracy against Sikhs

Congrestani Con(g)piracy The relationship of Sikh community with the Congress Party has been estranged since the independence of India. It started with the false promises given by Congress leadership upon which Sikhs decided to join Indian Republic unconditionally. Subsequent betrayal of Congress by refusing to designate Punjabi as state language of Punjab, separation of Chandigarh from Punjab, and enrollment in Indian Army on the population based quota and not on merit resulted in a "showdown" during the 1980s. The Sikh rebellion turned to violence after 30 years on peaceful non-violent protest by Akalis failed to bring any results. Indira Gandhi of Congress responded by ordering Indian Army to attack Golden Temple Complex in June 1984 resulting in mass causalities on both sides including thousands of Sikh pilgrims stranded in the armed battle. This event changed the relationship forever and catapulted into assassination of Indira Gandhi. The Congress res

Mass Suicide by Women of Rawalpindi in 1947

Thoha Khalsa is a village of Kahuta Region of District Rawalpindi in Pakistan. The village is located in the South East of Rawalpindi city at the distance of about 30 miles. The language used by its people is Pothohari dialect of Punjabi.The population is about 20,000 consisting Janjua Rajput, Ghakhar, and few others - all Muslims. Current inhabitants may not even know that is was a flourishing village of Sikhs before the partition of India (creation of Pakistan). The village was inhabitated by wealthy Sikh families - Bindras, Duggals, Anands, and Chandhoks. The Well in Thoha Khalsa The Partition Of India Sectarian violence erupts in Punjab as Muslim League announces partition and creation of Pakistan, a Muslim only nation carved out of India. Sikh leader Master Tara Singh declares opposition to the partition and tears the flag of Pakistan in Lahore. To the dismay of Sikhs and Punjabis, Indian leaders Gandhi and Nehru cave in to the demand of Pakistan. Master Tara Singh in