My Malice and Bias

The Sikh Ardaas The term Ardās (Gurmukhi: ਅਰਦਾਸ) is derived from two words ' Arz ' meaning a appeal, supplication, or petition to the Almighty God with a hope - " Aas ". The Sikh prayer is carried out before undertaking any significant task; after reciting the daily Banis (scriptures), Kirtan (hymn-singing) or any other community, family or personal events such as birth, naming ceremony, wedding, anniversaries, or on a funeral. The Structure The Sikh Ardaas is divided into five sections: First section: devoted to the Almighty Creator and the ten gurus. Second section: remembers the  sacrifices of the early Sikhs.  Third section: collective prayer - first from the Khalsa, then from all Sikhs. Fourth section: allows the praying Sikh to appeal for specific desires and and for forgiveness and further guidance.  Fifth Section: The Ardaas ends with the ultimate appeal for the 'well being of all'. Section 1: Praise the Glory of Almighty God Sikh Nishaan Sahib with

  Do you gossip? Do You Gossip or Chugli? Have you ever noticed how much of our conversations revolve around other people? After all, once you’ve updated a friend on what’s new with you, what’s there left to talk about? Breaktime Gossip at Work Some gossip is obviously unkind and some is disguised as “concern” (“I can’t believe she did this! I’m praying Waheguru changes her heart!”). But when it comes down to it, gossip is gossip, defined as “idle talk, especially about the personal or private affairs of others.” It can be so much fun, though, and an easy way to fill the time! And aren’t we allowed to vent to others? Why do We Gossip? Social scientists have found that we are hardwired to gossip, and that's why we indulge in it. In fact, it’s an evolutionary adaptation – it’s become human nature to spill the beans.  Programmed to Gossip “ We’re the descendants of people who were good at this ,” said Frank McAndrew, a psychology professor at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. “ In

Often civilizations are known in history by the names they are called by their contemporary civilizations. Land of South East Asia that we know as India today has been named with various names over times - India, Hindustan, Bharat, and so many more that you probably  heard of. Map of Greater India  I am going to go through these names in chronological order that describes this geographic region. Its important here to note that the definitions are not just limited to the Republic of India but also includes neighboring countries as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Srilanka, Tibet, and many countries in SE Asia as these political nations were carved out of India fairly recently relative to the history of the region. Muleha - Sumerian Name for Indus Valley The oldest ever identity of this region comes from the ancient Sumerian civilization. Meluḫḫa or Melukhkha (Sumerian: 𒈨𒈛𒄩𒆠 Me-luḫ-ḫa) is the Sumerian name of a prominent trading partner during the Middle Bronze Age as

The history abounds with s tories of powerful men behaving badly . It’s a unfortunate yet predictable spectacle witnessed for thousands of years of human history across the globe— those in positions of power can’t help but help themselves to the help. Power corrupts even the best of us. But there’s an antidote - spiritual wisdom . Often spiritual wisdom had to step forward and confront the brutality of the powerful oppressor and heal the pain of the oppressed. Plunder of India in Medieval Times  The sacred land of five rivers, we now call Punjab has been a playground for marauders and looters who plundered its wealth, destroyed its religious plurality, its beauty, and its heritage for over 700 years from the 11th century till the 18th century. The day Mahmud of Ghazni ransacked and looted Lahore in 1021, it ended Punjab’s rule over itself and foreign rule started, which lasted till 1769 when after over 750 years the Punjabis returned to ‘self-rule.’ Confronting Intolerance with Spir

Sardar Sardul Singh & Sardarni Surjit Kaur at Mansurpur Home   The COVID pandemic changed the world in 2020, specially for those families who live continents apart. I live in California, while my younger brother is settled in UK, but my parents chose to stay in India - Muzaffarnagar , a small town in Western UP, about 65 miles north of nation's capital - Delhi. Two long years of the scare of COVID virus, we were concerned if and when we will be able to meet our parents, highly vulnerable due to their age - my parents are in their 80s. Thanks to the global vaccination program, it was made possible, finally. My parents were flying to San Francisco via London after meeting my brother there. They were bringing a special memento for me ... the turban of Bauji , my grandfather. Bau ji - Sardar Sardul Singh S ardar Sardul Singh moved in 1928 as a founding member to establish the first cane sugar mill at the rural location of Mansurpur in the district of Muzaffarnagar in Western UP.