Fresno: Sikhi-Seva for the Houseless-Cinema

A message from our Fresno Sevadars:

Definition: Seva means service. In Sikhism, seva refers to selfless service for altruistic purposes on behalf of, and for the betterment of a Community.  Sikhs have a tradition of seva. A sevadar is one who performs seva through philanthropic, voluntary, selfless, service.  Seva is a means to promote humility and demote egoism which is a basic concept of the Sikh religion and is one of three fundamental principles of Sikhism

Now that another Thanksgiving has come and gone, we can all say that we are thankful for many things: A warm house, food on our tables, and the clothes on our backs and a loving family. But what about the people who are not as fortunate to have these things? Together we will partake in selfless service or Seva raising money to purchase food, and collecting clothes to then distribute them to the less fortunate. In hopes that our small helping hand will help them through the winter.

So far we have collected $100 PLEASE help us raise money. Though we are all strapped for cash, we HAVE a community to turn too, so ask your family, friends and loved ones for donations. As Sikhs, let’s do something that is in part REQUIRED of one, to help not the poor or someone “LESS” than us but those equals who have had a rough life.

If you can’t donate money now, please donate your valuable time. It’s a ONE day event and maybe it will inspire new younger generation of Sikh to acknowledge and take actions against the severe crisis in our own backyards.

According to the Washington Post 43.5 percent of Fresno’s poor live in extremely poor neighborhoods (where more than 40 percent of the residents live below the federal poverty line — $17,600 a year for a family of four).

Now with the recession, you can count on more young and homeless on the streets of Fresno. STAND UP Singhs/Kaurs!

Items you can donate:

• Tooth Brush
• Tooth Paste
• Dental Floss
• Bandaids
• Underwear
• Neosporin
• Cortisone Cream
• Cotton Swabs
• Listerine
• Deodorant
• Nail Clippers
• Baby Wipes
• Thick Socks
• Batteries
• Feminine hygiene products
• Blankets
• Sweaters/Sweats

Invite your friends please and forward the message, together, we are the movement.

Please fill out the following registration form if you wish to volunteer and it will also give you the option to help with donations:

Sikhi-Seva-Cinema 2011

Sikhi-Seva-Cinema has become a tradition in Fresno, CA.  You can view some previous links here.

Last year Bakersfield, Seattle, and Sacramento joined in on the event and planted the seeds there.

In 2011, we expect for it to grow even further.  We will update this link with the dates of all the locations as we get them.  Read about it and then make it happen in your community.  Keep on checking for the latest updates.

Jakara Fresno and Kerman – Raise over $500

Every year Kid’s Day is a special fundraising event for Central California’s Valley Children’s Hospital.  This year, just like last, the chapters in Fresno and Kerman helped raise money for the hospital.  This year they combined for a spectacular $525.  We salute all the people that come together to make great things possible.  Together, we are the movement.

Got On the Bus 2010!

A special thank you to those 40 Sikhs that ‘got on the bus’ from Southern California to Yuba City!

Next year, hope to have you join.

Ladoos Pink and Blue Inauguration

The idea was born in 2005.  At the Kaur Voices conference, groups came together on Saturday five years ago to begin thinking of real solution to address needs in the community.  Ladoos Pink and Blue was born.

This initiative by the Jakara Movement advocates gender-equality and promote health education within the Sikh community. Despite the Sikh Gurus’ clarion call and repudiation of ‘kurimaars’, male preference in the Sikh community is a deep-rooted and thriving practice. Recent reports from NGO organizations in East Punjab appallingly show the steep decline in the female to male ratio. The problem is not confined to Punjab. Numerous medical entrepreneurs in North America, understanding the Punjabi niche-market, actively promote gender testing and advertise in the Punjabi vernacular press.

Although the problem is multi-faceted, one solution is for the community to place value and celebrate the birth all children. To encourage the celebration of both boys and girls Ladoos: Pink and Blue sends ladoos to the family of the newborn, a Gurbani-based Sikh keepsake, the baby’s first kara, health information that highlights gender equality within the lens of Sikhi, and host and promote events celebrating Sikh women. Infused with the message of the Gurus, this project hopes to serve as a stepping stone for change within our community. Beginning the pilot project in California’s Central Valley, the project hopes to grow larger in the coming years.

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Our Beloved – Ajeet Singh Matharu

The following was written by a Jakara Movement sevadar in honor of a wonderful GurSikh activist. Known to many in the Jakara family as Ajeet Singh, he had been part of the movement from its very beginning in 2000. We love, miss, and honor you Ajeet.

I always had a huge extended family in Fresno.  No mamay, chachay, phuas, or thaiys; they were all in Punjab.  Still somehow halfway across the globe my parents and their friends had reunited and created a community.  Those famous ‘batches’ from the 1970s in Patiala, now along with a few others, had all come to settle in California’s Central Valley.

While there was ‘New Years at the Sidhus’, “Father’s Day BBQs at Woodward Park” and “4^th of July at the Ranus’, it was the almost-monthly birthdays, weekly Punjabi school sessions, and other family gatherings where friendships and relationships were formed.  Ubiquitous at all these functions was Jaswant Auntie’s affectionate hugs and Joginder Uncle’s garish Hawaiian shirts.

Their son was a late addition.  However in a world of simple “Abhi’s” and “Arshi’s”, “Neilo’s” and “Paulo’s”, there was only one Ajeet Singh.  It wasn’t that the rest of us didn’t have “Singh” in our name, but somehow it conjoined and seemed most appropriate with Ajeet.  Named after a prince, he, himself, was a prince.

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Jakara Fresno Gives Back

Early this morning, Jakara volunteers in Fresno gathered to join efforts to raise money for Children’s Hospital Central California.  For the past 23 years, Children’s Hospital has benefited from the thousands of volunteers that hit the streets every March to sell the special “Kids Day” edition of the Fresno Bee for $1.  This year’s goal was to raise $400,000.

Children’s Hospital treats more inpatient cases than any pediatric hospital north of San Diego, making them the second largest children’s hospital in the state.  The hospital serves nine counties.  Many of us have known someone who has been a patient at Children’s Hospital and highly value the presence of such an organization in the Central Valley.

Jakara Fresno hopes to continue giving back to the community by participating in activities and events that help the Sikh community in many ways.

We want to thank all the volunteers who took the time to spend a few hours (before going to school and before going to work!) to raise money for Children’s Hospital.  It was a cold morning, but giving back through seva never felt so good!

Sikholars: Sikh Graduate Student Conference Participants Announced

The following papers have been selected and will be presented at the first annual conference. The conference is being hosted by the Jakara Movement and the Sikh Spirit Foundation.

• Ajeet Singh Matharu, Columbia University, History, N/A
• Arvinder Singh Kang and Amanpreet Singh Brar, University of Mississippi, Computer Science, Extending Gurmukhi Script into Twenty-first Century & Beyond
• Bandana Kaur, Yale University, Environmental Management, Reclaiming Natural Histories: Biodiversity and Landscape in Pre-Green Revolution Punjab
• Erik Resly, Harvard Divinity School, Divinity, (Re)figuring the Sikh: Theodicy, Discipleship and Narrative in Ethical Perspective
• Harjant Gill, American University, Anthroplogy, From Putt Jattan De to Munde UK De: The Transformation of Masculinities in Punjabi Cinema
• Iqbal Kaur Gill, University of British Columbia, Counseling Psychology, First Generation Canadian Punjabi Sikh Parents Beliefs about Adolescent Suicide and Suicide Related Behaviours
• Kamal Arora, York University, Social Anthropology, The Politics of Pain: Gender, Mourning and the Punjab Crisis
• Mandeep Kaur, University of Texas (Austin), Nursing, The Sikh Patient: A Review of the Nursing Literature
• Mette Bach, University of British Columbia, Creative Writing, The Changing Faces of Suburbia
• Preet Kaur Virdi, York University, Socio-Legal Studies, Silence: Resistance or Acquiescence? Sikh women’s perspectives on Canadian law

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Celebrating the Shaheedi of the Sahibzadays: Sikhi, Seva, and Cinema

While many rushed under the covers and in front of the television during this past winter break, sevadaars from Jakara Fresno organized a unique event.  From December 23-26, 2009 at various locations in the Central Valley, Sikh animated films were screened and seva performed afterwards.

On December 23, sevadaars assembled at Anandgarh Sahib (Kerman) to watch Sundari and then followed the movie with making Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.  The activity was repeated the next day on December 24th at Nanaksar Gurdwara (Cherry St.) with the showing of the Rise of the Khalsa, followed by making of sandwiches.   On December 25th, children from Selma Gurdwara viewed Sahibzadays and then made sandwiches.  In all, children from throughout Central California made over 650 sandwiches.

These sandwiches were then distributed outside the Poverello House in downtown Fresno to the hundreds of homeless that are residing there.  Older Jakara T-shirts were also distributed and given out on December 26th in honor of the Shaheedi of the 2 chotay Sahibzadays.

We hope that such a tradition can be established throughout California and beyond.  Together, we are the movement.

Below you will find some pictures from the celebration.

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A Promise

The following poem was written by a member of the Jakara Movement and presented at the Remembrance March held by the Jakara Movement in memory of those lives lost in the pogroms of 1984.

Written by Simranjit Singh, “A Promise” provides insight into the thoughts of a developing young Sikh leader.  There is angst; there is passion; there is power; and there is inspiration.  Here are his words and his expression.

“A Promise”

By Simranjit Singh

Today I make a promise.

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