Latest news with #Gurdwara
The Herald Scotland
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Jasleen Kaur on her Turner Prize, education and a mural in her honour
The Glasgow-born artist won the Turner Prize last year and that is just the latest thing she has done since leaving Glasgow for London and the Royal College of Art to study for a master's degree 17 years ago. To make things even more special for her, the Berkeley Street mural sits near the Gurdwara that she attended at least twice a week when growing up. The mural has been completed by another GSA graduate in Molly Hankinson, who took inspiration from the Alter Altar installation that made Kaur the youngest nominee and winner of the prestigious art award. Despite that success, the artist remained in complete disbelief of what was happening, but she admits it is providing her with an opportunity to reignite a relationship with her home city. Jasleen Kaur and Molly Hankinson in front of the mural (Image: Robert Perry/The Herald) She said: 'It came as a surprise. I wasn't expecting it at all but what it does is rekindle some relationship with the Glasgow School of Art, which is where I did my undergrad and therefore my connection to the city. 'I moved away 17 years ago so there's something special about those connections being maintained and being cemented in some way. 'The mural also totally came out of the blue. It is being made by an artist called Molly and I was invited to come see it in the morning and it is part of her practice and a series of murals in the city. It is quite a shock to see a massive face of yourself on a building. 'I'm not a fan of being in the spotlight so the idea makes me quite nervous actually, however when I went this morning, I didn't realise it was on Berkeley Street. That is the street where the Gurdwara I went to growing up is on. I'd have been on the street twice a week at least so there's something significant about that in the city. 'It is amazing artists are being given paid opportunities in the city and artworks can be out of galleries and institutions because it's such a barrier for people accessing art. I didn't grow up accessing art, I didn't go into galleries and museums so just seeing it in the street is really important for kids and families and communities. 'It is fun and it is nice to support other artists and what they are doing in the city.' The Turner Prize award-winning exhibition was at Glasgow's Tramway and combined personal and cultural artefacts such as family photos, a classic Ford Escort draped in a doily, choral voices and bottles of Irn-Bru to reflect on Scottish Sikh identity and communal histories. Read More But how has life changed since winning the Turner Prize and being thrust into a spotlight that she admits she is not a fan of? 'It has been such a massive whirlwind', she admitted. 'I was on maternity leave when I was nominated and just when I started installing the show is when I got a bit of childcare in place so a lot has happened in the last year. 'The things that feel really lifechanging is I have support from an amazing gallery and I can take a bit of time out from teaching because I teach part time in an Art University as well. 'Those things when you have your own family and you are working several jobs to make things make sense are fundamental. I don't take it for granted.' With Kaur admits it has been important for her to continue her work and not worry about working multiple jobs at a time while looking after young kids, aged six and two. The mural is also something she can show them on return visits to Glasgow, where she admits that she would love to return to on a more permanent basis one day. She continued: 'It is really odd and that is one of the things I find the hardest to get my head around, what my kids see me doing. 'How much can change in a couple of generations? I get so emotional and sentimental about that because as someone who didn't have access to the arts or the creative industries, I'm really grateful for the education I got because that state funded education was critical for me. 'I do worry about the state of the arts in all bits of education from nursery to higher education. It is because of that education I have access to things so I have to thank. Jasleen Kaur poses with the mural (Image: Robert Perry/The Herald) 'I moved away to London to study my masters. I was supported by the Scottish Government to study at the Royal College of Art so I moved away young and as these cities do, you build relationships and friendships and networks and you end up staying. 'I'd like to think I'd come back to Glasgow at some point.' The state-funded education is something she remains passionate about and she insists she would not be where she is in life it was not for that. That is why she is concerned about the rising costs in education – particularly outwith Scotland where universities remain publicly funded – and is worried it is stopping people from making their mark. Her own story is an inspiring one and while she finds herself struggling to accept that tag, she admits her story is the perfect example of why state-funded education matters. She continued: 'I'm not comfortable in that position when so many people are inspiring. I can make a case for what it means to have really good state funded education. I think that's my story. I don't think there is exceptionalism, I don't think it is a fluke or talent, it is being supported and being educated and having the access and there not being a financial barrier. 'Talent is part of it but it is not the whole thing. There's so many extremely talented people who can't get a shoe in and there are extremely untalented people who are at the top so it's not about talent, it's about something else. 'There is amazing alternatives. As universities become unattainable because of financial pressures, especially outside of Scotland, there has been much more alternatives art school models set up. Reach out and apply to those where you could access something for free and go for it. It is your network and your community that will keep you practicing. 'With the way things are going, they are going to be really important alternatives.'
SBS Australia
02-07-2025
- General
- SBS Australia
His family once faced homelessness. Now he's on a mission to ensure no child has to go through it
Sikhi Awareness Foundation (SAF International) started as a simple online campaign on Facebook 11 years ago, when a group of young Sikh men came together to help children in rural Punjab access education. What began as a social media initiative has now grown into a global foundation – SAF International – allowing people from around the world to sponsor a child's education. Today, the foundation's reach has expanded beyond Punjab, supporting children in neighbouring states like Haryana and even across the border in Nepal. In an interview with SBS Punjabi, the head of SAF's operations in Australia explained that the foundation primarily supports children from families who are unable to afford schooling. This includes children whose parents are affected by drug addiction, children being raised by single parents, and children of Granthis – the caretakers who serve in Gurdwaras. 'We believe that if a child is educated, they might still live in poverty – but their future generations won't have to,' said Singh. Know the full story via this podcast: LISTEN TO SBS Punjabi 02/07/2025 13:02 Panjabi 🔊 Find all our podcasts and stories that matter here at SBS Punjabi Podcast Collection. 💻 For news, information and interviews in Punjabi from across Australia and the homeland, you can tune in to SBS Punjabi live from Monday to Friday at 4pm on SBS South Asian on digital radio, on channel 305 on your television, via the SBS Audio app or stream from our website . 📲 Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram .
RNZ News
23-06-2025
- RNZ News
Two people injured in assault near Sikh temple in south Auckland
Takanini Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib. Photo: Google Maps Two people have been injured in an assault at a sports complex next to a Sikh temple in south Auckland. Police said the attacker entered the Takanini Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib and approached a man known to him about 5pm on Sunday. "He has begun to assault the man, before bystanders have intervened to stop the offending," Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Taylor said. The victim and a second person both suffered minor injuries during the assault. Both received treatment at a local medical centre. Security removed the man and he was seen getting into a vehicle before police arrived on scene, Taylor said. Taylor said the assault was not being treated as a hate-motivated crime. "We acknowledge that this incident was confronting for those who were present at the temple at the time," Taylor said. "However, we have established that this incident occurred as a result of a dispute between two parties known to each other." Taylor said police have since spoken with the driver of the vehicle, after it was stopped in the Manurewa area later in the evening and are following positive lines of enquiry in relation to the offender. Police carried out "reassurance patrols" around the temple as a result of the assault, Taylor said. Anyone with information that can assist enquiries can update police online now or call 105, using the reference number 250622/3501. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
22-06-2025
- RNZ News
Two people injured in assault at Sikh Temple in south Auckland
Takanini Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib. Photo: Google Maps Two people have been injured in an assault at a Sikh Temple in south Auckland. Police said the attacker entered the Takanini Gurdwara Sri Kalgidhar Sahib and approached a man known to him about 5pm on Sunday. "He has begun to assault the man, before bystanders have intervened to stop the offending," Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Taylor said. The victom and a second person both suffered minor injuries during the assault. Both received treatment at a local medical centre. Security removed the man and he was seen getting into a vehicle before police arrived on scene, Taylor said. Taylor said the assault was not being treated as a hate-motivated crime. "We acknowledge that this incident was confronting for those who were present at the temple at the time," Taylor said. "However, we have established that this incident occurred as a result of a dispute between two parties known to each other." Taylor said police have since spoken with the driver of the vehicle, after it was stopped in the Manurewa area later in the evening and are following positive lines of enquiry in relation to the offender. Police carried out "reassurance patrols" around the temple as a result of the assault, Taylor said. Anyone with information that can assist enquiries can update police online now or call 105, using the reference number 250622/3501. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Express Tribune
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
US DoJ urged to investigate Hindu American Foundation as Modi's 'foreign agent'
The key feature of the Indo-Pacific strategy is to build the economic, defence and military muscle of India so that the South Asian country could effectively act as a counterbalance to China. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE Listen to article A major Sikh temple in the US has urged the Trump administration to investigate the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), accusing the Pennsylvania-based group of acting as a 'foreign agent' for the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Fremont Gurdwara Sahib, which serves 5,000 Sikh worshippers each week and is considered a central part of the global Sikh community, has asked the US Department of Justice (DoJ) to determine whether the HAF should be required to register as an agent of India, according to a report in The Guardian. The Gurdwara believes the group should be transparent about its activities, including any interactions with US lawmakers and connections to the Indian government. A spokesperson for the Gurdwara wrote in a letter to US Attorney General Pam Bondi that the HAF has facilitated meetings between foreign officials and US lawmakers, hosted foreign officials at its events, and publicly supported the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on both domestic and international matters. The HAF denied the accusations, insisting that it is a non-partisan charity with no ties to any foreign government or political group. The foundation also claimed that supporters of the Khalistan movement, which seeks an independent Sikh state, have been behind a 'coordinated campaign' against the HAF. 'We are open to meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and other security officials to discuss these false and harmful allegations,' the HAF stated. These claims come amid ongoing tensions between Sikhs pushing for an independent state and the Indian government. In recent years, there have been allegations that the Indian government has targeted Sikhs abroad, particularly after the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian advocate for Khalistan. The Canadian government has said it believes Indian agents were involved in Nijjar's death. Read more: Canada expels top Indian envoys in Sikh separatist killing row In the US, prosecutors have also alleged that an Indian agent was behind an attempt to kill a US-based Sikh activist. A recent investigation by Al Jazeera highlighted that the HAF, initially established to represent the Hindu community in the US, has increasingly supported the Indian government since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014. The group is accused of stepping up its political activities in favour of Modi's policies. Also read: Biden raised issue of Canadian Sikh's murder with Modi at G20, FT reports While the HAF has not been accused of supporting violence against Sikhs, the Gurdwara's letter calls for the HAF's actions to be investigated under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. If the DoJ determines that the HAF is acting on behalf of the Indian government, it would be required to disclose details of its activities, including any financial ties to India. The Indian embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment. Read: Modi not invited to G7 summit in Canada What is the Khalistan movement? It wants an independent Sikh state carved out of India and dates back to India and Pakistan's independence in 1947 when the idea was pushed forward in negotiations preceding the partition of the Punjab region between the two new countries. The Sikh religion was founded in Punjab in the late 15th century and currently has about 25 million followers worldwide. Sikhs form a majority of Punjab's population but are a minority in India, comprising 2% of its population of 1.4 billion. Sikh separatists demand that their homeland Khalistan, meaning "the land of the pure", be created out of Punjab. The demand has resurfaced many times, most prominently during a violent insurgency in the 1970s and 1980s which paralysed Punjab for over a decade. A few months later, Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards at her home in New Delhi. The army launched operations in 1986 and 1988 to flush out Sikh militants from Punjab. Sikh militants were also blamed for the 1985 bombing of an Air India Boeing 747 flying from Canada to India in which all 329 people on board were killed off the Irish coast. The insurgency killed tens of thousands of people and Punjab still bears the scars of that violence.
