GURU MANEYO  GRANTH

By Promod Puri

When the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, close to his death,sealed the continuity of human gurus and declared that henceforth the holy book Adi Granth would be the eternal Guru of Sikhs,the hymn composed by him for that declaration encourages a devotee to read, research and contemplate on the enlightenments contained in the sacred book.

Agya bhai Akal ki tabhi chalayo Panth

 Sabb Sikhan ko hukam hai Guru manyo Granth

Guru Granth Ji manyo pargat Guran ki deh

Jo Prabhu ko milbo chahe khoj shabad mein le

Raj karega Khalsa aqi rahei na koe

Khwar hoe sabh milange bache sharan jo hoe."

While the first three lines of the hymn translates like this: the Sikh panth (meaning a path) was created by the orders of the Supreme Being whereby all Sikhs are asked to accept the Adi Granth (Sikh holy book) as their Guru which is also an embodiment of all the gurus; the fourth line emphasizes that whosoever wishes to "milbo" (meet or seek) Him can realize Him thru "Khoj" (search) in the "shabad" (words) of wisdom explicit in the scriptures.

And the last two lines of Guru Gobind Singh's hymn mean "The pure shall rule, and the impure will be no more, Those separated will unite and all the devotees of the Guru shall be saved".

"Khoj shabad mein le" is a very rational expression conveying the message that the acceptance of the Adi Granth as Guru,involves studying and following this treasure of revelation, inspiration and consultation as well. 

As such,along the lines of the hymn,Guru Gobind Singh offers complete reasoning in his abiding declaration of "Guru Maneyo Granth".

$11 Million Bonanza

Subject: $11 Million Bonanza

By PROMOD PURI

When the news finally reaches every nook and corner of India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari that the BC Government gives away $11 million to set up an event here in the province for 2014 Bollywood awards, a lot of Indian media outlets would line up for this generous bounty.

 

And why not!

 

Conceding the Provincial Liberals somehow come back to power, as they should not give up hope because much has been invested thru the "ethnicgate" in the growing and thriving ethnic market, that eleven million dollar affair would be repeated next year too.

 

The TOIFA will come back along with other media contenders like HTFA (Hindusthan Times Film Award), IEFA (Indian Express Film Award), or even the Chandigarh Tribune to apply for this no-question-asked liberal grant.

 

As the provincial government has not laid out strict terms and conditions for this massive dole, except that the event should promote BC for tourism or some business that any media outfit, big or small, can apply for the sponsor money.

 

So media folks in India, hurry up. Rope in the who's who in the glamorous world of Bollywood, have some Liberal connection, just write on top of the application "to promote BC", submit it and get your guaranteed $11 million bonanza from the considerate tax-payers’  representatives in the provincial government. 

 

And here in the province, in addition to the acclaimed boost to BC tourism and business, the 11-million-dollar kick-start would also help in providing some career opportunities for exiting politicians to dance along in the alluring world of Planet Bollywood. Sure, some of these politicians are well qualified for variety of roles in the Indian film industry, and one BC politician has publicly demonstrated his acting skills on stage and expressed his intended Bollywood foray at the award ceremony last week.

 

( Promod Puri is the former editor and publisher of South Asian publication, The Link ).