Carl B. Adams is a renowned trumpeter. He has played in the bands of the late Ray Charles, Jazz Band of late Charlie Mingus and that of B.B. King. His music has been included in an award winning album produced by Quincy Jones, included in 7 syndicated TV shows, including the Tonight Show.

Carl holds a Certificate of Proficiency and Skill on trumpet issued at Texas Southern University in performance with the Houston symphony. He holds various other Certificates among which are, Dr. of Divinity, and Urban Research Group from U.S. Government. He serves as Chaplin at Family of Faith C.O.G.I.C. Carl has a pending degree in Associate of Science in Criminal Justice. He has 17 years of litigation experience in Federal Courts with major victories, and a membership card from the American Bar Association.

Currently, Mr. Adams serves as President of, Religious Music Workshop, Inc.

Email : carl_adams@att.net

Email : vbisht@vsnl.com

Ahluwalia, Jasjit Singh

Jasjit Singh Ahluwalia is Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (Retd.), Indian Revenue Service. He is interested in philosophy and religion.

Email : jsingh_a@hotmail.com

Ahluwalia, M.S.

Dr. M.S. Ahluwalia (63) is Former Professor & Chairman, Department of History, H.P. University, Shimla (India) with over 30 years of teaching experience at the post-graduate level. Presently he is Senior Fellow at Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi.

Dr. Ahluwalia has authored six books and currently two books are in press. He actively participates in international conferences presenting papers on varied topics including history and Sikhism.

Email : m_s_ahluwalia@hotmail.com

Ahluwalia, Preet Mohan Singh

Preet Mohan is an electrical/software engineer by profession who likes to read and write. This portrait was sketched by his wife Parmeet. Preet Mohan likes to travel, especially long drives through countryside. He has sketches and a few oil paintings to his credit.

Email : pmsab@hotmail.com

Email : dwaneallen1@yahoo.com

Email : a_tm00@hotmail.com

Shammi Aulakh is an Actor/Filmmaker based in London. He was born in Hillingdon and has lived all his life in the UK. He studied Classical Drama at the world prestigious London Academy Of Performing Arts for two years. As a filmmaker he has made Short films, Music videos, Corporate Videos for training as well a full-length feature about the 14th Sikh Regiment. Currently he is enrolled in a part-time Masters programme in Sikh Studies at Harrow. He is also a collector of Sikh antiquity and has various coins and swords dating back to the Sikh period of the 18th century.

Email : Shammi2@aol.com

Rajinder Pal Singh Bhandari is a Dallas based community activist, involved in various organizations like India Association of North Texas, Dallas International, Aga Khan Foundation Partnership Walk, Asian American Citizens Council, Gurudwara Sikh Sangat, among others. Raj also publishes a weekly newsletter The DFW Desi (www.TheDfwDesi.com) and moderates several e-mail lists.
Raj is a co-founder of Silk Threads Designer Collection
(www.SilkThreads.com) and a senior executive in a Healthcare company.

Email : raj@sthreads.com

M.P. Bhattathiry (60) was born into a family of priests and graduated as an engineer. He has recently retired as Chief Technical Examiner to the Goverment of Kerala (India). His wife Radha has also retired from the Banking Service. Together they have three sons, two are employed and the youngest is studying to be an engineer.

Mr. Bhattathiry promotes spirituality to bring peace in the world and ensure victory of good over evil.

Email : mulavana@asianetindia.com

Pritpal, a postgraduate of Punjab University, moved to England in 1960 after teaching in a few schools in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. In the UK he taught at the Secondary Technical School, Willsdon, London, N.W.10 for two years, 1961-63, and later went into his own business of Motor and Commercial Insurance. He had a long desire to take up early retirement and fulfil his ambition of reading and writing and sold his business in 1983.

He has been studying Sikh Scripture, Religion and Polity. While writing articles for many weeklies and monthlies in Canada and India (including Spokesman, Chandigarh, The Sikh Review, Calcutta, Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh etc.) he was mainly busy in compiling a conceptual reference book on Guru Granth Sahib. The book, Thus Sayeth Gurbani, has been published by Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle, Ludhiana. It contains more than 10,000 quotations spread over 500 pages. In 1998 he was awarded the prestigious Akali Phoola Singh Book Award by Academy of Sikh Religion and Culture, Patiala.

He has translated Chritro Pakhyaan (Triya Chariter) of Dasam Granth into English and it has been published by Chatar Singh Jiwan Singh, Amritsar. He has also rendered into English the Hikayaat (Stories in Persian) from Dasam Granth and the book is under print and is to be published by Sikh Social and Educational Society, Toronto (Canada).

The translation into English of all the poetical works of Bhai Nand Goya is his most ambitious and prestigious endeavour. This book is being published by the Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh and will be released shortly.

He has just completed the English version of Guru Kian Saakhian written by Bhai Swaroop Singh Kaushish in 1790 CE. It is gone into press with an extensive note by S. Pal Singh Purewal (the author of Nanak Shahi Calendar)

Currently he is busy in giving to the Sikh Jagat the English translation of 675 Kabits of Bhai Gurdas.

In his free time Pritpal writes short stories, and a collection of 16 stories was published by New Book Co., Jalandhar in 1997. The second edition with 20 stories was published in 2001 by Asia Vision, Ludhiana.

Once a good friend of his commented, "Considering all his varied works, one wonders how contrasting is his attitude towards life, on one hand, going through his writings on Sikhism, one presumes him to be an epitome of religiosity but after reading his fictions one learns he is a great hero of romance like the prominent Urdu-writer, Sadat Hassan Mintoo."

Email : bindra@rogers.com

Boparai, Harinder

Harinder is an AmeriCorps *VISTA Volunteer for 2002/2003 at El Paso, Texas, United States. She takes on the responsibilities of New Business Developer along with other functions related to micro-lending process for small businesses and Individual Development Account Program in El Paso area.

Born, brought up, having had basic education, and Law practice in India, she attained higher education in Law in the United States and Canada. She, along with her husband, taught Law in Nigeria for many years and has extensive grassroots experience in community service/ development in multicultural environments.

Having advocated women's legal rights for years, she realized that for absolute emancipation, women must have economic freedom to legally and socially bridge the gender gap. Mission and micro-lending policy of ACCION to uplift women and economically marginalized people, the two things that were closest to her heart, took her to ACCION for service for a year.

To fully immerse in community service, she recently completed graduate program in International and Public Affairs, with Economic and Social Development as her emphasis (MPIA/ESD), from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. During her graduate program in International Development, she looked at the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their learning process as they followed their respective missions in serving their communities at the grassroots level.

An internship with Nishkam in the summer of 2000 also gave her the opportunity to study the role of regional micro-politics contributing to successes and failures of NGOs in the developing world.

She has a supportive family in her husband and two children.

Email : harinder@mac.com

Valarie Kaur Brar is a senior at Stanford University pursuing a major in International Relations and minor in Religious Studies. Blending academic work with activism, she has studied liberation philosophy, South Asian and Sikh Studies, and grassroots peacemaking programs in partitioned regions. In summer 2000, she developed and taught a six-week junior-high school philosophy course the Quest for Truth. She has also worked with Stanford's Philosophy Discovery Institute for high school students for two years.

In 2000-01, she created and co-directed Living History: Voices Crossing Borders, an academic-service project exploring the impact of political division on people around the world through oral history; it culminated in a two-week multi-media exhibit and conference at Stanford. In the spring of 2001 and 2002, as the president of Satrang (Stanford’s Sikh Student Association), Valarie co-initiated and led Sikhism in America, the first academic course on Sikhism at Stanford. The course is now being packaged and sent as a model to universities nation-wide. Valarie’s awards include Stanford’s Asian American Student Award and the Beinecke Scholarship. She grew up as a third generation Sikh in Clovis, California where her family has lived and farmed since 1913. Her hobbies are running, writing, and enjoying free-trade dark chocolate.

Valarie’s present research involves documenting the experiences of Americans, particularly Sikhs, impacted by post-911 hate crimes and analyzing the socio-psychological causes and consequences of these hate crimes. She is working with faculty sponsors at Stanford to develop her interview material into a documentary film and monograph.

Email : valarie@stanford.edu

Frances Briggs is an Industrial Designer living in NYC. She has a BA from Hampshire College and an MFA from School of Visual Arts (NYC). She has studied and taught fine art, including painting sculpture and printmaking, as well as graphic art. She also studied music theory, composition and piano at Mannes College of Music.

Email : frammps@hotmail.com

Neil Carleton has been an Assistant Curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum for the last 12 years. His interests include Indian weaponry and artillery. His research into Sikh Artillery led to a 'Sutlej gun' from Firepower being included in the 'Arts of the Sikh Kingdoms' exhibition at the V&A in 1999. He has since published, and lectured widely on the subject. He is currently collaborating with the Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail on better documenting the Sutlej guns.

Email : n.carleton@vam.ac.uk

Jagmohan Singh Chadha is a software engineer who lives with his wife Davinder Kaur Chadha and three daughters in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Chadha is a graduate of SGTB Khalsa College Delhi and has been living in the United States for about twenty five years.

Jagmohan is fond of reading, whenever he gets the time, and has tried his hand at writing in the last couple of years. Some of his article/stories have appeared on Chowk.com.

Email : jagchadha@yahoo.com

Jaswinder Singh Chadha is based in London. After a successful career in Science and Business, he has devoted much of the last 15 years to the study of the Sikh religion and the Sikh Gurus. He used to regularly contribute to the Sikh Review, whose representative he was in UK for several years. Now his son has taken over as thr representative. Apart from numerous articles he is the author of 3 books in English- A collection of poems on the lives of the Gurus, a poetic translation of Japji Saheb and a book of the life and Bani of Guru Tegh Bahadur which is co-authored with Dr Hakam Singh of CA, USA.

Email : editor@sikhspectrum.com

Chahal, Devinder Singh

Professor Devinder Singh Chahal obtained his MSc from Punjab University, Chandigarh, India in 1955 and PhD (Microbiology) from the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio and University of Southern Illinois, Carbondale, Illinois, USA in 1966. On his return to India he established a new Department of Microbiology at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He left this institute in 1974 and worked as a Visiting Scientist at the prestigious institution, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts as a Fulbright Fellow, a prestigious award, for one year. In 1975 Professor Chahal came to Canada as an immigrant. After serving at the University of Waterloo, Ontario and the Institut Armand-Frappier, Universite du Quebec, Laval, Quebec, he retired on October 1, 1996 from the position of Professor of Applied Microbiology. During his professional life he has written a couple of scientific books and many chapters in various scientific books and many research articles in scientific journals of the world.

During his professional life he has also been writing articles on scientific and logical interpretation of Gurbani and representation of Sikhism in various journals of the world and in many multi-authored books. He has also written a few critical analyses of some works on Sikhism and Gurbani. He is continuing this service through the Institute for Understanding Sikhism as President and as an Editor-in-Chief of Understanding Sikhism: The Research Journal, which is published twice a year in Canada.

He has written the following chapter on the subject, which remained ignored till this date: Chahal, D S. 2003. Sikh Perspectives on Bioethics. In John Peppin (Ed.), Annals of Bioethics, Volume 2: Religious Perspectives. The Netherlands: Swets & Zeitlinger. (In Press)

Email : devinder.chahal@sympatico.ca

Chakraborti, Rajagopal Dhar

Rajagopal Dhar Chakraborti is the senior most Reader in the Department of South & Southeast Asian Studies, Calcutta University and presently a visiting professor at the Nankai University Institute of Population and Development (China). Rajagopal studied at Calcutta University and London School of Economics.

Dr Chakraborti has taught at Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum, St.Xavier’s College, Calcutta and various other institutions in India and abroad. He was also the Deputy Registrar of Calcutta University. He was a Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Dr Chakraborti is a recipient of prestigious Asia Fellowship and The Wellcome Trust Post Doctoral Fellowship.

Widely travelled, Dr Chakraborti has several publications to his credit.

Email : rgdc2000@satyam.net.in

Chan, Danny

Email : dannychan@lycos.com

Chatterjee, Pratap

Pratap Chatterjee is an investigative journalist for Corportae Watch, an online magazine. Pratap is also co-producer and host of the weekly Terra Verde radio show on KPFA, 94.1-FM, Fri., 1-2 p.m.

Email : pchatterjee@igc.org

Email : achatterji@ciis.edu

Manbir Singh Chowdhary graduated with honors in law from the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom, followed in 2003 by an LL.M. at the University of Southern California Law School. Subsequently, as a political intern during California's gubernatorial campaign, he assisted the Lieutenant Governor during televised events and political debates.

Manbir has traveled extensively throughout India and Pakistan. His interests include Sikh History and Sufi Poetry.

Email : mschowdhary@alumni.usc.edu

Email : ruchiradas@indiatimes.com

Dhanoa, S. S.

S.S. Dhanoa belongs to village Gharuan on the Chandigarh-Ludhiana road about 22 kilometers from Chandigarh. He studied in the village school and later from the Khalsa High School in Kharar (Punjab) followed by a F.Sc. (Medical) from Khalsa College Amritsar and B.Sc. from DAV College Jalandhar. Mr. Dhanoa went to AMU, Aligarh for an M.A. and LL.B. He completed a Development Administration and Management program from the University of Pittsburg (USA) on a Government of India sponsorship.

In1954, Mr. Dhanoa joined the Indian Administrative Services (the Bihar cadre). After a stint as the Deputy Commissioner in three districts he was appointed the Additional Chief Secretary before being drafted for Punjab as the Chief Secretary and later Advisor to the Governor. Mr. Dhanoa retired as a Union Health Secretary in 1988. Thereafter I had a worked as the Chairman, Bihar Public Service Commission and Election Commissioner of India.

He has completed a three-year fellowship at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study followed by his appointment as the Chairman Banking Service Recruitment Board (Chandigarh) and as the Administrator of the Magadh Stock Exchange, Patna (Bihar) in 2000.

Email : suraindhanoa@yahoo.com

Dhillon, Kundan Singh

He is one of the leading intellectuals and his profile taken with minor additions from the book, Leading Intellectuals of the World published by ‘The American Biographical Institute, Inc. United States of America’ is as under:

From 1962 until his retirement in June of 1994, Dr. K.S. Dhillon worked as a teacher and research worker in the field of veterinary pharmacology. During this time, he uncovered the etiology and treatment of such under-mentioned diseased in livestock as:

Haemoglobinuria in buffaloes and cattle (buffalo is an important diary anikmal in India, with 80% of the country’s milk produced by these animals); Leucoderma in buffaloes and cows; Rheumatic and related leg defects in livestock; and Deg Nala Disease in buffaloes and cattle (with his work leading to a nomination by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to a three-person task force on this disease in 1981).

He also put forth the new theory that mastitis in dairy animals was caused by a citrate deficiency in an animal’s system, which could be successfully treated by the administration of tri-sodium citrate alone (and that antibiotics were not needed), bringing about a great improvement in the economy of the dairy farmer and livestock raiser.

Dr. Dhillon actually began his profession career prior to 1962, working initially as a veterinary surgeon in Punjab from 1956 until 1960 and as a demonstrator in veterinary pharmacology in 1962. He joined the factually of the Punjab Agricultural University (P.A.U.) in late 1962 as an assistant professor of veterinary pharmacology from 1964 until 1971, to associate professor of veterinary pharmacology from 1987 until 1991. He would travel to Canada for the four-year period of 1976-80, working as an assistant professor of pharmacology (1976-77) and as a research associate (1977-80) at the University of Manitoba, returning to the P.A.U. as director of veterinary clinics from 1980 until 1982. He would spend 1983-84 working at the Government of India’s Lady Harding Medical College in New Delhi, and he held the post of professor of veterinary pharmacology, again at the P.A.U., from 1991 until 1994.

Prior to his retirement, Dr. Dhillon became a life member of the Indian Association of Physiologists and pharmacologists, the PAU Veterinary Alumns and the Punjab Veterinary Council. He was an invited member of the New York Academy of Sciences from 1994 until 1996, and was also a senior member of a team of workers who reported that zinc sulfate prevented isoprenaline induced cardiac injury and could be used to combat heart problems in humans.

Dr. Dhillon was born in V. Thathi-Khara, India on 20 June 1934. He completed his undergraduate studies at Punjab University, earning the B.V.Sc. in 1956, with later studies leading to an M.S. in veterinary pharmacology from Ohio State University (U.S.A.) in 1961 and to a Ph.D. in veterinary pharmacology from the Punjab Agricultural University in 1970. With the completion of his studies and the start of his career, married the former Varinder Kaur, with whom he had three children, a son, Karamvir Singh (born in 1986), and daughters Rajvir Kaur (born in 1988) and Manvir Kaur (born in 1991). Dr. Kundan Singh is also one of the 2000 outstanding intellectuals of the 20th century chosen by the International Biographical Centre Cambridge, England.

His work on the subjects ‘Drug Addiction Totally alien to Sikh Way of Life’ and “Human Hair and Modern Science’ is also important scientific contribution in social and religious field as well. The family currently makes its home at # 803, Prem Nagar, Ghumar Mandi, Ludhiana, (Telephone No. 91-161-2770395) India.

Here it is not wrong to mention that since 1994, the Intellectual has to knock the door of courts in vain to get his claim of service pension and all other arrears, refused to him due to non availability of requisite service record at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and on grounds of technicalities of law. Thus the Intellectual is victim of injustice instead of glorifying him for his services to Nation.

Email : webmaster@sikhspectrum.com

Dhillon, Rupinderpal Singh

Rupinderpal Singh Dhillon is the author of Annexation, a novel in English about Sikhs during the Anglo-Sikh Wars. Rupinderpal has also written many poems in English.

Mr. Dhillon is a Punjabi language tutor on the internet and he is actively involved in encouraging the development of new nouns, especially for species in Punjabi, through the PREM project.

Rupinderpal Singh has an MA in Design and Manufacturing and a BSc (Hons.) in Hotel Management. Presently he is pursuing the profession of Accountancy.

Email : rdhillon@cmedltd.com

Dhillon, Sukhraj Singh

Dr. Sukhraj S. Dhillon (Molecular Biologist) is a student and teacher of biology and evolution, and preventive health care specialist. He is an author, scientist, preacher, philosopher, Easterner, and Westerner. He studied at Punjab University in India, Yale University in USA, and has published 10 books, 5 book chapters and over 40 research papers. He has expressed his views on television, magazines, and newspaper columns, in workshops and in religious congregations. He has been the President, Chairman of the board, and life-trustee of a non-profit religious organization (Atlantic Coast Sikh Association). However, he believes that none of the above qualifies him to write the article. Such articles are written with special blessings (Gur Parsad, Basic Principle--Japuji).

Email : drdln@dpcpress.com

D'Souza, Dilip

Email : dilipd@rediff.co.in

Ekpenyong, I.J.

Email : webmaster@sikhspectrum.com

Elmasry, Mohamed

Professor Elmasry is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC), a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (FCAE), and a Fellow of the International Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Dr. Elmasry was selected as Canada'ss most distinguished engineering professor for the year 2000 by Canadian Business. He is also listed in several editions of Who’s Who as one of the world leading experts in digital integrated circuits.

Since 1974, Professor Elmasry has been with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo, Canada where he is a full Professor and founding Director of the VLSI (Microchip) Research Group.

Elmasry is a world expert in the area of microchip design. He has authored and co-authored more than 400 research papers and 14 books on integrated circuit design and design automation. Professor Elmasry was also granted several patents on new microchip designs for telecommunications applications.

Dr. Elmasry is also a faculty member of the Middle East Studies department at the University of Waterloo and founding co-ordinator of the Muslim Study Group there. He is active in the local and national Canadian Muslim community, having served as Program Chair for the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Canadian Conference in 1990, and President of the Kitchener-Waterloo Islamic Association from 1986 to 1999. Dr. Elmasry is also founding president and chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC).

Dr. Elmasry authored the bestseller, "1,000 Questions on Islam" (published in both Arabic and English), "Islamic Spirituality" and "Spiritual Fitness For Life." He has served as a member of the Canadian and the Ontario Multifaith Committee and has presented numerous public lectures on issues in Islam and Islamic culture to churches, schools, universities and social organizations.

He has been honoured with the Volunteer Service Award by the Ontario Interfaith Council on Spiritual and Religious Care and Chaplaincy Services, and by the Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services.

He has been invited to lecture on Islam as well as on Microelectronics in more than 35 countries - including China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Russia, the former USSR, the Arab world, Europe, United States and Canada.

Professor Elmasry’s editorials on religious, national and international issues are regularly featured in leading Canadian newspapers, including the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, as well as in local-regional dailies such as the K-W Record. He has been a frequent guest on TV and radio shows in Canada, Egypt, and Kuwait.

Email : cic@canadianislamiccongress.com

Since 1989, Dr. Fai has been Editor-in-Chief of the Washington-based Kashmir Report and in 1983 became the founding chairman of the London-based International Institute of Kashmir Studies. He is also the founding chairman of the UK-based Kashmir Press International. He remains an active member of a number of organizations, including the Supreme Council of the Kashmir Federation, USA and the International Institute of Kashmir Studies, (UK), which share the KAC's goal for freedom and self -determination in Kashmir.

Dr. Fai holds a Ph.D. in mass communications from Temple University, Pennsylvania, and an M.A. from the Aligarh University in India. As a student leader, he represented the International Federation of Student Organizations at many international conferences. In 1986, he addressed the United Nations Conference in New York on Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries.

Dr. Fai was invited to New York to attend the United Nations Conference on Conflict Resolutions in September 1992. He was also invited to Vienna, Austria to the United Nations Second World Conference on Human Rights in June 1993. During the Vienna conference, he was elected chairman of the NGO-Unrepresented Peoples and Nations of the World (UPN). He attended the Third Global Structures Convocation organized by the United Nations, Washington, D.C., in July 1993. He participated in the UN-NGO Conference in Seoul, Korea in 1999 and the UN Millennium Forum in New York, in May 2000. He also attended the UN-Beijing Plus 5 conference in New York in June 2000.

He addressed the 46th thru 56th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) at Geneva; and also participated in the 41st thru 50th Sessions of the United Nations Sub- Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities at Geneva. He was invited to attend the 6th, 7th and 8th Summit of the Heads of the State of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in December 1992 in Dakar, Senegal, in December 1994 in Casablanca, Morocco and in December 1997 in Tehran, Iran respectively. He addressed the preliminary session at the Centennial Conference of Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in August, 1993. He participated in the 42nd and 43rd Sessions of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York in March 1998 and 1999 respectively.

Dr. Fai was invited by the European Parliament to present a briefing paper for "Kashmir Round- Table," held in Brussels in October 1993. He was also invited by the Washington based U.S. Institute of Peace to submit a paper for Conference on Kashmir in January 1994. He participated in the Kashmir Roundtable at the Capitol Hill, organized by the Washington-based Congressional Human Rights Foundation in June 1994. He also attended the 42nd Session of the U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York in July 1994. He participated in the United States Department of State's conference on "Human Rights Policy in the Post Cold-War Era" in April 1995 that was held in Washington, D.C. He attended the United Nations 50 Committee conference in San Francisco in June 1995. He was invited to XX Conference of Heads of State of the Non-Aligned Movement in September 1995 at Cartagena, Columbia as a special guest.

Dr. Fai was selected as a member to New York-based Strathmore's WHO'S WHO list in January 1995 for his public relations, education and communication expertise. The American Biographical Institute (ABI) has included Dr. Fai in its constellation of Five Hundred Leaders of Influence, a listing that is reserved for Outstanding Leadership for the Public Relations; and the Excellence in Global Relations. The Cambridge, England-based International Biographical Center has included Dr. Fai in the International Who's Who of Intellectuals, in recognition of his distinguished achievements. He is also the member of National Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals.

Dr. Fai has been a leading spokesman for the Kashmir cause for over two decades and has traveled to over forty countries lecturing on the subject. His articles appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, Chicago tribune, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Plain Dealer, Baltimore Sun and many other foreign policy journals in the United States and around the world.

Dr. Fai is married and has two children.

Email : kashmirpeace_conference@yahoo.com

Faiz, Rehman

Faiz is a research scholar on inter-religious studies and interfaith practice. His research emphasizes: ‘the core theme symbolizing common characteristics of world religions’.

aims to explain religion on scientific grounds by categorizing its fundamental principles. He is currently the chairperson of RPRO (Religious Peace Research Organization) and the past President of Amnesty International, Lahore (Pakistan).

Besides various research articles, he has recently authored a book in Urdu titled, Kayenat, Insaan Aur Mazhab (The Universe, Man and Religion).

Email : peace02@go.net.pk

Fleming, John

John Fleming is from St. Louis, and earned a four-year degree inSociology. He is the author of The War of All Against All: An Analysis of Conflict in Society (International Scholars Publications, 2000), and essays and poems published on the Internet. His article The Shocking Menace of Satellite Surveillance gained a lot of attention and was reproduced on about 25 Websites. He also wrote follow-up notes to: My Article on Satellite Surveillance.

Email : jfflemin@swbell.net

Ghosh, Mimi

Mimi Ghosh is a teacher for English and Critical Reasoning. In her early 20s she is also a professional essay-writer who lives in New Delhi. After graduation in Microbiology (Honors) from Delhi University Mimi worked in Egypt for a year as a copywriter for Saatchi and Saatchi, and DDB Needham.

On her return she took off for a couple of months in her quest for discovering India.

About her she says, "All these writings are a search for myself and my true vocation which I tout as writing. Yes, I am a wannabe writer, don't know how far I will go with it but my fingers are crossed.

"I am an adventurer, traveler, enthusiast for life and love: a melting pot, a weird mix of eccentricities and idiosyncrasies."

Email : mimi_ghosh@hotmail.com

Gagan is an engineering student from India.

Email : gagangrewal21@yahoo.com

Grewal, Pritam Singh

Professor Pritam Singh Grewal did his M.A. in English Literature, Honors-in-Punjabi and Bachelor of Teaching from the Punjab University and taught English at Government colleges in Punjab. He is the founder Principal of Nankana Sahib Public School, Kila Raipur (Ludhiana)

He has earned Ontario Teaching Certificate, taught International Punjabi Language classes of the Waterloo District School Board, and was the first to develop syllabus for Punjabi credit classes of Waterloo District School Board.

Pritam Singh Grewal has worked as volunteer organizer-cum-instructor for Gurdwara run Gurmat and Punjabi classes and Sikh Youth camps, and represented the community in Kitchener City Ethno-cultural Advisory Committee for six years. He was recognized by the city Mayor for various contributions as a volunteer, and awarded the Senior of Distinction Award for Education by the City Council.

Mr Grewal writes articles and poems about Sikh history and philosophy, and Punjabi culture which have been published in many journals and magazines including the Sikh Review, Sikh Bulletin, Cross Cultures, Punjabi newspapers and other reputed websites.

Email : grewal_psingh@yahoo.com

Simran Grover is a junior at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she is studying to become a chemical engineer. Simran grew up in Denver, Colorado and was there ever since she entered her undergraduate studies.

Email : simran.grover@hotmail.com

Gupta, Vineeta

Dr. Vineeta Gupta is the founder and General Secretary of INSAAF International, an organization working for Social, Economic and political Rights of the people, in particular for the marginalized and vulnerable sections of society especially women. She has investigated and reported many cases of Human Rights violations, corruption in government and World Bank funded Projects.

Vineeta is a medical doctor who resigned under protest from Punjab Civil Medical Services. Dr. Gupta has suffered harassment and humiliation, which is well documented by National Human Rights Commission of India and Amnesty International. In recognition of her relentless fight against crime and corruption in public life she was awarded the Rotary Manav Sewa Award 2001 (Rotary Service to Humanity Award 2001) by former Chief Justice of India, Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah.

Email : vineetag@sancharnet.in

Habibi, Nader

Nader Habibi is an economist and works for an economic consulting firm near Philadelphia. Prior to his current job he taught economics in several academic institutions in Iran, Turkey and the United States for 12 years. His last academic station was Yale University where he served as a research fellow and instructor for two years. Atul’s Quest is Nader’s first work of fiction. It was motivated by his close interactions with students and immigrants from various parts of the world. He himself grew up in Iran and came to the United States as an undergraduate student in 1978.

Email : nhabib123@yahoo.com

Inderpal Singh Hans has a Masters in English Literature from Punjab Univesity, Chandigarh and taught the subject in various Government Colleges of Punjab to undergraduate and postgraduate classes for 25 years. For 10 years, he served as Principal of a college. Mr. Hans was also associated with various youth organizations and arranged training camps in sports, yoga, the National Cadet Corps, and other youth services. He has contributed articles and short stories to English and Punjabi magazines, newspapers, websites and commemorative souvenirs.

Email : ipshans@yahoo.com

Born and raised in Toronto, the author is too shy to publicly claim love for Asian Underground, Electronica, and Fusion world music. Despite studying the physical, life, and social sciences, exploring the ethereal existence and the applicable Laws of Karma, and eating more pani puri than the writers on this website, the author asks you to agree with Rumi -- “Music uplifts the soul to realms above… We listen and are fed with joy and peace.”

Email : webmaster@sikhspectrum.com

Holland, Bhupinder Singh

Jamanadas, K.

Email : kjdas@rediffmail.com

Jones, Adam

Adam Jones was awarded a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of British Columbia where he was a nominee for the Governor General’s Gold Medal. His dissertation was on,The Press in Transition: A Comparative Study of Nicaragua, South Africa, Jordan, and Russia.

Dr. Jones has spoken at many conferences on peace and world affairs presented a paper, Genocide and Humanitarian Intervention: Incorporating the Gender Variable at the Fourth International Bi-Annual Conference of the Association of Genocide Scholars.

Email : adamj_jones@hotmail.com

Kainth, Gursharan Singh

A recipient of Cultural Doctorate of Philosophy of Economics from the World University, Arizona, USA is an active member of various professional bodies, namely, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Marketing, Indian Institute of Public Administration and so on and participated in various national/regional seminars, conferences etc.. He remained member of the Academic Council of Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar. An unwearied researcher has about 200 research papers published in various international and national journals of repute and ten research monographs to his kitty. Besides, he has authored/co-authored /edited 15 books which have been well received and highly acclaimed during his three decades of professional career. He was honoured by various awards, namely, Guru Draunacharya Samman, Vijay Rattan Award and so on.

Dr Kainth undertook in-depth analysis in the varied domain of economic development in general and agricultural development in particular at regional level. He made a useful attempt at sketching the anatomy of economic development of Punjab. His careful venture in the area of agricultural export not only offers as a timely tome but also boldly addresses some of the nagging doubts and growing dilemmas facing policy planers and authorities alike. His diagnostic studies of farmers-producers lead to better understanding of development of market structure- an important pre requisite to successful agricultural operation. Rigorous yet lucid analysis of information of non economic factors on production pattern amply demonstrated that the technological innovation can ensure the freedom from the clutches of the weather vagaries is a myth. His careful probing into a micro unit of farmer’s experience contradicts the doom Sayers for they expose an optimistic reality whose lessons can and should reshape future thought and action.

Email : kainthgs@yahoo.com

Kalra, Ekta Kaur

Ekta K. Kalra is an orator, writer, philosopher, and a researcher. Ekta has been composing poems since her early childhood and has written more than 2000 poems. Ekta’s poems were published in renowned international poetry journals like Little Brown Poetry, Moongate Internationale, My Life of Rhyme, Live From Santa Fe and Poetry Downunder, and were announced on the front page of Moongate Internationale. Her poems were accepted for the three consecutive issues of Live From Santa Fe. Ekta’s poetic style is a combination of artistic and scientific approach.

Ms. Kalra has published papers on scientific topics in Nutraceutical (Kalra EK. Nutraceutical – Definition and Introduction. AAPS PharmSci. 2003;5(3):E25.) and Depression (Kalra EK.Can a change in the name of depression result in its reduced negativity? Med Hypotheses. 2003 Jun;60(6):897-9., Kalra EK. Depression as a communicable disorder. Med Hypotheses. 2004; 62(3):413-4.).

Ekta’s writings have achieved recognition and appreciation from people around the world. You can buy Ms. Kalra’s poetry book Pearls of my Life from www.Amazon.com (paperback), www.Mobipocket.com (softcopy), etc. Ekta's poems are inspired by Maskin ji. You can visit her website: http://nutracists.com/Entertainment.php

Email : ektakkalra@rediffmail.com

Kalsi, Nirmal Singh

• Has been conferred upon the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada (1867–1992) in recognition of significant contribution to compatriots, community and to Canada by Governor General of Canada on March 26,1993.

• Has served the community in India and in England for eleven years. Is serving the community in Canada since 1974.

• Is a highly qualified, Chartered Engineer from U. K. -- M. I. Mech. E., M. I. Prod. E., M. Weld I., A. M. I. E. D. Fluent Speaker and Writer in English and Punjabi. Can also read, write and speak Urdu and Hindi.

• Actively involved in promoting harmonious relations among different religious denominations and Multicultural Societies by delivering series of lectures, writing leaflets and publishing articles in the Newspapers, highlighting the Salient Features of Sikhism vis-à-vis other religions.

• Has delivered religious discourses to groups of students and religious fraternities visiting Sikh Gurdwaras in Surrey and other Sikh Gurdwaras in Canada.

• Zealously associated as a Main Speaker with the social workers organizing programs for senior citizens, students, religious groups and multicultural bodies, in schools, churches, and community centres in Surrey and the other towns of Canada.

• Has made several inventions. Whilst working with Canadian Car in Surrey has created an Innovative Design and produced an unusual Sugar Cane Separator machine for which the Company took world wide patent rights.

• Has recently invented a Device for relieving Headaches, Neck-pain and Eyestrain resulting from the Computer-fatigue in this Computer Age. The Device is patented in Canada and U.S.A. Has manufactured the Device in Canada.

• Has been Chairperson of the Khalsa Diwan Society, Punjabi School Committee (1986 & 1987), 8000 Ross Street, Vancouver, B. C. V5X 4C5.

• Has been Chairperson and President of other Societies as well.

• Represents Sikh Religion on many occasions irrespective of caste, colour and creed.

• Has represented Sikh Community in Inter-faith Meetings, Churches, Community Centres, Schools, Colleges, Universities, Society of Storytellers, and Committee for Racial Justice, etc.

• Has delivered lectures on Sikhism at U. B. C. and at Langara College, during the Continuing Studies Courses.

• His popular articles have been published by many Sikh societies as:
- Khalsa Diwan Society, 8000 Ross Street, Vancouver, B.C., V5X 4C5
- Canadian Sikh Study and Teaching Society, Vancouver, B.C.,
- Khalsa Diwan Society, 347 Wood Street, New Westminster, B.C., V3M 5K6
- Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, 7050- 120th Street, Surrey, B. C., V3W 3M8.
- Some other societies in Canada and U.S.A.

• Has appeared in Group Discussions at various points on Sikhism at CTV, CKVU, CBC, CJOR 600 and Cooperative Radio 102.7 FM.

• Has delivered religious lectures continuously, bi-weekly on Radio Program for 4 years. (1975 to 1979).

• His notable research on “å ?” Beej Mantar Darshan (Seed Mantra Philosophy) was first published in 1996, now the 2nd of which and his “Only One God Philosophy” book have recently been published. It is an unusual research work on Sikh Philosophy.

• Was a Representative and Speaker of Canadian Sikh Study & Teaching Society, P.O. Box 67653, Vancouver, B. C., V5W 3W1.

• Has received Siropaas (conferment of honour) at several occasions.

• Is doing all honorary work.

Email : nskalsi@shaw.ca

Email : harmit_kamboe@hotmail.com

Email : Thetermite@aol.com

Kandhari, Palvinder Kaur

Palvinder Kaur is a 23-years-old primary school teacher from the UK who enjoys reading and writing poetry.

“The motivation for my poems arises from the basic need to make sense of my surroundings and to try to ascertain the purpose of life. For me, poetry is the most honest form to express something which at times is inexpressible with mere words. A poem can be interpreted in a multitude of ways and each reader's experience will differ. The most sublime example of this principle being the Guru Granth Sahib.”

Email : kandhari@blueyonder.co.uk

Katial, Sona Kaur

Sona Kaur Katial of Fremont, California is a postgraduate in Mass Communications. Growing up in Chandigarh (India) she developed love for reading at an early age. While in her teens her imagination turned into writing bedtime stories for her younger cousins. Local newspapers also published her work.

After moving to the United States she pursued her passion and took classes in short story writing from the Institute of Children’s Literature in Connecticut. Her two little girls are a constant source of material and inspiration.

Email : sonakatial@yahoo.com

Ashima Kaul is an independent journalist and consultant on Kashmir for Women In Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP) and is coordinating their Kashmir initiative for the last five years. Ms. Kaul has been visiting Kashmir since 1996 as an independent journalist and researcher. She is also the founder member of a voluntary organization called Yakjah (Together) Reconciliation and Development Network that works primarily with Kashmiri children through creative mediums for creating safe spaces for self-expression.

Email : ashimakb@yahoo.com

Kaur, Baljinder

Baljinder Kaur is Bachelor of Computer Technology from Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh Sahib. Baljinder is concerned with the welfare of children among all the sections of India particularly the growing abuse of children in schools and how children are being overburdened by the ambitions of parents and teachers.

Baljinder has founded an organization Stop Child Abuse Network of India, and is currently working on the book Education or Torture of Innocents. Ms. Kaur is co-coordinating with different organizations in India to spread the awareness about the problems of children.

Currently, she lives in Boise, with her two beautiful daughters -- ages 1 and 4-- and her software engineer husband.

Email : bkaur0@yahoo.com

Kaur, Jaskaran

Jaskaran Kaur received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and B.A. from Yale. She is one of the co-authors of the recently published first volume of the final report of the Committee for Coordination on Disappearances in Punjab, titled Reduced to Ashes: The Insurgency and Human Rights in Punjab. The companion website for the report is www.punjabjustice.org

Email : editor@sikhspectrum.com (your email will be forwarded to the author)

Kaur, Jubeet

Jubeet Kaur was born in Kolkata where she graduated from St. Xavier’s with a degree in Economics. Subsequently she moved to New Delhi to obtain a Masters degree from the Delhi School of Economics. Jubeet worked as a Research Assistant in a government sponsored Research Organization. She also worked as an economic analyst at a Credit Rating Agency before relocating to USA after marriage.

Jubeet is fluent in four languages (English, Hindi, Punjabi and Bengali) and would like to learn more. Her interests include reading, traveling and adventure related activities.

Email : jubeetk@yahoo.com

Grew up in Chandigarh and is presently studying at University of Chicago where she started the Sikh Student Association last year.

Email : mallikakaur@yahoo.com

Email : naunidhi_k@hotmail.com

Kaur, Raman

Raman Kaur is the mother of two beautiful children. She is an avid reader who writes occasionally. Ms. Kaur currently lives in Canada.

Kaur, Shyrone

Shyrone Kaur Singh has assisted with the coordination of the east coast USA tour programs for the Dya Singh (Australia) World Music Group, during the past three years. She is also an active volunteer with the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a non-profit organization dedicated to the fair and accurate portrayal of Sikh Americans and the Sikh religion in the American media and society. Additionally she moderates and founded the SikhCyberSangat yahoo eGroup. She enjoys travel and lives in Baltimore, Maryland

Email : shyronekaursingh@khalsa.com

Rev. Dr. Kaur established a support program for teen mothers, owned a meditation and hypnotherapy center, and had a radio program focusing on meditation and stress relief. She is also a healer, who has a love for various types of teas, especially healing teas; and, utilizes these for helping others experiencing illnesses.

Email : invisilater@khalsa.com

Kohli, Manmohan Singh
Padma Bhushan, AVSM, FRGS, Order of the Khalsa

Internationally renowned mountaineer, Captain Mohan Kohli led the historic Indian Everest Expedition 1965 which put nine men on the summit. It was a world record which India held for 17 years. He belongs to the exclusive band of three climbers who in 1962 survived six consecutive days in the death zone of Everest, above 26,000 feet, which included 60 traumatic hours between 27,650 feet and 28,650 feet in razing blizzards, most of the time, without oxygen. He has 14 major expeditions to his credit.

Mohan Kohli had a varied career spanning the Indian Navy (Naval Captain), the ITB Police (Advisor) and Air-India (Regional Director). He was responsible for developing the Indo-Tibetan Border Police into a formidable mountaineering organisation. In 1971, on joining Air-India, he conceived the brand new segment of Himalayan Tourism and popularised it world wide. In 1977 he collaborated with Sir Edmund Hillary in ‘From the Ocean to the Sky Jet-Boat Expedition’ up the Ganges which heralded white-water rafting in India. In 1984, Captain Mohan Kohli introduced aero-sports in India by organising the first International Hang-Gliding Rally. He is also the architect of congresses and conventions, tourist charters, luxury sea-cruises in the Indian ocean, tourism to Lakshadweep and Anandaman islands and Outward Bound India.

Born at Haripur in the hilly Hazara district of Pakistan bordering Kashmir on December 11, 1931, he has authored 21 books. He was President of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation from 1989 to 1993. On October 14, 1989, in consultation with Sir Edmund Hillary and other Himalayan legends, he founded the Himalayan Environment Trust to save the Himalayas for future generations.

Mohan Kohli is recipient of Padma Bhushan, Arjuna Award, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, IMF Gold Medal and Most Distinguished Citizen of Delhi Award. He was honoured at Civic Receptions in Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad. He has the rare distinction of addressing Members of both the Houses of Indian Parliament.

BOOKS BY M.S. KOHLI

Last of the Annapurnas (1962)

Nine Atop Everest (1969)

The Sky was His Limit (Co-author) (1970)

Indians on Everest (1970)

Himalayan Trekking and Climbing (1971)

Trek the Himalayas (1972)

Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands (1973)

Andaman & Nicobar Islands (1975)

The Himalayas : Playground of the Gods (1983)

Thirty Years of Tourism Promotion By Air-India (1985)

Air-India in Australia (1986)

Mountaineering in India (1989)

ITBP Memorabilia (Co-author) (1992)

Himalayas : Ecology and Environment (Co-editor) (2000)

Mountains of India (2002)

Spies in the Himalayas (Co-author) (2003)

Sherpas – The Himalayan Legends (2003)

Miracles of Ardaas (2003)

Bhutan : A Kingdom in the Sky (2003)

Summit to Summit (2004)

Email : hetrust@del2.vsnl.net.in

Email : japji08@yahoo.com

Larsen, Marian

Who am I?

I am a Danish woman, 52 years old, who lived a “normal Western” life until 5 years ago when I chose to let go of everything in my life and start travelling. “Chose” is not really the word. I followed a calling so strong that I felt left without a choice.

I chose to let go of controlling my life. If I wanted to control my life, I should first listen to myself – to my needs. After I surrendered to Nature, I now ask, “What can I do?” All my life I have taken from Earth to fulfill my needs. The time has come to give back, which paradoxically gives me much more pleasure and happiness. So by letting go of control, the Earth benefits and so do I. There are no losers; there are only winners!

I believe in happiness and oneness of all humans, and that we create our own reality. Only through love, compassion, grace and beauty can harmony return to our planet. I have chosen a life instead a “system”. I am in love with life and I am deeply grateful for having received this miraculous gift.

During the last 5 nomadic years I have been around the world 5 times and had amazing experiences in New Mexico, Hawaii, India, Australia and New Zealand. I have taken notes on all the beautiful things I saw, the people I met, and this year I decided to finally put it all together in writing.

No fear, no limits have been my keywords these last five years, and they contain a deeper truth for me every day. I don’t fear death anymore. It can come today or tomorrow. I found that if I’m not afraid to live, then I’m not afraid to die either. I love life and by living it in the present I can embrace death too.

Email : kalini@care2.com

Leifker, Denise

Denise Leifker is currently a Deputy Probation Officer with Sutter County in Yuba City, California. Ms. Leifker is assigned to court investigations and some of her primary duties include: conducting pre-sentence investigations; preparing bail and drug diversion eligibility reports; interviewing defendants, victims and witnesses; and preparing memos and documents for the Court.

Over the past few years, she have been involved in a number of criminal justice activities. Denise worked as a Special Agent with the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) in South Dakota for nearly two years, worked as a Deputy Probation Assistant for Sacramento County Juvenile Hall for four months, and completed several criminal justice related internships in probation, law and legal research.

Her other criminal justice related experiences include working as a pre-law intern for the District Attorney's Office in Wisconsin; as a Research Analyst Intern for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation; and as a Juvenile Corrections Agent Intern with the South Dakota Department of Corrections.

Ms. Leifker completed a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in May 2000, and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice in May 2002 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In the fall of 2002, she entered the Ph.D. program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where Denise studied for a year before being offered a position with the South Dakota DCI. In the fall of 2005, she moved to California with her husband and continues to work on finishing her Ph.D. while working as a Deputy Probation Officer for Sutter County. Ms. Leifker plans to complete her Ph.D. in August of 2008.

Email : deniseolson@yahoo.com

Lilani, Manish

Manish Lilani started his career in the Computer industry. He studied Engineering in Bombay, India and has a Diploma in Software Project Management from George Washington University besides several IT Industry Certifications. Manish is currently employed with a major telecommunications company as a Project Manager, deploying projects and migrating systems across data centers in North America.

In his efforts to promote technology awareness, he lectures at Computer Education Centers in Atlanta and Dallas and conducts seminars and knowledge sessions for various Systems and Networking related topics. Manish has been contributing articles to professional journals and publications.

As for his flair for writing, anything makes him click - be it human emotions, current event analysis, religion, cultures or Information Technology. Traveling, besides writing, is his passion. Having spanned different continents; Asia, Middle East, Europe and North America, he strongly believes in freedom of religious beliefs and that all cultures and faiths can co-exist.

Email : Manish.Lilani@Nextel.com

Amandeep Singh Madra is the co-author of Warrior Saints (IB Tauris 1999) and Eyewitness Accounts of the Sikhs (Palgrave, forthcoming). Amandeep has contributed to the New Dictionary of National Biography (OUP) and has organised two succesful series of Sikh Heritage lectures at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (UK). He is currently working on an illustrated work on the Sikh diaspora.

Email : amandeep@easynet.co.uk

Dr. Jasbir Singh Mann is a California-based orthopaedic surgeon and a very well known writer on Sikhism related issues. His articles have appeared in many journals like Nishaan, The Sikh Review and Abstracts of Sikh Studies and also in various books. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Punjabi University for his contribution to Sikh Studies.

Participation & Conferences Organized

1988 · Conference of Sikh Studies, California State University, Long Beach

1990 · International Conferences on Sikh Studies,London, Toronto University, University of British Columbia, Berkeley University, Washington, New York, and Chicago

1993 · Dr. Gobind Singh Mansukhani Memorial Seminar for his contribution to Sikh Studies at Sikh Center of Orange County; Santa Ana, CA

1994 · International Conferences on Sikh studies,York University, Toronto; UBC, Vancouver B.C; Oakland University, Michigan; UC Berkeley; Washington; New Jersey; Santa Ana, CA

1995 · Miri Piri conferences,Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA; San Jose, CA; Fresno, CA; Stockton, CA; Espanola, NM

1996 · 289th Gurgadee Diwas Seminar at Tiera Buena Gurdwara, Yuba City, CA. (Held during the annual gathering of Sikhs where 30,000-40,000 are in attendance from all over the world.)

2000 · International Conferences on Sikh Studies,Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA; San Jose State University, CA; University of Toronto, Mississauga; Oakland University, Michigan; Vancouver, BC; New York, NY

2004 · International Conferences on Sikh Studies in Celebration of Four Hundred Years of Compilation of Guru Granth Sahib . Mt. SAC College, Walnut, CA; UC Santa Barbra, CA; San Jose St Univ, San Jose, CA; British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, BC; Edmonton; York University, Toronto; Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY; George Mason Univ, Fairfax, VA

Honors & Awards

1993 · International Dasmesh Award International Institute of Gurmat Studies; La Habra, CA

1994 · Khalsa Diwan Society; Vancouver BC

· Honored by Ontario Gurdwara Committee, Ontario Canada

1995 · Sikh Gurdwara; San Jose, CA

1996 · Honored by SGPC(Amritsar,India) at a special seminar held at Bhai Gurdas Hall for contributions of promoting Sikh relgion and history by holding several international seminars

1996 · Honored at the annual Gurgadee Diwas at Yuba City.CA

1997 · Sikh Gurdwara; Lankershim, Los Angeles

1995 & 1998 · Sikh Welfare Foundation; Duarte, CA

2000 · Honored by Gurdwara Sahib Dashmesh Darbar; Surrey, Canada

· Honored by Fremont Gurdwara; Fremont, CA

· Honored on behalf of government of Canada by Gurbax Singh Malhi, M.P.; Ontario, Canada

2001· D.Lit [Honoris Causa] Punjabi University, Patiala.India

2004· Recognition by City Council of Diamond Bar, CA (Bob Zirbes, Mayor) for promotion of cultural awareness at the International Sikh Conferences of the 400th Anniversary of Sikh Scripture

· California State Assembly Certificate of Appreciation in honor of organizing 400th Anniversary of Sikh Scriptures in Los Angeles and promotion of Punjabi Literature

· State of California; Cruz. M. Bustamente, Lt. Gov. Commendation for Contribution to the 400th Anniversary of compilation of Sikh Scriptures

Authored many articles on Sikhism, and edited the following four books on Sikhism

1989 · Advanced Studies in SikhismPublished by Sikh Community of North America

1992 · Recent Researches in SikhismPublished by Punjabi University

1992 · Fundamental Issues in Sikh StudiesPublished by Institute of Sikh Studies

1995 · Invasion of Religious BoundariesPublished by Canadian Sikh Studies & Teaching Society

2004 · In Progress: Compilation of the Papers in book form which were presented in 2004 International Sikh Conferences held in various North American Universities

Education ·

M.B., B.S. Punjab University, M.S. P.G.I. Chandigarh·
Residency Orthopedic Surgery. Columbia University, NY·
Diplomat American Board of Orthopedic Surgery ·
Fellow American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons ·
Fellow International College of Surgeons ·
Fellow American College of International Physicians·
D.Lit [Honoris Causa] Punjabi University, Patiala.India ·
Practicing Orthopedic Surgeon in Southern California since 1980

Email : jasbirmann@aol.com

Bhupinder Singh Mahal was born in Uganda, raised in Kenya, the first of his family born outside of India. He left Kenya in 1954 for furtherance of his studies in UK, graduating in accountancy. He has lived and or worked on five continents: Africa, India, United Kingdom, South America and Canada.

In the 1970’s he owned and operated a manufacturing plant in Montreal, which he sold in the fall of 1984 to devote his time to explore, study and write on Sikh ethos in general and evolving situations and challenges facing Sikh Diaspora in particular. He has been a frequent contributor to The Sikh Review, Abstracts of Sikh Studies, The Sikh Messenger and several newspapers in the USA and Canada. He is the author of “Punjab: the Nomads and the Mavericks” (2000) and “Punjab: a Cataclysmic Showdown, Aftermath and Challenges” (2009)

He also continues to volunteer to work for the public good. From 1990 to 1994 he served on the Canadian Multiculturalism Advisory Committee, a body responsible for policy development in the elimination of barriers to achieve social, cultural and economic equality for all Canadians; and, was a director of Keshrota Village (1990-1997), helping develop business enterprises and jobs for the Black youth.

He served a two year term on the Court of revision, City of Hamilton (2001-2003); four years as Vice Chair of a leading publicly funded health-care center (2002-2006), providing equitable access, individualized care coordination and quality health care for the elderly and the venerable; and, member of the Council of the College of Physiotherapists (2002-2008), both Order-in-Council appointments by the Ontario government.

In March 2009 Mr. Mahal was appointed Chairperson, Employment Insurance Board of Referees (a Governor-in-Council appointment). The legislatively prescribed Board is a first-level, independent, administrative tribunal mandated to provide fair and impartial quasi-judicial hearings of appeals of Employment Insurance decisions.

He is currently member of Editorial Advisory Board of Gurmat Learning-Zone, a premier Sikh portal with over 12,000 world-wide members; and, a founding member of Sikh-Diaspora.

In 2003 he was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, created to mark the 50th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth ll to the throne, for contribution to Canada, to the community and to fellow Canadians.

In 2007 he was awarded Council Award by the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario in recognition of significant contributions ensuring the physiotherapists provide high quality, competent and ethical services that protect the public interest.

He lives in Dundas (Ontario), and is married with three children and three grandchildren.

Email : bsmahal@cogeco.ca

Tridivesh Singh Maini received his Bachelors in Politics with Honors from Sheffield University, UK and a Masters in iNternational Development from the American University, Washington DC. Currently, he is working in New Delhi with the private sector. His earlier important assignments have been consultancies with the World Bank and a research position with the American Security Council Foundation, Washington DC. The Author's main area of interest is South Asian Cooperation with a thrust on the two Punjabs. His articles on the subject have appeared in various prominent South Asian and Western journals.

Email : tridivesh2001@yahoo.co.uk

Claudia Gaspar Soares Martins specialized in Urban Geography and has a keen interest in Comparative Religions. A former member of the Anglican Church, she lives in Brasil and is interested in supporting Sikh missionary work in that country.

Claudia is the first Brazilian to write about Sikhi. Her new project is to attend a course at some College/University in USA or Canada to learn about Gurbani/Gurmat. People interested in supporting her can e-mail her directly.

Email : c.gaspar@terra.com.br

Eric Margolis is Contributing Foreign Editor of the Toronto Sun newspapers and a syndicated columnist whose articles have been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times. He has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS News, CNN, ABC and WNET.

Mr. Margolis is the author of War at the Top of the World : The Struggle for Afghanistan, Kashmir and Tibet.

Email : margolis@foreigncorrespondent.com

Johan Meire is a Doctor of Social and Cultural Anthropology. He received his Ph.D. degree from the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) in January 2003. His doctoral thesis, written in Dutch, deals with the social memory of the First World War (1914-1918) in the former front zone around the Belgian town of Ypres (Ieper).

Email : Johan.Meire@ant.kuleuven.ac.be

Feroze Mithiborwala is the national convenor of the Muslim Intellectual Forum. He was also in the first team of National Convenors of the National Alliance of People's Movements.* Feroz traces back his roots to Sarvodaya movement when he was the national convenor of the Rashtriya Yuva Sanghthan.* Post 1992-93, in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition, he studied the Indian caste system and was thus deeply influenced by the Phule-Ambedkarite ideologies. Currently, Mr. Mithiborwala is involved with the International anti-imperialist movements and an expert on the Palestine-Israel conflict and on West Asia.

Email : ferozearachne@gmail.com

Dr. N. Muthumohan heads Guru Nanak Devji Chair in Madurai Kamaraj University, Tamil Nadu (India).

Email : m_uthumohan@yahoo.co.in

Balbir Singh Nagra is a civil engineer who lives with his wife and two children in England. He has been living in Surrey for about twenty years and aspires to one day write for theatre.

Email : nagra.balbir@yahoo.com

Sardar Nanak Singh Nishter was born in 1937, and did his M.A. from Osmania University, Hyderabad in 1959. He is a theologian, poet, writer, orator and a social activist, who is associated with several organizations. He is Hon. Director of International Sikh Centre for Interfaith Relations and has presented papers at National and International Seminars on Sikhism, interfaith relations and socio-economic issues.

Sardar Nanak Singh has authored four books - English(2), Telugu(1), Urdu(1) and has contributed about 250 articles in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu and English. He also knows Persian and Arabic.

Email : nanaknishter@hotmail.com

Email : ooyewumi@notes.cc.sunysb.edu

Born 1926 at Lyallpur (n.k.a. Faislabad, Pakistan), graduate of Punjab University; entered publishing and journalism career in 1943. Retired in 1984 after 26 years with United States Information Service (USIS) New Delhi -- 16 years as Editor (Chief of Punjabi Press unit) and latter 10 years as a Cultural Affairs Specialist (Chief of Program Development and Research Unit -- a mini Think Tank). In the latter capacity, edited and produced a number of thematic portfolios of articles on international economic and political relations, and American life and letters, for use by intellectuals participating in various seminars, organized by USIS in different parts of India, and other countries in Northeast Asia.

Was awarded specially for preparing a comprehensive book on Nuclear Non-Proliferation, which was distributed by the Agency in several countries of the world.

In retirement years, while developing a comprehensive chronology, "Timelines of Sikh History, 1469-1984", as a research tool . has published several articles on the internet.

Email : India_link@hotmail.com

Patel, Darshan

Darshan Patel is a 20-year-old Indian –American computer science student from New York. He was born and raised in the USA. Darshan likes playing sports, watching sports and surfing the net. He comes from a family of Shivaite Hindus although he no longer practices Hinduism.

Darshan feels, “In a world torn apart by nationalism, racial antipathies, disparate wealth distribution, environmental degradation, war, poverty, disease, moral putrefaction, economic inequities and injustices that the simple, progressive, ecumenical, egalitarian, humanitarian and altruistic message of Sikhi will serve as an illuminating beacon of hope, action, justice, advancement, enlightment, empowerment and guidance to all humans wanting to create a better world for people of all religions and cultures to live.”

Email : darshanpatelsn@hotmail.com

Phoolka, Harvinder Singh

Harvinder Singh Phoolka has led the struggle to deliver justice to thousands of families and widows of the 1984 massacre of Sikhs in Delhi. Harvinder was 28-years-old in 1984 and a young attorney living in Delhi for barely three years. Originally from a small village in Punjab (Bhadaur in Sangrur) he studied in Ludhiana and Chandigarh.

In 1983 Harvinder married Maninder Kaur who is a food technologist. Maninder has been a tremendous source of support, both moral and financial, especially in the early years of the struggle for justice.

After graduating as an "outstanding graduate" in 1990 at the American Institute of Baking, Kansas, Maninder declined job offers in USA and returned to India because of her husband's involvement with the victims of the 1984 carnage.

Ironically, in the wake of the carnage, Phoolka and his wife moved back to Punjab shaken by a miraculous escape.  But, a visit to a victim relief camp in Farsh Bazar and the sight of widows, orphans and bereaved mothers, prompted the couple to change their plans.

"I was consumed by guilt. These people had lost everything. I had not, but I was the one running away." He decided to stay back - fight. The cause was not Sikh, but human rights.

When the Misra Commission was set up, Phoolka mooted the idea of a joint forum to take on the might of the Government by combining the resources of all concerned citizens. Thus was born the Citizens Justice Committee (CJC) comprising an array of luminaries. For his initiative, young Phoolka was made the convenor of the CJC, and in that capacity he oversaw the entire legal operation to collect evidence and espouse the cause of the victims before the Misra Commission. Years later, it was again on his initiative that the Vajpayee Government set up another judicial inquiry, Nanavati Commission. Phoolka again assumed the responsibility of representing the victims before the Nanavati Commission.

Meanwhile, despite his preoccupation with the struggle, Phoolka did well enough in his profession to be designated as Senior Advocate at the relatively young age of 44. In October 1996, the Outlook magazine rated Phoolka among "50 persons who make a difference" in India.

Harvinder Singh Phoolka has assisted the 1984 victims, working pro bono (without charging any fee) and quite often bearing expenses from his own pocket.

Email : phoolka@carnage84.com

Radhakrishnan, P.

Dr. P. Radhakrishnan is a Professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies. His research experience spans more than two decades. He has published widely. His books and monographs include Peasant Struggles, Land Reforms, and Social Change: Malabar 1836-1982, Progress Towards Education for All: The Case of Tamil Nadu, and INDIA, The Perfidies of Power: A Social Critique. He has to his credit several other publications, which include articles in edited books and leading journals, research notes, working papers, and reviews.

Email : prk@mids.ac.in

Ram, Ravieshwar Singh

Ravieshwar Singh (Ravi) was born in Brooklyn, New York on April 21, 1989. He is a senior at Midwood High School at Brooklyn College and will graduate in June, 2007. He is the oldest of two brothers one of whom (Pardeep) also attends Midwood. Ravi was previously an intern at Senator Hillary Clinton’s office and hopes to explore a career in law/politics in the future.

With the help of Dr. George A. Hero, director of Social Science Research at Midwood, he managed to complete “Who is a Terrorist? The Perception of Sikhs in Post-9/11 New York City” as his senior thesis. The paper analyzed the extent to which Sikhs were associated with terrorism 5 years after the 9/11 attacks.

Ravi will attend Vanderbilt University as a Posse Scholar and plans to continue his research on Sikhs as a college student.

Email : kingrav@gmail.com

Sehmby, Dalbir S.

Email : dsehmby@ualberta.ca

Sethi, Jasbir Singh

A semi-retired engineer living in Houston was congratulated by the Mayor of Houston on his receiving “Hind Rattan (Jewel of India) Award”. NRI Welfare Society of India (a non-governmental agency) conferred this award on 30 NRI’s from all over the world in their 21st International Congress in Jan. 2002. Mr. Sethi is the first Indian born engineer who came to USA in 1968 and became a Manager in 1972 in Brown & Root, the then world’s No.1 EPC Company and led a team of engineers to design Piping Systems for the world’s largest nuclear power plant.

Jasbir Singh Sethi has been a businessman and founder and first elected President of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) and co-sponsor of First Indo- American Conference on Joint Tendering in 1983. He resigned as President of IACC in 1984 in protest for attack on Golden Temple.

He is founder of many and has held offices in social, cultural and religious organizations in USA, to name a few: India Students Association, Punjabi Society, Urdu Cultural Society, The Sikh Center of Gulf Coast Area, Inc., Sikh Council of North America, Association of Sikh Professionals, Sri Nankana Sahib Foundation and currently with Sikh Foundation. He is also the recipient of Saropa and Sword of Honor from SGPC.

He has BSCE (Hons.) 1956 from Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh, Gold Medallist in LL.B. from Gorakhpur University and M.S. from Rutgers University. From 1958 to 1968 (when he migrated to USA) he was in Class I service of Indian Railways.

Email : jssethi@sbec.com

Shehzad, Mohammad

Mohammad Shehzad is an independent journalist and researcher based in Islamabad. He writes for some Pakistani and foreign publications -- The News, Dawn, The Friday Times, Daily Times, South Asia Tribune (Wash DC), Rediff.com (India), The Hoot (India), Bangladesh Observer. His work has also been published by Outlook and Frontline.

Shehzad has written on a range of socio-political, environment and development issues. He has published a number of analytical articles, reports and interviews on jihad, fundamentalism, blasphemy and adultery laws, peace, human rights and several gender and child related issues. He has interviewed renowned figures such as Arundhati Roy, N Ram, Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Ahmad Rashid, Dr Parvez Hoodbhoy, Dr Ayesha Jalal, Ayaz Amir, John Cushnahan, Ahmed Salim, Shaheen Sehbai, Naheed Siddiqui, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Pundit Jasraj, Pundit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, and Ustad Shafaat Ahmad Khan. He has published reviews on the performance of Pundit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Alla Rakha, and Ustad Sultan Khan.

Shehzad was born on July 24, 1969. A graduate in Journalism and Sociology he has published 150 poems in English. Some of them have been published by www.poetry.com

Email : rageshri2@yahoo.com

Shapiro, Richard

Richard Shapiro is the Director of the Social and Cultural Anthropology program at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Richard has been involved in shaping emancipatory education in the Bay Area, particularly in developing critical, interdisciplinary, activist and multicultural education at the California Institute of Integral Studies since 1986, and as the Director of Humanities at New College of California from 1986 to 1994.

Richard is an original member of Todos: The Sherover-Simms Institute for Alliance Building, that works with youth, social service organizations and universities, engaging issues of social oppression and cultural identity. Richard's intellectual interests include the cross-cultural study of subjectivity, sexuality and gender, the history of European thought, social movements, organizational change, and anthropology as cultural critique. Richard is also involved with movements for ecosocial justice in South Asia, where, since 1997, he has been working on projects related to gender, equity and sustainable development among marginalized communities in Orissa, eastern India.

Email : rshapiro@ciis.edu

An Obstetrician and Gynecologist by profession (Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), Dr. Sidhu is a Fellow of the International College of Surgeons (FICS) and has a Law degree LLB (Hons.) from the University of London. His special interest lies in religion, especially Sikhism. Dr. Sidhu has undertaken an in-depth study of Christianity and Islam, and is well versed with other religions. Dr. Sidhu’s writings have been published in The Sikh Review, Spokesman, The Sikh Bulletin, and Understanding Sikhism - A Research Journal, and currently he serves on the Editorial Board of Understanding Sikhism - A Research Journal, Published from Canada and The Sikh Bulletin, published from USA.

Email : sarjeetsidhu@gmail.com

Yoginder Sikand is the editor of Qalandar, a monthly internet magazine (www.islaminterfaith.org).

Email : ysikand@yahoo.com

Dr. Amrik Singh graduated from Panjab University (honors) with a Ph.D. dissertation titled Revisioning of Black Consciousness in the Selected Novels of Toni Morrison., and holds an M.Phil in Anthropological Linguistics with major emphasis on Semantics, Semiotics and Semiology His M.Phil dissertation discusses A semiotic analysis of John Steinbeck’s Pearl Fields of concentration for analysis: How the protagonist experiences the Kingdom and Exile in his consciousness.

Dr. Singh has taught English at Punjab University, Punjabi University and various colleges in Punjab and has been awarded Teacher Fellowships by American Studies Research Center, Hyderabad (India) and Indo- American Center for International Studies Hyderabad (India), and a Research Grant by the University Grants Commission of India. His articles and reviews have been published in various newspapers.

Email : amriksaini@yahoo.com

Singh, Baldev

Baldev Singh, PhD in medicinal chemistry, is a retired pharmaceutical research scientist. Dr. Singh has about sixty publications and 100 U.S. patents. Born in Takhtupura, District Faridkot, Punjab he has published article on Sikhism in Sikh Bulletin, Sikh Virsa, Spokesman, Abstracts of Sikh Studies and Understanding Sikhism Research Journal.

Email : baldev6@aol.com

After renewing the Commercial Pilot License he has worked for offshore oil exploration work, mostly on Sikorsky-76 Helicopters.

Bhupinder has served as a member of Canadian Multi-Cultural Advisory Committee during Brian Mulroney years. He like to read and understand spirituality - Gurbani, philosophy, Sikh culture and history.

Email : b.singh@yahoo.ca

Bhupinder Singh (USA)

Singh, Chris Mooney

Chris Mooney Singh is a fourth-generation Australian of Irish descent related to Ned Kelly the 'Robin Hood' of bushranger folklore. Chris Mooney lives in Singapore with his wife Savinder Kaur. A published writer and literary editor (the Penguin Book of Christmas Poems) and with two CDs to his credit (Indian City and The Celestial Voyage both produced in Singapore) Chris Mooney Singh plays various forms of the Indian sub-continent musical instruments (Perso-Indian, Sikh and Afghani rababs).

Chris Mooney has located a rabab, which belonged to Guru Gobind Singh. He exhibited the musical instrument throughout South-East Asia. In 1999, he also performed before an audience of 100,000 at the Khalsa Tercentary Celebrations in Punjab.

In 1997 ABC Radio National in Australia produced a two-part series on his Indian travels in search of the lost rabab. The story of his search and efforts in reviving it, first attracted the attention of the Indian media in 1998 and his latest efforts have been covered in most of the leading regional and national Indian newspapers. Recently Mooney Singh and the Rabab Revival Project were featured on Zee News, which broadcasts through its cable network to 144 countries.

Chris Mooney Singh wishes to pursue comparative research into Chinese traditional plucked lutes and bowed string instruments, which he believes are cousins of the Central Asian rabab.

He is working on a doctoral thesis and a book on this subject and believes the commonality of rabab in different musical traditions shows that the ancient world was a much more unified place than most people realize today.

“In the ancient world, music had many more similar tonal scales and characteristics and musical instruments were cultural ambassadors that spread wisdom, culture and beauty around the globe. To study the cross-cultural forms of the instrument is an ideal bridge to communicate peace and harmony through art, culture and music.”

Email : munisingh@yahoo.com

Singh, Daljit

Daljit Singh is currently in the Nabha jail in Punjab. Please forward all inquiries to Jaspal Singh Dhillon, Spokesman Shiromani Khalsa Dal, Mohali, Punjab.

Email : skhalsadal@hotmail.com

Singh, Dharam

Dr. Dharam Singh is Professor and Head of the Department of Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Punjabi University, Patiala. His earned a doctorate in the social philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh, and has authored several books on Sikh philosophy/theology and interfaith studies.

Email : webmaster@sikhspectrum.com

Singh, Durlabh

Durlabh Singh is an artist and poet from London (UK). A member of International Artists Association, Free Painters and Sculptors, National Artists Association UK and European Union Migrant Artists Network, he is a self-taught artist with many private and public exhibitions in New York, Boston, London, Paris, Kenya and India. Durlabh is a widely published poet appearing in numerous anthologies, newspapers and magazines including Midnight Ink (Sundial Arts), Crystal Moons (Triumph House), Defining Grace , South Asian Poetry, Asian Times etc. He has authored four books including the latest Chrome Red, which is a collection of his poems with illustrations.

Email : durlabhsingh@hotmail.com

Singh, G.B.

G.B. Singh is a Colonel in the US Army. He is actively serving the army for 24 years and was twice in Korea.

G.B. Singh is a professional student of political India, Hinduism, and life and teachings of Gandhi. At present he is in the middle of writing a few more books including one on yoga.

Email : gb7495@hotmail.com

Singh, Gurfateh Phil

Gurfateh Singh is a computer professional interested in world religions, Indian culture and history. His interest in religion took him on a path that led him to the Sikh faith, which he has now embraced.

Gurfateh likes to quote Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “So many gods, so many creeds, so many paths that wind and wind. When just the art of being kind is all that the sad world needs."

Email : desiwombat@hotmail.com

Singh, Gurpreet

JGurpreet Singh is a journalist based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Currently, he is a broadcaster with Radio India, where he hosts two news based call-in-shows - Vichar Manch and Ru-Baru. He was born in Karnal (Haryana), India. He did his post graduation in Mass communication and journalism from Panjab University, Chandigarh in 1996. He immigrated to Canada in 2001. Before coming to Vancouver, he had worked with The Tribune as its staff reporter in Ferozepore (Punjab). Previously, he was a staff reporter with Indian Express from 1996 to 1999. During his posting at Ropar, with Indian Express, he had an opportunity to cover the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa Panth. His short fiction, Amrit is a reflection of his first hand knowledge of the event.

Prior to Amrit, he penned No Escape, a story about hate crimes. This was published by Communalism Combat in its November edition of 2003. He has also authored Terrorism: The Punjab’s recurring Nightmare, a book based on the interviews with Sikh extremists.

Email : guru_pen@yahoo.com

Singh, Harmander

Dr. Harmander Singh is a writer, novelist and a poet. He has written more than 25 books, including two for children, since 1985 out of which the first two have been published, and the rest deal with metaphysically topics. Dr. Singh’s writings aim to integrate Western and the Eastern societies. Dr. Singh is a member of the Association of Educators for World Peace. At present, he serves the society in its spiritual, social, humanitarian, health, self-awareness and literary missions as an Education Counselor and MD.

Email : bhagouauty@gmail.com

Singh, Harmeet

Harmeet Singh is a volunteer at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies (IFCAPS)- a Chicago based Think Tank.

Email : harmeet30@yahoo.com

Singh, Hari Har

Hari Har Singh has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf for 20 years. Since 1991 he has directed a wildlife conservation / law enforcement Program across ex-Soviet Asia and the Middle East. By August, 2003, an expose on the work of the organization can be viewed at: www.SaveTheFalcons.org

Email : Info@SaveTheFalcons.org

Singh, Inder

Inder Singh is president of Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International), former president of NFIA and founder president of FIA of Southern California.

Email : indersingh-usa@hotmail.com

Singh, Ishwinder

Ishwinder was born and raised in Chandigarh. He did his Bachelors in Commerce from Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi and topped the University. Subsequently he did an MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. After having worked with Citi Bank in Chennai he is now running his own business in Chandigarh. Ishwinder is also involved with Sikh Youth activities and is connected with the Institute of Sikh Studies.

Email : ishwinder@sancharnet.in

Jagmohan Singh is the General Secretary of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), a political party committed to uphold the civil and political, social and economic rights of the people of Panjab. He is a political activist with special interest in human rights, humanitarian law, media and communication. Besides his , he keeps himself occupied with a variety of human rights issues in Panjab and elsewhere.

Jagmohan Singh was born in Ludhiana and educated in Mumbai. A postgraduate in Commerce, he was a lecturer in commerce and accounts at the Jai Hind College, which is affiliated to the University of Mumbai. He was also an active member of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties and the Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights, Bombay.

Professionally, he is a graphic designer in print design with fundamental training in printing and publishing from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai.

Jagmohan Singh is widely travelled in Europe and Canada.

Email : jagmohan@hotvoice.com

Jarnail Singh started his career as a lecturer in English and later worked for a Bank as a Manager. He currently lives in Australia where he works in finance.

Email : jarnailsingh1469@yahoo.com.au

Singh, Jasmit

Jasmit Singh is Director of Education, Sikh Coalition, an organization formed to address the collective concerns of Sikh community in North America and to educate the community about the Sikh faith.

Jasmit has a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science and Operations Research. He lives with his family in the Pacific Northwest.

Email : jasmit.singh@sikhcoalition.org

Email : jazsingh2000@yahoo.co.uk

Email : jettysingh1@aol.com

Born in India, Kanwal Prakash Singh came to the United States in 1965 and has made Indianapolis his home since 1967. KP was educated in India and at the University of Michigan in liberal arts, architecture and in city planning. KP has been a tireless advocate and supporter of historic preservation, cultural diversity and the importance of the arts. KP considers community service as a major focus and commitment of his faith and civic responsibility.

KP is a founding member of the International Center of Indianapolis and the Sikh Satsang and has participated in countless community cultural and charity events including International Festivals, HeathNet- Grand Bazaar: India, Indianapolis Museum of Art- King of the World Exhibit, the Sikh Educational & Cultural Society- Rangeela Punjab among others.

KP is a recipient of many awards and honors: Daverman Merit Award in Architecture-University of Michigan (1965); Sagamore of the Wabash-State of Indiana (1992); International Citizen of the Year,- International Center of Indianapolis (1995).

KP Singh Designs, founded in 1972, specializes in fine art. His distinctive, finely executed pen and ink drawings of historic architecture and monuments from India, Europe, the USA and Indiana reflect the combined skills of architect, artist and historian. His artwork, often used for fundraising and to heighten awareness of our unique architectural heritage, is represented in many public and private collections in the USA and around the world.

KP is a guest writer for The Indianapolis Star and other publications. He is a frequent participant at community, cultural, and interfaith discussions.

Email :

Email : webmaster@sikhspectrum.com

Singh, Manvir

Manvir Singh is a student at Stanford University and majoring in Economics and International Relations.

Email : manvir.singh@stanford.edu

Email : singhjudge@yahoo.com

Singh, Naureen

Naureen Singh first got her love for writing after her first visit to India. She was deeply moved by the poverty and the lifestyle many Indians had to survive with. She also had the opportunity to meet with late VOI Ishmeet Singh and took an interview with the celebrity.

In middle school, Naureen entered various Forensic Speech's and succeeded well with all. This summer, she is one of the top two who will be representing Colorado in the National tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. Her only passion is to dance and has been dancing since the age of two.

Naureen has been involved in many dance competions and hastaught her follow American girls Indian dancing. She is also involved in many different clubs in her high school.She is very active in her gurdawara by encouraging, participating, and singing guru's Bani. She attends Sikh camps regularly and does seva on a regular basis. She is in the IB program in school and is fluent in French.

Email : webmaster@sikhspectrum.com

Singh, Sukhvir

Sukhvir Singh , a computer engineer, has visited many countries as a software consultant. Sukhvir's interest includes writing to newspapers/magazines to raise public awareness about social evils. He prefers writing on the spirit of universal brotherhood, religion, love and meditation.

Email : webmaster@sikhspectrum.com

Singh, Michael Dougherty

Michael has been consulting for over 12 years in systems-level programming, application development, and project management. He currently works for Burntsand Corporation and is starting up a new business called MovieConnector Enterprises.

Email : michael.dougherty@movieconnector.com

Verpal Singh heads The Sikh Centre, a non-profit organisation engaged in promoting greater interaction between Sikhs and the wider New Zealand community. He also runs a small publishing company specialising in niche areas. He is a writer, with a novel and a book of analytical essays in the pipeline. Through the Sikh Centre, he has been involved in running three annual competitions in the field of Painting, Short Story Writing, and traditional Punjabi embroidery art of Phulkari. He is an active participant in the ongoing inter-faith dialogue amongst various faith communities of New Zealand. Verpal Singh is a keen student of history, especially religious history.

Email : verpalsingh@yahoo.com

Singh, Vicky

“Besides the Cyberworld, I love to travel, play soccer and I am a great fan of Mustang muscle car. I also have a keen interest in collecting old Sikh Artifacts from Ebay.com.”

Email : singhvicky@yahoo.com

Born in USA and raised in India, Vishavjit Singh has a thirst for learning and thus spent most of his life in school. A student of biology, religious studies, public health, computers he now waits for the next round of learning. Vishavjit is the creator of Sikhtoons (http://sikhtoons.com/).

For Vishavjit: “Writing is my passion, a medium to express my thoughts.”

Email : vishavjit@yahoo.com

Vikramjit Singh is in business. His forte is in commodities, brand development and marketing are his other forte. He pens poetry and calls it ‘everyday poetry’. Widely travelled, Vikramjit is an avid golfer and loves listening to music.

Originally from Bombay Mr. Singh relocated to Chandigarh after the 1984 riots. He is married to Simran Kaur and they have two sons Simratveeer Singh and Mantegveer Singh.

Vikramjit believes:

“No love is complete without sacrifice and in Sikhi love for Sikhi is expressed by selfless Sewa of the Sangath and Panth.

“Remember we carry on our shoulders tremendous responsibility,
Selfless sacrifice is a Sikh’s unique capability.

“For a Sikh to sacrifice himself or herself for his or her Panth is Janath itself,
Always puts Guru and Panth before self.”

Email : webmaster@sikhspectrum.com

Mark Skelton is from Montreal, Canada and he has a background in chemistry and management. He had a career on the road in North America in Chemical Sales and Environmental Consulting and is now semi-retired.

He has lived and traveled to many parts of the world in the course of study, work and exploration. Among his varied international endeavors include academic study in England and Scotland, worked at a brewery in Germany, chemical research center in France, Kibbutz in Israel, taught English in Japan, holistic courses and business evaluation in Thailand, environmental assessment in Colombia, yacht charters in Caribbean, movie extra in Bollywood (India), and travels in China!

Mark is always looking for a challenge with adventure.

Email : skeltonmark@hotmail.com

Dr. Surinder Singh Sodhi has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and has retired as Professor of Education from Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He has a number of papers to his credit which have been published in many reputed journals. His articles on Sikhism related issues frequently appear in The Sikh Review and Abstracts of Sikh Studies.

Email : ssodhi@ns.Sympatico.ca

Sooch, Balbir Singh

Post Graduate, M.A. in Political Science and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Panjab University, Chandigarh, a practising lawyer since 1984, human rights activist in his own right and being a writer of the masses, Balbir Singh Sooch has authored a book titled ‘Samen Da Sachch’ (Sikh Dukhant) exposing the faithlessness and hypocrisy of planted Sikh leaders. His work, ‘Why India Is Devoid Of Rule Of Law?’ is very much appreciated by various leading personalities. THE CENTRAL VIGILANCE COMMISSIONER, Government of India, Mr. N. VITTAL, in a goodwill message to the author, said, “I thank you very much for your thought provoking note on WHY INDIA IS DEVOID OF RULE OF LAW? I am sure the note will help sensitise the people about the realities of the situation and motivate them to fight corruption.” D.O. No. CVC/2000/ 1439 Dated: November 9, 2000.

A fairly long period of practice as an Advocate has added to his personal knowledge about the degeneration of the political system, which has virtually, usurped the powers of the judiciary. In turn, the judiciary seems to have lost its lustre, due to obvious weaknesses.

Born in Village Sandhu Khurd, District Bathinda, Panjab in a middle class rural agriculturist family of Malwa region, he understands the miseries and difficulties of the not-so-rich rural populace, which he believes, is being exploited by the urban commercial sector in collaboration with the bureaucracy and the judiciary.

Though remained very busy and regular in his studies, yet he was never tempted to be greedy for heavy financial gains. This disqualification has, of course, in the prevailing corrupt system, added to his miseries and instability at home and in society for some time.

Remembering his good days passed in partially joint family despite many odds, he gives full credit to his household companion, Smt. Surinder Kaur Sooch for ensuring a happy married life. She provided best possible service within available means for looking after her children namely Baljit Singh, Paramjit Kaur & Kamaljeet Kaur till their possible settlement in life. In the home, his life partner proved a Champion, with his cooperation. He has also served as technician in Indian Air Force till 1984 and after completion of his initial term of engagement, secured some pensionary benefits to last for his old age as well.

The Author started his studies in his Village School and completed his Primary education at Barnala (District Sangrur) while staying with his real Uncle Sardar Gurdev Singh Sooch known as SANDHU, Advocate, Barnala. His Advocate uncle’s tragic death on 18th November 1960 brought turmoil for the entire family and the penniless family shifted to Ludhiana with the help of friends in deed.

He got inspiration for higher professional qualification in his early life itself from his learned Advocate Uncle though he learnt about worldly way of life from his father Sardar Pritam Singh Sooch, expired on 20th June 1976, a staunch believer in God and dead against any ritualistic way of life. He takes pride in calling his father as his Political guru. He is greatly indebted to his mother Smt. Karam Kaur Sooch, still in high spirit (CHARHDI KALA), to keep him fearless for righteous cause.

Email : balbirsooch50@rediffmail.com

Sreekumar, C.S.

Born in Attingal, Kerala, India, CS Sreekumar did PhD in Art Cinema, Master Degree in Journalism and Communication, and a Master Degree in Comparative Literature at Madurai Kamaraj University. He lives in Moscow, Russia. He is the author of two books and many articles.

Email : sreekumar_cs@mail.ru

Email : takharjennifer@hotmail.com

Tarney, Fateh Singh

Fateh Singh-Tarney is a 62 year old retired high school history teacher who takes care of his 95 year old mother and 94 year old father-in-law who live with him and his wife in Florida. Mr. Tarney does a lot of writing in his spare time about Sikhism, his Vietnam War experiences, his teaching career, and his fascination with Canada. Fateh Singh has been a Sikh for about fifteen years now, but it was on August 28, 2001, when he made a decision to become Kesdhari - two weeks before 9-11.

Email : webmaster@sikhspectrum.com

Tiwana, Jagpal Singh

Jagpal Singh Tiwana is a librarian at the Nova Scotia Teachers College (Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada) and a member of the Maritime Sikh Society (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada). He is the author of The Maritime Sikh Society: Origin and Growth.

Email : tiwana@eastlink.ca

Email : slvirdiadvocate@rediffmail.com

Email : virkhs@yahoo.com

Email : webmaster@sikhspectrum.com

Waghmare, Nishikant

Nishikant Waghmare “A determined and self-made man, who had chosen to become his own path finder on the road to success and fame. A poor boy from the village called Khed (Satara) M.S. India, who had the pride and pragmatism to make good his dreams.”

Flying Crew Member for thirty-one years as an employee of Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Indian Airlines and presently with Air India Ltd. Mumbai, he is Manager-IFS with experience in Management, Sales, Instructions and Public Relations. He worked with C.D.A (Navy) 1969-72, Indian Airlines, Mumbai 1972-76, Air India 1976-tilldate.

Born in 1948 he got married in 1975 to Nishat (Ms. Kusum T.Rane) who is a Higher Secondary High School Teacher. Nishikant has two children, a daughter Namrata and a son Nirant (Studying in the USA). Nishikant studied in Mumbai University and majored in History and Political Science.

Nishikant was the first Indian recipient of “Bhim-Ratna” Award in London on April 14, 1992, from Dr. L.M.Singhvi, High Commissioner for India in U.K. Present at the ceremony were Chief Eleazar Anyaoku, The Commonwealth Secretary General, Mr. Keith Vaz, M.P. presently Minister in British Government, Lord Swaraj Paul, M.P., Mr. Michael Foot, Senior Labour Party Leader United Kingdom and several Ambedkarite in the U.K. were present.

Air India Management felicitated him on being awarded “Bhim-Ratna”, Chairman and Managing Director Mr. Yogi C. Deveshwar presided over the function along with Justice Y.V. Chandrachud, Former Chief Justice of India, Mr. R.S. Gavai, and MLC. Mr. Ramdas Athawale, Minister of Maharashtra, several top officials of Air India and Government were present. It was the only function of its kind where Air-India decided to felicitate an employee for his outstanding social services.

First Indian appointed as Peace Representative of the World Peace Prayer Society, USA. As Peace Representative Nishikant has traveled around the World with the universal message and prayer “May Peace prevail on Earth”! He is also a member of the world Peace Prayer Society an NGO affiliated with the United Nations in New York.

Nishikant Waghmare is Director-Asia & Pacific, Airline Ambassador International, USA a non-for-profit corporation and NGO associated with the United Nations. Airline Ambassadors is an active voice within the travel industry for social and environmental responsibility. Currently, Nishikant hopes to inspire the traveling public to” Travel and make a difference” and participate with many of the International Charitable Organizations that Airline Ambassadors assists. First Indian recipient of the Civic Award and Citation as the “Roving Ambassador” in London by the London Borough of Ealing, UK Mayor Mr. Madhavrao Patil.

First Non Official Indian to attend United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia & the Pacific 50 years Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, April23-30, 1997,as an NGO Observer. A non–official Indian to attend United Nations Human Rights Convention against Torture and other Cruel Punishment held at Geneva, October 17-28, 1994 as an NGO observer, Nishikant is also Secretary General World Philosopher Meet Pune, India, November1996.

Co-coordinator, Second World Philosopher Meet, Geneva, August 18-21, 1998 and a life member of MIG Cricket Club, Mumbai, Special Executive Magistrate Club, Special Executive Magistrate Society, Friends Medical Council, New Delhi; United Buddhist Mission, Mumbai.Special Executive Magistrate, Mumbai.

Nishikant attended the first Dalit Seminar Organized by Ministry of Welfare, Government of India, at Colombia University in New York and Nehru Center London, on Dr. Ambedkar’s Ideology and thoughts; first Dalit International Convention, October 10-11,1998 at Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia; the 50th Anniversary and General Conference of World Fellowship of Buddhists, Bangkok, December 06-12,2000, Dedicated a Peace Pole to the Thai Prime Minster Mr. Chuan Leekpai, and Attended 54th Annual DPI/NGO Conference, United Nations Headquarters, New York, September 10-12,2001.

He has also participated and led world peace prayer ceremonies at Lucknow, Pune, Bangkok, Geneva, New York and Tokyo. Nishikant had the privilege to meet the Noble Laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa several times at their home Dharamsala and Calcatta. Listed in Who’s Who Australasia and Pacific Nations Cambridge, England and Who’s Who Asian Observer Publication London.

Nishikant is keenly interested in Public Relations, music reading, traveling, Social Community Developments Programs, Human Rights works and promoting the movement of Ambedkarites and Buddhist Worldwide. “May Peace Be in India. May Peace Prevail On Earth ”

Email : dhammaindia@hotmail.com

Born and raised in Aligarh, Dr. Zaidi graduated in Medicine from Moscow. After specializing in Rheumayology from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, she is a practicing physician and Rheumatologist in Aligarh.

Dr. Zaidi is greatly interested in reading and writing, especially poetry and has write poetry in Urdu and English. Her other interests are photography, calligraphy, music-singing Urdu ghazals and public speaking on topics of her specialty and social and environmental concerns.

She admires the works of: Emily Bronte, Dostovsky, Tolstoi, Charles Dickens, DH Lawrence, Chekov, John Steinbeck, Tennesse Williams, Jean Paul Satre, Simone de Bouvoir, Tony Morrison, Amitav Ghosh, Ghalib, Faiz, Igbal, Rumi, Hafiz-e-Shirazi, Shakespeare, mily Dickinson, Kahlil Gibran, Wordsworth and William Dalrymple.

Her favorite musicians are: Mozart, Beethovan, Tchaikovsky, Bach, Strauss, Beatles, OP Nayyar, Lata Mangeshkar, Mehdi Hasan, Iqbal Bano, Abida Parveen.

She has visited: UK, France Germany, Italy, Sweden Denmark, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Australia, China, Thailand, South Korea, Pakistan and the erstwhile USSR countries namely Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Siberia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Latvia, and Lithuania.

She is well versed in: English, Russian, Urdu, Hindi, Persian and Latin.

Email : zoyazaidi2004@yahoo.co.in