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

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