nishaan@magazine

Simrandeep Kaur from Birarhwal village in Nabha tehsil of Patiala district in Punjab has cracked one of the country’s toughest examinations, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), securing an impressive All-India Rank 15. Born into a humble farming family, Simrandeep’s journey to becoming an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer is a testament to determination, patience and unwavering belief. Simrandeep completed her post-graduation in Political Science from Khalsa College. It was…

Eight-year-old Ranvir Sachdeva became the youngest keynote speaker at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. He met Google CEO Sundar Pichai and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and shared his vision for inclusive AI. Ranvir Sachdeva is not new to the tech world. Before speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, he had already spoken at international conferences, studied advanced machine learning concepts, and engaged with global AI communities. Key…

Harcharan Singh, the first Pakistani Sikh decorated with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was born in 1987 in Nankana Sahib, a birth place of Guru Nanak and at then the age of 20 he had joined the Pakistan Army in 2007. Harcharan Singh later volunteered for a combat role and was posted to the 12th Battalion of the Baloch Regiment where he served in demanding operational and border areas…

Navraj Singh Rai became the first Indian American Sikh judge to serve in this role, marking a major milestone for the local judiciary and the broader South Asian community across California. Rai’s appointment has drawn widespread praise from the Sikh and Punjabi community. For many, the moment represents long-awaited representation within the legal system. Community members described the achievement as a source of pride and hope. Leaders from Sikh organizations…

On August 15, Independence Day, a huge crowd will throng the Attari Wagah Joint Check Post (JCP) on the Indo-Pak border near Amritsar. Most of them will be unaware that for two months after the Partition there was no designated border between the two countries on this road connecting Amritsar and Lahore. It was Brigadier (later Major General) Mohindar Singh Chopra – who took over the 123 Infantry Brigade at…

I am touched that you reached out for asking me to write about my life. I don’t believe I have any qualities which can influence the younger generation. Interestingly, my daughter has also been telling me to write my autobiography and I have been ignoring her request as I am not a writer – moreover it is time consuming and I am trying to imbibe the invaluable dhan of Naam,…

On 29 July 2024, the Akal Takht issued a hukamnama to change the colours of the Sikh flag, the Nishan Sahib to Basanti (Xanthic) or Navy Blue rather than then prevalent Saffron or Kesri. This sparked an online debate among the various schools of thoughts, of academics and religious organizations alike, and as you must have expected, the so-called online platforms claiming to represent the “original Sikh Culture”. Soon enough,…

Sanam Sutirath Wazir’s, The Kaurs of 1984: The Untold, Unheard Stories of Sikh Women Excerpts and Interview by Artika Aurora Bakshi ((with permission from HarperCollins India) “Where were you when 1984 happened?” A question that caught my attention and made me pause. I was nine years old, enrolled at Sacred Heart High School in Dalhousie, living in the safety of a boarding school that felt like something out of an Enid…

The short life of 42 years of Guru Gobind Singh Ji was full of challenges right from his childhood. Despite his lack of resources, how he faced those daunting challenges and what he achieved in his life is unparalleled. In this article we will explore his Five lasting legacies. The beheading of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji in 1675, was a major turning point in the Sikh history. His son Gobind…

Interview by Artika Aurora Bakshi I have walked the streets of Amritsar, awestruck by the intricate jaaliwork of the jharokas in the old mansions, the carvings on the entrance pillars, and the dates written on the facades. This feeling is always followed by a deep sadness at the state these havelis lie in. Punjab, both sides of the border, is dotted with monuments from the times of glory, but they…