Asia Samachar

30/11/2025

A random pick.

29/11/2025

Consistency over breakthroughs: The story behind Balvinder’s historic ‘Junior Nobel’ feat

By Asia Samachar | Malaysia |

Balvinder Kaur Dhillon has once again etched her name into the annals of academic excellence—becoming the first and only engineering student to win the Global Undergraduate Award in Engineering for two consecutive years, an honour often dubbed the “Junior Nobel Prize.”

The Global Undergraduate Awards, widely regarded as the world’s leading academic recognition programme for undergraduate work, received 3,567 submissions this year from 352 universities across 99 countries. Balvinder’s project ranked among the top 1% globally, according to Queen Mary University of London’s official announcement.

Reflecting on her journey, Balvinder told Asia Samachar: “Across the last few years, the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that progress rarely comes from sudden breakthroughs. It comes from consistency, small steps that compound over time, and a genuine curiosity to challenge assumptions and push beyond the status quo.”

Hailing from Teluk Intan, Perak, Balvinder recently graduated with top honours and is now pursuing a Master’s in Human and Biological Robotics at Imperial College London.

FOR THE FULL STORY, CLICK LINK

Balvinder Kaur Dhillon with former Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Coveney (left) at the awards ceremony in Dublin on Nov 11, 2025 By Asia Samachar | Malaysia | Balvinder Kaur Dhillon has on…

29/11/2025

The motivation, universal message and philosophical foundations of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s supreme martyrdom are recorded in the Aad Guru Granth Sahib. Yet, numerous individuals, institutions, and elites have sought to obscure or hijack this truth. Four sources of such distortion are identified: (1) classical Sikh historical literature, the earliest corrupting source; (2) Sikh clergy, institutions, intellectuals, and leadership who uncritically propagate these distortions, ignoring Gurbani’s touchstone; (3) Hindutva movements aiming to co-opt Sikhi and the Gurus; and (4) the Sikh masses, many of whom have abandoned reading, critical thought, and objective analysis, thus enabling the spread of corrupted narratives. KARMINDER SINGH DHILLON examines the twisting, obscuring and distorting the truth of the martyrdom in his research-based essay.

The motivation for the supreme martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur ji, his message for the entirety of mankind, and the philosophical underpinnings of the unprecedented sacrifice are found within the wr…

28/11/2025

Movie Review – Returning Home to Heal: The Emotional Core of Idli Kadai

By Asia Samachar | Movie Review |

Idli Kadai is a heartfelt Tamil-language drama written, directed and co-produced by the acclaimed actor-filmmaker Dhanush under his banner Wunderbar Films in association with Dawn Pictures.

The film opened theatrically on 1 October 2025 and entered digital streaming shortly afterwards, including Netflix, in multiple languages including Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada.

At its core, Idli Kadai tells the story of Murugan (played by Dhanush), whose roots lie in a modest village idli shop run by his father. When Murugan moves away—to Dubai in the film’s early chapters—to pursue professional success, a tragedy calls him back to his home, the humble shop and the traditions his father upheld.

Once back, Murugan must navigate not only familial and business responsibilities, but also a dramatic shift in his own identity: between aspiration and humility, modernity and heritage. The ensemble cast includes Nithya Menen, Arun Vijay, Sathyaraj, Shalini Pandey and Parthiban among others.

While the film operates with the warm comfort of rural textures and familial sincerity, critical and social media commentary has pointed out its familiar tropes—some viewers found echoes of earlier films in its structure and themes.

Yet, the film’s emotional core, its emphasis on legacy, the simple idli shop as a metaphor for roots and continuity, and Dhanush’s layered turn as both director and lead give it a distinctive presence in the South-Indian drama space.

Idli Kadai offers audiences a blend of modern sensibility and rural authenticity: a story that, much like its titular dish, is at once humble, warm and deeply satisfying.

(Asia Samachar - November 28, 2025)

At its core, Idli Kadai tells the story of Murugan (played by Dhanush), whose roots lie in a modest village idli shop run by his father. When Murugan moves away—to Dubai in the film’s early chapter…

28/11/2025

Happening tomorrow in Singapore. Brought to you by the Sikh Welfare Council

28/11/2025

Food terrorism?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQvFueOEpP6/

27/11/2025

Opinion | Part of Farage’s defence is the claim that even if he did say certain things, they were merely schoolboy jokes. My experience tells me otherwise. Racism is never harmless; racism and banter cannot occupy the same moral space. To describe racist behaviour as idle joking is to trivialise the humiliation, the fear and the psychological scars it leaves behind. - Gurnam Singh

By Gurnam Singh | Opinion | Reflecting on the rise of fascism in Europe and the collapse of even the semblance of democratic norms, Antonio Gramsci, writing in his Prison Notebooks, warned of a pro…

27/11/2025

Event | Malaysia: Takhat Sri Patna Sahib kirtan jatha touring Ipoh, with programmes at Greentown (Dec 8, Monday) and Buntong (Dec 9, Tuesday).

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MESSAGE FROM THE ORGANISING TEAM

Sangat Ji,

With the blessings of Waheguru Ji, we are honoured to invite the entire Sanggat in full force to the Kirtan Semagam of one of the finest and most inspirational Kirtani Jathas of our time — Bhai Sarabjit Singh Ji, Takhat Sri Patna Sahib.

📅 Monday, 8th Dec 2025
📍 GS Greentown, Ipoh

📅 Tuesday, 9th Dec 2025
📍 GS Buntong, Ipoh

This is a blessed opportunity for the Ipoh Sanggat to receive the Gurmat Vichaar and Ras Kirtan of Bhai Sahib, who has travelled globally spreading the message of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji through their soul-touching kirtan.

We humbly request all Sanggat—youths, families, elders—to join in Sadh Sanggat and fill the Darbar Sahib with spiritual energy and love for Gurbani. Do bring your family and encourage others to attend this blessed event.

Let us come together to receive the Anand, Shanti and Kirpa that flows through Gurbani Kirtan.

27/11/2025

SARDAR NIRMAL SINGH GILL S/O SWARAN SINGH

(Retired TNB)

(30.10.1953 - 14.11.2025)

With heavy hearts, we announce that Sardar Nirmal Singh Gill (Retired TNB) passed away peacefully on Nov 14, 2025.

Pind: Mehna

He leaves behind his wife Bibi Harcharen Kaur,

Children:
Savinder Singh Gill & Sukhdev Kaur (Sunita)
Sarinder Kaur Gill & Sunny Gill

Grandchildren:
Sarisha Kaur, Saanya Kaur, Simar Kaur & Shawn Veer Singh
And other family members and friends.

PATH DA BHOG
Saturday, 29th November 2025, 6 PM - 8 PM
Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya

Savin 016 296 4670
Sarin 012 604 2278

27/11/2025

Twisting, Obscuring, and Distorting the Truth: The Case of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji’s Supreme Martyrdom

By Karminder Singh Dhillon | Opinion |

The year 2025 celebrates the 350th martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs.

Guru Teg Bahadur ji was put to death – by the order of then Emperor Aurangzeb – in the public square of Chandni Chowk, Delhi on the 11th of November 1675. Just five years prior, Emperor Aurangzeb had announced his policy of Ek Mazhab – or one religion. In the intolerant and fanatical Emperor’s mind, the only way to have peace and unity was for everyone in the world to profess just one religion. The only thing worse than his bigoted policy was its cruel and demeaning implementation. Aurangzeb had decreed the destruction of all places of worship and education belonging to faiths other that the one he subscribed to. He further ordered the discontinuance of all customs, rituals and practices that contravened his Ek Mazhab dictate.

Guru Teg Bahadur’s supreme martyrdom was in response to the Ek Mazhab decree that was the brainchild of the zealot and fanatical Aurangzeb. The ninth Guru decided, on his own accord, and according to his own humanist convictions, to take a stand on the issue in a very public way. He went to Aurangzeb on his own, to send a message to Aurangzeb that his One Mazhab dictate was unacceptable. The Guru evidently knew that Aurangzeb would stand by his narrow, extremist and intolerant beliefs and resort to tortures and death to anyone who stood up against him.

An ultimate martyrdom thus became necessary to convey an ultimate message to humanity at large – that defending the right to one’s beliefs was an unassailable right. And for such a stand and message he laid down his life.

This is why Chandar Sain Sainapat, in his account of the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur in Sri Guru Sobha Granth (1711 AD) declared the Guru as Srishtt ki Chador. His depiction points towards the defense of humanity and protection of mankind being the philosophical foundation and message of the martyrdom.

It’s quite a straightforward foundation for the martyrdom. Yet, for reasons that can range from nefarious co-option, political agendas, selfish interests, narrow mindedness, envy and plain stupidity – a whole gamut of forces, institutions, ruling elite and governments have spent the past 300 years in undertaking efforts to obscure, distort, corrupt or hijack the truth of the event, its motivation and its philosophical foundations.

Those who share the blame in twisting, obscuring and distorting the truth of the martyrdom include a variety of agenda-oriented authors of classical Sikh historical literature; Sikh clergy, institutions, intellectuals and leadership that propagate the corrupted narratives unthinkingly and un-critically; and the Hindutva led movements within India whose primary aim is the cooption of Sikhi and Sikh Gurus. The general population of Sikh masses – large proportions of whom have broken away from reading, critical thought and the ability to analyze information objectively and form reasoned judgments cannot be without blame; and are hence an accessory to the crime as well.

(Asia Samachar - November 27, 2025)

By Karminder Singh Dhillon | Opinion | The year 2025 celebrates the 350th martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur, the ninth Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Teg Bahadur ji was put to death – by the order of then Emp…

27/11/2025

(Link to the talk in the comment section)

“Bani Has Left Our Homes”: Dhunda’s call to revive Sikh practice

By Asia Samachar | Sikh Faith |

What can contemporary Sikhs learn from the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur?

In a recent talk delivered in Jabalpur, a city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Sikh preacher Bhai Sarabjeet Singh Dhunda highlighted several key points that invite reflection on Sikh history, practice and personal discipline. Sikhs are commemorating the 350th martyrdom of the ninth Guru.

1.⁠ ⁠Rethinking Images of the Sikh Gurus

Bhai Dhunda noted that many Sikhs have an imprecise or superficial understanding of the images commonly circulated as portraits of the Gurus. These pictures—widely sold in markets and displayed in homes around the world—are often adorned with flowers or incense. He reminded the Sangat that such depictions are artistic imaginings, not historically verified representations, and that over-reliance on them can shift attention away from the Gurus’ actual teachings.

FOR MORE ARTICLE ON GURU TEGH BAHADUR, CLICK HERE

2.⁠ ⁠Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Extensive Travels

He highlighted that Guru Tegh Bahadur was among the most widely travelled of the Sikh Gurus. He revisited several distant locations originally visited by Guru Nanak during his travels, reaffirming the universal spirit of the Sikh message and strengthening Sikh presence across far-flung regions.

3.⁠ ⁠The Gurus Directed Sikhs to the Shabad, Not Their Physical Form

Bhai Dhunda emphasised that the Sikh Gurus did not encourage the painting or worship of their physical form. Instead, they consistently directed the sangat towards the Shabad—the divine Word— as the true focus of spiritual practice.

He referenced Bhai Gurdas Ji:

gur murat gur shabad sunn, sad sangat aasan nerankaari (Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar 11, Pauri 2)

This line reinforces the idea that the Guru’s real image (murat) is the Shabad itself, experienced in the company of the true sangat.

4.⁠ ⁠A Call to Soon-to-Be-Married Couples

One of his strongest appeals was directed at couples preparing for marriage. He urged them to take personal responsibility by completing the conclusion of a Sahej Paath —the continuous, flexible reading of the Guru Granth Sahib — on their own, rather than outsourcing it.

He suggested that couples begin reading the Guru Granth Sahib months before their Anand Karaj, allowing the Bani to shape their understanding, values and approach to building a life together.

“Today, Bani has left our homes. It is no longer read,” he lamented, urging Sikhs to revive the centrality of Gurbani in daily life.

(Asia Samachar - November 27, 2025)

Bhai Sarabjeet Singh Dhunda talked about rethinking Images of the Sikh Gurus in a talk at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, in November 2025 commemorate the 350th martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur – Pho…