This year’s proceeds will be going towards honouring the legacy of Jaswant Singh Khalra, and supporting the Khalra Centre for Human Rights Defenders (Human Rights Law Network)
1984 marked the beginning of a decade of violence that shattered lives throughout Punjab, India. Thousands of innocent Sikh civilians were tortured and murdered by Indian security forces. Many victims were “disappeared” (abducted by the state). These events and unlawful practices were exposed by the fearless Shaheed Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra, for which he lost his life.
In honour of Jaswant Singh Khalra, all proceeds from the tournament will be going towards the Khalra Centre for Human Rights Defenders – an initiative by the WSO and HRLN, which has done great work in protecting human rights activists in India. We sincerely urge everyone to participate/donate for the cause, so that Bhai Sahib’s legacy for human rights can be preserved and strengthened.
There’s an old tale about when the sun was first settling. As her distance narrowed to the horizon, the light on earth was diminishing. This made way for darkness to creep over the land. The people were afraid that when the sun would finally set, darkness would be permanent. No one would see anything, what will happen to us, they said.People were fearful with the sun completely set, darkness to show his strength and put his foot over the earth. Far, far, far in the land somewhere in a small hut a little lantern lifted its wick; it said “I challenge the darkness.” If not everything, but my small corner I will not let the darkness settle itself around me. With this wick’s example many other little lanterns in other small huts lifted their wicks to the darkness and people were shocked that so many little lanterns illuminated the mask of darkness from taking over the earth so that they could now see. Now I believe that today when darkness, with all its strength thrusts itself over the truth, if not anything else I will say Ankhila Punjab is the light that will challenge it and I pray to the Guru who identifies with Truth to keep this light lit. -Shaheed (Martyr) Jaswant Singh Khalra
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