You are perhaps living under a rock if you still haven’t heard about Netflix’s psychological crime drama series—Adolescence.  While the series, developed by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, is hailed as a technical masterpiece, especially for its continuous one-take style of filming each episode, Adolescence also raises a number of complex issues, especially about the impact of social media on young children’s mental health. 

Mother’s Day in May and Father’s Day in June are two occasions that give us the perfect opportunity to reflect on the profound impact our parents have had on our lives. They are not just caregivers but our first teachers, imparting lessons that shape who we become. Their teachings go beyond words, showing us through their actions, sacrifices, and unwavering love. For this article, we reached out to members of the community, asking them to share the most important life lesson they learned from their parents.

Punjabi names—Jaswinder, Rupinder, Sharnjeet, Harpinder, Gurparveen—carry the gravity of history and identity. Yet, sometimes, their multiple vowels leave others stumbling. So, we wring out the richness, condense them into Jas, Rup, Sharn, Harp, Gurp—names that fit neatly into mouths unaccustomed to the syllables of the land of five rivers. 

Since the foundation of Sikhism, Sikh women have stood as pillars of strength, spirituality, and service. At a time when many societies around the world relegated women to the background, Sikhism emphasized equality. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the faith, openly challenged gender discrimination, asking, “Why call her bad, from whom kings are born?” This powerful foundation set the tone for the generations of Sikh women who would go on to shape history. 

Chardi Kala lives in all of us! It is a call to rise, serve, and live with joy, even through pain. In today’s world, nurturing this light isn’t just an aspirational virtue—it’s a responsibility we carry, both for ourselves and for future generations.

Guru Sahib then initiated the Amritpaan ceremony. Amrit was prepared in an iron bowl, filled with water and patasse (sugar crystals), and stirred with the khanda (the double-edged sword) while Gurbaani was being recited. Firstly, Amrit was administered from Guru Sahib to the Panj Pyare, then, astoundingly, from the Panj Pyare to Guru Sahib himself. In a revolutionary step, their last names, the indicators of caste and division, were scrapped and replaced with "Singh" and "Kaur.” Thus, the Khalsa, a casteless community of Amritdhari Gursikhs, was born.