About SikhNet
Plans for 2009
- Gurbani Archive Redo (Gurbani Media Center)- During 2009 we are completely revamping the Gurbani Archive section on SikhNet. This is a huge project and we'd like to thank the Sikh Spirit Foundation for granting the initial funding for this project. This is the main project under development right now and it is targeted to launch later this year. We are really exited about being able to offer more downloads, customization, ways of viewing, featuring, and searching for Gurbani audios. It will have other features like rating, tags, and comments. We are planning on integrating a Sikhitothemax functionality so you can read any shabad while listening to it. We might be asking for user help on updating all the audio files with tags for each track to be able to do this.
- More Interactive Tools for the Youth - We want to expand our services for Sikh children. Late in 2008 we launched the stories for children section for this, and in 2009 we want to do more. We are planning more interactive tools for youth such as online video games, comic books, story animations, etc. This is a very exciting concept and we will update everyone on our progress.
- Video Series on Marriage and Relationships - Also in 2009 we will be creating more original and unique educational videos. The goal this year is to create a new video series focusing specifically on the topic of marriage and relationships.
- Another Live Sikh Youth Film Fesival - In 2009 we plan to continue our tradition of the annual Youth Online Film Festival for the fourth year in a row. We enjoyed making it a live online event last year, and we will be exploring how to make it even bigger this year.
- Sikh Classifieds - We wanted to create a Sikh classifieds, which would be kind of like a craigslist for jobs, things for sale, and other services. We have already started and tested this, and we will be launching and populating it soon.
- New "Awakening of the Khalsa" section - In honor of the 25th Anniversary of the martyrdom of the Akal Takhat we will be launching a new "Awakening of the Khalsa" section in coordination with Sikh Dharma International. This section will focus on what the Akal Takhat is and what it means. It will contain videos, articles, and new original artwork.
- English translation of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib in audio format - This is currently in progress We bought some audio recording equipment for this, and a few enthusiastic local Sikhs have volunteered to record the audio. We are splitting the shabads up by the Sikhitothemax shabad id system, so these audios can be used in different ways like creating a continuous file for Akhand Paath, or listening individually. Note - this is seperate from the English audio Hukamnama by Sukha Singh where he explains the shabads word for word. This purpose of this is to be a straight reading through of the Dr. Sant Singh translation.
SikhNet exists to provide a global virtual community for Sikhs and all those interested in the Sikh way of life. It does this by providing spiritual education and resources in a non-judgemental, neutral environment intended to inspire and uplift all those who participate in it. SikhNet is a 501c(3) not-for-profit corporation operating exclusively for religious, charitable and educational purposes.
SikhNet's leadership
Our policy for the SikhNet News is "good news, good will". We avoid
posting political news, or news that's negative in nature, rather we
focus on what can inspire and inform. SikhNet is not funded by, nor
does it represent, 3HO or any other sect, or jetha. We do our part to
create unity instead of division, we do not take sides and we do not
promote or condemn any Sikh group. Our ideals are to be universal,
uniting, inspirational and neutral, and that's why we focus more on
what can inspire us to be more spiritual human beings rather than on
controversy and politics.
How SikhNet gets funded
SikhNet is not funded by any other organizations, and relies on two funding sources (1) Donations from users and sponsors and (2) SikhMatrimonials.com membership fees. SikhNet uses these funds to employ three full-time staff, one part time staff, for office expenses, internet hosting expenses, and to pay for contract labor for projects, programming, graphics, book keeping, system administration, stories for children editing and original paintings etc.
About SikhMatrimonials.com
Since we started SikhMatrimonials more than 10 years ago many more matrimonial sites have appeared on the scene. Since we are a small non-profit company we don't have the resources to be able to compete with such big companies, nor is that our intention. We fulfill a specialized need and we rely on our long time customer base which has let us continue to offer this service. In fact, while other websites may be larger with different demographics, SikhMatrimonials continues to have the most Sikh profiles online.
What SikhNet does
SikhNet is the largest Sikh website, receiving over 10,000 visits every day. The most popular feature is the Daily Hukamnama followed by many other services such as the daily SikhNet News, khalsa.com email, SikhNet radio, the Gurbani Archive, Childrens Stories, Featured Videos, Sikhiwiki, the Siri Guru Granth Sahib online and our downloads (Bani files, kirtan audios, Sikhism wallpapers, Gurmukhi Fonts etc.). Explore the World of SikhNet. The SikhNet staff do web development and programming, SikhNet news population, SikhMatrimonials customer service, fundraising/networking, content creation (such as articles and videos) coordinating initiatives like the Sikh Youth Film Festival and events like Jaap Sahib, and Camp Miri Piri.
At SikhNet we couldn't do it without volunteers. The SikhNet staff and the international "cyber-sangat" deeply appreciate the discussion moderators, the English Hukamnama translators and transcribers, the Sikhiwiki contributers, the Youth Q&A moderators, the GurSikh Speed Meeting organizer, the video interviewees, stories for children narrators, and the many members of the SikhNet family who send us news articles, comments and feedback. We are grateful to Art of Punjab for exchanging your beautiful artwork which has and continues to visually brand our new website. Thank you so much to our donors who make this all possible. Donate Now!
History of SikhNet
SikhNet went online for the first time in 1983 with technology that seems primitive to us now. From February 1986 until October of 1994, SikhNet was online as a computer bulletin board system. For ten years, SikhNet was up and online 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, but it finally stopped in October 1994 when Guruka Singh was no longer able to serve as the Sysop (System Operator). After SikhNet had been offline over a year, by the grace of God and Guru, Gurumustuk Singh, our wonderfully talented and creative young Webmaster appeared. Through the efforts of the development team, through your donations, and in collaboration with Sun & Son (a Khalsa owned software development firm based in New Mexico), SikhNet was funded and finally reborn on the World Wide Web on March 24th 1996. More >>
SikhNet Staff
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Gurujot Singh is a cofounder of the Sikh Espanola Volunteer Association (SEVA), and a Kirtan and Bana enthusiast. He started working at SikhNet in April 2005. He has taken on the video development, interviewing and editing our SikhNet videos, as well as designing and producing much of the graphics you see on the Web site and helps oversee customer service with Loveleen. |
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Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa - Webmaster and Chief Operating Officer
Guruka Singh Khalsa – Teacher and Chief Executive Officer 
Loveleen Kaur Ahluwalia – Customer ServiceHere are the SikhNet Annual Reports
2008 Annual Report (HTML)
2007 Annual Report (pdf)
2006 Annual Report (pdf)
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