It all began with the #TurbanOfHappiness

My #ShiningTurban has brought me feelings of Happiness, Pride, Blessings, a sense of Duty and Responsibility, Respect, Humility, Service, Distinction and Honour. I am truly blessed to wear this crown of a dastar on my head everyday

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Autar Singh and wife Rajinder Kaur during their daughter’s wedding in 2014
By Autar Singh | OPINION | SHINING TURBAN |

I was 6 years old when my father tied a turban on my head for Vaisakhi at the Gurdwara Sahib Changkat, Batu Gajah. This is the one I remember, although there may have been earlier turban moments. It gave me a grown up feeling, for all my respected elders had distinguished turbans on their heads. I felt like them. This was my #TurbanOfHappiness.

I started wearing turban daily when I was 12 years old in Bidor. From then on there was no looking back. I wore my turban with pride. This was my #TurbanOfPride.

While doing my Professional Accountancy studies in UK, I was blessed with Khande dhi Pahul at Leeds. My turban took on a new meaning, as it now became my #TurbanOfBlessings.

On my return I joined the Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia as an active member. My turban now became my #TurbanOfDuty. It continues as such as my involvement in various organisations, nationally and internationally, grew.

Then my father passed on. The family care and responsibility of my siblings, and my immediate family later, opened up another new role for my turban. It now became my #TurbanOfResponsibility.

As I grew in my role as an academician in UiTM, I used to be called Tuan Haji/Ustaz (probably due to my turban and flowing beard) by some of my Malay colleagues. My turban brought tremendous respect, not only in UiTM but everywhere. It now became my #TurbanOfRespect.

On being appointed to the 63 member worldwide Religious Advisory Committee of Sri Akaal Takht Sahib in 1995, I sat with the brains of the community. All my seniors. Being here taught me humility and my turban became my #TurbanOfHumility.

While pursuing a postgraduate course in the UK, I was first appointed to and after a year unanimously elected as the President of the World Sikh Council (WSC), European Zone made up of some illustrious Sikhs of Europe. In this capacity I spoke at the 1st AGM of the WSC at Anandpur Sahib in 1997 to an audience of dignitaries from all over the world. My turban now became my #TurbanOfService.

Over the years I have met and known many distinguished turban wearing gentlemen doing excellent work. One such is in the picture with me, Ravi Singh of Khalsa Aid. Their company makes me feel distinguished, making my turban my #TurbanOfDistinction.
When the call came for me to be a part of the Panj Pyare to initiate Sikhs into the Khalsa Panth, my turban became my #TurbanOfHonour.

Thus my #ShiningTurban has brought me feelings of Happiness, Pride, Blessings, a sense of Duty and Responsibility, Respect, Humility, Service, Distinction and Honour. I am truly blessed to wear this crown of a dastar on my head everyday.

GURU NANAK 550  

This year we are celebrating the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak ji. Guru ji gave us a spiritual treasure that liberates. It enlightens the mind and expels the darkness of ignorance. It sets the practitioner free. It gives spiritual and temporal sovereignty to those who live it.

With this freedom, one needs to break free from self, or society, imposed limitations and boundaries. Amongst these limitations is the choise of colours in our dressing.

My inspiration to break free from the imposition of turban colours is my son, Saheb Singh, and my wife, Rajinder Kaur. Both inspired and encouraged me to enjoy life and embrace all of creation in its multitude of colours. I now have no hesitation to wear my turban in any colour I want. I hope others will break free as well.

The turban is the crown of sovereignty that I am blessed with. Hence I wear it with dignity and honour, and I wear it in all colours…

Taken from the Facebook posting of Autar Singh, an active Sikh volunteer who is based in Kuala Lumpur. He was the former Jathedar of Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia and Secretary-General of Coalition of Malaysian Sikh Organisation (CMSO). He composes  the article at the request of Asia Samachar for the #ShiningTurban competition which ends on 30 Sept 2019. Join the challenge. 

 

HOW TO JOIN THE COMPETITION:

1. Post a picture or a video of you in turban on your Facebook or Instagram page, with a caption or story (what turban means, something heartwarming incident involving the turban or anything that comes to mind).

2. Add these hashtags to your post:

#ShiningTurban2k19MalaysiaDay

#st2k19md

#ShiningTurban2019AsiaSamachar

3. You must tag 3 friends who might be interested in joining

4. Follow us @asiasamachar Facebook or Instagram & tag us

5. Like this post (at Facebook or Instagram)

6. For an extra chance, share Asia Samachar post on your Facebook or as story at Instagram

7. Make your Facebook and/or Instagram profile public

8. Competition open to MALAYSIANS only

9. Closing Date: 30 Sept 2019 (2359, Malaysian time)

ROUND ONE: We will choose the top 30 entries based on the number of ‘Likes’ you get. (If you join at both Fb and Insta, we will take the higher number)

ROUND TWO: Our panel of judges will pick the winners based on number of ‘Likes’, photo or video and your story/caption. Results will be announced in October 2019.

ALL THE BEST. TIME TO TURBAN UP!

 

PRIZES:
  1. iPhone 11
  2. One return-ticket to Phu Quoc, Vietnam
  3. One return-ticket to Can Tho, Vietnam
SUPPORTING PARTNERS:
  • Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (MGC)
  • Khalsa Diwan Malaysia (KDM)
  • Malaysian Punjabi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MPCCI)
  • Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (SNSM)
  • SikhInside

 

Shining Turban 2019
RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. Prizes may not be redeemed for cash. They must be picked up from Kuala Lumpur.

2. All prizes are used/taken entirely at the risk of the winner in all things, and Asia Samachar excludes all warranties in connection with any prize to the extent permitted by law.

3. Asia Samachar, its agencies, affiliates, sponsors and representatives are not responsible for defective prizes or misuse of any prize, or for any claims, liability, loss or damage arising out of or in connection with any contest promoted by Asia Samachar

4. If a specified prize becomes unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances, Asia Samachar may substitute a similar prize or one of equivalent value.

5. The winner may also be required by Asia Samachar to participate in a photo, video and/or film session and acknowledges that Asia Samachar has the right to use such publicity photos, videos and/or films in any medium and in any reasonable manner it deems fit.

6. Contest entries and material submitted in connection with the Shining Turban 2019 Malaysia Day contest (whether in written, audio or visual form, or a combination of these) or any photographs, video and/or film footage or audio recording taken of the contestants become the property of Asia Samachar. Asia Samachar may use the material in any medium and in any reasonable manner it sees fit. Copyright in any such material becomes and remains the sole property of Asia Samachar

7. Asia Samachar may publicize, broadcast or otherwise disclose a winner’s or competitor’s name, character, likeness, statements or any recording of their voice in advertising or promotional activities concerning winning of the contest. Asia Samachar may promote or advertise that a winner won a competition. All winners hereby agree to the use of his/her name for the purpose of advertising, trade or promotion by Asia Samachar without additional compensation.

8. Winners are responsible for any and all taxes payable as a result of a prize being awarded or received.

9. Asia Samachar reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual that it determines to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or site, to be acting in breach or potential breach of these Rules and Regulations. No correspondence shall be entertained. Asia Samachar further reserves the right to cancel, modify, suspend or delay the contest in the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond its reasonable control

10. Disclaimers: By entering the contest, each contestant agrees that Asia Samachar subsidiaries and representatives (“Contest Sponsors”) shall not be liable or responsible for damages, losses, injuries, rights, claims or actions of any kind in connection with the contest, or resulting from acceptance, possession, use/misuse of prizes, or participation in the contest, including without limitation, personal injury, death, property damage and claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy. Each contestant further agrees that the contest sponsors will not be responsible or liable for any entries that are late (including delayed data transmissions), tampered with, garbled, incomplete, misdirected, lost, mutilated, delayed, corrupted, duplicated or otherwise not in compliance with these Rules and Regulations.

11. Please allow 90 working days from winning date for prizes to be processed.

12. Asia Samachar reserves the right to at any time, change, amend, delete or add to the Terms and Conditions and other rules and regulations including the mechanism of the Contest at its absolute discretion.

 

RELATED STORY:

I’m a Princess, says #ShiningTurban ambassador (Asia Samachar, 27 Sept 2019)

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