ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. You can leave your comments at our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We will delete comments we deem offensive or potentially libelous. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
Gurjit Kairon Henry appointed as GM at UTeM Holdings Education
By Asia Samachar | Malaysia |
Gurjit Kairon Henry has been appointed as the general manager of UTeM Holdings Education Sdn Bhd, a unit of the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, the nation’s first technical public university.
The appointment was effective March 16, 2024, according to details shared at the UTeM Holdings Facebook page.
Gurjit, a mother to three children, is the daughter of Sarjit Singh Kairon, a former treasurer of Gurdwara Sahib Melaka and housewife Balwir Kaur.
She has an Advance Diploma in Computer Science / Information Technology from Stamford College Melaka in collaboration with University Science Of Malaysia.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. You can leave your comments at our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We will delete comments we deem offensive or potentially libelous. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Son in law, Brother, Uncle and Friend.
SEHAJ PATH DA BHOG
19 May 2024 (Sunday) Gurdwara Sahib Klang From 10 am to 12 pm followed by Guru Ka Langgar.
Please treat this as a personal invitation, your presence is much appreciated.
…You can remember him and only that he is gone Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on Above all, you can do what he would want:
Smile, open your eyes, love and go on…
For any inquiries, kindly contact: Mdm Paramjeet Kaur (wife) – 012 214 5169 (WhatsApp) Ms Roopinderjit Kaur (daughter): +61 412 908 744 Mr Maninderjit Singh (son) – 012 392 0595
Link to posting at Facebook and Instagram
| Entry: 22 April 2024 | Source: Family
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. You can leave your comments at our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We will delete comments we deem offensive or potentially libelous. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. You can leave your comments at our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We will delete comments we deem offensive or potentially libelous. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
Police Day celebration at Gurdwaa Sahib Johor Bahru. L-R: Johor police police chief Commissioner M Kumar, Johor Baru North police chief Assistant Commissioner Balveer Singh and GSJB committee president Tell Singh – Photo: Polis Johor Facebook
By Asia Samachar | Malaysia |
Sikhs from the Johor police contingent took part in the 217th Police Day celebration at Gurdwara Sahib Johor Bahru on Saturday (20 April 2024).
Johor police chief Commissioner M Kumar, accompanied by his wife SP Shanti, led some senior officers who attended the event.
The included Johor Criminal Investigation Department (CID) SAC Hoo Chuan Huat, Johor Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department chief (JPJKK) SAC Chuah Yong Huat and Johor Investigation Department and traffic head Supt M Kumarasan. Also present was Johor Retired Senior Police Association (RESPA) SAC (Rtd) R Sugumaran.
The organising team was led by Johor Baru North police chief Assistant Commissioner Balveer Singh Mahindar Singh.
Police Day celebration at Gurdwaa Sahib Johor Bahru. Seated are Johor police police chief Commissioner M Kumar (8th from left) and Johor Baru North police chief Assistant Commissioner Balveer Singh (7th from left) – Photo: Polis Johor Facebook Police Day celebration at Gurdwaa Sahib Johor Bahru. Johor police police chief Commissioner M Kumar (standing, right) and Johor Baru North police chief Assistant Commissioner Balveer Singh (turban, front) – Photo: Polis Johor Facebook
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. You can leave your comments at our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We will delete comments we deem offensive or potentially libelous. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
Five years ago, Gurdwara Sahib Kangar (GSK) made history when it most likely became the first gurdwara in Southeast Asia to celebrate Guru Nanak’s birthday on Vaisakhi. The major decision in 2019 by the Malaysian gurdwara, located about 500km north of Kuala Lumpur, could also make it the first gurdwara to do so in the whole of Asia outside India.
Ever since then, the gurdwara, serving a small but vibrant local Sikh community, has been celebrating Guru Nanak’s birthday, termed Guru Nanak Aagmn Purb, on Vaisakhi day when most other gurdwara were sticking to the common practice of celebrating it in the October/November period.
They have started celebrating Vaisakhi as the actual birthday of Guru Nanak in 1469 as well as the establishment of the Khalsa (Khalsa Sirjana) in 1699. There are historical backing for the decision that Guru Nanak was actually born during that period, though they are an equal number of detractors, as well.
This year, Gurdwara Sahib Seremban, located about 580km to the south in the state of Negeri Sembilan, followed suit. Its gurdwara committee, backed solidly by the local Sanggat (congregation), gave a thumbing approval to the move, joining the growing number of gurdwaras and Sikh societies around the world that have decided to celebrate Guru Nanak’s birthday on April 14.
FOR MORE REPORTS ON GURU NANAK’S BIRTHDAY, CLICK HERE
Asia Samachar spoke to GSK committee president Pritpal Singh Jarnail Singh to understand how the major change happened at Kangar.
“Our Sanggat has been united and supportive,” Pritpal, a 77-year-old retired local council senior health inspector and court prosecutor told Asia Samachar.
Nishan Sahib selami during Vaiskahi 2022 at Gurdwara Sahib Kangsar
Retired since 2003, Pritpal was also the deputy chairman of the Perlis Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) between 2009 till 2014 and the chairman of the political party’s Kangar Main Road branch until 2015. He has been serving as GSM committee president since 1997.
Early this year, Kangar made another change. When celebrating Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday on Jan 5, 2024, the gurdwara hoisted the blur Nishan Sahib, the Khalsa flag.
The Akaal Takht sanctioned SRM (Sikh Code of Conduct) states that the cloth of the flag should either be Basanti (Xanthic) or Surmayee (greyish blue) in colour. In the 1960s and 1970s, according to one researcher, Nishan Sahib in Surmayee (greyish blue) were common in Malaysia.
How did it all began? Excerpt from the interview with Pritpal Singh:
“Well, suddenly this topic of Guru Nanak Aagmn Purb was being discussed quite freely by our local religious leaders. There were making news in publications from Sikh religious bodies abroad and also in the Indian press. So I became quite interested, read quite a bit. Locally discussions were ongoing.
“I gave it a bit more thought. I am not an IT literate, but decided to go to the SGPC [Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee] website and others as well. I was taken aback and quite surprised to learn that even the main religious bodies, including the SGPC, confirmed the date of birth of Guru Nanak on 14th April 1469 (Some mention as April 15th).
Blue-coloured Nishan Sahib goes up at Gurdwara Sahib Kangar in conjunction with birthday of Guru Gobind Singh on 5 Jan 2024
“We’ve always been celebrating Guru Nanak’s birthday in October or November. This to me was ridiculous and did not make sense, unless there is some hidden agenda or some other ulterior motive.
“Guru Nanak is our Father and founder of Sikhi. And here are, not even celebrating his birthday on the actual date of his birth. How silly it sounds! Our own birthdays we celebrate promptly on the date.
“A few more discussions; I learnt that our (local) main religious organisations like the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (MGC), Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (SNSM) and Khalsa DIwan Malaysia (KDM) could not and were not at the liberty to alter Guru Nanak’s birthday celebrations date other than the date fixed by Akal Takht and SGPC. Their hands were tied as these were bodies adherent to the Sikh Rehat Maryada (SRM) and Mattas (resolutions) passed by Akal Takht.
“Then, I thought, yes, let’s not blame the MGC, SNSM and KDM. They were restricted (even if personally they had different opinions). Why not we, as Gurdwara Parbandhaks (caretakers), do something. It was pretty straight forward, not breaking any Maryada. At that point, some gurdwaras in UK and elsewhere had decided to celebrate Guru Nanaks birthday on the 14th April.
Pritpal Singh on computer and granthi Jagtar Singh on the harmonium in Gurdwara Sahib Kangar in 2021. Right: Gurdwara exco minutes dated 10 March 2022 on Vaisakhi programme
“So, I called for a meeting of the Gurdwara Sahib Kangar exco (executive committee) sometime in early March 2019. Among those who attended were the Late Dato Karam Singh, Jagjit Singh, Dr Manmohan Singh and Avtar Singh. I explained the above to them. They were very receptive and agreed with me to have our next Guru Nanak Aagmn Purb and Vasakhi simultaneously on 14th April 2019. This proposal was brought to the attention of the Sanggat and was unanimously accepted. And then it was promptly implemented. Sanggat was very receptive to this move and we then celebrated our first Guru Nanak Aagmn Purb and Vasakhi celebration with pomp.
“There were no concerns whatsoever in making this decision because everyone thought this was very logical and proper thing to do; we understood the problems faced by MGC, SNSM and KDM. We faced no such problems or restrictions.”
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. You can leave your comments at our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We will delete comments we deem offensive or potentially libelous. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. You can leave your comments at our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We will delete comments we deem offensive or potentially libelous. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
A loving son, husband, father, brother, brother in law, uncle and a true friend. Will be fondly remembered for the lives he has touched with his generosity, kindness and charm. His absence has left a void in the lives of those who knew him.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. You can leave your comments at our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We will delete comments we deem offensive or potentially libelous. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
A London musuem is displaying nearly 100 stunning artworks, including jewellery and weaponry, from the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
The artefacts at the Wallace Collection are drawn from major private and public collections.
The exhibition entitled ‘Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King’ is running from 10 April to 20 October 2024.
The exhibition also features historic objects from his court, courtiers, and family, including items owned by the Maharaja and the most famous of his 30 wives, Maharani Jind Kaur.
The exhibition is an opportunity to see the collection of Sikh arms and armour alongside other Sikh artworks for the first time, according to the publicity material at the musuem’s website.
For some stunning photos from the Ranjit Singh: Sikh, Warrior, King exhibition at the Wallace Collection, click here or here.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. You can leave your comments at our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We will delete comments we deem offensive or potentially libelous. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
On 30 June last year Jordan Gill drank a litre of vodka in a field in Cambridgeshire as he contemplated ending his life. It was the night before he turned 29 and earlier that Friday morning it had been, in his own words, “just a normal, sunny day. I woke up and didn’t know what to do with myself”.
We sit a foot apart on a very different Friday morning in a boxing gym in Harlow. Apart from a few weights and pieces of apparatus, the room is empty. Gill and Zelfa Barrett step into the ring for a compelling super-featherweight contest in Manchester on Saturday night. But, now, he pauses before going back into the darkness and despair.
He is an intelligent man, who was offered a place to study at some of the UK’s most prestigious universities, and it feels briefly invasive to revisit such distressing memories. Gill, who has a Sikh heritage, would love to become the first fighter of Indian ancestry to win a world title as a professional boxer. I’ve thought that he is a special fighter ever since I saw him win the European featherweight title after an unforgettable battle against Karim Guerfi in February 2022. Knocked down heavily in the seventh round, with his face swollen and barely able to move his legs, Gill produced a stunning knockout in the ninth.
I ask if he minds talking about that terrible night last summer. “No, it’s all right,” Gill says. “I live in Chatteris but I was spending time with a girl in Ramsey, which is nearby. Everything just hit me. I’d lost my European title [in a shock defeat to the veteran Kiko Martínez in October 2022], split up with my wife and things weren’t good. I’m getting an earful from the girl I’m seeing, I’m not training, not eating well, not feeling good. I’ve got no trainer, no promoter, no manager, no prospects of a fight. I hadn’t got anything to show for my career apart from a few shiny belts. And I’m 29 tomorrow. So it hit me like a ton of bricks.”
Gill looks up as the blurring memories tumble through him. “I had an argument with this girl and with my wife and I took myself away. I’d got a litre of vodka and I almost drank the whole bottle neat, slumped at the side of a tree. I’d never touched alcohol until a month before. I started drinking to have a good time but, deep down, it was to numb the stress and the pain.”
The vodka just made Gill “more sad. My phone kept ringing but I wouldn’t answer”. Gill nods when I ask if it was then that he considered taking his life. “Yeah. 100%” He was fortunate that his former girlfriend had his location on her phone. “She came and found me,” Gill says. “I remember seeing her but feeling numb. It was a mile’s walk to the car park and she had to almost carry me the whole way. I couldn’t walk.”
He knocked out Michael Conlan in a riveting display of skill and power just over five months later and, after that victory in his opponent’s home city of Belfast, Gill spoke with raw emotion. “I’ve had a hard year,” he told the stunned crowd of 11,000 at the SSE Arena. “Not many people know what I’ve been through. After the Kiko loss, I lost touch with myself. I broke up with my wife. On June 30 I was in a field. I drank a litre of vodka and I was going to kill myself, and somebody saved me.”
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. You can leave your comments at our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We will delete comments we deem offensive or potentially libelous. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here
