Gurdwara Sahib Melaka committee for 2026/7. Seated (L-R): Harjan Kaur, Charanjit Kaur, Dr Mahinder Singh, Dalvinder Kaur and Amritpal Singh. Standing (L-R): Jisbir Kaur, Jaswant Singh, Harjit Singh and Gurdave Singh. (Not in picture: Gurdial Singh)
By Asia Samachar | Malaysia |
Members of the Gurdwara Sahib Melaka have elected a new committee for the coming year, with plans to revive the gurdwara’s Panjabi school high on its agenda.
Dr Mahinder Singh Marne, who recently retired as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Putra Specialist Hospital Melaka, was elected president after defeating Sarmouk Singh and Amarjit Singh in a three-cornered contest.
Serving alongside him are Gurdial Singh as vice president, Dalvinder Kaur as secretary, Amritpal Singh (Anil) as deputy secretary and Charanjit Kaur as assistant treasurer.
The treasurer’s post ended in a tie, with Inderraj Singh and Manmeet Kaur securing 73 votes each.
Elected committee members are Jisbir Kaur, Gurdave Singh, Harjan Kaur, Jaswant Singh and Harjit Singh.
When contacted, Dr Mahinder said the immediate priority for the new team would be preparations for the Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji Salaana Yaadgar Semagam, commonly known as the ‘Malacca barsi’, scheduled for May.
The annual programme, held in memory of a former granthi of the Melaka gurdwara and a respected Sikh preacher, is among the largest Sikh gatherings in the region. It draws between 50,000 and 70,000 devotees from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and beyond.
Beyond the major event, the new leadership is also looking inward at community development.
“We also intend to revive the Panjabi school,” Dr Mahinder told Asia Samachar. “We want our next generation to know what Sikhi is, what the Panjabi culture is.”
The proposed revival reflects a broader concern among community leaders about sustaining religious literacy and cultural identity among younger Sikhs. The incoming committee’s mandate, therefore, extends beyond event management to educational renewal and long-term community building.
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With heavy hearts and deep gratitude for a life beautifully lived, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
For 100 remarkable years, she walked this earth with strength and grace. Her life was a testament to resilience and unconditional love for her family. She leaves behind generations blessed by her wisdom, her prayers, and her quiet strength.
Forever in our hearts. Forever in His grace.
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
Lovingly remembered by
Children: Ranjit Kaur (wife of late Dr Hardial Singh Sidhu) and Premjeet Kaur
| Entry: 1 March 2026; Updated: 6 March 2026 | 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
Released in 2022 and now streaming on Netflix, Jogi revisits one of modern India’s darkest chapters: the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre in Delhi. It is a subject that continues to weigh heavily on the Sikh community in particular, and on human rights observers more broadly.
The film offers a sobering glimpse into the terror that unfolded in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination, when politically backed mobs systematically targeted Sikh families. While it carries the occasional trace of familiar Bollywood tropes, at its core Jogi is a restrained, performance-driven survival drama anchored in emotional realism.
Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the film avoids shrillness despite its volatile subject matter. Zafar opts for measured pacing and controlled storytelling rather than sensationalism. The violence is present and deeply unsettling, yet it is framed through the lens of personal relationships and moral choices rather than spectacle. Some critics have suggested that the treatment is deliberately softened—less politically incendiary and more focused on human bonds—but that restraint also makes the tragedy more intimate.
At the centre of the film is a sterling performance by Diljit Dosanjh as the titular Jogi. Dosanjh plays an ordinary man thrust into extraordinary circumstances, determined to save his family and neighbours as chaos engulfs his community. His portrayal captures fear, resolve and quiet heroism without slipping into melodrama.
“There are many untold stories from that time, pertaining to the Sikh community in Delhi, Punjab and Kolkata, and every time I mention that I was born in 1984, everyone has their own stories,” Dosanjh told Variety in an interview in 2022. “Stories from that era have not been told and if there is an opportunity to tell them with a good team and platform, I do it.”
The film also underscores a broader and more unsettling reality: how systems of power can enable brutality, sending a chilling message to those who dare to stand apart. Taking a step back from the narrative, one cannot ignore the enormity of what families endured—loved ones burned alive, abducted, tortured, women assaulted, entire households erased, and activists disappearing without trace. Decades later, some bodies remain missing, and the scars within the Sikh community are deep and enduring.
Co-starring Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub and Kumud Mishra, Jogi ultimately emerges as a humane, accessible recounting of tragedy. It may not interrogate every political layer, but it compels viewers to remember—and to spare a thought for the families whose lives were irrevocably changed.
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
MSU Selangor volunteers (left to right) Santokh Singh, Charanbir Singh and Tarlochan Singh Dhaliwal
By Asia Samachar | Malaysia |
Prison visits for Sikh inmates, which had lapsed for several years, have now resumed. The initiative has been taken up by the Malaysian Sikh Union (MSU) Selangor Branch, which plans to conduct the outreach on a monthly basis.
The first visit under the revived programme was carried out on February 22.
Approval has been obtained for eight volunteers to undertake regular monthly visits to Sungai Buloh Prison as well as Kajang Men’s and Women’s Prisons. The sessions will include motivational talks, prayers, and the provision of moral and emotional support aimed at encouraging rehabilitation and personal growth.
“Prison outreach is an important effort that helps restore hope, strengthen faith and remind individuals that they are not forgotten. By offering encouragement and spiritual guidance, we aim to support positive transformation and rehabilitation, helping inmates rebuild confidence and prepare for a better future,” one of the volunteers told Asia Samachar.
Those interested in joining the volunteer team may contact the MSU Selangor Branch prison visits coordinator, Santokh Singh, at 012-6661422.
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
Takhat Hazur Sahib Abchalnagar, Nanded – Photo: Daljit Singh Khalsa / Asia Samachar
By Daljit Singh Khalsa | Experience |
Today, by the boundless grace of the Timeless One, my footsteps were guided to Nanded, where I bowed my head in reverent devotion at the sacred throne of Takht Sri Hazur Sahib — the resplendent sanctuary eternally sanctified by the luminous presence of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Far beyond any sense of personal worthiness, I was blessed to be allotted a room within the sacred precincts — F13. It did not feel like mere accommodation; it felt like a silent summons. A gentle, unseen invitation to dwell in stillness, to awaken inwardly, and to anchor the wandering mind in the living presence of the Guru.
After composing myself, I walked softly towards the Darbar Sahib with a quiet and receptive heart. Yet, even before entering the sanctum, as my feet touched the sacred steps, an overwhelming tide of spiritual emotion arose within me. My breath grew tender, my heart trembled, and tears flowed effortlessly — unrestrained, abundant, and deeply purifying.
These were not tears of sorrow. They were tears of surrender. Not tears of frailty, but of awakening.
In that profound hush of the soul, I felt blessed with the Darshan of the Guru — not through the eyes of the body, but through the awakened consciousness of the spirit. With folded hands and a humbled presence, I offered Ardas in complete supplication. I remembered my immediate family with tenderness, and then, instinctively, my prayers expanded to embrace all humanity, for the Guru’s compassion knows no boundaries, no divisions, and no exclusions.
I had arrived with a simple intention — to bow, to pray, and to pay homage. Yet what unfolded transcended all expectation. I was shaken in the most sacred manner. It felt as though the living spirit of the Khalsa flowed through my entire being, dissolving the subtle layers of ego, quietening the noise of the mind, and humbling every worldly identity I had ever carried.
In that divine presence, every material achievement appeared fleeting and hollow. Wealth, recognition, and possessions seemed momentary shadows. A luminous realisation dawned within my heart: nothing in this transient world truly belongs to us. We arrive empty-handed, and we depart in the same simplicity. Only Naam, only grace, and only the Guru’s blessings remain eternal.
The spiritual force I experienced did not overwhelm me with grandeur; rather, it gently dismantled the walls of ego and awakened a deep longing for sacred silence. I no longer felt the urge to speak unnecessarily. Instead, an inner guidance emerged — to listen more, to reflect more, and to remain absorbed in quiet remembrance. It was as though a subtle whisper resonated within the depths of my soul: Speak less, feel deeper. Possess less, surrender more. Become still, and you shall experience the Divine.
Later, I returned for Sodar Rehras Sahib and sat in utter awe. Each Shabad did not merely reach my ears; it penetrated the depths of my being. Waves of spiritual resonance coursed through my body, and my ordinarily restless mind became steady, absorbed, and serene. I was no longer simply reciting prayers — I was being carried within them, as though drifting upon a blissful current of devotion.
Takhat Hazur Sahib Abchalnagar, Nanded – Photo: Daljit Singh Khalsa / Asia Samachar
I even recorded the Paath within the sacred atmosphere of the Takht Sahib, not out of habit, but out of love — so that I may listen again and again, allowing those life-giving vibrations to nourish my consciousness. The sacred words felt transformative, filling my heart with renewed purpose, hope, and a deep yearning to live in constant remembrance.
Time lost its significance. Silence became sacred. Prayer transformed into pure presence.
With deep humility, I realised that no measure of time could ever feel sufficient in the Guru’s presence. The longer I sat, the softer my heart became. The more I listened, the quieter my mind grew. A profound serenity gently descended upon my thoughts, emotions, and responses to life itself.
What transformed me most deeply was a simple yet powerful realisation: I came to offer prayer, yet I experienced surrender. I came as a visitor, yet I departed as a seeker. I came with intention, yet I received inner transformation.
Since that sacred moment, a graceful shift has unfolded within me. The opinions of others regarding my spiritual path no longer hold the same weight. Trivial conversations have naturally lost their attraction. Instead, my heart feels drawn towards reflection, Naam, and inner stillness — not as an escape from the world, but as an awakening within it.
It was an indescribably beautiful experience to feel that the Guru lovingly heard not only my spoken prayers, but the silent yearning of my heart. That sacred connection softened my thoughts, calmed my emotions, and instilled a deep tranquillity in my response to life’s circumstances.
Even the humble reception of Karah Prasad felt profoundly symbolic — not merely nourishment for the body, but a gentle purification of consciousness, soothing both the physical and the spiritual dimensions of my being, and enveloping me in rare serenity.
Perhaps the deepest message that emerged from this sacred sojourn is this:
Faith is not always comprehended by logic. Grace is not always explained by intellect. But when the soul bows with sincerity, the Guru responds beyond the limits of human understanding.
What many hastily label as “blind faith” is, in truth, the highest form of sacred trust — the courage to surrender without conditions, to believe without bargaining, and to bow without ego. For it is not the physical eyes that behold the Guru, but the humbled heart that experiences His presence.
One may traverse the world, gather accolades, and accumulate possessions, yet a single moment of genuine spiritual awakening outweighs a lifetime of worldly success. When ego dissolves, the soul begins to listen. When the mind becomes silent, the Guru’s wisdom begins to speak within.
This sacred journey has gently revealed that true devotion is not found in grand displays, but in inner surrender. Not in outward ritual alone, but in quiet transformation. Not in speaking more, but in becoming still enough to experience the Divine Presence.
If my experience carries even a fragment of wisdom, it is simply this: Go to the Guru not merely with ritual, but with an open and emptied heart. Do not go to fulfil a formality, but to dissolve in humility. For when the heart truly bows, the Guru fills it with a peace beyond measure.
And in that divine peace, one realises with profound clarity and gratitude: Nothing in this world is truly ours — except the grace we receive, the Naam we remember, and the love we carry for the Guru within the sanctuary of our soul.
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Daljit Singh Khalsa, a UK-based practitioner with over 50 years of experience in both medical and mental health field, is a devout Sikh and an avid traveller. Physical fitness, spiritual discipline and sewa(selfless service) form the core of my daily practice.
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
Event | Malaysia: The UM Sikh Society is organising Kirtan on Campus, marking the first time such a programme will be held on a university campus in Malaysia. Scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 6pm to 9pm, the event aims to reconnect University of Malaya students and alumni through a shared spiritual and community experience.
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 daughter of the late Sardar Ram Singh and Sardarni Kartar Kaur and beloved wife of the late Sardar Gerbak Singh passed away peacefully on Friday, 20th February 2026
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 dad and grandfather, loved and mourned by so many. His memories and stories will forever live on in our hearts. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.
Parents: Late Inder Singh & Late Jaswant Kaur
Village: Sukhanand
Daughter & Son in law: Narinderjeet kaur (Navin) & Sukhdave Singh (Suku)
Son: Jasvindave Singh
Beloved Grandson: Harshdev Singh
Also leaving behind his sisters, nephews and nieces.
PATH DA BHOG Sunday 8th March 2026 at 11.30am Gurdwara Sahib Tatt Khalsa Diwan
For more information, please contact: Suku 0122122269 Navin 0122342269
| Entry: 28 February 2026; Updated: 4 March 2026 | 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
PATH DA BHOG Sunday, 8th March 2026 From 10am to 12noon Gurdwara Sahib Melaka
Contact: Rakesh 016-630-7000 Kul 012-650-0955 Terry 012-710-3603
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Kalwant Kaur, a beloved mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister and friend, who passed away peacefully on the 25th February 2026. She lived a full and vibrant life in which she was loved and adored by everyone around her. She was a devoted and loving lady, always putting the needs of her family before her own. Being fiercely protective, nothing made her happier than seeing them grow and thrive. Her children were the center of her universe, and she loved them unconditionally, as they did in return. Known for her legendary meals, filling her kitchen with the aroma of spices and love.
Mata Ji leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion. She is survived by her four children, one son and three daughters, and her 5 grandchildren. Her presence will be deeply missed, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of all those who knew and loved her.
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
Bonhomie generated by exchange of visits by top officials apart, an unsavoury controversy has erupted in Canada over the comments of a senior federal official who briefed media on the eve of the departure of Mark Carney on his first official visit to India that “the Canadian government believes that Indian foreign interference in Canada was over”.
And much before Mark Carney and his strong entourage could land in India, the Canadian Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree just stopped just short of contradicting the senior federal official as he commented that “there’s still a lot of work to do on the India security file”. His comments within 24 hours of the senior government official’s briefing has generated an animated debate in political circles here. “There are certainly issues around safety and security of Canadians that we continue to engage in,” Anandasangaree said after an event near Parliament Hill on Thursday morning.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said repeatedly that it’s the government’s belief India has changed its ways. “I think we could say we’re confident that that activity is not continuing,” the official said. “If we believed that the government of India was actively interfering in the Canadian democratic process, we probably would not be taking this trip.”
Minister of Public Safety, whose portfolio includes both the RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), stopped just short of disagreeing with that characterization
“What I’m suggesting is that there’s still a lot more work to do, and we will do that work,” he said.
Gary Anandasangaree’s reaction to the official’s comments has left many questions unanswered. Many held that it was difficult to swallow the official’s comments as they marked a stark departure from Canada’s position from about a year-and-a-half ago when the Trudeau government expelled six Indian diplomats after the RCMP had deemed them “persons of interest.”
A look at the turn of events since the fall of 2024 when RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme said the Mounties had strong evidence showing the “highest levels” of the Indian government were involved in orchestrating a campaign of violence and intimidation on Canadian soil. A year earlier, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada had evidence linking Indian agents to the killing of Canadian Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Indian government, however, remained in a denial mode.
Since the political and diplomatic spats over Hardeep Singh Nijjer case, the National Security Advisers of both India and Canada, have met several times, including a recent (February 7 and 8) visit of the Indian NSA Ajit Doval to Canada.
And the January 20205 report from the foreign interference inquiry called India the “second-most active country engaging in electoral foreign interference in Canada” after China, raising scepticism that India’s foreign interference days were behind them.
“We have certainly had irritations over the number of years, and they will be addressed through our channels relating to security,” Anandasangaree said in his media interaction. “Matters that are before the courts will continue to be litigated through the courts and resolution will be addressed through the court and not through political means.” The federal public safety minister said there are two tracks for dealing with India. “One is to ensure that we have an economic engagement that the prime minister is leading. But we will also have, at times, difficult conversation around safety and security of Canadians,” he said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, however, has been maintaining that while the law enforcement agencies and rule of the law will prevail to punish the guilty, the business and trade relations with India, one of the fastest growing economies, cannot be put on a hold.
Consequent to this change in approach towards India, he invited his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, to attend the G20 summit in Alberta last year. That was the beginning of softening of attitudes. Bitterness started paving way for cordiality as exchange of federal ministers, beginning with the Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Indira Anand visiting India in September last year. Her visit was followed by the Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu.
India’s foreign minister S. Jaishankar also attended the G7 foreign ministers conclave in Niagara. Since then, regular exchange of visits between top officials of two nations has been continuing. The climax has reached with Mark Carney taking a strong delegation of his ministers, including Anita Indira Anand, Maninder Sidhu, besides Defence Minister David McGuinty and Finance Minister Philippe Champagne.
Also part of the entourage are Saskatchewan’s Premier Thomas Water Scott and New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt. A group of journalists, including representatives of the ethnic media, are also accompanying Prime Minister Mark Carne.
Carney’s trip comes as his government works to normalize relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who leads one of the largest economies in the world.
(Prabhjot Singh is a veteran journalist with over three decades of experience of 14 years with Reuters News and 30 years with The Tribune Group, covering a wide spectrum of subjects and stories. He has covered Punjab and Sikh affairs for more than three decades besides covering seven Olympics and several major sporting events and hosting TV shows.)
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
