Shenjeet Kaur Gill-Sekhon (left) with her family (right)
By Asia Samachar | Australia |
Seremban-born Shenjeet Kaur Gill-Sekhon has been elected as the new councillor for the City of Canning, probably the first Malaysian Sikh woman to join the city’s local government. Canning is in Western Australia [corrected].
Popularly known as Shen Sekhon, she will serve as the new councillor for the Beeliar for 10 months before she faces the polls again.
Shenjeet was born in the Malaysian city of Seremban, Negeri Sembilan and grew up in Kepong Baru. She had completed a Diploma in Media and Communications at Limkokwing University and then the BA in Mass Communications in Curtin Perth in 2003.
Upon graduation, she joined Limkokwing University as its marketing and communications manager.
She met her husband, Harveer (Harry) who was originally from Klang but has been in Perth since 1992 and returned to Perth in 2006. Shen continued to work in the higher education industry for a further 10 years with Curtin University’s International Affairs department and completed her MBA in the process.
“As soon as my children commenced primary school, I got involved in community service,” she told Asia Samachar in an interview.
She joined the Parent and Citizens Association (P&C) at their primary school and eventually became their president. Subsequently, she was invited to join the school board and she also founded the Culturally and Linguistically (CALD) Women’s Business community organisation aimed at connecting, engaging and empowering the women in her local and wider school community as well as assist migrant women integrate into the local community.
That led her to being involved with the local government through their Cultural Ambassador pilot project; aimed at identifying community leaders from the CALD background and assist in bridging the gap between the city and its diverse communities.
“When the City of Canning’s Councillor role with the local government became vacant, I was encouraged to go for it due to my active involvement with local community groups,” she said. She won with a landslide victory against four other candidates.
In her days, she was a gymnast, head prefect and head of the Girl Scouts.
“Having serving on boards, managing the P&C (PTA) and community organisations, I would like to give back to the society using my knowledge, experience and skills. Volunteering in the community gives me a sense of fulfilment as I grew up watching my grandmother do ‘sewa‘ (selfless service) in the Gurudwara. Being able to have a say in decisions that will impact not only the my local ward but the wider City of Canning community motivated me to campaign for the local government councillor seat,” she said.
She said her inspiration is her late grandmother who moved to Malaysia in the early 1950s for a better life for her children, parents Sarbjit Singh and Kuldip Kaur for instilling in her the values of hardwork and to never give up, and her mother-in-law Parkash Kaur who always stood by her and supported her.
“And last, but least my husband, Harry who is my strength and rock alongside my three amazing children,” she said.
Shenjeet Kaur Gill-Sekhon (left) in one of roles as a cultural ambassador
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING: NUS FASS dean Professor Lionel Wee (left) and CSGB president Dilbagh Singh signing the MOU on the Visiting Professorship in Sikh Studies at Central Sikh Gurdwara on 14 April 2022, witnessed by Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence Heng Chee How – Photo: NUS
By Jasrinder Kaur | Singapore |
Are you aware that efforts are underway to establish a Visiting Professorship in Sikh Studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS)?
The Central Sikh Gurdwara Board (CSGB) has taken up the task to raise funds for the initiative that will promote academic scholarship in Sikh studies both in Singapore and globally.
As part of the project, in April 2022, NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) and the CSGB signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise the visiting professorship expected to commence in 2023. It is expected to promote academic scholarship in Sikh studies both in Singapore and globally.
What’s the thinking behind this venture? Asia Samachar caught up with CSGB council member Baljit Singh to gather more details of the project. Here are excerpts from his interviews.
How did the idea of setting up of the Visiting Professorship come about?
The idea of setting up the Visiting Professorship came about from the CSGB Councils both present and past who felt that the message of Sikhism and the Sikh Way of Life should be carried beyond gurdwaras to the National University of Singapore that afforded a platform that had a broader reach to locals and foreign students. CSGB felt that it was important that message of one humanity embedded in the Sikh Way of Life be shared more openly with others of different races and religions.
What excites you most about the programme?
What excites me most about the program is the ability to share the message of Sikhism and the Sikh Way of Life with young non Sikhs. By doing so not only will it help non Sikhs to better understand us but also contribute to racial integration and nation building. Importantly as these graduates go into their professional life, they will be better able to understand their Sikh colleagues and in the process appreciate the identity needs of the community and what they stand for .
Any concerns?
The program has been validated from its effectiveness and as such there are no real concerns . If there is any concern, it would be managing the expectation of a Visiting Chair as against a Full Chair. The former is somewhat limited in deliverables and will be primarily catering for undergraduates. It is important that the audience understand that the visiting Chair do not offer Master of PHD level programs. The good news is that there are plans to elevate the Visiting Chair to a Full Chair in due course.
Have you received any reservations or caution from members of the Sikh community as the team works towards establishing this programme? Please elaborate.
The main concern expressed by a few members has been the danger of contentious issues being created by academic research and teaching. It is a valid comment but not really applicable to the Visiting Chair. The Visiting Chair offers no research topics . The deliverables in terms of the electives are based on established and accepted facts related to Sikhsim and the Sikh way of Life. The other mitigating factor is that NUS subscribes to the national philosophy of not being involved in matters that arise negative sentiments form any one racial or religious group.
What is the latest on the fund raising?
As at end November 22, the funds collected and with pledges amounted to S$500,000.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here.
Gurdwara Sahib Klang in Selangor, Malaysia – Photo: Asia Samachar
By Dr Kala Singh | The Sikh Bulletin |
A Gurdwara is a place of assembly and worship for Sikhs where spiritual discourse and religious hymns (Shabds) are sung. People from all faiths are welcomed in Sikh Gurdwara. The term Gurudwara is made of two words Gur (a reference to the Sikh Gurus) and Dwara (Gateway), together meaning ‘The gateway through which the Guru could be reached (obtains spiritual knowledge and wisdom).
ਗੁਰੂ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਹੋਇ ਸੋਝੀ ਪਾਇਸੀ ॥ Guru Dwarai Hoe Sojhi Paeisi. SGGS 730 Through the Gurdwara (the Guru’s Gate) one obtains spiritual knowledge and wisdom.
ਬਾਣੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਗੁਰੂ ਹੈ ਬਾਣੀ ਵਿਚਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਸਾਰੇ ॥ Bani Guru Guru Hai Bani Vich Bani Amrit Sare. SGGS 982 The Bani is Guru, and Guru is the Bani. Within the Bani, is the Ambrosial Nectar of spiritual knowledge and wisdom.
ਗਿਆਨ ਅੰਜਨੁ ਗੁਰਿ ਦੀਆ ਅਗਿਆਨ ਅੰਧੇਰ ਬਿਨਾਸੁ ॥ Giyan Anjan Gur Dia Agiyan Andher Binas. SGGS 293 The way antimony beautifies eye and improves vision, Guru has given the antimony to my mind (Mann) of spiritual knowledge and wisdom, which dispelled the darkness of ignorance.
ਸਿਖੀ ਸਿਖਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥ Sikhi Sikhia Gur Vichar. SGGS 465 Sikh gets spiritual knowledge and wisdom by contemplating on the teachings of the Guru (Bani).
The Gurdwara is a place where we contemplate the Guru (Bani) and obtain spiritual knowledge and wisdom to dispel the darkness of ignorance. A Gurdwara is like a school where students go to listen to what Bani Guru is teaching us. Let’s discuss why most of us go to Gurdwara.
1. Some go to Gurdwara for Darshan of Guru Granth Sahib and for attendance purpose (ਹਾਜ਼ਰੀ ਲਗੋਨ ਵਾਸਤੇ).
One is not liberated by merely seeing the Guru, unless one contemplates the Shabd. Many of us go to the Gurdwara, bow (ਮੱਥਾ ਟੇਕੋ) at the entrance, at Nishan Sahib, the entrance of Diwan Hall, in front of Guru Granth Sahib, go around AGGS and bow again in front of AGGS, take Prashad and come out. In this way we have taken Darshan of AGGS and made our attendance (ਹਾਜ਼ਰੀ).
If our child goes to a school, bows at the gate of the school, at the entrance of the class, to the teacher, goes around the teacher and bows again and come out of the school and say I have seen the teacher and made my attendance; has this child learnt anything from the teacher by this ritual and will he pass his exams at the end of the year? The answer is No. If the answer is No for this child, how can this ritual be beneficial to us in the Gurdwara.
2. Some go to Gurdwara and sit full time but don’t pay attention to what is taught.
ਜਿਨ ਕੇ ਚਿਤ ਕਠੋਰ ਹਹਿ ਸੇ ਬਹਹਿ ਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪਾਸਿ ॥ ਓਥੈ ਸਚੁ ਵਰਤਦਾ ਕੂੜਿਆਰਾ ਚਿਤ ਉਦਾਸਿ ॥ Jin Ke Chit Kathor Hei Se Beheh Na Satgur Pas. Outhai Sach Vartada Kuriara Chit Oudas.
ਓਇ ਵਲੁ ਛਲੁ ਕਰਿ ਝਤਿ ਕਢਦੇ ਫਿਰਿ ਜਾਇ ਬਹਹਿ ਕੂੜਿਆਰਾ ਪਾਸਿ ॥ ਵਿਚਿ ਸਚੇ ਕੂੜੁ ਨ ਗਡਈ Oue Val Chal Kar Jhat Kadade Fir Jae Behe Koriara Pas. Vich Sache Koor N Gadeei Mann Vekhu Ko Nirjas.
Those who have mind (Mann) as hard as stone, do not sit near the True Guru. Truth prevails there; the false ones do not attune their consciousness to it. By hook or by crook, they pass their time, and then they go back to sit with the false ones again. Falsehood does not mix with the Truth. The false go and mingle with the false, while the truthful Sikhs sit by the side of the True Guru.
If our child goes to school and sit in the class full time, but instead of listening to the teacher, the child is playing with others in the class; this child has not learnt anything in the class from the teacher. At the end of the year this child will fail in the exam. In the same way, those who go to the Gurdwara and are not listening to what is being preached has not learnt anything and will fail in the exam.
3. Some go to Gurdwara to chant.
ਰਾਮ ਰਾਮ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ ਕਹਿਐ ਰਾਮੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ Ram Ram Sabh Ko Kehai Kehiai Ram Na Hoe. SGGS 491. Everyone chants the God’s Name, Ram, Ram; but by such chanting, the God is not obtained.
ਮਾਲਾ ਫੇਰੈ ਮੰਗੈ ਬਿਭੂਤ ॥ ਇਹ ਬਿਧਿ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਤਰਿਓ ਮੀਤ ॥੩॥ Mala Faerai Mangai Bibhut. Eh Bidh Koe N Tariou Meet. SGGS 888 You chant on your rosary, and beg for blessings. No one has ever been saved in this way.
ਰਮ ਰਾਮ ਰਾਮ ਮਾਲ ॥ ਮਨਿ ਫੇਰਤੇ ਹਰਿ ਸੰਗਿ ਸੰਗੀਆ ॥ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਿਉ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮੁ ਥੀਆ ॥੨॥੧॥੨੩॥ Ram Ram Ram Mal. Mann Ferate Har Sang Sangia. Jan Nanak Prio Pritam Thia. SGGS 1272. Remember virtues of God in the rosary of your mind (Mann). Those who have imbued their mind (Mann) with Godly Virtues, they become their companions. Such people merged with the God and God dwell in their mind.
ਕਬੀਰ ਜਪਨੀ ਕਾਠ ਕੀ ਕਿਆ ਦਿਖਲਾਵਹਿ ਲੋਇ ॥ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਰਾਮੁ ਨ ਚੇਤਹੀ ਇਹ ਜਪਨੀ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਇ ॥੭੫॥ Kabir Japani Kath Ki Kia Dikhalaveh Loe. Hiradhai Ram Na Chethi Eh Japani Kia Hoe. SGGS 1368 Kabir, why do you show other people your rosary beads? You do not remember Virtues of the God in your mind (Mann), so what use is this rosary to you?
ਇਕ ਦੂ ਜੀਭੌ ਲਖ ਹੋਹਿ ਲਖ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਲਖ ਵੀਸ ॥ ਲਖੁ ਲਖੁ ਗੇੜਾ ਆਖੀਅਹਿ ਏਕੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਗਦੀਸ ॥ ਏਤੁ ਰਾਹਿ ਪਤਿ ਪਵੜੀਆ ਚੜੀਐ ਹੋਇ ਇਕੀਸ ॥ ਸੁਣਿ ਗਲਾ ਆਕਾਸ ਕੀ ਕੀਟਾ ਆਈ ਰੀਸ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਦਰੀ ਪਾਈਐ ਕੂੜੀ ਕੂੜੈ ਠੀਸ ॥੩੨॥ Eik Du Jibho Lakh Hoh Lakh Hoveh Lakh Vees. Lakh Lakh Gerra Aakhiah Ek Naam Jagdis. SGGS 7. Et Rah Pat Pavarria Charriai Hoe Eikis. Sunn Gla Aakas Ki Kita Aai Rees. Nanak Nadari Paiai Kurri Kurrai Thees. If one has uncountable number of tongues, and with each tongue, one would repeat uncountable times, the Name of the God, is meaningless as one can’t merge with the God like this. Along this path, to climb the steps of the ladder to merge with God, is by giving up ego. Just by knowing the virtues of the God and trying to merge without giving up ego and meaningless rituals. Listening to the teachings of the Guru which are as high as sky; my ant like thought process also climbed up the stairs of spirituality. Nanak says the only way to merge with the God is to make ourselves worthy of the Virtues of the God.
ਜੈਸੇਰਾਤ ਅੰਧੇਰੀ ਮੈਦੀਪਕ ਦੀਪਕ ਕਹੈਿਤਮਰ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਜਬ ਲਗ ਨ ਜਰਾਈਐ Jaisae Raat Andheri Mai Dipak Dipak Kehai Timar Na Jai Jab Lag N Jaraiai.
ਜੈਸੇਿਗਆਨ ਿਗਆਨ ਕਹੈਿਗਆਨ ਹੂੰਨ ਹੋਤ ਕਛੁਜਬ ਲਗੁਗੁਰ ਿਗਆਨ ਅੰਤਿਰ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ॥ Jaise Gian Gian Kehai Gian Hoon Na Hot Kachu Jab Lag Gur Gian Antar Na Paiai.
ਤੈਸੇਗੁਰ ਕਹੈਗੁਰਿਧਆਨ ਹੂਨ ਪਾਵਤ ਤਬ ਲਗੁਗੁਰ ਦਰਸ ਜਾਇ ਨ ਸਮਾਈਐ ॥੫੪੨॥ Taise Gur Kehai Gurdhian Hu Na Pavat Tab Lag Gur Daras Jae Na Samaiai. Bhai Gurdas.
One cannot taste sugar by just saying sugar, sugar. To taste sugar one has to put sugar on the tongue. Darkness cannot go away by just saying lamp, lamp. One has to light lamp. One cannot get knowledge by just saying knowledge, knowledge. One has to go to Guru and obtain knowledge. In the same way just by saying Gur Gur one cannot get Guru’s wisdom till one read, understand and assimilate the philosophy of the Guru.
ਹਿਰਦੈ ਜਪਨੀ ਜਪਉ ਗੁਣਤਾਸਾ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਅਗਮ ਅਗੋਚਰੁ ਅਪਰੰਪਰ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਜਨ ਪਗਿ ਲਗਿ ਧਿਆਵਉ ਹੋਇ ਦਾਸਨਿ ਦਾਸਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Hiradai Japani Japo Guntasa. Har Agam Agochar Aparanpar Suami Jan Pag Lag Dhiavo Hoe Dasan Dasa. Rehao. SGGS 841 I remember the Virtues of the God in my mind (Mann), which is my rosary. The God is inaccessible, unfathomable and unlimited. I contemplate on such God’s Virtues in the company of the Guru as humble of the humblest.
ਐਸਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਜਪਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਮੀਤਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Aisa Giyan Japhu Mann Mere. Rahao. SGGS 331. O My mind! Remember (Japo) spiritual teaching of the Guru (Giyan) all the time in your conscious mind (Mann). There is no point in meditating spiritual teaching of the Guru (Giyan). Japo means remember.
If our child goes to school and only chants the name of the author of the book, can this child pass the exam at the end of the year? Answer is No. A child needs to read the book and get knowledge out of it to pass the exam. In the same way by chanting Waheguru we can’t be liberated from the cycle of spiritual death and birth. We need to read the SGGS and get spiritual knowledge and wisdom.
4. Some go to Gurdwara for Asa Di Vaar only.
Many ask after chanting Waheguru and after listening to Asa Di Vaar that mind (Mann) is wandering around. It is not steady. It is because they don’t listen to Asa Di Vaar with conscious mind (Mann), understand and then practice.
ਕੁੰਭੇ ਬਧਾ ਜਲੁ ਰਹੈ ਜਲ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੁੰਭੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥ ਗਿਆਨ ਕਾ ਬਧਾ ਮਨੁ ਰਹੈ ਗੁਰ ਬਿਨੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੫॥ Kunbhe Badha Jal Rehai Jal Bin Kunbh N Hoe. Giyan Ka Badha Mann Reha Gur Bin Giyan N Hoe. SGGS 469.
The potter makes pitcher out of clay and water. Potter mixes clay with water and kneads it till water and clay have mixed properly. Water and clay cannot be separated now. They are one. When we put water in this pitcher, water remains confined within the pitcher, but without water, the pitcher could not have been formed. In the same way mind (Mann) is to be kneaded with the spiritual wisdom till they are one. Now mind (Mann) is restrained from wandering around by the spiritual wisdom, but without the Guru, there is no spiritual wisdom.
ਲਬੁ ਪਾਪੁ ਦੁਇ ਰਾਜਾ ਮਹਤਾ ਕੂੜੁ ਹੋਆ ਸਿਕਦਾਰੁ ॥ ਕਾਮੁ ਨੇਬੁ ਸਦਿ ਪੁਛੀਐ ਬਹਿ ਬਹਿ ਕਰੇ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥ Lab Pap Doe Raja Mehata Koorr Hoa Sikdar. Kam Naeb Sadh Puchiai Beh Beh Kare Bichar.
ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਪੂਰਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੋਵੈ ਘਟਿ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਆਖੈ ॥ ਪਤਿ ਪਰਵਾਣਾ ਪਿਛੈ ਪਾਈਐ ਤਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਤੋਲਿਆ ਜਾਪੈ ॥੨॥ Sabh Ko Pura Apey Hovai Ghat N Koe Akhai.Pat Paravana Pichai Paiai Ta Nanak Tolia Japai. SGGS 469.
Greed and sin are the king and prime minister, and falsehood is the treasurer in our lives. Sexual desire, the chief advisor, is summoned and consulted; they all sit together and contemplate their plans. Their subjects (Giyan Indre) are blind without wisdom, and try to please the ardent desire of worldly passions (Maya). The so called spiritually wise adore themselves in different types of clothes and decorations, dance and play to the music which people want to hear. They shout out loud, and sing epic poems and heroic stories. The fools call themselves spiritual scholars, and by their clever tricks gather wealth, which is their main aim and target. The so called righteous (Dharmic) think it is right way but actually are wasting their effort and can’t get salvation from Maya. Some call themselves celibate, and abandon their homes, but they do not know the true way of life. Everyone calls oneself perfect; none call themselves imperfect. If the weight of honour is placed on the scale, then, O Nanak, one sees their true weight. They are in fact still suffering in the greed, ardent sexual desire, falsehood and worldly temptations.
5. Some do Path and even memorize and recite Gurbani from memory.
ਪਾਠੁ ਪੜਿਓ ਅਰੁ ਬੇਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰਿਓ ਨਿਵਲਿ ਭੁਅੰਗਮ ਸਾਧੇ ॥ ਪੰਚ ਜਨਾ ਸਿਉ ਸੰਗੁ ਨ ਛੁਟਕਿਓ ਅਧਿਕ ਅਹੰਬੁਧਿ ਬਾਧੇ ॥੧॥ Path Parriou Ar Baed Bichariou Nival Bhuangam Sadhe. Panch Jna Sio Sang N Chutakiou Adhik Ahanbudh Badhe
ਪਿਆਰੇ ਇਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਮਿਲਣੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ਮੈ ਕੀਏ ਕਰਮ ਅਨੇਕਾ ॥ ਹਾਰਿ ਪਰਿਓ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਕੈ ਦੁਆਰੈ ਦੀਜੈ ਬੁਧਿ ਬਿਬੇਕਾ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ Piayre Ein Bidh Milan N Jai Mai Kiye Karam Aneka. Har Pariou Suamee Kai Duarai Dijai Budh Bibeka. Rehao. SGGS 641.
Some read scriptures, and discuss the Vedas (Holy Scriptures); some practice the inner cleansing techniques of Yoga, and control of the breath. But they cannot escape from the company of the five passions and are increasingly bound to egotism. Some perform many religious rituals. This is not the way to meet the God. I have left the protection of all these and came to the refuge of the Guru to grant me a discerning intellect and wisdom how to merge with the God.
ਕਿਆ ਪੜੀਐ ਕਿਆ ਗੁਨੀਐ ॥ ਕਿਆ ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨਾਂ ਸੁਨੀਐ ॥ ਪੜੇ ਸੁਨੇ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਈ ॥ ਜਉ ਸਹਜ ਨ ਮਿਲਿਓ ਸੋਈ ॥੧॥ Kia Parreai Kia Guneai. Kia Bedh Purana Suneai. Parrae Sunae Kia Hoe. Jo Sehaj N Miliou Soe. SGGS 655
What use is it to read, and what use is it to study Vedas and the Puraanas? What use is reading and listening, if celestial peace is not attained? Vedas and Puranas mean all Holy Scriptures including Guru Granth Sahib.
We may read and read loads of books; we may read and study vast multitudes of books. We may read and read boat-loads of books; we may read and read and fill pits with them. We may read them year after year; we may read them as many months there are. We may read them all our life; we may read them with every breath. Nanak says, only one thing is of any account; which is getting knowledge and wisdom from them; everything else is useless babbling and idle talk in ego.
Guru directs this Shabd for all who do Path (Nitnem) ritually without understanding. There are five prayers and five times of day for prayer; the five have five names. Let the first be truthfulness, the second honest living, and the third charity in the Name of God. Let the fourth be good will to all, and the fifth the praise of the Virtues of the God. Repeat the prayer of good deeds, and then, you may call yourself a Muslim. O Nanak, the false obtain only the falsehood. If our child goes to school and remembers everything taught and gets full marks in the exam and praise of everybody, but when it comes to put that to practice he cannot. What use is that knowledge?
ਮਤਿ ਵਿਚਿ ਰਤਨ ਜਵਾਹਰ ਮਾਣਿਕ ਜੇ ਇਕ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਸਿਖ ਸੁਣੀ ॥ Mat Vich Ratan Javahar Manik Jae Ek Gur Kee Sikh Sunee. SGGS 2 Internalization of even one message of the Guru makes spirituality priceless.
ਕਿਨਕਾ ਏਕ ਜਿਸੁ ਜੀਅ ਬਸਾਵੈ ॥ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਮਹਿਮਾ ਗਨੀ ਨ ਆਵੈ ॥ Kinka Ek Jis Jia Basavai. Ta Ki Mehima Gani N Aavai. SGGS 262.
Those who get in their mind (Mann) even an iota of Guru’s teachings, the praises of their glory cannot be recounted. That’s only possible if we contemplate on the Shabd rather doing Path quickly. There is a need to get wisdom from the knowledge so that when we encounter problems in our life we can deal with them and put that knowledge and wisdom to use.
6. Some go to Gurdwara to ask for worldly possessions.
When we beg for worldly possessions in the Gurdwara, most of the time our wishes are not fulfilled. We wish for something, but something different happens. Nanak says we plot to deceive others, but place the noose around our own neck instead. We then start going to other so called religious places and get into a vicious circle to fulfill our demand for worldly materials.
ਵਿਣੁ ਤੁਧੁ ਹੋਰੁ ਜਿ ਮੰਗਣਾ ਸਿਰਿ ਦੁਖਾ ਕੈ ਦੁਖ ॥ ਦੇਹਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੀਆ ਉਤਰੈ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਭੁਖ ॥ Vin Tudh Hor J Mangna Sir Dukha Kai Dukh. Deh Naam Santokhea Outarai Mann Ki Bhukh. SGGS 958 To ask for any other than You, God, is the most miserable of miseries. Please bless me with Your Name (Godly Virtues) and make me contented; may the hunger of my mind (Mann) be satisfied.
Conclusion: The Gurdwara is a place where we get spiritual knowledge and wisdom. Like our child who goes to school but does not get any knowledge from the teacher and fails in the exam, our going to the Gurdwara is meaningless if we don’t get spiritual knowledge and wisdom to deal with our problems. Bani does not fulfill our desires for worldly materials but gives us spiritual knowledge and wisdom. We can get spiritual knowledge and wisdom by discussing Bani through social media, at home or in a park. All these become a Gurdwara, the gateway to Guru. That does not mean we don’t need the Gurdwara building. It is a centre where most of us gather regularly. But we should go there for a meaningful purpose.
Dr. Kala Singh is medical graduate from Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi University, India. He worked in Africa i.e. Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana for 21 years as Psychiatric Doctor before immigrating and immigrated to Canada. He is a physician, community activist, Sikh scholar, television personality and motivational speaker. This article first appeared in The Sikh Bulletin(December 2022 – Volume 24 Number 5, Special Edition) titled ‘What is a Gurdwara?’
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here.
Darbar Sahib programme commencement at Naam Ras 2022 – Source: Naam Ras video grab
By Asia Samachar | Singapore |
A major Sikh biennial religious and cultural gathering called Naam Ras makes a comeback after four years.
The 10th edition of the event, from Dec 23-26, typically attracts thousands of attendees from around the region per day. Likewise this year, the crowd is back!
Probably the largest Sikh event in Southeast Asia after the annual Malacca Sikh gathering in the memory of Baba Sohan Singh, Naam Ras is being held at the Singapore Expo Hall, with a host of daily programmes running from 6pm to 10pm.
The 2020 event could not be held due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So, the thousands of Sikhs are eagerly taking part in the entirely volunteer-driven extravaganza.
The way Singapore accommodates and celebrates its smallest communities is how the country demonstrates unity, said Singapore senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam who was invited as a guest of honour yesterday.
“It’s very important for us in Singapore to understand that each community has a special place…The Sikh community is a minority within a minority, but that makes its place even more special,” he said.
The event is a showcase of Sikh culture and traditions, including a display of centuries-old artefacts sourced from around the world, an interactive exhibition of Sikh history, a gallery of Sikh art, a daily theatre production on aspects of Sikh history and stalls to purchase Sikh-related merchandise.
It also features an immersive experience of the Sikh congregation featuring the Sikh traditional and spiritual music from renowned musical artistes from around the world and of course the free community kitchen serving hot vegetarian meals to thousands.
In addition, Naam Ras will also host several global Sikh celebrities from the UK, US, Canada and India.
One of them is UK-based artist Amandeep Singh, popularly known with his social media handle Inkquisitive, whose most recent collaboration with Marvel Studios and Disney saw him work on the Ms Marvel franchise.
With a large fan following around the world, Inkquisitive will be holding the first exhibition of his work after a five-year break at Naam Ras where attendees can view and purchase his art pieces.
As in previous years, Naam Ras will also host an interfaith component where non-Sikhs who attend the event will be taken on a parallel structured programme of Naam Ras. This will include a guided exhibition tour, an interactive dialogue session and an immersive volunteer service opportunity.
Invited guests who will be taking part in this year’s interfaith programme, titled One People, One Humanity, will include key leaders of the different faith groups in Singapore as well as students from several tertiary organisations.
A much awaited occurrence is the daily arrival and walk-in ceremony held at 5.15pm which is a grand procession featuring Sikh martial artists from India, a Sikh bagpipe band from Malaysia and other local and foreign talent as they welcome in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the eternal Sikh Guru, into the hall.
The artist Inkquisitive will be at Naam Ras from 23rd-26th December to display his work and engage with attendees. He will arrive in Singapore on 21st December and stay until 2nd January 2023 where he will also hold a public exhibition.
The event is out together with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Singapore Expo Hall and all other Sikh organisations in Singapore, including the Sikh gurdwaras where the meals are cooked daily and sent to Naam Ras, as well as countless other philanthropists and well-wishers.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here.
The American Sikh Council (ASC) is perturbed at the continuous shenanigans of some gurdwaras from Massachusetts to California who simply refuse to use common sense and basic critical thinking to understand why all Sikhs must use the Mool Nanakshahi Calendar (MNC) instead of the Biparwadi RSS sponsored Bikrami-Lunar calendar of the SGPC [Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee].
A glaring example is the issue of the 10th Nanak’s birthday celebration. How can anyone’s birthday be celebrated twice in the same year? Commemorating Guru Gobind Singhji’s birthday this year; once on January 9, 2022 and now again on Dec 29, 2022, is the height of insanity, because the one and only correct date is January 5. To make matters even worse, next year in 2023 according to the SGPC Biprwadi calendar, there will be no birthday celebration, as the next one falls in 2024.
The Mool Nanakshahi Calendar (MNC) is a Sikh Calendar. Every religion has their own religious calendar. Christians have the Gregorian Calendar. Muslims, Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists have their own calendars, which indicates their independent religions. Similarly, the Mool Nanakshahi Calendar (MNC) of the Sikhs identifies us as a completely independent and distinct world religion. Sikhs should be proud to have their own calendar like others are of their religion.
A deeper understanding of the history and efforts made by Sikh scholars to create a distinct Sikh calendar is vital. The late Pal Singh Purewal worked on this the Sikh Calendar since the 1960’s. After over 40 years of hard work, he completed the Sikh calendar with the exact dates of Gurpurubs and Shahidi Gurpurubs which was presented to the Akal Takaht Jathedar in 2003. This MNC was accepted by the SGPC and the Jathedar of the Akal Takhat. All the Gurpurubs were celebrated according to the Mool Nanakshahi calendar until 2006. Unfortunately, this was not acceptable to the then leading political party (Akali Dal) due to the covert influence of the RSS and was changed to the Nanakshahi Calendar (NC) by cleverly changing the dates according to the Bikrami (Lunar) calendar. There is a big difference between the Nanakshahi Calendar (NC) of the SGPC and the Mool Nanakshahi Calendar (MNC). The MNC has fixed dates, but the NC is simply a hybrid version of the Bikrami Calendar where the dates are moveable and shift every year creating utter confusion.
The MNC implementation conference in Chicago detailed the significance of the changes. After much discussion, resolutions were adopted at the Chicago conference in December 2017. For example, Bandi Chord Divas falls on Fughen 1 (February 12) every year, Holla-Moholla falls on Chet 1 (March 14) every year, and Vaisakhi (Birth of Guru Nanak Sahib, Khalsa Sajhna Diwas) falls on Vasakh 1 (April 14) each year. Even these dates which were deliberately kept floating in the NC by the SGPC, were fixed, again.
All gurdwaras and Sikh organizations across America must pass a resolution to do the following and make it public:
We should all also commit to publicly denouncing the RSS/BJP blessed ‘Floating Dates’ Nanakshahi Calendar (NC) http://www.sgpc.net/nanakshahicalendar.php being propagated by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), because this calendar is a ‘bipar’ version made through forceful coercion, to be implemented on the Sikhs, under the clever guise of being the accurate Sikh calendar.
It is critically important to understand that the Mool Nanakshahi Calendar (MNC) is completely consistent with the (Barama) months mentioned in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS).
If all the educated Sikhs still insist on following the Biparwadi RSS blessed SGPC’s ‘NC’ where the dates of our Gurus and other religious days shift every year, then all the Sikh followers should apply the same logic to their own birthdays, i.e., everyone’s birthdays will be on a different day each year, making a mockery of your own birth certificates and common sense. Our children will only shake their heads at our foolhardiness!
On behalf of the American Sikh Council (ASC), it is our humble request that every Gurdwaras in the world should adopt the MNC. This calendar celebrates Gurpurubs and all other important religious days b haccording to these fixed dates every year, without any confusion. We should be proud to have our own calendar which signifies our very own independent distinct and ‘Sovereign Sikh Religion’ as a nation.
We beseech all Sikhs to give their full support and follow the MNC immediately which will require a strong Sikh spine and superior Sikh leadership to accomplish.
ABOUT: The American Sikh Council is the umbrella organization representative of Sikhs in the United States. It is an elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions. Currently 74 Gurdwaras and other Sikh institutions across the nation are members of ASC. The major governing purpose of the organization is to represent the collective view of Sikhs in the United States. ASC works to promote Sikh interests at the national and international level focusing on issues of advocacy, education, and well-being of humankind.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here.
To people of a certain age in Silicon Valley, (i.e. elders), Satjiv Chahil, 72, is a familiar and recognized figure. That he is less known to younger techies is both unfortunate and telling.
Once you meet Chahil, you won’t forget him. He’s the charming, Indian-born American guy wearing a brightly colored turban — often with a matching blazer. Chahil loves documenting all the people he’s met (I think he invented the selfie, decades ago) and has a picture with everybody. One of my favorites is with Brazilian mega-novelist Paulo Coelho and German metal(ish) band Scorpions. (What?)
Much more than that though, the Zelig-like Chahil has been a mission-critical marketing executive at the biggest tech’s biggest companies — think Apple, IBM, HP and Xerox—at some of their most critical moments.
Even that is selling him short though. A “global intercultural and interdisciplinary innovator,” as he’s been described, is probably closer. He’s also exactly what’s missing from Silicon Valley right now. Unlike the modus operandi of today’s technocrats, Chahil’s life’s work has been to make technology essential to the creative, moral, and fun-loving continuum of human existence.
Apple in its heyday exemplified some of this thinking, and it’s no coincidence Chahil worked there for nine years. The company was a home to many out-of-the box, non-technical minds like Regis McKenna and Lee Clow, designers Hartmut Esslinger and Jony Ive — and, you could argue, Steve Jobs himself.
“My first experience in Silicon Valley was in the early 80s when I moved there from the east coast,” Chahil recalls. “The mindset was so different. It was welcoming to people from all over the world and all fields of interest. It was long-haired, music-loving scientists who wanted to make the world a better place. Now it’s people wanting to get rich quickly and manipulate the world.”
Please forgive the indulgence in good-old-days-ism, but it bears re-hearing because very little in American business or society is as important as Silicon Valley’s shifted priorities, aka, moral collapse. We’ll get into that some more, but first back to our protagonist.
Chahil, born to a well-off family in India, came to the U.S. for graduate school, receiving a degree in international management from the Thunderbird School at Arizona State in 1976. (Chahil just gave the fall convocation speech there this past Tuesday.) Then he began his career at IBM.
“Silicon Valley was about changing the world. IBM world was about controlling the world. When I joined IBM, it could stand up to governments. Getting a job at IBM for me came from heaven,” Chahil says. “I wrote to my grandma in India, ‘your prayers have been answered.'”
In some ways, the company felt familiar.
“IBM was a very disciplined organization,” Chahil continues. “It felt like being in my British military boarding school again. The good aspects were that we were given training on ethics. We were not allowed to even expense a drink on our expense account. We were told to answer our mail as it came. But the whole company was driven by information, productivity and reporting controls. The business purpose was so different from where I landed up.”
Which was Silicon Valley. Chahil moved to another iconic, though radically different tech destination, Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center). Scientists there famously developed all manner of technology (graphic user interface, the mouse, desktop publishing), which Xerox never put to market but was later adopted, borrowed or stolen (some say) by the likes of Apple, Microsoft, Adobe and others.
“Xerox collected the most brilliant scientists and asked them to think of a paperless future,” he says. “Steve Jobs visited Xerox PARC [in 1979]. And he got what Xerox could not get. Macintosh and what Apple became, originated at Xerox PARC. Jobs hired away Larry Tesler, who was the creator of cut and paste [and also showed PARC’s tech to Jobs]. Larry became the chief scientist of Apple.
“One of my office neighbors was one of these long-haired genius scientists, Joe Becker. He figured out how to do foreign languages on computers and was the father of Unicode, which allows not just languages, but all those emojis on your computer. I suggested ‘why don’t we launch multilingual desktop computing?’”
But Xerox passed and “one after the other, all the people left Xerox.” Chahil joined the exodus.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here.
While the rest of the world is looking for more ways to accord love, respect and dignity to the elderly, disabled and feeble members of society, some Sikhs have decided to violently destruct, destroy, rip out, and then burn chairs and benches that Gurdwaras have put in place for members of the sangat who are unable to sit cross legged on the floor.
Two accounts of such ruckus have come to light [in Punjab] within the month. The first event was at Gurdwara Biharipur Kapurthala on December 9 and the second event was at Gurdwara Singh Sabha Model Town, Jalandhar three days later. In both Gurdwaras, a group of heavily armed Sikhs ripped out the chairs, tore the cushions with a vengeance, and took the furniture outside. They poured fuel on the pile of broken furniture and set it on fire. In one of the Gurdwaras, such ruckus was created within an ongoing diwan.
The group was led by Amritpal Singh, chief of the political party named Waris Punjab De (The Heirs of Punjab). Amritpal Singh has said that his primary objective is to bring back – into the Sikhi fold – Sikhs who have left Sikhism for other religions.
He has assembled a convoy named the Khalsa Vaheer (March of the Khalsa) and has embarked on a mission to make his presence felt in the villages across Punjab. He does so by moving around with his group of heavily armed people. It is during such moving around that the ruckus of destructing, destroying, and then burning chairs and benches that they had violently ripped out from within the two Gurdwaras took place.
Amritpal and persons from his convoy have provided a host of justifications for such conduct. His justifications are in need of scrutiny.
The first justification is based on the stipulation of the Sikh Rehat Maryada. The relevant rule is as follows: (ਝ) ਕਿਸੇ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਦਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਪਰਕਾਸ਼ ਸਮੇਂ ਜਾਂ ਸੰਗਤ ਵਿਚ ਗਦੇਲਾ, ਆਸਣ, ਕੁਰਸੀ, ਚੌਕੀ, ਮੰਜਾ ਆਦਿ ਲਾ ਕੇ ਬੈਠਣਾ ਜਾਂ ਕਿਸੇ ਹੋਰ ਵਿਤਕਰੇ ਨਾਲ ਬੈਠਣਾ ਮਨਮਤ ਹੈ। ਸ਼ਫਾ ੧੪. Translation: It is wrong for any person, in the presence of the Satguru, within the sangat, to sit on a cushion, distinctive seat, chair, stool, bed or to sit with any other form of discrimination.
The key word, the operative word here is Vitkra – discrimination. The question is this – is making it possible for elderly Sikhs, disabled Sikhs, Sikhs with health issues such as knee pain etc – is making it possible for such Sikhs amongst us to attend and participate in the Gurdwara an act of discrimination?
In the name of common decency, preferred seating is provided for pregnant women and the disabled in public transport systems worldwide. And no one treats that as an act of discrimination over the regular fare paying healthy passengers. In fact, in the name of decency – many able persons actually stand up to give their seats to such “disabled” persons out of sheer courtesy and human kindness. And here we are, as Sikhs, screaming Sarbat da Bhala on top of our voices, but unable to practise human decency at its base level. Is the practice of kindness towards our own elderly and disabled out of the parameters of Sarbat da Bhala?
The second justification by Amritpal and persons from his convoy is based on the notion that sitting on chair, benches or sofas amounts to a challenge to authority of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS).
A challenge to the authority of the SGGS is committed by a single person who intends to usurp the legitimate position of the Guru. Such, for instance, was attempted by Khem Singh Bedi, who claimed to be a direct descendant of Guru Nanak and who insisted on being seated in front, next to the SGGS and at the same level as SGGS on a cushion complete with a backrest. Such is also done by countless sadhs and sants in deras who sit on higher pedestals where the sangat bows to their feet in the presence of the SGGS.
What we have are common members of the sangat who are allocated common benches attached to the side walls or at the back of darbar halls and who seat themselves there due to health disabilities. How could this motley group of unrelated persons be declared as “Challenging the Authority and Sanctity of SGGS?”
The third reasoning of Amritpal Singh and his Vaheer was that these elderly folks were being seated “higher” than the SGGS and higher than the other sangat when the only higher entity should be the SGGS.
When Guru Arjun Ji constructed the Darbar Sahib Amritsar he built a gallery on the 1st Floor overlooking the Darbar where SGGS is installed at the floor level. i.e. at the same level as all the seated sangat and kirtanias. This gallery actually has people seated, people walking, people standing and looking in the down direction at the SGGS and the sangat seated below. There are other gurdwaras with similar designs. This is a pix of Gurdwara Sis Ganj in Delhi. It too has a gallery at the first floor overlooking the Darbar where SGGS is installed at the floor level. Are not all those on the gallery actually higher than the SGGS and sangat below? If Guru Arjun ji had no objections to Sikhs sitting one gallery above, what is the objection of Sikhs sitting one bench above?
The fourth justification – in the words of one member of the Vaheer is as follows: If an elderly or disabled person can come to a gurdwara he should be able to stand. Meaning the disabled and elderly do not have to sit. This same member further says: If the Guru is on the floor – we should dig a hole and sit in it.
So what can the Sikhs world do now? The SGPC and Akaal Takht have to speak up. The authorities in Punjab have to apply the law on the lawless acts of these people or risk more violence. Parcharaks, ragis, granthis etc will have to speak up and assure their sangats that there is no violation of maryada, no issue of disrespect, that they can sit on chairs and benches because none of them are challenging the authority of the Guru in any such way.
Gurdwara committees and sangats need to come together to stop these talibani behaviour. Lodge police reports. Sue the political party for damage of property. The highest disrespect to the sangat is to storm a gurdwara belonging to the sangat, destroy property that belonged to the sangat and to deprive the sangat of their basic needs. And to do this while the sangat is listening to katha in the darbar is the highest disrespect to the Guru. This is what we call disrespect under the pretext of respect.
One the five disabled claimants, Bhupinder Kaur Chohan said: “Fifty years ago Sikhs were fighting for the right to wear turbans in public in this country. Here we are in 2017 fighting for the right to attend the Gurdwara as disabled people without being hidden away and forced to sit like zoo animals behind partitions. We have just the same right to worship and pray as everyone else. We should not be made to feel inferior.”
The court ordered the gurdwara to remove all of the screens as well as signs which prohibited the use of chairs and wheelchairs.
It does not have to come to the point that the elderly and disabled have to go to court to make the point that disabled people are not second class citizens and deserve the same right to attend gurdwaras as everyone else. Gurbani, gurmat and sikhi already accords that right. The problem is not with Sikhi principles – but with people with agendas who want to twist it all to serve themselves. The problem is people whose model is the nuisance of talibani politics, lawlessness and hooliganism –and they wish to climb the ladder of politics through such ugly methods. There is a need to call out such people and to stand up for what is right.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here.
Wife: Sardani Pritam Kaur d/o Late Sardar Bachan Singh
Children / Spouse
Roshenjit Singh / Ashwin Kaur
Kasminderjit Singh / Parwin Kaur
Kiranjit Kaur / Ravinder Singh
Grandchildren: Harmeshdeep Singh
Also missed and forever cherished by brothers, sisters, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces relatives and friends.
Saskaar / Cremation: 2.00 p.m., 23 December 2022 (Friday) at Wadha Gurdwara Ipoh Crematorium
Cortège leaves at 1.30 p.m. from residence, No. 59, Persiaran Semangat Dua, Taman Rapat Bahagia, 31350 Ipoh, Perak.
Path da Bhog: 31 December 2022 (Saturday), from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Gurdwara Sahib Gunung Rapat, Ipoh, Perak, followed by Guru ka Langgar
Contacts:
Roshanjit Singh-(019-5609422)
Kashminder Singh- (016-3569562)
Ahtar Singh- (012-3617863)
Karamjeet Singh- (019-3330583)
A loving and caring husband, father and brother & a great soul that served everyone.
Pillar of strength for his siblings. There are no words for the legacy which you have left on our family. Your shining personality will live on and be cherished in our hearts forever.
We, the family of the Late Mohindar Singh would like to thank all relatives and friends for their kind presence, condolences and prayers during our bereavement.
| Entry: 22 Dec 2022 | Source: Family
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here.
Rasna Rajkitkul at a recent moot competition at the Thammasat University – Photo: Personal LinkedIn
By Asia Samachar | Thailand |
Rasna Rajkitkul is the current president of the Thammasat International Moot Society.
The final year law student at the Thai university was recently involved in the national round of the International Humanitarian Law Moot Competition.
“It’s my honor to say that this year the Hong Kong Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Moot held their annual Thai National Round at Thammasat University,” she said in a social media entry.
Her first event as the society president was the university’s annual pre-law session for the freshmen class, consisting of 120 students, in July.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 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. When you leave a comment at the bottom of this article, it takes time to appear as it is moderated by human being. Unless it is offensive or libelous, it should appear. You can also comment at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can reach us via WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 or email: asia.samachar@gmail.com. For obituary announcements, click here.
