Gurdwara Sahib Guru Nanak Shah Alam – Photo: Asia Samachar
STATEMENT | MALAYSIA |
Gurdwara Sahib Guru Nanak Shah Alam (GSGNSA) had their AGM and election of the new management committee on the 19th May 2019.
The sanggat of Gurdwara Sahib Shah Alam elected Sardar Patminderjit Singh s/o Mhan Singh as the new President of Gurdwara Sahib Guru Nanak Shah Alam Management Committee for the year 2019 – 2021.
Sardar Tarlochan Singh from Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya was the observer over the election held at the GSGNSA.
The newly elected President Sardar Patminderjit Singh mentioned that we are here to do the Gurukar Sewa and to serve the sangaat. Let’s join hands & move forward together and welcomes one and all to our Gurdwara.
The newly elected Management Committee lineup for year 2019 -2021 are as follows:
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
HE runs not for medals or financial fame. He runs for charity or community cause as he’s an athlete with a big heart, energy and a great attitude.
Paviter Singh is a little-known sportsman exemplary in his own heartland way as an ultra-marathon runner. Nowhere close to world-beaters like Joseph Schooling (swimmer), C Kunalan (sprinter) or Ang Peng Siong (swimmer) but he hits the road, in a rather quiet way, as he indulges in a non-Olympic recognised sport.
“I believe in the collective human spirit. As a Sikh, I do have a strong connection to my community and want to help those in need and create awareness of the benefits from running,” says 37-year-old Paviter, who adds, tongue-in-cheek, that the “biggest race this year” will be when he ties the knot with Jasmine Kaur, 31, a teacher at the Sir Manasseh Meyer International School (SMMIS), Singapore’s only Jewish international school in Jalan Ulu Sembawang.
He may not hog the headlines in the media but as you read this article, you’re going to like this exceptional runner and human being. His running (and winning) formula: He just believes in himself.
As a sportsman over four decades, I’ve always felt there’s a huge mental component to running long distances and wondered if Paviter, a former cross-country athlete at St Patrick’s School, has a special mantra when it comes to the enduring ultra-marathon challenges
Confidently, he says: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going, but if you’re going to run an ultra, you have to keep it in mind that it will be tough, so try not to think about it being tough at all. If you feel like it’s going to be hard, it will feel harder than it actually is.”
WHAT’S ULTRA-MARATHON?
First on your mind: What’s an ultra-marathon? It’s any footrace longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195 km (26.4 miles). The most common distances are 50 km (31.1 miles), 100 km (62.2 miles), 50 miles (80.5 km), and 100 miles (160.9 km), The 100 km is recognized as an official world record event by the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the world governing body of track and field.
Paviter, who has competed in Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Italy, France and Germany, says: “I’d rather not think about that and just take it as a run. I never think of a 100km run as a 100km run. I break it up into 10km or 15km bits.
“I do a lot of planning. I make a lot of charts and draw a lot of graphs so I break up the 100km into the names of different hills that I’m going to climb, so that way I don’t think about the entire distance. I have many hills to climb and I’ll just do it one at a time.”
If you don’t know Paviter, you may say he’s ultra-crazy on some big personal occasions. Some have nice cakes and nostalgic candles for a birthday, others pop bottles of fancy bubbly and party the night away. But he celebrated his 30th birthday by putting himself in pain!
Kid you not, and please make no mistake though. Paviter is no masochist, but simply a very passionate ultra-marathon runner.
He says: “I was looking for a new challenge to celebrate my birthday and to celebrate continuous change, and happened to come across [a 100-km run] that coincided with my birthday that year. Yes, 26 painful hours and 100 km later, I had been initiated into the world of ultra-marathons and haven’t looked back.”
I ask him what’re the best lessons he learnt running ultra-marathons. He replies: ‘There is a true and raw form of camaraderie in ultra-marathons that I love. I’ve made some amazing friends through races. Being out in nature and having the opportunity to run in slightly unreachable places has been [great] as well.
“I’ve learnt to become more patient and to manage my own expectations about myself and others. I think it’s made me a bit less temperamental; I don’t get overexcited about things as much as before because ultra-running has taught me it’s about thinking long-term and not short-term.”
‘PEOPLE-ORIENTED FACTOR’
The “people-oriented factor” matters a lot to him and he recounts running The North Face (TNF) Australia. He says: “I was struggling quite a bit at 65km. My IT band was flaring up and someone just ran past me, I had no idea who she was, but she said, “you’re struggling, what’s going on?” and I said, “my IT band is flaring up”.
“She was a physiotherapist, and she said, “sit down, let me sort you out” and she strapped my knee up and off she went. I never got to speak to her again, but it’s that sense of camaraderie, understanding, and people helping each other in moments of need, that really struck a chord in me, because that’s what ultra-running really is about.”
The seven-letter word ‘charity’ is invincibly edged on his heart and he is prepared to run to the ground for the lesser fortunate. He cites working closely with the Singapore Cancer Society. He explains: “I decided to become a charity athlete for the Singapore Cancer Society after a family member passed away due to cancer.”
“As a charity athlete, I do engage people to try and donate for the right cause. Every year, I run the ‘Run For Cancer’ race as well. From time to time, I also give talks on how ultra-marathon running helps me in life on a daily [basis], in a hope to inspire individuals.”
POUNDING THE ROADS
Pounding the roads is a self-sacrificing hobby for a passionate ultra-marathoner. Believe me, it’s never a bed of proverbial roses. Paviter reiterates that improving on stamina and mileage in a gradual manner is the key to experiencing an easier race and he shares his intense training schedule.
“I usually increase my training to about six days a week in preparation for any big race,” he says. “In an ultra-marathon, each race provides new challenges in terrain and weather. To train for that, the focus is a lot more on hill/stair training, balance and strength. We are exposed to elements, such as extreme heat, snow, hail and freezing cold. There is a lot of climbing in an ultra-marathon. In my last race, we had to climb 1200 metres in just the first 10 kilometres!”
Explaining the difference between the common marathon and the unusual ultra-marathon races, he says: “In an ultra-marathon, the pace of running, while important, is secondary to me. There is a lot of walking, fast hiking and negotiation through various trails and mental/physical states.
“A marathon, however, is slightly different. There is no walking and the primary focus is to maintain a strong pace. Two very different approaches with varying degrees of difficulty. Both are very different sports, just like how rally driving and Formula 1 racing are.”
Ultra-marathon runner Paviter Singh and Jasmine Kaur
MOST MEMORABLE RACE
I was curious to know of his most memorable race.
He gives a cheeky wink and replies: “Can I say all of them? If I had to choose one, it would probably be The North Face Australia 2014. This was the second time I ran this race. In 2013, I fell ill at the 65km mark and finished in 20 hours, five minutes. I was gutted and set out to train for a full year, so in 2014, everything went according to plan. I ran my race in 16 hours, nine minutes. Reducing my timing by four hours was very memorable.”
Smilingly, he says competing internationally on the ultra-marathon circuit “gives you back some faith in humanity”. He explains: “I definitely feel more human because of it. Some of the stories I hear of why people do ultra-running is also quite moving. There was this guy in a race whose leg was broken, and he knew it was broken but he still ran 100km to raise the funds for his child suffering from cerebral palsy. Sentimental stories like that move me so much.”
He vividly remembers his first Sabah Adventure Challenge in 2011. He says: “It was my birthday that November and you might say it was a gift I gave myself – a new challenge. How did I do? I tell friends that I stumbled the entire distance, but I finished.
“The rest, as they say, is history. The sheer sense of adventure, the unknown drew me to this sport. Before then, I ran road races, but something was always missing. I found that puzzle piece when I ran my birthday Ultra in 2011.”
DIGITAL WORLD
Career-wise, he’s Head (Courses) at Hyper Island, where he’s constantly thinking about how all things digital impact our world. I ask him if he mixes the digital world with physical running to achieve balance or does he have a hard time reconciling the two worlds?
“My world does revolve around all things digital because my job involves looking at how digital affects our lives and how we deal with change,” he says. “I believe in life-long learning, which is very compatible with ultra-marathon running. I’m always learning; a desire and passion for learning and getting out of that comfort zone drives people like me.
“A good example of this is my enthusiasm for social media which enables me to stay in contact with the Singapore running community. Sharing stories online deepens our friendships.
Since ultra-marathoners are a growing community here, what’s the enduring advice he wants to give the younger generation contemplating ultra-marathon distances? Smartly, he says: “I feel that ultra-marathon running is the most accessible sport in the world. I think anyone can do it. It’s more mental than physical; I’ve seen 80-year-olds doing it.
“The aim is not to think about the distance. Think instead about the journey, and what you learn from it. It’s not about speed at all. It’s about understanding yourself it’s about pushing through boundaries.
“That’s a mentality applicable to life in general as well – what’s the hurry? Take a step back, listen to people around you, and then make a decision. What I’ve learnt from ultra-running, I’ve applied to other areas of my life and work as I see lots of parallels”
To the first-timers, who’re keen to go the extra mile, Paviter’s value-add advice: “First of all, enjoy your surroundings, and soak in the environment. Also, be positive – not just in running but in life. In ultra running, just like life, nothing ever goes as planned. A positive mindset will get you through that.”
“Train for specifics too – hill training and building muscle strength are important. Also, it helps to break large distances into smaller and mentally digestible parts. Finally, walk whenever you have to.”
As he winds down the interview, Paviter admits that ultra-marathon running has given him the “best reality check that I have needed…it has made me realise my strengths, brought me down to my knees at my weakest moments and has made me push through my comfort zone to maintain a positive mindset, no matter what happens”.
I believe him. There is a form of suffering involved, of course. It does hurt at times. But not always. Afterall, as Singaporeans we can do the extraordinary, without serious thoughts to money, fame or medals.
Yes, the little-known Paviter has shown that we’re not super-humans. We are not mad. We just need to be human and have the passion to run to help the charity and/or community.
Suresh Nair is a sports journalist who salutes Paviter Singh and believes that ultra-marathon running is one of the most accessible sports in the world. You don’t have to be a “super-fit” person to run an ultra-marathon. You need a very passionate Paviter Singh-heart!
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
6th June 1984 is etched onto the collective psyche of Sikhs across the word. It was on this day 35 years ago that by storming the Darbar Sahib Amritsar with helicopter gunships, tanks, infantry and rocket propelled grenades, the Indian state committed a heinous crime against Sikhs, nay against humanity.
Though there was no internet and social networking in those days and the Panjab was put under a media blackout, within hours news filtered out and the global Sikh diaspora erupted in anger and rage. The army began to encircle the Darbar Sahib on the 1st June and the battle began.
The first skirmish was at a bunker built at Baba Atal Gurdwara, which was defended by by the Babbar Khalsa chief Mehnga Singh along 40 men. After coming under heavy machine guns and semi-automatic rifle fire from the forces of CRPF and Border Security Force (BSF), Mehnga Singh became the first shaheed.
From then on each day the battle intensified with the full scale assault on the 6th leading to the destruction of the Akaal Takht and the loss off 1000’s if lives, both civilian and army. How could the Indian state declare war in the one community that gave more for the freedom struggle than any other?
This one event led to the call for an independent Sikh homeland. Perhaps the greatest gathering of protesters amongst the diaspora was the one in Central London on 10th June 1984. On that day over 100,000 Sikhs, the vast majority who were not practicing, gathered to display their anger and demand for freedom.
I was 24 years old the time and was actively involved in the Sikh struggle. Indeed, just 2 months before the attack, I was in Panjab and had the honour of meeting many of those who lost their lives and attained martyrdom.
The picture (above) shows me with other protesters at the march in Central London 35 years ago. I am in the blue attire helping to set light to the dummy of the them Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. Recalling those days still brings a tear to my eyes.
Some say forget 1984, but humanity should never forget such crimes, for to forget is to run the risk of them being repeated. I am reminded of a famous observation by Milan Kundera, in his Book of Laughter and Forgetting. “The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.”
Such a tragedy should never ever happen again, but this can only be possible if we keep reminding the world and ourselves of this dark day in Indian history when state executed mass murder of its fellow citizens during the first week of June 1984.
[Gurnam Singh is an academic activist dedicated to human rights, liberty, equality, social and environmental justice. He is a Visiting Fellow in Race and Education at University of Arts London and a Visiting Professor of Social Work at University of Chester as well as a presenter at UK-based Akaal channel. This views were shared on his Facebook page]
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
Sugvendar Kaur in action in a SMRT-released short video clip
By Asia Samachar | SINGAPORE |
Proud and impressed to see a Sikh lady at the controls of a Singapore train. That’s how the Sikh community react when they are face-to-face with Sugvendar Kaur Pritam Singh.
“They are usually cheerful and start with a greeting. They are proud and happy to see a female staff operating a train,” she told Asia Samachar.
Sugvendar is a senior train captain at Singapore’s SMRT Corp, formerly known as the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC). She joined the outfit 26 years ago.
With so many lives in their hands, the train captains are expected to remain calm and maintain cool headedness when discharging their responsibilities.
“Safety, fast recovery and keep the public calm and updated when a crisis arises is the hallmark of our operations,” she said.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
PATH DA BHOG: 16 June 2019 (Sunday) at Gurdwara Sahib Buntong, Ipoh. Kirtan, path da bhog from 10am onwards followed by Guru Ka Langgar|Malaysia
Balwir Singh (Birey), (1958-2019), Buntong, Ipoh
BALWIR SINGH (BIREY) A/L LATE UJAGAR SINGH
Wife: Charanjit Kaur (Chaney)
Father: Late Ujagar Singh (Police Ipoh)
Mother: Gorubachan Kaur (Police Gurdwara Ipoh)
Daughters:
Sharon Kaur
Sumanpreet Kaur
Indirpreet Kaur
Path Da Bhog: 16 June 2019 (Sunday) at Gurdwara Sahib Buntong, Ipoh. Kirtan, path da bhog from 10am onwards followed by Guru Ka Langgar
Contact:
Darshan Singh 012 295 0101
Satpal Singh 012 277 1251
Ajitpal Singh 012 277 3912
| Entry: 1 June 2019; Updated: 3 June 2019 | Source: Family |
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
An estimated 5,000 Singaporeans of different races and faiths will be attending the Sikh Heritage Day, a two-day exhibition starting 8 June 2019 at Our Tampines Hub.
President Halimah Yacob, the guest-of-honour of the event, will launch and tour the exhibition on 8 June.
Visitors to the exhibition can participate in and witness diverse activities ranging from turban tying and the sampling of traditional Sikh food in the free kitchen (langar) to learning about the Sikh identity and its traditional music. Visitors will also discover Sikhs who have distinguished themselves in their professional fields, and in the process made important contributions to Singapore.
The Sikh Heritage Day is being held in conjunction with the community’s year-long celebration of the 550th birthday of Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The two-day exhibition is the main public outreach event and the first large-scale effort targeted solely at helping Singaporeans learn more about the 12,000-strong local Sikh community and its heritage.
“When we were planning this event, we knew it had to capture the complex ways in which our faith strengthens our sense of responsibility to Singapore and to humanity. We thought it was important to show that we are proud of our plural identities as Sikhs and Singaporeans, and increasingly, global citizens, who add to the prosperity and vibrancy of many different societies,” said Mr Malminderjit Singh, the project lead for the Sikh Heritage Day.
Mr Suhaimi Rafdi, Senior Director of Our Tampines Hub, said, “Our Tampines Hub is honoured to host the Sikh community’s Heritage Day. From inception, OTH is deeply rooted on the principles of bridging, bonding and building communities with the aim of enhancing understanding and appreciation across different segments of society. In many ways, what we embrace at OTH is closely aligned with what the Sikh community is trying to achieve through the Sikh Heritage Day.
Hence, the Sikh community in Singapore will feel warmly welcome at OTH as they gather to build the community regardless of castes, gender or religious backgrounds.”
During the event, President Halimah Yacob will meet with members and leaders of the Sikh community, tour the exhibition area, and offer photo opportunities at each of these junctures.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
INSERT PHOTO: Our only loyalty is to the Constitution and the values enshrined in it, says Narendra Modi in a Facebook entry on 26 May 2019
By Anmol Singh Hundal | OPINION |
The Constitution of India is one of the least read documents in India (and all over the world). Yet, somewhat paradoxically, this is the document that Indians “know” most about, or so they claim. This is also the document that is so revered in India that observers might even mistake it for a religious scripture. The latter point is not a paradox at all.
In general, the respect an individual has for a religious scripture is inversely proportional to his knowledge of its content; because the content is too sordid to be respected. As American freethinkers often say, the greatest atheist maker is the Bible itself.
My point is that as a religious (or a quasi-religious) document, the Constitution of India is no different. It is respected by many precisely because they have never read it. These people have an imagined concept of the Constitution that is near-perfect if not perfect and provides citizens with their democratic rights and gives an answer to all moral and political dilemmas. This “Imaginary Constitution” informs the debates, discussions and daily lives of these people. The way they explain the ugly reality of state violence and repression in India is by saying that the Constitution is not being properly followed by the Government of India. However, comforting these lies might be, they are not as valuable as truth in bringing meaningful sustainable positive change.
The above is a famous clip of the Indian politician Shashi Tharoor claiming that the Indian Constitution is under threat from BJP. According to him, the BJP seeks to rewrite the Indian Constitution to realize its aim of turning the “secular” India into a Fascist Hindu nation. He correctly points out that a party needs two-thirds majority in both houses of the Parliament to carry out an Amendment. He predicts that the aforementioned condition would be satisfied if BJP wins the Lok Sabha 2019 elections, which it now has. So, will there be a rewrite of the Indian Constitution in the coming months?
Before we answer that, we first need to ask some prep questions? What is a Hindu nation? What is it that the State requires to create that Hindu nation? Unlike what the Left claims, BJP does not seek to physically eliminate religious minorities like Sikhs and Muslims and make India an exclusive domain of Hindus. All that BJP wants is for religious minorities to accept their story. Their story is that all inhabitants of the Indian Subcontinent were originally Hindus.
Islam arrived as a result of invasions by barbarians and other “Indic” religions like Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism are nothing but a mere outgrowth of the grand-daddy Hinduism. Muslims can continue to live as Muslims, but they need to acknowledge that their ancestors were Hindus and were forced to convert. Sikhs, Jains etc. need to give up their independent identity and become integrated into the Hindu society. So, the goal is not physical elimination but a gradual amalgamation of minorities into the majority.
Now what does BJP need to achieve this? There are only two things: the power to interfere in religious issues, and a coercive apparatus to violently shut down dissenters? And both of these things are already provided to the State by the Indian Constitution. There are no real limits to State power; citizens are not protected from arbitrary arrest (the exceptions in Article 22) and there is no separation of church and State (the exceptions in Article 25). For a detailed discussion, you can read my book: The Constitution of India Simplified.
In light of these facts, why would the BJP want to rewrite the Constitution? The current Constitution already satisfies BJP’s needs. It is a Constitution that is thoroughly illiberal but is considered by many to be a perfect document. And it’s a Constitution that the Untouchables of India believe was written by their leader, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. And it’s a Constitution that because of its complex language, is hard to read for a common person. As it stands, this Constitution is perfect for the job. BJP leadership would be stupid to rewrite such a Constitution.
So, how did the famed politician Shashi Tharoor get it wrong and who am I to question him? The answer is that he most likely (just like most Indians) never read it, and I did. Unlike many, he did see it, because at some point he must have taken an oath; he might even have flipped through a copy, but I can almost guarantee that he never read it. He just heard about it from others or read about it in his school textbook.
I would like to conclude by reproducing a comment made by Sardar Hukam Singh, who was a member of the India’s Constituent Assembly, in his final speech in the Assembly.
the Sikhs feel utterly disappointed and frustrated. They feel that they have been discriminated against. Let it not be misunderstood that the Sikh community has agreed to this Constitution. I wish to record an emphatic protest here. My community can not subscribe its assent to this historic document…In our Constitution, each article tends to sap the local autonomy and make the provinces irresponsible… To sum up, our Constitution does not give anything substantial or concrete to the individual. It only gives solemn promises and pious platitudes. The Fundamental Rights are worthless as they have so many restrictions and are left at the mercy of the legislature… The minorities and particularly the Sikhs have been ignored and completely neglected. The Provincial units have been reduced to Municipal Boards… This shall consequently facilitate the development of administration into a fascist State for which there is enough provision in our Constitution.
Sardar Hukam Singh saw right through the Constitution and anticipated the development of a Fascist State, and this project has been in progress since 1949.
Anmol Singh Hundal is a US-based software engineer at Quora and author of The Constitution of India Simplified
* This is the opinion of the writer, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
Above: Present Dalam Gurdwara. Below: The turf at Wadda Gurdwara
Dear Editor,
I am writing to you, with input from friends, with regards to what we heard regarding developments at Kampung Pandan gurdwaras.
We understand Asia Samachar has recently suggested or asked both gurdwaras to consider their options of developments.
If indeed it is coming from Asia Samachar through Sangat at large, then we feel it is a really good. Nonetheless, if not, it will be good and real wonderful sewa to the community as a whole if Asia Samachar could take this up, since you all have the reach to almost the entire Sangat.
We really need the Sangat out there to voice out their opinion because Gurdwaras do not belong to a particular group or area residents only, more so if it is located in places like central of Kuala Lumpur.
We really hope a good and rational input is given by the whole nation’s Sangat to move ahead.
Ok, coming to the point now.
We heard that Asia Samachar has requested both the gurdwaras to consider properly their developments since both are moving towards redeveloping the gurdwaras.
As rightly said, it is pointless to build two gurdwaras which are hardly 1km apart. And to build redundant facilities with both gurdwaras having big darbars, classrooms, waja, multipurpose rooms, etc.
Why don’t we ask them to strategise. The gurdwara which is located inside, known as the Dalam Gurdwara [Gurdwara Sahib Kampung Pandan Settlement], may build and take certain roles and the outer gurdwara, known as Wadda Gurdwara [Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Jalan Kampung Pandan], may take certain roles. This is so that the Sangat as a whole, not only of Kampung Pandan or nearby, but overall in Kuala Lumpur, may benefit.
The Wadda Gurdwara has got a huge land and is located very prominently in the centre of KL city.
They may build and take up, for example: Punjabi classes and auditorium, properly built kirtan learning room, dorms for religious camps, badminton & football courts, multipurpose rooms to help the needy like single mothers, a get together facility area for oldies or retirees who are lonely at home (similar to the concept in the west), proper rooms for visiting parcharaks and youth training rooms. If possible, a reasonably-sized hall for events.
On the other hand, the Dalam Gurdwara may be used for all Darbar Sahib related activities only.
In this way, as mentioned, the whole Sangat will fully benefit.
Presently both gurdwaras are coming up with redundant facilities and indeed both are not having a good amount of Sangat to start with. There are people who stays in Dalam area but go to the Wadda Gurdwara and vice versa.
Both gurdwaras, especially the Dalam Gurdwara, is about to start their development. It will be very sad for the Sangat all over if they do go ahead. It will be a golden opportunity loss to give the best to the Sangat.
Soon the Wadda Gurdwara, too, will start and we will be neither here nor there and keep complaining that we don’t have these and that facilities and that’s why we don’t have enough sanggat. And, worst still, we will complain that Sikhs are not united.
The Wadda Gurdwara built a football court some time ago. We have seen how it has benefitted and attracted so many youngsters. Imagine, in addition to this, if we also have all the other facilities as mentioned above, how much more will we all benefit. (We are a small community, we are not lucky enough to get these facilities pre-provided like others).
What value is there in having two darbar sahibs hardly 1km apart with hardly 20 to 50 Sanggat each time. Both, of course, with LANGGAR halls.
Moving towards uniting in this manner is the best thing to do; anything else may be a long term or a permanent disaster.
The issue which will come in between is only and only our narrow mindedness. Example: the fear among the present stakeholders that they may be left as Mr Nobody if this happens.
Therefore, to make this happen, it is impossible to only rely on the locals to resolve the matter. Only the Sangat out there, particularly on the social media, can put on this full pressure to ensure the correct steps are taken.
To be frank, even now in moving forward with their present respective developments, both gurdwaras are going to come back to this wider Sangat for contribution anyway. They have already got whatever funds their locals could contribute and it is hardly a pittance.
Thus, the Sangat out there has to be made aware of the situation before they contribute even a single sen.
Therefore, we really hope Asia Samachar could do this sewa by making them aware of the options.
It will be up to the respective Sangat member out there to see and assess for themselves, whether they see this as a golden opportunity to unite and build these two places or they prefer otherwise.
We really hope you would share this opinion piece with the Sangat nationwide, if you find this worthy.
Very sorry we are unable to give our full names as we sincerely don’t wish to be known in anyway and targeted as a party out to disrupt anything. We are writing merely for the benefit of our beloved Sangat.
In addition to the above, the combined force of both committees (which are made up of mostly youngsters), will be of great value.
Your sincerely,
GS, HS, PK and RS.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: One team from one of the Kampung Pandan gurdwaras met Asia Samachar recently to share their development plans. In that discussion, we did inform the team to be prepared to address the issue on the fact that two neighbouring gurdwaras in Kuala Lumpur are preparing to tap Sanggat funds for renovation and redevelopment.]
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
At the Newlands Mosque. L-R: Lovish Thakkar (Ekta), Brett Hudson (National MP, Jill Day (Deputy Mayor), Peter Gilbert (WCC Councillor) and Greg O Connor (Labour MP for Ōhāriu), Sitting from left: Riju Sinha (Ekta), Farisha Begg (Ekta), Sunita Musa (Ekta) and Vivienne Varouhas (Ekta).
By EKTA | NEW ZEALAND |
Ekta joined in the breaking of the fast with Muslim members of the community in two mosques in the Newlands suburb of Wellington on 25 and 26 May 2019 and will be joining in the iftar at the main Wellington mosque in Kilbirnie on 1 June.
Ekta project leader Farisha Begg said aside from Ekta members, local MPs and councillors, the deputy mayor of Wellington also joined Ekta in the iftars at the Newlands mosques.
Begg said it is customary for communities to have iftar together. In addition to the breaking of the fast, it helps to strengthen the bonding amongst the people who share food.
Begg said that Ekta volunteers had helped at the vigil that had been organised in Wellington after the Christchurch shootings and had also helped in organising the human chain around the Kilbirnie mosque in late March.
Participating and contributing to the Iftars was hence just an extension of the bonding that Ekta has been trying to develop earnestly since the tragic events of March 15.
Begg who had also helped in Christchurch in the aftermath of the shootings, said that it is very inspiring to see more and more community groups making efforts to encourage their members to know and partake in the practices of people living around them. Several groups have been participating in iftars in the mosques in Wellington.
Begg noted that at both mosques the Imams and the Muslim community was most appreciative of the participation of Ekta and friends at the Iftars and expressed interest to further strengthen the bonding going forward.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Ekta members. Anu Singh, United Nation Association’s President for the Wellington Branch, who was visiting a mosque for iftar for the first time, said she felt blessed and loved and welcomed the opportunity to work further with Ekta and the Muslim community of Wellington and particularly of Newlands.
Local MP Brett Hudson, who is a stronger supporter of Ethnic Communities in Wellington, in thanking the Muslim communities of both mosques in welcoming them to the iftars, said that developing greater understanding amongst the various people who make up New Zealand, is now even more critical and urged that more be done in fostering this kindred spirit both by the communities and the local and national governments.
Adding that everyone has the responsibility in ensuring that diversity does not stand alone but is coupled with inclusiveness. He welcomed the efforts that Ekta was undertaking in this regard through its various activities in collaboration with other community based and social organisations.
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
Heera Singh (middle, top) at the annual Malacca event
By Heera Singh | OPINION | MALAYSIA |
The concept of ‘Sewa‘ is a very important and significant aspect of Sikhism. In essence it means the provision of selfless service for the betterment of a community. Conceptually, it asks for all Sikhs to give up some of their time, talents and energy to help others and their community to become better. I was able to witness this concept first hand when I attended the Sant Sohan Singh Ji Barsi in Malacca, an annual Sikh religious festival, recently.
What was amazing was that the Malacca Gurdwara (temple) was able to carry out its operational and administrative activities during the festival without any formal workforce or any paid staff! As an example, they were able to serve free meals to approximately 3,000 people at any one given timein a very organised manner. There was no management structure i.e. no CEO, no managers, no supervisors and yet like clockwork, everything was being run very efficiently. Imagine the logistics involved in cooking and feeding 20,000 people! And yet the Gurdwara was able to do it brilliantly and only with volunteers!
I was involved quite intimately in the process as I wanted to see the concept from a first-hand perspective. I found that the volunteers came from all walks of life, from lawyers to engineers to clerks and also many retirees. They just came and did what they were comfortable with, some with the cooking chores, some with the washing, and some withthe serving. And when someone left to go to rest, somehow they were just replaced, and the work just went on. There was no one shouting orders, no one giving instructions and no onedirecting anyone. Some pro-active and experienced volunteers did however take on the role of informal supervisors which did enhance efficiency.
What is the secret to this concept of sewa? In one simple word it is called Faith! Faith made many Sikhs from all walks of life come from all over Malaysia to contribute their services for free. The motivating factor was very simple: they all wanted to attain spiritual fulfilment and fulfil their duties as a Sikh in doing sewa!
As they say, ‘faith can move mountains’ and here I saw it with my own eyes. No job was too difficult or demanding and everyone was ever willing to help in the name of faith. Physical comfort and personal well-being was cast aside in order to serve the community. I saw some women with tears flowing from their eyes having cut onions for almost three hours straight, which they normally would not do! Everyone just wanted to do their best without complaining.
All in all, it was an amazing experience for me. Apart from the spiritual fulfilment that I hopefully received, there were also management lessons that I took from the wonderful experience. Somewhere deep inside me, I know that perhaps the corporate world could learn a thing or two from this awesome concept of ‘sewa’.
The author, a retired Malaysian army officer, a leadership and motivation specialiast and author of a HR book Human Resources Documentation]. He can be contacted at heera@heera.com.my or +6012-6083708]
ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs / Punjabis in Southeast Asia and beyond.Facebook | WhatsApp +6017-335-1399 | Email: editor@asiasamachar.com | Twitter | Instagram | Obituary announcements, click here |
