Abhayjeet Singh Sachal and Sukhmeet Singh Sachael were so moved by what is happening in the Artic that they have decided to do something about it. Canada’s CTV featured the brothers from British Columbia in their morning show.

They founded Break the Divide, an initiative that uses social media to help youth create change in their communities. See them talk about their mission here.

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SASKAAR / CREMATION: 2pm, 10 February 2019 (Sunday), at Bercham Crematorium, Ipoh. Cortege leaves 27, Jalan Rishah Indah 8, Desa Rishah Indah, 30100 Ipoh, Perak | Malaysia

SANTOK SINGH S/O KARAM SINGH

Birth: 22 October 1963

Departed: 9 Feb 2019

Wife: Dalbir Kaur Aranam Singh

Children: 

Ranveer Singh Purba, Kpt G/25216

Sharonveer Kaur, Kpt RF/194631

Saskaar / Cremation: 2pm, 10 February 2019 (Sunday), at Bercham Crematorium, Ipoh

Cortege Timing: Cortege leaves 27, Jalan Rishah Indah 8, Desa Rishah Indah, 30100 Ipoh, Perak

Sukhmani Prayers: 23 February 2019 (Saturday) at residence at 27, Jalan Rishah Indah 8, Desa Rishah Indah, 30100 Ipoh, Perak

Path Da Bhog: 24 February 2019 (Sunday) at Gurdwara Sahib Buntong

Contact:

Dalbir Kaur (wife) 014-309 5892

Ranveer Singh (son) 018-467 4764

| Entry: 10 Feb 2019 | Source: Family |

aASIA 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 |

UK Sikh police now have a dashing new collective front with the launch last week of the National Sikh Police Association UK (NSPAUK).

The launch on 7 Feb 2019 in Birmingham was led by West Midlands Police Sgt Harvey Rai, with WM chief constable Dave Thomson and parliamentarian Preet Kaur Gill as guest speakers.

“Great to see the diversity of our police family today,” Thomson tweeted. WM Police employs around 320 Sikh police officers and staff.

In a social media update, participant Sabi Kaur said it was an honour to represent the Merseyside Police at the empowering conference which included a discussion on Sikh ethos and policing values by Kartar Singh.

Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Lynnette Kelly was also present at the launch.

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Top Malaysian police Sikh lady officer retires (Asia Samachar, 22 Jan 2019)

By I.J. Singh | OPINION |

While waiting in the anteroom of my Retirement Investment Advisor, I caught the headline of an editorial in The Wall Street Journal. It was as many OP-EDs are these days – mostly lamenting or celebrating President Donald Trump. His relationship with truth remains problematic but there is never a dull moment with Trump and his tweets.

The title fascinated me and I am plagiarizing it today, but I’ll recreate a new narrative around it about Sikhs and Sikhi. The fragmented reality of our Sikh community in North America is not as complex as it is maddeningly complicated. The body politic of Sikhi in India largely, and to a slightly lesser extent in the diaspora, is shredded, troublesome and mind boggling.  Every Sikh organization, no matter how minuscule, touts an endless list of enemies that they detest and will not deal with. (I, too, have a place on some such lists, but I carry it as a badge of honor.) It is as if each Sikh outfit has its own easily transmissible highly contagious viral infection.

Should each mini sect be isolated in solitary confinement? For fund-raising each organization comes to us as if it is unmatched in dedication and service – with an aura of the super-pure. Each flaunts its own purity of purpose.  I wonder if a peacock would be quite that vain and arrogant.

I have lost count, but with so many organizations (tribal clans!) it is difficult, if not impossible, to identify the singular agenda of each.  Their borders defy clear and unique domains.  Their activities overlap, as does their clientele.

But listen to their shtick.  Humility never touched them.  They cut each other down like crabs preventing other crabs from climbing any higher.  They swell but they do not grow.  Their prominent activities reinforce a newly minted adage: “Most people talk of people; some talk of things; a precious few talks of ideas.” They want to save the world for Sikhi but I wonder how – by destroying each other?

Some want to ban the English language within gurduara premises; such edicts are increasingly raising their ugly heads in the diaspora.  Others sell bottled water that they claim to have brought from India from some holy(?) river or well. Some also sell packets of dust from a historical gurduara site for distribution!  And there is a growing market in manufactured “dry” parshaad to transport across the world!  Isn’t that lovely?  And we preach that this is holier than what you can make in your own kitchen.

My simple mind is baffled! Why and how does the dust (dirt) and water from 10,000 miles away become holier than that from my local backyard and tap here in New York? And then, we ban chairs within the gurduara hall, lest the old and handicapped find some comfort. Didn’t the Gurus reject such pointless ritualism? Among such newly acquired habits to showcase our dedication are many that blow my mind.

We often shun real interfaith understanding and communication when the Guru Granth could well be the textbook for such initiatives for the world around us.  Some newly invented behavioral models rate a critical look!  Booing & heckling within the gurduara during the service, disorderly meetings, if any.  Voting by blocks based on origin — village, caste, Jat or non-Jat, Ramgarhia, Sodhi, Bhalla, Lubhana, and God alone knows how many more criteria.  Or banning elections in gurduaras.  Worse yet, when an election term is over to refuse to allow new elections and passing the baton to new, freely chosen/elected officers. And forget not the physical fights within the gurduaras.

Is this not best labeled as “Tribalism?”

Women remain unequal, despite our teachings that we proudly repeat in most gurduaras every day.  About 40 years ago, in New York, I remember being publicly excoriated because I asked a woman to lead the Ardaas.  Why a woman? I was asked by the management.  Female infanticide and dowry are never talked about within gurduara premises.

I recall a Sikh leader recently addressing the sangat; he emphasized that the first rule of Sikhi is to obey your parents.  I had to wonder if Guru Nanak himself would be disqualified by this criterion.

Our first principle seems to have morphed into vilification and dehumanizing of others with whom we do not agree.

Many are the things we fight about that make an endlessly fascinating list of trivia, don’t they? Too many chiefs hardly any Indians, as an American saying goes, tongue in cheek.  Or, is this denial of others ego run amok?  Is this narcissism a level above and beyond simple ego?  Aren’t they really small issues in the larger context?

A couple of more revealing habits:  We often recruit volunteers for an endless recitation of specific hymns or passages of gurbani – a thousand times or an unbroken chain of perhaps a million recitations worldwide. Forget not some who come to the gurduara but instead of attending the program – keertan or kathaa — they open a gutka (breviary) to continue their reading of something else – something they could have done at home. Then there is a group of young and not so young Sikh women. They religiously awaken at 3 AM – Amrit vela, you know – get on a group telephone call and repeat just one word – Vaheguru – for the next two hours.  Then, satisfied with the demonstration of their devotion, they go back to sleep.

Their reward?  World peace or a place in heaven and enlightenment?  I don’t really know.

We seem to look at a position in gurduara management as a birth right, not an opportunity for seva.  To be looking for a position of pride and never letting go.

The attitude shouts: “Surely, I should be the leader of the gurduara.  See how marvelous is my car, or how expensive my house – like a castle.  And the price of my jewelry.  Surely, I deserve the honor.  Look at me.  Ain’t I great?”

Look at me is the never-ending refrain. There is an intensity and passion to our debates, but not much purpose on the Internet by these guardians of our faith.  You would call it ego, I would dub it narcissism resting atop a pile of trivia.

If my column today reads like a rant or controversy on steroids so be it.  Perhaps I should have labeled it:  The Tyranny of Small Differences? Or Pulverized by Trivia.

[I.J. Singh is a New York based writer and speaker on Sikhism in the Diaspora, and a Professor of Anatomy. Email: ijsingh99@gmail.com]

* This is the opinion of the writer, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.

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By Harbans Lal | Seeking Wisdom | OPINION |

It was during a study circle at the Gurdwara of the Medical College Amritsar in 1951 or so that Dr. Harbhajan Singh asked this question, “Will the predicted expansion of knowledge in science hurt or help the spread of Sikhism worldwide?” Putting it another way, will scientists be attracted to Sikhi or they will begin ignoring it.

The late Dr. Harbhajan Singh was the Professor of Surgery, and the Study Circle was a regular weekly feature of the Gurdwara.

My answer was that, undoubtedly, the expansion of knowledge about the universe and the natural laws would help Sikhi to attract more adherents.

My answer was considered so startling that it was reported by the major Sikh newspaper of the day because most people in those days believed that modern science and education would drive people towards atheism and agnosticism. Moreover, the Sikh youth, in particular, will be impacted adversely; they will abandon Sikhism. So much so that many parents would not send their children to college for fear of their abandoning Sikhi.

Guru Nanak and the Expanse of Knowledge

Since the days of those Amritsar study circles, our knowledge of the creations has expanded substantially; billions of Galaxies, new worlds in Blackhole, intelligence in the brain and heart cells, on and on. I have been in the thick of it. I obtained my doctorate in Biomedical Sciences, and since then I pursued the scientific discoveries as my profession as well as my pastime.

Further, I was born in the house of Guru Nanak. That is a story in itself that I published elsewhere (The Sikh Review). Here I must acknowledge that I am one of many who is and had been overwhelmingly grateful to be blessed with the association of Guru Nanak for the past 550 years. It makes me humble every day as I appreciate intriguing Guru Wisdom ever.

To date, we are among the oceans of knowledge that religion and science have amassed in front of us. It is because of that expansion in the knowledge that we also seem to be at the verge of really seeing God. It is in the vertex of that knowledge by which I comprehend Nanak’s telling me that the reality of creation is the home in which God lives, manifested, and revealed.

ਗੁਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਜਾਤਾ ॥ ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਪੂਰਨ ਬਿਧਾਤਾ ॥ SGGS p. 739

Meeting the Guru, Says Nanak, now comprehended my Icon of Worship. I see The Perfect Architect of Creations pervading and permeating the water, the land, and the sky.

Nanak invented an icon in which he embedded the implication of the above verse. We exhibit it prominently in all our religious places and at homes. It is ੴ- Ek Onkaar. It literally means, One Reality manifested in all creations.

Walls Between Me and My God

Five hundred fifty years ago, in 1469, Guru Nanak appeared on this earth. With him, he brought the Divine Wisdom to shine on this earth. He named it “Gurmat.” Whereas Gurmat showed us, God, it also pointed out two walls or prevailing deceptions that keep us separated from God. These walls of separation are harder than steel to break.

Wall of Narcissism

Narcissism or egotism closes the human mind so that we think that we know it all and we are the center of everything. As said Deepak Chopra, “the ego is not who you really are. The ego is your Self-image; it is your social mask; it is the role you are playing. Your social mask thrives on approval. It wants control, and it is sustained by power because it lives in fear”. Thus, our narcissism becomes a wall between us and our Creator.

To learn more on ego, I may direct you to read Dr. IJ Singh. Here I emphasize that narcissism is a wall that separates us from our Creator. Guru told us of this wall as the following verse.

ਧਨ ਪਿਰ ਕਾ ਇਕ ਹੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਵਾਸਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਭੀਤਿ ਕਰਾਰੀ ॥ SGGS, p.1263

The soul-bride and the Divine spouse live together as one, but there is a hard wall of egotism standing between them. The closed-mindedness barricades the path to reach the Creator even when He is manifested in the creation around us.

Walls of Religiosities Invented by Professional Clergy

Although not intended by the founders of various religions, definitely not by the Founders of Sikhi, the professional clergies have attained a status of God’s ambassadors or agents in every religion. In Sikhism, they are known as Baba, Bhai, Granthi, Saint, etc. Invariably, they are ill-educated. They bring into the religion, worst kind of religiosity.

These clergies scare the congregations into modes of worshiping the SABD Guru as the SABD was a human deity. For example, they invoke their deity with a variety of tasty foods, expensive clothing, and currency. Their anthropomorphic Guru needs heating and cooling of the room, expensive bedding, and restriction on access. Some ban the Guru from traveling overseas. Some are known to prescribe specific language to communicate, discuss, or do vichaar. Similarly, some promote specific dress culture that is ethnic and not universally adaptable.

The Guru condemned such inroads of religiosity in the harshest language. Let me cite a few examples of Guru’s disapproval; SGGS says:

ਵੇਸ ਕਰੇ ਕੁਰੂਪਿ ਕੁਲਖਣੀ ਮਨਿ ਖੋਟੈ ਕੂੜਿਆਰਿ ॥ ਪਿਰ ਕੈ ਭਾਣੈ ਨਾ ਚਲੈ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਕਰੇ ਗਾਵਾਰਿ ॥ SGGS p.89

She may wear good clothes, but the bride is still ugly and rude when her mind is false and impure. When the spouse does not walk in harmony with the Will of the God spouse, it is foolish to ask for favors.

ਕਰਿ ਪੰਜੀਰੁ ਖਵਾਇਓ ਚੋਰ ॥ ਓਹੁ ਜਨਮਿ ਨ ਮਰੈ ਰੇ ਸਾਕਤ ਢੋਰ ॥ SGGS, p. 1136

You prepare sweet treats and feed them to your stone god. God is not born, and He does not die, you foolish, faithless cynic!

ਪੰਡਿਤ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਜੋ ਲਿਖਿ ਦੀਆ ॥ ਛਾਡਿ ਚਲੇ ਹਮ ਕਛੂ ਨ ਲੀਆ ॥ SGGS, p.1159

Whatever the Pandit and the Mullan have written (the path of religiosity), I have abandoned all of that; I have not taken any of it.

Harbans Lal, Ph.D.; D.Litt (Hons) is the Professor Emeritus & Chairman at the Dept of Pharmacology & Neurosciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center. He is also the Professor Emeritus at the Amritsar-based Guru Nanak Dev University as well as President of the Academy of Guru Granth Studies. He can be reached at Japji2050@gmail.com. Link to the original article.

* This is the opinion of the writer, organisation or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.

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The Singapore weekend Punjabi school is now operating in a single location with Beatty Secondary School as its new home.

“With the two Centres merging as one, it was a challenge to ensure that the children were provided with the convenience of a bus service from all parts of Singapore.

“Our Parent Support Group assisted in making arrangements for buses as well as ensuring that pupils taking the bus services were well taken care of,” according to an entry at the Singapore Sikh Education Fund (SSEF) Facebook page.

It noted that classes started off smoothly at the new premises with the school leaders of the hosting school providing support on the first day.

“We look forward to another great year ahead, especially so since our resources have now been consolidated and more targeted efforts could be put in to bring the best out of our children,” it added.

SSEF is a self-help group in Singapore providing Punjabi Language education for students from Kindergarten to A Levels.

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An outfit out to ensure that women have menstrual dignity launched a campaign in a London gurdwara, badged as the first in the world for a Sikh place of worship.

“Today as we launched the #PeriodPolicy in the first #Gurdwara in the world to talk about periods,” says an entry at Binti.Period Facebook page yesterday (11 Feb 2019).

The group was present at Central Gurdwara Khalsa Jatha Khalsa Jatha in London, and has planned a talk at the Sheperds Bush Gurdwara the next day.

When promoting the event, the Khalsa Jatha gurdwara said it was launching a campaign to help women have access to menstrual products through its langar service.

Langgar, short for Guru Ka Langgar, usually refers to the free kitchen operated at most gurdwaras where vegetarian meals are cooked and served by volunteers. The ration is also usually sponsored by well wishers.

Binti says it intends to create affordable menstrual towels, awareness through education and the availability of sanitary protection for every woman.

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Menstruation: Ickkk? Not according to Guru Nanak Sahib (Asia Samachar, 16 May 2016)

Three-time SEA Games gold medalist Nauraj Singh Randhawa earned another feather in his cap as he now holds the national record for indoor high jump record. The earlier record was set in 1993 when Nauraj was probably yet into any kind of jumping.

The 27-year-old Johor athlete clinched it at the 21st Erdgas Indoor Athletics Championships in Chemnitz, Germany, on Sunday (10 Feb 2019).

He cleared 2.19 metres to finish second at the meet, smashing the earlier record of 2.15m jointly held by Lou Cwee Peng and Lee Hup Wei.

Cwee Peng set the previous record at the 1993 World Championships in Toronto, Canada, before Hup Wei equalled it twice in 2012 in Ostrava, Czech Republic, and in Vienna, Austria, reports Bernama.

In April 2016, Nauraj had shattered the national record when he cleared 2.29 metres to win the gold at the Singapore Open. In doing so, he matched the Olympic qualifying standard and broke the national record of 2.27m held by Lee Hup Wei.

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By Asia Samachar Team | US |

A groundbreaking research report on Sikhs in the United States (US) shows that a majority of the community lives in California and New York.

The research, a first of its kind with certain obvious limitations, also described the half-million strong community as an immigrant community that has not only traversed the US but has achieved the American Dream: educated, employed, prosperous and politically active.

These are among the findings of the “Sikhs in the United States: A Profile of Who We Are” research released by the National Sikh Campaign (NSC), a subsidiary of Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE). Go here to read the 8-page report.

Despite being present in the US for 150 years ago, the report noted that there was a lack of data on their demographic.

“This gap is indicative of the larger dearth of awareness of the religion, including studies that have shown two-thirds of Americans do not know who Sikhs are, how they look, or what the Sikh religion is.

“The lack of information around the Sikh American community in the United States has two troubling consequences: discrimination and misunderstanding, which hinders our ability to address them,” the report added.

The low awareness and understanding of Sikh American demographics could also lead to the underreporting of hate crimes by governmental agencies.

Geography-wise data scooped up by the research show that Sikh Americans mainly live in California (35%) and New York (21%) — showing more than half of the sample residing in those two states alone, as well as clustered populations around mid-Atlantic and southern metropolitan areas.

New Jersey, Florida and Washington round out the top five states with the most Sikhs, respectively, while Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, Alaska and Vermont are states with the least number of Sikhs, respectively.

From the sample, the report said it was found that Sikh Americans have higher levels of educational attainment than the average American—with a majority having received a college degree.

It noted 76% of the individuals have higher than “some college” education or higher, and around 53% of individuals have a college degree or higher, compared with 40% of Americans.

On the limitations of the research, the report was based on a sample included 104,421 individuals with the last names Singh or Kaur, pulled from tools and voter registration profiles provided by BlueLabs, an analytics, data, and technology company, and data vendor TargetSmart.

The report noted that the sample was significantly limited due to the fact it excluded many members of the Sikh community by only looking at individuals with the last names Singh and Kaur, adding that it was ‘by no means statistically significant or conclusive in an academic sense’.

Still, the report can play a crucial role in a number of fronts.

“It is critical to understand that this first-of-its kind research is a humble attempt at learning about the Sikh American community. By simply showing where people with popular Sikh surnames are located as well as their socioeconomic and political background, we are capable of painting a previously non-existent picture of who Sikh Americans are from a demographic data perspective,” according to the report.

It added that the goal of the research was to begin a much needed conversation around Sikhism in the US, not only for the larger American public but also within the Sikh American community itself.

“The immense value of a data-driven approach to fighting discrimination, bias and animosity toward a group on account of their physical characteristics, cultural background, skin color or religion, will only become more apparent as research continues,” it said.

The report was authored by Nikhita Luthra and Shawn Singh Ghuman and edited by Sumeet Kaur.

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Sikhs hire PR firm to reach out to Americans nationwide (Asia Samachar, 1 Feb 2017)

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In May 2017, a good 10 months before Malaysia went to the polls to elect a new government in March 2018, Zoe Randhawa and other Bersih activists were asked to present themselves for police questioning.

The pretext: some violation of the assembly act.

Today (14 Feb 2019), the ardent free and fair elections advocate has been named as a member of the Election Commission (EC), a position that allows her to influence the way Malaysia goes to the polls.

She was one of the five new members named by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, the nation’s constitutional monarch.

It has been a ‘surreal’ journey for the 31-year old Zoe.

“I’ve always been passionate about free and fair elections,” Zoe told Asia Samachar when contacted today.

The four others appointed were Universiti Malaya law lecturer Azmi Sharom, former Foreign Ministry chief secretary Ramlan Ibrahim, former Human Resource Ministry director-general Chin Paik Yoong and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia senior fellow Faisal S Hazis.

“I am proud to announce that we have, among others, two PhD holders and a 1st class honours holder from the LSE in the EC,” EC chairman said in a social media update. “Apart from academic qualifications, all the members are chosen for their specific expertise and knowledge as well as their integrity.”

Chief secretary to the government Ismail Bakar said their term would begin on the day they report for duty and will expire when they reach 66 years of age, according to MalaysiaKini.

These appointments have broken several conventions. Commission members are usually chosen from amongst retired senior civil servants, the report added.

After completing her degree at London School of Economics in 2010, Zoe joined a corporate firm before going on some travelling.

She then joined Bersih in 2014 when there was an opening at the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections.

“I’ve always wanted to be involved in the free and fair elections process. So, when the Bersih opening came about, I applied for it,” she said.

The last time she was at the EC headquaters in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, the authorities had shutdown the building and the place was swarmed by uniformed men.

She was there with a Bersih team to hand over a memorandum.

“It still feels surreal,” she said. “This time, I will be walking in through the front door.”

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By Asia Samachar Team | MALAYSIA |

Taiping Sikhs have been an active lot in the past few years with activities that captured the interest of Sikhs and folks from the other communities far and wide.

In 2016, they organised on grand scale the centennial celebration of the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Taiping (SGSS Taiping) which manages the local gurdwara. They had a federal minister attending the function.

In the next two years, the had large scale Vaisakhi open houses.

In 2017, the gurdwara fixed a lift to the delight of the large elderly Sikh community in the town about 270km from Kuala Lumpur. In the same year, a solar panel was installed for  the gurdwara to earn a constant income.

Tomorrow (17 Feb 2019), SGSS Taiping will hold its 106th annual general meeting to elect its next set of committee. Outgoing president Balraj Singh, who came on board as the president in 2016, is all set to continue if the he gets the mandate from the community.

“I’ll be delighted to continue to serve the Sanggat if they so decide. It has been a wonderful journey in the last few years,” Balraj told Asia Samachar.

The 38-year old Taiping-born has been instrumental in organising the many programmes under the SGSS Taiping banner.

They have also been running the Taiping Soup Kitchen, local religious programmes as well as sporting activities like badminton, futsal, hockey, bowling, golf and telematches. They also have the weekend Punjabi classes under the Punjabi Education Centre (PEC) banner.

In 2017, Taiping Sikhs organised two golf events, one each in Perak and Johor, as part of their efforts to promote the spirit of muhibbah or harmony. The programme was tied to the Vaisakhi celebrations.

When asked his primary goal, he said it has always been about bringing the local Sikh community together.

“In a town like Taiping, the younger generation moves out after Form 5 (i.e. 11th year of education). Even in my batch, there are only two of us (left in Taiping). There were about 30 of us during school days. They tend to leave due to lack of opportunities in Taiping.

“But we have a good number of senior members. But we have a few leaving us every year. It’s important to get whoever is in Taiping to join in all the activities,” he said.

He said the current committee have made various changes keeping in mind the ‘safe,systematic and simple’ principles.

On the 2016 celebration of SGSS Taiping’s 100th anniversary, Balraj said it was simply an ‘amazing’ event.

“The best part was seeing those who had left Taiping coming back to be part of the celebration. It was a heart warming event,” he said.

In 1916, SGSS Taiping was formed by local Sikhs who then successfully build a gurdwara (at the current location) in 1921. A new double story building was built in 1971.

RELATED STORY:

Taiping Sikhs plan golf events to celebrate Vasakhi (Asia Samachar, 2 March 2018)

Minister Nazri launches Taiping Sikhs’ 100 year celebration (Asia Samachar, 17 Oct 2017)

New lift perks up Taiping elderly Sikhs (Asia Samachar, 22 Sept 2017)

A 22-year-old Sikh student was killed and his friend hurt after their car crashed into a barrier and turned turtle in Kuala Lumpur.

The incident happened at 7am today (16 Feb 2019) near Jalan Klang Lama.

Sachdevf Singh, who was seated in the passenger seat of the car, died of a severe head injury, according to the police as reported in The Star.

Twenty-two gurdwaras in Selangor received a total of RM230,000 in another round of funding from the Selangor state government.

At the same time, Malaysian Gurdwaras Council (MGC) received RM50,000 while the Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Kampung Pandan received RM20,000

Minister of Communications and Multimedia Gobind Singh Deo presented the cheques to their representatives at an event today (16 Feb 2019) at Gurdwara Sahib Serdang Lama, a 105-year old gurdwara located just outside of Kuala Lumpur.

In his speech, Gobind said the Selangor state government funding which began in 2008 has steadily increased over the years. At the same time, he was looking into getting Federal government funding.

“Any contribution, no matter how small, counts. This is more so for the smaller gurdwaras that does not have any constant source of funding,” MGC president Jagir Singh.

It is understood the funding was from the 2018 state allocation. The gurdwaras had received one round of funding last year.

The 22 gurdwaras were GS Serendah, GS Serdang, GS Bukit Beruntung, GS Shah Alam, GS Port Klang, GS Klang, GS Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB), GS Kalumpang, Setia City Darbar, GS Petaling Jaya, GS Berjuntai Tin, GS Putra Heights, GS Ampang, GS Rasa, GS Petaling Tin, GS Lembah Jaya, GS Kajang, GS Sunway, GS Subang, GS Rawang, GS Puchong (Persatuan Penganut Agama Sikh Puchong) and GS Selayang Baru.

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SASKAAR / CREMATION: 4pm, 18 Feb 2019 (Monday), at Serendah Hindu Crematorium. Cortege leaves residence No. 80, Lorong Hijau 2/2, Taman Hijau, Rawang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, at 3.15pm | Malaysia

ਜੇਹਾ ਚੀਰੀ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤੇਹਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥ ਘਲੇ ਆਵਹਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਦੇ ਉਠੀ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

Jayhaa cheeree likhi-aa, tayhaa hukam kamaahi.  Ghalay aawah naankaa, saday othe jaahi (SGGS, 1239)

SMT RANJIT KAUR A/P MUNSHA SINGH

Village: Ramgarh Bhullar

Born: 01 December 1930

Departed: 17 February 2019

Husband: Late Sardar Pritam Singh Bhullar

Children / Spouses:

Dr. Harbhajan Singh Bhullar / Amerjit Kaur Khosa

Datuk Dr. Harjit Singh Bhullar

Grandchildren:

(1) Dr. Avtarjeet Singh Bhullar
(2) Dr. Jaipreet Singh Bhullar
(3) Dr. Jagdeep Singh BhullaR

Saskaar / Cremation: 4pm, 18 Feb 2019 (Monday), at Serendah Hindu Crematorium.

Cortege leaves residence No. 80, Lorong Hijau 2/2, Taman Hijau, Rawang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, at 3.15pm

Path da Bhog: Sri Akhand Path commences at 9am on 22/02/19 till 24/02/19 at their residence followed by Sehaj Path da Bhog and Antim Ardas at Gurdwara Sahib Rawang between 10:00am and 12:00 noon.

Contact:

Amerjit Kaur 019-6681062
Dr Avtarjeet Singh 019-6681082

Maaji will be dearly missed and forever remembered by her children, grandchildren and all relatives and friends.

| Entry: 18 Feb 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 |

By Dya Singh | OPINION | 

It is not often that my musical colleagues and I go on a Gurbani sangeet trip to India. We made one recently.

It was to celebrate the Dastarbandhi of four ‘sahibjaday’ of one family. The scene was already set for a memorable visit. The four young men are the third generation of the Chadha family who own and operate the Sigma Corporation of India based in Delhi.

A momentous celebration and a showcase for all Sikhs because it is one Sikh ceremony which is of great significance and importance. It is a ‘coming of age’ ceremony for a young Sikh extolling the lofty status Sikhs and Sikhism place on the donning of a dastar (resplendent turban).

Sadly, like a Janam Sanskar (First Rites Ceremony), the Dastarbandhi, too, is not clarified in the Sikh Rehat Maryadha (SRM). A big oversight by our forefathers I believe.

Rehmat, Sehaj, Aveer and Ruhan aged 14 to 7, travelled with family and friends to Anandpur Sahib and amongst them celebrated by first reciting JapJi Sahib together and then with help from family and each other tied saffron coloured dastars followed by Ardaas. The celebrations were held in Singh Sabha Defence Colony and in Rajouri Gardens in Delhi with kirtan by our full jatha.

Where we celebrate Indian traditional and cultural ceremonies like Lodi, Dussehra, Puran Masi, Raakhi, Divali and so on, we as Sikhs must be conscious of our own ceremonies especially those associated with Sikhi, like Janam Sanskar, Dastarbandhi, Amrit Sanchar, Anand Karaj (properly carried out as a sacred ceremony),Khalsa Day, our Gurpurabs, Shahidhi days and so on. This is our distinct global identity as a Quom, a nation without borders.

I would also recommend a special occasion for our young girls when they reach puberty, come of age so to speak, like, say, Chuni Ceremony. We did that with my granddaughter Saahiel when she turned 13. The chuni will be saved for her Anand Karaj when, with Guru Ji’s Grace, that happens.

Blessings of the Sangat and Guru Ji must be invoked as often as possible because our younger generation is our pride and joy and our future.

I invoke the Blessings of Guru Ji and the Sangat upon Rehmat, Sahaj, Aveer and Rohan. May they bring great pride and joy to their parents, grandparents, relatives, and the Sikh Quom.

Besides kirtan at various homes and gurdwaras (we celebrated Basant Panchami) in Delhi, we were also invited to conduct ‘Inspirational’ and ‘Motivational’ sessions especially with Sikh teenagers in schools. It was most exciting, creating awareness of what we Sikhs do for special programs with our youth especially in Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia.

My observation generally was that Sikhi is taken for granted in Delhi with gurdwaras almost around every corner and schools predominantly filled with Sikh kids. I will suggest it is the same in Punjab, while Sikhs in the diaspora have to be proactive in educating and inspiring the younger generation about our wonderful life philosophy.

Delhi Sikhs certainly got a taste of that and appreciated that. We expect to be doing more of the same especially in Delhi, into the future.

Now for some Malaysian delicacies. Any Kuala Lumpur friend happy to shout me a teh tarik, roti telur or nasi lemak? Or a rawa tosay with teh susu lembu? I am passing through KL till 23rd February.

Malaysian-born Dya Singh, who now resides in Australia, is an accomplished musician and a roving Sikh preacher. The Dya Singh World Music Group performs full scale concerts on ‘music for the soul’ based on North Indian classical and semi-classical styles of music with hymns from mainly the Sikh, Hindu and Sufi ‘faiths’. He is also the author of SIKH-ING: Success and Happiness. He can be contacted at dyasingh@khalsa.com

* This is the opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Asia Samachar.

RELATED STORY:

Dya Singh jatha in Delhi for multiple ‘Dastar bandhi’ (Asia Samachar, 10 Feb 2019)

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 |

If she wants to make the cut, she has to be the best player on the pitch. That’s the story of Sandeep Tak, UK’s first Sikh female footballer.

“A coach said this to me once what matters is the top 3 players on the pitch, that’s who people are going to remember from that game. I have to be the top 1 on the pitch, it can’t come down to the top 3 cos I won’t get noticed like that,” Sandeep shares in the maiden interview at Min Kaur Podcast. Listen to the interview here.

“It’s happened many times. I’ll be in the top 3 on the pitch but I will probably be the 3rd because of who I am.”

Sandeep adds: “Not only is it hard to be a footballer in its own right but to be a Sikh female footballer and all the stuff that comes with it, its nice to know your representing something thats much bigger than you and to be able to showcase that in this element of something is really special.”

After playing for the clubs like QPR and Watford, Sandeep is now with Tottenham Hotspurs’ where she leads the attack.

Freelance journalist Min Kaur is also an events host and henna artist. She manages the Min Kaur Podcast.

RELATED STORY:

First Kaur to don Malaysian national junior football jersey (Asia Samachar, 7 April 2018)

Lawyer Rupinder Bains first Asian to join English football’s governing body (Asia Samachar, 23 Nov 2017)

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 |

STATEMENT | UNITED SIKHS | INDIA |

The Supreme Court of India ordered today (19 Feb 2019) for representations to be made to the Govt of India to lay down rules for Sikhs to wear a turban when participating in competition and private events.

Presiding Judge S.A. Bobde made the order for UNITED SIKHS Sr Advocate Rupinder Singh Suri and SGPC [Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee] to make the representations to the Govt and also directed that the matter should be concluded within a year.

“The Court has allowed our prayer for the formulation of guidelines, for hosting such public and private events, which are in consonance with the Indian Constitution. Our petition made on behalf of Jagdeep Singh and inspired by the support of UNITED SIKHS has achieved its purpose,” said Sr Adv Rupinder Singh Suri.

RELATED STORY:

Is wearing a turban integral to Sikh religion, asks India’s Supreme Court (Asia Samachar, 22 April 2018)

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 |

SASKAAR / CREMATION: 21 February 2019 (Thursday) at Gill Kalan, Punjab, India | Malaysia

ਜੇਹਾ ਚੀਰੀ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਤੇਹਾ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥ ਘਲੇ ਆਵਹਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਸਦੇ ਉਠੀ ਜਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

Jayhaa cheeree likhi-aa, tayhaa hukam kamaahi.  Ghalay aawah naankaa, saday othe jaahi (SGGS, 1239)

SURJIT KAUR W/O LATE BESANT SINGH GILL

Village: Gill Kalan

Born: 15 May 1934

Departed: 20 February 2019

Sister: Late Gurdev Kaur Gill

Children / Spouses:

Sarbjit Singh / Kuldip Kaur

Rejendar Kaur / Kernail Singh

Mehendar Singh / Jagdeep Kaur

Ranmit Singh/ Harvinder Kaur

Hardip Singh/ Madhumalasur

Daliminter Kaur

Grandchildren/Spouses:

Shenjeet Kaur/Harveer Singh

Pravesh Singh/Sheetal Kaur

Susheel Kaur/Jasminder Singh

Kalveer Singh/Ashvita Kaur

Manveer Singh, Belvin Singh, Alvrinder Singh , Ranveer Singh, Navjoth Singh, Manett Kaur, Rainaa Kaur

Great grandchildren: Katrina Kaur, Roshan Singh, Ryihanna Kaur, Kabir Singh, Sameer Singh, Reena Kaur

Saskaar / Cremation: 21 February 2019 (Thursday) at Gill Kalan, Punjab, India

Contact: Mehendar Singh Gill 012-3116065

MESSAGE FROM THE FAMILY

Bheji was the pillar of strength and backbone of the Gill family and a doting grandmother who was always there for her grandchildren. She has touched a lot of souls and inspired others to work hard to achieve their dreams. Her leadership, even after her passing, will be inspiration to all her loved ones.

Bheji, your memories and your wisdom will remain with us for generations to come. Your presence will be dearly missed & your absence will be deeply felt by your children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, relatives and friends

Bheji was indeed a very loving mum, grandmother and great grandmother.

| Entry: 20 Feb 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 |

The Sikh faith is where Serene Singh finds her values. It is also what motivates the founder and captain of the university bhangra team and winner of the 2019 Rhodes Scholarship.

Growing up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she said she had trouble voicing which religion she identify with to her peers and educators.

“On one hand, I wanted to feel ‘American enough’ amongst my peers in school and on the other hand, had to be ‘Sikh enough’ when I went to the Gurudwaras (Sikh place of worship) and the Sikh camps I attended.

“I realized that the problem lies in really understanding in then being able to explain Sikh values to others. Everything that Sikhism believes in is very much in tune with American values, and it took me many years to realize the power and true growth that comes from being able to articulate those values and bring someone else into your world,” she told the We Are Sikhs blog.

She said that a huge part of her motivation and reason to get up and keep going every day has been gratitude.

“The idea of others not having access to the same abilities to dream, that I have been able to, always hurts me. In almost everything I do, I work to give that access to other people, who systematically might not have otherwise had that opportunity, so that they can dream and accomplish even more than I can ever imagine.

“Part of our job as Sikhs and humans is to be a part of a greater community in this world in which we are all uplifting and adding to the lives of one another,” she said.

In November 2018, Serene emerged as one of the winners of the coveted Rhodes scholarship that selects students worldwide to study at the University of Oxford in the UK on fully-funded scholarships.

Read the full story, ‘Serene Singh: Sikh-American Rhode Scholar’, here.

Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. Popularly known as the Golden Temple. Photo by Saheb Singh